the habitation of sundry sortes of wyld beastes And albeit no great store of corne groweth heere yet hath is barley rice the Indians by rice cheese milk flesh fish delicate frutes are nowrished besydes their store of frutebearing trees they haue great reedes or canes whereout whyte hony lyke vnto gum is pressed Silk is heer in great aboundance beastes both wyld tame are in infynit numbers greater then in other places of the world as Kyen Camels Lions Dogges Elephants there are also dragons serpents whyte apes camelions that liue by the ayre all sortes of the best kynde of foule The spyces of India are knowne to all the world Heben wood groweth heer the trees that yeild frankensence the shores or sydes of the riuers do deliuer gold the sea faire pearles Diamonds Rubies Saphires Amatistes Agates sundry other sortes of pretious stones are found in this noble country The inhabitants of India are of different languages different in apparel of different religions some beeing Christians some Mahometaines some Iewes some Pagans The people are generally talle of stature strong of a tawny or browne colour many do liue to 130 yeares or thereabouts INDIA PERSIA THe name of Persia is very ancient but the country was in tymes heretofore far lesse then it now is It hath on the eastsyde of it parte of Tartarie parte of East India on the south syde Sinus Persicus parte of the Indian sea on the west syde it confyneth with the dominions which the Turk now occupieth in Asia on the north it hath the Caspium sea c. The beginning of the greatnes of this kingdome was in the yeare 1269 when a noble persian of the cittie Ardenelim named Sophi being also a Mahometain reuolted from the Turk beganby war to conquer countries and his successors haue since both augmented their possessions continued the great quarrel about the right successor of Mahomet The Persians are a more humane people then the Turkes not beeing so rigorous against the Christians which liue among them hauing among them noble gentlemen which the Turkes haue not The countrie is very fruteful except in the mountanous desert partes It yeildeth aboundance of fyne silke the best Iron for armour steele for armes of the whole world is here found It hath also ritch mynes pretious stones pearles and the fertillitie thereof in many places may bee compared vnto that of the neighbouring India PERSIA TVRKIE THe Turkish Empyre conteyneth the foutheast parte of Europe the northeast of Africa the southwest of Asia so as it lieth where these 3 partes of the world do meet taketh a parte of each of them howbeit the fargreater parte is in Asia which far exceedeth the partes both in Africa Europe At Constantinople which is in Europe the great Turk keepeth his residence This cittie was taken by force of Mahomet the eight Turkish Emperor vpon the last day of May in the yeare 1453. after it had bene besieged 54 dayes after sundry other victories this Mahomet died on the first day of May in the yeare 481 was buried in the said cittie of Constantinople In Europe is subiect vnto the Turk the greater parte of Hungarie all Bulgarie Greece Macedonia Romania Morea sundry other prouinces In Africa Barcha Egipt besydes the kinges kingdomes there tributarie vnto him In Asia hee hath Natolia the two Arabiaes to the great grief of Christians the countrie of Palestyne where Christ our sauiour liued died many other prouinces to long heer to describe Both Christians jewes are suffred to liue in this Turkish Empyre vnder tribute albeit the Turkes do carry somwhat a better opinion of Christians then of jewes yet are the Christian inhabitants subiect to very great inconueniences The Turkes according to the law of their great reputed prophet Mahomet are circumsised they are forbidden to drink wyne to eat swynes flesh allowed to haue many wyues TVRKIE PALESTYNE THe old pagan authors called this country Palestyne the Iewes called it The land of prontis Christians haue termed it the Holyland It hath al along on the west syde the Mediteraneum sea on the east syde Arabia northward it hath Mount Libanus southward it reatcheth downe towards Egipt the Red sea This countrie was denyded among the 12 trybes of Israel but after the tyme of King Salomon it was denyded into a kingdomes In this moste noble country liued the holy prophets And the Sonne of God did heer receaue humaine flesh It was in former tymes so excellent aboue other countries that it was called the land that flowed with milk hony but it is now greatly altered the sinnes of the inhabitants hauing deserued no better Burcardus saith that it yet excelleth in yeilding aboundance of pure wheat that with litle laboring of the ground Roses Sage fenel other flowers herbes do without the industrie of man grow in the feilds The riuer of Iordan hauing his issue vnder Libanus runneth through the lake of Genazareth into the dead sea the country half a dayes iorney euery way from this sea is barren by reason of the euil vapors sauouis thereof It seemeth to haue the name of Mare Mortuum because there is in it no liuing thing The ancient famous cittie of Ierusalem is situate in a hilly place Mount Syon lieth on the southsyde Mount Gyon on the west By the encreased greatnes of this cittie the holy sepulchre wherein Christ was buried hauing a church built ouer it is now within the walles The mount of Caluarie whereon our Lord was crucified is 108 foot from the graue there is a pauement to pas from the Chruch to the place where the crosse did stand which riseth in height to 28 foote on the same rock the clifts rentings do yet appeere which hapened at the death of our deere lord and sauiour PALESTYNE NATOLIA NAtolia extendeth it self from Asia where vnto on the eastsyde it is aioyned and lieth in length westward towards Europe hauing on the northsyde Mare Maggiore and on the south the Midland sea and at the west end the sea called Archipelago The Turkes who now possesse it do call it Litle Asia It conteyneth Phrygia Galathia Bithinia Pontus Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Lycia Magnisia Capadocia and Comagena all goodly countries ancient renowmed prouinces some of them Kingdomes yea a perticular Empyre of Trehizonde whereof Nicomedia heretofore a moste noble cittie appeereth now but in the ruynes thereof Nyce is also here to bee seene where the famous great Councel heertofore was holden Amasia is the chief cittie of Capadocia was the birth-place of Strabo the wel-knowne Cosmographer And the renowmed martyr and Patron of England S. George was also of this country of Capadocia In Natolia are gotes which haue that fyne heare or rather wolle whereof the thamlets are made There are
England Scotland is the chiefest next vnto it haue ye Ireland then more northerly is Island Frisland lastly Groonland all in the Ocean sea In the Mediteraneum sea it hath Sicilia Sardinia Corsica Candie Maiorica Minorica Corphum Nigropont and others of lesse fame whose seueral names and situations do appeere in the Mappe This our Europe besides for the Romaine Empier honorable throughout all the world hath aboue 28 Christian Kingdoms yf you adde the 14 which some recon only in Spaine It is passing fertil naturally temperate and of a milde aier And inferior to no other parte in plentie of all kinde of fruit wyne and plants but to be compared with the most exellent beeing made pleasant with most faire Citties Villages and Throughfares And although it be in compas lesser then the other yet for the woorthinesse of the people it is preferred before all other partes of the world euer hath bin by all auncient writers hauing both for the Empier of the Macedonians and mightynesse of the Romaines bin moste renowmed EVROPA ASIA ASIA being the second parte of the world hath on the west syde to deuyde it from Europe the riuer Tanais from the head whereof the deuision is made as it vvere by a lyne extended vnto Sinus granduicus It is moreouer denyded by Mare Magiore a pece of the Mediteraneum sea On the south syde it hath the sea of India On the east the Ocean called Eous otherwise the east sea And on the north the icy sea of Sithia Asia by estimation seemeth as great as Europe and Affrica yet is it not taken to bee so populus as Europe having many wonderfull great deserts huge mountaines spatious sandy regions the mount Taurus stretcheth it self very farr through the middest thereof Some haue deuyded this parte of the earth into fyue portions The first is that which ioy neth vnto Europe obeyeth vnto the great Duke of Muscouy The second that which is vnder the great Cham Emperor of the Tartars The third that which is occupied by the race of the Ottomans vnder the fowrth is comprehended the kingdome of Persia gouerned by the Sophie And the fift last parte is that which as of old so yet at this present it retayneth the name of India beeing denyded vnder the comaund of many pety Kinges whereof diuers are tributaries to the great Cham. And in this parte is also conteyned the great mighty kingdome of China This parte of the earth is not only famous among prophane authors for the first monarchies of the world as of the Assyrians Persians Babilonians Medes but it is more illustred aboue other partes in sacred scripture wherein not only appeereth that in the same mankynde was first created by Almighty God but our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ coming into this world for the redemption of man did choose to make herein his birth place It is also to bee considered that the most pretious thinges that the world doth yeild are fonnd in this noble parte thereof as besydes great varietie diuers kyndes of beastes birds excelent sortes of spices frutes medicinall herbes rootes other thinges As also the moste pretious metalles pretious stones and pearles ASIA AFRICA THis third parte of the vvorld the auncient writers haue diuersty deuided But as Ioannes Leo vvitnesseth it is now deuyded into fowre partes to vvitt Barbaria Numedia Libia and the country of the Negroes or moores The first of these beeing Barbarie is the best and moste frutefull enclosed with the Atlantike and Mediterraneum seas the mount Atlas and the region called Barcha which confyneth on Egipt Numedia which yeildeth dates is of the Arabies called the date countrie is otherwise called Biledulgerid this beeing the second parte bordereth on the Atlantike sea in the west and the mount Atlas in the north in the east it reatcheth vnto the citie Eloacat and southward vnto the sandie deserts of Libia Libia the third parte is in the Arabeck tongue called Saâ—ra which signifieth wildernesse it beginneth at the riuer Nilus and reatcheth to the Atlantyke sea having on the south the Negroes or Moores and on the north Numedia The fourth and last parte is that which is called the country of the Negroes or Moores for that they are black people it hath Libia on the north The AEthiopian sea towardes the south the Gualates towardes the west and on the east syde the kingdome of Goaga It is further to be considered that all Africa is enuyroned with the Mediteraneum Atlantyke and Aethiophian seas and the riuer Nilus Some haue accompted Aegipt and Aethivpia to bee of Asia but with more reason all moderne Cosmographers do recon them to belong to Africa The south parte or coaste of Africa was vndiscouered vnto the yeare of our Lord 1497 that Vasca de Gama passed the promontorie or cape de Bona speranza and sailing round about all the south coast of this parte of the world arryued at Calecut in the east Indies Africa hath great and dry deserts wherein many strange beastes and serpents are nowrished and in some partes there of as about the riuer Nilus sundry new creatures or monsters are often produced AFRICA AMERICA THis fowrth parte of the world for the exceeding largenesse thereof is called the new-world altogether vnknowne vnto all Consmographers vntil the yeare of our Lord 1492 in which it was discouered by Christopher Columba of Genua who for that discouery was employed by Ferdinand King of Castille Queene Isabel his wyf It seemeth moste strange that so great a parte of the world should so long remaine vnknowne considering the dilligent search of Geographers to describe the whole earthe the oportunitie to search out countries the insatiable desyre that man hath of gold siluer wherewith this America aboundeth yet could neuer before bee found out Some think it was decyphered by Plato vnder the name of Atlas others affirme a pece of coyne to bee found there having on it the Image of Augustus the Emperor about the which there are diuers opinions and disputes This parte of the world hath bene all sailed about except on the north syde which coast is yet vndiscouered It seemeth to forme it self into two peninsulaes whereof the one which is northerly conteyneth new Spaine the prouince of Mexico the landes of Florida Terra noua etc. That which is southward called Terra firma conteyneth the regions of Peru Bresilia and others America had not in tymes past either wheat or wyne kyne shepe gotes asses or dogges but it hath since the discouery there of bene enriched from Europe with all these and sundry other comodities AMERICA ENGLAND THe whole I le of Albion called also Britannie beeing the greatest Ile of this parte of the world is at this day by two seueral names called England and Scotland because it contayneth those two kingdomes The Meridional greatest best parte thereof is called England of Englishmen somtyme a people of
