the Chinese or with the Russe but the Crim Tartar is wholly Mercenary being in the late War of Poland employed first by the Pole and then by the Swede and Transylvanian Prince Ragotzki China is bounded on the east by the east Sea on the west with India and Bramus and on the north it is divided from Tartaria with a wonderfull Wall four hundred miles long built between the Mountains It is divided into fifteen Kingdoms or great Provinces each having a peculiar Prince but all yielding obedience to their great King It is reported that he may bring into the Field three hundred thousand Foot and two hundred thousand Horse-men The Land is fruitful of Grain and Beasts wild and tame Wines of Precious Stones Gold Copper Iron Steel Pearl and good store of Silk Also very great Cities well peopled Paqu'n is the Royal City of which things be written that be incredible The People are lively witty wonderous Artists they make Waggons that sail over the land as Ships do over the Sea the Art of Printing and making of Guns is more ancient with them than with us they have good Lawes according to which they do live but they want the knowledge of God for they are Heathens and Worship the Sun Moon and Stars yea and the Devil himself that he may not hurt them Of this Kingdome of China there is little writ either certain or true because of its vast distance which if the North-west passage had been passable and not frozen might have been throughly known The last news from thence was that the Tartars had invaded that Kingdome and had thrown down part of that eminent Wall abovesaid that was built for a Fence against their incursions and defeated the Chinese in several Battels It hath been travelled of late by some forraign Friers but our English Ships seldome thriving in the Voyage is the reason no better account can be given of their Government Lawes and Customes From thence come the China dishes called Porcelane which the Fathers prepare 40 years under ground and lay up for their Sons as an Estate before it be fit for use its fineness and transparency requiring such a time of perfection Iapan aboundeth so with Gold that it is reported that the Kings Pallace was covered therewith in the time of Paulus Venetius These Iapanneses are the best Navigators and Sailers of the Nations of those parts of the World for which they are beholding to the situation of their Country being an Island so that they are very frequent and use Commerce in all that Quarter and prove good Auxiliary Souldiers to the several Princes They are much entertained by the Dutch as may be seen in the business of Amboyna India situated between Persia and the Tartars Sinca and the Indian Sea all Writers account the best and goodliest Land in the World for it fills almost the whole World with precious Jewels and Pearls Medicinal Drugs and Perfumes that it may be called an earthly Paradise The King of this Country the Great Mogul is certainly the richest and most Magnificent Prince in the World which to shew to his Subjects at the several seasons of the year as it grows Hot or Cold he removes his Court from City to City of great distance south and north his Countrey being very vast and well peopled But his chief Imperial City is Agraâ—… where as most great Cities of the East Lime trees and others of great shade and sweet sent are placed along the streets most beautifull and pleasant to behold The Mogul is altogether if not more absolute than any of the Eastern Princes all whose Governments are Monarchical Tyrannies Every morning he shews himself in great State to his Nobles and Princes who prostrate and adore him and at the same time the Elephants of which he keeps many hundreds are brought to Salam that is to bow and bend their knee which being taught they will do very readily To this Mogul King Iames sent the Earl of Denbigh Ambassador to Treat or rather to Complement about our Trade in the East-Indies Surrat being in his Dominions where constantly one of his chief Nobles is resident as Governour The Earl carried Presents with him but was most magnificently and costly Re-presented by the Mogul even to an Estate and his Ambassie civilly and effectually answered we count them Barbarians but they are a Nation of extraordinary Civility as our Commerce witnesseth where they love they love ardently and constantly and where they hate they hate furiously and deadly At present they are engaged in a Civil War for the Mogul Sultan Coram lately dying left his Estate in Dispute though divided to his three Sons of whom he most loved his youngest who by the favour and practice of the chief of the Nobility having gained the Army which is alwayes kept standing possest himself of most part of the Empire while his Brothers were disputing with one another about other the private Limits and Boundaries of their Lands Both are now joyned against him but with what successe is not yet known The English Trade is neverthelesse no way molested or impeached their Governour now siding with the Younger Brother but is carried on as formerly the chief Merchants of that Nation being the Banians a sect and preciser sort of People than the rest the most of them being Mahometans who are just dealers and very rich and negotiate in all the Traffique of the East The Hollanders have some places of Strength here also and are in League with the Mogul though in War with some of the adjacent lesser Princes The King of Portugal is possest of the Kingdome of Goa and other large Provinces and Territories which were formerly distinct Kingdomes and Principalities but Conquered and won by his Sword but hath been disquieted and disturbed very often as well by the Natives as the Dutch but yet he hath made a shift to keep the greatest part still in his hands and consequently a very rich Trade and Traffique which he manageth himself There is alwayes resident at Goa his Vice-roy one of the Portugal Nobility who lives in great Pompe and State in a very fair Palace The City is strongly fortified and several out-Forts and Guards circumjacent to prevent a sudden attempt of an Enemy and other Fortresses are erected in that Kingdome some whereof are put into the hands of the English by agreement the Coast being beneficial to our Navigation into the Indies The Portugal Inhabitants follow the Habit and Fashion of the Indians as all Nations whatsoever Trading thither do their Habit. Persia is a mighty rich Land governed by the Sophy though he be a Mahometist yet he warreth against the Turk for the Religion of Mahomet concerning the expounding of the Alcoran out of Persia are brought the Bezoar-stone and other precious Stones Pearls of great value and many Silk-works This Kingdom once honoured with the Universal Empire as absolutely lost it self under the Turkish Slavery as before under the victorious
Earls and nine hundred Barons not Titular only but men of great Estates It hath had twenty six Kings of several Countries beginning first with the Norman race and now being in the hand of Spain The disease called now the French Pox was first in all Christendome found here The Arms of this Kingdome are Azure seme of Fleur de Lices Or a file of three Labels Gules It s revenue is two millions and an half of Crowns whereof twenty thousand are the Popes for his chief rent and the rest so exhausted in maintaining Garrisons upon the Natives and a strong Navy against the Turks that the King of Spain receiveth not a fourth part theâ—…eof clearly It hath twenty Arch-bishops and one hundred twenty seven Bishops-seas This Crown and Kingdom hath been in long dispute between France and Spain Charles the Eighth of France won and lost it in a Dream so transitory was his possession of it much blood being spilt in the quarrel The Duke of Guise of the Family of Lorrain now pretends a right to it and hath attempted the Conquest of it of late years twice being called in by the Citizens of Naples in 1647. after that famous insurrection in the City of Naples under Mâ—…ssianelio the Fisherman who led and commanded 100000 men at his beck and pleasure for 14. dayes at the end whereof he and his mutinous Government expired being supposed to be poysoned by the Artifice of the Spaniard In the year 1654. the same Duke of Guise having better retained in mind the Courtshâ—…ps of the Neapolitans than his own misfortunes and his promises made at Madrid where he was kept prisoner from the time that Naples was reduced 1647. equipped another Fleet from that Kingdome from Toulon and Marseilles which nâ—…rrowly escaped the English Fleet under General Blake designed against it and after much bad weather landed and was defeated by the Spanish Vice-roy his Lieutenant General Marquis du Plessis being killed in the place with 2000 more and so the French were forced to re-imbarque and the Expedition frustrated The Spaniards how quietly hold it from the Papacy by a fealty Present yearly of a White Horse to his Holyness The Kingdom of Sicilia in Italy is situate under the fourth climate the longest day being thirteen hours and an half it shoots forth into the Sea with three Capes or Promontories The People are Ingenious Eloquent and Pleasant but withall very inconstant and full of talke they Invented Oratory Pastorall Eclogues Hour-glasses with Military Engins The Soyl is incredibly fruitfull in Wine Oyl Honey Minerals of Gold Silver and Allum together with plenty of Salt and Sugar there are also gems of Agats and Emeralds it yieldthe also great store of the richest Silk hath most excellent and delicious Fruits both for tast and colour with