only place in all Asia where plenty of Saffron groweth This City is one of the most remarkable Thorough-fares in the East where are continually lodged the Caravans from Persia Diarbeck Constantinople Smyrna Synopus and other places and here the Caravans turn off as they are variously bound Here are excellent Fruits and Wine and Provisions are had at easie rates The Province of Bithynia bounded BITHYNIA hath on the North the Euxine Sea a place famoused for the Victory of Alexander against the Persians then for Mount Stella where Pompey overthrew Mithridates and Tamberlain with 800000 Tartans encountred Bajazet with 500000 where 20000 lost their lives and Bajazet in the pride of his heart being taken and penn'd up in an Iron-Cage beat out his own Brains against the Bars It s chief places are 1. Nice Chief places in Bithynia where the first General Council was held by the appointment of Constantine the Great for the expelling of the Arian Heresie 2. Chalsedon where the 4th General Council was to repel the Nestorian Heresie 3. Scutari opposite to the Haven of Constantinople in which place the Persians received their Tribute from the other Cities of these Parts and lastly 4. Bursa once the Seat of the Ottaman Kings in Asia till they gained Adrianople in Europe by Mahomet the First now inhabited by Turks Jews and Greeks by some accounted as fair rich and populous as Constantinople and enjoys a great Trade It is seated on the Foot of Mount Olympus for its defence and is adorned with fair Mosques and many Tombs of the Ottoman Princes The Province of Lycia bounded and its Cities described LYCIA hath for its Southern bounds the Mediterranean Sea and is environed on 3 sides with the Mountain Taurus which makes it very strong It was formerly exceeding populous containing about 60 Cities the greatest part whereof remained in St. Pauls time but now are reduced to ruins The chiefest of which were 1. Mira the chief City of this Province 2. Patera adorned with a fair Haven and Temples one of which was dedicated to Apollo having therein an Oracle and for Wealth and Credit suitable to that at Delphos 3. Telmesus whose Inhabitants are famous for interpreting of Dreams The Province of Galatia bounded and its chief places treated of GALATIA is bounded on the East with Cappadocia Towns of note viz. 1. Augoura seated on the River Sangar 16 days Journey from Constantinople famous for the Synod here held in the Primitive times and is one of the greatest and richest places of this quarter furnishing Turky with a great number of Chamlets and Mo-hairs 2. Tavium where there was a Brazen Statue of Jupiter in whose Temple there was a priviledged Sanctuary To this Province St. Paul did dedicate one of his Epistles The Province of Pamphylia and its chief places PAMPHYLIA hath for its Southern bounds the Mediterranean Sea The principal Cities are 1. Satalia founded by Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Egypt is the strongest and best for Traffick of all its Coasts communicating its name to the neighbouring Gulph called Golfo di Satalia and to the most Oriental part of the Mediterranean Sea famous for the rich Tapestries that are here made 2. Side famous in the time of the Gentiles for a Temple of Pallas 3. Perge renowned in Old time for the Temple of Diana and for the Annual Feasts there held in honour of her and yet more famous for St. Pauls Preaching here 4. Aspendus and Inland Town strongly scituate once the Metropolis of the Province famous of old for its Musicians These Provinces were converted to Christianity by the Apostles St. Paul who Journied through most Cities in these quarters St. Peter and St. John as doth appear by Holy Scripture The Country for the most part is very Mountainous which proceed from Mount Taurus as branches thereof Here are abundance of Goats of whose Hair are made great quantities of Grograins and Chamlets which for fineness are not inferiour to Silk with which it serves other Countries being its chief Commodity but nearer the Sea it is more fruitful being well watered and planted more populous and pleasant The Province of Cappadocia bounded CAPPADOCIA hath for its chief places 1. Mazaca enlarged and beautified by Tiberius the Emperour and in honour to Augustus Caesar by him called Caesarea being the Metropolitan City of Cappadocia as also the Episcopal See of St. Basil 2. Nyssa the See of Gregory Surnamed Nyssenus and Brother to Basil 3. Nazianzum also the Episcopal See of another Gregory Surnamed Nazianzenus which 3 for their admirable abilities in all kind of Learning and for their Piety are not to be parallel'd 4. Comana remarkable of old for its Temple consecrated to Bellona whose Priests and other inferiour Officers of both Sexes in the time of Strabo amounted to about 6000. 5. Erzirum scituate in the Confines of Armenia Major which is the Rendezvous for the Turkish Army when they have any design against Persia at which place they are likewise disbanded and sent home being a Frontier Town It is seated an the end of a large Plain circled with Mountains its Houses are not very well built but hath several great Inns for entertainment of Passengers as at Tocat and it is observable that Barly after 40 days and Wheat after 60 is fit to cut And 6. Pterium memorable for the great Battel fought between Croesus King of Lydia and Cyrus of Persia in which Croesus lost not only the Field but also his Kingdom The Country is very rich in Mines of Silver Iron Brass and Alum hath great plenty of Wine and several sorts of Fruits also Crystal Jasper and the Onyx-stone But the greatest Wealth which they have is their Horses The People of this Country were anciently very Vicious and prone to all kinds of Wickedness but since Christianity was received amongst them their former Vices are now changed to Vertues The Province of cilicia and its chief places CILICIA hath on the South the Mediterranean Sea Places of note here found are viz. 1. Tarsis pleasantly seated famous for the Birth-place of St. Paul 2. Anchiala on the Sea-side both which with some others were built in one day by Sardanapalus King of Assyria 3. Epiphania the Birth-place of George the Arian Bishop of Alexandria 4. Adena seated in a fruitful Soil abounding in Corn and Wine defended by a strong Castle 5. Alexandria built by Alexander the Great and to distinguish it from Alexandria in Egypt was named Alexandretta but now Scanderone a famous Haven-Town serving for the Scale to Aleppo which is distant from it about 100 English miles to which all Shipping either out of the Ocean or Mediterranean come to lade and unlade their Goods which are hence transported by Camels to Aleppo and here the English French and Venetians have their Vice-Consuls to protect their Goods and Ships 6. Amavarza a City in the time of Strabo of great antiquity 7. Nicopolis founded by Alexander
a great part of the Country as well as the others who are the natural and most anâ—â—ent Inhabitants for the Turcomans are esteemed to descend from Turquestan in Tartary from whence come the Turks and to whom they are most resertbling the Curdes descend from the ancient people of Assyria Mesopotamiâ— Chaldea or Babylonia the most Easternly of these three parts being yet called by the Turks and by the Persians Curdistan or the Country of the Curdes and the Georgians descend from Georgia which is above and contiguous to our Turcomania Of these four sorts of People the Armenians are the most indurstrious and civil addicting themselves to Merchandize as appears by their Manufactures especially in their rich Tapestries Grograins watered Chamlets c. with which they drive a trade being also proper Personages and good Archers The Turcomans apply themselves to the Field and to look after their Flocks the Curdes are almost ever on Horse-back having much of the Arabick Nature the Georgians are the most docil and the most peaceable The Tarcomans and the Curdes are Mahometans the Georgians and Armenians the greatest part Christians And the Armenian Tongue is one of the most general in all Asia extending it self likewise other where and having Armenian Patriarchs and Bishops not only in Armenia but likewise in Anatolia Persieâ— the Holy Land Aegypt Russia and Polonia Amongst the Ceremonies observed by the Armenians I shall take notice of some few as I find them in the Travels of Tavernier They are very costly in adorning their Churches especially the Choir and the Altar at the ceremony of the Mass they light abundance of Tapers and after the Gospel is read several of the Noviciates some having Bells fixed to long Sticks and others having Copper-plates hung about with Bells shaking and striking them one against another together with the Ecclesiasticks and Laity who sing and make an indifferent harmony during which the Archbishop and Bishops performs several Ceremonies and says certain Prayers which being done having the Chalice in his hand and the Bread upon it he turns towards the People who immediately prostrate themselves on the ground beating their Breasts and kissing the Earth whilst the Archbishop pronounceth these words This is the Lord who gave his Body and Blood for you then he turns towards the Altar and eats the Bread dipt in Wine for they never drink the Wine then he turns again to the People with the Chalice in his hand and they that will receive taking the Bread from the Archbishop and this Bread is consecrated the day before That which is observable amongst them they give the Communion to Children of 2 or 3 Months old and they never administer the Sacrament all the time of their Lent They have four Feasts in the year besides their Lent at which times they observe the same Ceremonies as at Lent eating no Flesh Fish Butter Eggs or Oib for 8 days the Feasts are Christmas the Ascension the Annunciation and St Georges When a man designs his Son for the Priesthood he brings him to the Priest who puts the Cope about his Shoulders open on both sides after which he takes him home and keeps him till the age of saying Mass which is 18 years then he goes into the Church out of which he is not allowed to depart for a year during which time he is employed in the service of the Church And the Priest that is married after he hath said Mass must be 5 days before he returns home to eat drink or lie with his Wife They generally Baptize their Children on Sundays which is performed by putting it naked into the Water then gives it to the Godfather anoints it in several places in form of the Cross with holy Oil and pronounceth these words I baptize thee in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost and sayeth several Prayers suitable to the occasion In their Marriages the Ceremonies are too many here to repeat See Tavernier fol. 173. I shall take notice of some few They are permitted to marry at 3 or 4 years of age the agreement is made betwixt the Mothers or for want of them by the Females next of kin which agreement the Father stands unto and after a Ring is presented to the intended Bride the Contract stands The Bridegroom and Bride never seeth one another till after the Nuptial Ceremonies are ended both riding to the Church with their faces Vailed the Bridegrooms is a Carnation Tiffany or else Gold and Silver Net-work and the Bride with a large white Veil which covereth her body thus Riding they are attended by their Relations and Friends with Tapers in their hands also the Drums Trumpets and other Musical Instruments wait on them to the Church-door being entred and advanced near the Altar they lean Forehead to Forehead then the Priest lays the Bible on their Heads instead of a Desk and so pronounceth the Ceremony which is much like ours after the Benediction they hear Mass and so return to the House of the Bride At their Feasting the Men sit by themselves and the Women by their selves the Man goeth to Bed first and the Woman pulleth off his Breeches but putteth not off her Veil till Candles be put out and at all times of the year the Woman riseth first so that the poor Bridegroom knoweth not whether he hath met with a Beauty or a course and ill-favoured piece of flesh but be she what she will he must keep her About their Dead the Body is washed wherein is put some Holy-water then it is drest with a clean white Shirt a pair of Breeches a Waist-coat and a Bonnet then it is put in a Linnen-Sack and sewed up then it is carried to the Church accompanied with the Friends and Relations of the deceased who carry in their hands Tapers and being come to the Altar after some Prayers are said they leave the Corps there all Night the next Morning the Bishop or Priest attended as before says Mass several Prayers being said and Dirges sung the Corps is puts in the Grave and the Bishop casts 3 handfuls of Earth in one after another saying From earth thou camest to earth thou shalt return and stay there till our Lord comes then the Grave is filled up and the Relations and Friends that will go back to the House of the Deceased where a Collation is prepared These with many other Ceremonies are performed by them It s Air and fertility and trade The Air is healthful though its temperament be cold because of the Mountains and Hills which overspread the Country but intermixt with fertil and and delightful Valleys the Soil producing more Grain and Fruits than Vines It yields Bolearmoniack Hony and towards Servan Silk together with some Mines of Silver The Pastures are every where excellent and particularly for Horses of which they make great account for when Armenia was subject to the ancient Kings of Persia it furnished them yearly with 20000 Horses
having no places worthy of note SORET is seated between the Kingdoms of Tatta on the West Soret of Guzurate on the East It hath for its chief City Janagar the Province is but of little extent but very fruitful rich and well Peopled Cassimere Bankish Kakares Naugracut CASSIMERE or QVERIMVR BANKISH KAKARES and NAVGRACVT are between the River Indus and Ganges all encompassed with the Mountains of Bimber towards the Indus of Naugracut towards the Ganges of Caucasus towards Tartaria of Dalanguer which crosses them and separates the one from the other and they the Forests of these Mountains which yielded so much Wood for the Vessels which Alexander the Great caused to be builded to descend the Indus And these are at present those Forrests which give so much divertisement of chase to the Great Mogoll Sizinaket or Sirinakar though unwalled is the chief City of Cassimere Beishar of Bankish Dankalar and Purhola of Kakares and Naugracut of Naugracut In this last the Temple of the Idol Marta is paved Wanscotted and Seiled with Plates of Gold And in Callamacka there are Fountains very cold and near to Rocks from whence seem to flash out flames of fire The Province of SIBA hath for its chief City Hardware Siba which gives its rise to the River Ganges and Serenegar on the River Mansa The Province of JAMBA gives name to its chief City Jamba The Province of BAKAR lieth on the West of the Ganges Bakar and hath for its chief City Bikaner The Province of SAMBAL takes its name from its chief City so called Sambal This Province is likewise called Doab that is two Waters its scituation being between the Ganges and Semena which together with the three Provinces last mentioned are without or on this side the Ganges reaching almost from its Spring-head unto the River Semena or Gemeni The Province of GOR takes its name from its chief City Gor. and gives its rise to the River Perselis which falls into the Ganges the Province being very Mountainous The Province of KANDVANA hath for its chief City Karakantaka Kanduana This Province and that of Gor which is beyond the Ganges doth end the Estates of the Mogoll towards the North meeting with the Tartars of Turquestan The Province of MEVAT is very barren whose chief City is Narval Mevat which ends it towards the People called Maug and others which we esteem to be in the Peninsula of India which is in the Ganges The Province of VDESSA Udessa is the utmost of the Mogolls Territories towards the East which is also within the Ganges its chief place is Jebanac The Province of PITAN is on the West of Jamba Pitan being very Mountainous whose chief City gives name to the Province The River Randa runs through the City and Province and falls into the Ganges The Province of PATNA is fruitful whose chief City is so called Patna seated on the River Persely but we have a very feeble and incertain knowledge of all these Parts or Kingdoms but those which are towards the South and particularly Guzurate or Cambaya and Bengala are better known Gusurate or Cambaya exceeding rich and fertil The Province of GVSVRATE by the Portuguese called the Kingdom of CAMBAYA hath more than 30 great Trading Cities and is without doubt the noblest greatest richest and most powerful Province of all the Mogolls Country yielding a yearly Revenue of 15 or 20 Millions of Gold and its King hath brought into the Field 150000 Horse and 500000 Foot 1000 Camels c. The Country likewise is esteemed the most fertil of all India producing all sorts of Grains Fruits and living Creatures quantity of Drugs Its Commodities and Trade Spices and precious Stones not having any Mines of Gold or Silver but three Plants which bring it an inestimable quantity as well from the Gulph of Persia and the Red Sea as from all the Coasts of India and China These Plants are Cotton Anniseed and Opium besides which there are varieties of other rich Commodities as Oil Sugar Indico Ambergreece Soap Comfits Medicinal Drugs Paper Wax Hony Butter Salt-Peter Manufactures of Cotton Linnen-Cloth Carpets Cabinets Coffers Cases with a thousand other curiosities which its Inhabitants know how to make and sell being the ablest Merchants of India Its Inhabitants They are likewise of a good Spirit and addicted to Letters serve themselves of all sorts of Arms yet know nothing of Nobility but by abundance of Riches They are all Pagans or Mahometans The Pagans for the most part are Pythagoreans holding the immortality of the Soul Pythagoreans and that it passes from one body to another for which reason they so much honour Beasts that they eat them not but keep Hospitals to receive such as are sick and lame The Cows here are in such esteem with them that a Merchant Banian according to the report of Texera spent 10 or 12 thousand Ducats at a Nuptial marrying his Cow with his Friends Bull. This Kingdom is in part Peninsula between the Gulphs of the Indies and Cambaya and in part on the Main which stretches it self towards Decan It s extent by Sea This Province though of a large extent yet hath above 120 Leagues of Sea-Coast on which it hath several fair and rich Cities and of a good Trade As also great quantities of Inland Towns and Cities the chiefest whereof are viz. Surat Surat seated on the River Tapta which falls into the Sea 12 miles below the City It is a City no less great and rich than populous and famous and enjoyeth as great a Trade as any City in India being much frequented by the English and Dutch where they have their Presidents and Factories and where they have their Houses for the negotiation of their affairs which are spacious and well built This City is built four square its Houses flat after the Persian mode and reasonably beautiful having the benefit of pleasant Gardens It hath several Mosques but none deserves commendation it is defended by a strong Castle and hath a strong Wall on all sides except on that which is seated on the River and for its entrance hath three Gates Its Port is six miles from the City where the Ships are unladen and the Commodities brought to the City by Land The Inhabitants are either Benjans Bramans or Mogolls but there are several other Nations which here reside as Persians Turks Arabians Armenians Jews c. driving a Trade but none comparable to the English or Dutch It s other places of note are 1. Brodra Brodra seated on a sandy Plain upon a small River well fortified with Walls and Forts the Inhabitants being for the most part Dyers Weavers and other workers of Cottons for which it is the chiefest place in the whole Province The Governour of this City hath also under its Jurisdiction about 210 Towns and Villages Baroche 2. Baroche 12 Leagues from Surat and 8
Sound Streight of Belt there where the Mediterranean Sea is and In our Continent are the Streight of Gibraltar Fars or Haven of Messiâ—a Eurâ—pe or tourn passage of Negroponte Streight of Gallipoli or the Dardanelles Str. of Constantinople or Channel of the Black Sea Streight of Cassa or Vospero Lakes and which may be called Seas as In our Continent the Sea of Bachu or Sala Sea of Zabaque or Tana In the other Continent the Lake or Sea of Parime Lakes as In Europe the Lake of Earne Lake of Werner Lake of Ladoga Lake of Geneve Lake of Constance Lake of Balaton Lake of Majeur In Asia the Lake of Sodom or the Dead-Sea Lake of Astamar or Vastan Lake of Burgian Lake of Kithay Lake of Chiamay Lake of Cincui-Hay In Africa the Lake of Zaire and Zambere Lake of Zafflan Lake of Niger Lake of Bouchaira In America Septenâ—rional the great Lake of Canada Lake of Mechoacan Lake of Chapala Lake of Mexico Lake of Nicaragua Meridional the Lake of Maracaybo Lake of Titicaca Lake of Eupana or de los Xarajes The most famous RIVERS In our Continent and its Isles are to wit in EUROPE and in the Kingdoms Countreys or Regions of Spain as the Douro the Tagus the Guadiana the Guadalquivir the Ebro or Iberus Italy as the Tiber the Arno the Po. Turkey in Europe as the Danube or Donaw the Drin the Orfee or Alfee the Vardar the Marize France as the Loire the Garone the Rhosne the Seyne Low-Countreys as the Escault the Meuse Germany as the Rhine the Weser the Elbe the Oder Poland as the Weisser or Vistule the Niemen the Duna or Dzwina the Niester the Nieper or Boristene Sweden as the Torne Moscovia as the Wolga the Dwine the Don or Tana England as the Thames the Severn the Trent Scotland as the Tay. Ireland as the Shennon ASIA and in the Kingdoms Countreys or Religions of Turkey in Asia as the Euphrates the Pactolus the Tygris the Acheron the Jordaine the Orontes the Lali the Chrysorhous Georgia as the Araxes and the Farza Arabia as the Caybar and the Astan Persia as the Tiritiri the Gehun the Bendimir and the Tostar India as the Indus the Tapta the Ganges the Gemeni the Mecon and the Pegu. China as the Quiam or Jamsuquiam Tartaria as the Oby the Gehan the Tartar the Palisanga the Jeniscey the Albiamu the Chesel and the Jaick AFRICA and in the Kingdoms Countreys or Regions of Morocco as the Tensift and the Sus. Fez as the Ommiraby Suba the Mullulus and the Cherser Barbary as the Mulvia the Maber the Magrada the Capes the Rio Major the Chol the Suffegmarus the Masurius the Tefflisus and the Mina Aegypt as the Nile Bilidulgerid as the Suz the Buzedota the Darha and the Albus Zaara as the Ghir and the Equestris the Negroes as the Niger which is divided in the Senega the Gambia the Rio Grande and the Cano. Higher Aethiopia as the Quilmanci Nubia the Zaire and the Marabus Lower Aethiopia as the Zambere divided in the Curama the Barame the Spiritu Sancto the Rio dos Infantos In the other Continent or in AMERICA Septentrionale and in the Kingdoms Countreys c. of Canada or New France as those of Canada or St. Lawrence Toppahanock Penobscot Pautuâ—xat Nansamud Chesapeac or Pouharan May la Trinite Apamatuck Pamanuc and Patawomeck Florida as those of Rio de Flores Rio de Spirito Sancto Rio de Neives and Rio grande Mexico or New Spain as those of Spiritu Sancto towards the East Spiritu Sancto towards the West Panuco Guaxacoalco Baranja Zacatula Desaguadero of Nicaragua AMERICA Meridionale and in the Kingdoms Countreys c. of Terra Firma Guiana and Peru as those of Darien Viapoco St. Martha Cayanna Corritine Brebice Orinoque Apuruvaca Essequebe Madelaine Desaguadero of Peru. Brazil as those of Orethane or the Amazons Maragnon or Miari Taboucorou Rio Janiero Rio grande or Potengi Rio Real Parayba Paraguay as those of Paraguay or de la Plata All the Kingdoms Regions Countries Isles c. in the World may be comprehended under these two Heads viz. Known Anciently and in our Continent as EUROPE with its Kingdoms Estates Isles c. may be considered in three times three parts and then The three most Southern parts are the Kingdoms Estates and Isles of Spain and Portugal with its Isles of Majorca Minorca c. Italy with its Estates and Isles of Sicily Sardinia Corsica Isles of Naples c. Turkey in Europe with its Estates and Isles The 3 Innermost parts and within the Continent are the Kingdoms and Estates of France Germany and Belgium with its several Estates as the Swisses the Grisont c. Poland with its several Estates towards the Danube as Transylvania Moldavia c. The three most Northern parts or Kingdoms and Isles of Great Britain and Ireland Scandinavia or Denmark Sweden Norway Moscovy with its Dutchies and Kingdoms ASIA with its Kingdoms Countreys Isles c. as they are found In firm Land as Turkey in Asia with its Countreys Isles c. Georgla Arabia Persia India as it is divided into the China Empire of the great Mogul Peninsula of India within the Ganges Peninsula of India without the Ganges Tartaria the Land of Jesso the Land of Papous In Isles as In the Ocean aâ— the Isles of Japon Isles of Larrons Isles of Sonde Philippine Isles Isles of Ceylan and the Maldives In the Mediterranean Sea as in the Levant Sea in the Archipelago About China Persia Arabia c. AFRICA with its Kingdoms Isles c. as it is divided and found in Africa or Lybia Exteriour or outwards as Barbary Bilidulgerid Aegypt Interiour or inwards as Zaara or Desart the Countries of the Negroes Guinee Aethiopia higher as Nubia Aethiopia or the Empire of the Abyssines lower as Congo Monomotapa Caffres And divers Isles which are found In the Mediterranean Sea as the Isle of Malta c. In the Western Ocean as the Canary Isles the Isles of Cape Verd the Isles of St. Thomas In the Eastern Ocean as the Isle of Madaga car the Isle of Zocotora c. Lately and in the other Continent as AMERICA with its Kingdoms Regions Countreys Isles c. as they are divided and found in America Septentrionale as Canadian or the Artick Lands as Groen and Eslotiâ—and Izland c. Canada or New France with its Estates Isles c. Florida Mexican or Mexico or New Spain with its Audiences of Mexico Guadalajara Guatemala and St. Domingo The Caribbe Isles America Meridionale as Peruvian or Terra Firma with its Estates Provinces and Isles Guiana Peru with its Audiences of Quito Lima Dela Plata Chili with its Jurisdictions Brasilian or Bâ—â—zil with its Capitaneâ— Paraguay or Rio de la Plata with its Parts or Provinces the Magellanick Land c. Unknown or not fully discovered and lieth either under the Artick or Circles as Antartick Circles as Nova Guinea Terra del Fuego Maletur Psitracorum Regio and the
Wax Commodities and excellent Warlike Horses whose Manes are said to hang down to their feet their Fruits are good and in great plenty and the Earth is inriched with Mines of several Metals It is seated in the Northern Temperate Zone between the 7th and 10th Climates which makes the longest day to be 17 hours It s People The People are well made and proportionate they are head-strong resolute in their Opinions and of no ready wit they use the Sclavonian Language they are Christians and follow the Greek Church The Kingdom at present is divided into several Provinces as in the Geographical Table of Turkey in Europe is set down all which are subject to the Grand Signior Province of Transilvania The Province of TRANSILVANIA hath for its chief places 1. Waranine far engaged towards the West and it is a frontier Town to Hungaria and of some account and strength 2. Hermensted more towards Moldavia 3. Weisenburg 4. Burges 5. and Hanyad Province of Bosnia The Province of BOSNIA hath for its chief place 1. Saraih the Metropolitan City seated in a fruitful Valley which on the North and South sides are immured with ridges of pleasant Hills of an easie ascent This City is said to contain about 80 Mescheetoes and about 20000 Houses which for the most part are but meanly built 2. Bagnialuch once the residence of the Bosnian Kings and 3. Jayeza the usual Sepulchre of those Kings Province of Servia The Province of SERVIA whose chief Cities are 1. Belgrade once the Bulwark of Christendom valiantly resisting the power of Amurath the 6th and Mahomet the Great but yielded to Solyman Anno 1520 when this whole Country became a Turkish Province 2. Stonebourgh once the Seat of its Despot and 3. Samandria Province of Bulgaria The Province of BVLGARIA hath for its chief places 1. Sofia the Seat of the Beglerbeg of Greece under whom are 21 Sangiacs seated almost in the midst of a long and fruitful Valley beautified with many fair Hanes and Baths the chief of which hath hot Fountains It s Colledge is magnificent and its Mescheetoes are many and beautiful especially that in the midst of the City which is the largest and here the doors of the houses of the Christians and Jews are not above 3 foot high which is so made to keep out the Turkish Horses who would else in their Travels make them serve instead of Stables so great is the slavery that they live under 2. Oesco 3. Novi 4. Durostoro and 5. Destor all which are seated on the Danube 6. Proslavia seated at the mouth of one of the branches of the Danube at its fall into the Euxine Sea 7. Calutra and 8. Varna both seated on the Euxine or Black Sea Province of Moldavia The Province of MOLDAVIA whose chief places are 1. Zuccania once the Seat of the Vaivod 2. Sotzowa and 3. Lazy both good Cities Country of Bessarabia To the Province of Moldavia doth belong the small Country of BESSARABIA which lieth between Podolia and Bulgaria and is commodiously seated on the Black Sea It s chief places are Kherman or Moncastro the Seat of the Turkish Sargiack seated on the River Tyras not far from its influx into the Sea and 2. Kilia also seated on the Euxine Sea Province of Walachia The Province of WALACHIA being divided from Bulgaria by the Danube and is esteemed the richest Province in all Dacia It s chief places are 1. Targovisco the Seat of the Vajuods 2. Domboviza and 3. Brailonum GREECE The Parts of Greece The rest of Turkey in Europe may be comprehended under the name of GREECE which is divided into several parts to wit Romania which answers to the ancient Thrace Macedonia whose divers parts have received divers names as that of Jamboli of Camenolitaria of Migdonia or particular Macedonia Albania and Thessaly which is now called Junna Epirus now Canina Achaia and Aetolla now Livadia and Peloponnesus now the Morea Its Bounds GREECE esteemed the Mother of Arts and Sciences hath for its Eastern bounds the Egean Sea the Hellespont Propontis and Thracian Bosphorus and for its Western the Adriatick Sea and Italy It is seated in the Northern Temperate Zone under the 5th and 6th Climates the longest day being 15 hours It s sertllity and Commoties The Soil without doubt is very rich and fruitful and would be very prositable to the Husbandman if pains were taken in tilling it but the Great Turk seizing on their Estates when and as often as he pleaseth makes them careless to cultivate it yet here are found several good Commodities which are transported to other places as Wines Oils Silk both raw and wrought into severai Manufactures as Velvets Damasks c. also Gragrams Brimstone Copper Vitriol Cottons Sopes Carpets Cute Currants Cuminseed Anniseeds c. The Ancient and present Greeks The Grecians though a scattered People since the Turks became Masters of their Country vet still retain their Name Religion Customs and Language as indeed they do in all other places where they live They were once a Nation so excellent that their Precepts and Examples do yet remain as approved Canons to direct the mind to Vertue they were Lovers of freedom every way noble in matters of Government famous in Arms glorious in Arts admirable and to whom the rest of the World were held Barbarians but since they became under the Turkish yoke for the generaliay their Spirits are so low that their knowledge is turned into ignorance their liberty into contented slavery their Vertues into Vices and their industry in Arts and Sciences into idleness They are much addicted to drink and dancing for which they had the name of Merry Greeks they are of a good proportion and of a swarthy complexion their Women are well favoured brown and excessively amorous in matters of Habit they differ little from those amongst whom they live The Christian Faith was here established by Timothy to whom St. Paul wrote two Epistles The Fathers which this Church most adhereth unto are Chrysostom Basil and the two Gregories and the Church is governed by Patriarchs one of Constantinople another of Alexandria another of Jerusalem and another of Antioch freely exercising their Religion which differeth much from the Church of Rome as I shall in place elsewhere take notice oâ— and have every where their Temples and Monasteries If a Patriarch die another is elected by the Synod of Bishops Famous Men here bred This Country hath bred several famous Men as Alexander the Subverter of the Persian Monarchy Xenophon Plutarch Herodotus and Thucydides famous Historiographers Epaminondas Pyrrhus Miltiades and Aristides Captains Plato Aristotle Socrates and Theophrastus Divine Philosophers Demosthenes Aeschines and Isocrates eloquent Oratours with several others too tedious to name but to proceed to the Provinces Province of Romania ROMANIA particularly so called a Country of it self neither of a rich Soyl nor pleasant Air more
for Woolen-Cloth In this City there hath been observed to be 777 Brewers 40 Bakers one Lawyer and one Physitian the reason of this great disproportion as one wittily observed was that a Cup of Nimis is the best Vomiting potion and their Controversies were sooner composed over a Pot of Drink than by order of Law 3. Stoad commodiously seated for Traffick on the Elve about five miles distance from Hambourg once a place of a better Trade than now it is These Cities are called Free from their great Prerogatives in coyning Money and ruling by their own Laws and Imperial as knowing no Lord or Protector but the Emperour to whom they pay two Thirds of such Contributions as are assessed in the Assemblies Germany is a spacious Country and very populous the People are of a strong Constitution and good Complexion are very ingenious and stout much given to drink but of a generous disposition the Poorer sort great Pains-takers and the Nobles which are many for the Title of the Father descends to all their Children are either good Scholars or stout Souldiers so that a Son of a Duke is a Duke a thing which the Italians hold so vain and foolish that in derision they say That the Dukes and Earls of Germany the Dons of Spain the Nobility of Hungaria the Bishops of Italy the Lairds of Scotland the Monsieurs of France and the younger Brethren of England make a poor Company There are so many inferiour yet free Princes in this Country that in a days Journey a Traveller may meet with many Laws and as many sorts of Coin every Prince making use of his own Laws and Coins whose Laws the Emperours are sworn to keep which made one say that the Emperour is King of Kings the King of Spain King of Men and the King of France King of Asses as bearing his heavy Taxes The fertility and Commoditles of Germany The Country is generally fertil and temperate being scituate under the Temperate Zone Here are many Mines of Silver and other Inferiour Mettals it hath store of Corn and Wine which they transport to forreign Countries as likewise Linnen Laces Woollen and divers Manufactures also Quicksilver Alom Arms of all sorts and other Iron-works and its Ponds Lakes and Rivers are well stored with Fish It s chief Rivers The chief Rivers of Germany are the Rhine the Weser the Elbe and the Oder for the Danube having but a small course in this Country shall be elsewhere spoken of The Commodities and Trade of Belgium That part which we call BELGIVM or the Low Countries is of a large extent seated in the North Temperate Zone under the 8 and 9th Climates the longest day being 17 hours the Air by reason of the industry of the Inhabitants in draining the Marishes and turning the standing-Waters into running-Streams is now very healthful as being purged from those gross Vapours which did thence arise the Country lieth exceeding low and therefore subject to Inundations The Commodities that these Countries yield are Linnens Yarn Thread Sayes Silks Velvets Tapestries Pictures Prints Blades Sope Butter Cheese Fish Pots Bottles Ropes Cables Armour several Manufactures c. besides the Commodities of India Persia China Turkey and other parts which are here had in great plenty by reason of the vast Trade they drive in all parts The Estates of the Crown of POLAND are POLAND under the name of which is comprized The Kingdom of POLAND as it is divided into the Higher or Little POLAND where are the Palatinates of Cracou with its Castlewicks of Cracou Vounicz Sandecz Biecz Sandomirie with its Castlewicks of Sandomitz Vislicz Radom Zawichost Zaroâ—w Malogocz Czeschow Lublin with its Castle Lublin Lower or Great POLAND where are the Palatinates of Posna where are the Castlewicks of Posna Meseritz Ragozno Sremck Brzesti Crimn Sandock Kalisch with its Castlewicks of Kalisch Kamin Gnesna Landa Nackel Biechow Sirad with its Castlewicks of Sirad Wielâ—n Rozpirz Lencini with its Castlewicks of Lencici Bressini Inowlocz Dobrzin with its Castlewicks of Dobizin Rippin Stouck Ploczk with its Castlewicks of Ploczk Rasuntz Sceps Rava with its Castlewicks of Rava Sochaczow Gostiny Cowal Divers Dutchies with their Castlewicks to wit RUSSIA NOIRE which is esteemed in the Higher Poland where are the Palatinates of Leowenborg or Leopolis with its Castlewicks of Leowenborg Halicz Drzemist Zamoscie Belz with its Castlewicks of Beln Chelm CUJAVIA which is esteemed in the Lower Poland where are the Palatinates of Brzesti with its Castlewicks of Brzesti Krusnick Cowal Uladislau with its Castlewicks of Uladislau Bidgost MAZOVIA also esteemed in the Lower Poland where are the Palatinates of Czersk with its Castlewicks of Warzaw Liw Czersk Wissegrod Zakrotzim Ciechanow Wilna PRUSSIA or PRUSSE as it is divided in POLAQUIE PRUSSIA ROYALE where are the Palatinates of Dantzick with its Castlewicks of Dantzick Elbing with its Castlewicks of Elbing Marienburg with its Castlewicks of Marienburg Culm with its Castlewicks of Culm PRUSSIA DUCALE with its Palatinate and Castlewick of Koningsberg with its Palatinate of Bielsk with its Castlewick of Bielsk And divers other Estates Dutchies c. united or subject to the Crown of POLAND viz. Dutchy of LITHUANIA under the name of which are comprised LITHUANIA where are the Palatinates of Wilna with its Castlewicks of Wilna Osmiana Wilkomirs Braslaw with its Castlewicks Braslaw Misdzial Troki with its Castlewicks Troki Kowno Grodno Lida Minsk with its Castlewicks of Minsk Borissow Robaczow Rzeczica Mary Minsk with its Castlewicks of Mscislnw Mohilow Orssa Novogrodeck with its Castlewicks of Novogrodeck Slonim Woskowiska Polosczk with its Castlew of Polosczk Vitepsk with its Castlew of Vitepsk POLESIE where is Breâ—siici with its Castlew of Bressici SAMOGITIE with its Palatinate and Castlewick of Rosienie Dutchy of VOLHYNIE as it is divided in the Higher VOLHYNIE with its Palarinate of Lusuc with its Castlewicks of Lusuc Wolodomiers Krzemienec Lower VOLHYNIE with its Palatinate of Kiovia with its Castlewicks of Kiovia Owrucze Zitomirz PODOLIE with its Palat. of the Higher PODOLIE as Kamieniec with its Castlew of Kamieniec Lower PODOLIE as Braclaw with its Castlewick of Braclaw Part of MOSCOVIA where are The Dutchies of Smolensko with its Castlew of Smolensko Novogrodeck with its Cast of Novogrodeck POLAND Poland and its parts THE Estates of the Crown of Poland ought to be considered in two sorts the one called the Estates of POLAND and the other of LITHVANIA these two having heretofore had their Kings and Dukes apart and not having been united till within about 270 years The Estates of Poland shall be Poland which we will divide into the Higher and Lower or Lesser and Greater and into the Dutchies of Russia Noire Cajavia Mazovia and Prussia The Estates of Lithuania may be divided into Lithuania Volhinia Podolia c. all Dutchies but Lithuania much the greater wherefore he who possesseth them is entituled the Great Duke of Lithuania It s extent All these Estates of Poland and Lithuania taken
together extend from about the 48th degree of Latitude unto the 57th which are about 225 French Leagues and from the 38th of Longitude unto the 61 and have near as much Continent again as France They are bounded on the East for the most part by Moscovy Bounds and part of the Petit Tartars on the South the Mountains oâ— Caprack and the River Neister divide them from Hungaria Transilvania and Moldavia on the West by Germany and toucht in part on the Balticâ— Sea and on the North they are bounded part by Livonia and Moscovy Ancient Inhabitants The Ancient name of Poland was Sauromatia from its Inhabitants the Sauromatae afterwards by Lechius the first Duke hereof in Anno 550 it was called Poland which signifies a plain Country as generally it is It was made a Kingdom by the Emperour Otho the Third Anno 1000 Boleslaus being Duke and hath ever had its Dukes and Kings elected by the States who by reason of their vicinity to the Turks generally chuse a Warriour Fertility Commodities c. The Country is plain well clothed with Firs and other Timber-Trees the Air is so cold that they have neither Wine nor Grapes instead of which having store of Barly they make use of the Old drink of England viz. Ale The Country is well furnished with Grains and Fruits but they are but lean their chief Commodities are rich Furs Horses Hony Wax Bow-staves Buff-hides Ambergreese Flax Linnen-cloth Masts Cordage Boards Wainscot Timber Rozin Tar and Pith of both kinds Match Iron Stock-fish Salt digged out of the Earth Pot-ashes Rye in great plenty for which it hath made Dantzick famous It is well furnished with Flesh Fowl and Fish and to waâ—ds the Carpatian Mountains of Hungaria are found Mines of Gold and Silver as also Iron and Brimstone To the R t Worship Full Sr Robert Clayton of the Citty of London Kt and Alderman and Lord Mayr thee of Anno 1680 This Mapp is D D by R B P of the ESTATES of the CROWNE of POLAND where are the KINGDOM of POLAND withits Palatinates the DUTCHES of RUSSIA-NOIRE CUJAVIA MOZOVIA PRUSSIA â—IA VOLHYNIA PODOLIA c Designed by Monsieur Sanson Geographer to the French King The Revenue of the King The Revenue of the King is not great for so large a Country and that which is he receiveth from them quarterly the Kingdom being divided into four Parts every one of which keepeth the King and Court a quarter which Revenue is not certain but more or less according to his occasions by War Marriage of his Daughters or the like Poland with its parts and chief places The Kingdom is divided throughout into Palatinates and Castlewicks Poland taken particularly is divided into the Higher and Lower in the Higher are the Palatinates of Cracou Sandomirz and Lublin Places of most note in these parts are 1. Cracou or Cracovia seated in a Plain and on the Banks of the Vistula dignified with the residence of the King It is in form round the Houses fair and lofty and built of Freestone in the midst of the City is a large Quadrangle Market-house where is seated the Cathedral Church and the Senate-house for the Citizens about which are several Shops for Merchants The City is encompassed with two strong Stone Walls and a dry Ditch on the East-side of the City is the Kings Castle being fair well built and pleasantly seated on a Hill as also the Kings and Queens Lodgings on the West is a Chappel where the Kings are interr'd and on the North-side Lodgings for Entertainment and Feasting the South-side being without Buildings but as to matters of Trade this City is of small account Also Sandomirz and Lublin both chief Cities of their Palatinates are in the higher Polonia or Poland Lower Poland In the Lower Poland are the Palatinates of Posna Kalisch Sirad Lencinâ— Dobrzin Ploczk and Rava whose chief Cities or places bear the same name and are the residence of their Palatines Besides which there are several other Towns of good note which are taken notice of in the Geographical Table of the Kingdom and in chief Posna and Gnesna dignified with the See of an Archbishop who during the Interregnum of the King holdeth the Supream Authority in the Kingdom and summoneth the Diets To Poland doth also belong the Dutchies of Russia Noire Cujavia Mazovia Prussia and Polaquie Russia Noire RVSSIA NOIRE hath for its chief places Loewenberg and Belz both chief of their Palatinates OVJAVIA hath for its principal places Brzesti and Vladislau Cujavia both chief of their Castelwicks Mazovia with its places MAZOVIA hath only one Palatinate viz. Czersk under which is comprised several Cities and Castlewicks the chief of which is Warzaw one of the fairest in the Kingdom it oft-times being the residence of the Kings of Poland a place noted for its excellent Metheglin here made PRVSSIA is considered in two parts Prussia which are called Royale and Ducale Prussia Royale is immediately subject to the Crown of Poland and hath its Palatinates in the Cities of 1. Dantzick seated on the Vistula at its influx into the Baltick Sea and at the foot of a great Mountain which hangs over it it is the fairest best and of the greatest Trade of any in Prussia Through this City runs a River very commodious to the Inhabitants whereon are many Mills for the grinding of Corn which is here found in great plenty as also a Water-Mill for the conveyance of water in Pipes to their Houses and by reason of its great Trade for Corn with England and other parts they have a great many Granaries or Store-houses for the same which is hither brought them from Poland 2. Elbin though but small yet a fair City and indifferently well frequented by the English Merchants 3. Marienburg the Seat of the Masters of the Dutch Knights 4. Culne and 5. Thorn which though it hath no Palatinate is esteemed by many next to Dantzick Prussia Ducale belongs to the Marquess of Brandenbourg who holds it from the Crown of Poland It hath only one Palatinate at Koningsberg seated on an Inlet of the Baltick Sea and washed with the River Pegel it is a fair City a famous Mart and a good University and before its Coast is gathered great quantity of Ambergriece This Ambergriece is the juyce of a Stone growing like Coral on a Rock in the North-Sea continually covered with Water and in the Months of September and December by the violence of the Sea is rent from the Rocks and cast into the Havens of the Neighbouring Countries POLAQVIE is a small Province between the Estates of Poland and Lithuania Polaquie and seems to have belonged to Mozavia Bielsk is the Seat of its Palatinate And hitherto we have treated of the Estates of Poland almost all on the Vistula or the Rivers that fall into it on which are seated the three fairest Cities of these Quarters viz. Cracow towards its Spring