Germaine whose ofspring doth stil possesse the same vnder their owne King It contayneth together with the country of wales 52 Shyres 29 Cities and 25 Bishoprykes On the east syde it hath the Germaine Ocean On the west the Irish sea On the south the narrow seas which deuyde it from France And on the north it is seperated from Scotland by the riuer of Tvvede the Cheuiot hilles It aboundeth chiefly in cattel for which cause the inhabitants are more giuen to grafing then to tillage of the ground desyring rather pasture then corne land This region is very temperate and without great extremitie of cold The soile is exceeding frutefull howbeit it yeildeth not wyne There are many hilles which beeing without trees do yeild a kynde of shorte and sweete gras for the best nowrishing of sheepe which are heere in all aboundance and whose fyne fleeces do excel those of other countries which is caused either by the temperature of the ayre or the goodnes of the pasture This fyne english wooll may wel be calleth the Golden fleece for that thereby so great plenty of gold siluer from so many so remote regions of the world is brought into this Realme Here are also great store of mynes of Tinne Lead Iron as also of Copper neither are the mynes voyd of Gold and Siluer In brief England aboundeth with plenty of all sortes of victuals is furnished with all store of thinges necessary for the vse of man ENGLAND SCOTLAND THe realme of Scotland hath England on the south syde therof on all other sydes els it is enuyroned with the maine Ocean on the north syde it hath the Iles called the Orcades on the west the Hibrides all subiect vnto Scotland And albeit it bee not so frute full as England yet is the land aboundantly furnished with cattel the sea with fish in it are many thinges very strange wounderfull In Glasco is a lake one parte whereof frieseth in winter but the other parte doth neuer frise In Carik are Oxen whose far is neuer hard but alwayes soft oily In the prouince of Coyl or Kyle about ten myles from the towne of Aer here is a stone 12 foote in height 30 in length called the deaf stone for albeit neuer so great noise bee made on the one syde on the other syde it cannot bee heard vnlesse a man stand farr of for so may it bee descerned or els not In Lennox is a lake called Lowmond beeing about 24 myles in length 8 in bredth having in it thirty Iles in this lake are three thinges woorthy of note There are finlesse fishes of a good taste There are fleeting Iles that with thee wynde are moued driuen to fro And somtymes no wynde blowing the water becometh so rough that the passengers are in great danger to bee drowned yf they cannot speedely get to land In Argadia as is reported groweth a stone which beeing put to straw or stubble wil kindle set the same on fyre In Burquham is a cane wherein water falling it turneth into whyte stones in this prouince no rattes are found In the sea at the mouth of the riuer of Forth is a high rock out of the top whereof issueth a fountaine of fresh water About 10 myles from Edenbourgh is a fountaine on the water whereof drops of oyle are found the which oile is medicinable In Clidisdale is a myne of Gold another of azure and in the muscles and shelfish on the shore of Scotland pearles are found SCOTLAND IRELAND IReland is a soile vneuen hilly and the highest hilles haue standing lakes on the tops It hath also many bogges and quagmyres is generally watry woodie moorish yet hath it notwithstanding in diuers places moste faire plaines which yet are but few in respect of the woodes It is a fat soile apt to bring foorth corne The hilles abound with cattel and the woodes with wyld beastes This I le is more plentiful of pasture then of corne of gras then of graine yea the wheat-corne is small withered and not easy to bee wynoed with a fan In tyme of haruest the raine scarsly permitteth the corne to bee gotten into the barne somuch is this I le subiect vnto raine It is plentifull of milk hony Solinus and Isidorus affirme it to haue no bees but they might more truly haue written the contrary No toade adder spider or venemous beast is nowrished in this countrie nor can liue therein beeing brought thether from any other place IRELAND TERCERA THis I le is called Tercera because that of the Iles called Acores it is the third as the ly in order to such as come out of Spaine to saile westward It is plentifull of corne and frute and not without wyne Madder which diers vse for the dying of cloth red doth yeild great comoditie to the inhabitants of this I le for that it groweth heere aboundantly The Oxen of this I le excede in fairnesse largenesse all others in Europe Ceder groweth here in such aboundance that it serueth for fuel The chief towne of this I le is called Angra which hath a promontorie whereon lieth a strong forte called Brazil The Spagniards do also call this Ile Isola del buen Iesu The ships coming from the west Indies are accustomed heere to take harbor in their retourne to Spaine Of these Iles of Acores there are seauen in number to wit Tercera S. Mighel S. Marie S. George Gratiosa Pico and Fayal but the chiefest of name is Tercera TERCERA SPAINE SPaine beeing greater then France lesser then Germanie is enuironed with the great Ocean and the Mediteraneum sea except on the north-east syde for there it is continent with France from the which it is deuyded by the mountaines called the Pirenes It is now one entire monarchie but in former tyme hath bene deuyded into fourteene Kingdomes By authors thus recounted vid. The old and new Castilia Leon Arragon Catalonia Nauarre Asturia Granada Valentia Toledo Galicia Murcia Cordoua Portugal Algarbe Spaine albeit it bee not in all places manured because of the stonynesse of sundry partes thereof yet is it far more fertil then Africa in very many places it yeildeth aboundantly whatsoeuer is necessary for the vse of man As very faire VVheat Rice VVyne Oyle Hony Saffran Suger Limons Capers Citrons Orenges Pomgranades other fruytes Rosmary groweth there in the fieldes in such plenty that it serueth for fuel It hath also great store of beastes both wild tame yeildeth horses of such swiftnes that it was said of them in old tyme as a prouerb that they were engendred of the wynde It hath also diuers mynes as of Gold Siluer Copper Tin Iron and Lead gold is not only found in mynes but euen in sand on the sydes of the riuer Tayo In sundry maritime places it yeildeth great store of Salt The ayre is pure and helthfull it is litle subiect vnto
tempestes is free from foule contagious mistes According to a vulgar saying three thinges in Spaine are for the rarety of them very memorable to wit A bridge ouer the which water runneth which vsually runneth vnder bridges entending thereby the aquaduct of Segouia A towne enuyroned with fyre meaning Madrid the walles whereof are of flint And a bridge whereon ten thowsand beastes are continualy pastured which is vnderstood by the riuer Guadiana which running into the earth hydeth it self the length of seauen leagues then coming foorth againe holdeth his course as before SPAINE PORTVGAL THis country of Portugal is enuyroned about with other countreys of Spaine except on the west syde for their it bordereth vpon the great westerne Ocean It is in Latin called Lusitania taking this name as is said from Lusus sonne vnto the nynteenth King of Spaine Sundry faire riuers do take their courses through this region of which the riuer Tagus now called Tâ—lo is the principal was of old tyme more famous for that his sandes along by the banck sydes were mingled with gold The whole country is wel inhabited and albeit Portugal hath litle or no wyne yet Algarbe which is ioyned reconed with it yeildeth very good wynes Mountanous it is not neither reported to haue mynes This kingdome began about the yeare of our Lord 1100 in this sorte Henry an Earle of Loraine coming into Spaine shewed himself very valiant had many victories against the Saracins for the which Alfonsus the sixt King of Castilia gaue him his base daughter Tyresia in mariage bestowed with her this country vpon him Of these twaine came Alfonsus the first King of Portugal the first that gat out of the handes of the Saracins the citie of Lisboa He also ouercame in one battaile fyue Kinges in memorie whereof he bore in his armes fyue shieldes as in the armes of Portugal do yet appere This kingdome albeit but litle yet hath it enlarged it self in glory fame euen to the farthest boundes of the world by the great trade of spices other pretious wares from the east Indies hath bin moste mightely enriched This trade began in the raigne of King Iohn he second and hath continued with exceeding comodite the augmentation of sundry tytles of other crownes kingdomes This realme of Portugal after the death of Henry first Cardinal lastly King who succeeded Sebastian that was slaine in Africa became with whatsoeuer belonged vnto it to bee vnder the obeysance of Philip the second King of Spaine so remaineth ioyned with the other kingdomes of Spaine in one entyre monarchie PORTVGAL ANDALVZIA THis countrie hath on the east syde Granada on the west Algarbe on the north the prouince called Magistratus S. Iacobi on the south the straight begining of the Mediteraneum sea comonly called the straight of Gibraltar On either syde this straight are two moste high mountaines to wit Gibraltar in Andaluzia whereof that straight taketh name and Abyla in Mauritania These two mountaines are of many called the columnes of Hercules yet there are that affirme the columnes of Hercules to haue bin two pillers of brasse in the temple of Hercules which was in the I le of Gades now called Cadiz or Cales in which they say was grauen the charges which the building of the said temple did coste howbeit the certainty is altogether vncertaine whether the two pillers of Hercules were these two mountaines or two artificial pillers of brasse This countrie of Andazulia is the moste fertil parte of all Spaine for aboundance of all sortes of fruits great plenty of other necessary thinges The inhabitants are courteous ciuil very opulent It is replenished with almoste 200 syne townes but the great ritch citie of Siuil is the Chiefest citie of all this prouince The name it hath of Andazulia is growne but by corruption for the right name is Vandazulia of the Vandules that heere made there habitation when by the Gothes they were chased out of other partes ANDALVZIA VALENCIA THe Kingdome of Valencia bordereth on the east syde vpon the Mediterraneum sea is on all other sydes enuyroned with other countries of Spaine The chief citie of this realme is also called Valencia of this citie the whole country taketh name Some authors do witnes it receaued the name of a Kingdome in the yeare of our Lord 162. There are two principal mountaines in this country the one called Mariola the other Penna Gâ—lofa which do produce many sortes of medicinal herbes for which cause diuers phisitions apothecaries repaire thether for simples There is in this country at a place called in the spanish tongue â—uriol a myne of siluer And in a place called Aioder there are stones found stryped with golden vaines At the promontorie of Finistrat are certaine mynes of Iron though of no aboundance About Segorbia is a quarry out of which marble in tymes past was taken sent to Rome In Piacent Alablaster is found in sundry places great store of Allum Red-Oker Lyme Chalk This country yeildeth fyne wool which as is said cometh of the race of cotsold sheepe transported out of England into Spaine by licence of King Edvvard the fowrth in the fift yeare of his raigne There is great comoditie made in this country by the making of certaine earthen vessels which the Spagniards call Procellana This country was long inhabited of the Moores vntil at last King Iames after a long siege constrayned them to leaue the citie of Valencia out of the which there departed at once more then fyfty thowsand in number who caried with them all their riches left the citie voyd both of people and welth There is not as is thought any corner of the world so replenished with goodly gardens abounding with such rare excellent flowres herbes as is this countrie of Valencia VALENCIA GADES THe Spagniards call at this present this Ile Cadiz corruptly it is called Caliz It is as deuyded into two partes so seemeth two Iles. In the lesser is now the Citie of Cales in the greater was Iulia Gaditana Augusta which as Strabo saith was called Naples The Citie of Cales is now a Bishops sea By moste auncient authors it appeereth that this I le was found out by the Phenitians others hold that after them the Geryons inhabited heere whose cattel was taken away by Hercules In this I le was a temple of this Hercules which for the founder for Antiquitie religion riches was very famous This Church saith Mela is become holy because the bones of Hercules are here buried In the Temple of Hercules Ceasar did behold the picture of Alexander the great as Sueton telleth vs. There was a well which at ful sea yeilded salt water and at the ebbe fresh Sundry temples the pagans buylded in this I le as a temple of Iupiter a temple of Iuno a temple of Saturne a temple of old age
haue made their residences This citie of Auignion among other rareties hath seauen thinges of note seauen againe of each of them to wit seauen Pallaces seauen Parishes seauen Hospitales seauen Monasteries of women seauen Colleges seauen Couents seauen Gates PROVENCE THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDY THe countie of Burgundy the frenchmen call La franche Conté that is to say a free earldome the limits of this earldome northward are Lorraine Germany southward Sauoy westward the Duchy of Burgundy eastward Svvitserland Besançon Dole are the two chief cities of this country The former of these beeing very auncient is the principall of all It hath as good pleasant a situation as any citie els beeing enuyroned with ritch mountaines plentiful vineyards forests of goodly Oakes the riuer of Doux which passeth through the middest thereof doth yeild vnto it very good fish Dole standeth also vpon the same riuer and hath a flourishing vniuersitie in all faculties of learning In a parte of this country there are salt pittes which do yeild moste excellent pure whyte salt In that parte called Arbois groweth the excellent wyne called vin d'Arbois The whole country although but litle is both fruteful wel inhabited albeit it bee said of Orgelet a place where very industrious people dwel that liue by clothmaking that by reason of the rocks mountaynes the fields are without gras the riuers without fish the hilles without wood THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDY THE DVCHIE OF BVRGVNDIE THis second or lower Burgundie now a Dukedome was in former ages a kingdome the kinges where of did for the moste parte make their residences in the citie of Arles so as the boundes of this kingdome stretched much farther then this Duchie now doth the which paleth with Campaigne on the north syde with Niuernois Bourbonnoys on the west with the country of Lions on the south the countie of Burgundie on the east Of this Duchie Dijeon is the chief citie it lieth vpon the riuer of Ouche here is held the tribunall or courte of Parlament for Burgundie c. The riuer whereon this citie standeth is full of fish The country is very frutefuul yeildeth very good wyne The Dukes of Burgundie haue heretofore bene very famous of great power opulence and the people valiant The country taketh name as Saniulianus saith of a Burg or castle in the vally of Ogue therefore called Burgogue It hath besydes Dijeon diuers fair cities as Beaunle Chalon Mascon sundry others among which Autun sheweth it self to bee of great antiquitie where the ruynes of a great Theatre are yet to bee seene The cronicles of Aemylius do shew how about the yeare 1044 the whole country of Burgundie was deuyded into two partes to wit into a Dukedome and an Earldome THE DVCHIE of BVRGVNDIE LORRAINE THis Dukedome accompted to bee of Germanie hath on the east syde the country of Alsatia in the south the countie of Burgundy in the west Champaigne on the north the forest of Arden It was heretofore a kingdome and called Austrasia but then extending it self much farther then it now doth It tooke the name of Lorraine of Lotbarius nephew vnto Charles the great was annexed vnto the Empyre vnder Otho the first The country is hilly but wanteth nothing necessary for mannes vse It is furnished with cattel hath very good medowes pasture groundes it yeildeth corne wyne It hath mynes of Siluer Tin Copper Iron Lead Pearles are found in some waters in the valley of vaguy The pretious stone called the Calcedony with sundry other stones of woorth are here fomid as also azure More-ouer here is exceeding pure whyte salt which is said to yeild yearly vnto the Duke all charges borne 100000 Franckes There is a lake about 14 leagues in compas wherein amonge other sortes of fish are carpes of exceeding sweet taste comonly of three foote long one foote large this Lake beeing fished euery three yeares doth yeild somuch that it maketh in yearly value vnto the Duke 16000 Franks Lorraine hath many fyne riuers the holesome warm bath of Plombiers The chief citie is Nancy there the Duke moste comonly resydeth LORRAINE CALIS and BVLLEN OF all partes of the maine continent this only parte is in the view of England England thereof is viewed These two townes with their territories are paled on the east syde with west Flaunders on the west syde with the English or narrow seas northward with the Germaine Ocean southward with Artois Picardie The country aboute Bullen is good pleasant inward into the land are hilles some woods which are accompted portions or partes of the great forest of Arden which the french call Boys de morman The country about Calis is vnpleasant low warrish Calis of sundry authors is called Iccius Portus but others atribute that name vnto Bullen At Bullen is yet beheld a strong tower built by Iulius Ceasar of Englishmen called the old man The towne territory of Calis was subiect to the crowne of England from the yeare 1346 what tyme through force of armes it was by Edvvard the third taken from the french vnto the yeare 1557 when the Lord vventvvorth beeing gouernour thereof for Queene Marie it was taken againe by the French so that it remayned in the possession of the English 210 yeares and the towne of Calis became famous through the Staple of wool by them there holden In tymes past the towne of Calis belonged vnto Flaunders after vnto France then to England so to France agame as hath bin said in the yeare 1596 It was taken from the French through force by the Archduke then Cardinal Albertus of Austria gouernour of the Netherlands at that tyme for the King of Spaine in the yeare 1598 vpon a peace concluded betwene France Spaine it was rendred againe to the French CALIS and BVLLEN VERMANDOIS VErmandois is almost enuyroned with Picardy saue that on the one syde thereof it ioyneth vpon Artois and Cambresy It is a litle prouince but the name is of antiquitie the people thereof were of old called Veromandui The chief towne hereof is called S. Quintins which was long since called Augusta Veromanduorum howbeit one author saith that thesaid Augusta was two myles from the towne of S. Quintines and was since called the Abbey of Vermond This was wont to bee a Bishopryke but S. Medard the fourteenth Bishop of Vermandois translated that seat vnto Noyon in the yeare 524 when the Vandales came into France Phillip the second King of Spaine tooke this towne by force of armes in the yeare 1557 with great discomfiture losse of the French men In this country of Vermandois two notable riuers haue there begining the one not far from the other The one is the riuer of Somme which passing through Picardie falleth into the sea at S. Valeries The other is the riuer of Skeld which passing