abundance also of all sorts of Grain Here is the hill Aetna which many have taken to be Hell and ignorant Papists Purgatory because of its sending forth of flames of fire which eth brimstone there causeth It hath many Cities Rivers and Lakes of which I cannot stand to treat There were eight Kings of Sicilia six of the first whereof were called to rule In the year one thousand two hundred eighty one the house of Arragon governed it and there hath succeeded ten Kings It is now united to the Crown of Spain the revenue is eight hundred thousand some say a million of Ducats disbursed again on the entertainment of the Vice-Roy defence of the Island the Arms are four Pallets Gules Sable being those of Arragon between two Flanches Argent charged with as many Eâ—…g'es Sable beaked Gules It hath had seven Princes four Dukes thirteen Marquisses fourteen Earls one Viscount and fourty eight Barons the People are Papists and have three Arch-bishops and nine Bishops The Island and Kingdom of Sardinia in Italy lieth west from Sicilie from the neerest point Cape Boy or Cape Bara It is distant about two hundred miles it is in length one hundred eighty miles ninety in breadth five hundred sixty in the circuit and is situate under the fourteenth Climate the longest day being fourteen houres there is neither Wolf nor Serpent neither venomous or hurtful beast but the Fox only and a little creature like a Spider which will by no means endure the sight of the Sun except held by violence Some pools it hath very plentiful of Fish but generally are so destitute of River-water that they are fain to keep the rain which falls in winter for their use in summer by means whereof and for that there is no passage for the Northern Winds being obstructed by the high Mountains neer Cape Lugudori the air is generally unhealthy if not pestilential The soil is very fertile but ill manured well stored with all sorts of cattel the horses hereof hot head-strong and hard to be broken but will last long the bullocks naturally gentle so that the Country-man doth as familiarly ride them as they do in Spain on Mules or Asses Here is also the beast called Mufr nes or Muscriones found in Corsica also but in no other part of Europe somewhat resembling a Stagg but of so strong an hide that it is used by the Italian in stead of Armour of the skin of which carryed to Cordova in Spain and there dressed is made the right Cordovant leather also there is an Herb whereof if one eat it is said that he will die with laughter the Herb being of such a poysonous nature that it causeth the Man to die with such a convulsion of sinews that he seemeth to grinn or laugh at the time of his death The People are small of stature their Complexion inclining unto swarthiness rude in Manners very slothful and rebellious yet given to Hunting their Diet mean their Apparel in Towns Gorgeous in Villages base their Religion Papistically formal little Curious their Clergy being counted the most illiterate and ignorant in that part of the World called Christendome it is now in the hands of the King of Spain governed by a Vice-Roy who resides at Calaris and must of necessity be a Spaniard under whom are two Deputies-Governours Spaniards also inferiour Officers of command may be of the natives what profits arise here to the King of Spain I have no where found The arms hereof are said to be Or a cross Gules betwixt four Saracens heads Sable curled argent There are also divers small Islands belonging thereunto And lastly it hath three Arch-bishops and fifteen Bishops The lands of the Church or the Popes Dominions in Italy lie west of the Realm of Naples extended north and south from the Adriatick to the Tuscan-Seas bounded on the north-east with the river Trontus on the south-east with the Axofenus by which two it is parted from that Kingdom as on the north-west by the rivers Poe and Frore by which it is separated from the State of Venice and on the southwest by the river Pisco by which it is divided from the modern Tuscany
24. degrees and a half Yuemela is in 23. degrees and a half 15. Leagues in Length and North from Hispaniola lyeth Samana 7. Leagues each way Between which two former lyeth Yalaque of 10 Leagues in 22 degrees and a half There are also three small Islands that make a Triangle The Islands of Magaquana Quaqua Makre and Alreo in 20 degrees not now inhated and never but once sailed to by the English with losse too although they go round them yearly St. Christophers Mevis and Montserat and Antego This Island is of Ten Leagues in length and seated by English and French each having a Governour of their own Nation so peopled by both that Ground can hardly be obtained The two Nations are so mixed in their plantations that no secret design upon one another can long be kept so They make some Sugar in this Island some India and Cotton Wool but most Tobacco Mevis is 5. Leagues in length lying within a League of St. Christophers Here is the best Sugar of the Chariby Islands some Indico but little Cotton or Tobacco in 17 degrees lye Barbada and Redanda in the hands of the Cannibals Montserat is inhabited most part by Irish within 5 Leagues of the Redanda planted with Tobacco and some Indico Antego lyeth between 14 and 15 degrees It hath good Air and is planted by the English with Tobacco Indico Cotton-Wool and Sugar The other Chariby Ilands are Magelante Dominica Martinina Santa Luca Guarde-Lupa Todos Santes Deseada inhabited by Caniballs French and Spaniards and Barbadoes or Barbudoes Barbadoes This is a Lee-Iland the Wind usually blowing one way It lyeth in 13 degrees 30 minutes inhabited all with English and Negroes their Servants to such a number that it hath more people and Commerce than all the Ilands of the Indies Their Principal Commodity is Sugar of the worst sort Indico very good Cotton and little Tobacco They buy and sell here and scarce any where else in English Plantations with pieces of 8. ready money Here are store of Cattel but Horses are the most wanting by reason of their great Draught and Trade from place to place It is the worst place either to live in or to make a Voyage or Return For what is here is as well in the rest of the Ilands and much more plenty for here they have too many people and in those there is too few and Grain more then enough It s strength in men makes that they have no fortification yet perfect the reason that induced my Lord Willoughby of Parham sent thither Governour for the King in 1651 upon an attempt of Sir George Ayscoughs sent thither by the Paliament to reduce those Ilands to their subjection who had then declared for the Royal Interest and proclaimed his present Majesty to land some force upon the Iland to hearken to a Capitulation and agreement and render it to him upon honourable Terms This Plantation is now ready to be deserted unless some expedient can be found for Wood or other Fuell to boyle their Sugar divers having already transplanted themselves to Surynam Iaimaica This Iland oweth its name to Columbus who in his first discovery of this part of the World landed here and seized it for the use of the King of Spain being sent out by him at the instance of his Wife Isabella with 15. Ships whose Dysasters it will be too tedious to relate It will suffice to say that for all his great Services he was at last imprisoned in these Countries and sent home in Chains from which he was by the favour of the King released and himself afterwards honoured with the Title of Duke de la Vega a City in this Iland he himself had so named which City is now in being After our unfortunate Defeat at Hispaniola in 1656. where a strange Consternation had seized upon the Spirits of the whole Army none daring to shew their Faces to the Enemy but Major General Hayns and three or four more with him who honourably fell in Fight with that Negro and Devil-like Molatto for lack of Provisions which would not have lasted the whole Army in their resailing to Windward to Barbadoes it was resolved the Fleet should steer for Iamaica which was accordingly effected and upon Landing Proclamation made that it should be present death for any man to turn his back to the Enemy They landed without opposition and while they were marching up the Country the crafty Spaniard the old pocky Governour by a Treaty and Presents so delayed the Motion of the Army that they conveyed away their incredible wealth and riches into the woods and other Coverts before it was possible to overtake them He himself remaining as Hostage for the performance of some idle Articles So the English were peaceably at present possest of the Country But not long after came a reinforcement from the Island of Cuba adjacent thereto Divers Spaniards and Molatto's still keeping in the Woods and annoying the English and fortified themselves at Rio Novo where though they were strongly entrenched and twice more in number the Souldiers were so earnest to regain their lost Honour being taunted to their hearing by the Enemy with St. Domingo and undervalued for that Cowardwice that they fell on with incredible Fury and Resolution and forced their Trenches and made them accept of very hard Conditions to depart with their Skins The like they did to other Spaniards who landed about the same time near Poynt Pedro so that there is little danger or expectation of another invasion the Spaniard having such proof of our recovered valour though the Island if it were less fruitful is worth the fighting for though it should cost the Spaniard his best blood for it lyeth within his bowels and in the heart of his Trade For all the Treasure that his Plate Fleet brings home from Cartagena steers directly for St. Domingo in Hispaniola and from thence must pass by one of the ends of this Island to recover the Havana the common rendezvouz of the whole Armado before it returns home through the Gulf of Florida Nor is there any other way whereby to misse the Island of Iamaica because he cannot in any reasonable time turn up to the wind-ward of Hispaniola the which though he might with difficulty perform yet he would thereby lose the security of his united strength which at the Havana from all parts of the Bay of Mexico New Spain and the riches from Nombre de Dios and the South Seas accompany each other home from the said Havana and yet notwithstanding the private English Men of War snap up the Straglers as they lie crusing upon the Coast of Iamaica being fifty Leagues East and West and North and South twenty It is seated between the Tropicks in seventeen and 18 degrees of Northern Latitude and therefore twice every year subjected to the perpendicular Beams of the Sun but proving as happy to the Complexions and Constitutions of English men as Virginia New-England