of which stands the King of Sweden in 100000 Dollars yearly 5. CARELIE hath for its for its chief place Wiburg and 6. KEXHOLME whose principal place bears the same name Other Lands adjacent to Finland are Bodia and Scrickfinnia Lands adjacent to Findland BODIA hath on the South Finland a Country not over fertil in Grain or Fruits but in recompence hath great variety of wild Beasts which affoes great store of rich Furrs It chiief places are Virtis Vista and Helsinga honoured with the Title of a Dukedom SCRICKFINNIA hath on the South Bodia and thence stretcheth it self between Lapland and the Frozen Ocean a Country miserably cold they have no use of Mony but pay their Tribute to the King of Sweden in Skins and Furrs of which they have great plenty which they take in hunting Towns here are very thin if any and those that are be on the Sea-shoar and very poor the Natives contenting themselves with Cabbins and Sheds Province of Ingria INGRIA a small Province bordering upon Livonia at the bottom of the Gulph of Finland not many years taken from the Knez or great Dukes of Mosco by the Kings of Sweden who have likewise robbed Germany of the best part of Pomerania and Denmark of the Provinces of Schoven Scania Hallandia Blekingea Bahus Gothland Oesilia Heroedalia and Jemptia LIVONIA bounded on the East with Moscovy and on the West with the Baltick Sea a Country extreamly Mountainous and Fenny but yet so fertil that it supplies with Corn the defects of other Countries It is severed into the parts of ESTEN and LETTEN and these again into several other lesser parts which are set down in the Geographical Table It s chief places are Felin Pernajo Revel Wiesenburg Nerva Wittenstein and Derpt a Town of good Trade In the part of LETTEN towards the West are Riga the See of an Archbishoprick and is a place of a good Trade Segenwold Wenden and Walmer Towards the South are the Towns of Koekenhaus and Creutzburg and towards the East the Town of Marienburg All these Towns in the part of Letten are subject to the Crown of Poland Lakes and Rivers In Scandinavia or the Estates of Denmark and Sweden are many Rivers amongst which some are large but not famous The Lakes and Gulphs which are in great number obscure the Rivers and make the commerce only on the Coast The Rivers of Vma Pitha Luda Torne and Kimi give their names to the Marshes of Laponia subject to the King of Sweden The principal Mountains in Scandinavia are the Dofrine Hills which is a vast and continual ridge of Mountains Mountains which divide Sweden from Denmark The Spil of Sweden is so fruitful in many places The Soil that it is a hard matter to see a Beggar and the Air so pure and healthful that it is ordinary to see men of 130 or 140 years of Age. Commodities The Country abounds in Mines of Copper Lead Brass and Iron also hath store of Ox-hides Goats and Buck-skins Tallow Tarrs rich Furrs Alom Hony Malt Barly Wheat Firrs c. It s People The People are naturally strong active stout Souldiers industrious laborious and ingenious especially in Mechanical Aris very courteous to Strangers c. The Women are said to be discreet and modest The Christian Faith was first planted amongst them by Ansgarius Archbishop of Breme the general Apostle of the North. Revenue of the King The Revenue of the Crown of Swedeland must needs be great there being three ways allowed him for the receiving it viz. the Tenths out of all increase of Commodities as well those of the growth as otherwise Also by Customs upon all Goods exported and imported and also the Revenue of the Church which was seized on and incorporated to the Crown by Gustavus Ericus our of which there is ye an allowance to the Bishops and Clergy And besides these ways he hath power of imposing Taxes in time of War according to the emergency of the occasion In his Forces by Land or Sea he is very powerful being able to put out to Sea about 100 Sail of Ships and into the Field about 30 or 40000 Foot and Horse As to the deciding of Controversies c. every Territory hath its Viscount every Province its Lamen and every Parish its Lanasnan or Consul and there lieth an Appeal from the Consul to the Viscount and from the Viscount to the Lamen from whom also Appeals lie to the Council and from the Council of Estate to the King who alone decideth the same The Estates of the Great Duke of MOSCOVY or RUSSIA ALBA To the West and towards SWEDEN and POLAND Part of LAPLAND where are the People of Mouremanscoy Leporie Kola Terskoy Leporie Jockena Beâ—â—â—cesâ—oy Leporiâ— Kandalax Omâ—â—y â—ieâ—z Soâ—â—◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 Colmogorod Pâ—egâ— St. Nicola Arc-Angel Towards the North and between the Kingdoms of SWEDEN and NORWAY and the â—iver DWINE where are the Estates or Provinces of Cargapol Cargapol Wologda Wologda Bieleâ—ero Bieleâ—ero Pleskow Pleskow Opoliko Novogrodeck Novogrodeck Stara Russa Ladoga Towards the South and the Kingdom of POLAND and between the Rivers Don and Boristene where are the Estates of Moscovia particularly so called Mosco Mitrow Salboda Czirpach Wolodomme Wolodimer Muron Tâ—er T wer Tersack Reschowa Reschowa Woloczk Rezan Rezan Coloma Cassira Tula Odojou Coluga Worotin Worotin Biesski Biela Jaroslau Jaroslau Rostow Rostow Uglitz Calopigorod Pereslaw Susdal Susdal Castâ—om Galiâ—â— To the East and towards TARTARIA Towards the North and between the Rivers Dwine and Oby where are the Estates of Ouâ—tiouga Ustioâ—ga Condora Wâ—â—â—curia Juhorâ—ki Juhora Petzora Pusteoziero Papinowgorod Beâ—â—â—ski Perâ—â—â—w Weliki Wiatka Chlinow Orlow Slawaâ—a Cotelnicz Towards the South and about the Rivers Don and Volga where are The Cities of Nifi Novogorod Vafiligorod Sura The People called the Czeremissi Logoway Czeremissi Nagornoy Morduates Machines Nagaiski Meschoraki The Fortresses of Perwolog Carawool Cameni Caraw Stapnio Car. Polooy Car. Keezujur Car. Ichkeâ—re Car. Uchoog Carawool In the â—uc TARTARIA or Upon and beyond the River Oby are the Estates and places of Obdora Tara Zergolta Calami Calami Japhanim Tumen Sâ—â—evia Tobolk Tingoefi Narinskoia Ginstiuski Besowia Loppia Loppi Samojedae Toâ—ma Vogulichi Tara Locomoria Zergolta Pohem Pega Horda Comgoskoja Lopin Upon and beyond the River Volga are the Kingdoms of Casan Casan Belater Bulgaria Bulgar Samara Marnloria Astracan Astracan Giâ—ildecha Tsier Estates or Parts of Scibanski Cosaski Nagaja Horda MOSCOVIA OR Russia Alba OR BLANCHE MOSCOVY or RVSSIA ALBA so called to distinguish if from Russia Nigra a Province in Poland answers to the whole Sarmatia of the Ancients which they divided into Sarmatia Europaeana and Sarmatia Asiatica the most Eastern part of Moscovy answering to this last and the more Wâ—â—â—â— to the former and this distinction hath made some to esteem it partly in Aslâ— and partly in Europe but it is by the generality esteemed all in Europe It s excent â—ounds c. The
whole Estate of the great Duke of Moscovy is of a larger extent thâ—â— any other in Europe stretching it self 5 or 600 Leagues in length and breadâ—â— reaching from the 48th degree of Latitude unto the 70th or 72 and from the 50th of Longitude unto the 100th and sometimes to the 110th Moscovy hath its Estates bounded on the East by Tartary and beyond the Rivers Volga and Oby on the South by the Caspian or Euxine Seas on the North by the Septentrional or frozen Ocean and on the West by Norway the Estates of Sweden and Poland â—ts Commodities The Commodities that this Empire yieldeth are rich Furrs of divers sorts Pot-ashes Hemp Flax Honey Wax Cables Yarn and other Cordage Feathers ' Linnen Cloth both course and fine Train-oyle Rozin Pitch Caviare Tallow Iron Salt Sea-horse Teeth Astracan-hides Tann'd-hides Rawâ—hides dried-Fish great increase of Grains with many other good Commoâ—dities here are great store of Cattle Elkes Stags Bears Wolves Venison Tigres Linxes Hares c. great plenty of Fowl and Fish common with us in England and the Earth affordeth them plenty of Fruits Roots and Herbs The Air is exceeding sharp and piercing in the Winter and subject to exâ—cessive great Frosts but what with their warm clothing with Furrs and their Stoves in their Houses they endure it well enough and as their Winteâ— is thus cold their Summer is as hot and troublesome the Sun being as it werâ— above their Horizon To the R. t honble S. r Edu Dering of Surrenden Dering in Kent Bart one of the Lords Comissioner of his Ma y Treasury This Mapp is most humbly Dedicated by Richard Brome 〈◊〉 â—APP OF THE ESTATES OF THE GREAT DUKE OF RUSSIA BLANCH OR MOSCOVIA Designed by Mouncr. â—â—â—â—â—n Geographer to the French King This Country according to some is called the Mother of Rivers Rivers amongst which the Volga the Don or Tana and the Dovine or Dwine are the most famous and especially the Volga which is the greatest and noblest in all Europe both for its course and the force of its Water running 7 or 800 Leagues and receives abundance of other Rivers Moscovy ill inhabited Moscovy for the most part is ill Inhabited and especially towards the North and East these quarters being cold full of Forests and some of their People Idolaters that which is towards Sweden and Poland is more frequented more civiliz'd and its Cities and Towns better built that which lieth towards the South and in all likelyhood should be the best is partly Mahometan and often infected by the Petit Tartars But a word or two of its People about Mosco which by reason of its being the residence of the Great Duke are supposed to be the most civiliz'd and ingenious It s People The People are naturally ingenious enough yet they addict themselves neither to Arts or Sciences but chiefly to Traffick and Husbandry in which they are very subtle they are observed to be great Liars perfidious treacherous distrustful crafty revengeful quarrelsom proud much addicted to Women and strong Drink but Tobacco is forbidden amongst them Their Houses are but mean and as ill furnished contenting themselves to lie on Matts or Straw instead of Beds they are gross feeders yet have wherewithal to feed deliciously Their habit which they seldom or never change is much the same with the ancient Greeks wearing long Robes of Cloth Sattin Silk Their Habit. Cloth of Gold or Silver which is beset with Pearls according to the quality of the person by which together with their attendance they are known and under these Robes they wear close Goats and Drawers begirting themselves with Swashes on their feet they wear Buskins and on their heads Caps instead of Hats adorned with Pearl and precious Stones which in their Salutations they move not only bow their bodies They are for the most part fat and corpulent esteeming great Bellies and long and great Beards for a comliness the Women though indifferent handsom yet make use of Paint In the performance of their Nuptial Rites they use many Ceremonies which are largely treated of by Adam Olearius in his Book entituled the Ambassadours Travels into Moscovy and Persin whose description I shall make use of wherein he saith That young Men and Maids being debarr'd the Society of each other Maidens not being allowed the freedom of the Street or society with Men Their Ceremonies in Marriage it happens that no Marriages are made but by the consent of the Parents and the bargain being agreed on by them the Wedding-day is appointed the Night before which the young Man makes his never yet seen Bride a Present according to their Qualities He saith further that there are two Women appointed by them who are to take order for the making the Nuptial Bed c. which is made upon about 40 sheaves of Rye which are encompassed with a great many Barrels of Wheat and other Grains All things being made ready the Bridegroom late in the Evening goes to the Brides accompanied with his Friends and Relations together with the Priest who is to marry them riding before them and being received in are brought to a Table where three Dishes of Meat are brought but none eats thereof then after some Ceremonies the Bride is brought in richly clad in a sitting dress for that Solemnity by the said Women who places her by the Bridegroom and to prevent their seeing one another besides the Vaâ—l over the Brides face they are parted by a piece of crimson Tassety which is held by two Youths which done the said Woman ties up her Hair in two knots paints her puts a Crown neatly made and gilded on her head and habits her like a married Woman the other Woman chosen by them paints the Bridegroom and whilst this is doing the Women get up on Benches and sing several Songs then after several ridiculous Ceremonies they go to the Church and before the Priest gives them the Benediction he carries them to the Offering which consists of fryed Meats Fish and Pastry the Benediction is given by holding Images over their heads and the Priest taking the Bridegroom by the right hand and the Bride by the left and asks them three times if they will love one another as Man and Wife ought and whether it be by their consent to which both answer Yes then all the People joyn hands and dance whilst they and the Priest sing the 128 Psalm which ended he puts a Garland of Rue about their heads saying Increase and multiply and then consummating the Marriage saith Whom God hath joyned together let no man separate which being pronounced several Wax-Candles are lighted and the Priest is presented with a Glass of Claret and being pledg'd by the Married couple he throws down the Glass and he and the Bride tread it under their feet saying May they thus fall at our feet and be trodden to pieces who shall endeavour to sow discontent betwixt us Then after
At present the Turk possesses the greatest part of the Country and keeps still or did not long since Beglerbies at Erzerum Cars Revan Van Schildir Tefflis and Derbent besides which there are many Cities of considerable note some of which the Persians hold 1. It s chief Places Erzerum on the Euphrates near the black Sea on which and not far from Erzerum is Trebisonde which facilitates a great trade between the East West and North for coming from the Indian Ocean by the Gulph of Ormus and so up the Euphrates they may receive passing by what comes from the West to Aleppo and carry it unto Erzerum from whence to Trebisonde by land is not above 25 or 30 Leagues 2. Gars Chars or likewise Chissery is four or five days Journy from Erzerum towards the East on the River Euphrates it hath been taken and retaken divers times by the Turks and Persians The same may be said of Revan Schilder and Van this last is not great but well Walled and with greater Ditches and hath a Castle whose scituation is such as renders it almost inaccessible 3. Tefflis is likewise in some esteem at present but much more formerly under the name of Artaxata which Artaxias Father of Tigranes King of Armenia caused to be builded and fortified at the perswasion of Hannibal 4. Derbent of great antiquity being supposed to have its foundation laid by Alexander the Great who also erected that no less great than strong Castle which is called Kastow adjoyning to the said City which is the greatest and most ordinary passage between Turcomania Persia and other Southern Provinces of Asia to Zuire the Kingdom of Astracan and other more Northern Estates of Europe and Asia It s scituation is upon the utmost Mountains which regard the Taberestan or the Caspian Sea and all is so well fortified that the Turks have took occasion to call the place Demir or Temir Capi or the Port of Iron and the name of Derbent signifies a Streight Port and in all likelyhood these are the Caspiae Portae so famous among the Ancients because that in the black Sea and the Sea of Tabarestan which is about 3 or 400 thousand Paces It is all high Mountainous and hard to be passed and if there be any passages they are infamous for Robberies and Incursions which the Inhabitants of the Countries or the Princes which possess them make This City is a place of great strength being invironed with two strong Walls and fortified with Towers and Iron-gates being accounted the Key or Inlet to Persia now in the hands of the Grand Signior 5. Bitlis and Manuscute belong to the Curdes who have here many and divers Lords better affected to the Persians than the Turks Bitlis is between two Mountains watered with a River which receives many fair Fountains The Houses are built with Stones which is rare in that Country others being of nothing but Wood and Earth The Castle is seated advantagiously but I believe this place is not now in the hands of the Turks and to speak truth we have at present little knowledge of any thing concerning these quarters ARMENIA was much better known and more famous in Ancient time than at present under the name of Turcomania The Bounds of Armenia Its Bounds are very advantagious being quite encompassed with high Mountains large Rivers and washed by divers Seas and seated Northwards of the Caspian Mountains which divides it from Media now called Servan The Mountains of Armenis This Country is well replenished with Mountains Vallies Rivers and Lakes The Mountain Anti-Taurus divides it East and West almost from one extremity to the other whose most Easternly point is called Abus from whence the Euphrates Tigris and Araxes take some of their Streams The Gordian Mountains pour forth the greatest supplies to Tigris and the Pariardes increase most the Streams of Euphrates Araxes and Farza Chief Rivers in Armenia Farza turns his course towards the North and after having passed Colchida and pressed through 100 or 120 Bridges falls into the Euxine Sea Araxes turns towards the East watering the fairest and richest Plains of Armenia and falls into the Caspian Sea between Media and Albania Both the one and the other Euphrates descend towards the West but approaching the Euxine Sea it turns again towards the South and reunites its two Channels into one traverses the Anti-Taurus and Taurus divides Armenia and Mesopotamia from Asia Minor Syria and Arabia descends into Chaldea where it waters the ancient Babylon and loses it self in the Tigris This last descends from Mount Abus and the Georgian Mountains falls into divers Lakes loses it self and rises divers times out of the Earth cuts the Mountain Niphates separates Mesopotamia from Assyria washes Ninive Seleucia Ctesiphon receives all the branches of the Euphrates and discharges it self in the Persian Gulph Lakes of most note in Armenia The greatest Lakes of Armenia are Thospitis Areessa and Lychintes this last is towards the Araxes and the Caspian Sea Areessa is the same that Pliny and Solinus call Arethusa Thospitis according to Ptolomy is another Lake the Tigris likewise crosses after which it loses it self the second time The first hath its Water so as it will take spots out of Cloaths but is not good to drink Kings of eminent note in Armenia Among the Kings of Armenia which made themselves most known to the Romans or Parthians Tigranes Son-in-law to Mithridates King of Pontus hath been the most famous This Tigranes after having been an Hostage in the hands of the Parthians regained his Estates by their means in recompence of which he gave them 70 Valleys on the confines of Media and Assyria but after he knew and had gathered together his Powers he retook all those Vallies beat the Parthians out of them pillaged Assyria as far as Ninive and Arbela subjected to himself a part of Media and afterwards all Mesopotamia Syria Phoenicia and Cilicia But whilst he believed himself above Fortune Mithridates his Father-in-law was divers times defeated and driven from his Realm of Pontus by Lucullus and the Romans and retiring himself into Armenia to his Son-in-law his refusal to abandon or deliver him into the hands of Lucullus drew the Romans into Armenia where Lucullus several times defeated Tigranes took Tigranocerta where was his Regal Diadem and likewise in a great Set-Battel where Tigranes had 150000 Foot and 1000 or 1200 Horse flew 100000 Foot and the greatest part of his Cavalry constraining him to yield to the Romans the Provinces of Cilicia Syria Phoenicia and Mesopotamia and content himself with Armenia only but for the present let us lay aside History The division of Armenia according to Ptolomy Ptolomy divided Armenia into four principal Parts and allotted to the first 7 Regions or Provinces 6 to the second 3 to the third and 4 to the fourth placing in the first part 30 Cities 27 in the second 12 in the third and 18 in
capable to seise on whole Provinces which he recovers rather by strength then otherwise For it must be confessed that the Persians are more Active in their Arms then all their Neighbours except the Portugals And they are likewise esteemed more courteous to strangers more civil in their conversation and more exact in their Policy and Government The Persians much different from the Turks then all the Mahometans And if we would compare the manners of the Turks with those of the Persians we should find a great difference and often much contrariety For the Persians are courteous to strangers the Turks abusive The Persians esteem study the Turks neglect it The Sophies of the Persians hold in honor their Brothers and Kinsmen the Turks oft put them to death The Persians have amongst them great quantity of Nobles the Turks make account of none but the Officers sent them from the Port The Persians have the Cavalry the Turks the better Infantry both the one and the other are Mahometans but they explain their Alcoran so diversly that that alone is capable to carry them to the ruine of one or the other Empire if they could effect it and it seems that the disposition of the one and the other estate is very different caused by their contrary manners which makes them follow Maxims quite different from one another The Empire of the Turks is divided into many parts cut asunder by several Seas one upon the neck of another and bygre at navigable Rivers as the Danube in Europe the Nile in Africa and the Euphrates in Asia which gives it great advantages both for Trade and the transport of its Forces Whilst the Empire of Persia consisting of an entire and solid Mass full of Mountains in the middle of the Countrey few navigable Rivers and those which are distant one from the other and falling into divers Seas that they can have no communication one with another Trade cannot be commodious but abroad and if they have occasion to transport any Troops from one Coast to another The Persian forces consists in Cavalry it cannot be done without the expence of much time and pains And it is for this reason the Persians serve themselves more of Cavalry who at a need are able to put into the field One hundred thousand Horse and they have for the most part ready 30 40 or 50000 They entertain little Infantry and those for the most part are strangers The Empire of Persia of a different Soyl. The Empire of PERSIA is of a large and of so different a nature as one would not take it to be the same being in some places very barren cold and comfortless scarce affording either Food for Man or Beast as are the North parts which ly betwixt Mount Taurus and the Hircanian-sea whereas Southerly it is very fruitful the Soil rich affording plenty of Corne Wine and all things necessary for the use of man being pleasant full of rich Pastures which are stored with abundance of Cattle the Country watred with streams The Persians are of a low stature The People of Persia and their habits yet have great limbs and strong they are of an Olive colour complexion hawked nos'd and black hair'd which they shave every eight days and those which have not black hair naturally by art make it so as being in great esteem amongst them they paint their hands and nails of a reddish colour In their habit they follow much of the Turks their clothes have no proportion to their bodies hanging loose and large much in the fashion of the Womens their Mendits by the Turks called Turbants are made of Cotton Cloth or Silk Stuff which is fine and of several colours which they wear on their heads as we do Hatts many of them wear them of Red but the Priests as also his other Garments are white their Garments they girt about their waists with a Scarf under these Garments they wear breeches like our drawers their stockings are for the most part made of Cloth without any shape in them their shoes are picked toed and like slippers by reason of their often putting them off and on not wearing them in Houses The Women wear much finer Stuffs then the men and have nothing to ty about their waists their drawers stockings and shifts are like those of the men they wear their hair loose about their shoulders in several tresses having no other Ornament except it be 2 or 3 rows of Pearls which they fasten to their fore-head and so hangs down on each side of their face to be fastned to their chin the young Maids wear rings and bracelets about their hands and armes also rings with precious stones in their right nostrills as the Tartarian Women do The Women in the Streets goe with while Vails over their faces down to their knees The People in this Nation as well Men as Women according to their degrees in honour or riches do exceed in costly habits in which they are exceeding neat and curious not admitting so much as a spot upon their Clothes which neatness they like wise observe in their Houses which are for the most part well furnished as also in their meats and drinks which are excellent delightful and curious They are great dissemblers and much addicted to ill language if provoked to it They are of a good nature and very sensible of kindness done to them but where they hate are mortal enemies They are couragious and good Souldiers great haters of Cowards very ingenious of a ready Witt and sound Judgment much addicted to reading several Authors which tend to the knowledg of Poetry Philosophy the Law Medicine several of the Mathematicks Their manners dispositions c. as Arithmetick Geometry Astronomy and its influences as Astrology which they give much credit unto These and the like Arts and Sciences are studied and taught young Students at several Colledges and Vniversities by experienced persons in the same who there reside They are very ingenious in Fire and Water-works are great lovers of their pleasure in several recreations as Hawking Hunting Riding a tilt c. they are very complementory obliging and curteous especially to strangers not addicted to covetousness usury being forbidden amongst them they are generally much given to Luxury not contenting themselves with several Wives but must also have the use of Concubines which is allowed them they are also given to Sodomy but Adultery they severely punish When a young man desires to marry and hath heard of a maid as he thinks he can love he hath some of his friends to treat with her parents or friends about it for the maid is not to be seen and if they agree then they proceed to Articles Their Marriages which is to be performed by the friends of the Bridegroom it not being there the custom for the man to receive a portion with her as it is here with us but contrarily the Dower which by both of their friends is agreed
of the enjoyment of Men and they so much of them In their Apparel as also in the furniture of their Houses they are very costly The Women are here delivered without pain and not having the use of a Midwife or any one but her self and no sooner is she delivered but she is about her occasions not observing the custom among us in keeping their Chamber a month together Most of them live to the age of 100 years and that in perfect health but these are not the Portugals but are the Natives which are Pagans and Benjans To this City do resort Merchants from Arabia Persia Armenia Cambaya Bengala Siam Pegu China Java Malacca and from several other Countries it being the Staple of all Indian Commodities In the heart of the City is a Street where every morning from seven to nine not only the Merchants meet for the vending and buying of Commodities which are here set forth for sale like our Fairs but also the Gentry of the City meet as well to hear news as to satisfie their fancies in the sight of the Commodities And besides this Street every Trade hath its particular Street one Trade not intermixing with another Besides Goa the Land of the Bardes the Islles of Salsette of Coran of Divar and some other Lands about Goa are the Portugals As likewise the City of Chaul on the Coast where they have a great Trade of Silk and from these places they have their provision brought them and that at very easie rates for the Island of it self is so barren that it will scarce produce any thing Decan taken altogether hath one King alone which they call Idolcan or Dialcan The Great Mogoll hath taken from him some places in the particular Decan and the Portugals Goa Chaul and some other places on the Coast This Prince is yet powerful at least in regard of the Indians He hath taken Dabul from the Portugals and ruined it He once besieged Chaul and divers times Goa leading in his Armies near 200000 men In fine he made Peace with the Portugals the Vice-Roy of the East-Indies for the Crown of Portugal having always an Ambassador at the Idolcans Court and the Idolcan having one at Goa with the Vice-Roy And though this Prince is so powerful in men and so well provided with Ammunition and his Artillery greater and better then any Prince about him yet is he become Tributary to the Great Mogoll Its Commodities All the Country is good fruitful watered with several Rivers hath store of precious Stones of Cotton and Silk of which they make divers Manufactures of Pepper of Fruits and other Commodities The Inhabitants or Natives of the Country are Pagans and for the most part Benjans but eat any kind of Flesh except that of an Ox Cow Buffe Swine or Wild-Bore A Swine they abhor but have a great veneration for a Cow or an Ox. But as to the manner of their life as in their Marrriages Interments Purifications and other Ceremonies in their Religion as also in their Habits and Houses which are very mean their Houses being made of Straw and withal small and low having no light but what enters in at the door which is not so high as a mans Waist In which their chiefest furniture and houshold-stuffs are Mats to lie upon in the night on which they also eat their Meat their Dishes Drinking-cups c. are made of Fig-leaves which they daub and plaister together In these and the like Ceremonies and Customs they imitate the Benjans aforementioned The rest of the people which here inhabit are Mahometans and Jews which here enjoy the freedom of their Religion but the Subjects of the King of Portugal are Catholicks those of the English Protestants GOLCONDA The Kingdom of Golconda its bounds and extent THe name of GOLCONDA hath been known but for few years nevertheless this is a powerful and rich Kingdom but which hath been confounded with the name of Orixa It is upon the Gulph of Bengala which it regards towards the East and South neighbouring on the Mogolls and the Kingdom of Bengala towards the North. It stretches 200 Leagues on the Coast in length and near 100 up in the Land in breadth It yields 20 Millions of yearly Revenue is very well peopled and its People addicted to all sorts of Manufactures They make Cotton Pintado's so artificially and with such lively colours that it is esteemed better than Silk They build great Ships trade to Mecca Aquem Bengala Pegu and throughout all the Indies It s chief places or Fortresses There are in this Estate 66 Castles and Fortresses where the ordinary Garrisons are kept and these Castles are on inaccessible Rocks which they call Conda Golconda which the Persians call Hidrabrand is the chief and residence of the King it is distant from the Port of Musulipatan about 60 Leagues which is a fair City seated on an Arm of the Sea adjoyning to the Kingdom of Bisnagar and not far from Cape Guadavari Hath its Air pleasant its Soil fruitful of about 5 or 6 Leagues circuit nor doth its King yield much to the Great Mogoll in Riches precious Stones in store of Elephants or all sorts of magnificence But his Estates being much less and his People less warlike constraineth him to send him every year 400000 Pagodes in form of Tribute The Country rich in Diamonds and Precious Stones This Country moreover hath no Mines of Gold Silver or Copper some it hath of Iron and Steel but many of Diamonds and other precious Stones so rich and abundant that in 1622 the King caused it to be shut up and the labour to cease fearing lest the too great quantity should make them neglected Others say for fear it should draw the Great Mogoll into his Estates Condapoli its chief Fortress is so great that in circumference it contains six others and these six are one above the other each having Wood Fruits and Land sufficient to maintain the Garrisons destined for their defence which amount to 12000 Men. Candavara is another Fortress 15 or 16 Leagues from Condapoli and thence at certain intervals there are Towers on which with certain Lights they give signal of all that passes in the Country On the Sea-Coast or Gulph of Bengala are seated several Towns some of which are well known by Merchants as Guadavari which gives name to a Cape on which it is seated Vixaopatan Narsingapatan Pulacate Palhor Manicapatan Calecote Caregara on the Cape Segogora or Das Palmas Polarin Contiripatan and others The Portugals have a Fortress at Masulipatan which is one of the best Ports of the Country the City is not walled and belong to the Prince The Air and fertility of the Country The Air is every where healthful the Soil fertil producing twice or thrice a year Grains Fruits c. almost all different from ours Their Seasons are distinguished in three manners they have very great heats in March April May and June and that is
their Summer Much Rain in July August September and October and that is their Autumn Fresh Weather or little heat in November December January and February which is their Spring For Winter they have none One of their principal Revenues comes from Salt which alone yields 1800000 Pagodes or so many Crowns Their other Revenues are drawn from several Commodities amongst the rest Diamonds of which all above 5 Carats belong to the Prince nor dare any keep them on pain of death BISNAGAR or NARSINGVE The Estates of Bisnagar and its Parts SOuth of Decan and Golconda are the Estates of BISNAGAR otherwise NARSINGVE these two places being the principal ones of the Realm Narsingue not far from the Port of Paleacate about the midst of the Coast of Choromandel Bisnagar towards the Mountains of Gate and near Canara The whole Estate is divided into three principal quarters and these 3 quarters into 7 Kingdoms and extends it self on two different parts of the Indian Sea on the Gulph of Ganges or Bengala towards the East and on the Gulph of Indus or Cambaya towards the West On this side the Coast is 65 Leagues long in the other 250. The three principal quarters are called CANARA BISNAGAR and CHOROMANDEL Canarâ— occupies all the Western Coast between the Estates of Decan and Malabar Bisnagar and Choromandel hold all the Eastern Coast the last towards the Coast of the Peschery and Isle of Ceylan and the first towards Golconda Canara hath the Kingdoms of Onor and Baticala on the Sea and that of Borsopa farther in the Land which stretches to the Mountains of Gate Bisnagar hath the Kingdoms of Tienlique and Bisnagar Choromandel those of Choromandel and Tamul The chief Cities and Fortresses Onor Baticala and Gorcopa are the capital Cities each of their Kingdoms the two first to one the last subject to a particular King but all Tributaries to Bisnagar Those four on the East and Gulph of Bengala are immediately subject to the King of Bisnagar except that the Portugals hold Maliapur and Negapatan But moreover the Estates of the Naicques of Tanjaor of Gingi and of Madure are esteemed to be of Bisnagar because they make part of it and are likewise at present Vassals and Tributaries of the King of Bisnagar Formerly these Naicques were only Governours of the Quarters they at present possesse these Governours revolting and each seising his Government The Kings of Bisnagar having long made War upon them to reduce them to their duty They in the end remained Naicques that is Hereditary Lords and absolute over those Quarters paying some Tribute to the Kings of Bisnagar The City of Gingi is esteemed one of the greatest and fairest of India in the midst of which is a Fortress and in that Fortress a Rock almost inaccessible they give likewise to this Naicque the City of Cindambaram after it Chistapatama and on the Coast of Choromandel Coloran the Princes of Trinidi and Salavacca are subject to him The Naicque of Tanjaor hath his Estate between those of Gingi and Madure and near the Port of Negapatan which belongs to the Portugals Besides Tanjaor and Castan in the Upland the Cities of Triminapatan of Trangabar and of Triminavez belong unto him The Naicque of Madure besides Madure his capital City and a very fair one holds almost all the Coast of the Pesoheria and the little Isle of Manar near Ceylan This Coast extends from the Cape of Comori unto the Cape of Negapatan viewing in the Ocean the not far distant Isle of Ceylan And the name of the Pescheria hath been given it by reason of the Pearls which they yearly fish there for about the end of March and the beginning of April and this Fishing endures only 15 or 21 days there being then about 50 or 60000 Persons employed either to fish or to keep the Fishermens Vessels from trouble These Pearls are exposed to sale in July August and September Tutucori and Manancor are the best Cities of this Coast which is of 75 Leagues length where there is about 25 Cities The people of Paravas are mixed along the Coast and live in some form of a Republick paying some rights to the Naicque of Madure and these are they that fish or the Pearls this fishing being all the riches of the Country which of it self is neither fertil nor pleasant but dry and scorched The King of Bisnagar very powerful Yet is the King of Bisnagar very powerful formerly marching against the Idalcan it hath been accounted that he had in his Army 40000 Horse 700000 Foot and 700 Elephants His chief City is Bisnagar or Visnagar a City very beautiful seated in a temperate Air and by reason of the fertility of the Country about it which brings forth sundry Commodities naturally besides the industry and ingenuity of the Inhabitants in several Manufactures but especially in their fine Cotton-Linnen which they make of divers colours and interwoved with several sorts of Loom-works and flowers which are esteemed better than Silk Also the goodness of its Haven hath made it a place of as great Commerce as any City on the Coast of Choromandel An English Factory at Musulipatan though at Musulipatan the English have settled a Factory both for the providing and lading hence the Commodities of the Country more by reason of its scituation than for the goodness of place it being of no beauty nor grandure its Houses being low and ill built and its Streets not many and those that are narrow and ill contrived but above all it is seated in a barten Soil by reason of the extraordinary Heat which here rages from March to July them from July to November the great Rains and Winds which reign continually so that their Temperate weather is but from November to March Vincent le Blanc saith That the City of Bisnagar is able to set forth 100000 Horse next to it Narsingue on the side of a little Hill towards the Sea Tripity not far from Chandegry and Cangevaran not far from Maliapor or St. Thomas Trivalur is famous for the great number of its Idols Cirangapatan is between Chandegry and Mangalor which is on the Coast of Canara the Fortress of Vellur between Chandegry and Narsingue was the Kings Court in 1609. All the Country is healthful rich and fertil in Corn and Fruits The fertility temperature c. of the Country breeding store of Cattel and Fowl and Diamonds are found in the Mountains of Gate near Chandegry and in other places quantity of Amethysts and white Saphirs They have all sorts of Beasts both tame and wild their Elephants are docil their People healthful and well disposed but not couragious The Pepper of Onor is esteemed the most weighty and the best of all these quarters the Portugals lade from thence 7 or 8000 Quintals a year Baticala a Port of Rice of several sorts different both in price and goodness the black Rice is esteemed more healthful and better than the white
others call them Kingdoms under Sian the two first Kingdoms are tributary to Sian They have nothing particular above Patane to which they are all united The chief City of Patane takes its name from its Kingdom so called The City of Patane and its Trade seated on the Sea-side betwixt Malacca and Siam Its Houses are well and handsomly built either of Timber or Canes The Palace Royal is encompassed with a Pallisado and its Mosques are made of Brick This City as also the whole Kingdom is very populous and enjoying a good Trade It s People are inclined to a Swarthy brown complexion well proportioned ingenious using Arts especially Navigation but above all great lovers of Women The Country affordeth most of the Indian Commodities by reason of which it hath a good Trade The City of Malacca and its Trade Malacca a City and Kingdom is at present the most famous of all those which of the Peninsula we have comprehended under the name of Malacca It hath been subject to the King of Sian A particular King had made himself Master of it before that the Portugals entred the Indies the Country remaining still to the Kings of Sian That which hath made this City great rich and powerful though the Air be unhealthful and the Soil almost barren is the advantage of its scituation being seated on the River Gasa which is about 3 Leagues broad and in the center of the firm Land and of all the Islands of the East Indies commanding a Streight which is the Key which makes it the Staple of all the Indian and China Commodities by reason of which it is a place of great Traffick and very populous containing about 12000 Families besides Strangers Its Houses are low and not over curiously built and the Streets narrow the City is about 2 miles in length and of half the breadth being a place of good strength and defended by a strong Wall and Castle is watered by the River Gaza and the chiefest place of pleasure is the Buzzar Before and nigh to this City are the Islands by the Portugals called Ilha de Naos and Ilha de Pedra The usance of divers Nations of the Indies hath so fashioned the Malayois Language that it is the best and most elegant of all others Arbor tristis a great rarity Among the Rarities of Malacca or rather among the wonders of the World may be counted Arbortristis or the Sad Tree which bears Flowers only after Sun set and sheds them so soon as the Sun rises and this it doth every Night throughout the whole year These Flowers are almost like to but faireâ— and more odoriferous than Orange Flowers Some of these Trees have been transported and brought as far as Goa and some other places of the Indies but no care could ever preserve them unto Europe The Provinces of thin Kingdom of SIAN are very populous The People of Sian their habit disposition c. especially those which have the benefit of the Sea or navigable Rivers but inhabited by different People but for the most part well proportioned of a Swarthy complexion more addicted to Venus than Mars ingenious but lazy unconstant and deceivers Their habit is a painted Cloth which they wear about their middle and hangeth down to their knees besides which the Men wear short Shirts and the Women cover their Breasts with a piece of Linnen which they tie about their Necks all observing one fashion the Persons of Quality being only known by their attendance Their Marriages Burials and other Ceremonies are much the same as those aforesaid they bring up their Children very well instructing them in Arts by which according to their abilities they are advanced to preferment In their Punishments they are severs and different Their Arms. according to the nature of the crime His Army doth consist of his own Subjects in the nature of our Trained-Bands which are to be ready upon all occasions and not of a standing Army Their Arms are Bows and Arrows Swords Pikes and Bucklers they have no Fire-Arms their Horse is not good their chief strength consisting in their Elephants The Kings of Sian absolute Monarchs are rich powerful and live in great state The Kings of Sian are esteemed absolute Monarchs in their Dominions making and breaking Laws as they please imposing Taxes on their Subjects punishing condemning and seising the Estates of those who speak or act contrary to their minds make War and Peace as often as they please These and the like actions he doth of himself without consent of any yet he hath a Council which are his Nobles of whom he will hear their Opinions and Advice but act as best pleaseth him He hath but one Wife who bears the title of a Queen but hath many Concubines In his Apparel and Attendance he is very magnificent and stately not stirring abroad without great pomp by reason of which as also through his austerity he hath great veneration shewed him His Revenue is very great he bestoweth his Honour or Preferment on those who best please him not regarding Birth and Education it being not hereditary For the administration of Justice most Cities have their Jurisdictions and Judges This great Kingdom is not in all places alike for in some parts it is covered with Wood in others Mountainous and to the Sea-side Marshy Flat and Fertil affording divers and rich Commodities as aforementioned and being plentifully furnished with Rivers Bays and Harbours for the conveniency of Shipping COCHIN-CHINA TVNQIN c. Cochin-china its bounds and extent I Esteem under the Name of COCHIN-CHINA taken in general all that lies to the Eastward of the Kingdoms of Camboja Sian Pegu and Ava c. to the Westward of China and the Gulph of Cochin-china and which is washed on the South with the Oriental Ocean and bounded on the North by those high Mountains which limit Tartary extending it self from the 9th degree of Latitude on this side the Equator unto the 34th or 35th towards the North which make more than 6000 Leagues the breadth not being above the 8th or 10th part of its length It s Name why so called The name of Cochin-china according to some signifies West China so the Natives of the Country call it Onam or Anam that is the Occidental Quarter and this extends to the view of China of which it was once part and whose Language Manners Customs Government Religion and other Ceremonies they yet retain which having occasion to treat of in China as more convenient for brevities sake I omit them here referring the Reader to the description of China But these Quarters being retired from the subjection of the Chinois above 800 years ago were a little after as easily divided into divers Estates The name of Cochin-china being kept in the most Southern parts that of Tunquin having taken the middle and more Northernly parts passing under the name of the People called Lays the Kingdom of Ciocangue the People
Its parts chief places and fertility The Country is of a different Soil that of Zagathay is indifferent fertil which is much augmented by the industry of the Inhabitants who are likewise held the most ingenious being lovers of Arts and well skilled in Manufactures by reason of which they have a good trade with Merchants which come from several places Sacae is very barren and ill manured and full of wild Desarts Forrests and Uninhabited places by reason of which the Inhabitants remove their Herds of Cattle from place to place where they can find best food for them Sogdianâ— hath very rich Pastures and watered with many good Rivers which much conduces to its fertility in which as also in Zagathay are several Towns and Cities as 1. Jarchan 2. Sachi 3. Istigiaes 4. Busdaschan 5. Bachara and 6. Pogansa which last is seated on the Sea Turquestan its bounds and chief places TVRQVESTAN lies East from Vsbeck or Zagathay West from Cathay North from India and South from True Tartary It is subdivided into some Kingdoms of which the best known are Castar Cotam Chialis Ciartiam Thibet Chinchintalis c. A part of their chief Cities being of the same name Some name Hiarchan instead of Cascar and Turon or Turphan instead of Chialis for the chief Cities of the Kingdom That of Cascar is the richest most fertil and best cultivated of all That of Ciartiam is esteemed the least and all sandy having in recompence many Jaspars and Cassidoines but that of Cascar hath likewise excellent Rhubarb It s fertility and commodities c. and in great quantity Those of Cotam and Chialis have Corn Wine Flax Hemp Cotton c. Thibet is more advanced towards the Mogolls of India and the most engaged in the Mountains of Imaus Caucasus and Vssontes It hath many wild Beasts Musk and Cinnamon and they make use of Coral instead of Mony The Relations which have been given in 1624 and 1626 have made this Estate so great and rich that they would confound it with Cathay but those of 1651 make the Region very cold and always covered with Snow esteeming its King wholly barbarous and less powerful than him of Serenegar who is only a Rahia in the Estates of the Great Mogoll so little assurance is there in the most part of these Relations The other places of note in Turquestan are Camul Turfan Emil Sark Cassia Andegen Raofa Cotain Peim Finegle Lop Ciartiam Sazechiam and Vociam and in this part is the Lake of Kithay which is 65 Leagues in length and 40 in breadth CATHAY is the most Eastern part of all Tartaria Cathay its bounds and esteemed the richest and most powerful Estate It is contiguous to Turquestan on the West to China on the South to True Tartary on the North and on the East is watered by the Streight of Jessa Some esteem all Cathay under one only Monarch or Emperour whom they call Chan or Vlacan that is Great Cham and speak him one of the greatest and richest Princes in the World Others account divers Kings but all Subjects to the Great Cham. It s â—ertility and commodities The Country is much frequented well tilled and in most places very fertil abounding in Wheat Rice Wool Hemp Silk Musk Rhuburh great Herds of Camels of whose Hair they make Chamlets and abundance of Horses with which they furnish other Countries and especially China It s chief place Cambalu with what other things can be desired Cambalu is esteemed its Metropolitan City in which the Great Cham resides pleasantly seated in a fertil Soil and on the River Palysanga which hath its course through the City which is seated in the midst of the Country being as it were the center to others This City besides its Suburbs is esteemed to be 28 miles in circuit being as it were four square each Angle being 7 miles in length all encompassed with a strong Wall 10 paces thick to which for entrance into the City there is at each Angle 3 Gates to every one of which there is a Palace besides in every Angle a more sumptuous Palace in which the Armour of the Garrison Souldiers are kept which are accounted 1000 of each Gate The Buildings are for the most part of Free-stone and very proportionably built the chief Streets large and so strait that one may see from one Gate to the other which gives it a gallant prospect The Great Chams Palace In the midst of this City is a stately Palace where the Great Cham resides together with his Queens and Children This Royal Palace is four square and of a vast bigness having besides its Out-walls several other enclosures adorned with stately Structures beautified with pleasant Walks Gardens Orchards Fishponds with several other places for Recreation His Attendance State and Riches is great Without the Walls are 12 Suburbs each 3 or 4 miles in length It s Trade and Commodities adjoyning to each of the 12 Gates and in these Suburbs the Merchants and Strangers reside each Nation having a several Cane or Store-house where they both lodge and exercise their Trade bartering their Commodities for one anothers being of a great Trade and frequented by Merschants and Strangers of several Countries but more especially by the Persians Chinois Indians and the Tartars themselves which renders it very populous it being the chief place for Trade in all Tartary abounding not only in those Commodities aforesaid but also in the Spices of India the Gems of Pegu and Bengala the Drugs of Arabia also the Carpets Tapestries Silks and Manufactures of Persia c. Their Monies The Mony currant here and throughout this large Territory is very different neither is it made of Gold Silver or Copper as with us but of the middle Bark of the Mulberry Tree which being made smooth and firm they cut round into great and small pieces on which they imprint the Kings Mark as we do on our Mony and these pieces according to the bigness and thickness are valued at a certain rate and are passable for the buying of all Commodities and it is deemed death for any one to counterfeit or make any of this Mony But in some places under the Great Chams jurisdiction they use polished Coral instead of Mony and in other places they use twigs of Gold which is distinguished into several parcels by weight but without Stamp or Character and this is held in case of great importance they also use in some places Porcelain instead of Mony likewise they make a kind of Mony of Salt which they boil until it be congealed hard and then make it up into round lumps on which is put the Princes Stamp And these are the several sorts of Mony which passeth amongst them yet by reason of the Trade that this place hath with other Countries there adjacent their Coyns are here found currant as are those of the Grand Signior as also those of Moscovy Besides this Palace