bin a tayler hauing endured the moste extremitie of a hard siege were at the last by the Bishop true lord of that citie subdued punished and according to their demerits VVESTPHALIA DITMERS DItmers called in latin Thietmarsia or rather Teutomarss lying at the mouth of the riuer of Elbe where Cimbrica Chersonesus taketh begining hath on the northsyde the riuer Eyder on the east the dukdome of Holsteyn on the south the riuer Elbe and Stâ—rmarsia on the west the Germaine sea All the country is ful of brooks marish groundes for which cause the frutefulnes of the soile is the lesse praise woorthy the name of Ditmers betokeneth the nature of the place for mers or meyrish with them is the same that marish is in English These people were of old accompted amongst the Saxons but they are now subiect vnto the king of Denmarck and were subdued by force in the yeare of our lord 1559. by Aduphus the sonne of Frederik king of Denmarck since which tyme it alwayes remayneth vnto the king of Denmarckes eldest sonne DITMERS DENMARCK THis kingdome is by the sea denyded into sundry portions the first is eastward called Scandia which hath on the west the kingdome of Svveeden the ayre thereof is good and the country fruteful hauing great store of corne flesh fish it hath also mynes of Gold siluer copper lead 7. The west portion of Denmarck is Iutia called of Ptolomey Cimbrica Chersonesus which stretcheth it self out betwene 2 seas not much vnlyke though much lesse then Italy hauing on the east syde the Germaine Ocean on the west the Baltishsea There are also belonging to Denmarck diuers Iles whereof the chiefest is Seland Iutland was in oldyme in habited by the Saxens who afterward by the Danes were chased thence Munsterus saith that Denmarck was a kingdome long before the birth of Christe that of the first king thereof called Dan the country took the name which it yet retayneth but yf Iunius bee to bee belieued then hath Denmarck taken appellation of the firrtres other wise called den trees which do grow in the country in all aboundance The inhabitants of this kingdome haue in former ages borne their armes through out Europe established their power in the moste noble regions thereof for from hence came both the Gothes the Gothes the Longobardes DENMARCK SAXONIE THe name of Saxonie heretofore comon to diuers protinces now remaineth vnto two to wit the higher the lower Saxonie high Saxonie hath the dignitie of the prince elector the principall cities thereof are VVittenberg Torga Nether Saxonie hath the cities of Flamburg Breme and in the middest lieth the citie of Brunsvvik It ioyneth eastward vnto the marquesdome of Brandenbourg westward vpon VVestphalia southward on Thuringia northward it extendeth to the Germanie sea Besydes sundry necessary thinges for the vse of man where-with Saxonie is wel furnished it hath diuers mynes as of Siluer Copper and Lead There is taken out of pits a certaine kynde of stone called in their tongue Schyffer for it lightly shelfereth or shiuereth it is black of colour it is mixed with copper brimstone the copper by fyre is gotten out of it VVhen this stone is shelfered in peces there are seene in it diuers veynes of a golden colour which is a most wonderful woork of Nature there apeereth the pictures of diuers sortes of beastes fishes foules serpens as perfectly as yf they were drawne thereon by the arte of a painter The inhabitants of Saxonie are strong hardy people which is held to proceede of there diet which is nothing dainty or curious they feed yong children with chewed flesh rather then with pap or milk VVyne groweth not in Saxonie but their ordinary drinck is beere SAXONIE BRANDENBOVRG IN tyme fore-past all the countrey beyond the riuer Albis vulgarly Elbe whereof this Marquisdome of Brandenbourg was a parcel was inhabited by the Vandales This prouince confyneth eastward with Polonia westward with Saxonie Northward with Meckelburg Pomerania and southward with Mifnia and Silesia The chief citie is called Brandenbourg therof the whole Marquisdome taketh name the citie it self took name of Brandus a prince of the Franckes Henry the Emperor surnamed the faukner besieged this citie in winter when the waters about it were frosen his soldiers passing ouer the yse took it by assault he placed here a Marckgraue thus began the greatnes of this Prince who aftward be came so remaineth one of the Princes electors The countrey is very fruteful espetially in come it hath many fish-pondes meddowes It hath moreouer vineyardes which were first planted by the Marck-graue Albertus At Francford vpon the riuer Oder which is in this marquisdome is an vniuersitie founded by the Marck-graue Ioachim in the yeare 1506. neere to this citie from the vyne-hilles runneth a small brook which is length of tyme conuerteth wood other thinges throwne into it into stone BRANDENBOVRG POMERANIA POmery whereof the Latin name Pomerania cometh signifieth in the vandalish language a country lying neere the sea euen as this country so named doth which al along the northsyde lyeth on the Baltish sea on the east it ioyneth to Prusia southward it hath the Marquisdome of Brandenbourg westward the Dukedome of Mekelbourg In this country of Pomerania and the confyning places the Vandales inhabited the people yet dwelling there beeing of that race who after they were brought from paganisme to the Christian faith began to frame both their language customes neerer vnto their neighbours the Saxons The country hath many riuers meynes or litle lakes The meddowes are very good on the higher groundes there are woods Beastes both wyld tame it hath great store of great plentie of corne fish butter hony wax and wanteth no necessary comoditie Amber is here gotten out of the sea albeit not in such aboundance as in Prusia The chief citie of this prouince although there be other cities of more antiquitie is called Stetin beeing very pleasantly situated vpon the syde of the riuer of Oder POMERANIA SILESIA SIlesia lieth eastward confyning on Polonia southward vpon Morauia VVesterly vpon Bohemia northwest vpon Lusatia This country hath heretofore bene many yeares vnder the dominion of the King of Polonia afterward it came to belong vnto the crowne of Bohemia The chief citie is Preslavv which is built with a very great vniformitie The inhabitants of the greater parte of Silesia to speake the Germaine tongue the rest the polonian language The country is hilly yet hath it many woods from the mountaines of Bohemia many riuers brooks descending do take diuers passages through this prouince and increase the fertillitie thereof The gentlemen of this country are giuen to husbandry which is not vsuall with the gentlemen of other parts of Germany and yet are they not-with-standing wel trayned exercysed in feates of armes SILESIA AVSTRIA
the ancient owners The chief citie is Aquilea somtyme ritch famous but since obscured through the greatnes neerenesse of the cittie of Venice FRIVLI ISTRIA IStria is almoste a peninsula it is situate on the vpper end of the gulf of Venice or the Adriatik sea hauing the said sea on all sydes saue on the north for there it is ioyned with the continent of Croatia with the high mountaines thereof it is limitted In this prouince are sundry cities the chief whereof are Caâ—od'istria otherwise called Instinopolis Parenzo and Pola the later beeing famous both for the antiquitie thereof the comodiousnes of the hauen It is said to haue bene builded by those of Colebe from whence the inhabitants of this country wil seeme to bee descended the great antiquitie in deed appeereth by certaine Arckes and Towers yet remayning By Attila King of the Hunnes this cittie as many other was sore spoyled About Cauod'istria the country is very fruteful it bringeth foorth wyne oyle hath good meddowes for the nouriture of cattel it hath also good salt The high hil called Monte Maggior which to the shipmen at sea doth giue the first shew of this country is frequented by the apothecaries seekers of simples for the excellent herbes here growing whereof some bee very rare as els where scarsly or not at all to bee found ISTRIA ZARA and ZEBENICO THe territorie of Zara and Zebenico lying on the northeast syde of the Adriatyk sea otherwise called the gulf of Venice is almost an I le but by ioyning with the continent on the northsyde it is a peninsula Zara was somtyme called Iadera it was a citie where soldiers resided strong foreseene of all necessary thinges which was the cause of their often resisting the venetians in fyne their owne subduing In this citie among other antiquities there lieth the body of S. Simeon which as saith Peeter Martyr of Angleria doth yet remaine whole intyre and that hee wondred that a dead body should so long remaine whole vncorrupted which neither with Mirrhe or any ointment hath bene conserued The citie of Zebenico was of old tyme called Sic it is not of that greatnesse or fame that Zara is of which is a faire wel built citie wel situated for the comoditie of the sea ZARA and ZEBENICO THE DVKEDOME OF MILAN THis moste pleasant parte of goodly Lombardy confyneth eastward with the territories of Parma and Cremona westward with Piemont Southward with the mountaines of Svvitzerland The citie of Milan is the chief of all the citties of this duchie hath bene euen the balle of fortune to bee tossed transposed to from somany commaunders This cittie is very great the buildings high beautifull the citizens excelling in all artes and sciences The Demo or great churche is maruelous faire beeing within without adorned with goodly imagery of whyte marble The castle of Milan is held to bee the chiefest place of strength of all christendome Many other notable cities are in this duchie scarsly is their any one towne or cittie to bee found where the memorie of warr either at it or neere about it doth not yet remaine The countrie is very euen hauing euery where fyne brooks of cleere water passing through it as also some principall riuers whereof the Po is the chief which beginning at mount Vesulus endeth in the Adriatyk sea The soile is exceeding fruteful aboundant in all thinges as corne wyne flesh fish all sortes of excellent frutes THE DVKEDOME of MILAN PIEMONT THis countrie is wholy on the west syde partly on the north south sydes ioyned vnto the Alpes and is the first plaine euen ground that beginneth at the foote of those mountaines therefore rightly hath the name of Piemont westward it ioyneth vnto the state of Milan is accompted as a parte of Lombardy It is a very pleasant fruteful soyle yeilding good corne wyne aboundance of other necessary thinges for humaine sustenance The chief cittie is called Turin called heretofore Augusta Taurinorum it is very faire beautifyed with goodly buyldings conteyning both the court of the Prince who also is duke of Sauoy the court of Parlament and the vniuersitie There are besydes this cittie sundry other fyne townes strong castles many villages About a quarter of an Italian myle from the cittie of Turin runneth the famous riuer of Po. which in tymes past was called Padus Eridonus PIEMONT THE TERRITORIE of ROOME THis territorie of Roome long tyme since called Latium is by diuers authors diuersly limitted but Leander beginneth it on the east syde with the riuer Liris westward with the Tiber Anien noorthward with the Appenynes This prouince hath bin the beginning of the greatnes of Italy the place that hath brought foorth and fostered the greatest princes of the world The region is fruteful watered with sundry riuers diuers citties it hath but the cittie of Roome not only of this territorie but of all the citties of the world hath atchieued the greatest reputation It was first builded by Romulus in the yeare before the birth of Christe 751. It hath conteyned within it 7 hilles and the circuit thereof as saith Plinie was 20 myles the cittie suburbes had 24 gates There were also 734 towres about it in them were the garrisons loged Now in our tyme is the ciruit of the cittie only 13 myles it hath some 365 towres Through the diuers destructions of this cittie it hath bin mightely altered the very forme fassion thereof wholy changed as also the number of hilles which in tyme of the heathen Emperors were named reconed to bee in old Roome yet the riuer of Tiber as of old doth stil hold his course through this cittie There are now to bee seene many moste goodly Pallaces faire Churches old ruynes the which ruynes do yet carry in them a certaine maiesticall shew of that glorie which in tymes past hath bene in this place The residence of the Pope is in this cittie his chief Pallace aioyneth vnto the great Church of S. Peeter Besydes all the Churches monasteries in Rome ther are more hospitalles places where all sortes of sick diseased persons are relieued then in any other cittie in all christendome THE TERRITORIE of ROOME THE TERRITORIE of SIENA THis territore is accompted within the limits of Tuscane howbeit lying at the east end thereof hauing on the southsyde the Mediteraneum sea The soile is pleasant fertile yeilding corne wyne oyle other frutes The places towards the sea coast comonly called Maremma are not held so good by reason of the ilnes of the ayre are therefore the lesse inhabited The cittie of Siena whereof the territory taketh name is very ancient and vnto Plinie Tacitus Ptolomey was not vnknowne Not only the gentlemen but the gentlewomen also of this cittie are very studious more then