the south or toward the north unto the number ninety The Longitude is returned from the Meridian circle and about the west Islands called Carva and Flores beginning right at the Equator easterly and running forwards unto the number three hundred sixty As for example London lyeth from the Equinoctial northward fifty one degrees and a half which is the Latitude and the Longitude thereof is twenty degrees answering unto that degree of the Equinoctial reckoning from the Meridian And now that I have briefly touched upon the Longitude and Latitude of Countries and having often spoke of the Meridian and Horizon I shall I hope not unprofitably take time in a word or two to tell you what each of them are The Meridian is a great circle rounding the earth from pole to pole There are many Meridians according to the divers places in which a man liveth But the chief and first Meridian passeth through the Islands Saint Michael and of the Azores The Horizon is a great circle designing so great a space of the earth as a quick sight can ken in an open field the use of it is to discern the divers risings and settings of the stars I shall now speak a little of the Climates and Parallels and then I hope I have done with things generally concerning the earth A Climate is a space of the earth included within the space of two parallels The use of them is to shew the difference of length and shortnesse of dayes over all the world as you may see in the midst of every climate the number of the longest day in the year under that climate the longest day in one climate differing half an hour from the longest of another so that there are twenty four climates consisting of forty eight parallels ere the day come to be twenty four hours of length which is twelve hours longer than the Equinoctial day is Now under the Equinoctial line and thirteen degrees that is three parallels on either side thereof the dayes exceed not the length of Twelve hours but after in every clime encrease the length of half an hour and when they come to forty eight parallels and twenty four climates as I said before the dayes being then twenty four hours long their increase is then by whole weeks and months till in the twenty fourth clime about the pole the day is full half a year long and as it is thus between the Equator and the north pole so it is between the said Equator and the south pole wherefore there are two sorts of climes that is twenty four northern and as many southern touching the names of which and other circumstances I shall say nothing here but leave the readers to other more large discourses thinking this enough in a Tract of this nature to have spoken of things generally concerning the whole earth The whole Earth is now divided into four parts Europe Asia Africa America Of each part and their several Regions Empires Kingdoms Dominions Common-wealths Titles of honours and Laws as briefly as I can together also with their sundry trade and commodities Europe though the least of the three first parts of the world nevertheless excelleth all other parts in worthiness power renown multitudes of well-builded Cities and of People skilful in all kind of arts also excelling in virtue and the knowledge of God better than all the riches of the world Through the Grecian and Romane Empire in it it hath had once the Dominion over Asia and Africa Mr. Heylin mentions in it fourteen mother Tongues which I will not stand now to name It hath plenty of grain plants fruits coals rivers and fountains of admirable virtue it needs nothing but what may be well spared as hot spices not so fit for our temper precious jewels the nourishers of vain and soul-destroying pride and wild beasts which cause desarts where they breed yet of gold silver and other commodities it hath a part it is divided on the east from Asia partly by the Rivers Duina and Tunnis and partly by the lake called Meotis now termed Mare de le Zabacche pont Euxine or Mare Maggiore From Africa it is severed by the midland Sea on the west and north side it hath the great Ocean I shall follow Mr. Heylin's method in the description of the Regions and Countries thereof beginning with first Italy then going secondly to the Alps thirdly France fourthly Spain fifthly Brittain sixthly Belgia seventhly Germany eighthy Denmark ninethly Swetheland tenthly Russia eleventhly Poland twelfthly Hungary thirteenthly Solavonia fourteenthly Dacia and the fifteenth Greece speaking of the several Islands as they relate to some or other of the greater Countries Italy the Mother of all Latine Learning stretcheth out easterly on Asia between the Adriatick and Thuscan Seas and borders towards the west upon France and towards the north on Germany and is severed from those countries by the river Varus and the mountains called Alpes the rest being compassed with the Sea It hath had seven kinds of Government first Kings second Consuls third Dictators forth Decemviri fifth Tribunes sixth Emperours seventh Popes It flourished most in the time of Christ and a little afterwards by means of the great and wide dominion of the mighty city of Rome which then reigned as Queen of the world over many Lands of Europe Asia and Africa This land excelleth all the lands of Europe in fruitfulness and pleasantness the inhabitants are witty industrious and frugal yet hot and lascivious And withall the men very jealous and that taken to be not without cause The religion there now professed is the Popish religion unto which they are more straightly kept by the Inquisition The chief Wares which are carried out of Italy into other Countries are rice silks velvets sattins taffaties grogrems rashes stamels bumbasins fustians felts serving for Clokes costly arras gold and silver thred allum galls Venetian drinking and looking-glasses It containeth at this day the Kingdoms of Naples Sicily and Sardinia the lands and patrimony of the Church so called which the Pope posseth the great Dukedomes of Urbin and Tuscany the Common-wealths of Venice Genoa and Luca and the estates of Lumbardy being the Dukedomes of Millain Mantua Modena Parma Monferrat and the Principality of Piemont of all which I shall observe somewhat The Kingdome of Naples in Italy is environed on all sides with the Adriatick Ionian and Tuscan Seas excepting where it joyneth on the west to the Lands of the Church from which separated by a line drawn from the mouth of the River Tronto or Druentus falling into the Adriatick to the spring head of Axofenus it taketh up all the east of Italy one thousand four hundred sixty eight miles it hath anciently been called the Kingdome of both the Sicilies The fertilest place of all Italy abounding in all things necessary for life delight and physick Hence are also brought the Neapolitan Horses It hath had thirteen Princes twenty four Dukes twenty five Marquesses ninety
part of the World The chiefest Cities of Asia with the Rivers THe chiefest cities in Asia which belong unto the Turks are in Anatolia Burse Chioutai Angoure Trebisond Sattalie the Rivers there most famous are the Rivers of Alie Iordan Euphrates and Tigris The most famous Cities in Syria are Aleppo Tripoli Damas Said and Hierusalem The most famous Cities in Georgia are Mosul Bagded Balsora Sanatopoli Stranu Derbent The most famous Rivers in Georgia are the Rivers of Fazze and Arais The most famous Cities in Arabia are Herac Ava Medina and Mectra the most memorable River is the River of Cayban The chiefest Cities in Persia are Tauris Gorgian Coysolma Hispahan Erat Sus Schirae and Ortmutz the chiefest Rivers are the Rivers of Tirditiri and Bendimur The chiefest Cities of India are Amedabath Cambaia Gouro Diu Bengala Pangab or Lahor Agra Goa Calicut Visnagor Pegu Arracan Malaca Camboge and Facfo the fairest Rivers in India are the River Indus Ganges and Mecon The most famous Cities in China are Paguin Quinsay Caneun Macao Mancian and Nagaia Hordo the greatest River is the River of Quinam or Iamsu Quiam The most famous Cities in Tartary are Zahaspe Samarcanda Thibet Cambalu Tatur or Tartar the chiefest Rivers are the Tatar the Ieniscoy the Oby the Chezel and the Albiamu The Isles in Asia in the Ocean are the Isle of Iapan where are the Cities of Bungo Meaco and Sacay The Phillipine Islands in which are the Cities of Lusor Manille and Mindanao The Molucco Islands in which are the Cities of Gililo Mucasar