large and well built seated in a spacious Plain which affordeth great plenty of Sugar 2. Messa at the flux or mouth of the River Sus it is composed of three little Cities walled apart and betwixt which the River passes 3. Tejent seated higher and on the same River on a spacious Plain is likewise composed of three Towns each distant a Mile from each other having their Temple common in the midst of the three 4. Tedsa beyond the River Tagavost containing about 8000 Houses its chief Ornament being a fair Mehometan Temple 5. Capo d' Aguer seated on a Promontory so called and is a place of great importance The Fortress and City of Guarguessen in the midst of the Coast and on a branch which this Mountain under the name of Idevacall stretches into the Sea belongs to the Crown of Portugal Province of Guzula its bounds and chief Places The Province of Guzula is to the East of Sus to the South of Hea and Morocco to the West of the Province or Kingdom of Darrha and to the North of Tesset Here are observed to be no walled Cities or Fortresses of note but it hath many Burroughs and Towns of 1000 or 1200 Houses where there are Markets kept thrice a week and a great Fair yearly which lasts two Months to which many People from most parts of Africa do resort The chief place bears the name of the Province the People are rude and barbarous and with much ado are subject to the King of Morocco In the Country are many rich Mines of Gold Brass Iron and other Metals Province of Morocco and and its chief Cities The Province of Morocco particularly so called lies all between the Rivers of Asifnuall and Tensift from their Springs at the Mount Atlas until they meet about 15 or 20 Leagues from the Sea Asifnual divides it from Guzula and Hea Tensift from Hascora and Ducala The City of Morocco is the chief of the whole Kingdom and hath been a long time in great esteem and once accounted the Metropolis of all Barbary and reckoned amongst the greatest Cities in the World At which time it had twenty four or twenty five Gates being in circuit 12 Miles and contained about one hundred thousand Families It is strongly girt about with Walls and adorned within with many publick and private Buildings as its Palace which they name the Alcasar Its Churches or Mosques are very fair especially one Morocco its Trade and Commodities which is held the greatest in the World seated in the midst of the City adorned with many sumptuous Pillars which were brought out of Spain when the Moors had the possession of the Country It hath a very large and strong Castle esteemed as big as a reasonable Town Here is also a Burse for Merchants who trade hither But of late by reason of the defacement and Spoils which it hath suffered by the Arabians together with the removal of the Seat Royal to Fez now the Metropolis of all Barbary it hath lost much of its splendor a great part of the City being deserted so that they make use of but 4 or 5 Gates neither is that part so populous rich nor hath so good a Trade as formerly 2. Agmett seated on a River of the same name and at the meeting of divers passages which descend from Mount Atlas in the Plains of Morocco hath been very fair and populous and its Hills and Valley about it so fertil and beautified with pleasant Gardens that it was called the Little Morocco at present it is almost Desart 3. Elgiumuha near the Mountain and on the River Secsiva 4. Imegiagen seated on a Mountain very steep on all sides And 5. Tenezze a Town of some note All which are strong places and very advantagiously scituated Province of Hea its fertility People and chief places HEA West of Morocco a Province Mountainous and Woody yet watered with many good Rivers the Soil indifferently fertil and would produce several good Commodities were it inhabited by industrious People these being a sort of idle and in a manner barbarous altogether ignorant of Arts except some Teachers of their Law which can hardly read as also some Chirurgions who are chiefly employed in the circumcision of their Children they are generally very courteous to Strangers but very contentious among themselves It s chief Cities are 1. Tednest once a place of good esteem seated on the River Savens 2. Hadequis 3. Teguleth and 4. Tejeut places of good note and Trade the first containing about 1000 Houses having the benefit of a good Port and beautified with a fair Mosque with some Hospitals But about the year 1500 they were much ruined by the Portugals in whose possession they are who have since somewhat added to its former Estate Tednest hath about 1600 Houses the most part Jews which are esteemed the chiefest In the Mountains Tesegdelt is most considerable containing above 1000 Families and well scituated its Walls being no other than thick Rocks So are Ileusugagen Tegtesse Eitdeset Culejat c. scituated upon Mountains and of good strength Tefethna on the Coast and at the Mouth of a River of the same name The Isle of Mogadour hath a Port where there is some Trade The Isle of Mogadour near the Cape of Ocem is distant from the Coast two little Leagues The Kings of Morocco have built here a Fortress to keep some Mines of Gold and Silver which are in the neighbouring Mountains It s Mountains west inhabited The Mountains of Aidvacall or Idevacall near Cape de Guer of Demensera near the Province of Guzula and Gebel el Haden near the Tensit take up a part of the Province and are so well inhabited that the last can set forth 12000 fighting Men the first 20000 and the other 25000. Provinces of Hascora and Teldes and their chief places North of the Province of Morocco are those of Hascora and Teldes separated the one from the other by the River Quadel Habid Tefza is the chief City of Teldes and near the River Derna which falls into the Ommiraby a rich City built by the old African Moors and beautified with many Mahometan Mosques and its Walls were made of a kind of Marble 2. Elmadine is the chief City of Hascora It s People peopled with about 10000 Families scituate in a pleasant Valley and begirt with Hills it is well built its Inhabitants are civil ingenious and addict themselves to Arts Traffick and Manufactures the Women are fair as in 3. Tagodaft which is on a Mountain whose Foot is washed with many little Streams which water their Gardens 4. Elgiumuha towards the South built by the People and in a like scituation with Tagodaft And 5. Bzo likewise a City of some Trade Between the Mountains Teldes hath more than 50 walled Towns built near the streams of the River Darha These Provinces are fertil having rich Fields feed a great quantity of Goats of whose Skins are made the
Cordovants and of their Hair plain and watered Chamlets also store of Cattle Grains excellent Fruit amongst others their Grapes as big as Pullets-eggs they have plenty of Fowl The fertility Commodities and their Rivers breed store of Fish Province of Ducala Ducala the most Northern part of Morocco and possesses that which is between the River Tensift and Ommiraby a Land fruitful for Grains It s best Cities are 1. Azamor where the Ommiraby enlarges and forms a Gulph to disburthen it self into the Sea which before the Portugals became masters of it had above 5000 Houses It sell again into the hands of the Moors and entirely restored having a strong Garrison 2. Elmadine towards the Sea and in a fair Plain hath been esteemed the Capital of the Country 3. Magrizena-Sanut which they have fortified and on the same Coast have dismantled Tite the easier to fetch in Tribute thence and from the Neighboring places 4. Asafi or Satfy not far from Tensift is strong and hath a good Trade where the French hath a Consul Kingdom of Morocco The Kingdom of Morocco hath suffered great changes within these few Centuries of years having been often united and as often separated from that of Fez. And sometimes likewise its South parts Sus and Gurula have made a Kingdom apart It s principal Ports are those of Messa Azafi It s chief Ports Promontories and Rivers Mazagan and Azamor Its Promontories those of Guer Ocem Cantin and Carvos Its Rivers the Sus which waters its Southern parts Tensift which divides the Estate in 2 equal parts and Ommiraby which separates it from the Kingdom of Fez. It s Air Fertility and Commodities The Air of the Plains and Fields of Morocco is much hotter then in Europe that of the Mountains according to their height is more or less cold In general this Kingdom is provided with all things necessary for mans life they have Grains and Pulse in abundance as also Fruits which are excellent especially their Grapes They have likewise Flax Hemp Honey Wax Sugar Gold Silver Iron Copper Marble Cordovants Amber Chamlets and many good Manufactures The Kingdom of FEZ Kingdom of Fez. THe Kingdom of FEZ lies between that of Morocco and the Mediterranean and between the Ocean and the Kingdom of Telensin or Argiers Its Provinces are Temesne Fez and Azgar on the Ocean Its Provinces Habat on the Streight Errife and Garret on the Mediterranean Sea and Chaus all up in the Land Province of Temesne Temesne extends its self from Mount Atlas unto the Ocean hath formerly been so flourishing that it numbred 40 Great Cities more then 100 middle sized and 300 little ones besides an infinite number of Villages Besides the Intestine Wars of the Country the Portugals have divers times level'd and ruined the fairest Cities of the Coast as Anfa and Al-Mansor in 1468. and afterwards Rabatt likewise suffered their Incursions and Plunders Rabatt and its Fortress are on a Rising ground between the River of Buragrag and the Seâ— King Mansor caused it to be built after the Modell of Morocco but much less and made it one of the most considerable places of all Barbary erecting many Palaces Temples Hospitals Colledges Baines Shops c. and without the South Gate a Tower as high as that of Morocco it was very populous and of a good Trade And because the Waters round about were salt he made an Aquaeduct as beautiful as those about Rome But at present these fair Edifices are almost ruined it being possessed with not above 500 families and much souldiery because of the Neighbourhood of the Portugals most of the ground within the Walls being turned into Gardens Vineyards and Meadows Anfa on the Coast and in a delightful Plain hath been one of the most famous Cities of Africa for its Trade with the English and Portugals but its being addicted to Pyracy was the cause of its ruine as of that of Al-mansor on the River Guir Within the Land Muchaila on the Guir and in the Road from Morocco to Rabat hath been rich well built with a great Territory and fruitful in Grain It was ruined by the Kings of Morocco and is not known at present but for the Tomb of one of their Morabuts whom they esteem a Saint and where the Country people lay in pledg their Ploughs and Instruments of labour which no persons dare touch They have another Morabut near Thagia whom they believe to work Miracles and to preserve them when they are met by Lions a place much frequented by those of Fez as being the Sepulcher of one of their Prophets to which they go in exceeding great numbers in Pilgrimage Adendum towards the Sea well walled and fenced on one side by a Lake or Pool Tegeget above the Ommiraby hath store of Grains where the Arabs have a Toll once of great note The Ornament of this Province and of the whole Kingdom nay we may say of all Barbary is Fez which the Mahometans call the Court of the West It is 100 Thousand paces from the Ocean and as much from the Mediterranean It s form is a long square of which the middle is in a Plain the two ends on Hills and without several Suburbs some of 500 some 1000 and others of 2000 Houses This City bears the name of Fez from the abundance of Gold which was found in the digging the Foundation thereof It hath 12 principal Quarters or Regions 62 great places for Trade and much frequented by Merchants of divers Nations who are allowed a publick meeting place for their Commerce and lodging for their residence and also Store-Houses for their Commodities this place may rather be called a Court than an Exchange it being inclosed within a strong Wall in which are 15 fair Streets for several Nations to meet and reside for the better negotiating of their affairs to this inclosure there are 12 Gates which every night are shut up and kept guarded at the Cities charge for the security of their Goods and Persons Its Houses are well built hath abundance of Temples amongst which about 50 are well built and beautiful The greatest and most sumptuous of all is seated in the heart of the City containing about a Mile in Circuit hath 31 great high Gates and round about are several Porches containing 40 yards in length and 30 in breadth under which are the publick Store-houses of the City The Tower is sustained by 35 Arches in length and by 20 in breadth All the Temple hath 900 and almost all these pieces enriced with Marble It s Revenue is 200 Duckats a day others say 400 which are either 75 or 150 thousand Duckats yearly Within and without the City there are above 200 Hospitals of which 25 are for the sick people of the Country among which one can daily provide for 2000 Persons others are for strangers but their Revenues are much squandred and they give nothing but the Bed and Coverlet but in some
petty Kingdoms and all subject to their Concho or Emperour among which that of Bena hath seven others under it It s quarter is Mountainous covered with Trees and well watered with Rivers It hath some Towns its chief takes its name from the Kingdom and yields Corn Cattle Fruits c. Kingdom of Mandingue MANDINGVE begins at the River Gambea and reaches near 200 Leagues up in the Land They have quantity of Gold good Ships of War and Cavalry and there are divers Kings or Lords in Guiny which are his Tributaries Kingdom of Gago GAGO hath store of Gold Corn Rice Fruits and Cottle but no Salt besides what is brought from other places and which is ordinarily as dear as Gold The People are idle and ignorant but bear so great a respect to their King that how great soever they be they speak to him on their knees and when they are faulty the King seises on their Goods and sells their Wives and Children to Strangers who remain Slaves all their lives But besides these there is here as well as in other parts of the Negroes great Traffick for Slaves either of certain Neighbouring people which those of the Country can take or of the Malefactors of the Country or of the Children whom the Fathers or Mothers sell when they are in need or when they please them not And these Slaves are bought by many people of Africa but more by the Europeans who transport them into the Isles of St. Thomas Cape Verd the Canaries Brasil and the English to the Barbadoes Carolina Jamaica and elsewhere for Slaves They have many Towns and Villages among others that of Gago is the chief and is the residence of their King as also of many Merchants and containing about 4 or 5000 Houses but unwalled Kingdom of Guber GVBER is well fenced with Mountains doth produce Rice and Pulse and above all have exceeding great flocks of Cattle from which they get their livelyhood This Kingdom is very populous and well stored with Towns its chief bearing the name of the Kingdom which is well inhabited by Merchants and containing about 6000 Houses being also the residence of their King The People are ingenious good Artificers and make several rich Manufactures And the Kingdoms of Zegzeg and Zanfara ZEGZEG and ZANFARA are barren the People idle and ignorant have some Towns whose chief are so called the Land yields Corn Grass c. and feeds great quantities of Horses The fertility of the Land of the Negroes The Country of the Negroes is esteemed as fertil as those watered with the Nile It bears twice a year and each time sufficient to furnish them with Corn for five whole years which makes them not sow their Lands but when they judge they shall have need They keep their Corn in Pits and Ditches under Ground which they call Matamores GVINEA or GVINY The Coast of Guiny its extent and bounds GVINY is the Coast of Africa which is found between the River Niger and the Equinoctial Line Some give it a larger extent some a less There are they who begin it on this side the Niger and continue it unto the Kingdom of Congo We have comprehended in the Country of the Negroes that which is about the Niger and in the Lower Aethiopia that which is beyond the Gulph of St. Thomas And so Guiny will remain between the Cape of Serre Leon which will bound it on the West and against the Negroes to the River of Camarones which is on the East will separate it from the Lower Aethiopia This Coast right from East to West is 7 or 800 Leagues long and not above 100 or 150 in breadth The form being much more long than broad we will divide it into three principal parts which we will call MELEGVETE Its parts described GVINY and BENIM This the most Eastward the first the most West and the other in the middle yet each of these three parts separated make the breadth and the three together the length of this Guiny After this Guiny we will speak something of what is on this side towards the Niger and of some Isles which are beyond The Parts of Meleguete and Guiny as St. Thomas c. Under the name of MELEGVETE we comprehend that which is between the Capes of Serre Leon and of Palmes Under the particular name of GVINY we esteem not only that which is between the Capes of Palmes and of Three Points but likewise that which advances to the River Volta and beyond where the Kingdom of Benim begins and ends not till the River Camerones Of these 3 parts Guiny is the largest and best known communicating its name to the rest It s Coast which is between the Capes of Palmes and that of Three Points is called the Coast of Ivory that which is beyond the Cape of Three Points the Coast of Gold for the abundance of Gold and Ivory found in the one and the other The Ivory and Gold Coasts and their Trade The Coast of IVORY is very commodious and well inhabited The English French Hollanders and Hanse-Towns trade likewise in divers Ports on the same Coast fetching thence Gold Ivory Hides Wax Amber-greece c. On the Gold Coast are divers Kingdoms or Realms as of SABOV FOETV ACCARA and others The Kingdom of SABOV is esteemed the most powerful of all and that his Estates extend sixty and odd Leagues on the Coast and near 200 up in the Land In 1482 the Portugals built on the Coast of FOETV the Fort of St. George de la Mina and long time after the Hollanders that of Nassau adjoyning to the Town of Moure on the Coast of Sabou the one and the other to maintain their Traffick It s other places and which are within Land are Labore Vxoo and Quinimburm The Part of Meleguete MELEGVETE took its name from the abundance of Meleguete here gathered of divers sorts It is a Spice in form like French Wheat some of a taste as strong and biting as Pepper from which the Portugals receive great gain but the English French and Hollanders bring it The Portugals call it Pimienta-del-Rabo the Italians Pepe della Coda Tail Pepper that is Long Pepper Of their Palm Trees they make Wine as strong as the best of ours They have likewise Gold Ivory Cotton c. It s chief place is Bugos on the Cape of Sierre Leonne The Kingdom of Benim with its Inhabitants described The Kingdom of BENIM hath more than 250 Leagues of the Coast Cape Formoso dividing it into two parts That which is on the West forms a Gulph into the middle of which the River Benim disburthens it self and more to the West that of Lagoa That which is on the East extends it self on a right line where the Rio Real de Calabari and the Rio del Rey disburthen themselves near to that of Camarones which ends the Estate towards the East This last part is more healthful than
our Coast into the other Continent It may likewise be believed that others have passed from the other Coast that is to say from Asia Whence it comes that some believe that the Inhabitants of Peru and Mexico descend rather from the Chinois and Japanois than from the Europeans or Africans But this subject will be too tedious to handle let us therefore content our selves to speak a word or two of this America in general before we descend to particulars AMERICA considered in its whole Body is part on this side and part beyond the Equator It stretches it self to near 54 degrees beyond and extends it self to 80 or more on this side which are more than 130 degrees of Latitude our Continent not having much more than 100 But the breadth of America is very unequal this Continent being composed of two great Peninsula's almost divided the one from the other by the Equator its breadth here is not in some places of above 30 40 or 50 Leagues The bigness of America though in other places 1000 or 1200 and possibly much more in America Septentrionalis if the Land of Jesso be contiguous to it The scituation and Land of Jesso This Land of JESSO or YEDSO is between America and Asia and we know not yet whether it joyn upon Asia or America or make a Piece apart if it be divided both from the one and the other and that New Denmark and Greenland are upon it as there is much reason to believe it makes a Piece not less than the three parts of our Continent or of the two of the other but possibly it makes a third part of the other Continent Let us proceed to the two parts of America as they are esteemed and known at present AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALIS AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALIS is that part of America which is not only the most Northern of the two America's but likewise doth all lie between the Equator and the North The length and breadth of America Septentrionalis it extends it self from the 8th or 10th degree of Latitude even beyond the Artick Circle and if we comprehend the Artick Lands with America it advances at least to the 88th degree of Latitude which are 70 degrees for its height from South to North. Its length from West to East possesses near all the degrees of Longitude of the other Hemisphere to wit from about the 180th where ours end even beyond the 300th which is the end of the other The Mer del Nort is on the East of it the Mer del Sud on its West towards the North its bounds are unknown there being Land found even beyond the 80th degree of Latitude Its bounds with appearance that they extend yet farther towards the Pole so that we cannot judge to what degree or whether it be contiguous to New Denmark and Greenland or whether it be in Islands and on the South it makes America Meridionalis We will divide this America Septentrionalis into Canadiana and Mexicana Under the name of Canadiana is understood that part of America which is about Canada where the English French Hollanders Danes and Swedes have divers Colonies And under the name of Mexicana It s division according to Mons Sanson that part of America which the King of Spain doth almost alone possess and where he hath established abundance of Colonies subdividing Canadiana into the Artick Lands and Canada or New France and Mexicana into New Mexico and Mexico or New Spain Of these four parts Mexico or New Spain is the most advanced towards the Equator and the South the Artick Lands towards the North It s scituation the other two parts rest in the middle Canada or New France towards the East and New Mexico towards the West The first is under and about the Tropick of Cancer the second under or about the Polar Circle the two others lie from 25 or 30 unto 60 degrees of Latitude so that the first is within or very near the Torrid Zone the second within or near the Frozen Zone and the two in the middle quite in the Temperate Zone The first and most Southernly ought to be called Mexico or New Spain Mexico because Mexico is by much the fairest City and the Dominion of the ancient Kings of Mexico extended over the best part of it New Spain because the King of Spain possesses near all of it having established a great many Colonies a Vice-Roy divers Archbishops Bishops Audiences and Governments the Natives of the Country that are left being almost all Tributaries to him The second may be called the Arctick Lands because it approaches the Arctick Pole Arctick Lands and is for the most part comprehended within the Arctick Circle these are but little known We understand well that they are divided by some Streights and that it apparently consists in many and divers Isles which hath been the cause a Passage hath been sought to go this way to China and the East-Indies The Natives do here enjoy a full and entire liberty the People of Europe not thinking it worth their pains to establish Colonies Of the two middle parts the most Easternly and nearest to Europe ought to be esteemed under the general name of Canada or New France Canada or New France of Canada because in that particular Region the Europeans first Landed of New France because the French did first establish themselves here before any other Europeans The most Western and farthest from Europe may in general be called New Mexico because the Spaniards of Mexico or New Spain discovered it not till after they had been sometime settled in this other Of these four parts of America Septentrionalis to wit Mexico or New Spain New Mexico Canada or New France and America Arctica New Spain is washed by Mer del Nort and Mer del Sud America Arctica likewise by both Seas New France only by Mer del Nort and New Mexico only by Mer del Sud These four great parts are subdivided into many less which we call Regions Peoples Provinces c. We will observe the chief of them the most clearly and succinctly as possibly we can but because New Spain touches on America Meridionalis we will begin our America Septentrionalis by the Arctick and New France so proceeding to the one and the other Mexico that we may pass in order to the parts bordering on America Meridionalis And likewise because the Arctick Lands of America are very little known and that we cannot judge to make a particular discourse of them we will content our selves to speak something here before we pass to the other parts That part of America which is comprised for the most part between the Arctick Pole and Circle or which at most descends unto the 60th or 55th degree of Latitude is named according to our method America Arctica In all this part we know only some Coasts and Gulphs of that which is most towards Europe There we have the Isles of Iseland and
Avila so called in reference to Rimerez de Avila and 4. Sevilla del Oro all Colonies of Spaiards The Country is Mountainous rude and unfertil yet produceth a Cinnamon-Tree which pruned the tree bark and leaves are Cinnamon but the Fruit is by much the best and most perfect The Province of Paramoros PAZAMOROS South of de la Canella hath three Cities or Colonies of Spaniards viz. 1. St. Juan de las Salinas or Valladolid 2. Loyola or Cambinama And 3. St. Jago de las Montannas The Air of the Country is said to be healthful the soil indifferent fruitful and feeds many Cattle and also abounds in Mines of Gold Los Quixos and Pazamoras depend as to their Spiritual Government on the Bishop of Quito The Audience of Lima. The Audience of LIMA is at present most famous of all by reason of the Cities of Lima and Cusco this having been formerly the Metropolis of the Empire of the Ynca's and the other being the present Residence of the Vice-Roy of Peru and this Audience comprehends the true Peru the chief depending Cities besides Lima and Cusco are 1. Arnedo seated in a Valley among Vineyards 2. La Santa or la Parsilla seated in a Valley nigh to which are rich Mines of Silver 3. Truxillo scituate on the Bank of a small but pleasant River about two Leagues from the Sea where it hath a large but unsafe Haven and in a pleasant Valley the Town indifferently well built and large and beautified with four Convents of several Orders 4. Miraflores about 5 Leagues from the Sea in the valley of Zanu of some note for the abundance of Sugar Ganes that grow there 5. Cachapoyas or St. Juan de la Frontiera of good account in former times for furnishing the Kings of Peru with handsom women 6. Leon du Guanuco rich and pleasantly seated and beautified with some Religious Houses a Colledge of Jesuits and in former time with a stately Palace of the Kings 7. Areguipa scituate at the foot of a flaming Mountain in the valley of Quilca made happy by a flourishing soil and temperate air 8 Valverde seated in a valley of the same name which yields plenty of Vines from which they make good Wine the Town is indifferent large being Inhabited by about 500 Spaniards besides Natives and beautified with a fair Church The City Lima pleasantly seated an Hospital and three Fryeries The City of Lima is two Leagues long and one broad seated in a pleasant valley being begirt with sweet Fields and delightful Gardens below which is its Port Collao The Houses in this City are well built Its Houses Streets c. its streets large and so ordered that most of the chief take their rise from the Market-place It is said to consist of 10000 ordinary Families besides Passengers and those that come hither for trade which are many by reason the riches of Peru that yearly pass through this City to go to Spain which hath not a little encreased its wealth The City encloses several fair Edifices and Churches Hath many stately Edifices among which these following may not be forgotten viz. The Palaces of the Vice-Roy and Archbishop then the Cathedral Church built after the Model of that of Sevil in Spain and endowed with an Annual Revenue of 30000 Ducats also the Courts of Judicature the Colledges and Monasteries also it s four Hospitals to wit one for the Clergy another for the Spaniards a third for the Indians and the fourth for the Widdows The air about this City is healthful temperate alwaies serene and the soil the most fertil of all Peru. The City of Cusco with its several magnificent Places and other Buildings Among the other Cities Cusco is the chief among those of the Provinces of the Hill-Countries and the Andes being by much the most famous having been the Residence of the Ynca's or Peruvian Kings who for the more beautifying this City ordered all their Nobility to build each of them a Palace for their Residence at present it is of the greatest account in all this Country as well for its beauty and greatness as for its populousness being said to be the habitation of about 3000 Spaniards and 10000 Natives besides Women and Children Besides these Palaces It is adorned with a Cathedral and 8 Parish Churches four Convents of Religious Orders a Colledge of Jesuits a stately Temple dedicated to the Sun also several Baths about the City and abundance of very fair Houses in the fields It s scituation is betwixt two pleasant and useful Rivers and begirt with Mountains It s Fertility The Country for the most part is fruitful they have good pastures which are well stocked with Cattle they gather abundance of Coca have excellent Venison and the Country generally well furnished with Rivers in which they take good Fish Hath Mines of Gold and Silver It yields many Mines of Gold and Silver about Cusco and particularly of Gold at St. Juan del oro at Oropesa Vermillion and Quicksilver between Arnedo and Port de Guajara and likewise at Barranca are rich salt pits The Inhabitants of Guanuco and of Chachapoyas are the most civilized of Peru. There are yet every where a great number of these Indians there being esteemed under the jurisdiction of Truxillo 50000 Tributaries 30000 in that of Guanuco as many in Guamanga 50000 in that of Arequipa and 100000 in the jurisdiction of Cusco c. There are likewise others who yield no obedience to the Spaniards among which are the Manatiens not far from Cusco who maintain themselves in their Mountains who often butcher and eat those Spaniards they can entrap The Province de la Plata with its Cities described The Province DE LA PLATA or de los Chaecas is South of Peru and under the Tropick of Capricorn It is divided into two or three other lesser parts to wit de los Charcas de la Sierra and of Tucuman This last is quite beyond the Tropick and we will describe it with Paraguay or Rio de la Plata with which it shall best agree The two others are for the most part on this side that Tropick The chief City is de la Plata that is of Silver and this City gives sometimes its name to the Province is the Residence of an Archbishop dignified with the seat of the Governour the Courts of Judicature and beautified with a fair Cathedral besides several Religious Houses The City is seated in a pleasant and fruitful soil Its Houses well built and so large that within its walls are the habitations of 800 natural Spaniards beside 60000 Natives Tributaries under its Jurisdiction Its Mines by reason of the incommodities of the waters were abandoned so soon as those of Potossi were discovered which since this discovery from a small Village is now become a very considerable and large Town of two Leagues Circuit being Inhabited by about 40 or 50000 Spaniards besides about 30000
Plata hath been given by the Spaniards and signifieth Silver because the first that came to them from Peru came down this River Chaco described with its several Inhabitants CHACO hath its soil fat fruitful and enterlaced with many Rivers It is inhabited by divers Nations whose Idioms are very different The Tobares have about fifty thousand souls The Mathaguaici's thirty thousand but not so valiant as the Chiriguanes a Nation much esteemed and which will not suffer the Spaniards to inhabit amongst them they are in continual War with the Mathaguaici's making Slaves of as many as they can catch which made these call the Spaniards to their aid The Moconios and Zipatalagars have no sewer people then the Tobares and all so valiant in War that the Chiriguanes dare not assault them There is likewise another Nation whose Language as they say scarce yields to the Latine but the beauty of the Orechons is in the greatness of their Ears The most part of these people are well-made very tall most of them being about six foot high they are of an airy and lively spirit Tucuman bounded and described TVCVMAN is very large being no less then three hundred Leagues long and broad yet it touches not the Sea on any side la Plata bounds it on the East Chili on the West Peru and Chaco on the North and the Magellanick Land on the South The Air and Soil should be excellent this Country disingaging it self from the Torrid Zone and advancing towards the middle of the Temperate Zone and almost all the Rivers having their courses towards the East which brings some refreshment And moreover they have but two seasons in the year each of six months the Summer from about the twentieth of March unto the twentieth of September and the Winter from September to March The Tucumans famous Among the People of these quarters the Tucumans are the most famous since they have given their name to the Province then the Zuries Diaguites c. The Castilians have established here divers Colonies that the Province de la Plata might have communication with those of Peru and Chili St. Jago del Estero St. Jago del Estero formerly Varco is in the mid-way between Buenos Ayres and ' Potossi two hundred and fifty Leagues from this and little less from the other This place is honoured with the seat of the Governour of the Province as also with a Bishops See and divers other Officers of the King The Land is furnished with Wool Its Commodities Cotton Wood with which they make and dye their Manufactures Cocheneile c. which they carry to the nearest Capitanies of Brazibe making great profit by them Several places of note in the way to Peru described with their Commodities fertility of the Country After St. Jago del Estero there is likewise on the way to Peru 1. St. Michael de Tucuman seated at the foot of a rocky Mountain but near a fertile Soil both for Corn and Pasturage 2. Nuestra Sennora de Talavera scituate on the River Salado in a fruitful Soil abounding plentifully in Cotton of which the Inhabitants make several Manufactures in which they are so industrious that they have gained by their Trade to the Mines of Potossi a hundred and forty Leagues distant and other places great riches 3. Las Juntas 4. St. Salvador 5. Salta 6. Corduba on another side and there where two great Waies meet the one of Buenos Ayres to Potossi by St. Jago del Estero and the other of Sancto be and Spiritu Sancto to St. Jago del Estremadura in Chili by St. Luyz which makes this place of some consideration Besides that the Air is temperate and the Soil fruitful and pleasant and which yields Grains and Fruits it is well watred with fresh streams in which are good Fish In their Woods they have Fowls much Venison and other Beasts they have Wine Salt and in their Mountains appearance of some Mines of Silver The Colony is of three hundred others say six hundred Spaniards Their principal trade is on Peru and Chili side The Natives are much civilized both in habit and manners imitating the Spaniards from whom they are willing to receive instructions Its Inhabitants The provinces of Parana Guayr Vraig The Provinces of PARANA GVAYR and VRAIG pass under the name of Paraguay in the relations which the Fathers Jesuits give It says that these Fathers having long observed that there was an innumerable company of Souls which might be converted to Christianity they cast themselves among these Barbarians learned their tongue drew them from the Woods Mountains and hidden Caves assembled them in divers habitation and by this means lead them to a sociable life taught them first Tillage and the most necessary Arts and Manufactures then to read and write to musick singing and dancing but above all instructed them in the Christian Religion and Piety Several good orders observed by them These Habitations are composed of near a thousand Families and each Family besides the Father Mother and the Children receive often some aged person not able to work or some Orphan So soon as a Habitation is established the Fathers introduce the Government they are to follow give them Magistrates and Officers chosen among the most capable of their Body declare to them the polity and rules they are to observe take care that the fields assigned to each family be tilled and sowed in due time that their flocks be well kept and if there happen any contest among them what the Fathers ordain stands as a sentence without revocation Of these Habitations Parana hath six St. Ignatius on the River of Tibiquari Itapoa or the Incarnation and the Holy Sacrament on the River of Parana N. D. de Yguazu on that of Iguazu Acaraig or la Nativita de N. D. likewise on the Parana The Air in all these Habitations is good the Soil fertile they have too much Wood little Pasturage and near Yguazu little Fish by reason of the Cataract The province of Guayr with its Colonies Habitations described The Province of Guayr is under the Tropick of Capricorn advancing it self unto Brazile There hath been here for a good continuance of time two or three Colonies of Castilians Cividad Real or Ontiveros and sometimes Guayr after the name of the Province Villarica and St. Paul which some esteem in Brazile The habitations for those of the Country are Nuestra Sennora de Loretto and St. Ignatius on the Parana St. Francis Xavier L Incarnation and St. Joseph on the Tibagiva the seven Arch-Angels and St. Paul in the Land of great Tajoba towards Brazile The River Parana Below Cividad Real there where is the separation of the two Provinces of Parama and Guayr the River Parana makes a Cataract as remarkable as any in the World This River precipitating it self from a very high Rock finds it self likewise engaged among very high Rocks for the space of
These are the three sorts of Properties to be declared in Special Geography although those Terrestrial properties which make up the third rank are not so rightly referr'd to Geography But we must yield somewhat to Custom and the Profit of Learners We will besides these joyn many Chapters to Particular Geography concerning the practice of Geography But in General Geography which we will unfold in this Book first the absolute properties of the Earth and its constitution are considered Lastly in the Comparative part those things shall be proposed which are offered unto us in the comparing one place with another The Principles of Geography The Principles which Geography useth for the confirming the truth of her Propositions are threefold 1. Geometrical Arithmetical and Trigonometrical Propositions 2. Astronomical Precepts and Theorems although it may seem like a miracle for the knowledge of the Earth in which we dwell to use the Celestial Bodies which are so many thousand miles remote from us 3. Experience for indeed the greatest part of Geography especially that which is Particular is upheld by the only Experience and Observation of men who have described every Country The Order of Geography Concerning the Order which I esteem sitting to observe in this Art of Geography it hath been already spoken in the Division and Explication of the properties thereof yet here meets us a certain difficulty concerning the Order to be observed in the explication of these Properties Forsooth whether to all Countries their own Properties are to be attributed or whether the Countries themselves are to be ascribed to the Properties generally explicated Aristotle in the first Book of the History of Living Creatures as also in his first Book of the Parts of Living Creatures moveth the like doubt and disputes it at large whether according to the single â—orts of Living Creatures their Properties are singly to be reckoned up or else whether these Properties are generally to be declared and the Living Creatures in which the may be found are then to be subjoyned The like difficulty occurs also in other parts of Philosophy We in General Geography have generally unfolded some Properties which in Special Geography we will apply to the application of single Countries The Method of Geography As touching the method and manner of proving the truth of Geographical Tenents very many are proved in general Geography by Demonstrations properly so called especially Celestial Properties but in special Geography the Celestial Properties only excepted which may be demonstrated are in a manner declared without demonstration because experience and observation doth confirm them neither can they be proved by any other means Also very many Propositions are proved or rather demonstrated by the Terrestrial Artificial Globe and also by Geographical Maps and some of these Propositions which are thus explained upon the Globe c. may be confirmed by lawful demonstrations Again some Propositions can in no wise be so proved but are therefore received because we suppose that all places in the Globe and Maps are so disposed even as they lie on the Earth Yet in these things we will rather follow the Descriptions made by Authors of Geography The Globe and Maps serve for the clearing and more easie comprehension thereof The Original of Geography The Original of Geography is not New nor brought into the World at one birth neither came she to us from one Man but her Principles and Foundations were laid long ago yea many Ages since although ancient Geographers were employed only in describing Countries which is the part of Chorography and Topography The Romans were accustomed when any Country by them was subdued to shew in their Triumph the Chorography thereof lively pencilled and drawn on a Table and flourished with Pictures to the Beholders There were besides at Rome in Lucullus his Porch many Tables of Geography exposed to the view of all men The Senate of Rome about an hundred years before Christs Birth sent Surveyors and Geographers into divers parts of the World that they might measure out the Earth but they came far short thereof Neco King of the Egyptians many Ages before the Birth of Christ commanded that the whole outer-side of Africa should be discovered by the Phoenicians in three years space King Darius commanded that the Mouths of the River Indus and the Ethiopian Eastern-Sea should be searched out Alexander the Great in his Voyage to Asia took with him Diognetus and Beton as Pliny noteth two Surveyors and Describers of his Journies out of whose Annotations and Journals Geographers of succeeding Ages took many things Ancient Geography very imperfect But the Geography of the Ancients was very lame and imperfect for first they knew not America in the least 2. The Northern-Lands 3. The South-land and Magellan were utterly unknown to them 4. They knew not whether the Earth might be sailed about or the Main Ocean with a continual trace did encompass it but yet I deny not but that some of the Ancients were of that opinion yet I utterly deny they knew it certainly 5. They knew not whether the Torrid Zone were habitable 6. They were ignorant of the true dimensions of the Earth although they wrote many things in this business The Excellency of Geography First the study of Geography is commended to us by the great worthiness thereof because it most of all becometh Man being an Inhabitant of the Earth and endued with Reason above all Living Creatures Secondly It is also a pleasant thing and indeed an honest recreation to contemplate the Kingdoms and Properties of the Earth Thirdly The commodity and necessity of it is notable insomuch as neither Divines Physitians Lawyers Historians nor other Professors can want the knowledge thereof But the Excellency of Geography hath been sufficiently handled I place hereunder a Table which openeth the order in Special Geography to the observing the Explication of single Countries Special Geography considereth in every Region Ten Terrestrial 1. Limits and circumscription 2. Longitude of place and scituation 3. Figure 4. Magnitude 5. Mountains The Appellation Scituation and Altitude Their properties and things contained in them 6. Mines 7. Woods and Deserts 8. Waters The Sea Lakes Marshes Rivers Their Springs Inlets Tracts and Latitude The quantity of Water the celerity the quantity the Cataracts 9. Fertility Sterility and Fruits 10. The Animals Eight Celestial 1. The distance of place from the Aequator and Pole 2. The obliquity of Motion above the Horizon 3. The Quantity of Dayes 4. The Clime and Zone 5. The Heat the Seasons of the Year the Winds Rain and other Meteors 6. The rising and stay of the Stars above the Horizon 7. The Stars passing through the Vertex of the place 8. The celerity or quantity of their Motion according to the Hypothesis of Copernicus Ten Human Things 1. The Stature Life Meat and Drink and the Original of the Inhabitants 2. The Income Arts Merchandize or Traffick 3. Vertues and Vices the Genius and Erudition 4.