Sigismond the first so annexed vnto Polonia OZVVICZIN and ZATOR TRANSSILVANIA THis country called in latin Transsiluania is of the Germaines called Seuenbergher-Lant that is the Seuen-hily country of seauen principall hilles where with among other that bee lesser this country is enuyroned It confyneth on the west syde with Hungary hath Moldauia VValachia ioyning to it on the northeast southeast The country albeit mountainous is very good yeilding both corne wyne cattel very aboundantly There are in it wyld oxen which haue beardes vnder their chinnes and wyld horses whose manes do hang downe to the ground Mynes there are also both of gold siluer The chief cittie is called Hermenstat but Alba-Iulia is the oldest The people are very valiant haue bene very victorious against their cruel easterne neighbours the Turcks from whose inuasions they are much defended through the mountaines that enuiron the whole countrie euen as a cittie is enuyroned with a walle The Ceculiernes are esteemed moste valiant these haue among them no difference betwene gentlemen boores but liue all in an ordinary state Parte of the Transsiluanians do speak the Germaine tongue but these the Hungarian The Prince of this country is called the Vayuode these vayuodes were wont to bee placed there by the kinges of Hungara TRANSSILVANIA PRVSSIA THis country bordereth eastward on Lituania southward with Polonia northward with Liuonia westward with Pomerania The Knights of the Teutonic or Duitsche order haue here borne great anthoritie the which at last by the King of Polonia was abridged Albert Marck-graue of Brandenbeurg was the last great-master who by an agreement with k. Sigismond of Polonia left his habit held this country in see of the King and so became duke thereof It is now denyded into 2 partes the one belonging vnto the King of Polonia the other vnto the duke of Prusia who keepeth his residence in the cittie of Coningsperg The sea shore of this country doth yeild the fairest sorte of amber the which is aswel drawne vp out of the sea with nets as gathered on the sea syde The country is maruelous aboundant in corne cattel wel furnished with fish it hath great store of woods wildernesses There are many Beares stagges wyld swyne wyld horses a greater kynd of buffulaes then are in Italy or other partes the wyld horses are neuer tamed beeing found not seruiceable through their weaknes of back The beast Alces is heerfound who resembleth the horse in proportion the hert in hornes sauing that the hornes bee more broder are yearly cast new grow againe In the woodes wildernesses are great store of bees which yeild aboundance of hony wax PRVSSIA POLONIA VVestward is this kingdome aioyning vnto Germany northward vnto the Baltish sea Prusia eastward vnto Lituania southward vnto Hungarie It is deuyded into 2 partes the greater the lesser the greater lieth toward the north the lesser towardes the south Cracouia is the chief citie there the King keepeth his court it is also an vniuersitie Danske which lieth on the Baltish sea is a cittieof great trafike of marchandise espetialy of corne the other citties are but meanly builded of no great same The whole country is plaine vnhilly therefore of the inhabitants called Pole which in their tongue signifieth plat or plaine The people of Polania Lituania Samogithia Masouia Volhini Podolia Russia Moldauia are those which of old authors were called Sarmates Lituania is great but not greatly inhabited a beast is there found called Rosomacka of the ordinarie bignes of a dog hauing a face lyk a cat a taile lyk a fox it feedeth on carren beeing ful it forceth it felf to pas betwene the narrownes of 2 trees thereby voydeth all that it hath eaten then goeth to eat againe returneth to voyd it as before continueth so long as the carren that it feedes vpon lasteth Samogithia ioyneth to Lituania the country is cold the people are strong helthful do fare hard Massonia yeildeth much hony the inhabitants mak their drinck therewith Volhinia is very fertile full of townes vilages Podolia is of corne gras so aboundant that the lyk is not knowne Russia aboundeth in horses oxen sheep In this countrie in somer are certaine woormes called Ephimere which beeing newly bred do in the morning run vpon the water at none they haue winges fly aboue the water they die before the Son setting of these woormes Aristotle speaketh in his first book of beastes Moldauia is a parte of walachia the chief cittie is Sotschen the people are good soldiers is it said that the regents of this country do cause their yong children to be marcked with hot irons that thereby their descent may the more certainly bee knowne POLONIA LIVONIA LIuonia called in the Germaine tongue Lysland lieth on the eastsyde on Russia on the westsyde on the Baltish sea northward an arme of the sea seperateth it from Eniland southward it bordereth vpon Prussia The chief cittie of this country is Riga which is a place of great trafike as are the other principall places of Reuel Narua The country is somwhat sandie not mountanous Great woods there are store of wyld beastes as foxes Martres Sables Ermynes hares It yeildeth wax hony wheat rie and furres The people are not greatly industrious nor wholy ciuil The faith of Christ was preached vnto them about the yeare 1270 diuers of the rude people are yet heathenish nor letting to pray vnto the Sun to the Moone or to some great tree or to one thing or other according as their blynd folly leades them VVhen one of them is dead they put with him into his graue an ax bread wyne meat some peece of mony bid him go his wayes into the other woorld where he shall raigne ouer the Duitschmen as they haue raigned ouer him in this They are subiect vnto a certaine order of Germane knights that do rule gouerne them The great master of which order keepeth his court residence at VVenden a towne situate in the middest of the country LIVONIA THE NORTHERNE REGIONS THe Septentrional regions of Europe that hetherto are knowne are first that which is called the I le of Scandia which conteyneth the kingdomes of Sweden Norwey a parte of Denmarck then the famous I le of Albion conteyning England Scotland VVales then are there the Iles of Ireland Friesland Island Groeneland Grecland c. the rest yet vndiscouered Of all which regions the realme of England is the principal best parte by reason of the goodnes of the soile and myldnes of the ayre in that it lieth more to the south then any of the other Sweden is a country very mountanous ful of lakes riuers aboundant in cattel fish hauing also mynes of siluer copper lead Iron The chief
also sheep whose tailes are of incredible greatnes conteyne 5 or 6 yea 8 or 9 pound of flesh A certaine beast there is which is called Hyena which draweth dead bodies out of the graues vnto his den and their feedeth on them it is about the bignes of a wolf the people of the country are of opinion that these beastes do vnderstand their speech espetialy when they go about to catche them These people are generally held to be very crafty fals deceatful NATOLIA EGIPT THis ritch ancient kingdome hath on the north syde thereof the Midland sea on the east the desert of Sues the northerne end of the Red sea on the south the countrie of Nubia on the west the land of Barcha In this country of Egipt it raineth not but the riuer of Nyle ouerflowing it at sundry tymes doth make it of great fertilitie in the said riuer is a piller of marble whereon are made certaine markes of the height that the water doth arise vnto when the yeare wil prooue plentiful The riuer is deep great ships may pas on it the great serpent called the Crocodile liueth heere and eateth both men horse the fish of the riuer The greatest cittie is called Cairo or Alcaire it is meruelous great of great welth Not far from hence are the moste wonderful Pyramides vpon the greatest whereof as Plinie writerh 2060 men did continually woork for the space of 20 yeares they are buylded foure square from the foot vnto the top do stil grow sloping lesse lesse a man standing on the top for there is some space to stand or go shooting a bolt out of a crosbow the bolt in falling downe wil light on the same Pyramide which argueth the greatenes of the space it carieth beneath at the foot which greatnes also apeereth in that it neuer yeildeth any shadow from it These Pyramides haue bene buylt by the ancient kinges of Egipt to serue for their sepulchres these sepulchres the Egiptians vsed for the conseruation of their dead bodies which euen at this present are found vnrotten the flesh of them is called Mummia caried thence into other countries to bee vsed in medicyne The 2 principall sea-hauens of Egipt are Alexandria Damiata EGIPT THE porte of CARTHAGE THe countrie enuyroning the gulf of Golette otherwise called Sinus Cartha ginensis hauing at the south end thereof the cittie of Tunis is now after the name of that cittie called the kingdome of Tunis It lieth on the northsyde on the Midland sea almost directly ouer against Sardinia on the west it extendeth to Algiers eastward to Mesurata all along on the southsyde it hath the mountaines that seperate Barbarie from Biledulgerid This kingdome conteyneth 5 prouinces to wit Bugia Constantine the iurisdiction of the cittie of Tunis Tripoli and Ezzab On the west syde of thesaid Gulf are the ruynes of an aquaduct of the Ancient cittie of Carthage whereof but some sew ruynes els are left behynde to testify that once so famous a cittie hath flowrished in that place some number of howses village-lyke to that it hath bin about 25 shops of marchants are now there to bee found This cittie of Carthage is a true glasse wherein the incertitude of this vaine world may bee seene that no glorie on earth can haue euerlasting durance THE porte of CARTHAGE ABISSINE or the EMPYRE of PRESTER-IOHN THe great King comannder of all Aethiopia sundry other kingdomes countries is called of Christians Proster Iohn of the moores Arictabassi of his owne people Acegue that is Emperor His dominions are limited on the southsyde with the Mountaines Lamae on the west with the kingdome of Congo the riuer Nyger c. on the north with Nubia Bugia that confyne vpon Egipt on the east with the Red sea Synus Barbaricus The country generaly is very fruteful albeit there bee litle corne yet is there other grayne other good frutes not found in Europe vineyards they haue but no olyue trees yet make they oyle of an herbe called Gena Of hony and wax they haue meruelous great store They haue al sortes of great beastes as Elephants Lions Camels horses red-deere kyen gotes c. they are much endamaged by great multitudes of grashopers Good mynes of metals they haue but not theskil to make vse of them They haue 2 somers 2 winters which are not greatly denyded by heat or cold but by rainy faire wheather The people are of a kynde of tawny colour vnseene in notable scyences without knowlege of Phisick They haue no coyned mony but vse peces or wedges of gold by waight They are Christians but hold many grosse errors both men and women are circumsised they are Christened at 40 dayes old They haue a book which is deuyded in 8 partes which they beleeue the Apostles to haue written before their departure from Ierusalem Mōnasteries they haue many both of men women wherein they do liue stricktly but it is lawfull for lay men to haue 2 or 3 wyues at once deuorcements are also allowed The Emperor affirmeth him self to be descended from the lyne of King Dauid he hath no one setled place of residence but remoueth from one prouince to another dwelleth in tents It is said hee is not of the colour of his people but of a whyter fairer skin He may surely bee accompted one of the greatest princes of the world is esteemed able to bring to the feld a million of men 500 elephants a great nomber of horses camels ABISSINE or the EMPYRE of PRESTER-IOHN BARBARIE ON the northsyde of Africa all along by the Mediteraneum sea oueragainst the south partes of Spaine France Italy lieth this country of Barbarie al along on the southsyde thereof are certaine woodie mountaines that deuyde it from Biledulgerid in these hilles are great store of wyld beastes This country of Barbarie is held the best moste fruteful parte of Africa conteyneth 4. kingdomes or rather in deed prouinces to wit Maroco Fez Telesine and Tunis The inhabitants are of a duscish colour are called Barbarians of the woord Barbara which in the Arabee tongue signifieth grumbling because their speech soundeth in the eares of the Arabians as no perfect or cleere pronunced speech but as a kynde of grumbling they were first Idolaters afterward conuerted to the faith of Christ yet at the length they came to Mahometisme wherein they yet continew are for the most parte subiects or tributaries to the Turck except some few places which are in the possession of the King of Spaine BARBARIE FESSE and MAROCCO AT the west end of Barbarie are thease 2 kingdomes of Fesse Marocco that of fesse lieth of the twaine more toward the north the Mediteraneum sea that of Marrocco more inward toward the south The realme of Fesse taketh name of
the chief cittie thereof which is so called it is the greatest cittie of all Barbarie hauing in it 500 Moschees to wit churches wherein their Mahometical seruice is said for the inhabitants are Mahometaines as those of Marocco also are they are vncourteous vnciuil espetialy toward strangers they are of a pale-tauny collour often subiect vnto agues by reason of the vnhole somnes of the ayre The cittie of Marocco whereof that kingdome also taketh appellation is not as it was of old hauing lost the third parte of the wonted greatnes thereof as the yet remayning ruynes do testify where were wont to bee goodly edifices there are now gardens groues of palme trees That which doth now retaine any beauty therin is the royal pallace which the King Mansor caused to bee buylded FESSE and MAROCCO THE TABLE A AByssine 108 Africa 4 America 5 Ancona 71 Andalusia 12 Aniovv 20 Asia 3 Abruzzo 80 Artois 37 Austria 52 B Barbarie 109 Bauaria 55 Bohemia 53 Berry 21 Brabant 39 Brandenbourg 49 Brescia 74 Britannia 18 Burgundie countie 26 Burgundie Duchie 27 C Calis Bullen 29 Candie or Creet 87 Carthage porte 107 China 100 Como lake 72 Corfu 86 Carsica 83 Crema 77 Cremona 76 Cyprus 88 D Denmarck 47 Ditmers 46 E Egipt 106 England 6 Europe 2 F Fesse 110 Flanders 40 France 15 Franconia 57 Friuli 62 Friesland 44 G Gades 14 Gasconie 16 Geldres 41 Germanie 32 Greece 89 H Henalt 36 Holland 43 Hungarie 91 I Illyricum 90 India 101 Inferior Germanie 33 Ischia 84 Istria 63 Ireland 8 Italia 61 L Larius lake 72 Liege 34 Limousin 22 Lituania 95 Liuonia 96 Lorraine 28 Lutzenburg 35 M Malta 85 Marroc 110 Milan 65 Misnia 48 Mosscouie 98 N Namure 38 Natolia 105 Naples 79 Nortgoia 56 Normandie 19 Northern Regions 97 O Orange 23 Oruieto 70 Ozvviczin 92 P Padua 73 Palestyne 104 Persia 102 Perugia 69 Picardia 31 Piemont 26 Poictou 17 Polonia 95 Pomerania 50 Portugal 11 Prouence 25 Prussia 94 R Roome territ Russia 98 S Salisburg Dioces 54 Sardinia 82 Sauoy 24 Saxonie 48 Scotland 7 Sclauonia 90 Siena territ 68 Sicilia 81 Silesia 51 Spaine 10 Suitzerland 60 Svveden 97 T Tartarie 99 Tercera 9 Thuringia 48 Tirol 59 Transsilunia 92 Tunis 107 Turkie 103 Tuscane 78 V Valencia 13 Vermandois 30 Verona 75 VV VVestphalia 45 VVirtenberg 58 The VVorld 1 Z Zara Zebenico 64 Zator 92 Zeland 42 AN ADDITION OF CERTAINE MAPS VNTO THIS EPITOME OF THE THEATRE OF ABRAHAM ORTELIVS LIMAGNE THis region conteyneth the best parte of the countrie of Auuergne It is most pleasant delectable with goodly forests pure fointaines hot bathes mines of siluer and many sortes of good frutes in it is a certaine water that turneth thinges cast into it into stone Here in is the chief cittie of all Auuergne called Clerment the which francis Belforest affirmeth to haue bene of old tyme that much renowmed cittie Gergonie where Vercingetorix King of Auuergne was wont to kepe his residence In this cittie in the yeare of our lord 1095 was hild the great counsel by meanes of Pope Vrban the fifth about the solicitation of Christian Princes to vndertake war against the infidels for