and Aquen Not far from thence is Sumatra and Iava where are the Cities of Candra and Columbo near unto it is Bornro Manur and Male. In the Mediterranean Sea there are the Islands of Cyprus Rhodes and Scarpanto in which are the famous Cities of Nicosia Famagusta Rhodes and Scarpanto In the Archipelago there are the Islands of Chios and Metelin which have Cities after their own names Africa AFrica the third part of the world is separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea and from Asia by the Red Sea she yieldeth Gold Balm Ivory Ebony Sugar Ginger Dates Aloes Myrrh Feathers also Madera the countries in Africa now follow Barbary is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea northward on the east with Egypt on the south with the Mount Atlas and westward with the Atlantick Ocean the Inhabitants are faithless crafty in promising and also in performing they are fraudulent covetous and beyond measure jealous of their Wives their Countrey yields Olives Figs Dates Oranges and a certain kind Goat whose hair makes a stuff as fine as silk This Countrey once famous for the strife of Empire with Rome while Carthage stood and after that for the Iugurthine War is now cantonâ—…zed and parted into several Principalities and as many Feuds betwixt the Kings of Morocco Fez Tuny and the Dy of Algier the King of Billedulgerid and others to one of which Sebastian King of Portugal being invited and inviting our Countryman Stukely and Glorioso to partake with him in the Enterprise in favour of an expulsed Prince were all three of them killed in the plains of Alcazar upon the Death of which Sebastian issueless hath risen a worse Feud then that he engaged in about the Crown of Portugal Some while before Charles the Fifth Emperour of Germany invading this Countrey took the City of Tunis and the Castle Guletto but the Turks coming with Supplies and the unagreeableness of the Climate to his Europeans joyned with the Witchcrafts of the Moors for which they are infamous made him quit his design and return home with loss Ever since they have continued their bold Depredations and Piracies at Sea countenanced by the Grand Seigniour who receives therefore or his Bashaws for him good part of the spoil Some kind of Traffique they use here but among such Thievish Companions it can scarce be call'd so though there are good Merchandises of the growth and Manufacture of the Countrey So that it may properly be said of this place what we have in an English Proverb Here is more Cry then Wooll more Complaint then Commerce the Captivity and Slavery of People and the Rapine of their Ships and Goods being the common Lamentation of all Christendom Our late General Blake terrified them into a better Comportment with the English by his noble and brave exploit upon Porto Ferino where he burnt their Ships and battered down their Stone Castles upon their Heads but no longer pipe with the Musick of the Cannon no longer would they dance to any agreement though they willingly subscribed then to those Termes Since the putting of Tangier into English Hands and the attempt made upon Algier the very Den and Nest of these Thieves by the Earl-of Sandwich they have again bethought themselves of the terrour and danger of the English Power and are agreed to new Terms This Tangier is a notable Fort in the mouth of the Straits and may serve as a Bridle to their Piracies There hath lately an Army presented it self before it under one Guyland and some Skirmishes have happened betwixt the Garrison and them but another Army coming against him he being but a Rebel to his Prince Cidi Ali Benbucar he drew off and is Marched to oppose him but what the Event will be will neither advance nor prejudice the English Interest though the King now rebelled against seemes to Court our Friendship Egypt hath Idumea on the east and the Bay of Arabia on the west Barbary Numidia and part of Lybia on the north the Mediterranean Sea on the south Ethiopia superior or the Abassin Empire It containeth in length five hundred sixty two Italian miles and in breadth one hundred sixty situated under the second and fifth Climates so that their longest day in Summer is not above Thirteen Houres and a half The air is very hot and offensive the soil is fruitful by the overflowing of Nilus it hath rich Pastures wherein they feed great store of Camels Horses Asses Oxen greater of growth then usually in most places else and by reason of the morishness of the Country they have also great store of Fouls it is furnished with great plenty of mettals some precious stones good wines and fruits as lemmons oranges pomgranets citrons figs cherries and such as these excellent both for taste and colour here grow the Palm-trees which alwayes grow in couples the male and female both thrust forth cods full of seed but the female alwayes fruitful and that not except growing by the male and having his seed mixed with hers the pith of these trees is an excellent Sallade better then an hartichoke which in taste it doth much resemble of the branches they make Bedsteds Lattices c. of the leaves baskets mats fans c. of the outward husk of the cod cordage of the inner brushes the fruit it bears is best known by the name of Dates which are in taste like figs and finally it is said to yield whatsoever
agreeing very well with the English Constitution The Summer is as hot as in Spain the Winter as cold as in France or in England The Heat of Summer is in Iune Iuâ—…y and August but the constant breezes at that time of the year do much allay its vehemency The extreme cold of the Winter is half December Ianuary February and half March The Winds are variable but no such Thunder or Lightning as in Europe all the varieties of needful Fruits which we have here may by the industry of men be in great plenty there There is but one entrance by Sea into this Country and that is at the Mouth of a very goodly Bay eighteen or twenty miles broad The South Cape is called Cape Henry and the North Cape Charles in honour of those two Princes The Land may have the prerogative over most places known for large and pleasant Navigable Rivers Mountains Hills Valleys and Champion Fields In the Bay which lieth North and South are many Isles both great and small the water floweth herein neer 200. miles and hath a Channel for 140. miles of betwixt 6 and 15 Fathom deep being in breadth some 10 or 14 miles The Mountains are of divers natures for at the Head of the Bay the Rocks are of a Composition like Mill-stones some of Marble c. the Colour of the Earth did in some places resemble Bole Armeniac Tirra Sigillata Fullers Earth but generally it is a black Sandy Mould In some places again fat slimy Clay in others a very barren Gravel The whole Country is neither Mountainous nor yet low but bestowed into pleasant Hills and fertile Valleys one prettily crossing another and watered conveniently with fresh Brooks and Streams no less commodions then delightful There is little Grass for all the Country is over-grown with Trees whose continual Droppings causeth their Grass to turn to Weeds by reason of the ranckness of the Ground which is now well amended by the Plantations The Wood is commonly Oake and Walnut many of their Oakes so tall and streight that they will bear two foot and an half square of good Timber for twenty yards long there is also some Ash and Elm Mulberries Chesnuts which taste like Damsons and Vines but they are wild and bear few Grapes There are also Gums Cedars Saxafras-Trees Berries Herbs and Roots Pellitory and Oranges For Beasts there are Deer Squirrells Beaver Otters Foxes Dogs Martins Pole-cats and Weasels For Birds there are all sorts of Hawks Partridges Turkeys Blackbirds Thrushes and divers of our small Birds In Winter there are great plenty of Swans Geese and such Wilde Foul as also Parrots and Pigeons For Fish there is Sturgeon Grampus Porcupisce Seal Mullets white Salmons Trouts Soales Plaise Herrings Pearch Crabs Stromps Eeles Lampreys Oysters Cockles and Muscles The Inhabitants differ much in stature but generally they are tall and streight they are of colour Brown or enclining to an Olive when at Age but are born white They are inconstant in every thing but what fear constraineth them to keep Crafty Timorous quick of apprehension and very ingenious They are soon moved to anger and so malicious that they seldome forget an Injury Their Buildings and Habitations are for the most part by Rivers or not far distant from some fresh Spring their Houses are built like our Arbours of small young Twigs bowed and tyed and so close-covered with Mats or the Barks of Trees very handsomly that notwithstanding either Wind Rain or Weather they are as warm as Stoves but very smoky yet at the top of the House they have a Hole to let it out The Men use Fishing Hunting and other Manly Exercises while the Women sow and reap and carry burdens and do all the Drudgery Their Chief God they serve is the Devil whom they call Okee more out of fear then love In their Temples which are Houses 60. foot high built Arbour-wise are placed the Images of their Devils and Kings and their Tombes They have a Chief and Inferiour Priests but keep no Day more Holy then another They use also divers Conjurations and have Altars but they stand from their Temples In some parts of their Country they have yearly a Sacrifice of Children Upon some conference with them concerning their Religion although they could not be perswaded to forsake their False Gods yet they did believe that our God as much exceeded theirs as our