A Peninsula A Peninsula or Chersonese that is such a Tract of Land that is almost encompassed by the Sea except at one only narrow place where with a strait neck of Land called an Isthmus it is knit to the Main Land An Isthmus An Isthmus is that narrow or strait neck of Land that couples and joyns the Peninsula to the Continent or Main-land and that by which we pass out of one broad Land into another The Peninsula's Chersonesusses or Chersoneses that is running out Lands are these following to wit 1. Italy 2. Spain 3. Part of England Of Lands which are or may be termd Peninsula's 4. All Greece and Macedonia 5. Norway and Swedeland with Lapland 6. Asia minor 7. India 8. Camboia 9. New Guiney of the South-land 10. Beach a Country of the same Land 11. Part of Virginia and New-England 12. The Tongue of Africa c. Proposition X. Other Lands termed Peninsula's The Chersoneses of the Ancients We will number up further fourteen Peninsula's or Chersoneses and these we will divide into longish ones and somewhat round ones The longish ones are first the Golden Chersonese of the Ancients now called the Malaccan Chersonese and joyns to the Indies 2. The Cymbrick Chersonese now called Jutland adjoyning to Holsatia 3. California on the Western side of North America near the Sea Vermejo But late Observations report it to be an Island 4. New France on the Eastern side of North America 5. The Jucatan Chersonese in the Bay of Mexico 6. The Thracian Chersonese on the Hellespont 7. The Cassandrian Chersonese by the Bay of Thessalonica in the Grecian Sea There are also certain Peninsula's less celebrious of the lesser Asia to wit Ionia or the Smyrnensian Peninsule 2. The Cnidensian or the Countrey of Doris and 3. The Mindensian Peninsula's Concerning Corea it is doubtful whether it be a compleat Island or a Peninsula Some Maps joyn it to Tartary some again begirt it round with the Sea yet notwithstanding the latest Observations make it a Peninsule The somewhat round Peninsula's are 1. Africa her self a huge part of the Old World is such an one it is environed with the Mediterranean Sea the Atlantick Ocean the Aethiopick Indian and Red-sea It sticketh fast to Asia by a narrow Tract of Land at Egypt 2. Three parts of America to wit Mexican and Peru stick fast together at Panama by a narrow passage of the Earth 3. Peloponnesus now called the Morea being part of Greece 4. Taurick Chersonese or Peninsula in the Euxine Sea and the mouth of the Fen Maeotis now called the Precopensian Tartary 5. Cambaia in India Proposition XI Of the chief Peninsula's We reckon as many Isthmusses as Peninsula's the more famous are five in number 1. The Isthmus between Egypt and Asia whereby Africa joyneth to Asia 2. The Corinthian Isthmus between Peloponnesus and Greece 3. The Panamensian Isthmus between Mexico America and Peruvia 4. The Isthmus between the Chersonesus Aurea or Golden Chersonesus and the Indies 5. The Isthmus of the Taurick Chersonese CHAP. IX Of Mountains and Hills in General Of Mountains and Hills TOuching Mountains very many things worthy to be known in Geography will here occur and meet us partly because they seem to hinder the roundness of the Earth and partly because divers things amongst renowned Authors are here delivered concerning them Proposition I. But a Mountain or Hill is said to be a part of the Earth rising aloft which if it be lesser is called a Hillock or Clift Of Promontories and Rocks Also a Promontory is said to be a Hill or Mountain running out at length into the Sea Rocks are called parts jutting or appearing forth in the Sea or also arising up out of huge stony Bulks or Bodies But it must be generally known that the parts of the Earth which appear plain are not all of the same height but some are sunk lower especially at or near the Sea shores insomuch as the height encreaseth from Maritine places or such as abutt upon the Sea even to the Inland Regions This also is proved by the Fountains and flowing Streams of Rivers For seeing that that part of the Earth to which the water floweth is lower than that from which it floweth and that the Fountain-heads and Springs of Rivers are seldom in the Inland places and such as are far remote from the Sea It is clearly manifest thereby that the Inland places are more elevated than those adjoyning to the Sea Coasts Inland places higher than those near the Sea-coasts So Bohemia is higher then Holsatia which is perceived by the streaming course of the River Elbe which floweth from Bohemia to Holsatia In like manner we take apparent Signs and Arguments of the greater height of Inland places from the Rivers Danubius Visurgis Rhene Mosa c. The Swishers and Rhetians Countries are judged by some men to be the highest of all Europe because the Rivers Rhene Roan and the greater Danou do flow and stream down from thence Moreover look how great the declivity or bearing downwards of the Rivers are so great is the height of the Inland places above the Maritine places Proposition II. To finde out the height of a Mountain by Geodesie or Land-measuring commonly called Surveying This is performed in the same manner which we use in the searching out the height of Towers if so be the top of the Mountain or Hill is remarkable by some peculiar sign For the finding out the height of a Mountain by Geodesie Let A B be the Mountains height A the foot B the conspicuous head thereof We will take the line F C by a mean distance from it so that neither of the Angles A F C A C F may be made very acute but may in a manner be equal Then let the Angles A F C A C F be observed by a collimation or levelling with winking be made to B and these being subtracted to 180 degrees the remaining degrees shall shew forth the Angle C A F. After that the distance of the stations of F C is exquisitely to be measured See Scheme and let it be wrought As the sign of the Angle F A C to the sign of the Angle C F A or F C A if you would take F A so F C to A C the distance of the Mountain from C. Then the Instrument being hanged up or placed upright in C and levelling with the Eye to B let the Angle B C A be taken And because the Triangle C A B is strait angled to wit the Angle B A C is strait therefore also the Angle A B C of 90 degrees shall be given Let it therefore be wrought by the Triangle BAC As the whole sign 10000000 to the Tangent of the Angle B C A so the distance A C to the perpendicular height of the Mountain A B. The height of the Mountain Olympus measured by Xenagoras For Example Let us put it that
above Dalmatia the Dalmation Hills and they are stretched out through Macedonia to Thrace and Pontus But because there cometh in a little space between the Julian and Dalmatian Hills therefore some men determine and make the end of the Alpes to be in the Julian Mountains It sendeth out one Arm with continual chains and yokes of Hills and with a winding course like a crescent passing through all Italy and dividing it into two parts it runneth along even to the Sicilian Sea Neither doth it march forward in one form every where but in many parts it putteth forth collateral or side-Companions and fellow Branches as it also sendeth forth some Mountains styled with several Names as the Mountain Massicus the Hill Gaurus Monte di Capua or the Mountain of Capua and the burning Vesuvius c. The Hills of Peru. 2. The Hills of Peru or Peruviana the longest of all others for they pass through the whole South America even from the Equator to the Magellanick streigths and do separate the Kingdom of Peru from other Provinces insomuch that the whole tract of this Chain of Hills is about 800 German miles And the heads or cliffs of the Hills are so high that they are reported to weary Birds in their flight over them and there is but one only passage over these Hills which as yet is discovered and that very cumbersom Many of those are covered with perpetual Snows as well in Summer as Winter and many of them are also wrapt up and involved with the Clouds and some likewise are elevated beyond the middle Region of the Air. Truly it hath hapned the Spaniards sometimes passing out of Nicaragua into Peru that many of them These Mountains exceeding Cold. together with their Horses on the tops of those interposed Mountains have suddenly died and if they had become stiff with cold Frost they remained there immovable like standing Images The cause of which seemeth-to have been the want of Air such as our breath or Lungs require There are also found in these Mountains Sulphury and smoking Hills The Hills between Peru and Brasil 3. There are very many other Mountains between Peru and Brasil which also stretch themselves out through the Country of China to the Magellanick streights where the high tops of the Hills are perpetually hidden with Snows although they lie under the Latitude of 52 degrees The Hills of Canada and New England 4. Add to these Chains of Hills those of Canada and New England and very many others in North America covered with continual Snow although they are less famous The Mountain Taurus 5. The top of Taurus a Mountain in Asia This was amongst ancient Writers accounted the most noble and greatest Mountain of the World It riseth up in Asia Minor from the Pamphilian Sea nigh to the Chelidonian Islands and thence marcheth along through divers Countries and great Kingdoms under divers Names from the West into the East unto India and divideth all Asia into two parts one whereof which looketh to the North is called Asia within Taurus and the other which faceth the West is named Asia without Taurus It is fenced in on either side with many Companions amongst which the famous and most notable ones are the greater and the lesser Anti-Taurus which cut and divide the greater and lesser Armenia into two parts where Taurus it self passeth between Armenia and Mesopotamia it sendeth forth many Arms towards the North and South The Mountain Imaus 6. The Mountain Imaus marcheth forth in form of a Cross two ways as well towards the East and VVest as towards the North and South The Northern part is now called Alkai It is stretched out forward towards the South even to the very ends of the Indies and the fountain heads of the River Ganges in length about four hundred German Miles It divideth the Asian Scythia into two parts of which that which looketh on the west is called Scythia within the Mountain Imaus but that which beholdeth the East is named Scythia without the Mountain Imaus The Mountain Caucasus 7. The top of the Mountain Caucasus is stretched out from the North to the South towards Pontus Euxinus from the Caspian Sea to whom it is a neighbour at the breadth of fifty miles and to those that sail in the Caspian Sea it is an infallible mark to govern and steer their course by It reacheth to Mount Ararat in Armenia where Noah's Ark rested which the Turks and Persians believe to be there kept to this day But the Mountains of Ararat are neighbours to Taurus because all these Mountains are contiguous VVe will speak of the height of Caucasus in the Thirtieth Chapter The Hill of China 8. The Hill of China which embraceth and comprehends the Damasian Mountains so called by the Ancients towards the VVest and Ottoroâ—ora towards the North. This Clift or Chain of Hills consisteth of many Mountains not indeed continually yoked together but here and there affording a passage between them And the Mountains of Camboja seem to be a part of that gang of Hills The Mountains of Arabia 9. The Hills of Arabia which march forward in a triple rank of whom the Holy Mount Sinai is a part The Mount Atlas 10. The most famous Hill and which is celebrated with innumerable figments of the Greek Poets is Mount Atlas in Africa It riseth at the shore of the Western Ocean of Africa and extends it self through all Africa even to the borders of Egypt It hath the Fountains and Springs of almost all the Rivers of Africa in many places it is full of Snow and Cold although it lieth in the Torrid Zone The Mountains of the Moon 11. The Clift of Africa nigh to Monomotapa which is called the Mountains of the Moon It compasseth in almost all Monomotapa and the arms or branches thereof are many as the Hill Zeth and the Snowy Mountains There are found very many and in a manner innumerable other yoaks or chains of Mountains in Africa severed and disjoyned by a small space insomuch that they are almost all contiguous and seem to be parts of one Chain of Hills The Riphean Mountains of Europe 12. The Riphean Mountains of Europe which are also called the Obian Hills they march on forward from the White Sea or Muscovian Bay to the very mouth of the River Ob and the Muscovites call them Weliki Kameypoyas that is the great Stony Girdle because they think that the whole World is girted in with them There is here another yoak of Hills which the Russians call Joegoria It beginneth at the Southern boundary of Tartaria and extends it self unto the North Sea and very many Rivers rise and spring out of this viz. the Rivers Wissagda Neem Wissera and Petsora the greatest of all Besides a triple yoak of Hills runneth down betwen Siberia and Russia from the North towards the South One of them the Russians call Coosvinscoy Camen whose breadth or
therefore when that the Spaniards first arrived in this golden Kingdom which for that reason they have fortified with strong Castles and Forts in many Cities especially the Regal City called Cusco they beheld many Houses spread within and without with Plates of Gold The most rich Mine of Silver is in the Mountain Potosi in which 20000 men are employed to digg the Earth descending by at least 400 steps and by these Mines the King of Spain receiveth a vast Revenue annually to the envy of all other Emperours and Potentates 2. The most excellent Silver Mines are in the Isles of Japan hence termed by the Spaniards the Silver Islands There are also Mines of Gold found there but now less rich than formerly 3. Arabia had more abundance of Mines of Gold than at this day 4. In the mountainous parts of Persia as also in China there are certain Mines of Silver 5. In Guiney are many Mountains producing Gold but yet remote from the shore This Gold is called Seed Gold The Gold is not dugg up that cometh from thence but is gathered by other ways Every one of their Kings are said to have their proper Mines and sell the Gold for which the Europeans give in exchange other Commodities 6. In Monomotapa there are found rich Mines of Gold and Silver as also in Angola 7. Of all the Provinces of Europe Germany is the most rich in abundance of Mines whereof some afford some little Gold divers Silver and very many Copper Iron Lead Vitriol Antinomy and the like Rich Mines in England 8. In many parts of England are rich Mines of Lead and Tin which are sound very profitable to the Kingdom not only by that which is used here at home but also by the great quantities which are transported to other Countries Likewise Mines of Iron Coals some of Silver c. 9. Sweden hath the most rich Copper Mine of any hitherto known in a vast Mountain which they call Den Copperberg such a great quantity of Copper is dugg that it is said to make up the third part of the King's Revenue There are also Mines of Silver and Iron but they hardly discharge the expences in digging it Mines of Jewels 10. Mines of Jewels are found in the Island of Ceiland where there is also a Silver Mine and a great Marble Mine 11. In the Region of Chili are rich Mines of Jewels as also of Silver and Gold but the warlike Natives having more esteem to Iron Weapons than to Gold and Silver have vanquished the Spaniards and demolished the Mines 12. In the Isle of Madagascar Iron and Gold doth much abound there is a moderate quantity of Silver little Gold no Lead whence it cometh to pass that the Natives more value leaden dishes and spoons than those of silver 13. In the Isle of Sumatra they write that there are large Mines of Gold Silver Brass and Iron insomuch that their King in the Year 1620. had by him 1000 l. weight of Gold 14. In the Philippine Isles Java Hispaniola Cuba and the rest Histories record that Mines of Gold Silver Copper and Iron are found In the Mountains of Siam also they relate that Gold Silver and Tin are found Salt Mines 15. Mines of Salt are found in Poland at Pochâ—iam four miles from Cracovia where they cut of huge lumps of lucid and white Salt from the Earth In Transilvania in the County of Triol in Spain in Asia minor in Kilisim a Mountain of Persia in places near the Caspian Sea not far from the River Volga where is the Island Kostowata Hence the Russians digg their Salt and boyle it up to a more pure Substance and transport it throughout all Russia There is a salt Mountain in Cuba All the Mountains of the Isles of Ormus in the entrance of the Persian Gulph consist of a Christalline salt yea the whole Isle is almost nothing else but salt out of which they make the Walls of their Houses In Africa there is no other salt but what is dugg out of the salt parts of Caves as Marble is of a white red and ashy colour In Peru 80 miles from Lima in a certain Valley great plenty of Salt is found whence every one may take what they please because it continually encreaseth neither doth it seem possible ever to be exhausted In the Kingdom of Musulipatan near the City Baganaga great abundance of salt is dugg up whence all the Indians fetch it Of salt Fountains we shall speak in another Chapter Proposition II. A Wood is a multitude of Trees stretched forth in a long and continued Tract of Earth and propagated without any Culture or dressing and planting Of Woods Most Woods have only Trees of one sort and are denominated from them and seeing that there is great variety of Trees there are also various differences of Woods as a Wood consisting of Palm-trees is termed Palmetum of Oak Quercetum and the like Although these terms are frequently used for Groves or less Woods But they are divers in several Regions especially in those more remote In Africa at Cape Verd are Woods of Citrian and Orange-trees such as are also found in other places In France are whole Woods of Chesnut-trees In the Isle of Ceiland are Trees whose bark doth afford Cinamon In Banda are Nuces Muscatae In Brasil are Woods of Trees called Brasil of great use for Diers In Madagascar are Tamerind Trees as also in other places Cedars on Mount Lebanus of which whole Woods are also found in Japan so that they use them for Masts for Ships In Spain France and Italy are Olive and Mirtle Trees In Germany the Woods consist of Beech Oak Alder Pine Juniper Maple Firr Ash and Elm. The most noted Woods or Forests are that of Hercinia which in times past almost overspread all Germany part of it is the Bohemian Wood and Bacen or Semana in the Dukedom of Brunswick Gabrata Martiana and others In England the Woods consist of Oak Elm Ash Beech and Maple Trees In Scotland the famous Wood called Caledonia and others in other places especially in Norway where there is an abundance of vast Trees above all other Countries in Europe called Firr Trees whence all the Masts of Ships almost throughout Europe are made Lithuania hath almost nought else but Trees whence the King of Poland hath a great Revenue Proposition III. Desarts are vast Tracts of Land not inhabited by man They are twofold those properly so termed and those improperly The former are those whose soil or earth is steril Of Desarts The latter which indeed is fertil but not inhabited by man as in many places in Muscovia about the Caspian Sea from the shore of Volga are many fertil and fat Fields which lie uncultivated and chiefly by reason of the sloath of the Inhabitants as also by reason of the Wars of Tamerlane by which those Countries were depopulated but these are less properly termed Desarts Of those properly so termed
the great Mogul in whatsoever place he is causeth this water to be brought him of which he only drinketh Some will have the water of the Nile to be the most fruitful and the most wholsome Most heavy waters are impregnated with Iron or Mercury In great Rivers we must have respect to the Riverets of which they are compounded For the Rhine receiveth many Mineral Riverets so also doth the Danube of Gold Iron and Vitriol and hence have they their quality although many Fountains have little of them Proposition XX. Some Rivers every year at a set time are so augmented that they overflow their Channel and inundate the adjacent Lands Of the increase and overflowing of Rivers The most famous of those is the Nile that so encreaseth that it overspreadeth all Egypt except the Hills In Congo Angola Monomotapa Soffala Mosambique from those it is known that the Fountains of the Nile are the great Lake Zaire River Nile or in the Lake Zaire which is situate in the procurrent of Africa in a middle place between the Eastern and Western shoar under the tenth degree from the Equator towards the South as we have said in the former Chapter Near unto this Lake are many ridges of Mountains which are called the Mountains of the Moon so that the Lake lieth as in a Valley between Mountains Now because that these places lye from the Equator towards the South therefore the reason of the Solary motion requireth that they should have Winter when that we have Summer but by reason of their small distance from the Equator they feel no cold but instead of Snow they have almost continual Rains two hour before and after Noon in the Kingdom of Congo the Clouds hardly permitting the sight of the Sun with the same Clouds the tops of the Mountains appear as covered and in these Mountainous places rains and showers are almost continually which run down like Torrents and all flow together into the Lake Zaire and from thence into the Channel of the Nile Zaire Cuama and others that arise from the same Lake but yet do not abound with so great a quantity yet the Zaire doth overflow every year as the Nile because the Channel of them is more deep and after a short Tract they exonerate themselves into the Sea yet all of them encrease at the same time and disgorge themselves of a great quantity of water into the Sea River Niger The second River among those that overflow the adjacent Lands at a certain time is the Niger of no less Tract than the Nile though not so famous It overfloweth at the same time that the Nile doth The third River of the overflowing Rivers is the Zaire a River in Congo of which we have spoken River Zaire Add to this the lesser Rivers of Congo The fourth is Rio de la Plate a River in Brasil which overfloweth the adjacent Fields at the same time with the Nile Rio de la Plate as Maffaeus writeth Rivers Ganges and Indus The fifth of the overflowing Rivers is the Ganges The sixth is the River Indus these two Rivers in the Pluvial months of those Regions pour themselves forth upon the Lands without their Channels where then the Natives do gather the water into standing Pools that in the other months of the year when there is almost no Rain they may thence fetch water and this inundation causeth great fertility in the Fields The seventh comprehendeth many viz. four or five which flow from the Lake Chiamy in a moderate Channel and exonerate themselves into the Gulph of Bengala passing through the Kingdoms of Peru Sian and others That which passeth through the Country of Sian is called Menan And at the time of the inundation the Fields and Streets of the Cities are covered with water so that they are forced to make use of Boats to sail from one house to another And this inundation also causeth exceeding fertility River Macou The eighth is Macou a River in Camboja which overflows in the Summer months River Parana The ninth is the River Parana which overfloweth after the same manner as the Nile doth The tenth in Choromandel a part of India the Rivers overflow by reason of the plenty of waters that flow from the top of the Mountain Gatis in the Pluvial months River Euphrates The Eleventh is the Euphrates which at set-times of the year overfloweth Mesopotamia The Twelfth of these overflowing Rivers is Sus a River in Numidia River Sus. which overfloweth in the Winter I have not read of any other Rivers that I can remember that do overflow in an Anniversary time of the year although some may do it in most years to wit the River Obius and Flavius a River of China There are many Rivers that overflow without any order or in a set-time yea there is scarcely any River of noted magnitude which overfloweth not its Banks sometimes So it is evident concerning the Albis the Rhine and the like And but that the capacity of the Channel and the height of the Banks obstructed all great Rivers in an Anniversary time would inundate because that most of them are much augmented in the Spring season And it may so happen that a River that did use to overflow may begin to do it in an Anniversary time viz. if that any part of it by reason of ridges or sands or any other way become higher and the Coasts or shoars become more high but then men are accustomed to raise Banks The only cause of these Inundations is the abundancy of Water which in some Examples alledged may proceed peradventure from dissolved Snow but in most from frequent Rains Yet that is a wonder that the Indus and Ganges should overflow in other Months than the adjacent Rivers from the Lake Chiama but the cause of this diversity which is observed here in this Season must partly be taken from the Anniversary rains in the adjacent places partly from the Mountains and Rains about the places of the Fountains But we to avoid prolixity shall supersede to discuss every Example The River Bibara in France near to Paris sometimes without any Rains or at least with those that are usual so swelleth that it causeth desolation unto the Suburbs of St. Marcellus Now the reason why almost all these Inundations make the Lands fruitful is because that water that inundateth is either Rain or Snow-water which waters both by reason of their Spirituous lévity and also because of their Sulphureous substance which they have admixt in the Air. Above all other Minerals are very prevalent to fructifie and are also wholsom Now that there is such a Spirit and Sulphur in Rain-water is proved 1. From the Worms that are generated in it 2. From its easie putrefaction 3. From the very Chymical distillation Yet some Rivers by their Inundation do not make the Earth fertile but rather cause sterility as Ligeris in France when that Sequana maketh them
force being broken the Terrestrial parts of the water subside and sink and augment the Altitude of the banks of Sand whence it cometh to pass that the impetus of the Ocean is more and more broken and therefore more Terrestrial matter subsideth so that the ridges being augmented they exclude the Ocean or make the Channel more shallow 2. It conduceth much to the Augmentation of the shoars if that the shoars be sandy and stony that the Ocean runing by can separate or take away little with it so that when it can take away nothing it always leaveth some particles that in progress of time the shoars become more high and force or stop the Ocean from its accustomed place 3. If that another adjacent shoar hath less solid Earth that is light and full of Caverns for the Ocean carrieth the dissolved and broken parts of Earth to the vicine shoars 4. If that great Rivers discharge themselves by the shoar into that Sea for these Rivers carrying with them much Sand and Mud or Gravel when that they arrive to the mouth and shoar where they endeavour to exonerate themselves into the Sea they leave it partly because the Channel is there more broad and partly because that the Sea resisteth the flux of them and this is chiefly observed in Regions which Rivers overflow every year 5. If that frequent Winds blow from the Sea to the shoar and the shoar be rocky and firm not sandy 6. If that the flux of the Sea be swift and vehement and the reflux slow and gentle for the gentle reflux taketh not away the matter that the swift flux brought but suffereth it to sink If that the shoar descendeth obliquely into the Sea for a long space and bend not down directly and perpendicularly for so the violence of the Sea decreaseth and leaveth the matter behind The Land of Aegypt caused by the Nile There are many places of the Earth which it is evident were formerly taken up by the Ocean Where Aegypt is in time past was the Sea as is proved by the testimony of the Ancients and by Experience at this day For the Nile flowing from the remote Regions of Aethiopia and every year entring the Channel where it swelleth it expandeth it self through all Aegypt where when the force of the River ceaseth the Mud sinketh and also the Terrestrial matter which the swift course of the River brought in and so Aegypt becometh higher And before that so much matter was brought in by the Nile then the Sea covered the Land of Aegypt but now the Sea is not admitted by reason of the height Of this Aristotle and Others are Witnesses his words are these This place and the whole Region of Aegypt which was only made by the River seemeth always to become more dry and because that the Marishes by degrees drying up the adjacent places began to be inhabited the length of time obliterated the beginning of it therefore all the mouths of the Nile except that of Canopus seem to be made by the Industry of Man and not by the River Moreover all Aegypt anciently consisted of a City called Thebes as is very manifest which Homer also declareth who flourished as I have said after this Mutation For he maketh mention of that place as if that Memphis as yet had no Being or at least not so big Seneca here explaineth it more clearly All Aegypt saith he is made up of Mud for if that we may credit Homer Pharos was so far from the Continent as that a Ship with a full spread Sail could harldly measure or encompass it in an whole day but it is now adjoyned to the Continent for the Nile flowing muddy and troubled and drawing much Mud with it and so adding to it the former Lands hath made Aegypt larger by an Annual increase Hence the soil is muddy and fat neither hath it any Intervals in it but hath increased to a solidity The Rivers Ganges and Indus by their Inundations both cause also Land Ganges and Indus in India both famous Rivers have caused the same by their Inundations that the Nile hath also Rio de la Plata in Brazil And it is probable that China was generated or at least augmented after the same mode by reason that a violent River which they call the Yellow River flowing from Tartary into China often overflowing although not in an Anniversary time hath so much Sand and Gravel that it maketh the third part of its water These Examples demonstrate the cause laid down in the fourth place viz. why Rivers should cause the Sea to forsake the Shoar but the Sea it self is also oftentimes the cause of its departure in divers Regions viz. whilst that it carrieth and layeth down the matter by which the Channel and Shoar acquire the greater Altitude and admit not the approach of the Sea so Holland Zeland and Gelderland were made for that the Ocean in time past possessed these Countries is known both from Ancient Histories or Monuments as also from the quality of the Soil it self The shells of Fishes found on the Clifts or higher parts of Gelderland not far from Noviomagus do sufficiently testifie the same as also shrubs and ouzey matter found in the profundity of the soil Add that the Sea is higher than the Land of these Regions and hath overflowed it and would cover it again if that it were not obstructed by banks of Sands and Ramparts Yet there are some that say they suppose that Holland and Zeland were brought from the Rhine and the Mosa which is not improbable Proposition X. To shew the Generation of Sandy-banks in the Sea and elsewhere The generation of Sandy banks We term those banks of Sand that are elevated above the Channel of the River to that height that they hinder the passage of Ships Neither do they differ from Rocks but that their parts do cohere and are condensated but the Sand-banks do not consist of parts very coherent But these words are oftentimes confounded The Sand-banks do either lie in the Channels of Rivers as many are in the Wolga and the Albis or at the mouths of Rivers which is frequent as in the Wolga and the Albis or on the Sea-shoar or amidst Seas The mode of the generation is the same by which we have said in the foregoing Propositions that the Channels of Rivers are dried and the Sea forsaketh the shoar for so oftentimes it cometh to pass that the Ocean before that it leaveth part of the Earth altogether first generateth this ridge of Sand not far from the shoar and so by degrees retreateth back and these banks become parts of the Continent After the same mode it hapneth in the Channels of Rivers before that they are wholly dried and forsaken by the water The most frequent cause is when Rivers are augmented by rain or dissolved snow and so run violently for then where their motion is more vehement and Channel more narrow they eat off the mud
quarter by North-west West and a quarter by South west North-west and a quarter by West South-west and a quarter by West The Measures in which are to be considered that the least part that can be described upon the Terrestrial Globe is a Point many Points described and continued right the one to the other make a Line twelve Lines continued together are esteemed to make an Inch or Thumbs breadth twelve Inches make a Foot two Foot and half make a common Pace and two common Paces a Geometrical Pace one hundred twenty five Geometrical Paces make a Stade or certain measure of ground eight Stades or one thousand Geometrical Paces is one thousand Roman Paces or the Italian Mile one thousand fifty six Geometrical Paces make an English Mile one thousand two hundred sixty seven Paces make a Scotish Mile two thousand four hundred or 2500 Geometrical Paces make a Spanish League four thousand Geometrical Paces make a Dutch League or Miles five thousand Geometrical Paces make a Swedish League or Miles six thousand Geometrical Paces make an Hungarian League or Miles 24 or 25 French Leagues or 60000 Geometrical Paces make a degree of Latitude on the Aequator three hundred and sixty degrees of Longitude on the Aequator make the great circle of the Terrestrial Globe the great circle of the Terr Globe multiplyed by his Diameter make the Superficies of the Terrestrial Globe Geographical and Hydrographical TABLES The Terrestrial Globe hath all its Surface in LAND which discovereth it self in Two Continents whereof Ours or the most Ancient and Superiour containeth three great parts to wit Europe where are the Kingdoms or parts of Turkey in Asia Arabia Persia India China Tartaria Asia where are the Kingdoms or Countreys of Italy Turkey in Europe France Germany Low Countreys Poland Scandinavia Russia or Moscovia Africa where are the Kingdoms or Countreys of Rarbary Biledulgerid Egypt Sara or Desart of Saara the Land of the Negroes Guinee Nubia the Emperour of the Abyssines Zanguebar Congo Monomotapa Caffreria Spain The other or New and Inferiour is called AMERICA America Septentrionalis where are the Kingdoms of Canada or New France New Mexico New Spain America Meridionalis where are the Kingdoms of Peru Brazil Paragua Many Isles of which the most famous are About our Continent and part of Europe as those in the Mediterranean Sea the Western Ocean called the British Isles part of Asia as those of Japon the Philippins the Moluccoes Sonde Ceylan and the Maldives c. part of Africa as those of Madagascar or St. Lawrence St. Thomas Cape Verd the Canaries c. Between the one and the other Continent as the Azores About the other Continent and towards America Septentrionalis as those of Terra Neuves California the Antilles towards America Meridionalis the Magellanick Isles And in some Lands and Isles the most part unknown towards the one and the other Pole among the which are Groenland Izland c. Terra Australis Nova Guiney c. WATER which is found in SEA and which may be called Ocean about our Continent Oriental or Indian where are the Seas of China India Arabia Southern or Aethiopian where are the Seas of Barbaria or of Zangucbar Cafreria Congo Western or Atlantick where are the Seas of Guinee Cape Verd the Canaries Spain France Great Britany Northern or Frozen where are the Seas of Denmark Moscovy Tartaria Sea about the other Continents North-Sea or Seas of Canada or New France Mexico or New Spain Brazil Magellanick-Sea or Seas of Paraguay Magellanick Pacifick-Sea or Seas of Peru New Mexico Gulphs or Seas between the Lands of our Continent the Baltick Sea the Mediterranean Sea between the Lands of the other Continent the Gulph of Mexico the Gulph of Hudson Lakes or Seas in the midst of our Continent the Caspian Sea in the midst of the other Continent the Lake or Sea of Parime Streights to wit between the one and the other Contin of Anian between the other Contin and the J. M. of Magellan between Europe and Africa of Gibraltar RIVERS of which the most famous are In our Continent as In Europe the Tage the Loire the Rhine the Elbe the Danube the Boristene the Don or Tanais the Volga In Asia the Tigre and the Euphrates the Indus the Ganges the Quiam or Jamsuquiam the Oby In Africa the Nile the Niger In America Septentrional as the River Canada or St. Lawrence Meridional as the River Paria or Orinoque the River Amazones the River of Plates The Water in the surface of the Terrestrial Globe is for the most part in Seas and which may be called Ocean and about our Continent to wit the Indian or Eastern where are the Sea of China Indian Sea Arabian Sea Aethiopian or Southern wherein are the Sea of Barbary or of Zanguebar Sea of Caffreria Sea of Congo Western or Atlantick where are the Sea of Guinee Sea of Cape Verd Sea of the Canaries or Gulph of Yeguas Sea of Spain Sea of France Sea of Great Britain Northern Frozen or Scythick where are the Sea of Denmark or Mourmanskoi-More Sea of Moscovy or Petzorke-More Sea of Tartrria or Niaren-More Sea and about the other Continent to wit the North or Sea of Canada or New France Sea of Mexico or New Spain Sea of Brazil or North-Sea Magellanick or Sea of Paraguay Magellanick Sea Sea of Chili South or Pacifick or Sea of Peru or South-Sea Sea of California or New Mexico Between the one and the other Continent and towards the Artick Pole are the Archipelague of St. Lazare the Sea of Groenland Gulphs among which there where the Ocean washeth them and About our Continent are these Gulphs and Seas as the Gulph of Nanquin Gulph of Cochinchina Gulph of Sian or Cambogue Gulph of Bengala Gulph of Ormus and Balsora Gulph of the Red-Sea or Sea of Mecca Gulph of Aethiopia or St. Thomas Sea of Guascagne White-Sea or Bella-more there where the Mediterranean Sea entreth and within our Continent are these Gulphs and Seas as the Gulph of Lyon Gulph of Venice Archipelague or White-Sea Sea of Marmora Black Sea or Sea of Majeure Levant Sea there where the Baltick Sea entreth and within our Continent are these Gulphs and Seas as the Gulph of Bolnia Gulph of Findland Gulph of Rhiga Gulph of Dantzick Gulph of Lubeck there where the Sea washeth them and About the other Continent are the Gulph of Hudson Gulph of St. Lawrence Gulph of Mexico Gulph of Hondutas Gulph of Panama Streights among which there where the Ocean and the See washeth and About the other Continent are these Streights Seas c. as the Streight of Anian Sea of Vermejo Streight of Magellan Channel of Bahama Streight of Hudson Streight of Davis About our Continent are the Streight of Nassau or Vaygatz Pasâ— or Streight of Calaâ—is Streight of Bebelmandeâ— Streight of Mocandan Streight of Manar Streight of Malacca Streight of Sonde there where the Baltick Sea is and In our Continent are the Streight of