the winning of the Holy land more Christian Princes nobillitie were here then met together then scarsly can bee remembred to haue bene at one tyme place in one assembly Here was also holden in the yeare 1374 a generall meeting of the states of France vnder King Charles the fifth about the expelling of the Englishmen out of such strong places as they then possessed in Auuergne LIMAGNE CHAMPAGNE THe name of this prouince is not ancient the first knowne author that nameth it Champaigne is Aimon as it seemeth it taketh this appellation because it is a champaine vnhillie countrie It is frontyred on the east syde with Lorraine on the south with the Duchie of Burgundie on the west with Brie on the north it hath Retelois It is very plentiful of wyne corne in it are sundry principal citties townes whereof Trois Rbemes are the chief The first beeing a ritch cittie of marchandise where great store of paper is made the other an vniuersitie the staple for wynes of those partes whereof the countrie people haue among them an old prouerb that hee that hath the purs of Troys the seller of Rhemes is able to make war against the King The cittie of Rbemes is very ancient as apeereth by Ceasars comentaries and in this cittie the kinges of France are wont to bee anioynted CHAMPAGNE TOVRAINE THis countrie of Touraine beeing not great hath on the west syde Anion on the south Poictou on the east the territorie of Blois on the north the countrie of Maine parte of Veudome The chief cittie is called Towers which may be reconed among the richest citties of France aswel for the fertillitie of the countrie about it seeming rather gardens then feildes as also for the industry of the inhabitants both in their trasike of marchandise and in their skil in the woorking weauing of silk as fyne wel as yf it came out of Italy VVestward from Towers downe the riuer of Loyre is the cittie of Amboise situate in a healthful ayre moste pleasant territorie Vpon the riuer of Indre which falleth in fyne into the Loire standeth the towne of Laches which hath a faire castle the which through the situation of the place is held impregnable for that it standeth on a rock In this castle was discouered a passage through an Iron gate into a deep caue or dongeon therein was found sitting a Giant resting his elbow vpon the syde of the place where he sat his head vpon his hand as yf he had slept but beeing touched his flesh fel to duste the bones only remayned besydes him stood a cofer which beeing opened their was found in it whyte linen folded together but in the opening of it it brake in peces How this Gigant came to bee here so set seeing no records do shew it s it is left vnto sundry supposals Diuers othergood townes there are in this territorie as Paâ—trâ—y Chastillion Cormery Beaulieu others TOVRAINE THE TERRITORIE of BLOIS VPon the riuer of Loyre about the midway betwene Orleans Amboys lieth the cittie of Blois whereof the territorie about it is accordingly named The soile is very fruteful espetially in corne and the ayre so holesome that sundry noblemen beeing sickly haue bene by their phisitians aduysed to go liue for the recouery of their health in this cittie or territorie for which cause of holesomnes of the ayre diuers kinges of france haue not only here much resyded but haue made it the nercery or place for the bringing vp of their children The cittie of Blois is very ancient at a place called Orcbeze which is about two leagues from it was sometyme Ceasars Magasin or the place of prouision of graine
a temple of death In these temples alters were erected to the Gods of the yeare to monethly Gods to Arte pouertie The inhabitants of this prouince did in tymes past excel in nauigation they do not now degenerate from their anceters Their chief comodities rise of salt fish This was the last I le knowne in the world as antiquitie belieued And there they said the Sunne beeing weeried with running his dayly race descended into the Ocean sea tooke rest therefore this I le is of Statius called the Sunnes bed GADES FRANCE THe realme of France as now it is limitted hath on the north syde the narrow seas that deuyde it from England westward it hath the west Ocean in the southwest it ioyneth to Spaine directly south it bordereth vpon the Mediterraneum sea On the Eastsyde to begin from the south downward vnto the north it bordereth first vpon Sauoy then on the Countie of Burgundie otherwise called La Franche Countè so along by Lorraine vpon Luxembourg Heualt Ã…rtois This goodly kingdome is aboundant in corne and wyne al sortes of frutes hauing plenty of cattel and foule wanteth not all other necessarie thinges mynes it is not renowmed to haue yet is it moste ritch opulent beeing situate in the middest of the chief countries of Europe hauing trafike on all sydes It shal not be needful to shew the three parts wherein Ceasar recounteth it to haue bene deuyded of oldtyme seeing both the limitts and inhabitants are since altered At this present it is deuyded into eight prouinces which are vnder eight continual courtes of Parlament The first is the prouince of France otherwise called the I le of France wherein the citie of Paris is situate In which citie the first courte of parlament resideth The second prouince is Languedoc the parlament whereof is in Tholouse The third Guienne whose parlament is in Bourdeaux The fowrth is Normandie whose parlament is in Roan The fist is Burgundie whose parlament is Dijeon The sixt is Dauphinè whose parlament is in Grenoble The seauenth is Prouence whose parlament is in Aix The eight is Britannie whose parlament is in Renes and vnder these eight prouinces all France is conteyned limitted for recours of iustice vnto these parlaments FRANCE GASCONIE THis prouince of Gasconie is situate on the southwest syde of France reatching on thesaid syde vnto the Pireney mountaines by the which France Spaine are deuyded On the east syde it hath Languedoc and on the north Guienne and Arminac The people are valiant warlyk The country is very plentiful of all thinges but it chiefly aboundeth in wyne where with it not only serueth it self but sundry other countryes in Europe besydes In the tyme of Carolus Magnus it was called the kingdome of Gascony In this country thesaid Charles the great marching against the Saracins of Spaine did lose in a battaile forty thowsand men in which battaile his noble nephew the Earle Roland was slaine This country was first subdued vnto France by Dagobert the first of that name In the yeare of our lord 1155 both it and all Aquitaine came to bee subiect vnto the crowne of England through the mariage of King Henry the second of that name with Elinor daughter and heyr vnto VVilliam Duke of Aquitaine And it was lost in the yeare of our lord 1453. in the 31 yeare of the raigne of King Henry the sixt so as it remayned vnder the obeisanâ—e of England about 300 yeares GASCONIE POICTOV THis prouince of Poitou called in Latin Pictauia is detryded into two partes to wit the Superior Inferior The vpper Poitou is that which stretcheth east-ward towards the countries of Towrs Berry the nether Poitou is that parte which westward extendeth it self to the Ocean sea It is a country frutefull in Corne Cattel rich in wynes furnished with great store of fish And the great aboundance of wyld beastes fowle doth cause the delightfull sportes of hunting hauking to bee here much vsed The chief citie of this prouince is called Poitiers having a notable vniuersitie chiefly for study of the Ciuil law this citie is of great antiquitie as appeereth by the Theatre Aquaduct monuments which are there yet remaining POICTOV BRITANNIE BRitannie called in tyme past Armorica bordereth eastward vpon the country of Maine and a parte of Aniou towards the north it hath the narrow sea a parte of the country of Constantin towards the west the maine Ocean towards the south the country of Poitou It is reconed in two partes to wit the higher the lower Britany There are in it nyne Bishoprykes which are deuided into three distinckt quarters Three of these which are Cornuaille S. Paul Treguiers do speake the British tongue the inhabitants are called Cornubians Other three to wit those of Dol Renes S. Malo do speake the French tongue The third beeing those of Nantes Vannes and S. Brieu do speak both French and British The principall townes in Britannie are Nantes and Renes but in Renes resydeth the courte of Parlament for the whole prouince The chief hauen of all Britany is that of Brest It is not to bee omitted that the hauen of S. Malo is garded with mastiues which beeing thereto trayned do there kepe diligent night watch It is generally a pleasant fertile country the earable land beeing as good as can be desyred hauing also plenty of wood pasture exceeding great store of medow ground There are in it mynes of Iron lead in some places siluer fyne salt is there boyled through the heat of the Sun And the country through the many comodities thereof the sea trafike is very welthy BRITANNIE NORMANDIE NOrmandie hath on the north syde thereof the narrow seas that seperate England France on all sydes els ir is enuyrond with seuerall countries prouinces of France From whence this Duchie taketh name the name it self of Normandie doth declare to wit North-mandie that is the dwelling or region of the men of the North for from Norvvay othewise North-vvay came Rolo afterward called Robert with his Northmen and of Charles the simple King of France hee and his people obtayned heere there habitation about the yeare of our Lord. 9 12. This prouince of Normandie is a moste pleasant fertil soile so wel furnished of all necessaries as sildome any place better It hath great store of flesh and fish of corne and vvood much wyne it hath not there growing but is furnished with great store by the riuer of Scine which coming through Paris passeth by Roan the chief citie of this prouince All the corne feilds as also the high wayes passages are set planted about with frute-trees espitially aples peares which yeildeth great aboundance of tider perry The riuer of Seine as a foresaid passing by Roan falleth into the sea at Haure de grace or nevvhauen where ships arryuing do
come vp the riuer to Roan which maketh the citie of great trade trafique of marchandise NORMANDIE ANIOV THe Dukedome of Aniou lieth northward in the west parte of France ioyning vpon Britannie It is not great howbeit very good for that there is not any country in France that exceedeth it in fertillitie of soile It hath plenty of wyne store of corne and aboundeth in kyne sheepe hath great store of fish through the many fishpondes therein aboue 36 riuers whereof the Loyre and the Mayne are the principal It is beautified with pleasant medowes woods forests mountaines in the mountaines are quarries of freestone marble slate The principall towne of this Duchie is Angiers situate on either syde of the riuer of Mayne It is of great antiquitie which is witnessed by the ruynes of a Theatre not farr from it It hath a very faire bridge ouer the riuer of Mayne all buylt of free stone It hath also a famous vniuersitie which was founded in the yeare of our Lord 1387. ANIOV BERRY OR THE COVNTRY OF BOVRGES BErry otherwise called the country of Bourges so taking name of this the chief citie thereof lieth in the middest of the realme of France The inhabitants of this country were in tymes past a free people but in proces of tyme became with other lyke prouinces to bee vnder the Kinges of France Bourges as is aforesaid is here the chief citie in old tyme very famous and by Ceasar called Auaricum it is by few cities in France exceeded in greatnes In this citie is a famous vniuersitie wherein the liberal sciences are taught which vniuersitie was erected in tyme past by a Duke of this duchie who greatly fauoured good letters It hath in many places marrish ground chiefly about this citie by reason of the sundry riuers brookes that pas by about it neuerthelesse it is very frutefull aboundant in all thinges that are generally els where found in other partes of France BERRY LIMOVSIN LImousin called in Latin Lemouicū lieth in the west parte of France betwene Berry and Xanctoigne The chief citie of this Vicontie is called Limoges the inhabitantes are called Limosins or Limosians a very ancient people and there name having neuer bene changed they are of some authors called Aborigines The chief citie aforesaid of this prouince is of great antiquitie it was first spoyled by the Romaines after that by the Gothes then by the French afterward againe by Charles Martel and lastly by Englishmen The soile about this citie is fruteful the citie is not inferior to any in all Aquitaine in regard of trafike The country is woody hilly therefore lesse fruteful then other prouinces of France Chestunt trees are heere very plentifull their frute is a great sustinance for the comon people great store therof is sent from hence to other places and prouinces of France The riuers that pas through this country are exceedingly stored with fish LIMOVSIN ORANGE THis Prince-dome of Orange taketh name of the principal citie thereof whith is so called it is reconed of some to bee within the limittes of Prouence It is of great antiquitie of Ptolomey called the Colonie of the Aurasians It was in tymes past the heritage of the Princes familie of Chalon often allied with the how 's of Burgundie It is since falne vnto the how 's of Nasau throwgh aliance made with the how 's of Chalon There is seene at the Citie of Orange the ruynes of one of the moste faire Theaters in the world a wall of squared stone such as is scarsly found in any place and at one of the gates standeth a moste goodly Triumphal-arck All which doth argue the great antiquitie of the place ORANGE SAVOY THis Dukedome of Sauoy lieth at the southeast end of France betweene France and Italy In the tyme that Hannibal passed the Alpes it was called the kingdome of Allobroges so named of their King Allobrox whose kingdome stretching further then Sauoy now reatcheth comprehended also the prouince of Dauphine The chief citie of Sauoy is Chambery there is the residence of the courte of Parlament for the whole Duchie The nature of the soile is very different for in some places it is fertil of corne wyne in other places very barrain firre trees it hath very many many chestnut trees Here are to be seene those huge immeasurable mountaines called the Alpes rightly so called after the Latin woord Albus that betokeneth whyte for the higher tops of them beeing alwayes whyte of the snow where with they are couered it see meth there a continuall winter Many wyld beastes are harboured in these mountaines as beares wolues ce there is also a kynde of gote which clambring skipping vpon the rocks doth ofte help himself from falling by his hornes where with he catcheth hold they beeing croked bending forward lyke vnto hookes Here are also certaine beastes called the myce of the Alpes beeing ordinarily as great as conies but having long tailes lyke vnto rattes heie are hares that are whyte in the winter broune in somer This country is moste barreyn toward mount Senis where there are no medowes in the valey nor scarsly anything growing of woorth but passing ouer thesaid huge mountaine coming downe on the other syde it seemeth a new world for then beginneth the euen plaine pleasant country of Piemont so called for lying at the foot of these mountaines and though it bee not of Sauoy yet is it a Prince-dome belonging vnto the Duke of Sanoy SAVOY PROVENCE PRouence lieth on the furthest syde of France southward On the southsyde it hath the Mediteraneum sea On the eastsyde some parte of the Alpes on the other sydes it is confyned with sundry other prouinces of France This region beeing warmer then the other partes of that realme doth yeild frutes accordingly for besydes vvheat which it yeildeth in all aboundance it is full of Odoriferant trees as of Oranges Citrons Oliues Pomgranades Figges full of meruelous faire Vineyards the hedges are not of thorne or brambles but of Pomgranades other frut-bearing trees to the end the very hedges should yeild profit as wel as what is enclosed within them the vnlaboured waste groundes of this countrie do yeild meruelous plenty of Rosmarie Mirtle Gineper and Sage Palme-trees are also growing here which beare as good frutes as in Africa here groweth also Suger Saffron Rice And here the pure ayre yeildeth the gentle purgatiue called Manna Among the cities of name of this countrie Marseiles is not the least for hauing the best hauen of all France on the midland sea Here is also the citie of Arles heretofore much renowned as also the citie of Aix wherein the court of parlament for that parte of France is holden In this prouince lieth Auignion which belongeth vnto the Churche where sundry Popes for aboue 70 yeares together