Guns did their Bows and Arrows Many encounters the English had with these Natives who by treacheries and open assaults endeavoured to disturb their possession but they were so frighted with the noise and so terrified with the Execution of the Guns that they were kept in some awe while Iames Town was finished which by the constant supplies sent yearly by the Council for Virginia was at last well built and fortified and pallisadoed and the Salvages awed into a good Comportment untill the comming of the Lord de La Ware just as through want the English were resolved to quiâ—…t the Country a little before which time as they had taken the same resolution Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Sommers prevented them by arriving from the Bermudas where they had been in great danger by a leaking Ship His Lordship arrived the 9. of Iune 1610. accompanied with Ferdinando Waynman Captain Houlcroft Captain Lawson and divers others in three ships well appointed with a years provision who built Fort Charles and Fort Henry that were afore but bare Capes and soon after good store of Kine and Swine were sent by Sir Thomas Dale who was Governour after my Lord De la Ware was returned who built a Town called Henrico and portioned out the adjacent Country into Hundreds as also he built another Town and called it the New Bermoudas about fifty miles from Iames Town and the English Collony fell to planting their Corn about April every year every man having been allotted three Acres of Ground in the nature of Farms the first Farmer there being one William Spence who were to supply their stores for it with a small quantity of Corn yearly by which means it was wonderfull to see how in so short a time this Colony was thriven in its reputation But it advanced faster soon after by the means of the standing Lottery and a perfect peace made with Powhatan the King of the Country whose Daughter being surprised one Mr. Rolfe had married She proved a very good Christian and Vertuous Woman being Christened Rebecca They begun also now to plant Tobacco every year changing their Governour and had a dispute with the French in their new plantations A Convention also in the nature of a Parliament was called and several gifts to charitable uses for bringing up the Indian Children transmitted to the Governour and Council so that they were by the year 1620 in a very flourishing condition that year arriving no less than eleven ships and 1216 persons which were thus to be disposed 80. for Tennants to the Governors Lands besider 50. sent the
their resolutions During their abode here they found in one entire Lump among the crevises of the Rocks a piece of Ambergreece the greatest yet found weighing 80 l. with other small crumbles This with much adoe was secured for the Company of these Sumer-Islands who to the number of one hundred and twenty had purchased a Patent for the said Isle whom the News of the Ambergreece much augmented The first Governour was Mr. More he departing there was a monthly succession of six till one should come from England which was Captain Daniel Tucker in the mean time the Fortifications were finished and the Isle secured from any attempt of the Spaniard in whose time happened that memorable Voyage of five Persons Viz. Richard Sanders William Godwin a Ship-Carpenter Thomas Harrison a Joyner Iames Barker a Gentleman and Henry Puet who making a Boat under pretence for Fishing being hardly used and not suffered to depart in the Ships by the assistance of a Compass unknown to any person till they were gone set to Sea having provided themselves of Victuals and by a direct Course the wind favouring them in five weeks time though a Pyrat to whom they sailed hoping to be taken in took away from them their Compass and other necessary implements arrived in Ireland where the Earl of Thomond honourably received them and hung up their Vessel for a Monument It is now divided into eight Tribes each Tribe having in it 50. Shares of which there are some for their publike charge The names of the Tribes are Sandys Southampton Warwick Paget Pembroke Cavendish Smith Hamilton formerly Bedford And thus much for Bermuda's The Swedes Plantation The Swedes are seated between the Dutch and Virginia in a Village by a Fort which lyeth eight miles within the River of Delaware in Virginia on the northside of the River they are few in number and their principle business is their Commerce with the Indians for they have little or no Cattle they furnish the Indians with Guns and weapons as the Dutch do and once in a year are supplyed by a ship or two from Swethland that fetch away their Merchandise Mary-Land This Province is divided from Virginia by the great River Patomuck it lyeth on the North side of the great River and the west side of the great Virginia Bay it is more wholesome then the parts of Virginia and seated better for the English grain It is now better peopled than formerly the Inhabitants being Papists and Protestants a like countenanced the propriety by Patent is vested in the Lord Baltimore a Catholick New-Holland To the South-west of New-England lyeth the Dutch Plantation it hath good ground and good air but few of that Nation inhabiting there which maketh that there are few Plantations in the Land they chiefly intending their East-India Trade and but one Village whose Inhatants are part English and part Dutch Here hath been no news or any matter of War or State since the first Settlement There is the Port Orange thirty miles up Hudsons River they are mischievous neighbours to the English for according to the European Mode they sell Guns and Ammunition to the Common Enemy the Indians New-England This Plantation was first undertaken in the year 1606. by Patent from King Iames to several Merchants of London and the West-Countries with a special Inhibition not to plant within 100 miles of the former Colony of Virginia but never took effect till 1622 or thereabouts after many losses and discouragements of several adventures At last Sir Francis Popham had the Happinesse and Fortune to establish it though with much hazzard and difficulty by the Treachery of the Indians and the unproportionablenesse of the after-Supplies The Plantation beginneth about 44. degrees and is indifferently peopled with English as Southwardly at 41. At this day it hath three Divisions the North the middle and the South In the middle is Boston the best Seat and best inhabited the South is the Government of New-Plimouth Boston hath a Street neer half a mile long full of Merchandâ—…ze Here is Resident a Council and a Governour which is yearly chosen and accommodated with a very good Port and Castle furnished with Men and Ammunition Near Boston lyeth Charles-Town and five miles into the Countrey is Cambridge an University of Nonconformists to the Church of England This Country having alwayes been the Receptacle of such religious Male-contents The Land of all this Region is generally barren and rocky the Commodities are these ensuing Pipe-staves Clabboard Fish English Grain and Fruits and Iron works with these they drive a Trade to most parts of Europe especially to Spain the Canaries and Chariby Islands They are at present very numerous and deserve their Name except their diversity in Religion which hath made them disgustful to old England Near adjoyning to this Colony the French have a Plantation called Canada or Nova Francia not worth the mentioning save for some bickerings that have lately happened betwixt us and them concerning limits wherein we have been successful driving them out of some Forts they unjustly possessed New-found-land This is the most Septentrional land of America but there is a straight of Sea not yet throughly discovered called Hudsons Straight by which the North-west passage was concluded feasible the Lands adjoyning being called Nova Brittannia or Nova Franmurcia This Island stretcheth North and South from 46. degrees and a half to 50. and a half Latitude The Natives of this place are few and Savage The Commodity thereof is Fish which is mostly Poor Iohn traded for in great quantity by French Biscayners and English chiefly of the West Country who for the profit hereof endure the Winter cold and Summer heat of the Climate amidst other very great difficulties This Island lyes at the mouth of the River Canada distant from the continent at the north end near half a League and the South-west point is about a League from Cape Britton Martins-Vineyard This is a small Island upon the Coast of New-England the Governour thereof being appointed by the Council of New-England It is 20. miles long and 10. miles broad there is great plenty of Fish in this Coast. On the Southwest of this Island lieth Long-Island in length 60. English miles and in breadth 15 inhabited by some English who for their Sectary opinions have been put from New-England They are claimed also by the Dutch but depend of nor pay duty to either As also there are divers other Islands more particularly Cape Hatrash a part of Island in 36 degrees from whence till you come to the point of St Helena which is in 32 degrees all the Coast along are broken Isles and uninhabited the best whereof is Roantke of 18 miles compasse The Islands of Lucahos or Bahama These Islands are Southwest from the Bermuda's and to the North of Portorico Hispaniola and Cuba the most emment is Lucayneque in 27 degrees There is likewise the Islands of Abacoa and Yuma of 12. and 20. Leagues in