See and a famous Vniversity 7. Porto seated at the mouth of the Duero now called Portuport a Town of good Trade and affords an excellent strong Wine 8. Bragansa 9. Lamego 10. Guarda 11. Evora 11. Portalegre and 13. Leiria South of Portugal is ALGARVE which was united by the Marriage of Alphonso the Third of Portugal who had it in Dowry with his wife Beatrix Daughter to Alphonso the Fourth of Castile and Tenth of Leon. It s chief places are 1. Pharo a Port-Town towards the Streights of Gibraltar and Silvis anciently the Seat of its Kings within Land The utmost end 〈◊〉 this Country is called the Cape of St. Vincent because the Bones of St. Vincent which the Christians kept sacred were by the Saracens the then Masters of the Country burnt and scattered about the Earth This Kingdom of Portugal is much coveted by the King of Spain who esteems it the chiefest Pearl of his Cabinet and as the chiefest Flower in his Garland and which to regain he hath oft times waged War against them but to no purpose Kingdom of Andalousia ANDALOVSIA the most rich and fruitful Country in all Spain and well watered with Rivers It hath on the East and South Granada and the Sea and adding the Country of Estremadura it reacheth Northwards to the Castiles The chief Places are Sevilla or Sevil the most beautiful of all this Continent It is in compass six Miles and environed with stately Walls and adorned with no less magnificent Buildings as Palaces Churches and Monasteries It is severed in two parts by the River Boetis which are joyned together by a stately Bridge From this place the Spaniards set forth their West-India Fleet and do hither return to unlade and the Trade of this City is of that greatness that some have dared to say that the Customs are worth to the King of Spain the yearly Revenue of about half a Million of Gold and indeed this City and Lisbon in Portugal may be said to be the chief Cities for Trade in this Continent this for the West-Indies and Lisbon for the East It is dignified with a flourishing Vniversity and the See of an Archbishop whose Revenue is said to be 100000 Crowns yearly and is esteemed the next to him of Toledo In this City are said to be kept 30000 Genets for the service of the King of Spain which are ready upon all occasions And here resteth the body of Christopher Columbus famous for his Navigations and discoveries of the New World 2. Cordova once the Royal Seat of the Moorish Kings from hence cometh that excellent Cordovant-Leather Not far from this City was fought that famous Battle between Coesar and the Sons of Pompey where Caesar gained the day and made an end of the Civil Wars 3. Marchena famous for its Genets 4. Medina Sidonia whose Duke was General of the Invincible Armado in Anno 1588. 5. Xeres de la Fontera a Sea-port Town from whence comes our Sherry Sack and 6. Cadiz seated in an Isle below Sevil a Colony of the Carthagenians Country of Estremadura ESTREMADVRA Whis is part of Andalousia hath for its Chief places 1. Merida built and made a Colony by Augustus and 2. Guadalcanal famous for its Mines of Silver Kingdom of Granada GRANADA bounded on the South with the Mediterranean Sea It s Chief places are Granada a stately City where is yet to be seen the Palace of the Moorish Kings indented with Mosaical work and guilt its Buildings are of Freestone fenced about with a strong Wall on which are 130 Turrets It is an Inland Town yet famous for being the residence of the Parliament and Court of Justice for all the Southern parts of Spain as Valadolid is for the North. 2. Malaga a famous Sea-port Town seated on the Mediterranean abounding in Raisins and a rich Wine called Malaga Sack 3. Almeria seated on the Sea-shoar This Country was the last that the Moors were expelled out of which may be attributed to its barrenness and being so Mountainous Kingdom of Murcia MVRCIA bounded on the East with the Mediterranean Sea a fertile Country and well stored with Fruits It s Chief places are 1. Alicant seated on the Mediterranean where it enjoyeth a commodious road for Shipping is a place well frequented enjoyeth a good Trade and affordeth for Merchandize great quantities of excellent Wines and several good Commodities 2. Cartagena seated also on the Mediterranean Sea built by Asdrubal of Carthage at present one of the most famous Havens in Spain and 3. Murcia which takes its name from the Country a City of good account Kingdom of Navarre ARRAGON divided in the midst by the River Iberus the Chief places are 1. Caragosa or Saragoz seated on the Iberus or Ebro anciently called Caesar Augustus by whom it was first founded It is a famous Vniversity and once the Seat of the Moorish Kings 1. Lerida seated on the River Cinga which hath its Spring-head in the Pyrenaean Hills it is an Vniversity 3. Huesca also an Vniversity 4. Mosons which gives entertainment to the King of Spain every third year at which time the People of Arragon Valentia and Catalonia make the King a Present of 600000 Crowns and this is all the Taxes or Moneys they pay to the King for three years 5. Jacca 6. Borio 7. Galajud and 8. Daroca Kingdom of Catalonia CATALONIA near the Pyrenaean Mountains on the North It s chief places are 1. Barcelona seated on the Mediterranean shoar a place of good strength and Antiquity being built out of the ruins of Rubicata an old Colony of the Africans and now dignified with the Seat of the Vicegerent 2. Girona seated on the River Baetulus the ancient Seat of the Arragon Princes Kingdom of Valence VALENCE or VALENCIA encompassed with Murcia Castile Arragon and the Sea It s chief places are 1. Valencia scituate near the mouth of the River Guadalangar and about two miles from the Sea where there is an open but ill commodious road for Ships called la Greno yet as being the chief City in the Country enjoyeth a good Trade Here is an University in which St. Dominic the Institutor of the Dominican Order studied 2. Morvedre 3. Segobre and 4. Zativa The BALEARE ISLES The Islands of the Baleares or Kingdom of Majorca comprehend that of Majorca and Minorca both seated in the Mediterranean Sea Island of Majorca MAJORCA about sixty miles from Spain It is about 300 miles in circuit and hath for its chief places Majorca where there is a University and Palomera which gave birth to Raymundus Lullius Isle of Minorca MINORCA distant from Majorca nine miles and is about half the extent of Majorca It s chief place is Citadelli and its chief Port Mahon which is very large and commodious These Isles are indifferent fertil in Corn Wine and Oil which are three good Commodities Nigh to these Isles are two other small ones Isle of Yvisa YVISA or
Ebuisa of about 150 miles in circuit whose chief place is so called and its Port is Magno The chief Commodity which it affordeth is Salt of which here is made a great quantity And about ten miles from this Isle is the other called PORMENTERA Isle of Pormentara which is about fifty miles in circuit The People are excellent Swimmers as well the Women as the Men. The Air of the whole Country of Spain is generally good and healthful and the Soil fertil enough were it well cultivated but the thinness of its Inhabitants since their setling in America is the chief cause thereof The whole Country is Catholick It hath 11 Archbishops 56 Bishops 20 or 25000 Parishes and abundance of very rich Abbeys and Monasteries Chief Rivers in Spain In Spain are five great Rivers viz. the Douro the Tagus or Tago the Guadiana the Guadalquiver and the Ebro or Iborus The Douro is esteemed for force the Tagus for its renown the Guadalquiver for its riches the Ebro for its name and the Guadiana not having wherewith to answer the others for shame hides it self under ground Chief Hills in Spain The chief Hills in Spain are Seir Morena being a chain of Hills declining from the midst of Spain towards the Streights of Gibraltar and upon these Hills it was that Cervantes the Wit of Spain made the Scene of the many Warlike exploits atchieved by the flower of Knight Errantry Don Quixot de la Manche 2. Inbalda or Idubalda which extends it self from the Pyreniae towards Portugal And 3. Seira Nevada which from East to West crosses Granada and are very high Hills ITALY ought to be considered in three or four principal Parts which shall be those of LOMBARDY which may be divided into the Higher where are the Estates of PIEDMONT which belongs to the Dutchy of SAVOY and comprehends the Dutchy of Aost Aoste Signieury of Verceil Verceili Principality of Piedmont Turine County of Ast Astr Marquisate of Saluce Saluzzo County of Nice Nizza or Nice MILLAIN which comprehendeth the Dutchy of Millan Millan Lake of Como Como Lodesan Lodi Cremonese Cremona Pavese Pavia Tortonese Tortona Alexandrin Alexandria Laumelline Valenca Novarese Novara GENES or GENOA which is divided in The Eastern River Getroa Sarzana The Western River Savona Arbengue Vintimiglia MONTFERRAT To the Duke of Mantoua Alba. To the Duke of Savoy Trin. Lower where are the Estates of The REPUBLICK of VENICE which possesseth the Provinces or Parts of Bergamase Bergarne Cremase Crema Bressan Brescello Veronois Verona Vicentin or Vicentinois Vizenzo Padouan Padoua Polâ—sâ—ne de Rovigo Rovigo Coast of Trevisane Trevigi Feltrâ—n Feltri Bellâ—nois Belluno Cadorin Cadore Friouli Cuidad de Austria Aquileja Palma la Nova Istriâ— Cabo d'Itria Dogâ—do or Dutchy of Venice MANTOA Dukedom of Mantoua Mantoua PARMA and PLACENZA Dukedom of Parma Parma Dukedom of Placenza Placenza MODENA and REGGE Dukedom of Modena Modena Dukedom of Regge Reglo or Regge TRENT Bishoprick and County of Trent In the one and the other Lombardy are divers small Estates among the which is Mirandola ITALY particularly so called where are The Estates of the CHURCH Towards the Gulph of Venice as Dukedom of Ferrarese Ferrara Bolognois Bologna Romandiola Ravenna Dutchy of Urbin Urbin Coast of Ancone Ancona Towards the Tyrrhenian Sea as County of Citti di Castello Perusin Perugia Ombria or the Dutchy of Spoleto Orvietin Orvieto Terre Sabine Narvi St. Peters Patrimony Veij Campagna di Roma Rome or Roma Among the Estates of the Church are Dutchy of Castro Castro Republick of St. Marino The Estates of TOSCANY To the Great DUKE of TOSCANY Florence Florence Sanase or Siennois Sienâ— Pisan Pisa Livourne or Ligorne To divers Princes as the Republick of Lucque Principality of Alassa Signieury of Piombine Isle of Elbe Cosmopoli The Kingdom of NAPLES sometime divided in TERRA di LAVARO CALABRIA But at present into twelve Provinces whereof are Six towards the Tyrrhenean Sea to wit Terra di Lavora Naples Cajeta Principato citra or Interiour Amalfi Salerno Principato ultra or Exteriour Benevento Conza Calabria citra Cosenza Calabria ultra Regium Basilicate Cirenza Six towards the Gulph of Venice to wit Terra di Otranto Otranto Brundufium Gallipoli Brindici Tetra di Bari Bari Capitanate or Pugi Manfredonia Mont St. Angelo County of Molise Abruzzo citra or Interiour Lanciano Sulmona Civita di Chietti Abruzzo ultra or Exteriour Civita di Penna Aquila PUGIA ABRUZZO And to which for the fourth part may be added The Isles and Kingdoms of SICILE or SICILY Messina Palermo Siracusa Montreale and Cataliâ— SARDAGNE or SARDINIA Cagliari Bosa and Sassari CORCE or CORSICA Bastia Mariana and Calvi Together with several small Isles as those of Naples Liguria c. some of which are taken notice of in the Descriptional part The Estates of the DUKE of SAVOY are On this side the ALPES to wit The DUTCHY of SAVOY where there are the Provinces of Genevois Annecy la Roche Alby Thonnon Vieux Faussigni Cluse Bonneville Bonne Sallanche Taninge Chablais Thonon Evian St. Gingot Savoy Chambery les Eschelles Montmelian Ayguebelle Conflans Beaufort Ugine Miolans Aix and Rumilly Tarentaise Monftiers St. Jaqu ' Esme le bourg St. Morice Morienne St. Jaan de Morienne la Chaâ—obre Modane Laâ—â—ebourg And Beugey in part Yenne St. Genis d'Hoste The COUNTY of NICE where are the Vicarats of Nice or Nizza Nice or Nizza Ville Franche Poget Poget Barcellonnette Barcellonnette le Lauset Sospelle Sospelle Saorgiz And the Val St. Esteve St. Esteve St. Salvador Counte of Boglio or of Beuil Beyond the ALPES to wit PIEDMONT under the name of which is understood the Dutchy of Aoste Aoste Castillion Bard. Marquisate of Yvree Yvree Pont St. Martin Signiory of Verceil Verceilli Crescerâ—tin Borzane Biele Andorne Gartintra Marquisate of Suze Suze Avillarâ—e Principality of Piedmont Turin or Turino Mondouj Fossan Chivas Rivoli Javen Carignan Pancalier Vigon Cavours Ville franque Raconis Savillan Coni Tende Ceve Cortemille Bene Quierase Quiers Moncalier Cocconas Verue Counte of Ast Asti Ville neuved ' Ast Saluce or Saluzzo Marquisate of Saluce Carmagnole Barges Revel Droners Cental Rocqu ' Esparviere Demont Quarter of Piedmont or at present belonging to Fracne Pignerol Perouse Lucerne Brigueras The DUTCHY of MONFERAT On the Coast of GENES In part where are Albe Trin and Aqui. The Marquisate of Oneglia Marro In PIEDMONT restored from the Church the Printipality of Masseran The DUTCHY of SAVOY preteneth to Geneve Chypre c. LOMBARDY which may be divided into the Higher and comprehendeth the Estates of PIEDMONT as it belongs to the Duke of Savoy where are the Dutchy of Aost Aoste Ivree Seignieury of Verceili Verceili Principality of Piedmont Turin Fossan Mondevi or Mondoui Suze Savillan Coni Quierase Quiers County of Ast Asti Marquisate of Saluce Saluce or Saluzzo Carmagnole County of Nice Nizza or Nice Barcelonnette MILLAN as it belongs to the Catholick King where are the Dutchy of Millan Millain Val
the Danube Northward about 2000 which large extent was the cause of its ruine and declension The Ancient Romans The Ancient Romans were a gallant People of a sound Judgment and a ready Wit well skilled in Arts and Sciences very covetous of glory of great Valour as by their subduing the chief part of the World who contrary to the custom of Invaders to sack and ruine Countries they taught the People Manners Literature c. The Romans were the first that wore the Purple Robe and the beginners of Triumphs they had excellent and stately Theaters and it was hold no disreputation to be an Actor It s fertility and Commodities This Country is so exceedingly furnished with whatsoever may be found useful for Man and the Soil so rich and fer tile in Grains Fruits Rice c. in some places having threo Harvests in one year that it is esteemed the Garden of the World The chief Commodities for Merchandize that this Country yieldeth are Silks both raw and wrought into several fabricks as Sattins Taffities Plushes Velvets Cloth of Gold and Silver Damasks Grograms Rashes Fustians Glasses Alom Armour excellent Wines Oils Saffron Anni seeds Argal Brinistone several Metals Olives Almonds Galls Kids-skins Lute strings Quicksilver Aloes Gold Thread Anchoves several Drugs c. The People of Italy The Italians are very ingenious respective and grave exceeding malicious if affronted much addicted to Women which are here allowed the liberty to make use of their own They are generally very jealous of their Wives so that they are denied the liberty of the Streets or the common view or society of men The Women are generally handsom witty and of a seeming modest behaviour it is observed of them that they are Saints in the Church Angels in the Streets Magpies at the Door Syrens in the Windows and Goats in the Gardens Their Language is very eloquent It s chief parts Italy may be considered in three principal Parts viz. Lombardy Italy particularly so called and Naples to which for a fourth may be added the neighbouring Isles in which said parts are divers Estates and Dukedoms all which are at large set down in the Geographical Tables and of these parts in order LOMBARDY Parts of Lombardy Lombardy is divided into the Higher and Lower in the Higher are the Estates of Piedmont which belongs to the Duke of Savoy of Millan which belongs to the Catholick King of the Commonwealth of Genes or Genoa and of Montferrat which belongs to the Duke of Mantoua yet the Duke of Savoy hath some part thereof And in the Lower Lombardy are the Estates of Venice of Mantoua Parma and Modena which have their Dukes and of Trent which hath its Bishop And in the one and the other Lombardy are several small Estates amongst which is that of Mirandola The Estates of PIEDMONT washed by the Mediterranean Sea is exceeding fertil though inferiour to other parts of Lombardy It is divided betwixt the Dukes of Savoy and Mantoua the River Tener separating their possessions It is very populous numbring about 160 walled Cities and Towns of which the chief is Turin Chief places which is the Palace and Court of the Duke of Savoy it is also dignified with the See of an Archbishop and an Vniversity where the famous Erasmus proceeded Dr. of Divinity 2. Aoste or Avost seated on the Northern limits of the Country 3. Verceili a Town of great strength bordering on Millan to which it did once belong 4. Saluzzo a Marquisate and Bishops See 5. Nizza or Nice a Sea-port Town and serveth for Turin and 6. Asti. And since we have before omitted it before we pass further let us repass the Alpes and speak of the Territories of this Duke on this side which is the Country of Savoy from whence he bears his Title Country of Savoy SAVOY adjoyning to Piedmont is a Country very Mountainous and full of narrow passages and consequently not very fertil It s chief City is Chambery or Cambreria the residence of the Duke when he is in these parts seated in a pleasant Valley amongst Mountains which are well stored with beautiful Houses belonging to the Gentry of these parts and next Turante which commands the passage into Italy It s other places of account are Thonon Cluse Beaufort Vgine Montiers Yenne Modane c. The Dutchy of MILLAN is rich in Natures gifts being seated in the best part of Lombardy affording great plenty of Grains Wines Oils and Silks and is said to have the best Rice in the World It hath for its chief places Chief places 1. Millan which notwithstanding its often spoils is said to be the greatest City of all Lombardy It is seated in a wide Plain wherein are no less pleasant than profitable Meadows and Rivers it is strongly fortified with a Wall and a spacious and almost impregnable Castle besides its Fortifications it is beautified with many splendid Ornaments the chief of which are its Vniversity its Hospital liberally endowed seated in an Isle almost two miles in compass and capable to give entertainment to about 4000 Sick persons Its Schools Nunneries and Churches which amount in all to 238 most of which are stately structures and beautified with curious Paintings Images of the Saints Sepulchres and several Religious Antiquities The whole City is about seven miles in circuit is exceeding populous very rich and of a great Commerce affording sundry good Commodities 2. Pavia seated on the River Tacinus honoured with a famous Vniversity of note for the Battel in which Francis the first of France was taken Prisoner by the Emperour Charles the Fifth who for his ransom was forced to release all his Title and interest to the Kingdom of Naples and this Dutchy of Millan 3. Cremona seated on the banks of the Poe first built in the beginning of the Punick War It is a place of good account hath a considerable Trade beautified with well built Houses with the conveniency of curious Gardens and hath large and well ordered Streets It is of most note for its high Tower and Cathedral Church where are to be seen many Relicks of Saints and curious Pictures 4. Como seated on a Lake so called which is about fifty miles in circuit on which the Citizens use to recreate themselves in Boats It is a City of good Antiquity and here it was that both the Plinys were born 5. Alexandria which from a poor Village through the often ruins of Millan is now become a fair strong and flourishing Town 6. Lodi 7. Tortona 8. Valenca and 9. Novara State of Genoua The State of GENES or GENOVA once very large but at present possesseth only Liguria in the Continent and the Isle of Corsica of which we shall speak in place more convenient The People are much addicted to Traffick and Vsury and here the Women are allowed the liberty of the Streets as also to accompany or discourse with Men which is forbidden them in other parts
It s chief places are 1. Genoua seated on the Sea-shoar at the foot of high Mountains between two Rivers built by Janus the first Inhabiter of Italy it is as also its whole State governed in form of a Republick The City for its stately Buildings makes it to be termed by the Italians Genoua la Superba having beautiful Palaces with delightful Gardens it s Strada Nova being a spacious long and strait Street on each side imbellished with stately Palaces which for the most part are supported by vast Pillars of Marble not to be parallel'd in the World amongst which may be reckoned the Jesuits Colledge than which nothing can be more polite The Palace of the Prince d'Orta with its famous Bird-cage deserves a particular mention nor is its new Mould to be forgotten which hath made the Port twice as capacious and much safer than before The City is in circuit about eight miles defended besides its Walls by a strong and fair Castle it is exceeding populous and rich its Inhabitants being observed to be the greatest Vsurers and Money-mongers in the World which is a great obstruction to its Trade 2. Savona of note for the interview between Ferdinand of Spain and Lewis the 12th of France Anno 1507. 3. Sarzana 4. Arbengue and 5. Vintimiglia Estate of Montferat The Estate or Country of MONTFERAT doth in part belong to the Duke of Mantoua and the rest to the Duke of Savoy a Mountainous Country but of a fertil Soyl. It is encompassed with the Appenine Hills Millain and Piedmont the River Tenarus parts the possessions of the Duke of Mantoua from that of Savoy its chief places are 1. Alba where Pertinax the Roman Emperour was born 2. St. Vas built by the first Duke of Mantoua 3. Casal and 4. Trin fair Cities with some others In the Lower LOMBARDY we have placed the Estates of Venice Mantoua Modena Parma Placenza and Trent of which in order Estates of Venice The Estates of the Duke of VENICE may be divided into several Parts or Provinces as they lye on firm Land and on the Sea which are taken notice of in the Geographical Tables of Italy the chief of which I shall here only name as I have occasion to treat of the Cities 1. Trevigi seated in the Province of Marche Trevisane a City of some account as commodious for an Inland Trade 2. Bressia seated in the Province of Bressan esteemed the second City for largeness and beauty in all Lombardy it is more famous in her Archbishop who is Earl Marquess and Duke than in any matter of trade 3. Brescello in the Province of Bressan famous for the death of Otho the Roman Emperour 4. Este in the Province of Padouan from whence came the late Dukes of Ferrara 5. Crema in the Province of Cremase seated on the River Serio and in a very fertil Soyl a beautiful and rich City adorned with stately Edifices and about two Furlongs from the City towards the Castle is a stately Temple called Sancta Maria del la Cruce a structure of great beauty and richly adorned with Pictures c. a place much frequented for Devotion sake this City may be termed a strong Fortress against the Millanois upon which it borders 6. Vicenzo in the Province of Vicentin seated at the bottom of a Hill which commands the City being well watered with Rivers which uniting themselves not far distant from the City form a Navigable River capable to receive Vessels of a considerable burthen which passing by Padua falls into the Sea by Venice It is about four miles in circuit beautified with stately Palaces Temples and Publick buildings it is very populous and inhabited by Nobility and Gentry who contrary to the custom of the Italians delight to Travel here is a famous Theater capable to receive five thousand People whose Stage is so represented by Prospective that it seems a stately City being modelled by the famous Architect Andreo Paladio then its Piazza a spacious and beautiful place 7. Verona in the Province of Veronois a fair large and beautiful City seated on the Athesis a place of great strength as well by Nature as Art and boasteth chiefly of its yet standing Amphitheater capable to receive about 80000 Persons 8. Padua in the Province of Padouan seated in the midst of a spacious Plain about 20 miles distant from the Sea It is a place of good strength being inclosed with double Walls and deep Ditches besides its Bulwarks and Fortifications it was built by Antenor Brother to Priam King of Troy whose Tomb is here yet to be seen to this City do belong seven Gates several Stone-Bridges and five spacious Piazza's it is every where beautified with many splendid Edifices as well private as publick also its Churches are no less beautiful and rich of which the Domo or Cathedral is chief its Hall of Justice is a spacious and stately structure near to which are the Schools for Learning but this City is now most famous for its Vniversity of Physicians 9. Bergamo in Bergamasse adjoyning to Cremase 10. Feltri in Feltrin towards the Bishoprick of Trent and 11. Rovigo in the Polesine of Rovigo far engaged towards the Estates of the Church And these Provinces may properly be comprehended under one part to wit Marche Trevisane The chief Rivers in this Country are Addua Athesis Breuta and Olius Estates of Frioli The second part in this Estate of Venice is FRIOLANI encompassed with Histria the Alpes Trevigiana and the Adriatick Sea Its chief places are 1. Aquilegia seated on the Natisco a place not very well inhabited 2. Cuidad de Austria built by Julius Caesar 3. Palma la Nova the best fortified place in all Italy and 4. Tergestum or Treist seated nigh the Sea-shoar The chief Rivers are Natisco Risanus and Lizonsus The third and last part of this Estate shall be ISTRIA of an unhealthful Air. It s chief places are 1. Cabo d'Istria 2. Polo 3. Cita Nuova and 4. Parenzo But to proceed to Venice the principal City of this Republick City of Venice The City of VENICE is seated at the bottom of the Adriatick Sea or Gulph of Venice built on 72 Islands being distant from the main Land five miles and defended from the fury of the Sea by a Bank of sixty miles in length through which in seven places there are passages broken for small Vessels save only at Malamocco and the Castle of Leo which are strongly fortified it is about eight miles in circuit having for the conveniency of the Inhabitants about 4000 Bridges amongst which that of Rialto is the chief built over the Grand Canal which for length breadth and height may compare with any in the World and for the passage of People to and fro here are said to be employed about 10 or 12000 Gondelos all its Buildings are fair and beautiful here are 200 particular places built of Marble adorned with Columns Statues and Pictures of great
value erected by the Senators which for their Grandure are fit to lodge and entertain any Prince in Christendom most of which are seated on the Grand Canal Also the Royal and proud Palace of the Duke deserves a particular description which for its largness beauty and riches as well in its fabrick without as in its Pictures and Statues within exceeds all others then the Tribunals or Courts of Justice the Senate-house or great Hall Its Arsenal or Magazine of War being about two miles in circuit encompassed with high Walls and the Sea having but one place or Gate for entrance and only one Channel for Ships to pass in and out at and here is kept always in readiness about two hundred Gallies with all things fit for a Voyage or fight also here are kept a thousand Coats of Plate garnished with Gold and covered with Velvet but above all its Church of St. Mark which for its exteriour and interiour beauty and richness of its Ornaments have deservedly made this City famous and in this Church according to report lyeth the body of St. Mark the Patron of this City which was brought hither from Alexandria In this City are seventeen rich Hospitals 56 Tribunals 67 Parish Churches 26 Monasteries of Nuns 54 Convents of Fryars 18 Chappels and six Free-Schools for the increase of Learning It s Piazza or broad place of St. Mark adorned with sumptuous Fabricks Statues c. is a place much frequented by the Gentry This City is the only place where Policy Warfare and Merchandize have embraced one another the Gentry are here held in such esteem that it is held for the greatest honour they can bestow upon the best deserver to make him a Gentleman of this City and from them the Sonatours are chosen and out of them the Duke who in a manner is only titular not having the Regal power his Salary which is paid him out of the Common Treasury is forty thousand Duccals yearly In this Estate are two Patriarchs and 34 Bishops Dukedom of Mantoua The Dukedom of MANTOVA seated Northwards of the Estates of Venice It s chief City is so called a place of good strength encompassed on the sides with Water about a quarter of a mile broad and on the other side with a Wall it is seated on a River which emptieth it self into the Po. In this City Virgil that famous Poet was born Dukedom of Modena The Dukedom of MODENA formerly joyned to that of Mantoua hath for its chief City Modena famous for the Battle between Anthony and Augustus where Hirtius and Pansa the two Consults were slain and Anthony lost the day This place is the residence of its Dukes as Mantoua is of hers Dukedoms of Parma and Placentia The Dukedom of PARMA and PLACENTIA Northwards of Mantoua hath for its chief place Parma seated in a fruitful Plain five miles from the Appenuines It is about four miles in circuit adorned with many rich and stately Structures is very populous and well inhabited by Gentry who are much addicted to Learning and Arms it hath a fair and spacious Campagnia which feeds abundance of Sheep and here the Duke hath his Palace which is a place of great delight and state This Country boasts of its Parmasan-Cheese so much esteemed by some The chief place of Placenza is so called it is seated on the Po comodious for Traffick and famous for its Fairs in Exchanges here quarterly kept which are much resorted unto it is about five miles in compass a place of good strength and beauty being adorned with many fair and rich Structures and Churches Bishoprick of Trent The Bishoprick of TRENT whose chief City bears its names it is seated in a Plain and surrounded with Mountains of an excessive height being always covered with Snow by reason of which it is more fit for Wines than Corn. The City is not large but indifferent strong its Houses are fair and stately its Streets large its Churches beautiful and richly adorned and its Royal Palace sumptuous and stately This City is famous for the general Council there held for the establishment of the Roman Catholick Religion ITALY particularly so called The second part of Italy according to our method will contain the Estates of the CHVRCH and TOSCANE which may again be subdivided into others which are taken notice of in the Geographical Tables of which in order Territory of Ferraresse The Territory of FERRARESSE about 160 miles in length and 50 in breadth had once Dukes of its own but now belongs to the Pope its chief place is Ferrara so called from the Iron-Mines about it it is seated on the Po which serves as a Rampire to defend it on the one side as doth a strong Wall well fortified with a spacious Mote on the other side it is about five miles in compass beautifully built and adorned with superb Edifices and is accounted one of the pleasantest Cities in Italy having in the midst thereof a spacious Green into which doth open about 20 Streets most of which are about half a mile in length and so even and uniform that from thence the utmost ends of each may be easily discovered It is well inhabited rich and dignified with an Vniversity Province of Bolognois The Province of BOLOGNOIS Eastwards of Modena hath for its chief place Bologna once the head of 12 Cities it is seated on the River Aposa and in a large and fertil Territory for Corn Wine Fruits and Olives it is about five miles in circuit and begirt with a Wall This City is adorned with many fair and proud Buildings in which they observe a uniformity amongst which is the Pope's Palace for his retirement which for grandure and statelyness is fit to give entertainment to any Prince in Christendom It is dignified with the chief Vniversity of Italy famous for the study of the Civil Law it is proudly built having spacious Courts Province of Romandiola ROMANDIOLA or ROMAGNE Eastwards of Bolognese hath for its chief places 1. Ravenna seated on the Adriatick and once a place of good account having one of the fairest Havens in the World which is now choaked up This City was the seat of the Emperour Honorius and his Successors then of the Gothish Kings and lastly of its Patriarch but now as its Haven is choaked up so is the Land covered with water which makes it become useless 2. Rimini seated on the mouth of the River Rubicon 3. Cervia seated on the Adriatick Sea a place where so great quantity of Salt is made that the Popes part is valued yearly at 60000 Crowns and 4. Faenza Dukedom of urbin The Dutchy or Dukedom of VRBIN not long since fallen to the Holy Seat it lying in the midst of his Territories It s chief places are 1. Vrbin seated at the bottom of the Appennine formed like a Miter 2. Belfort seated in the Midland 3. Fano a Sea-port Town to Vrbin where the English do
of St. Michael Metz Toul Verdun and Nancy also part of Artois of Haynault and Luxembourg where are the Cities of Arras Avesnes Moutmedy c. Likewise the Principalities of Sedan and Arches whose chief place is Charleville also Rousillon on the Coast of Spain whose chief places are Perpignan Elne Collioure Salces c. Alsatia on the side of Germany and the Principality of Bress belonging to Mademoiselle d'Orleance but being to treat of these places in Germany and elsewhere I shall omit the description of them here Bishops Parliaments c. in France All France hath 15 Archbishops 105 Bishops 10 Parliaments amongst which the power of that of Paris extends as far as all the rest Under these Parliaments are 105 and odd Balliages or Justices-Royal immediate dependants on these Parliaments 24 Generalities and about 250 Elections and Receipts of Royal-Money And in the general Governments of the Militia about 2 or 300 Governments Chief Rivers This Kingdom is for the generality exceedingly furnished with Rivers the principal amongst which are the Loire Roane Garonne and Seine ALLEMAGNIA or GERMANY which may be considered in three great Parts whereof The first about the RHINE may be subdivided into three other parts to wit On this side the RHINE where are The French County Besanson Dole Lorraine Metz Nancy The Catholick Low Countries Anvers or Antwerp Brusselles Gand or Gaunt Lille Arras Upon the RHINE where are Alsace or Alsatia Strasbourg Fribourg Brisac Haguenau Palatinate of the Rhine Hildeberg Wormes Spire The Electorates of Mayence Treves Cologne The Estates of Cleves and Juliers Dusseldrop Wesel Juliers The Estates of the United Provinces Amsterdam Utrecht the Hague Beyond the RHINE where are Franconia Wirzbourg Nuremberg Francfort Hessie Cassel Marpurg Westphalie Munster Embden Soest The second about the DANUBE may be also divided into three other parts to wit Higher or SOVABIA which is divided into Suisse or Switzerland Basle Berne Zurich Geneve Coire Sovabia Ausbourg Constance Ulme Lindau Stutgard Mean or BAVARIA which is divided into Tirol Inspruck Feldkirck Dutchy of Bavaria Munick Lanshout Ratisbone Saltisbourg Passau Palatinate of Bavaria Amberg Lower or AUSTRICHE or AUSTRIA where are The Archbishoprick of Austria Vienne Lintz Crems The Hereditary Lands of Austria Stirie Creacz Carinthie St. Veit Carniola Lau-bach Cilley Cilley Vindis Marche Metling The third about the ELâ—E and ODER may be divided into two parts to wit The Highest comprehendeth the Estates of BOHEMIA where are the Kingdom of Bohemia Prague Cottenberg Pilsen Coningracz Budweiss Glatz Provinces incorperated to Bohemia as Silicle Breslau Lignitz Neisse Gros Glogau Lusacia Baudisseu Gorlitz Soraw Moravia Olmutz Brynne The Lowest comprehendeth SAXONY in general which may be divided inco into the Higher Saxony where are The Estates of Saxony Wittenberg Dreide Lipsick Erford The Marquisate of Brandenbourg Stendai Brandenbourg Berlin Lansperg Pomerania Stettin Straelsond Lower Saxony where are Two Archbishopricks Magdebourg Breme Three Bishopricks Ferden Hildesheim Halberstat Several Dutchies among which are those of Holsace Kille Gluckstad Meclebourg Rostock Suerin Lauvenbourg Lauvenbourg Lunenbourg Lunenbourg Brunswick Brunswick Wolsenbuttel Imperial Cities Lubeek Hambourg Gosâ—aâ— GERMANY about the Rhine may be considered On this side the RHINE in three Parts to wit FRANCHE COUNTY or BURGUNDY where are The Balliages of Amont Gray Dole Dole Aval Salins And some Mannors of the Empire as The Archbishopr and City of Besanson The County of Monbeliard LORRAINE where are the Dutchies c. of BARROIS Royal Bar-le-Duc Ducal St. Michael LORRAINE where are the Balliages of Francois Nancy Allemand Vaudrevange Vauge Mirecourt Bishopricks and Imperial Cities Metz Toul Verdun The CATHOLICK Low Country where are The Dutchies of Brabant Louvain Brusselles Limbourg Limbourg Mastciâ—h Luxembourg Luxembourg Thionville The Counties or Earldoms of Flanders Gand or Gaunt Brugge Lille Artois Arras St. Omer Hayâ—â—aut Mons Valenciennes Namur Namur The Marquisate of the Empire Anvers or Autwerp The Signiory of Malines Malines Also the Archbishoprick and Imperial City of Cambray Bishoprick and Imperial City of Liege Upon the RHINE in five Parts viz. ALSACE or ALSATIA On this side the Rhine where are The Sungou Altkirck The Higher Alsace Ensisheim Blome The Lower Alsace Strasbourg Haguenau Beyond the Rhine where are The Brisgou Fribourg Brissac The Mormau Offenbourg The Marquisate of Bade Durlach The PALATINATE of the Rhine under the name of which may be understood The Estates of the Palatinate Heidelberg Frankenâ—al The Estates of the Princes of the House Palatinate Zweibruâ—k Simmereâ— The Bishopricks and Imperial Cities of Spires Wormes The ELECTORATES Ecclesiasticks or Archbishopricks of Mayence Mayence Aschassenbourg Treves Treves Coblenz Cologne Cologne Bonne The Estates of the Succession of CLEVES and JULIERS To the Marquess of Brandenbourg as The Dutchy of Cleves Wesel The County of Marck Hamme To the Palatinate of New bourg as The Dutchy of Juliers Juliers The Dutchy of Bergâ—or Monâ— Dusseldrop The Estates of the UNITED PROVINCES of the Low Countries where are The Dutchy of Guelders Nieumegue Arnheim The Counties of Holland Amsterdam Dordrechâ— the Hague Zeland Mildebourg Zutphen Zutphen The Signiories of West Friezland Lievarden Groningue Groningue Utrecht Utrecht Over-Ysel Doventer And part of the Dutchy of Brabant Bosteduc Beyond the RHINE in three Parts to wit FRANCONIA where are The Ecclesiasticks or The Bishopricks of Wirtzbourg Bamberg The Order of Teut Mergetheim The Laicks or The Marquisate of Cullembach Onspach The Counties of Holac Weickersâ—eim Wertheim Wertheim The Imperial Cities of Nuremberg Francfort Schweifurt HESSE or HESSIA as it is divided into Hesse or Hessia Langraviat of Cassel Marpurg County of Waldeck Corbach Abbey of Fulde Witteravia divers Counties Nassau Solins Hanau Isenbourg WESTPHALIA where are The Ecclesiasticks or The Bishopricks of Munster Paderborne Minde The D. of Westphalia Arensberg The Counties c. of Embden Aurick Oldenbourg Oldenbourg Hoye Nienbourg Lippe Lipstad Ravensberg Herwood Benthem Benthem The Imperial Cities as Embden Zoest The Countries which consisteth of Seventeen Provinces to wit of Four Duchies to wit BRABANT where are the Quarters of Louvain Louvain Tilemond Ascot Brusselles Brusselles Nivelles Anvers Breda Berg op Zom Lire Saint Ulit Bosleduc Bosleduc Grave LIMBO'URG where are Limbourg Limbourg Vic de Mastric Adjacent Lands Fauquemont Dalem Rolduc LUXEMBOURG Luxembourg Thionville Arlon Bastoigne Monmedi Dam Villers GUELDRES where are four Quarters but that of ZUTPHEN is among the Counties Betuve Nieumegue Bommel Fort de Schenck Veluve Arnhem Harderwick Gueldres Ruremonde Gueldres Venlo Stefanswerdt Seven Counties viz. FLANDERS which is divided in Flanders Teutone Gand or Gaunt Bruges Ipres Gravelines Dunkirke Ostend Newport Scluce Flanders Wallone Lille Douay Tournay Orchies Flanders Imperlale Alost Hulst Axel ARTOIS Wallone Arras Hesdinfert Bappaumes St. Pol. Flamingant St. Omer Aire Bethune HAYNAUT Mons Valenciennes Maubeuge Avesnes Landrechies Philippeville Marienbourg NAMUR Namur Charlemont HOLLAND which is divided into North Holland Alemar Inchuse Horne South Holland Dort Delft Leyde or Leyden Harlem Amsterdam