through Cambressi Tournay into Flannders cometh vnto Antwerp so downe into Zealand is there receaued into the sea VERMANDOIS PICARDIE PIcardie accompted of old a parte of Galia Belgica hath on the east syde Vermandois on the west Normandie a parte of the narrow sea on the north it hath Artois and on the south Champagne The riuer of Somme which of Ptolomey seemeth to bee called Phrudis watreth this country maketh it frutefull and the townes to bee furnished with all necessary prouision The soile yeildeth great aboundance of corne albeit it hath no wyne it is rather thought to procede of the negligence of the inhabitants in not planting vineyards then through the vnfitnes of the soile to nourish them The principall citie of this country is Amiens which is a Bishops sea ancient very famous and aswel fortified as any citie in France Next vnto this is Abbeuile then haue ye Peronne as also the towne of Guyse whereof the how 's family of Guyse taketh name From whence the name of Picardie is deryued there are diuers opinions Some think that the Begardi should be changed into Picardos which Caenalis wil not affirme of certainty Others do say that these people haue the name of Picardes consequently their country the name of Picardie for hauing in warr first taken vp the vse of pykes PICARDIE GERMANIA THis great spatious country hath on the northsyde thereof the Germaine Baltish sea southward it confyneth with Italy westward it reatcheth vnto France eastward northerly it ioyneth on Polonia southerly vpon Hungaria within it lieth the Kingdome of Bohemia It is a country mightely replenished with goodly cities townes and villages exceeding populus hauing therein many goodly riuers whereof the Rhene the Danubie the Elbe are the chief It is deuyded into sundry Dukdomes Earldomes other gouernments yet all in some sorte depending on the Empyre for here in Germany the Emperor hath his seat residence for whose election Pope Gregory the fyft beeing of the how 's of Saxony ordayned seauen Princes electors to wit three spiritual 4 temporal the spiritual are the Bishops of Magunce Cullin Treuers The 4 temporal are the Dukes of Saxon and Bohemia for Bohemia now a kingdome was then a dukdome The Palsgraue of the Rhene the Marquis of Brandenbourg The earth ayre as also the people of Germanie seeme much altered since the tyme of C. Tacitus who described the soyle to be barren the ayre not very good the country woodie watrish the people very rude vnciuil for now wee fynde the ayre to be helthsome good the country fruteful the inhabitants courteous ciuil It hath now good wyne growing in it such aboundance of corne in the east partes thereof that it sustayneth sundry other countryes neither is it vnfurnished of all other necessaries It hath also mynes of Gold Siluer Copper Iron other metalles The people are warlyke very industrious many rare inuentions haue bene by them found out GERMANIA INFERIOR GERMANIE INferior Germany conteyning the seauenteene prouinces which the Emperor Charles the fift left vnto his sonne King Philip the second of Spaine Is corruptly of some strangers called Flaunders the inhabitants Flemings whereas Flaunders is but one of these prouinces the inhabitants thereof properly Flemings The names of the prouinces are these The Dukedomes of Brabant Geldres Limbourg and Lutzembourg The Earldomes of Flanders Artois Henalt Holland Zeland Namure and Zutphen The Marquesat of the holy Empire The Signories of Friseland Macklin Vtreck Ouerysel and Grooning The prouinces are generally by the inhabitants called by the name of Nederlant which in English is Netherland and the people generally call themselues Netherlanders There are in it as Levvis Guicciardyne affirmeth the number of 226 walled townes diched about and more then 6300 villages each village hauing a parish Church then are there Castles fortresses noble mennes howses a great number Some parte of this country is very euen flat lyke vnto Lombardy other partes are more high hilly It is very frutefull having plenty of corne of flesh and fish some of which comodities are in some prouinces more or lesse abounding then the others according to the nature situation of the place The people are maruelous industrious and do excell in all artes and sciences whereby as also by their great trade of marchandise this country may wel bee said to bee one of the moste pecuniary countryes of the world INFERIOR GERMANIE LIEGE THis Bishopryk ioyneth on the north west syde unto Brabant on the east on the duchie of Limbourg southward it extendeth vnto Lutzembourg partly vnto France The ayre is sweet the country exceding frutefull in corne and other graine it hath wyne albeit but smalle it hath store of beastes both wyld tame It hath exceeding good Iron it hath lead also gold Alablaster very faire marble is digged out of the hilles with great labor and arte of vndermyning Stone-coles are digged out of deepe pittes which kynde of cole was first discouered to be there in the yeare 1198 whereof besydes those there spent there is transported yearely to other prouinces to the value of more then 100000 ducates Sr Iohn Mandeuill knight doctor of phisick beeing borne in England having trauailed so farr through somany countries kingdomes did not fynde a place that for the sweetnes of the ayre the frutefulnes of the earth accompagned with a very great freedome that better pleased him then did this country of Liege where he chose to end the rest of his dayes there died in the yeare 1272. The citie of Liege is the chief of all the townes in this country wherein are 8 collegiat Churches with ritch Canonries Tungres for the antiquitie thereof is reconed next vnto Liege the ruynes without and within the towne do aswel as old bookes declare the oldnes of this citie there apeereth yet the paued high way that reatched from thence vnto Paris Some thinke the fountaines to bee about Tungres whose vertues Pliny somuch comendeth but experience sheweth them to bee at the Spaw LIEGE LVTZEMBOVRG THis Duchie is bordered on the northsyde with the Bishopryk of Liege the Earldome of Namure on the south Lorraine on the east the Mosel the Bishopryk of Treuers westward partly with the Mose partly with the forest of Arden The country is altogether hilly woody much of the wood of late yeares is turned to corne land The chief cirie is of the same name that the whole Duchie beareth but was by Ptolomey called Augusta Romanduorum It lieth parte on a hil parte on low ground The inhabitants do speake the high duitsch for the more parte except those which dwel on the syde towards France for they vse the french tongue By reason of the situation of this country beeing frontyred with so many seueral iurisdictions it hath
bene often subiect to the spoile of enemyes many of the inhabitants haue abandoned it gon to liue in other countries Lutzembourg was wont to bee an earldome til Henry the seauenth Emperor Earle of Lutzemburg as saith Levvis Guicciardin erected it into a Duchie LVTZEMBOVRG HENALT THe earldome of Henalt hath on the north parte of Brabant parte of Flanders on the south it hath parte of Champagne parte of Picardie on the east it hath the earldome of Namure a pece of the country of Liege on the west it hath the riuer of Skeld a pece of walsh-Flanders This prouince is very fertil aboundant in corne cattel with great store of Orchardes many fish pondes It hath mynes of Iron and lead hilles wherein are quarreys of marble Stone-coles corruptly called in english seacole are here found though not so good as in the country of liege Mouns is the chief citie so ordayned to bee by Carolus Magnus The next vnto this is Valeneyne called rightly val de cignes that is the valey of Swannes for the situation of the place is low the riuers there about haue bin wont to nowrish many swannes About a league from Valencyne is the faire Abbey of Vicogne wherein is a library stored with all sortes of rare booke many other walled cities there are in this country among which is Cimay the birth place of Iohn Frosard that wrote a french cronicle About Barbançon glas for the glasing of windowes is made as also other glasses HENALT ARTOIS IN this prouince Ceasar placeth the Atrebates so called of their chief cittie Atrebatum at this present Arras which now vnto the whole prouince giueth the name of Artois It is almost circuited by Flanders Picardie having the first of these on the northeast sydes the later on the southwest It hath hereto fore belonged to Flanders but afterward vnto France by S. Levvis King of France it was made an earldome but in the agreement made in the yeare 1529 betwene the Emperor Charles the fift Francis King of France the first it came to be vnder the how 's of Austria The ayre is very temperate the earth frutefull yeilding principally great aboundance of corne Arras afore named is the chief citie next vnto lers S. Omer which according to the opinion of Ortelius was that Iccius Portus where Ceasar embarked himself when hee made his voyage to England then Britannie And that the sea hath of old tyme come vnto this towne is aparent by the often fynding of ankers in digging in the meddowes other places there abouts Not far from S. Omer is a lake wherein are certaine litle Iles that with acord or the wynde are made to pas vp downe from the one syde to the other ARTOIS NAMVRE THis earldome is enclosed betwene Brabant Henalt and the country of Liege It is but a litle countie very hillie but a fyne and pleasant region It aboundeth in mynes of Iron it yeildeth a black or browne marble as also a veyned marble of different colours and here are Stone coles also found as in the country of Liege There are in it fowre fortified or strongly walled townes The first is the citie of Namure which is principal a Hishops sea and situate where the riuer of Sambre runneth into the Mase The second is Boâ—inâ—s the third Charlemont the fowrth VValcourt The citie of Namur taketh name as some say of an Idol called Nanus which was placed on the top of the hil where now the castle standeth where to the demaunders of thinges to come he gaue answere vntil the coming of Christe by whose coming this fals God as all the others which the Pagans honored became dumme NAMVRE BRABANT THe Duchie of Brabant is limitted eastward with Geldres westward with Flanders northward with Holland and southward with the country of Liege In it is conteyned the Marquisat of the holy Empyre whereof Antvverp is the chief towne The country is very pleasant fruteful but moste towards the south It beareth all kynde of grayne about Louayn it hath vineyards but they yeild a small kynde of wyne Campinia or Kempenland is the most barren parte of all this country by reason of the sandy heathes howbeit it nowrisheth kyne sheep the soile is much bettered through the labor of the people It hath fiue woods whereof that of Sonien which beginneth neere vnto Bruxels conteyneth about 7 Brabant myles in circuit is the chief There are in it 26 walled townes whereof the moste fayre famous citie of Antvverp lying on the riuer of Skeld is the principal in trafike opulence not only of this country of Brabant but of all the netherlandprouinces inferior to no citie in Christendom In one day a man may pas from Antvverp to Macklyn which albeit it bee a prouince a parte yet lieth it within the limitts of Brabant from Macklyn to Bruxels from Bruxels to Louaine ryde an easy pace taking his repast by the way The first of these hath the trafike of marchandise the second the highest court of Law the third the court of the Prince the fourth the vniuersitie The people of Brabant haue many great strong priueleges graunted vnto them by their former Dukes Princes BRABANT FLANDERS FLanders the best fairest earldome in Europe hath lying next vnto it on the east syde Brabant on the west the Germaine Ocean on the north it hath Zealand but separated by some smal parts of the sea on the south it hath Artois VVhence this country took name it is diuersly reported the lykelyest is to bee of the lady Flandria for whose husband the earle of Harlebeke his great seruice to Charles the great the said Charles did of espetial fauor giue vnto the whole prouince her name In old tyme it was as a wildernisse therefore the gouernour was alwayes called Forestier de Flandres The whole earldome is deuyded into 3 partes to wit Flemish Flanders vvalsb Flanders Emperial Flandres Gant is the chief citie of all the country beeing 7 Italian myles in compas it is very ancient was before the tyme of Iulius Ceasar called Odueum Bruges is the next conteyneth in circuit 4 Italian myles Then followeth Ipers Lyle Tornay Dovvay sundry other In brief there are accompted in Flanders 35 cities or townes almoste all walled such as are vnwalled haue the priuileges of walled townes Of thorps or villages there are 1174 to wit such as haue their seueral parish churches The country is very fruteful easely cultiued faire horses are bred therein the yeowes do ordinarily bring 2 lambes at a tyme and very often 3. Twelue riuers take their passages through this prouince the principal whereof is the Skeld certaine Iles adiacent do belong vnto Flanders as Cadsant Osburg and Biervliet in the later of these lieth buried VVilliam Beuckelens who died in the yeare 1397 was the first