hath three great Kingdomes The first and principal is the Kingdome of New-Spain The second is the Kingdome of Galisia The third the Kingdome of Gutemalia and the Province of Varagua that adjoyneth to the Straight of Darian and is properly of the Council of Panama The Kingdome of Spain hath in it a Viceroy and Council intituled the Viceroy of Mexico And within his Government the Province and Bishoprick of Mexico that of Tlascala Guaxaâ—…a Mechoachan Chiapa Yucatan and Panuco The Indians of this Kingdome are of two sorts the Chickamecans which are a sort of Rogues that live much after the manner of Toriges or ancient Irish by robbing and spoiling Passengers on the way Towns and Villages and the other live even as decently as the Spaniard and are of all Trades and Vocations as they are of sharp wits and of great agility of body as appeareth by their extraordinary feats of Activity on the Rope and tumblings This Kingdome is a high Country for the most part of it and for riches pleasantness and wholesomeness accounted one of the best in the world as lacking nothing naturally that is to be had excepting Wine and Oil which they might also have but that it is forbidden to plant Vineyards or Oliveyards by the King of Spain and it hath divers things not elsewhere to be had both of Trees Herbs and Drugs New-Galicia THis Kingdome of New Galicia hath no Viceroy but is governed by a Council whose bounds is parted from New Spain at the Port of Nativity on the South Sea to the North North-west and North-east It hath no bounds but may inlarge their Territories as they see occasion on the Indians It hath already these Provinces The first Guadalaica Xalisco Sacaticas Chiamerla Culiacan New-Biscai and Sivaloa And this Kingdome is not much inferiour to New Spain and it hath the same sort of Indians Gutamalia This Kingdome of Gutamalia is governed as the other by a Council without a Viceroy and is the Southwardliest Region of this North America and hath within its bounds the Provinces of Gutamalia from whence the Kingdome taketh name Soconusco Chiapa Suchiâ—…epoque Verapas Honduaras and Cacos Saint Saviour and Saint Michael Nievaraqua Chuluteca Taquesgalpa and Costarica or the rich Coast. The Indians here are more warlike than the rest and have more unwillingly submitted to the Spanish Yoke and therefore they have had almost continual wars the most of the Indians living till very lately after the manner of the Chickamecians though many of them are docible as the Indians of Mexico This is a rich wholsome Kingdome not inferiour to Galicia but rather exceeds it But when I come to each particular Province I shall name them as they adjoyn on the Coast of the Sea Panuco is a Province near adjoyning to Florida and parted from it by the River of Palms which lyeth in 28 degrees of North Latitude That part of it that lyeth next to Mexico is the best and hath the greatest plenty of Victuals with some gold the other side which is next Florida is poor and barren The next to Panuco on the Coast of the North Sea lyeth the Province of Talascalia or Losangels It hath abundance of Flax Wheat Sugar and Ginger diversity of herbs and fruits abundance of Cattel Hogs and Horses many silver mines 200 chief Indian Towns and at least 40 Monasteries of Friers Youcatan The North part of this Province adjoyneth to the South of Talascalia It is a peninsula and in compasse 150 Leagues The temperature is hot and moist it hath no Rivers but is full of good willows It is a woody country nor will it bear English grain neither hath it gold or other mineral The Province of Honduras adjoineth unto the South part of Youcatan this coast stretcheth along the north Sea as far as Nicaragua which is near 150 leagues It is a hilly Countrey plentiful of all sorts of Cattel and store of Wheat and Mines of Gold and Silver Nicaragua lyeth next to the South-side of Honduras it is a plentiful Countrey of Coco Cotten-Wool Millet Cattel and much gold It hath five Spanish Towns and abundance of peaceable Indians which are most expert in the Spanish tongue The Province of Costarica lyeth between Nickuragua and Caragua between which it hath 90 Leagues in length It is a good Land and very fruitful in Millet Wheat Flax and Sugar plenty of Mines both of Gold and Silver and it hath two Spanish Towns The Province of Varagua lyeth between Costarica and Panama adjoyning on the South part to the Straight of Dariana The northerliest is in eleven degrees it hath East and West 50 leagues and in breadth 25 and is washed as Costarica with the north and south seas It is a Mountainous Country full of bushes without Pasture or Cattel Wheat or Barley but it hath some Millet and is full of rich Mines of Gold The Indians are few and they be in continual wars with the Spaniards And at the end of this Varagua beginneth the southern America And therefore I shall return back to the other parts of this north America which is not yet discovered The Province of Cibloa is the most northerly Province that the Spaniards possess in America It hath but one Spanish Town Here are store of all sorts of our Cattel and the Ox of the Countrey which hath a bunch of Flesh on his back of the bignesse of a mans head and his hair is shaggy and long his horns smaller then our Kines horns but his body much bigger this is an Inland Province and lyeth from the Sea many Leagues The Province of New-Biskay lyeth on the south-west of Cibloa it hath store of Provision and Cattel and divers Mines of Silver It hath two fair Spanish Towns that is to say Sancta Barbola and the Baro of Saint Iohn with divers peaceable Indians It is an Inland Province but of much Commerce by reason of the silver Mines The Province of Chiamerla lyeth in more than two and twenty degrees of hight It is ten Leagues broad and something more in length it lyeth along the south Sea but hath no Ports of name The Province of Guliacan is the most northerly Province the Spaniards possesse on the Coast of the south Sea It lyeth west of Chiamerla there are much Cattel Seeds and Fruits of England Sacetas lyeth south-east from Biscay It is very wholesome in some parts of it and as sickly and unwholesome in other parts which causes that in some places there is much want and in other places as much plenty But to amend all defects there are in most places rich silver Mines The Province of Xalisco hath the City of Compostella near the south Sea in one and twenty degrees nineteen Minutes there is the Village of the Purification south-west from Gudalaria thirty leagues this land is hot and sickly but hath Mines of Gold and Silver good store of provisions and excellent Horses that are well bred for any service Guadalaira is the best
of all the Provinces of the Kingdom of New-Galicia and the most Southerly It hath all sorts of Grain Herbs and Fruits of New-Spain and plenty of Kine Horses and Swine It is a wholesome good air and hath many silver mines the chief City and Head of the Kingdom is Guadalaira in twenty degrees The Province of Mechoacan lyeth between the Province of Mexico and the Kingdom of New-Galisia it hath in breadth by the coast of the South Sea fourscore leagues and threescore within land Here are many good Mines and it is a fruitful land and hath much Wheat Millet Coco all sorts of Spanish fruits Cotton-wool the rich drug of Choconeel store of Cattel and Fish and the Indians are industrious and given to labour the chief City is Mechoachan it stands in eighteen degrees fifteen minutes and forty and seven leagues from Mexico The Province of Mexico falleth between Mechoacan and Talasvalia it hath in length North and south one hundred and thirty leagues and in breadth eighteen Guaxcaca Province cometh to the Coast of the South Sea and it lyeth between Mexico and Gutamalia Province along the coast of the South Sea one hundred leagues Soconusco is the Westerliest Province of the Kingdom of Gutamalia it joyneth to the Province of Guaxcaca from whence it lieth on the Southeast thirty four Leagues and far into the Land It is plentiful of Wheat Coco Millet and Cattel The Province of Gutamalia is the head of the Kingdome of Gutamalia it joyneth to the Province of Soconusco and on the South Sea it stretcheth 70 leagues the Country is of a good temperature and plentiful of Cotton-Wool Wheat Millet and Cattel and other Seeds and fruits the Winds and Rains in October are very furious This Province hath abundance of Gold some Silver store of Balm and liquid Amber Copal Suchicopal excellent liquors and the Gumme animi with the Beasts that breed the Bezoar stone But the Volcans here are very noysome to those that lie near them for they often burst forth casting out fire-stones and ashes And here are more of those Volcans or fire-pits than in all India besides The Province of Chiapa is an inland Province it is Mediterrauean to Soconusco Mexico Tabasco and Verapas and in length forty leagues and something less in breadth It hath store of Wheat Millet and other Grain and Seeds much Cattel but few Sheep Verapas is also an inland Province of Gutamalia and is Mediterranean to Chiapa Youcatan Honduras and Gutamalia of thirty Leagues over it is a moist Country and it hath plenty of Millet and Wheat Cotton-Wool Coco and much of that sort of Fowls whose feathers make the rare coloured Indian pictures and this is a great Merchandise amongst them Panama hath a Council that hath for Jurisdiction no more then the Province of Panama and the election of the Governour of Veragua in regard they are appointed Principals of the Navigation for the dispatch of Peru and ordering the King of Spains Treasure which is yearly transported to Porto