The fourth thing which is next above this is a Dias for the Minutes of hours so that you shall see every Minute pass Two beautiful Pictures of two Children are joyned to either side of this he which is on the North-side hath a Scepter in his hands and when the Clock striketh he telleth orderly every stroke He on the South-side hath a fine Hour-glass in his hand which runneth just with the Clock and when the Clock hath stricken he turneth his Hour-glass which is run forth and holdeth it running The first thing which is next above the Minute-Dial is the Dial for the hour containing the half parts also the uttermost circumference containeth the hours but within it is made a curious and perfect Astrolabe whereby is shewed the motion of every Planet his aspect and in what Sign what degree and what hour every one is in every hour of the day the opposition likewise of the Sun and Moon and the Head and Tail of the Dragon And because the Night darkneth not the Sun nor the Day the Moon or other Planets therefore their Courses are here exactly seen at all times The sixth thing which is next unto this is a Circle wherein the two Signs of the Moon rising and falling at two several hollow places it is seen at what state she is and her Age is declared by an Index which is wholly turned about once every Month. The seventh thing which is about this are four little Bells whereon the Quarters of the hour are strucken at the First quarter cometh forth a little Boy and striketh the first Bell with an Apple and so goeth and stayeth at the fourth Bell until the next Quarter then cometh a lusty Youth and he with a Dart striketh two Bells and succeedeth into the place of the Child at the Third cometh forth a man in Arms with a War-Mace in his hand and striking three Bells he succeedeth into the place of the young Man at the Fourth quarter cometh forth an Old man with a Staff having a Crook at the end and he with much ado because he is Old striketh the four Bells and standeth at the Fourth quarter until the next Quarter forthwith to strike the Clock cometh Death in the Room above this for this is the eight thing and this understand that at every Quarter cometh he forth thinking to catch each of those former Ages away with him but at a contrary side in the same Room where he is cometh Christ forth and driveth him in but when the last Quarter is heard Christ giveth him leave to go to the Bell which is in the midst and so striketh he with his Bone according to the number of the hours and there he standeth at the Bell as the Old man doth at his quarter Bell until the next Quarter and then go they in both together The ninth and last thing in this right Line is the Town at the top of the Work wherein is a noble pleasant Chime which goeth at three seven and eleven of the Clock every time a diverse Tune to one of the Psalms and at Christmas Easter and Whitsontide a Thanksgiving unto Christ and when this Chime hath done the Cock which standeth on the top of the Town on the North-side of the main Work having stretched out his Neck shaken his Comb and clapped his Wings twice Crowseth then twice and this verily he doth so shrill and naturally as it would make any man to wonder and if they list which attend the Clock they make him to Crow more times In this Town whereon this Cock standeth are conveyed all the Instruments of those motions which are in the foresaid described things The other places of note in this Lower Alsatia are 2. Altkirck in the part of Sungou 3. Ensisheim in higher Alsatia 4. Frisbourg in Brisgou 6. Offenbourg in Mortnais and 7. Bade in the Marquisate Palatinate of the Rhine The PALATINATE of the RHINE which is divided or severed into the Estates of the Palatinate the Estates of the Princes of the House Palatinate and the Bishopricks and Imperial Cities of Spires and Wormes The chief places are Heidelberg seated in a Plain but environed on three sides with high Mountains and the other regards the Rhine from which it is distant about a mile it is dignified with the Seat of the Palsgraves as also with an Vniversity 2. Spires seated in a Plain about half a mile from the Rhine a City of more Antiquity than Beauty and Trade being of note for the Imperial Chamber here continually kept 3. Wormes a City also of good Antiquity for the many Imperial Parliaments here formerly held and 4. Frankendal a new fair strong and beautiful City about which grow great plenty of Rhenish Wines Electorates of Mayence Trives and Cologne The Electorates and Archbishopricks on the Rhine are those of MAYENCE whose chief places are Mayence and Aschaffenbourg of TREVES whose chief places are Treves and Coblentz and of COLOGNE whose principal places are Cologne and Bonne Cleaveland The Estates of the Succession of CLEAVELAND contain the Dutchies of Cleves of Julier and of Berge The Dutchy of Cleves and County of Marke is in the Marquisate of Brandenburgh Dutchy of Cleves and hath for its chief places Wesel and Hamme in the County of Marks Dutchy of Juliers The Dutchy of JVLIERS hath for its chief places Aken where the Emperour after his Election is invested with the Silver Crown of Germany this place is of great esteem for its holy Relicks and 2. Juliers The Dutchy of BERGE or MONTE hath for its chief places Dusseldrop Hattingen and Arusberg The VNITED PROVINCES UNder the name of the Vnited Provinces of the LOW COVNTRIES or NETHERLANDS are contained the Dutchy of Guelders the Earldoms of Holland Zeland and Zutphen and the Lordships of Vtrecht Overyssel Groningue and Malines Dutchy of Guelderland The Dutchy of GVELDERS or GVELDERLAND Westwards of Brabant is divided into the Quarters of Betuve Veluve and Guelders particularly so called wherein are the Towns of 1. Nieumegue once a Free City seated on the branch of the Rhine called Whael and made one of the Imperial Seats in these parts by Charles the Great the other two being Thionvil and Aken 2. Arnhem the usual residence of the Dukes of Guelders 3. Ruremond so called from the River Ruer and Monde 4. Harderwick from a Village made a walled Town by Otho the third Earl 5. Guelders 6. Venlo and 7. Bommel Earldom of Holland The Earldom of HOLLAND hath on the West and North the Seas from which no part is above three hours distance in this Earldom are said to be about 400 Villages and 23 Towns the chief of which are Amsterdam which of late by the addition of the new to the old is a fair strong and beautiful City being the most rich and powerful of all the Netherlands famous for its great Trade to the utmost parts of the World and as infamous for its
toleration of all Religions It is seated on the Tay which like a large but calm Sea floweth on the North-side and the River Amster taking its course from the South through three Lakes entreth the City passeth through it and falleth into the Tay. This City may be said to be the greatest Haven Town in the VVorld where there are commonly to be seen about a 1000 Sail of Ships to ride and by reason of its vast Trade to Foreign parts is found to have great plenty of all known Commodities as being general Traders to most places of Traffick 2. Rotterdam famous for giving Birth to Erasmus 3. Delft inhabited most by Brewers and their Relations 4. Harlem where Printing was first invented and the first Book that ever was Printed was Tully's Offices 5 Leyden dignified with a famous Vniversity the Town consisteth of 41 Islands the passage from one to the other being by Boats and Bridges there being about 40 of Wood and 110 of Stone 6. Dort where in Anno 1618. was held a National Synod against the Arminians 7. Brille 8. Alemar 9. Incluse and 10 the Hague a Village but the largest in the VVorld equalizing many fair Cities numbring about 2000 Houses and is very populous it is adorned with the Palaces of the States General who have here their Assemblies It will not be improper to speak of the power of these States by Sea which is so great than in Holland Zeland and Friezland they are able to put forth to Sea about 2500 Sail of Ships for burthen and war Nor can it be forgot how Margaret A strange Birth of 365 Children Sister to Floris the Fourth Earl of Holland had at one Birth being 42 years of Age 365 Children which were all Christned in two Basons in the Church of Lasdunen by Guido Bishop of Vtrecht who named the Males all Johns and the Females Elizabeths and the Basons are yet to be seen in the said Church The Earldom of ZELAND quasi Sea and Land Zeland consisting of seven Islands the remainder of fifteen which the Seas are said to have swallowed up in which were abundance of good Towns and Villages The seven Isles yet remaing are 1. Walcheren whose principal Towns are Middlebourg once enjoying a good Trade by the residence of the English Merchant-Adventurers and Flushing the first Town that the States took from the Spaniards being now a place of good strength and held to be the Key of the Netherlands The second Isle is South Beverland whose chief Town is Tergowse The third Schoven where are Sirexee and Brevers Haven The fourth Tolen whose principal place is Tertolenâ— the other three Islands are North-Beverland Duveland and Wolferdike This Country is destitute of Fresh-water and Wood but in recompence is very fertil in Grains Earldom of Zutphen The Earldom of ZVTPHEN whose chief places are Zutphen seated on the Yssel a place of great strength Barony of utrecht The Barony of VTRECHT North of Holland hath 70 Villages and 5 walled Towns the chief of which are 1. Vtrecht a City commodiously feated for passage by Boats to divers other Towns which with the benefit of the common Ferries one may go in a day from hence to any of the 59 walled Towns equally distant from it and to Dinner to any of the 26 Towns and return at Night 2. Rhenen 3. Amsford 4. Wicket and 5. Montfort Barony of Overyssel The Barony of OVERYSSEL bounded on the East with Wesphalia its chief places are Deventer and Swoll in the quarter of Saland Oldenzee in the quarter of Tuente and Goevorden in the quarter of Drente Westfriezlands The Barony of WEST-FRIEZLAND is bounded on the VVest and North with the Sea is said to number 340 Villages and 10 Towns the chief of which are 1. Louvarden where there is held the Common Council for the Province 2. Harlingen a Maritim Town 3. Franicker of late made a University and 4. Dockum Groningue The Barony of GRONINGVE is a Town in West-Friezland having under its Jurisdiction 145 Villages of which the chief are Groningue Old Haven and Keykerke Under the name of Germany beyond the Rbine we comprehend Franconia Hessia and Westphalia Province of Franconia The Province of FRANCONIA is divided into three parts viz. into Ecclesiasticks or Bishopricks Laicks and Imperial Cities the Bishopricks are those of Writzberg Bamberg and Mergetheim Cites of good account the Laicks are the Marquisates of Cullembach and Onspach and the Counties of Holas whose chief place is Weickersheim and Wertheim whose chief place bears the same name and the Imperial Cities are 1. Nuremberg seated in a barren Soil yet by reason of the Industry of its Inhabitants is a place of good Riches and well frequented by Merchants for their Wares known by the name of Nuremberg-Wares 2. Francfort seated on the Moene which severeth it into two parts but joyned together by a fair Bridge It is encompassed with a strong double Wall it is a Free City of the Empire and famous for the two Fairs or Marts for Books here annually held the one in Lent and the other in September and 3. Schweinfurt Lantgravedom of Hassia The Lantgravedom of HASSIA Eastwards of Saxony its chief places are 1. Cassel a City seated in a fertil Soil yet of no great beauty 2. Marpurg an Vniversity and the Seat of the Second House of the Lantgraves and 3. Dormestad the Seat and Inheritance of the youngest House of the Lantgraves To this Province doth belong the Country of WALDECK whose Earls are subject to the Lantgraves its chief place is Gorbach Likewise to this Province belongeth WETTERAVIA whose chief places are Nassau Solins Hanâ—u and Isenbourg Province of Westphalia The Province of WESTPHALIA is divided into three parts to wit Ecclesiasticks Counties and Imperial Cities This Province was the ancient habitation of the Saxons the Soil is very fertil wonderfully stored with Acorns which makes their Swines-flesh excellent and so much esteemed The chief places in the Ecclesiasticks are those of Paderborne Minde and Arensberg also the Bishopricks of Collen Munster and Triers The Bishoprick of COLLEN taketh up a great part of Westphalia Bishoprick of Collen c. and hath for its chief place Collen a City well stored with Schools for the education of Youth and here according to Report were interr'd the Bodies of the three Wise-men which came from the East to worship our Saviour vulgarly called the three Kings of Collen The Bishoprick of MVNSTER hath its chief place so called seated on the River Ems where there is a Monastery so called built by Charles the Great 2. Warendrop and 3. Herwerden The Bishoprick of TRIERS hath for its chief places 1. Triers an ancient City seated on the Moselle 2. Bopport seated on the said River and 3. Engers The Counties belonging to Westphalia The Counties belonging to the Province of Westphalia are 1. EMBDEN whose chief place is Aurick 2. OLDENBOVRG whose chief place is
so called 3. HOYE which hath for its chief place Nienbourg 4. LIPPE whose chief place is Lipstad 5. RAVENSBERG whose chief place is Herword and 6. BENTHEM whose chief place bears the fame name And lastly Imperial Cities the Imperial Cities are those of Embden seated low and therefore no good VVinter City but in the Summer is very pleasant and Zoest of some account We have already subdivided Germany about the Danube it parts as they are set down in the Geographical Table of Germany about the Danube are as followeth Province of Sovabia with its Parts The Province of SOVABIA is divided into several parts and Bishopricks viz. the Bishoprick of AVSBOVRG whose chief places are Dillengen and Fuessen The Bishoprick of CONSTANCE whose chief place is Mersbourg The Bishoprick of COIRE whose chief place is Marsoila The Dutchy of WIRTENBERG whose chief places are Stutgard dignified with the Seat and residence of the Duke and Tubingue of note for being a University both Imperial Cities The Marquisate of BVRGAV which hath for its chief place Guntzbourg Part of the Marquisate of BADENDVRLACK hath for its principal place Baden seated on the Rhine and honoured with the residence of the Marquess for the Winter Season as Milberg is for the Summer The County of FVRSTENBERG hath for its chief place Meskirch The County of HOHENBERG whose chief place is Ehingen The County of RHINFELD hath for its chief places Rhinfelden and Lauffenbourg The Barony of WALDBOVRG whose chief place bears the fame name The Marquisate of ANSPACH whose chief place bears the fame name The Bishoprick of WEIRTSBERG whose chief place bears fame name The Bishoprick of MENTZ whose chief place is so called seated on the Moene this Bishop is the chief Elector of Germany The Bishoprick of BAMBERG hath for its chief places Bamberg seated on the Moene and Fochiam where as 't is said Pontius Pilate was born Besides these Parts or Countries there are several IMPERIAL CITIES Imperial Cities as they lye on this side and beyond the Rhine as 1. Ausbourg seated on the Leith in a fruitful Plain for Corn and Pastures Northwards of the Alpes from which it is not far distant it is a Free City of the Empire governed by a Senate of Citizens and is a place of beauty and good strength 2. Constance 3. Vberlingue with twelve others as are mentioned in the Geographical Table of Germany about the Danube Switzerland and its parts The Province of SWITZERLAND the SWISSES or HELVETIA South of Italy and Savoy is divided into 13 Cantons and Confederates with them are 12 or 13 Allies and 20 or 25 Subjects all which with the names of the several Cantons c. are set down in the Geographical Table of Switzerland The whole Country is in length 240 miles and about 180 in breadth it is exceeding populous and the Men being good Souldiers and addicting themselves to the Wars serve under the Colours of any Prince that hireth them This Country is said to lie the highest of any in Europe as sending forth four Rivers which run through its quarters viz. the Rhine Danube the Po and the Roanus But to proceed to its chief places in the Cantons and then with those Confederate with them and 1. Basle seated on the Rhine which separates it into the greater and lesser Basle once an Imperial City but now joyned to the Cantons it is of note for its University for the notable Council here held and for the Sepulchers of Erasmus Hottoman Clareanus and Pontanus 2. Zurich seated on the Lake Zurisca which separates it into two parts but joyned together with three fair Bridges that in the midst serving for a Meeting-place for Merchants 3. Lucerne seated on the banks of a great Lake so called 4. Steine 5. Berne 6. Soleurne 7. Fribourg and 8. Schafshouse Common-wealth of Geneva Amongst the Confederates with the Switzers the chief are the Common-wealth of GENEVA whose Territories though not above eight miles in circuit and and the City not above two miles in circuit is said to contain about 16 or 17000 Souls it is seated on the Lake Lemanus through which the River Rhosne takes its course which divides the City in two parts it is a fair City well fortified and wholly in the possession of the Protestants and since the Reformation is become a flourishing University The Government of this Estate is by a Common-Council consisting of 200 the four chief amongst them are called Syndiques The Magistrates of this City allow of all Civil Recreations on Sundays to their Ministers they allow no Tithes but give them yearly Stipends The Grissons Sangal Vallais The GRISSONS hath for its chief place Coire also SANGAL and the Territory of VALLAIS or Valesia seated wholly amongst the Alpes a Country of no great bigness consisting in craggy Rocks and impassible Hills yet intermixed with delightful and rich Vallies It s chief places are Sittin or Sion the only walled Town in the Country and is a place of great strength as well by Nature as Art being seated on a high and steep Hill 2. Martinach of note for its Antiquity and 3. Augaunum or St. Maurice esteemed the Key of the Country especially in the Winter the Ice stopping all other entrances here being a Bridge over the Rhine for that purpose which is strongly built and as well fortified and guarded for fear of a Surprizal Besides these several other Places Bishopricks and Cities which are their Allies and Subjects which I have observed in the Geographical Table of Switzerland Province of Bavaria with Its parts Dukedom of Tirol The Province of BAVARIA is divided into the Dukedom of Tirol the Dutchy of Bavaria and the Palatinate of Bavaria The Estates of the Dukedom of TIROL is about 70 miles in length and as much in breadth it hath for its chief places 1. Inspruck seated on the Oenus 2. Trent a Bishoprick seated on the River Adesis famous for the General Council there held by Pope Paul the Third against the Doctrines of Luther and Calvin which continued off and on for the space of 18 years 3. Tirol and 4. Feldkirch The Soil of this Country is very fertil and in many places hath store of Silver-Mines which are found profitable to the Arch-Dukes Dutchy of Bavaria The Dutchy of BAVARIA hath for its chief places 1. Munick seated on the Aser dignified with the residence of the Duke 2. Saltzbourg seated on the River Saltzech a City honoured with a Bishoprick and here lieth interr'd the Body of Paracelsus 3. Passau famous for the often meeting here of the German Princes 4. Ratisbone seated on the Danow of note for the interview here made between the Emperour Charles the Fifth and Maurice Duke of Saxony 5. Frisingue seated on the ascent of a Hill and not far from the River Mosacus and 6. Ingulstad seated on the Danube and dignified with an University Palatinate of Bavaria The Palatinate of BAVARIA hath for its
no great account by reason of its dangerous scituation its chief place is Niburg ARROE a small Isle belonging to the Duke of Sleswick Arroe it contains three Towns the chief of which is Koping fortified with a Castle so called LONGLAND an indifferent long Isle but not very broad Longland its chief place is Rudkoping of some account LALAND not far distant from Zeland abounds in Corn and Chesuuts Laland fraighting therewith many Vessels yearly it is very populous for the bigness contains 3 Towns viz. Maxcow Rodby and Maribo besides a great many Villages and some Castles FALSTER a small Isle fertil in Corn seated near to Laland Falster its chief places are Nikoping of a pleasant scituation and Stubekoping In the Baltick and between the Lands of Sweden are also several Isles the chief amongst which are BORNHOLME Bornholm seated not far from Gothland an Isle very fertil feeding abundance of Cattle It hath many gooâ— Towns and Villages the chief of which are Nex Rottonby and Suomneckier GOTHLAND Gothland an indifferent large Isle in form round and narrow noâ— in the possession of the Swedes It yields white Marble excellent for building the City of Wisby seated in the midst of the Isle was once so famous foâ— Traffick that it gave Maritim Laws to the Baltick Sea That which the King of Denmark possesses as particularly belonging to thaâ— Crown on the Coast of Scandinavia is part of the ancient Gothland thâ— most Southern of which that we are now treating of is divided into Westro-Gothland and Ostro-Gothland which are again subdivided into the Provincâ— of Hallandia which takes up Westro-Gothland and into the Provinces oâ— Scania and Blecking which takes up Ostro Gothland and first of Hallandia HALLANDIA Hallandia now in the possession of the Swedes this Country oâ— Province for fertility of Soil sweetness of Air store of Fish plenty of Leaâ— and Brass Mines and thickness of Towns and Villages which are well inhabited is not inferiour to any It s chief places are 1. Warborg seated on thâ— Sea-shoar and defended by a strong Castle built on the summit of a Hill sâ— that it hath a great command over the Country 2. Laholm 3. Helmstâ—â— 4. Falkenborg and 5. Hallandia or Katterop SCANIA Scanrâ— or SCONEN hath on the North Hallandia and on all otheâ— parts the Sea also now in the Swedes possession It is about 70 miles long and 48 broad the pleasantest Country in all Denmark most abundant iâ— Fruits and richest in Merchandize and on the Sea-side are sometimes such great sholes of Herrings that they are found troublesom to Vessels It s chieâ— places are 2. Lunden an Inland City dignified with the sole or Metropolitaâ— Archbishop of Denmark the chiefest beauty in this City is the Cathedraâ— Church a magnificent Structure beautified with excellent pieces of Art thâ— chief whereof are the Clock and the Dial the Clock being so composed bâ— Artificial Engines that whensoever it striketh two Horsemen give one another as many blows as the Clock striketh times also upon the opening of 〈◊〉 Door there is represented a Theatre where the Virgin Mary is seated on 〈◊〉 Throne with Christ in her Arms to whom the three Kings with their severâ— Trains come in order and with reverence present their Gifts to her during which time two Trumpeters continually sound And next the Dial wherâ— the year month week day and hour of the day throughout the year as also the motions of the Sun and Moon through each degree of the Zodiack thâ— moveable and fixed Feasts c. are to be distinctly seen being neatly set forâ—â— in variety of delightful Colours 2. Helsinborg fortified with an impregnablâ— Castle and one of the Forts defending the Sound 3. Christiana a place 〈◊〉 great strength and 4. Malbogen a Port-Town opposite to Copenhagen BLECKLINGE Blecklinge also belonging to the Swedes hath on the East anâ— South the Baltick Sea It is a Mountainous and barren Country and hatâ— for its chief places 1. Malinogia the Birth-place of the famous Mathematiciaâ— Gaspar Bartholinus who was said to be the inventer and maker of the afore said Clock and Dial. 2. Colmar an important Fortress against the Swedes until they gained the Province The Soil of Denmark is naturally better for Pasture than Tillage and feed such multitude of Oxen that at least 50000 are said to be yearly sent hence tâ— Germany Their other Commodities are Fish Tallow Furniture for Shipping Armour Ox-hides Buck-skins Wainscot Fir-wood Furrs Pipe-staves Copper Wheat Rye c. A Generall Mapp of Scandinavia Where are the Estates and Kingdomes of Danmarke Norwaye and Sweden by Monsieur Sanson To the R t Worshippfull S. r Thomas Fitch of Eltham and Mount Mascall in the parish of North Cray in Kent K. t This Mapp D. D by R. B. NORWAY It s scituation temperature fertility Commodities c. THe Country of NORWAY is bounded on the North with Lippia on the East with the Dofrine Mountains which divide it from Sweden and on all other sides with the Sea on which with a disproportionate breadth it stretches its Coasts for 1300 miles in length The Country is extreamly cold being partly under the Frozen Zone and partly so near it that it all suffers under the inclemency of bitter Colds It is for the most part Mountainous full of vast Woods and of a Soil so barren and ungrateful to the Husbandman affording so little Corn that on many places the people live on dried Fish instead of Bread known to us by the name of Stock-fish but the richer sort of people buy Corn of such Merchants as come to Trade with them The principal Commodities that this Country affordeth is great plenty of Firrs Deal-boards Timber Tar Masts and Furniture for Shipping also Stock-fish Train-oyle rich Furrs Copper Pipe-staves c. which the Inhabitants exchange for Corn Cloths Kersies Lead Tinn Stockings c. The Country is exceedingly annoyed with certain small Beasts about the bigness of a Mouse by them called Lemmers which at a certain time are so innumerable that like Locusts they devour all the verdure of the Earth and at a certain time die in heaps which proves very noisom to the people infecting the Air and the Sea is as bad troubled with Whales The Inhabitants are said to be just Dealers punishers of Theft and other Vices and were accounted formerly great Warriors Norway divided into five Governments viz. This Kingdom is divided into five Governments which take their names from the places where the Governours reside in all which the Towns are exceeding thin and the Houses as poor The five Parts are as followeth BAHVS belonging to the Swedes is the most Southward Bahus the chief places are Bahus the residence of the Governour to which are subject the Towns of Congel seated on the Sea and of some Trade and Marstrand seated in a Demi-Island of note for the great quantity of Herrings here caught AGGERHVS
him to instruct the Child to have a devotion to his Saint Ecclesiastical Government Their Ecclesiastical Government consists of a Patriarch which is the Head of the Church and as it were Pope who hath under him several Metropolitans Archbishops Bishops Arch-Deacons Proto-Popes and Priests The Grand Duke of Moscovy is absolute Lord both of the Lives and Estates of his Subjects whom he treats little better than Slaves his chiefest aim being for what he can get more than the good and welfare of his People being not subject to Laws but makes what seemeth good unto him which though never so tyrannical are strictly obeyed yet he will seem to take advice of his Knez and Bojares who are as his Privy Council His Revenues and Riches cannot but be great from the several ways from which he raiseth it as by Illegal Taxes Customes his Lands and what he taketh from his Subjects at pleasure He is apparelled like a King and a Bishop wearing with the Royal Robes a Miter and a Crosiers-Staff and observeth a great deal of state and grandure The Estates of MOSCOVY comprehend 3 Kingdoms about 30 Dutchies or Provinces and about 20 People or Nations who live by hoords or Communalties all which I have taken notice of in the Geographical Table of Moscovy The Country is not so populous as spacious nor very well frequented by Strangers so that I cannot give so good account thereof as otherwise I would of which in order Province of Dwina DWINA a Province of a large extent but very barren hath for its chief places Dwina seated on the River so called which falls into the Northern Ocean and on the Mouth of the said River on the Sea-shoar is seated the City of St. Michael commonly called Arch-Angel a place of note for its great Trade and much resorted unto by the English PLESKOW Pleskow a large Province whose chief place is so called being large and fain and the only walled City in the Empire a place of great strength very populous and dignified with an Episcopal See NOVOGRODECK Novogrodeck very Northernly seated a Province also of a large extent whose chief place is so called seated on the River Naf dignified with and Episcopal See a City which for fairness and largness might once compare with any in Russia being formerly one of the Mart-Towns of Europe which is now removed to St. Nicholas a Port-Town more convenient for the Moscovian Trade CARGAPOL WOLOGDA and BIELEZERO whose chief places bear their names are Provinces of this Dukedom Province of Moscovia MOSCOVIA is one of the largest Provinces in all Russia and seated in the midst of this large Estate so called from Mosco its Metropolitan City seated on a River so called dignified with the Imperial Seat as also with the See of the Patriarch This City before its firing by the Tartars was 9 or 10 miles in circuit but now not above half the compass it is very populous and hath for Divine worship 16 Churches of which about half are made of Wood and Dirt as are most of the Houses The Palace of the Great Duke is seated in the heart of the City a large Structure well fortified with 17 Turrets and 3 great Bulwarks which are always guarded with about 25000 Souldiers which with two Castles seated in the outward parts of this City is its only defence being without a Wall or Ditch WOLODOMIRE is a Dutchy very fertil in Corn Wolodimire its chief City being so called once dignified with the residence of the Great Duke till removed to Mosco from which it is distant 36 Leagues now dignified with an Episcopal See T WER is a fair T wer fertil and populous Province washed by the Volga its chief place is so called dignified with the See of a Bishop which for beauty and largness may compare with Mosco from which it is distant about 140 miles RESCHOWA Reschowa a Dutchy Bielski which takes its name from its chief City as doth the Dutchy of BIELSKI from Biela REZAN is a Dutchy so fertil that its fellow cannot be found in all these parts yielding Corn to admiration Rezan it s chief City also hears the same name which is seated on the River Occa dignified with an Episcopal See WOROTIN Worotin a Province also so called from its chief City seated on the said River Occa and defended by a strong Castle PERMSKI Permski a Province of a large extent its chief City is so called seated on the River Vischora WIATKA Wiatka a barren and woody Country and much pester'd with the Incursions of the Crim Tartars its chief place being so called PETZORA is a Province fenced on all sides by losty Mountains and Rocks Petzora its chief place takes the name of the Province seated on a River so called near its fall into the Sea and on these Mountains are found excellent Hawks and Sables which bring some profit to the Inhabitants Other Provinces INHORSKI CONDORA OVSTIOVGA SVSDAL ROSTHOW and JAROSLAV are Provinces of this Dukedom Towards the South Cason and about the Don and the Volga are several Cities People and Fortresses as are mentioned in the Geographical Table as are several Provinces or Estates upon and beyond the River Oby Besides these Provinces the Grand Duke holds at present towards Asia the Kingdoms of Casan Bulgaria and Astracan CASAN is a Kingdom in Tartaria Deserta Bulgaria whose chief place is so called seated on the Volga now dignified with the See of a Bishop is in the Kingdom of BVLGARIA whose chief place is so called ASTRACAN lieth on the Volga Astracan whose chief place is so called enjoyeth a good Trade especially by the Armenians by reason of its commodious scituation on the branches of the Volga about 20 Italian miles from the Caspian Sea The ISLES of GREAT BRITAIN with the Territorles thereto belonging are those of GREAT BRITAIN where are at this day two Kingdoms and one Principallty to wit The Kingdom of ENGLAND which according to the SAXON HEPTARCHY hath had Seven Kingdoms viz. Kingdom of KENT Canterbury Rochester Kingdom of SOUTH SAXONS Southwards Chichester Winchelsey Kingdom of EAST ANGLES Norwich Ipswich Cambridge Ely Kingdom of EAST SAXONS Colchester London Kingdom of WEST SAXONS Exeter Bristol Rath Salisbury Southampton Dorchester Kingdom of NORTHUMDERS York Lancaster Durham Carlifle Barwick Kingdom of MERCIA Leicester Lincoin Nortingham Darby Oxford Gloucester Worcester Leichfield Chester Hereford The Principallty of WALES as it was divided into SOUTH WALES Brecknock Cardigan Cardiff Monmouth NORTH WALES Flint Denbigh Carnarvan Mongomary The Kingdom of SCOTLAND which hath once had the Kingdoms of the SCOTS beyond the Tay Cromartly Eigin Aberdone Perch Dunkeldon PICTS on this side the Tay Dunslafag Dunkirton St. Andrews Dunblain Sterling Edinburgh Glasco IRELAND or The Kingdom of IRELAND with its Provinces which were formerly so many Kingdoms viz. ULSTER Donegal Dungannon Armagh Tredagh MUNSTER Cassile Lymerick Kinsale Corke
accommodation of its Inhabitants is traded unto by 8 Market Towns Cambridge seated in an Air somewhat unhealthful Cambridge occasioned through the Fenny-grounds near adjoyning and on the River Cam or Grant navigable for Barges which separates it into two but unequal parts which are joyned together by a Bridge 'T is a place of great antiquity being said to derive its name from Cantabar a Spaniard who about 375 years before the Incarnation of Christ had there setled the Muses Seat but more certain it is that Sigilbert the first Christian King of the East Saxons established here several Schools and of no less fame for its University or Seminary of true Learning which is its chiefest ornament being adorned with 16 Colledges and Halls many of which are superb Buildings and by reason of these Seminaries it is a place of a large extent numbring 14 Parish Churches is beautified with well built Houses its Streets are paved and well ordered is well inhabited enjoyeth a good Trade and its Market on Saturdays is sufficiently furnished with Provisions which are had at easie rates It is a Town Corporate endowed with ample Immunities and sendeth 4 Burgesses to Parliament viz. two for the Vniversity and two for the Town Nigh unto Cambridge Southwards are Gogmagog-Hills which are of a great eminency and yet retain the remembrance of the Danish Station and of these Hills the Country people tell fine stories Ely seated in a fenny and waterish place and on the banks of the Owse Ely which rendreth it very unhealthful it is a City of more antiquity than beauty being but meanly built nor overmuch frequented or inhabited and would be far less were it not for being the See of a Bishop whose Palace is so ruinous that it is uninhabitable but its Cathedral or Minister is a lofty structure and beautified with a stately Lenthorn of curious Architecture It is a City that enjoyeth ample Immunities for in the Isle of Ely the Bishop hath all the rights of a Count Palatine and beareth chief sway therein appointing a Judge for the hearing of Causes within the said Isle he also holdeth Assizes Goal-delivery and Quarter-Sessions of the Peace and hath his chief Bayliff and other Officers and although the City is but meanly inhabited yet its Market on Saturdays is well served with Provisions New-Market New-Market seated part in this County and part in Suffolk and in a large and pleasant Heath so called a place of some largness containing two Parish Churches and is well inhabited and much resorred unto by the Gentry by reason of its commodious scituation for Horse-races and Hunting being both Recreations that his Majesty taketh so great delight in that he hath there his Palace for his reception which adds no small advantage to the Town often honouring it with his Royal presence It s Market is on Tuesdays which is not very considerable by reason of its vicinity to Bury and Cambridge Caxton seated in the Clay and on the North-road a small Town Caxton and hath a little Market on Tuesdays Royston seated on the high Road to Huntington in a bottom amongst Hills Royston and part in this County and part in Hartfordshire It is a large well inhabited Town and hath a considerable Market on Wednesdays for Provisions especially for Mault here and in parts adjacent made in great quantities Cheshire described CHESHIRE a County Palatine of a rich and fertil Soil both for Tillage and Pasturage feeding abundance of Cattle and affording plenty of Corn Fish especially Salmon Fowl Butter Cheese and Salt which is their staple commodity and here had in great plenty and out of the Rocks and Quarries broad Slates and fair Stones for building are dug as are Mill-stones out of Moucop-Hill It is well furnished with Timber and Fuel from its Woods and Forests of Delamer and Maxfield is plentifully watered with Rivers Meers and Pools hath several Heaths and Mosses The ancient People were the Cornavii of Ptolomy and afterwards became part of the Kingdom of the Mercians In this County are seated 86 Parish Churches besides 38 Chappels of Ease and hath Traffick with 13 Market Towns Chester Chester or West-Chester a City of great antiquity said to be raised from the Fort of Ostorius Lieutenant of Britain for Claudius the Emperour and of a pleasant scituation on the Dee over which it hath a fair Stone-bridge sustained by eight Arches at each end of which is a Gate but the Channel is now so choaked up with Sand that it is scarce navigable for small Vessels so that all Ships now come to a place called New-Key about 6 miles distant It s form is Quadrangular and taketh up about two miles in circuit within its Wall on which are 7 Watch-Towers and which gives entrance by 4 Gates and 3 Posterns and of these Gates the East-Cate is esteemed one of the stateliest Gates in England For its further defence it hath a large Castle seated on a Rocky Hill where the Shire Hall is which something resembleth that of Westminster where all matters concerning the County Palatine are tried by their peculiar Officers The City is large numbring to Parish Churches beside its Minster or Cathedral a large structure adjoyning to which is the Bishops Palace it is beautified with divers fair Buildings both publick and private is graced with large and well ordered Streets is well frequented and inhabited by Gentry and Assizes are kept as also for being the usual place of taking Shippipng for Ireland with which it hath a great intercourse and hath a considerable Trade It is governed by a Major 2 Sheriffs 24 Aldermen a Recorder and Sub-Officers enjoyeth ample Immunities and sendeth Burgesses to Parliament which no other Town in the County doth It is well served with Provisions for besides its Shambles it hath two considerable Markers weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays Not far from this City is the Forest of Delamer where Aedested the Mercian Lady built a small City long since reduced to ruins which place is now called The Chamber in the Forest Nantwich Nantwich seated on the Wever the largest and best built Town next to Chester in the Country and is graced with a goodly spacious Church It is a place well inhabited and frequented chiefly occasioned for its Salt-pits or Salt-wich for the making of white Salt here had in great plenty and its Market which is on Saturdays is sufficiently provided with all Provisions and necessaries especially Corn and Cattle Malpas Malpas scituate on a great eminency and on the River Dee a fair Town containing 3 Streets which are paved and well ordered it hath an Hospital and Grammar School and its Market on Mondays is of good account Middlewich Middlewich seated between Nantwich and Northwich a large Town containing several Streets and Lanes its chief place being called the Kings-Mexon The Town is of note for its Salt-pits and making of Salt and hath a good Market for Provisions on