man that found out the manner of salting barrelling vp of hering FLANDERS GELDRES GEldres extendeth in the northwest vnto the Zuder-sea south west it confyneth with Brabant eastward it hath the Duchie of Cleue westward the Signory of Vtreck It is deuyded into 4. seueral quarters whereof the 4 principall cities are Nimmegen Ruremond Zutphen Arnhem The country is very frutefull hauing come wood but it moste exceedeth in medow pasture ground by reason of the riuers of Rhene VVale Mase which do all take their passage through this country Leane oxen are sent from other partes to bee here fatned in the yeare 1570 an Ox was brought from hence to Antvverp that weyed 3200 pound The people of all the inhabitants of the Netherland prouinces haue alwayes bene reputed the moste warlyke the country by warre hath bin moste wasted They were of old tyme called Sicambri as Henricus Aquilius in his compendious Cronicle plainly proueth who also sheweth how it afterward took the name of Geldres It was somtyme an Earldome but Reynold the second for his great valour whereby the made himself both feared honored being withal a great iusticer hauing don great faithful seruice to the Romaine Empyre was in an assembly or diet holden at Frankford in the yeare 1329 by Levvis the Emperor honored with the tytle of Duke in the presence as is said of the Kings of France England of all the Princes electors GELDRES ZELAND VNder the name of Zeland are comprised all the Iles lying betweene Flanders Brabant Holland and the sea VVhereof 7 are esteemed the principall to wit VValkere Southbeuerland Northbeuerland VVolferdyk Skovv Doueland and Tole These 7 with certaine other of lesse accompt do altogether make an earldome which hath in all 8 walled townes with some other that are vnwalled and 102 thorps or villages The chief citie of Zeland is Midlebourg situate in the I le of VValkere where the staple of wyne is kept in this I le is Flushing Campheere Armuy And Midlebourg lying in the middest taketh there of that name VVel may this country be called Zealand or Sealand beeing so low that the sea is at euery high water higher then the land men standing in the meddowes may see in looking vpward the very keeles of the ships as they saile along were it not for the sand-bancks or downes on the one syde the banckes of earth fagots made on the othersyde the sea would soone ouer-runne it It is said for a prouerb that none of the 4. elements are good in Zealand or Holland the ayre is strong the earth vnfirme by reason of the marishnes the fyre stincking because it is made of turf the vvater salt brackish Zeland notwithstanding bringeth foorth faire corne the meddowes do nowrish cattel ZELAND HOLLAND THe earldome of Holland lieth al along on the west syde vpon the Germaine Ocean with the creeks whereof it is almost enuyroned hauing a great number of waters riuers euery way passing through it It is said to haue the name of Holland by reason that the earth through the vnfirmnes thereof seemeth hollow others affirme it to haue taken the name of Holland of the Danes or Normans that inuaded it in Anno 837 hauing before bene called Batauia for that they called it Oland after an I le so named in their northern region The country of Holland is lyke vnto Zealand very low the earth soft weak much of it beeing by the waters ouerflowen All along the maine Ocean it hath through the mercie of nature the downes or sand-hilles that defend it from the inundation of the sea in these downes are woonderful store of conies The medow groundes for the feeding of cattel are so exceeding good as the great aboundance of butter and cheefe transported from Holland into so many countryes doth declare The inhabitants do also reap great comoditie by their wyld ducks waterfoule but espetially by their sea-fishing principally by there hering-fang Litle or no corne groweth in Holland but they haue it from the east countries of Germany VVood they haue not their fuel for the moste parte is turf their wood beth for howsing shipping is brought from Norvvay other places The chief citie is Amsterdam the howses whereof are built vpon pyles of wood which are driuen into the watrish ground The court of Holand is kept at the Hage which is no walled towne howbeit the fairest village in all Europe situate in the moste pleasant parte of all the countrie The people are exceeding industrious the country ful of townes cities HOLLAND FRIESLAND BOth east west Friesland hath all along on the northsyde the Germaine Ocean on the southsyde VVestphalia ce Tacitus in his description of the manners of the old Germaines parteth Friesland in Maiores and Minores that is the greater the lesser freslanders according to their power and habitation The country is now deuyded into east and west Friesland Generally it is very low the Somer beeing past it is not to bee vsed it hath litle corne ground but very notable meddowes yeildeth very fat oxen as also faire great horses The chief citie in VVest friesland is Grooning and in East-friesland Embden Groening with the territory thereof is accompted one of the seauenteene Netherland prouinces but Embden belongeth vnto the earle of the same place The Frizons or Frieslanders are an ancient and warlyk people beeing in old tyme gouerned by a king of their owne Plinie saith that an herb groweth in this country which he calleth Herba Britannica which herb is good for the fastning of loose teeth for the weaknes of the legges knees espetial good for the disease called the Scorruie which disease is scarsly knowne but in these low-landes the remedy in lyk forte espetialy here to bee found FRIESLAND VVESTPHALIA THat VVestphalia should take that name of the Goddesse Vesta is very fabulous for the name is aptly significant in the self countrie language It ioyneth on the northwest syde with Friesland on the northeast with the dioces of Breme on the southeast syde it hath the country of Padelborne on the southwest the dioces of Cullen parte of the duchie of Cleue It was according to the opinion of Sebastian Munster the ancient habitation of the Saxons It hath in it diuers earldomes Signories The people of this country are strong faire good soldiers the country is moste woody pasture ground very good for the nowrishing of cattel Dainty meates delicacies are not he ere found with bacon beef browne bread the people do liue very long helthfully and here is the best Bacon the greatest store The chief citie of westphalia is Munster which in Anno 1535. the Anabaptists hauing gotten into possession erected there a new comon welth vnder their king Iohn of Leyden who before had
AVstria heretofore called the higher Panonia hath on the east parte the kingdome of Hungarie on the west it hath Bouaria towards the south the mountaines of Stiria on the north Morauia It is very fruteful hauing many riuers and they for the moste parte do fall into the riuer Danubius which taketh his course through this country It hath such good store of wyne that it therewith furnisheth sundry other prouinces of Germany The chief citie is Vienna the walles whereof are said to haue bene buylded with the ransome that Leopold the duke did take of Richard the first King of England A litle beneath the citie of Greim there is in the riuer of Danubius a very dangerous place for such botes vessels as there do pas the water whirling about so very switftly some haue sought by lyne and plomet to haue measured the depth of this place which hetherto none hath bene able to do it is so exceeding deep Polibius sheweth diuers reasons that through the heapes of sand scowred downe the riuers of Danubius Borystenes others the sea called Pontus Euxinus whereinto they fall would be made innauigable which experience the best reason-teacher doth shew to bee otherwise that sea no whit lesse nauigable now then in Polibius tyme. Austria was first gouerned by Marck-graues afterward by Dukes now lastly by Arch-dukes AVSTRIA BOHEMIA THis kingdome lying in Germany is compassed about with hilles woods it hath on the north syde Silesia on the west Franconia on the south Austria Bauaria on the east Morania The ancient inhabitants where the Boy whereof the country tooke the name of Bohemia but by a people of Sclauonia they were vanquished The language of this country is not the Germaine but the Sclauonian tongue Prage is the chief citie of this realme now the more famous for the court and residence of the Emperor The riuer Multania vulgarly Vltania runneth through this citie entreth afterward into the riuer Albis or Elbe In wheat barley the country is very fruteful beastes both wyld tame it nowrisheth in great aboundance among the wyld beastes are store of Beares Reddeere Ouroxen this beast called the Ourox in the Germaine tongue in the Bohemian Lomi hath growing vnder the neck as it were a bag with water beeing hunted he casteth foorth thesaid water vpon the houndes who therby become as scortched or scalded The country is ritch in mynes which yeild gold siluer quicksiluer Iron sulpher Stones of price pearles are here also found wyne it hath reasonable store beere is here also vsed This kingdome was in former tymes a dukedome vntil the yeare 1086 at what tyme as Munsterus saith the Emperor Henry the fourth made Vratislaus King of Bohemia howbeit some authors say that Vladislaus was the first King aduanced to that dignity by the Emperor Frederik BOHEMIA THE DIOCES OF SALISBVRG THis Dioces is in Bauaria the chiefest Bishopryke of the whole country it lieth on the Southsyde of thesaid Duchy taketh name of the citie so called which is situated on the riuer of Saltza the which coming from the Alpes passeth by this citie hereof some think the citie it self to haue taken name though others hold it to come of the salt pits out of which salt is digged Iulius Ceasar did here buyld a fortresse calling it Iunania which the Germaines in their tongue called Helfenberg that is the hill of help aluding therin vnto the Latin name Iunania This place in the tyme tiranny of Attila suffred great detriment S. Rupertus Bishop of wormes having conuerted Theodon Duke of Bauaria to the faith of Christ in the yeare 540 was the cause of the reparation of this citie and became thereof the first Bishop there erected churches monasteries This Bishopryke hath mynes of gold siluer copper and Iron Brimstone allum and antimonie is here also found quarreys of marble stone The store of wyld beastes foule do heere yeild much delight exercise of hunting hauking Among the Bishops of this Dioces Bishop Ernestus by birth palsgraue of Rhene Duke of Bauaria a very learned man is renowmed for that he would trauaile abrode yea into other countries vnknowne as a meane person to do woorkes of charitie pietie THE DIOCES OF SALISBVRG BAVARIA IN all Germanie is not any prouince found where more fairer cities are then in Bauaria The country is deuyded into 2 partes to witt the higher the lower Bauaria It hath on the northsyde Franconia on the west Svvenia the Alpes of Italy in the south Bobemia and Austria on the east The higher Bauaria which lieth southward hath diuers forests lakes riuers many wild beastes as beares wyld-swyne thowsands of stagges The cities of this parte of the country are Monaco where the duke moste resydeth Ingelstat which hath an vniuersitie Frising hauing a Bishops sea sundry others The lower parte is of both best inhabited through it passeth the famous riuer Danubius the cities thereof are Regensburg Passavv Straubing Lantsbut c. The country is frutefull in wyne corne cattel foule but of all beastes it moste aboundeth in Swyne whereof it furnisheth diuers other prouinces of Germanie If Strabe who esteemed all Bauaria to bee a wildernesse were now aliue he might see it mightely changed for that there are in it 34 cities besydes 46 faire marcket townes 72 monasteries infinite thorps castles lordes gentlemens howses Bauaria was somtyme a kingdome vnto the tyme of the Emperor Arnulphus for then began it to be gouerned by dukes BAVARIA NORTGOIA THis prouince of Northgovv beeing accompted a parte of Bauaria lieth on the westsyde next adioyning vnto the forest of Bohemia The chief citie of this countrie is Nuremberg the castle whereof lying on a high place was somtyme called Castrum Noricum The cittie is very strongly walled having on the walles 182 towers it standeth in a barten and sandy foile but yet is very ritch hath great trade trasike through the great industry of the people whose Iron copper woorcks are caried from thence almost to all countries of Europe Some authors say that by the Emperor Conrade in the yeare 913 a Burgh-graue was placed in this cittie howbeit some apoint the tyme to haue bene in the yeare 1140 by Henry then Emperor but the burgers or cittizens of Nuremberg for a somme of mony giuen by them to Frederic their fourth Burgh graue obtayned the gouernment of the cittie to themselues left him to gouerne in the country thereabouts In this prouince the Emperor Charles the great caused a ditch to bee begonne which should haue bene in length 2000 paces in bredth 300 whereby through the help of the riuers Regnits and Altmul he ment to haue made a passage for botes from the Danubius into the riuer of Rhene which begonne woork was hindred by continual raynes and the marishnes of the ground NORTGOIA
flesh of it is very good meat In this I le groweth the herb which in latin is called Ranunculus the qualitie whereof is such that whoso eateth of it dieth laughing Among the townes or citties of name of this I le is Calaris now called Caglire situate vpon a hil vpon the seasyde towards Africa hauing a very good hauen in this citie the Vice Roy hath his residence SARDINIA CORSICA THis Iland lieth in the Mediteraneum sea hauing Sardinia ouer-against it on the south syde the state of Genna ouer-against it on the north It is nor easy to bee manured by reason of the stonynesse of the soyle by reason of the hilles that are in it as wryteth Strabo who addeth withall that the inhabitants in his tyme were of rude behauior Howbeit they haue long since receaued the ciuilitie of Italy they are esteemed good soldiers It now bringeth foorth very good wyne there are bred in it faire horses houndes of extraordinary greatnes which serue for the chase of wyld beastes The Signorie or domination hath somtyme belonged to the Tirbenes after that to those of Carthage and lastly to the Romanes as Titus Liuius reporteth and vnder the Romanes it remained vntil such tyme as the Saracins stretched ouer it their powre-ful hands but these beeing ouercome by those of Genua to Genua was then the rule of this place transferred who kept thereof the gouernment vntil such tyme as those of Pisa gat it from the Geneuoises from whome the Geneuoyses did in fyne recouer it againe It hath moreouer bene belonging vnto the Churche but vnder those of Genua it now remaineth CORSICA ISCHIA DIuers authors are of opinion this I le now called Ischia situate in the Mediteraneum sea hath heretofore bin firme land with Italy the lykelyhood hereof appeereth by the rockes on the sea syde towards Italy where through the hollownes of them it is seene how the sea hath in length of tyme eaten out the earth from among them also that the very soile kynd of earth is euen the same that is in Italy on the syde that is neerest vnto this I le It is so circuyted with stony rocks that there is hard coming to it it also hath a very strong fortresse wherein Fernandino the sonne of Alphonso the second King of Arragon retyred himself at such tyme as Charles the 8 King of France was receaued into Naples It the yeare 1301 in the tyme of Charles the second King of Sicilia certaine vaynes of sulphure whereof this I le is ful beeing kindled the fyre extended diuers wayes and burnt a great parte of the cittie of Ischia now called Geronda through this fyre which continued the space of 2 moneths much people cattel were destroyed numbers of the inhabitants forced to flee into the kingdome of Naples This I le conteyneth 18 myles in compasse it yeildeth good wyne in it are diuers bathes of hot water ISCHIA MALTA SOuth from Cicilia lieth this I le of Malta in the Mediteraneum sea it was of old called Melita It is afaire Ile wel inhabited on the sea towards the southsyde thereof are highrocks but towards the east the north it is very euen fruteful It hath a good hauen where the knightes of S. Iohnes otherwise called the knightes of Malta haue builded a very strong towne They of this order were called the knights of the Rhodes but since the losse of the Rhodes their residence hath bin here There is mention made in the scriptures of this I le by the name of Melita to wit how S. Paule in his iorney from Ierusalem to Roome hauing suffred shipwrack came here on shore beeing bitten on the hand by a viper was not hurt thereby since which tyme as diuers authors do reporte no viper or venemous thing doth liue heere The fame of this I le hath in our age bene reuyued through the valour of those woorthy knights who to their vndying glorie haue so wel defended it against the attempts of the Turck MALTA CORFV THis Iland of Corfu was