Belio over the straight of Darien and from thence to Spain It adjoyneth on Carthagena and Popian to the south-east and south-West The air at Panama is extream unwholsome and the place very sickly but it is mended and made durable by the Trade is brought in by the vast sums yearly brought there to carry to Spain of which the Inhabitants get part The Countrey of Carthegena lyeth on the north sea and is parted from the Province of Panama by the River of Darian from whence to the River Magdalen is fourscore leagues The Land is mountainous and hilly full of high trees this Region is fruitful in some places and in other some as Barren The Seed of England will grow but in few parts of this Countrey but here are many Cattel Horses and Swine The temperature of this Countrey is hot and very rainy neither is their Mines worked either of Gold or Silver but much rozen and liquors which they have from the Trees and Sanguis Draconis Granado THis Kingdome lyeth from the Sea adjoyning on the South part of Cartagena It is a very rich Countrey in Mines of Emralds Gold Steel and Copper store of Pastures with all sorts of Cattel Wheat Millet Fruits and Herbs The Indians are great Traders and able men of body ingenious in the Sciences of the Spaniards The Merchandise cometh up the River Magdalen on which this Land lyeth The Province of Sancta Martha lyeth between Cartagena and the River Hacha on the North sea It is a plentiful Country of Millet Potatoes much Gold Emralds and other rich Stones and Copper The Province of Venesiula lyeth on the north Sea parted from Sancta Martha by the River of Hacha on the east is the Province of Suava or New Andulesia as the Spaniards call it The Coasts of the Sea is near one hundred and thirty leagues of length In this Land are veins of Gold of more than two and twenty Caracts and a half It is plentiful of Wheat and other Seeds for there are two Harvests in a year It hath abundance of all kind of Cattel great and smal Cotton and Salsaparilla Guana This Region comprehendeth all the Land that lyeth between the Province of Venesiula and Brasill which beginneth at two degrees of South latitude this Land is more famous for report than for any certain knowledge of the riches thereof The Provinces of Plate take name from the River on which they lie the passage to them is up the said River but they are almost on the back of Brazil They are large and far wholsomer than Brazil plenty of Sugar Ginger Wine Wheat Millet all sorts of English Fruits store of Cattel Swine and Horses but no mines that are worked They are subjected by the Spaniards and united to the Council of Peru on the South Sea for nearness of lying to that Kingdome there is a common passage from these Provinces thither by land over the Mountains the most of the Land is indifferently inhabited The Coast of Chilia reacheth to twenty eight degrees of South latitude This Region is wholesome above all other in the Indies being of an excellent temperature as neither too hot nor too cold It is abundantly Rich in Gold and Silver Mines and all sorts of Cattel and Grain Fruits and excellent and pleasant Wine The Country men are strong and valiant beyond compare which the Spaniards know to their great cost for they could never totally subdue this Nation The bounds of this Council of Charcas stretcheth from Chilia to Peru It hath abundance of Cattel of all kinds great shag-haired Sheep bigger than Goats that carry great burthens on their backs store of Corn of all sorts Fruits and Wine much Gold and the greatest Mines of Silver in the World There are few Spanish Towns and but one but Port in regard the Spaniards get neat the Hill of Potosi to the City Imperial which lyeth in nineteen degrees of latitude far from the Sea and delivereth that
which is exported and receiveth the Merchandize imported at the City of Arica Peru. THis Kingdom is governed by a Council and Viceroy It hath to the North the Council of Quito on the south Charchas and to the west the south-sea and to the east without limits This Kingdom is well peopled with civil orderly Indians that are in great subjection to the Spaniards Peru doth abound in all sorts of Fruits Seed Cattel Horses Sheep Swine rich Mines of Gold Silver Quick-silver plentifull of Wine Oil and Sugar The Andes runs through this Province within ten Leagues of the Sea In all which Coasts it never raineth but on the said hills it raineth continually and beyond as in other Regions The Plains between the Sea and the said Hills have few or no Rivers but the industry of the Inhabitants draw in trenches which are artificially made the water either from those few Rivers or from the side of the said Andes which maketh that the said plain is mighty populous fruitful and pleasant even as a Garden The City of Cusco is the head City of Peru by a Title that it hath from the King of Spain It lyeth in 13 degrees and a half south of the Equinoctial It is a very great City and hath four great streets that go to the four parts of the World It hath many Monasteries and Nunneries with a Cathedral and divers Schools of Indian Children Quito THis Kingdome is governed by a Council whose bounds lyeth between Peru and Panama It hath two mighty Countreys or Provinces within his circuit that is to say first Quits and then Popyan Quito lieth between Peru and Popyan on the south sea and far into the land under the Equinoctial line and contrary to the opinion of the Ancients it is a most wholsome temperate Countrey and rather cold than hot in most places of it In those places where the Snow continues all the year it raineth from October to March which they call Winter This Province is rich in Mines of Emralds and Gold Silver and Quick-silver plentiful of English Grain and Cattel Horse and Swine This Region is happy in the temperature of the Air there being neither extreme cold nor heat as lying Equinoctial to these extremes and which is more delightful to mans nature always a clear Skie The Province of Popyan lyeth between Quito and Panama the greatest part of it is Inland yet doth it for a good way lie on the south sea The Eastern part bordereth on the Kingdom of Granado and Cartagena The temperature of Air is very different in this place for here are some places indifferent temperate and cool other places are very hot and sickly This Province hath some Indians peaceable other some extraordinary savage insomuch that about the Village of Arma and Canarna they eat not only those that they take in War cutting off slivers eating one part while the other liveth but sell their Children and the Sons their Fathers and Mothers to the Butchers who keep shambles of mans flesh This Countrey is exceeding rich in Gold Mines which maketh that the Spaniards endure the other inconveniencies of the Countrey with great patience Magellan-Straight This Straight is famous for the troublesome passage of Drake Candish and Haukins three English men Generals each in a several Fleet Drake and Candish being the first that sailed along the coast of Peru and so to the East Indies and came home by the cape of Bona Speranza circum-navigating the Globe The last being much over-matched was taken by the Spaniards on the coast of Peru and conveyed from thence Prisoner to Spain From whence with much difficulty he obtained his freedom although solemn engagements passed from the General his Taker for his freedome The entrance into this Straight is in 52 degrees and the coming out into the south sea the same height It is an extreme difficult passage by reason of the meeting of the north and south seas in the channell driving each other back prevailing as they are favoured by the wind which commonly bloweth there exceeding boisterously and cold There are divers Caves and Bayes in it but no encouragement for a Seaman to adventure that way The Inhabitants on this Straight are few and extreme savage neither is this passage any more in use for those that will go by the south of America to the East Indies or into the south sea to any part of the west coast of America have a more convenient passage south of this Straight in an open sea The entrance into it is called Lamair but the sea was discovered by Sir Francis Drake and Sir Richard Haukins both which were driven back by foul weather into those seas after they had passed the Strait On the coast of the south sea which lyeth between the Straight and Chilli there are no inhabitants save the wild Natives but it hath the Bay of Horses in 52 degrees and the Bay of Saint Iohn in 50. The cape of Saint Francis in 51. And 18 Leagues before you come to Port Hearnan the Bay of Galago in 48 degrees 40 Minutes and north of it the Bay of Kings and the Isle of Catilina then the Cape of Saint Andrew in 42 degrees where Chilia beginneth There is a coast between the River of Plate and the Straight of Magellan The Straight lyeth southwest from the mouth of this River and is distant thence 400 Leagues It hath on the said coast first the point of Saint Helena in 37 degrees the point of Francis in 38 the River of Canobi in 45. And to the south the Isle of Ducks And in 47 the River of Seriani and in 49 the Port of Saint Iulian the River of Sancta Crux in 50. And 12 leagues before you come to the Straight of Ilefonsus But the Land possest with no other but the Natives which are a Giantly people This Magellanica belongs to the King of Spain which some Geographers would have now the fifth part of the World it is since found out to be a very little part as consisting only of some few Islands on the southern side of the Magellanick-Straights so called by Fredericus Magellanicus who discovered it in the year one thousand five hundred and twenty writing moreover that there he had seen tall men about nine and ten foot high and he saw many fires which the inhabitants had kindled doubtless by reason of the coldnesse of the weather he named it the land of fire or smoky whereby he presumed the more that it must needs be a very vast great countrey reaching east and westwards unto new Guinney according to which ghessing it hath hitherto been delineated by the Maps of Geographers but since hath there instead thereof a large and wide sea been found out both by Iacob Le Mair who in the year one thousand six hundred and sixteen sayling about the southern coast of these Islands entred into the Indies and by Iohn Davis in the year one thousand six hundred forty two who