Inlet thereof a very good traded Town and hath a considerable Market for all Provisions especially Fish on Thursdays St. Ivâ—â— St. Ivos or St. Ithes seated on an open Bay so called chiefly frequented by Fishermen for the taking of Pilchards and other Fish which are here plentifully caught It is a Town Corporate governed by a Major a Justice and 12 Aldermen sendeth Burgesses to Parliament and hath 2 Markets weekly viz. on Wednesdays and Saturdays It is observed that Men live here to a very great Age and are stronger hardy and addicted to wrestling pitching the Bar and other boysterous sports more than any other English men By Helford is a great Rock lying upon the ground the top whereof is hollow and filled with water which ebbs and flows as the Sea doth There is a very great Rock in this Shire called Mainamber which rests upon other smaller Rocks which with the push of a finger may be moved but cannot be moved out of its place by all the Art men can use Country of Cumberland described CVMBERLAND a County far engaged Northwards is very Mountainous and much inclined to sterility yet not without many fertil Valleys both for Tillage and Pasturnge It hath an Air very sharp and would be more were it not for the high Hills that break off the Northern and Western Storms In the howels of the Earth are rich Mines of Copper in great plenty also those of Iron Lead Black-lead â—oal and some of Silver and the Sea and large Lakes and Meers plentifully furnish the Inhabitants with Fish and Fowl And besides these Commodities this County produceth several Manufactures amongst which heretofore Fustians and now Linnen-cloth and course Broad-cloths in great plenty The Mountains of most note are Black-koum Hard-knot Wrey-nose Skiddow and Crossfell c. It is well watered with Rivers and hath many Lakes and Meers This Shire of all others in England sheweth the most Roman Antiquities for being in the utmost limits of their possessions it was always secured by their Garrisons and defended by that admirable Wall called the Picts Wall which ran from Sea to Sea about 100 miles and was 8 foot broad and 12 foot high and having at every 1000 paces a Watch-Tower erected in which Souldiers were kept and on this Wall grows the Vulnerary Plant. And being thus in the confines of Scotland it was exceedingly strengthned with Castles having about 25 publick ones besides the Houses of the Nobility and Gentry which were generally built Castle-wise It is severed into 5 Waâ—ds in which are 58 Parish Churches besides divers Chappels of Ease and hath 15 Market Towns Carlisle a City of great antiquity Carlisle and no less pleasantly than commodiously seated at the influx or meeting of several Rivers viz. the Eden Cauda and Petterill which on all parts except the South encompass it and for its further defence it is fortified with a strong and large Castle and Cittadel and fenced about with a strong Wall first built by Egfrid King of Northumberland which was defaced by the Danes and again rebuilt by King Rufus Its Houses are fair and well built is beautified with a Cathedral Church of curious workmanship it enjoyeth several Immunities sendeth Burgesses to Parliament is governed by a Major 12 Aldermen 2 Bailiffs and other sub-Officers It is a place well inhabited and traded unto chiefly for Fustians and its Market which is on Saturdays is very considerable for Corn Wool Provisions and several Country Commodities Cockermouth seated between the Derwent and the Coker Cockermouth which almost encompass it over which are two fair Stone-Bridges and between two Hills upon one of which standeth the Church a fair building and upon the other a spacious and stately Castle It is a well inhabited Borough Town graced with fair Buildings enjoyeth a good Trade especially for course Broad-clothâ— here made hath the election of Parliament men and its Market which is on Mondays is esteemed the best in the County for Corn next to Perith. Here is a Custom at their Fairs holden at Whitsontide and Martlemass for the hiring of Servants to which end all such that want Servants or Services do hither come the like is observed at Perith and most of the Market-Towns in the County Whithaven seated on a Creek of the Sea Whithaven indifferent commodious for Shipping which makes it to be well inhabited and frequented by Tradesmen especially by Fishermen and those that are related to Sea-Affairs who drive a good Trade to Ireland Scotland Chester Bristol and other parts having a Custom-house and several Vessels belonging to the Town whose chief Trade is for Salt and Coals here plentifully digged up It s Market is kept Thursdays Kavenglass a well built Maritim Town couched betwixt the Rivers Irt Ravenglass Esk and Mite with which the Sea doth encompass 3 parts of it and is a good road for Shipping which makes it to be a place of some Trade and hath a Market on Saturdays Keswick seated in a Valley Keswick hemmed in with Hills and the Mountains called Derwent Fells wherein are good Copper-Mines and not far from the Town is dug up Black-Lead or Wadd in great plenty The Town was formerly of greater account than now it is when the Mineral-men had here their Smelting-houses being at present not very considerable It hath a Market on Saturdays chiefly for Meal Flesh Butter and Cheese Perith seated on a Hill called Perith Fell Perith. and near the Rivers Eimont and Lowther a large well built and inhabited Town esteemed the second in the County although neither a Borough nor Town Corporate it is adorned with a fair Church and a large Market-place which every Tuesday is very much resorted unto being considerable for Corn living Cattle divers Commodities and all sorts of Provisions in great plenty Derbyshire described DERBYSHIRE a Midland County but inclined towards the North which makes it to be of a sharp Air especially upon the Peak Mountains The Soil is generally fertil chiefly the South and East parts which for the most part are enclosed and improved yielding good Corn and Grass and hath also store of Coal and Iron-stone The North and West parts are very hilly and stony and not so fertil except in Lead-Oar in which it much abounds yet not without some rich Valleys and on the Hills are bred good though not large Sheep in great abundance For Fuel it is not beholding to Wood having such great plenty of Coal that it supplies the defects of divers neighbouring Counties It is well watered with Rivers viz. the Trent Derwent Dove and Wye which are the chief and are passed over by about 21 Stone-bridges some of which are of considerable note as Burton over the Trent sustained by 35 large Stone-Arches Swarkeston-bridge over the fame River reputed near a mile long but much of it is rather a Causway than a Bridge Monks-bridge over the Dove and St. Marys-bridge at Derby over the
Derwent which River severeth the County into East and West and it is observed that on the East-side Coal is generally dug and on the West Lead The Inhabitants were the Coritani of the Romans and was afterwards part of the Kingdom of the Mercians It is severed into 6 Hundreds and contains 106 Parish Churches besides several Chappels of Ease and is traded unto by 9 Market Towns Derby Derby well seated on the Derwent over which it hath a goodly Stone-bridge a Town of good Antiquity and is at present a very large populous well frequented and rich Borough Town numbring 5 Parish Churches of which All-Saints which is the chief is a curious structure and beautified within with several Monuments It is a Borough Town electing Parliament men is honoured with the Title of an Earldom enjoyeth ample Immunities is governed by a Major 9 Aldermen 14 Brethren 14 Common-Council a Recorder Town-Clerk c. is well traded unto especially for Barley which they make into Mault which finds good vent and its Market which is on Fridays is very considerable for Cattle Corn and all sorts of Provisions besides a small Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays Here is lately built a fair Hall of Free-stone aâ— the Counties charge where the Assizes are constantly kept Chesterfield Chesterfield pleasantly seated between two small Rivers and in a good Soil a Borough Town of great antiquity is dignified with an Earldom enjoyeth large Immunities is governed by a Major 6 Aldermen a Recorder 6 Brethren 1â— Counsellors c. and hath weekly two Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays which are very considerable for Corn Lead and most Country Commodities Wicksworth seated in a Valley a pretty large and populous Town beautified with a fair Church Wicksworth hath a Free-School and Alms-houses and its Market on Tuesdays is well served with Provisions and Apples especially for Lead where the Merchants have their meetings for the Sale thereof Bakewill Bakewill seated amongst Hills and on the banks of the Wye an indifferent large Town and hath a good Market on Mondays for Lead and Provisions In the Peak Forest is a Well that obbâ— and flows 4 times in one hour keeping its exact Tides At Buxton out of a Rock in 24 foot compass 9 Springs arise of which 8 are warm and one cold and the Waters are found very good to bath in and for the Stomach And in this County is Eldenhole being a Cave worthy of note Devonshire described DEVONSHIRE of a sharp and healthful Air very hilly and generally of an ungrateful Soil without great pains and charges in manuring it yet is it not without many fertil Valleys and its sterility is recompenced by the rich Mines of Tin and Lead as also by the great plenty of Herrings Pilchers and other Fish taken on its Sen-Coast from which the Inhabitants reap good profit which with its Clothings Saerges and Bone-lace are the chief Commodities of the County The ancient Inhabitants were the Dannionii and was afterwards part of the Kingdom of the West-Saxons It is very well watered with fresh Streams as the Ex Tamar Tave Tawe Pline Dart Turridge Tinge Plime Culme and Ottery which are found very advantagious to the Inhabitants It is divided into 33 Hundreds in which are 394 Parishes and for the accommodation of its Inhabitants hath about 30 Market Towns Exeter a fair sweet and well compacted City of great Antiquity Exeter and no less pleasantly than commodiously seated on the top of an easie Ascent and on the Ex whence it took its name over which it hath a fair Stone-bridge 'T is a place of a good largeness containing within its Wall and Ditches about a mile and half in circuit in which and in its Suburbs which are large are numbred 15 Parish Churches besides its Cathedral or Minster founded by King Aethelstan a fair and beautiful structure It enjoyeth a considerable Trade being much inhabited and resorted unto by Merchants and Tradesmen having several Ships and Vessels belonging unto them and is in a flourishing condition enjoying ample Immunities sendeth Burgesses to Parliament is honoured with the Title of an Earldom is governed by a Major 24 Aldermen or Brethren a Recorder and other sub-Officers and hath two very considerable Markets weekly viz. on Wednesdays and Fridays for Provisions and Searges in great abundance Plymouth seated on the Plime and near the Tamer Plymouth at both their Influxes into the Sea which from a poor Fishing-Village is become a very fair large well inhabited and frequented Town resembling rather a City than a Town although it hath but two Parish Churches 't is a place of great importance by reason of its commodious Haven and excellent Port which doth occasion it to be so well resorted unto by most Ships both outward and inward bound and is of great strength as well by Nature as Art being defended by a strong Fort a Cittadel and other Fortifications It is a Borough and Town Corporate governed by a Major Aldermen and Common Council hath the election of Parliament men enjoyeth a great Trade for most Commodities and its Markets on Mondays and Thursdays are extraordinary well served with all sorts of Provisions as also have living Cattle Dertmouth seated on the Dent near its fall into the Sea Dertmouth where it hath a commodious Haven a large well inhabited frequented and traded Port-Town containing 3 Parish Churches and its Market on Fridays is very well served with Provisions 'T is an ancient Town Corporate is governed by a Major and his Brethren and amongst its Immunities sendeth Burgesses to Parliament Totnes seated on the Dert and on the descent of a Hill Totnes a Town of great antiquity and of greater account than now it is yet doth it retain several of its Immunities sendeth Burgesses to Parliament and is governed by a Major and his Brethren The Town is large and hath a very great Market on Saturdays for all live Cattle Corn Mault and Provisions both Flesh and Fish Ashburton seated in a rich Soil under the Moor a large Borough Town Ashburton composed of several Streets is beautified with a fair Church electeth Parliament men and hath a very good Market for Corn Cattle Sheep and Provisions on Saturdays Okehampton seated betwixt the River Okement and a branch thereof Okehampton a Borough Town which electeth Parliament men is governed by a Major Burgesses Recorder and sub-Officers and hath a very good Market for Corn Provisions and Yarn on Saturdays Bediford Bediford commodiously seated for the reception of Vessels on the Towridge over which it hath a large Stone-bridge of Arched-work consisting of 24 Peers 'T is a large well inhabited and traded Town and its Market on Tuesdays is well served with Corn and Provisions Barnstable Barnstable commodiously seated on the Tawe over which it hath a large Stone-bridge 'T is a fine Borough Town which electeth Parliament men is a place of some Trade and hath
Lea hath a Market on Tuesdays which is well provided with Commodities a place well known to many for its great Bed Stratford Stratford or Bishops-Stratford seated on the side of a Hill a very large fair and well inhabited and frequented Market Town full of Inns for the giving entertainment to Strangers and its Market on Thursdays is very well resorted unto and provided with Provisions and most Country Commodities Here are the ruins of a Castle raised on an artificial Mount within which is a deep and dark Dungeon called the Convicts Prison by which it may be supposed that some great Priviledges did belong unto it Baldock Baldock a considerable large Town seated between the Hills in a Chalky Soil fit for Corn of chief note for its many Maulsters yet its Market on Thursdays is but small Royston a famous Market Town Royston which is kept on Wednesdays for Corn and Mault here made being seated in a fat Soil and between Hills in a bottom The Town is large well inhabited and full of Inns part being in this County and part in Cambridgeshire Herefordshire described HEREFORDSHIRE a County every where exceeding fertil having great plenty of Grains and rich Pastures which feed store of Cattle especially Sheep whose Wool is much esteemed for its finess and for Wheat Wool and Water it yieldeth to no County in England It is well clothed with Wood and watered with Rivers the chief amongst which are the Wye Munow Wades Doive Lugg Froom c. All Fruits here grow in great plenty and of their Apples they make such abundance of Sider that besides what they use themselves it being their general drink of late years it is become a considerable Commodity especially that which is called Red-streak It s ancient Inhabitants were the Silures a stout and warlike People who sorely perplexed the Romans for 9 years space through the valour and noble exploits of their Commander Charactacus and became afterwards part of the Kingdom of the Mercians It is divided into 11 Hundreds in which are numbred 176 Parish Churches and hath Traffick with 8 Market Towns Hereford Hereford a City of great antiquity and raised out of the ancient Arconium now called Kenchester about 3 miles distant a place of good account in the time of the Romans and so continued until it was shaken to pieces by a violent Earthquake It is no less pleasantly than commodiously seated amongst delightful Meadows and rich Corn-fields and almost encompassed with Rivers to wit the Wye and two others over which are two Bridges It is of a large place beautified with good Buildings both publick and private amongst which are the Bishops Palace the Colledge the Cathedral the Prebends houses and Hospital and numbreth 6 Parish Churches two of which in the late Troubles were demolished besides its Cathedral to which belongeth a Bishop Dean Chancellor 6 Canons 27 Prebends with a Chanter Treasurer 12 Vicars Choral besides Deacons Queristers and other Attendants This City enjoyeth large Immunities sendeth Burgesses to Parliament is governed by a Major 6 Aldermen a Common Council Recorder and other sub-Officers and is very well served with Commodities having weekly 3 Markets on Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays which are of considerable account that on Fridays for Cattle Sheep and Hogs and the other for Grain and all sorts of Provisions besides Gloves here made and sold in great quantities Near to this City is Gilden Vale so called from the fertility of the Soil and pleasant scituation Ross Ross seated in a fertil Soil on the banks of the Wye a fair Borough Town which hath a very great Market on Thursdays for Corn Cattle and Provisions being much resorted unto by the Inhabitants of Gloucestershire and Monmouthshire Lidbury Lidbury near adjoyning to Malvern Hills a fine well built Town seated in a rich Clayey-ground much inhabited by Clothiers who drive a good Trade and its Market on Tuesdays is well served with Corn Cattle and Provisions Lemster a large ancient and pleasant Town Lemster seated in a rich Soil and on the Lugg which runneth through it over which are several Bridges It is governed by a Bayliff a Recorder Justices of the Peace and 24 of the Chamber or Common Council it sendeth Burgesses to Parliament and hath a very good Market on Fridays for Corn Cattle Sheep Provisions Hops and Wool for which this Town is of note it being called Lemster-Ore Kyneton also seated on the Arrow a pretty large and well built Town Kyneton whose Inhabitants drive a good Trade for narrow Cloths It s Market on Wednesdays for Corn Cattle Provisions and several Country Commodities is esteemed the best in the County County of Huntington described HVNTINGTONSHIRE a County for the generality of a fertil Soil both for Corn and Tillage garnished with delightful Hills and towards the East where it joyneth on the Fens it hath rich Pasturage which feed store of Cattle It is well watered with Rivers the chief amongst which is the Ouse which divideth it self into several streams It is severed into 4 Hundreds in which are seated 79 Parish Churches and is traded unto by 5 Market Towns Huntington Huntington pleasantly seated on a rising Ascent and on the North-banks of the Owse over which it hath a fair Stone-bridge which leadeth to Godmanchester on the other side of the Owse a very large County and ancient Borough Town seated in a rich Soil and well inhabited by Yeomen and Farmers It is a Town of great antiquity was once very populous numbring no less than 15 Parish Churches which are now reduced to 4 and enjoyed great Immunities and had a Mint for Coynage At present it is dignified with the title of an Earldom sendeth Burgesses to Parliament is governed by a Major 12 Aldermen of which the Major is one and Burgesses is well inhabited and frequented and the rather as being a thorough-fate Town from London Cambridge and other Southern parts of England into the North and into Scotland and also for being the place where the Assizes are kept for the County and its Market on Saturdays is very well served with Provisions St. Ives St. Ives so called from one Ivo a Persian Bishop who 't is said about the year 600 travelled through England preaching the Gospel and here ended his days and his Body was from hence removed to Ramsey Abbey a fair large and ancient Town seated on the Owse over which it hath a very good Stone-bridge hath a Market on Mondays which is well served with Provisions and is of chief note for living Cattel St. Neots so called from Neotus St. Neots a Monk of Glastenbury a large and well built Town beautified with a neat Church is commodiously seated on the Owse over which it hath a fair Stone-bridge which leadeth to Bedfordshire It s Market is on Thursdays which is well served with Provisions and through the commodiousness of the Owse the Neighbouring Towns are
from hence furnished with Coals Ramsey Ramsey seated in the Fenny part amongst rich grounds both for Tillage and Pasturage and near the Meers of Ramsey and Whitlesey which with the Rivers that plentifully water it afford excellent Fish and wild Fowl in great plenty It is a good Country Town which was held in great esteem for its rich Abby so called and its Market on Wednesdays is well frequented County of Kent described KENT a County of a large extent and although very hilly for the generality is of a rich and fertil Soil both for Corn and Pasture and is well stored with Cattle Fish Fowl and Fruits The Air is temperate and good except in the Weald and Marshes which are Aguish It is well watered with Rivers many of which are Navigable as the Thames which washes its Northern parts the Medway which in a manner divideth the Shire in the midst and is the station for his Majesties Navy Royal which said River loseth it self under ground and riseth again near Cox-heath besides 10 others of considerable account which opening with several Creeks and Havens are found commodious for Ships to ride in of which four bear the name of Cinque Ports viz. Dover Sandwich Rumney and Hith and on the banks of these Rivers which are crossed by divers Bridges are seated several good Towns This County boasteth it self for being the first Kingdom of the Heptarchy of having a particular King to it self that it was never subdued but yielded upon Articles to the Normans and to keep their ancient Customs That their Kings and Commons amongst all the Saxons were the first Christians This County is enriched with two Cities and Episcopal Sees is strengthned with several Castles is graced with 4 of the Kings Palaces beautified with many splendid Buildings well replenished with Gentry sufficiently stored with safe Roads and secure Harbours for Ships plentifully garnished with good Towns is a place of a considerable Trade affording Corn and other Grains Cloth and several Draperies Fullers-Earth Madder Flax Iron Wood Fruits both Apples and Cherries in great plenty and by reason of its vicinity to France is well known and frequented by Strangers As to its division it hath 14 Bailywicks 17 Franchises and Liberties which have Courts of Record to hold plâ—a of all Actions real personal and mixt and 14 Corporations For the names of all which see the Volume of Britannia pag. 122. lately published by me It is severed into 5 Laths and 64 Hundreds in which said Hundreds are numbred 400 and odd Parishes and hath intercourse of Traffick with 28 Market Towns Lath of Sutton with its chief places The Lath of Sutton or SVTTON at Hone is severed into 8 Hundreds hath two divisions of Justices of the Peace and for its chief places hath Sevenoke Sevenoke a Town of good resort so called from its Founder Will. Sevenoke Lord Major of London Anno 1418. who erected a Free School and an Hospital hath a Market on Saturdays which is well served with Corn and Previsions Dartford Dartford seated on the Darent not far from its influx into the Thames and on the high Road from London to Canterbury 't is a good large Town full of Inns and Houses of Entertainment and hath a Market on Saturdays which is well stored with Corn and Provisions and is much frequented by Corn-Chandlers and Meal-men Greenwich Greenwich a large well built and very pleasant Town seated on the Bank of the Thames being much inhabited and frequented by Gentry and enobled with a once stately Palace of the Kings out of the Ruins of which is now erecting a curious Pile of Buildings and adjoyning to this Palace is a small but pleasant Park which affords a delectable prospect And here it was that Queen Elizabeth with divers other Princes were born Adjoyning to Greenwich is Black-heath a place of note in former times for Military Affairs and it is supposed that here might be dug excellent Sea-Coals but is not encouraged for fear of hindring the Newcastle-Trade Eltham seated on the South-side of Shooters-Hill amongst Woods Eltham a well built Town neatly scituated well inhabited by Gentry and was once honoured with a Palace of his Majesty said to be built by Anthony Beck Patriarch of Jerusalem who gave it to Queen Eliantor wife to King Edward the First Aylesford Lath described The Lath of AYLESFORD is of a large extent reaching from North to South is serveed into 15 Hundreds is divided into 3 divisions of the Justices of the Peace and hath for its chief places Rochester an ancient City and once larger than now it is Rochester being at present but small having but one principal Street which is of a good length and for the most part inhabited by Tradesmen and Inn-keepers and graced with well built Houses besides its Cathedral built by Ethelbert King of Kent dedicated to St. Andrew a fair structure to which belongeth a Deanary and 6 Prehendaries It is a City no less pleasantly than commodiously seated on the banks of the Medway over which it hath a stately Stone-bridge sustained by divers Arches which leadeth unto Stroud a good fair and well inhabited thorough-fare Town from London to Canterbury as is Rochester This City enjoyeth several Immunities is dignified with the Title of an Earldom governed by a Major Court of Aldermen with other sub-Officers hath the election of Parliament men is well resorted unto and its Market on Friday is well served with Provisions Adjoyning to this City is Chetham also seated on the banks of the Medway a long thorough-fare Town which is chiefly inhabited by Sea-men and those that have alliance thereunto and the more as being the station of the Navy-Royal and where there is a stately Dock for the building and equipping of his Majesties Ships Graves-end Graves-end seated on the banks of the Thames a place of great resort as being the common Landing-place for Strangers and Sea-men in their passages to London as likewise the accustomary place for the taking of Shipping and the ready Road to France which doth occasion it to be well furnished with Inns Taverns and Houses of entertainment and its Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays to be well provided with Victuals yet all things here want for no price And here is seated one of the Block-houses the other being opposite unto it in the County of Essex which said Blockhouses are for the securing the passage of the Thames up to London Maidstone Maidstone seated on the Medway over which it hath a fair Bridge which with the branch it sendeth forth severeth the Town It is a large fair sweet populous and well built and frequented Borough Town which electeth Parliament men enjoyeth several Priviledges and as the Shire-Town here is one of the Prisons for the County and where they keep their Sessions and Assizes It s Market is on Thursdays which is very considerable and well provided with Corn and all sorts
the generality of an unfertil Soil as to the Moorish part yet not without a sufficiency of Corn Cattle Fish Fowl Coals Flax c. The Eastern part is very Mountainous and full of stony barren and craggy Hills being the habitation of Foxes Conies and some Otters but where the ground is plain and Champain it is very grateful to the Husbandman except some moist and unwholsom places which they call Mosses which are not unlike Irish-bogs from which the Inhabitants are supplied with Turf for Fuel and throughout the County there is great store of goodly Cattle which are there sold at easie races The Air of this County is sharp and serene but very healthful to the Inhabitants It is very well watered with Rivers amongst which are the Mersey Irwel Roch Irke Dugless Tarrow Ribel Derwent Codar Lune Brochwyre Keere Kent Dudden c. with the Sea which watereth its Western parts together with the Meers it aboundeth in Fish and Fowl The ancient Inhabitants were the Brigantes and when the Saxons became Masters of the Isle it was part of the Kingdom of the Northumbers Although there are but 61 Parishes in the County yet it is very populous the Parishes being large containing within them several Chappels of Ease which may be reckoned as Parishes in other Counties And amongst these Parishes there are 27 Market Towns many of which are large well frequented and traded unto Lancaster Lancaster a place of good antiquity pleasantly seated on the River Lune over which it hath a fair Stone-bridge sustained by 5 Arches It is at present indifferent large containing though but one Parish Church which is large and fair yet several well ordered Streets and graced with good Buildings the chief amongst which are its Church Bridge Market-house or Town-hall where the Major and his Brethren keep their Courts and Castle seated on the top of the Hill now made use of as a Prison for the County and where the Assizes are kept And although the Shire Town yet it is not much frequented nor inhabited by Tradesmen but chiefly by Husbandmen as lying in a good Soil but its Market which is on Saturdays is well served with Corn Cattle and Provisions especially Fish and chiefly with Salmon It is a Town Corporate governed by a Major 2 Bailiffs 6 Brethren 24 Burgesses 2 Chamberlains a Recorder c. and amongst its Immunities electeth Parliament men Manchester Manchester seated betwixt the Irke and Irwel and upon a stony Hill a Town of great antiquity being the Fort and station of the Romans and at present is large beautified with fair Buildings the chief amongst which are its Colledge Market-place and Collegiate-Church which is very ornamental is well inhabited much resorted unto and enjoyeth a considerable trade for most Commodities but chiefly for its Linnen and Woollen-Cloths also for its Cottons known by the name of Manchester Cottons which are held in great esteem and its Market on Saturdays is very considerable for the above-said Commodities as also for Provisions Opposite to Manchester on the other side of the River is Salford a pretty large Town with a Chappel of Ease Warington Warington seated on the Mersey over which it hath a curious Stone-bridge which leadeth to Cheshire It is a fine large Town much resorted unto by Welshmen is of note for its Lampries and hath a considerable Market for Linnen-Cloth Corn Cattle Fish and Provisions on Wednesdays Lerpool Lerpool or Leverpool commodiously seated on the East-side of the goodly River Mercy where it affords a bold and safe harbour for Ships which hath much advanced its Trade being inhabited by divers wealthy Merchants and Tradesmen whose Traffick especially into the West Indies makes it famous its scituation affording in greater plenty and at reasonabler rates than most parts of England such exported Commodities proper for the West Indies as likewise a quicker return for such imported Commodities by reason of the Sugar-Bakers and great Manufactures of Cotton in the adjacent parts this Town having intercourse of Traffick with Ireland and divers considerable Counties in England The chief Commodities that this Town affordeth are Corn Butter Cheese Beef Pit-Coal White Salt from Cheshire Silver and Gold Watches Lead Saddles Shoes Bees-Wax all sorts of Nails and Iron Tools and for Flesh Fish Fowl and all sorts of Provisions its Market on Saturdays is sufficiently well provided with It is an ancient Borough and Corporation sending two Representatives to Parliament 't is governed by a Major Bailiffs Aldermen Recorder Town-Clerk and Common-Council consisting of 40 Burgesses It is of late at the great charge and industry of the Family of the Moors of Bank-ball beautified with many goodly Buildings to the great enlargement of the Town there being Streets that entirely beat their name Wigan seated on the Douglass a large and well built Town Corporate Wigan is governed by a Major Bailiffs and Burgesses hath the election of Parliament men enjoyeth a good Trade hath two Markets weekly on Mondays and Fridays for Meal and Provisions is much inhabited by Brasiers Pewterers Dyers Weavers of Rugs Coverlids and Ticking for Bedding and is of note for its Fuel called Cannel being the choicest Coal in England Preston a large fair well built and inhabited Preston and frequented Borough Town where the Court of Chancery and Offices of Justice for the County are held It hath the election of Parliament men and is governed by a Major Baileffs Burgesses Recorder and other sub-Officers It is seated on the Rible over which it hath a fair Stone-bridge and for the accommodation of its Inhabitants hath weekly 3 Markets viz. on Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays which is the chief and very considerable for Corn living Cattle Provisions and several other Commodities in great plenty Cartmel seated near the Sea and amongst the Hills called Cartmel-Fells Cartmel It is beautified with a very fair Church built Cathedral-wise in form of a Cross and hath a very good Market on Mondays for Corn Sheep and Fish Dalton seated in a Champain Country in the lower Farness Dalton Here is an ancient Castle now belonging to his Grace Christopher Duke of Albemarle wherein is kept the Records and Prisoners for Debt for the Liberty of Farness It hath a Market on Saturdays which is very well served with Corn Cattle Fish and Fowl County of Leicester described LEICESTERSHIRE a Champain Country and but thinly clothed with Wood which defect is supplied by the great plenty of Pit-Coal digged up in the Northern parts which is called the Would and although barren breedeth store of Cattle It s South-west and North-east parts are of a good Soil for Tillage and Pasturage and its South-east part is exceeding fertil having rich Pastures and produceth all sorts of Grain especially Pease and Beans It is well watered with Rivers as the Stour or Sour Trent Wreke Weeland Sence Eye c. It is severed into 6 Hundreds for Divine worship hath about 200
and frequented Town enjoying large Immunities and sendeth a Burgess to Parliament It is governed by a Major 2 Bailiffs 15 Common Councellors a Town Clerk and other sub-Officers and hath a considerable Market for Corn and Provisions on Saturdays Chepstow Chepstow seated on the side of a Hill which is washed with the Wye near its fall into the Severn a Town formerly very famous and of great resort being said to be raised out of the ruins of Venta Silurum the chief City of the Silures It is a large well built inhabited and frequented Town and hath a Market on Saturdays which is very good for Corn and Provisions and very considerable for Swine Carlion or Caerleon an ancient and flourishing City of the Romans Carlion which is evidenced by the ruins of its stately Buildings as Palaces Temples and Theaters enclosed within fair Walls the Water-pipes Vaults Hot-houses and Roman Coins oft digged up And here the Noble Arthur kept his Court and here was a famous Colledge for 200 Students in Astronomy and other the liberal Arts and Sciences This Town which is indifferent large is commodiously seated on the banks of the Vske over which it hath a large wooden Bridge yet its Houses for the generality are built of Stone and its Market which is but indifferent is on Thursdays Vske seated on a River so called a large Town uske beautified with well built Stone-houses and hath a very good Market on Mondays and Fridays Abergavenny seated at the meeting of the Vske and the Keveny Abergavenny once a place of great strength It is a large Town hath well-built Houses enjoyeth a good Trade for Flanels and Straw-Hats here made in great plenty and its Market which is on Tuesdays is very considerable for Cattle Provisions c. County of Norfolk The County of NORFOLK is of a different Soil but may be comprised under two heads to wit Champain and Wood-land yet notwithstanding about the Towns it is of a Claiey Chalkey and fat Earth and not without Wood. That which is comprised under the head of Champain is along the Sea-Coasts and from Thetford to Burnham and so Westwards and affords great plenty of Corn and on the Heaths great flocks of Sheep are fed The Wood-land part is chiefly for grasing yet not without Corn ground The ancient Inhabitants known to the Romans were the Iceni and afterwards became part of the Kingdom of the Angles The Commodities that this Country plentifully affordeth are Worsteds Stockings Norwich Stuffs and Herrings The chief Rivers that water this County are the Owse Waveny Yare and the Thryne It is generally well inhabited with Gentry is very populous and full of Towns and Villages numbring 660 Parish Churches which are the most of any County in England and is traded unto by 27 Market Towns Norwich a City of great antiquity Norwich and formerly of as great splendor when the Seat of the East Angles since which it hath undergone several calamities by Fire Sword and Pestilence and notwithstanding all its shocks of Ill fortune it is at present a fair large and populous City and enjoyeth a great Trade especially for their Stockings Stuffs and Manufactures here made It is commodiously seated on the banks of the Yare which severeth it but is joyned together by several Briges and in a pleasant Valley It is about a mile and half in length and almost of the like breadth and is encompassed with a Wall except on the side seated on the River and hath 12 Gates for entrance and for Divine worship 32 Parish Churches bisides Chapels It s chief buildings are the Cathedral the Bishops Palace the Palace of the Duke of Norfolk the Market-house the Cross and the House of Correction made of Free-stone Here is an Hospital where 100 poor Men and Women are maintained This City may not improperly be called an Orchard in a City or a City in an Orchard by reason of the pleasant intermixture of the Houses with Trees It was first governed by 4 Bailiffs but in the Reign of Henry the Fourth it was incorporated into a Majoralty and made a County whose limits extend to Eaton-Bridge It enjoys several Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament and is the See of a Bishop Its Markets on Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays are very great and well stored with Corn living Cattle Leathen Yarn Worsteds and all sorts of Provisions Lynn Lynn or Lynn Regis seated almost at the influx of the Owse into the Washes a fair large and well-built Borough Town numbring 3 Parish Churches of good antiquity enjoying ample Immunities which were granted them for their good service against the outlawed Barons in the Isle of Ely It is governed by a Major 12 Aldermon hath a Recorder Sword-Bearer and other sub-Officers sendeth its Representatives to Parliament for its defence is encompassed about with a Wall and a deep Trench is well watered having 2 Rivulets which run through the Streets which are passed over by 15 Bridges It is well inhabited by Merchants and Tradesmen having a commodious Haven and its Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays are well served with Commodities and Provisions Yarmouth Yarmouth seated on the Yare at its influx into the Sea It is a place of great strength as well by Nature as Art being esteemed the Key of this Goast The Town is large yet hath but one Church but that is so large that it serveth for two Ministers Its Buildings are good it is a place of a great resort is well inhabited and traded unto and the more as being the ready passage to Holland for the Packet-Boat and other Vessels About this Coast great abundance of Herrings are caught in September and as great quantities of Mackerels in the Summer season It is a Town Corporate having for its chief Magistrates 2 Bailiffs it enjoyeth several Immunities and sends Burgesses to Parliament It s Market is on Saturdays which is very great for Corn Fish and Provisions Windham Windham seated in a dirty bottom hath an indifferent good Market for Corn and Provisions on Fridays but chiefly for Stockings Wooden-Spoons Yapps and Spindles which are here made and sold by the Inhabitants in great abundance Swasham Swasham seated on a Hill a large and well built Town full of Inns end well inhabited by Shopkeepers who drive a good trade It s Market which is on Saturdays is very well served with Corn and Provisions being esteemed one of the best Market Towns in the County North Walsham North Walsham seated in a level not far from the Sea a fine Market Town which on Thursdays is well provided with Corn Flesh and other Commodities County of Northampton described NORTHAMPTON an Inland County of a fat and rich Soil both for Tillage and Pasturage every way recompencing the Husbandmans pains and industry both for its excellent Grain and for feeding and breeding of store of Sheep Horses and Cattle insomuch that here is observed to be less wast