heretofore called Coreyra It lieth at the mouth of the gulf of Venice or Adriatyke sea where the said sea conioyneth with the Midland or Mediteraneum sea It is vnder the Venetians who haue in it a very strong fortified towne called by the name of the I le This place by the forces of Soliman the Turck was besieged at which tyme two venetian gouernours for the Signorie of Venice were within it and were of necessitie constrayned to put the vnnecessarie people foorth of it sin the night season who remaining close without the walles betwene their mortal enemyes their vnhelpful freindes their arose so great a tempest such continuall raine that almoste all the yong children died vpon the laps of their mothers In fyne Soliman beeing aduertised by his Captaines Barbarossa and Aiax that the place was inuincible that they were in despaire euer to obtayne it fynding it to bee so in truthe hee leuyed his siege retyred away his forces During the beeing in this I le of these miscreants they sent caried away with them into bondage and slauery as wryteth Paulus Ionius about 16000 christian soules CORFV CANDIE THis Iland of Candie of old called Creta lieth in the Mediteraneum sea is of great ancient fame the name it now hath of Candia is of the chief cittie thereof so called The country is ful of hilles valleys many woods there bee moste of them of Cypres trees which ouer the whole I le do yeild a sweet sauor Sirabo Plinie do write that in Creta in english Creet there are no damageable beastes nor serpents gotes there are great store but no deere except about Cydon The aboundant vineyards of this I le do yeild excellent malmesey which is thence transported into far countries here also groweth sugar Heere only as Plinie faith groweth the herb Dictamum where with the gotes by instinct of nature know to cure themselues beeing wounded by the arrowes of the hunter The 100 faire townes or citties that were of old reconed to bee in this countrie are now come vnto three to wit Candia Canea and Rhetimo but in Candia the Potestate that there administreth iustice in behalf of the venetians hath his residence The first inhabitants were rude vnciuil til Rhadamantus the sonne of Iupiter did first bring them to oder and ciuilitie after him came King Minos who amended amplyfied their lawes Pordoneus saith that on the northsyde of the I le is a certaine caue in the earth made by the handes of men beeing 40 cubits in length 4 in bredth which to this day is called the graue of Iupiter there is his epitaph yet to bee seene CANDIE CYPRVS THis Iland of Cyprus is one of the greatest of the Mediteraneum sea betwene Sicilia Syria and it is the farthest Ile eastward of all the Midland sea some think
that it hath bene firme or continent land in tymes past with Syria by tempests force of the sea cut of seperated It was of old tyme called Macaria by reason of the pleasantnes thereof The chiefest comoditie that it yeildeth is silk which from thence in great quantitie is yearely brought vnto venice It hath also very good wyne lyke vnto the malmesey of Creete salt is there also found It is said for a spetial comendation of this I le that ships can therein be buylt wholy furnished with the owne comodities of this country as not needing to haue ought vnto them belonging to be brought from other partes for heere are great high trees both for buylding them for their mastes here is also pitch flax for failes ropes Not far from the towne of Lymise is a place which is so full of wormes such lyke creeping vermin that no people can inhabite there There is some distance from this place a monasterie wherein is kept many cattes which are let out into the fieldes to diminish this vermin so taught that by the sound of a bel they are called home againe vnto the monasterie There are in this Ile two famous citties namely Famagosta and Nicosia in Nicosia the kinges of Cyprus were wont to make their dwelling but whyle the venetians had the rule the Gouernour garrisons their for them remayned in Famagosta vntil such tyme as by Selym the Turkish emperor it was taken from them This I le hath bene in tymss past deuyded into 9 kingdomes but came afterward to bee all reduced vnto one CYPRVS GREECE THis famous countrie of Greece was somtyme called Hellas It hath on the west syde the Midland Adriatyk sea on the east syde the sea called Archipelago on the south it hath the Peninsula Morea northward it is aioyned vnto the maine continent The moste famous Republykes hereof of old tyme were two to wit that of Athens that of Lacedemonia Sundry strange woundres haue bin said to bee in this countrie as that the riuer Melas made whyte sheep to become black that the riuer Cephis made the black sheep whyte with sundry other thinges found to bee no lesse fabulous moreouer that the sea called Euripus did in 24 howers 7 tymes ebbe flow so that Aristotle not wise enough to vnderstand this secret of nature for shame anger cast himself into the said sea whereof it was said that because Aristotle could not comprehend Euripus Euripus had comprehended Aristotle Sundry moste pleasant places were renowmed in Greece of old tyme as Helicon Parnassus where Apollo with the nyne muses had there residence Hymeirus euer greene Olympus Pindus Tempe places exceeding delightful Delphos where the Oracle was of Apollo which was in this manner In a rock was a deep hole out of the which issued a cold spirit lyke vnto a vapour or wynde which possessing the sences of the southsaiers they became as frantyke in their frantiknes they gaâ—e their ambiguous answers to the demaunders foretold thinges that were to come This noble countrie of Greece after all her flowrishing lyeth now vnder the subiection and stanery of the Turck GREECE ILLYRICVM BEtwene the Adriatyke sea the kingdome of Hungarie were in old tyme two famous regions the one Illyricum the other Dalmatia but Illyricum beeing now deuyded into many sundry prouinces as Schlauonia Croatia Carnia or Carinthia Istria Bosnia c. maketh that the confynes of this country through diuersiue of the opinions of authors are not easy to bee set downe Strabo saith that this country hath good hauens the soile is very fat deuyded into vineyards Oliue trees exceptin certaine stony places Among the country people some are found to haue great bagges growing vnder their chinnes which is said to proceede of their drincking of snow water which falleth from the hilles The famous citties were Flamone Segne Iadere Scardone Spalare Epidaure which beeing destroyed by the Gothes the cittie of Ragusia is growne great through their ruynes beeing now a cittie of great trasyke but of litle territorie and accompted the least comon weith or republyke in the world is now vnder the protection of the Turck for the which they pay a tribute of 12000 ducats by yeare In Carinthia is a cittie called Clagen where they obserue an old custome albeit very rigorous for yf a thief bee taken with the fact hee is foorthwith hanged without more a doo they hang those also which are vpon great presumptious thought culpable of theft 3 dayes after iudgement is giuen on the case yf the iudges then fynde the party guylty is hee left hanging on the gallowes til hee fall thence but yf hee be vnguilty hee is taken downe honestly buryed to make him amends ILLYRICVM HVNGARIE THis kingdome beginneth on the south at the riuer Era on the north it extendeth vnto Polonia VValachia westward it ioyneth to Austria eastward vnto Maesia The people are strong valiant And scarsly is any country found whereof the soile is more fertile the ayre more sweet temperate or that hath greater aboundance of cattel greater store of mynes then this and wanting neither corne wyne nor great choise of excellent frutes c in somuch as diuers authors affirme yf it were not so afficted through continual warre but were wholy in the quiet possession of Christians it might rather be preferred before all the prouinces of the world then after any one of them Buda is the chief cittie of All Hungarie which King Sigismond beautified with a faire Pallace other sumptuous edifices Agria is also a comodious cittie Cassouie is more ancient so called after one Cassio a Roman At Alba regalis the ancient kinges of Hungarie are buryed But to the grief of all good myndes the chief citties best partes of this country are now in the possession of the Mahometicall Tyrant The famous riuer danubie passeth through this countrie in diuers places is so large that in it are sundry Iles hauing rownes villages in them The Emperor beareth at this present the tytle of King of Hungarie hath a good parte of the countrie and some good citties also in possession HVNGARIE OZVVICZIN and ZATOR ON the south vvest syde of Polonia bordering vpon Silesia are these tvvo dukedomes of Ozwiczin and Zator In former tyme they belonged not vnto the kingdome of Polonia but vvere brought vnto it by Casimire the third and Sigismond the first The cittie of Ozwiczin lieth neere the riuer Sola vvhich cometh out of the confyning hilles of Morauia not farr from this to vvne falleth into the riuer Vistula vulgarly called VVixel The iurisdiction of the cittie the Germanes call Auschwitz vvhich King Casimire obtayned by svvord-right in the yeare 1454. The tovvne of Zator is situate on the riuer Skauda vvhich falleth also into VVixel vvas gotten through force by King
cittie thereof is Stokholme builded vpon pyles of wood on the sea shore Norwey extending in length north south hath the Deucalidon Ocean on the west syde Sweden on the east beeing from thesame seperated by high mountaines This country is full of rocks howbeit the goodliest oakes of the world do grow there thereof the wainscots clabords are made The chief citie is called Berghe The I le called Frisland is not wel knowne yet seemeth is about the bignes of Ireland Island is famous through the great store of dried fish which is fetched thence the burning hil Hecla Groeneland is a very great I le the people by reason of the coldnes of the country are faine to make their dwellinges in the earth The further partes are yet vndiscouered so is the Ile which Mercator calleth Grecland sundry other lesser Iles of these farthest northerne regions THE NORTHERNE REGIONS RVSSIA or rather MVSCOVIA ON the north syde this country hath the Icysea on the east syde it hath Tartarie on the south a parte of Polonia a parte of Turkie on the west Liuonia the kingdome of Svveden The country is very great it is for the moste parte euen hath many meddowes in the Somer many standing waters caused through the melting of the snow The black forest of Germany extendeth it self into this country passeth through it from the south to the north in it are great store of wyld beastes as Elends beares black wolues c. VVyne or oyle groweth not heer but wheat rie other graine Great store of wax hony it yeildeth the which is not made in hines but in hollow trees Mynes they haue not nor pretious stones that there are found but costly faire furres good store also flax The chief cittie where the great Duke or Emperor keepeth his court is very great and called Musko lying on the riuer Muskâ—a the howses are built all of wood not high but large euety how 's hauing a yeard or garden plot belonging vnto it They are Christians but of the Greek Church their date they vse not from the tyme of Christe but from the beginning of the world Their lawes are very plaine according to an ancient simplicitie no aduocates are admitted but euery man to tel his owne tale for himself RVSSIA or rather MVSCOVIA TARTARIE AS there is a Sarmathia in Europe so is this parte of Asia where the Tartarians inhabite also so called It hath on the northsyde the Scythian sea on the east the Eoish or east sea on the south it hath India on the west the Caspium sea Muscouie The country is wonderful great spatious hauing in it maruelous great deserts the people liue not in townes or vilages but in tents and remoue their dwellinges according to the seasons of the yeare they eat sheep kyen horses their drink is water milk beer brewed with barley Sigismond Baron of Herbestein in Germany recouneth to haue vnderstood of Demetrius Daniel a man of much reputation among all the muscouites that in the countrie betwene the riuers of VVolga Laick a certaine feed much lyke vnto the seed of a melon beeing cast into the ground groweth foorth about 2 foot high beareth a moste strange frute lyke vnto the shape of a lamb which of the people there abouts is called Bonarets the stalk goeth from the nauel into the earth there hath his root it hath head eares mouth eyes legges semeth to haue blood within it but not flesh for the substance is lyke vnto the meat of a creuis it is couered with a thin skin it consumeth the gras or herbes growing about it endureth so long as they last the woules other raneuous beastes belight much to feed on this beast plant yf this be true as it is for a truth reported it is one of the moste wonderful miracles of nature The royal pallace of the great Cham who is Emperor of Tartarie is in the cittie of Cambalu in Cathay which cittie is buylt fouresquare in compas said to conteyne 24 Germaine myles The country is in sundry places so very euen plaine that wagons hauing sailes lyke vnto ships are driuen forward by the wynde TARTARIE CHINA THis great country of China lieth in the furthest easterne syde of East India ouer against the Iland of Iaponia on the northsyde of it lieth Tartarie on the southsyde Canchinchina on the west the Brackmani on the east the Oriental sea The country except on the sea syde is with a wal mountaine compassed about is exceeding good fruteful the people wonderful industrious It hath plentiful mynes of Gold store of Rheubarb The fieldes hilles are ful of beastes both wild tame the sea inland riuers very fish-ritch numbers of familes dwel on the riuers in botes do nowrish exceeding store of ducks The drie groundes they sow with wheat barley the moist low grounds with rice that 4 tymes in the yeare no parte of the country lieth vnused to some profit the very hedges are of roses some of flax They haue great store of mulbery trees to the maintenance of their silk wormes The inhabitants do sildom trauel into other countryes other nations come not into theirs but by espetial licence They eat not setting on the ground as other people of Asia are wont but at tables They are heathens in religion beleeue that al thinges haue bene created They pray to the Sun Moon Starres also to the Diuel to do them no hurt their priestes marry not but other men haue as many wyues as they wil yet must keep how 's only with one They call their King the lord of the world the sonne of the Sun who when he goeth to the field against the great Cham of Tartarie his army conteyneth 300000 foote 200000 horse Some say they haue long since had artillery printing but that they had artillery before it was knowne in Europe is doubtful printing they haue had but not such as may bee compared with the excelencie of ours theirs beeing no other then carractered stamps or formes of wood those thrust downe on their sorte of paper as wee vse to seal our letters or set a marck or stamp CHINA INDIA ALl authors do hold East-India for the noblest greatest country couteyned vnder one name Tartarie only excepted It taketh name of the riuer Indus of Strabo Plinie India is limitted by the riuer Indus in the west with the mounts Tauri in the north with the Eoish sea in the east with the Indian sea in the south It is a land moste faire holesome yet the temperature somwhat different in sundry prouinces by reason of the greatnes thereof It yeildeth frute twice in the yeare freeing thereby the inhabitants from hunger pouertie vast steril places there are also in India but they serue for