sailing towards the North about on thousand six hundred forty further than Guinny discovered divers Lands and passing on the South-side sailed about the East coast of New Guinny and so going on Westward he came to the Indies whence we may certainly gather that all the former descriptions and definitions of the Magellanick and unknown Lands are but mean abuses and certain devised Fables These Lands and Countries being subdued in the space of 60 years with much blood and hazard were settled as his Dominions in the year 1550 from which time they have continued without any remarkable alteration setting aside some private inroads of the English Dutch and French till the business of Iamaica which now threatens some danger to the vast and potent body of the Spanish Empire Brazil This Province beginneth where Guana endeth at two degrees of south latitude where there is a point called the Cape of Snakes from whence it lyeth along the Coast of the North-Sea to twenty five degrees and on the back-side west lyeth the Provinces of the River of Plate The air is the whole year through very hot the Winter which your Summer distinguished only with the rain that falleth at that season Here are many venemous Worms and great Serpents 't is plentiful of Pastures Cattel and Horses little Millet and no English grain wherefore their bread is Casabi or Potatoes which are in great plenty There are great shews of silver and gold but none gotten nor Mines certainly known The chief commodity is Sugar Cotton-wool Bombast and Brazil wood It hath near the Sea-coast about 20. Portugal Towns many Ingeniowes or Sugerworks the first Town of the Country is called Tamerico and five leagues to the south of that Farnambuck or Recif then All Saints a hundred leagues from Farnambuck in fourteen degrees forty minutes The Town of the Sure-haven in 16 degrees and a half the Holy-Ghost in 20. There is another Town on the River Generio in twenty three degrees near which they cut much Brasil-wood There are on the coast eight or ten Ports more principal than the rest which are the River Saint Dominick northeast of Farnambuck by the Cape of Saint Augustine which standeth in nine degrees The Island of Tamerico before rehearsed the River of Saint Francis in ten degrees and a half It is very great The Bay of All Saints is three leagues and thirteen up into the land The River of Trinidado and the River of Canamon in 13 degrees and a half and the River of the Virgins in 16 and Portesceurae in 17. The River of Parague in twenty near the Town of Sanctus Spiritus and in twenty three degrees Cold Cape beyond Saint Vincent This Province hath been in difference betwen the Portugeses and West-India Company of Holland and as the Dutch got great footing there without right so the Portugals since their falling from Spain have surprized them again and recovered them by the same slight they got the East-Indies from us but not with such vile murthers as they committed on the English This Reconquest of it by the Portugal from the Dutch was in 1654 the strong Fort of Recif which held out the last being delivered to them with the whole Land by certain Articles which contained the whole surrender for which the Dutch General there Sigismond Schop at his comming home into Holland was tried for his life but his Friends or the Justice of his Cause preserved him And thus now God enabling me I have finished the Description of the World and the four parts thereof and leave my endeavours herein to the judgement of the Reader The chiefest Cities of America with the Names of the Rivers IN the Northern part of America are Greenland East-land and Iceland in which are the Towns of Bearford and Scalbod In Canada or new France are the Towns of Quebec and Port-Royal some degrees more southerly are New-England the New-Low-countries Virginia the Isles of Bermudes and more southerly of them the Islands of Barbadoes and Saint Christophers In Virginia are the towns of Iames In New-England the towns of Plimmouth and Boston the Rivers in Canada that be most famous are the River of Canada or Saint Lawrence the River of Chesseapeac or Powatan Trinity and the River of May. The Cities in New-Mexico that are most remarkable are the End and the Granado In Hispaniola is the City of Domingo in Cubai the City called Havana In the Isle of Iamaica the City called Sevilla In the Island of Boriquenrie Puerto-Rico In Florida is Saint Augustino In Mexico or New-Spain are these great Cities Mexico Mechoacan or Wallodolid Saint Estevan Del Puerto Los-Angeles Antequera De la Vetoria Meroda Guadalaida Compostella Saint Sebastian Saint Miguel Gernada and Zacateca There are also Saint Iago De Guatimala Guevetulan Cividad Real Verapax Valadolid or Commagaiva Leoa de Nicaragua Cartago La Conception Porto ello and Panama The Rivers here most famous are North of New-Mexico Spiritu Sancto towards the east Spiritu Sancto towards the west Econdido Panuco Barania Zacatula and Desaguadero de Nicaragua In Terra Firma are the famous Cities of Cartagena Saint Martha Saint Fe de Bogatta Na Sa de los Remedios Veneznella O Cori Cordova Lannuenâ—… O Comana Manoa O el Dorado In Peru are these remarkable Cities Cali Popaian Saint Francisco de Quito Bacca Saint Iuan de las Selinas Lima O los Reyes Cusco Potosi la Plata Sancta Cruz de la Sierra Saint Iago de Chili and L' Imperiale The Rivers which are most famous in Terra Firma and in Peru the River Grand O de Darien the River Grand O de Santa Martha Paria Orinoque Essequebe and Desaguedero de Peru. In the south part of America is Terra Magellanica where is the City of Del Rey Felippe there are the Magellan Isles and Terra del Foco. In Brasil are these fifteen memorable Cities Para Maranhan Ciara Potenii Paraiba Tamaraca Olinda Seregippe Saint Salvador Los Isteos Porto Seguro Spiritu Sancto Sancte Sebastian Los Santos and Farnambuck The Rivers in Brasile are Orelane or des Amazones Maragnan O de Mirari Tabacourn the great River of Potengi the River Zoyal In Ria de plata are the Cities of Saint Iago del Festero Cordova de Tucuman L. Assumtion Cividad Real O Ontiveros The River here that is most famous is called Paraguay FINIS A Catalogue of some Plates Maps Pictures and Copy-books that are Printed and Sold by John Overton dwelling at the sign of the White Horse next door to Little Saint Bartholomews Gate in Little Brittain General Maps A Map of the World A most excellent Map of England Scotland and Ireland A Map of France A new Map of England adorned and beautified with the chief Cities and Towns thereof more exact than hitherto Maps of Shires Kent two sheets Essex Surrey Hartfordshire Norfolk Suffolk Staffordshire Warwickshire Worcestershire Leicestershire and Rutland in one Cheshire Lancashire Virginia Pictures of Men in Quarto The Picture of Oliver Cromwell Sir Tho. Overbury Cardinal Wolsey Sir Tho. Gresham D. of Buckingham Prince Princess of Orange Prince Rupert Prince Maurice E. of Salisbury Mr. Brightman Bish. Usher Dr. Eravius M. Shelton Gen. Lashly L. Say E. of Pembrook E. of Manchester Great Sheets The Pourtraictures of their most excellent Majesties King Charles 2d and Queen Katherine most excellently Graven to the life beyond all Draughts before in Imperial Paper The Pourtraictures of all the Royal Progeny Battel of Nazeby 2 sheets with observations Dunbar-battel in 2 sheets 4 Plates of signs or badges for Inns or Taverns 42. The City of London Gunpowder Treason and 88. The Arms of the Trades and Corporations of London 74. A Death Jerusalem 2 sheets Collonel Ludlow on Horseback X Commandments X Persecutions of Christians Orpheus Copy-Books Some late Copy-Books by Ed. Cocker with several Books of Flowers Beasts Birds Flies and Worms very delightful and useful to all Naturalists A Book of Flowers and Fishes with the same curiosity of Art Davis Copy-Book Billingsley in Quarto Billingsley in Octavo One published by P. S. 2d by Lewis Hews 2d called Hancocks 22. Plates And all other sorts of Copy-Books that are to be had in London Books for Draughts of Men Birds Beasts Flowers Fruits Flyes Fishes c. 1 Book of J. Fullers Drawings 15. plates 1 Book of Draughts of Mr. Hollars work and Mr. Vanderburghs 18 plates Flora 13 plates Beasts Birds c. 1 Book of Birds sitting on sprigs 16 plates 1 Book of Beasts 1 Book of branches 11 plates 1 Book of Flowers 12 Plates for Cheese trenchers Pictures in Sheets of their Excellencies Rob. E. Essex Tho. L. Fairfax Also O. Cromwell Divers Pictures of Mr. Payn Hollar Faythorn Pumbarp Gaywood and other Artists works And all other sorts of Maps Pictures Copy-books c. that are usually sold in black and white and in Colour Minerva and 7 liberal Arts. FINIS The Earth The Air. The Fruits