ground than in any County in the Kingdom It is blest with a healthful Air it is very populous and full of Gentry insomuch that in many places 20 or 30 Sleeples present themselves to view at one time It is well watered with Rivers and fresh Streams as the Welland the Neâ— or Aufona the Owse Charwel c. This County is severed into 20 Hundreds in which are numbred 326 Parish Churches and is traded unto by 11 Market Towns Northampton Northampton delightfully seated on the banks of the Nyne which washeth its South and West parts over which it hath two Bridges It is a Town of good antiquity and once very large but this as all other places in the Kingdom selt the sore hand of the Dane with other Calamities and lately in was laid in its Ashes by a merciless Fire but is again almost rebuilt and will be of better lustre than before It s extent is large numbring 4 Parish Churches within its Walls which were of great strength before their demolishment On the Western side of the Town on an Eminency is mounted a large Castle but so ruinous that it seemeth ready to fall It is a Town Corporate sendeth Burgesses to Parliament is governed by a Major 2 Barliffs 12 Magistrates a Recorder Town Clerk with other sub-Officers It enjoyeth a very considerable Trade is very well inhabited being the place where the Assizes are kept and the general place for the Justices of the Pence to meet for the County and its Market which is on Saturdays is very great for Cattle Corn Provisions Leather Shoes and several Country Commodities Peterburgh seated on the River Aufona or Nen Peterburgh which is navigable for Barges over which it hath a Bridge which leadeth to Huntingtonshire and in a Marshy ground It is a City of great antiquity and was of good account in the time of the Saxons for it is said that Wolpher King of the Mercians for the expiating his crime in the cruel murthering his Sons Wolphald and Rufin for embracing the Christian Religion to which he was some years after converted himself in Anno 633. finished a most stately Monastery and dedicated it to St. Peter from which the City took its name being before called Madeshamstede It is at present a City of no great extent having but one Parish Church besides its Cathedral raised out of the Monastery a stately structure where lieth the Bodies of two unfortunate Queens Katherin of Spain and Mary of Scots This City enjoyeth several Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament is honoured with the Title of an Earldom and the Seat of a Bishop as also of a Dean who keepeth his Court for the hearing of Causes Its Streets of late are indifferent well ordered its Houses well built and hath a spacious Market-place well resorted unto on Saturdays Not far from this City Westwards was seated the ancient City Durobrivae called by the English Saxons Normanchester Oundle pleasantly seated on the banks of the Nen Oundle over which it hath two good Bridges a well built uniform Town beautified with a fair Church and a Free School hath a very great Market for Cattle Corn Flesh and Fowl on Saturdays Higham-Ferrers scituated on an Ascept and on the banks of the Nen Higham Ferrers an ancient Borough and Town Corporate governed by a Major 7 Aldermen 13 Capital Burgesses a Steward c. is graced with a fair Colledge hath a Free School for the education of Youth and an Alms-house for the relief of poor People and hath a Market on Saturdays which is well resorted unto Wellingborow seated also on the Nen a large and well inhabited Town Wellingborow of some note for its Springs of Medicinal-water not far distant from the Town It is beautified with a fair Church and a Free School is a large and well inhabited Town and hath a Market on Wednesdays which is well served with Corn and Provisions Daventry seated on the side of Borow-hill a good Town Daventry govermed by a Bulliff Aldermen a Steward and 12 Freemen and hath a Market on Wednesdays which is well provided with Horses Cattle Sheep Corn and Provisions Not far from this Town is Wedom which was a Station of the Romans and where there was a Monastery founded by the holy Virgin St. Werberg Daughter of King Wolpher who had here his Royal Seat Brackley seated on a bank of the Owse Brackley and on the edge of the County towards Buckinghamshire an ancient and large Town Corporate containing two Parish Churches had formerly a Colledge now made use of for a Free School is governed by a Major and Aldermen sendeth Burgesses to Parliament and hath a small Market on Wednesdays which in former time was considerable being the staple Town in the County for Wool County of Northumberland NORTHVMBERLAND a County of a sharp and piercing Air and much troubled with pinching Frosts boisterous Winds and deep Snows which would be more troublesom to its Inhabitants were it not for the great abundance of Sea-Coal here had in great plenty It is a County for the most part of an ungrateful Soil being very rough hilly and very hard to be manured but the parts towards the Sea by the industry of the Husbandman in manuring it with the Sea-weed are indifferent fertil It is well watered with Rivers which with the Sea afford to the Inhabitants great plenty of Fish and Fowl In this County are numbred 46 Parish Churches many of which are very large having their Chapels of Ease and is severed into 6 Wards and for the accommodation of the Inhabitants is traded unto by 6 Market Towns The Inhabitants that possest this County before the Romans were the Ottadini and being brought to the Jurisdiction of the English Saxons by Osca Brother to Hengist and by his Son Jebusa had first official Governours under the fealty to the Kings of Kent After that when the Kingdom of the Berenicii was erected that which reached from the Scotish Frith to the Tees being the best part was subject to the Kings of Northumberland who having finished their period that which lay beyond the Tweed passed for Scotland then was it yielded up to Egbert King of the West Saxons who laid it to his own Territory and soon after the expulsion of the Danes it was governed by Earls This County sheweth abundance of Antiquities not only along the Picts Wall which runneth by its Southern part but elsewhere amongst which these following are worthy of note Readsquire a steep Mountain was oft-times the place of Conference for the East Marshes The Hermitage not far from Wakeworth by the Water a Chapel cut out of a Rock without Beams Rafters or any piece of Timber and the Altar was also hewed out of the same Rock and this was the place of devotion for a Hermit who lived in a Cell within the Rock Risingham seated on the River Rhead a place of great Antiquity which 't is said God-Magon for
and its Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays are very great and well provided with Corn Flesh Fish and Fowl It was formerly a Major Town but at present a Bailiwick Bridgwater seated on a navigable River Bridgwater over which it hath a fine Stone-bridge It is a large well frequented and inhabited Borough Town hath the election of Parliament men is governed by a Major and other sub-Officers was formerly a place of good account having a Castle and an Abby It s Market is on Thursdays which is well served with Corn and Provisions and in the Summer season with Cattle Mynehead seated on the Sea-shoar a Borough Town Mynehead electing Parliament men hath a very good harbour for Ships of a considerable burthen to ride in and is a place of some Trade especially into Ireland yet its Market is but small County of Stafford The County of STAFFORD seated much about the midst of England of a healthful Air and different Soil the Southern parts being generally barren as sandy gravelly or heathy except on the banks of the Rivers yet by the Husbandmans pains in manuring it it beareth good Corn and the Northern parts are hilly and full of grat Heaths and Moors and is made use of for seeding of Cattle And although an Inland County yet by reason of the many Rivers and Brooks it is plentifully furnished with excellent Fish To speak of the Country in general there are more Heaths Moors and wast Ground than in any County in England as to its bigness insomuch that you may go the whole length of the County and see little but Heaths and Moors but these are not without profit as breeding store of Sheep Conies and Deer as well as pleasure for the Gentleman both for the Hawk Gun and Hound and for Parks and Warrens few Counties doth exceed it The Commodities that this Shire affordeth to others are Cattle Sheep Horses Butter Cheese Wool Bacon Iron Iron-ware chiefly Nails Alablaster c. The number of Parishes are 130 and hath 18 Market Towns many of which are of considerable account Litchfield Litchfield a City and County of it self seated in a pleasant Champain Country divided from the Cathedral and Close but joyned together by two Bridges and Cawseys It is a City of great antiquity formerly called Licidfeld that is the Field of dead Bodies which name it had from the great number of Christians there slain in the Dioclesian Persecution and here Oswin King of the Northumbers having vanquished the Pagan Mercians erected a Church and made it the Episcopal See of Duina the Bishop which afterwards was made an Archiepiscopal Pale by Pope Hadrian in the Reign of King Offa which dignity expired with his life This City is well built is indifferent large containing 3 Parish Churches besides its Cathedral a beautiful and curious Structure adjoyning to which is the Bishops Palace and the Prebends-houses the Streets are payed and well ordered and is a place much frequented by Gentry It is governed by 2 Bailiffs a Sheriff which are elected out of 24 Burgesses a Recorder Town Clerk with sub-Officers and amongst its Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament Its Markets are on Tuesdays and Fridays which are plentifully served with Corn and Provisions Stafford Stafford well seated on the River Sowe amongst rich Meadows a fair Town indifferent large containing 2 Parish Churches hath a Free School and a fine square Market-place in which the Shire-Hall is kept for the Assigâ—â— and Sessions of the County the Streets are paved and well ordered and its Houses well built it is governed by a Major and Burgesses hath a Recorder Town Clerk and 2 Serjeants at Mace The Town enjoys large Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament is well inhabited and frequented and its Markets which is on Saturdays is well served with Corn Flesh and other Provisions New-Castle under Line New-Castle seated on a little Rivulet a large Town Corporate governed by a Major Bailiffs and Burgesses hath a Court of Record to hold plea in all Personal Actions under 40 l. and amongst its Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament It hath a great Market on Mondays for Cattle some Horses and Sheep with plenty of Provisions and after Low-Monday a Market or rather a Fair every Fortnight for some time Vttoxater uttoxater pleasantly seated near the Banks of the Dove amongst excellent Pasturage The Town is not very well built but pretty large hath a well built Market-place and its Market which is on Wednesdays is said to be one of the greatest in these parts of England for Cattle Sheep Swine Butter Cheese Corn and all Provisions Tamworth Tamworth seated on the Banks of the Tame which divides the Town one part being in this County and the other in Warwickshire The Town at present is of good account though not of that splendor as in former times being incorporated governed by Bailiffs a high Steward under-Steward Recorder and other sub-Officers sends Burgesses to Parliament and hath a Market on Saturdays which is indifferent good for Corn and Provisions and in the Spring time for Cattle and Sheep Walsall Walsall seated on the top of a Hill a well-built Town Corporate governed by a Major and other sub-Officers hath a Court of Record enjoyeth a good Trade for divers Manufactures made of Iron as Nails Bridle-bits Stirrups Spurs and also Bellows here made in great plenty yet its Market which is on Tuesdays is not very great Wolverhampton pleasantly seated on a Hill Wolverhampton beautified with reasonable well built Houses and its Streets handsomly paved is much frequented by Gentry hath a neat Collegiate Church and its Market which is on Wednesdays is very considerable for Corn Cattle and Provisions being esteemed the second Market Town in the County County of Suffolk described SVFFOLK a County of a various Soil and consequently hath sundry growths and Manufactures the Eastern parts all along the Coasts and for 5 or 6 miles Inland are generally very bleak but healthy sandy full of small Hills and Springs and employed in Tillage for Rye Peas Brank Hemp and for Sheep-walks The more Inland part commonly called High-Suffolk or the Wood-lands is pretty level close and dirty and is made use of chiefly for Dayries driving a great trade for their Butter and Cheese and the parts about Bury are Champain and affordeth great store of grain of all sorts It is a County of a large extent is well stored with Parks watered with fresh Streams and blest with a most healthful and sweet Air which makes it to be so well inhabited by Gentry and is traded unto by 27 Market Towns and numbreth 575 Parish Churches Ipswich seated by the Banks of the Orwell Ipswich near the place where its fresh Water and salt meet which with the Tide gives it the conveniency of a Key 'T is a place of great antiquity and was once fenced about with a Wall or Rampier which was thrown down by the
of the Dutchy of Lancaster and hath a Market on Saturdays Doncaster seated on the Done and on the great Road to London Doncaster an ancient Town of good Antiquity once defended by a Castle now reduced to ruins and in Anno 759 this Town suffered much great part with its Cittadel being consumed with Fire but was rebuilt with a fair Church erected in the place where the Cittadel stood It is a large well-built and inhabited Town Corporate governed by a Major and Aldermen enjoyeth a good Trade especially for Stockings Knit-Waistcoats Petticoats and Gloves and hath a very good Market for Corn Cattle and Provisions on Saturdays Selby honoured in giving birth to King Henry the First seated on the Owse Selby which gives passage for small Vessels to York which doth occasion it to be a Town of some Trade and hath a good Market for Provisions and Merchandize on Mondays Ponfract very delightfully seated in a dry tract of ground Pontfract a neat Town Corporate beautified with good Buildings was once strengthned with a strong and stately Castle which was demolished in the late Wars It is governed by a Major and Aldermen sends Burgesses to Parliament and hath a very great Market for Corn Cattle Provisions and divers Country-commodities on Saturdays Wakefield seated in a large Lordship so called having its Steward Wakefield It is a large Town of good antiquity beautified with well built Stone-houses it is a place well known for its Clothing here made and hath a great Market on Thursdays and Fridays for Cloth Corn Provisions and divers Country-commodities Leeds seated on the Are an ancient Town Leeds where the Kings had formerly their Royal Palace and here Oswy King of the Northumbers put to flight Penda the Mercian It is a large and well built Town Corporate governed by a Major and Aldermen with sub-Officers electeth Parliament men is very well inhabited especially by wealthy Clothiers who drive a great Trade for their Cloth and hath two considerable Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays which are well traded unto for Corn Provisions Woollen-Cloth and divers good Commodities Knaresbrough Knaresbrough delightfully seated on the Nid and on a ragged rough Rock on which is seated a Castle It is a well-built Town Corporate electing Parliament men and hath a good Market for Corn and Provisions on Wednesdays Nigh unto this place in a Moorish boggy-ground ariseth a Spring of Vitrioline tast and odour and not far off is also a Sulphur-Well which is good for several Diseases here is also a droping petrefying-Well which turns Wood Moss c. into Stone Rippon Rippon feated between the Yore and a Branch thereof over which are two Bridges It is a place of good antiquity and of much same for its Religious Houses but especially for its stately Monastery built by Wilfrid Archbishop of York It is at present a large and well-built Town Corporate governed by a Major and Aldermen hath the election of Parliament men the Town is well inhabited by Gentry and its Market which is on Thursdays is very great for Cattle Corn Provisions and chiefly for Wool which is much bought up by the Cloathiers of Leeds This Town is beautified with a very fine Cathedral Church with a lofty Spire-Steeple and in this Church was St. Winfrids Needle a place famous in our Fore-fathers days being a narrow Hole in the close Vaulted-room under ground in which place as 't is reported but not Recorded for Truth Womens Honesty was used to be tried for according to the story those that were Chast could easily pass through but the kind-hearted Souls were by an unknown means held fast and could not pass through WALES THE Island of great Britain in ancient time was severed into three Parts the first fairest and greatest contained all within the French Seas the Rivers of Severn Dee and Humber and was called Lhoyger which name in Welsh it still retaineth and in English England The second took up all the Land Northwards from the Humber to the Orkney Isles and was called Mare Caledonium or Deucaledonium and now Scotland And the third lying between the Irish Seas the Rivers of Severn and Dee was anciently called Cambria and now Wales to which the Britains being outed of their Country were forced to retire and there fortified themselves The Bounds This Country of Wales is bounded on all sides by the Sea except towards England from which it is severed by the River Dee and a Line drawn to the River Wye but anciently it was extended to the River Severn Eastward for Offa King of the Mercians forced them to quit the Plain Countries beyond that River which now is called the Marches of Wales and to betake themselves to the Mountains which he caused to be separated from England by a great Ditch called Offa's Dike in Welsh Claudh Offa in many places yet to be seen which Dike beginneth at the influx of the Wye into the Severn and reacheth unto Chester which is about 84 miles where the Dee disburthens it self into the Sea And over this Dike by a Law made by Harald no Welshman was permitted to pass with a Weapon upon pain of losing his Right hand Very Mountainous and Barren The whole Country is Mountainous and Barren yet affordeth several good Commodities and is not without many fertil Valleys which bear good Corn and breed great abundance of small Cattle with which they furnish England as also with Butter Cheese Woollen-Cloths called Welsh-Frizes Cottons Bays Herrings both White and Red Calve-skins Hides Hony Wax c. and the Country is well stored with Quarries of Free-stone for building and Mill-stones as also hath Mines of Lead Lead-Oar Coals and some of Silver and Tin And these Commodities are generally brought to Shrewsbury Oswestre Bristol Worcester and other adjacent parts and thence dispersed into England It s Ancient division About the year of Christ 870 Rodericus Magnus King of Wales divided this Country into three Regions Territories or Talaiths which were so many Kingdoms to wit Gwineth Venedotia or North-Wales and this part he gave to Anarawd his eldest Son Deheubarth or South-Wales which he gave to Cadelh his second Son and Powis or Powis-Land which he gave to Mervin his third Son and in each of these three Kingdoms he appointed a Royal Palace as at Aberffraw in the Isle of Anglesey for North-Wales at Dynefar or Dynevowr-Castle not far from Carmarthen for South-Wales and at Matravan in Montgomery-shire for Powis-Land Present division But at present according to Act of Parliament made in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth it is severed into two Parts to wit North-Wales and South-Wales both which have as it were devoured all Powis-Land and in each of these parts there are 6 Counties in the North those of Anglesey Caernarvon Denbigh Flint Merioneth and Montgomery and in the South those of Brecknock Cardigan Carmarden Glamorgan Pembroke and Radnor Again Wales like unto
England is divided into four Circuits for the Administration of Justice and then the first shall contain the Counties of Denbigh Flint and Montgomery the second those of Brecknock Glamorgan and Radnor the third those of Cardigan Carmarden and Pembroke and the fourth those of Anglesey Caernarvon and Merioneth But to proceed to the description of these Counties and first of North-Wales NORTH-WALES Isle of Anglesey THe Island of ANGLESEY is severed from Caernarvon-shire by a narrow Streight of the River Menai and on all other parts it is washed with the Irish Seas It was the ancient Seat of the Druids and brought with no small difficulty under the Roman Scepter by Julius Agricola It is so fertil and abounding in all things as Corn Cattle and Provisions that the Welsh term it the Mother of Wales supplying its defects although for fight it seemeth dry stony and hilly It produceth a sort of Stones called Molares very fit and good for Mill-stones and Grind-stones In this Isle were formerly seated 360 Towns and Villages but at present but 74 and hath intercourse of Traffick with two Markes Towns and hath several good Ports and Harbours as also divers Ferries for the conveyance of Passengers to and fro It s chief places are Beau-Morish Beau-Morish seated on a Moorish-ground but commandeth a fair prospect into the Sea where it hath a very good Harbour for Ships It was built by King Edward the First the better to secure his Conquest who fortified it with a powerful Castle now in good repair It is a pretty good handsom Town Corporate governed by a Major Recorder 2 Bailiffs who are Justices of the Peace and 21 Common Council called Burgesses It is the chief Shire-Town where the Assizes and Sessions are held sends a Burgess to Parliament is indifferently well inhabited and frequented as being the usual place for the reception of Passengers from London to Ireland before their taking Shipping at Holyhead It hath weekly two Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays which are indifferent good Newburgh Newburgh seated near Brant River where it formeth a Bay and falleth into Menai River a small Borough Town governed by a Major 2 Bailiffs and a Recorder and hath a Market on Tuesdays County of Caernarvon described The County of CAERNARVON before Wales was divided into Shires bore the name of Snowden-Forest from the principal Hill therein seated which is of a very great height and extent and affordeth excellent sweet Mutton on the top of this Hill floateth a Meer and maketh a River and falleth into the Sea at Trathe-Mawer It is a County of a sharp Air very Mountainous yet not unfertil and feedeth good Herds of Cattle In this County are seated 68 Parish Churches and hath six Market Towns Caernarvon Caernarvon commodiously seated on the Sea-shoar where it hath an excellent prospect into the Isle of Anglesey It was a place of good account where the Princes of Wales had their Exchequer and Chancery for North-Wales and is a place of great strength as well by Nature as Art being encompassed on all parts except towards the East with the Sea and two Rivers and had a strong Castle where in a Tower thereof called Eagle-Tower Edward the Second the first Prince of Wales was born It is a place of no great extent having but one Parish Church its Houses and Streets are well built and ordered is well inhabited enjoyeth several Immunities sends a Burgess to Parliament is governed by the Constable of the Castle who is ever Major and hath for his assistance an Alderman 2 Bailiffs a Town-Clerk with Sub-Officers and its Market on Saturdays is very good for Corn and Provisions Bangor lowly seated on the Sea-shoar a Town in Ancient time so large Bangor that it was called Bangor the Great and was defended by a powerful Castle which long since was laid level to the ground It is at present but a small City or rather a Town yet dignified with the See of a Bishop its Cathedral is large and well built its Houses indifferent good is pretty well inhabited is governed by the Bishops-Steward who keepeth Court-Leets and Courts-Baron for the Bishop and hath an indifferent good Market on Wednesdays Nigh unto Bangor is Penmaen-maur that is the Great Stony-head Penmaen-maur being an exceeding high and steep Rock which at High-Sea so hangeth over that it affordeth a very narrow and dangerous passage but having passed this and Penmaen-byehan that is the Lesser Stony-head the Country openeth it self in a broad Plain as far as the River Conwey Aberconwey seated at the Mouth of the Conwey Aberconwey raised out of the Ruins of the ancient Canonium of Antonine being strongly fenced both with Walls and a Castle It is a pretty good Town governed by an Alderman and 2 Bailiffs which for largeness and good Buildings doth rather deserve the name of a City than a Town especially were it thicker inhabited and better resorted unto yet its Market which is on Fridays is well served with Provisions and several Country-commodities Pulhely seated on the Sea-shoar and between two Rivers Pulhely a pretty large and indifferent well-built Bailiwick Town which hath a good Market on Wednesdays for Corn and Provisions and enjoyeth a good Trade by Sea County of Denbigh described DENBIGH-SHIRE a Country very Hilly several of which are of so great a height that they retain Snow and the tops thereof in the Summer season are the Country-mans Morning-Almanack to denote a fair day by the rising of certain Vapours It is of a different Soil the Western part being Heathy is much inclined to sterility and but thinly inhabited except the part which lieth towards the Sea the Eastern beyond the Valley is much more barren and the middle where it lieth flat is a pleasant and fertil Vale and well inhabited with Gentry Here are seated 57 Parish Churches and is traded unto by four Market Towns Denbigh seated on the hanging of a Rocky-Hill Denbigh and on a branch of the Cluyd once a place of good strength when fortified with a strong Wall and an impregnable Castle The Town is indifferent large well built inhabited by Glovers and Tanners enjoyeth a good Trade by some esteemed the best Town in North-Wales is governed by 2 Aldermen 2 Bailiffs and 25 Capital Burgesses with sub-Officers electeth a Parliament man and hath a good Market for Corn Cattle and Provisions on Wednesdays Ruthin seated on the Cluyd which washeth a rich Vale Ruthin of note for its once large and fair Castle It is a large well inhabited and frequented Town Corporate governed by 2 Aldermen and Burgesses hath a large Hospital and a Free School governed by a Warden and hath a very considerable Market for Corn and Provisions on Mondays which is esteemed the best in the Vale. Wrexham seated in a good Soil affordeth plenty of Lead Wrexham and on a small River which falleth into the Dee It is an indifferent
large well-built and inhabited Town graced with a fair Church whose Steeple is not inferiour to any in England and hath two Markets weekly viz. on Mondays which is but small and on Thursdays which is very great for Corn Cattle and Provisions In this County is Llansainan seated on the River Aled Llansalnan a small Town but of note for its Cave made in the side of a Rock or Stony-hill wherein are 24 Seats some bigger and some lesser known by the name of Arthur's Round-Table a place much frequented by Shepheards and Heardsmen Flintshire described The County of FLINT is not over Mountainous and those that are being interlaced with fertil Valleys affordeth plenty of Corn and Pasturage it hath great abundance of Hony but is very defective of Wood and Fruits It is indifferently well watered hath several safe Harbours for Ships to Ride and Anchor in and this part of the County hath plenty of Mines of Pit-Coal and the adjacent Mountains have store of Lead-Oar This Shire is famous for St. Winfrids-Well St. Winfrids-Well not far from Cajervis in English Holy-Well a place of great note and much resorted unto as well by those to Bath in as being esteemed very good for several Diseases as by Pilgrims out of their devotion in memory of that Christian Virgin Winfrid who was there ravished by a young Lord or Prince of the Country and to stop her Acclamations cruelly slew her and cut off her Head out of which place according to Report did immediately gush forth a Spring which is of so rapid a Stream that at a small distance it is able to drive a Mill. Over the Head of this Spring or Well there now standeth a Chapel built of Free-stone of curious workmanship and in the Chancel on the Glass-window is lively pourtraied the History of St. Winfrid of her life and how her Head was cut off and set on again by St. Reuno In the Well there groweth Moss of a most sweet and pleasant smell which is said to be St. Winfrids-hair Here are seated 28 Parishes and hath two Market Towns Flint Flint well seated on the Deeâ— of chief note for its now old and ruinous Castle and although the Shire-Town is but small and hath no Market but as a Borough-Town electeth Parliament man St. Asaph seated on the Elwy St. Asaph where it receiveth the Cluyd over each of which there is a Bridge a place of more fame for its antiquity than largeness or beauty being an ancient Episcopal See founded by Kentigerne a Scot Bishop of Glasco in Anno 560 of which about 300 that were unlearned employed their times in Husbandry within the limits of the said Monastery and the rest to a Holy life By this it may be judged their Bounds were exceeding large and upon his return into Scotland he ordained Asaph a godly man to be his Successor from whom the Town or City took its name which at present is not large not its Buildings very good chiefly glorying in its Cathedral It hath a small Market on Saturdays County of Merioneth described The County of MERIONETH is exceeding Mountainous and Rocky very unpleasant and for the generality much inclined to sterility bearing but thin Crops of Corn yet is found to feed good flocks of Sheep and Herds of Cattle from which the Inhabitants draw their chief Maintenance It is observed that these Mountains are of so great an height that in many places two men may stand and discourse together each upon a several Mountain but must travel some miles before they can come to meet It is well watered with Rivers and is well provided with red Deer Fowl and Fish and as this County is thus Mountainous and barren so is it as thinly inhabited numbring but 37 Parishes and those but ordinary and hath but three Market Towns Harlech Harlech seated on a Rock on the Sea-shoar a small Borough Town which is but thinly inhabited nor its Houses over well built although the chief of the County It is governed by a Major for its chief Magistrate sends a Burgess to Parliament and hath a mean Market This Town was once of a greater account for its strong and beautiful Castle highly seated commanding both Sea and Country adjoyning but was reduced to Ruins in the late unhappy Wars by the Parliamentteers this being a Garrison of the Kings Bala Bala seated near Pimble-Meer which is of a large extent through which the Dee is said to run but not to mingle with its water which is proved for that the Salmons plentifully taken in the Dee are not found in this Meer and likewise the Fish called Gwyniaid much like unto Whitings which is in as great plenty taken in this Meer are never found in the Dee This Town is Incorporated enjoyeth some Immunities is governed by Bailiffs hath an indifferent Market on Saturdays but the Town is mean and small County of Montgomery described MONTGOMERY-SHIRE very Hilly and Mountainous but interlaced with fertil Valleys both for Tillage and Pasturage and was in ancient time of note for its good breed of Horses Here are seated 47 Parish Churches and is traded unto by 6 Market Towns Montgomery the Shire-Town so called from Roger de Montgomery Montgomery Earl of Shrewsbury the first builder thereof It is well seated amongst rich grounds and on an easie Ascent of a Hill a place once fortified with a powerful Castle and fenced about with a Wall which was dismantled in the late Wars It is an indifferent large Town Corporate governed by Bailiffs sends a Burgess to Parliament and its Market which is on Thursdays is well resorted unto and hath a good Shambles Welch-Pool seated on the Severn and in a rich Vale Welch-Pool the greatest and best built Town Corporate in the County governed by Bailiffs is well inhabited enjoyeth a very good Trade for English Commodities from Bristol and its Market on Mondays is very considerable for Cattle Provisions and Flannels It s Castle called Powis-Castle which within the compass of its Wall containeth two Castles is of late a large and stately Pile of Building Llanvilling scituate in a Flat amongst the Hills Llanvilling and between the Cain and the Ebir it is a good Town and hath a considerable Market for Cattle Corn Wool and Provisions on Thursdays Within three miles of this Town is Matravan-Castle sometimes the Royal Seat of the Princes of Powis-Land SOVTH-WALES County of Pembroke described PEMBROKE-SHIRE called in Welsh Brechinean is said to take its name from one Brechanius a Prince who had a great Off-spring of 24 Daughters and all Saints It is a County for the generality very Mountainous some of which are exceeding high especially Monuchdenny-Hill not far from Brecknock which exalteth it self above the Clouds and although thus Hilly yet is not without many large and fertil Plains and Valleys both for Corn and feeding of Cattle and the more by reason of the Rivers Vske and
on Tuesdays but now disused Prestaine seated on the Lug and in a pleasant and rich Vale which from a small Village in former days is now become a fair large and well built Town Prestaine with paved Streets is well inhabited and frequented where the Assizes are held and the County Gaol kept and its Market which is on Saturdays is very good for Provisions and Grain especially Barly of which they make good store of Mault Knighton seated in a Valley and on the Teme over which it hath a Bridge Knighton a very fair and well built Borough Town of a good resort whose Inhabitants enjoy a good Trade and its Market on Tuesdays is very well served with Cattle Corn Provisions Iron-ware Hops Salt Linnen and Woollen and other Commodities The Kingdom of SCOTLAND as it is divided in Firm Land where are thirty fiâ—e Provinces to wit Thirteen beyond the TAY which with the Province of LORNE made the ancient Kingdom of the SCOTS whereof Five are towards the NORTH and WEST as Strath-Navarn â—trabubaster Tounge Gathanes Giâ—â—ego Wick Sutherland Dornok Dunrobiâ— Rosse Skyrassin Cromarty Canonry Lovet Loquabrea Kyntaile Innerlethey Eight towards the EAST and SOUTH as Murray Elgin Invernes Forres Rothes Bean Narden Badgenoth Bucquhan Rothemay Stanes Marria Aberdean New Aberdone Kildrumy Mernis Fordon Dumnotyr Brechin Anguis Monross Dunde Glammes Forfar Perth Perth Scone Dunkeldon Athole Blaire Braidalbin Encerlothea Twenty two on this side the TAY which except the County of LORNE made the ancient Kingdom of the PICTS whereof Nine are towards the Gulph of DUNBRITTON as Lorne Dunstafâ—ge Tarbart Bergonum Cantyr Swin Sandell Arran c. Arran Rothsay Argile Duwwin Lennox Dunbriton Cuningham Yrwin Androssan Largis Kilwein Kyle Ayre Uchiltre Carrickt Bargeny Blaquhan Galloway Witherne Wighton Kiâ—koubrick Cardines Six towards the Gulph of EDINBURGH as Fife St. Andrews Cupre Disert Kinghorne Strathnaverne Abergeny Menteith Dumblain Clackmannan Striveling Sterling Linlithquo Linlithquo Falkirck Lothien Edinburgh Dunbar Leith Haddington Dalkith Seven in the Valleys towards ENGLAND as Cluydesdale Glasquo Lanrick Hamiltown Reynfraw Douglasdale Nithesdale Dumfreis Solway Anandale Anan Lochmabain Liddesdale Harlay Eskdale Aefica Teifedale Peblis Seltkirck Drimlar Roxburgh Yedburg Merch Hum. Coldingham ISLES which make three Bodies viz. those of ORCADES to the North of SCOTLAND Mainland Kirkewall SCHETLAND to the N. North-east of ORCADES Mainland Burgh INCH GALLES or Western Isles To the West of SCOTLAND among the which are Lewis Sterwaye Skye Tranternes Eust St. Maria. Ila Dunweg Sura Sodore Mulla Arrois Colm-kill Colm-kill Rawghlin Dowaneny The Kingdom and Isle of IRELAND hath formerly been divided into four Kingdoms which are at this day as many Provinces which are subdivided into Counties and thus scituated viz. Towards the NORTH the Province of ULSTER where are the Counties of Dunagall or Tyrconnell Donegal Derry or London Derry Calebeâ—k Tirconnel Upper Tyroen Strebane Lower Tyroen Dungannon Colrane Colrane Antrim Knoekfergus Antrim Downe Downe Newry Sâ—rangford Arglass Louth Trodaugh Dundalke Carlingford Ardeth Armagh Armagh Mountnorris Monaghan Clogher Churchland Cavan Cavan Kilmore Fermanagh Baltarbet Towards the SOUTH the Province of MOUNSTER where are the Counties of Tipperary or Holy-Cross Cassile Holy-Cross Clomel Caryck Emeley Lymerick Lymerick Kilmalock Kerry Dingle Ardart Trayley Desmond Donekyran Downbay Corke Corke Kinsale Ross Voghall Cloney Watersord Watersord Dungarvan Ardmor Lismore Towards the WEST the Province of CONNAUGHT where are the Counties of Majo Killaloy Refraine Slego Slego Dundroes Dunbroyle Galloway Galloway Kilmaculo Clonford Kingstown Clare or Twomond Clare Kylaloe Kilfenerog Toam Rosecoman Rosecoman Atlon Omacoghlan Elphin Letrym Letrym Mewkerke Achonry Towards the EAST the Province of LEINSTER where are the Counties of Dublin Dublin Newcastle Houth Malcheal Wicklo Glandelour Malehid East Meath Trim Aboy Slane Galtre West Meath Molingar Delvin Kelskery Longford Longford Ardragh Kildare Kildare Mainoth Athie Carbre Kings County Philipstown Lee. Queens County Queenstown Rheban Caterlough Caterlaugh Carickbrak Areklo Wexford Wexford Ross Ternes Eniscort Kilkenny Kilkenny Thomas Town Callan SCOTLAND It s scituation THE Kingdom of SCOTLAND maketh the Northern part of Great Britain and is divided from England by the Rivers Tweed and Solway Ancient Inhabitants together with the Cheviot-Hills A Country formerly inhabited by the Picts who were divided into two Nations viz. the Dicalidonii and the Vecturiones but when the Scots became the chief Rulers as Mr. Cambden noteth it was shared into seven Partâ— Ancient division and amongst as many Princes The first contained Enegus and and Maern the second Atheold and Goverin the third Stradeern with Meneted the fourth Forthever the fifth Mar with Bucken the sixth Muref and Ross and the seventh Cathanes which Mound a Mountain in the midst divideth running on forward from the West Sea to the East It was also according to the relation of Andrew Bishop of Cathanes severed into seven Territories which Mr. Cambden also taketh notice of as followeth The first from Frith or Scotwade to the River Tae the second to Hilef according as the Sea fetcheth a compass to the Mountain Athran in the North-east part of Strivelin the third from Hilef to d ee the fourth from Dee to the River Spe the fifth from the Spe to the Mountain Brunalban the sixth Mures and Ross and the Seventh the Kingdom of Argathel which is the Border of the Scots Modern division and its Inhabitants But the Kingdom at present according to the habitation of the People may be divided into Highland-men and Lowland-men or into the Northern and Southern parts The People of the former live either on the Western Coast and are very rude having much of the nature disposition speech and habit of the Tories or wild Irish or in the out Isles and are utterly Barbarous The Lowlanders as bordering on England have much of the disposition civility language and habit of the English and are supposed to be descended from the Saxons which is confirmed by the Highlanders who are the true Scoti and are supposed to descend from the Scythians who with the Getes infesting Ireland left their Issue behind them It s extent This Kingdom is very spacious extending it self from North to South about 250 miles in length and in breadth where broadest about 150 but contracting it self narrower and narrower as it approaches its extream Northern limits as doth appear by the Map It s name It is said to have been called Scotia from Scoti Scitti or Scythi a People of Germany over whose Northern limits the name Scythia did extend although there be many that will have it to be so called from Scota Daughter to an Egyptian Pharaoh It s fertility and commodities Although this Kingdom is less fertil than England and its Fruits not so plentiful nor so pleasing to the palate occasioned through the coldness of the Clime yet is it found to have great plenty of Cattle though but small and for Fish and Fowl an innumerable quantity amongst which is a
two-headed Rock at the meeting of the Rivers near the large Lough Lomond and in a green Plain in one of the tops is or was placed a Watch-Tower and on the other several Fortifications or Bulwarks on the East-side it hath a boggy Flat which at every Tide is covered with water and on the South it hath the River Cluid Alcluyd Alcluyd an ancient City by some said to be the same Dunbritton Of a fertil Soil STRIVELING or STIRLING a County of a fertil Soil and well inhabited and here is that narrow Land or Streight by which Edenburgh-Frith and Dunbrith-Frith thrusting themselves far into the Land out of the East and West Seas are separated from meeting together which space was fortified with Garrisons between by Julius Agricola so that all the part on this side was in the possession of the Romans and their Enemies were forced to retire themselves into the more Northern and Hilly part of the Kingdom but this lasted not long for Agricola being called home the Caledonian Britains forced the Romans back as far as the River Tine and when Hadrian arrived in Britain about 40 years after instead of going farther he gave command that the God Terminus which used not to give ground to any should be withdrawn back and that a Wall of Turffs commonly now called Grahams-Dike should be made between the Rivers Tine and Eske Southward on this side Edenburgh-Frith for about 100 miles which proved successful unto them And along this Wall hath been oft-times found several Inscriptions and pieces of Romish Antiquities And of remark was that ancient round building 24 Cubits high and 13 broad open at the top and framed of rough and unpolished Stones without any Cement Lime and Morâ—ar some call this the Temple of the God Terminus others Arthur's Oven and others Julius Hoff as supposing it to be raised by Julius Caesar but Cambden would rather believe it to be built by Julius Agricola who fortified these parts had not Ninius said it was built by Garausius as a Triumphal Arch in memory of some Victory The chief places in this County are Stirling Stirling Striveling or Stirling-Borough a place of good strength and fortified with a powerful Castle high mounted on the brow of a steep Rock a place dignified with the birth of King James the Sixth of Scotland and First of England who afterwards caused it to be beautified with new Buildings Falkirke Falkirke c. Cumirnald and Torwood MENTEITH a County so called from the River Teith It s chief places are Dunblain Clackmannan Dunblain seated on the River Teith being the See of a Bishop and Clackmannan Of a very fertil Soil FIFE a fertil County in Corn and Pasturage hath Pit-Coal and the Sea with its two Arms Forth and Tau which almost encompass it affordeth store of Oysters and other Fish It s chief places are St. Andrews St. Andrews of old Regimund that is St. Regulus Mount which Vng or Oeng King of the Picts gave to God and St. Andrew that it should be the chief and Mother Church of the Picts Kingdom It is a City pleasantly seated on the Sea-shoar near Fif-ness is fortified with a fair and strong Castle is dignified with an Archiepiscopal See which is Primate of all Scotland and is also honoured by being the Seat of the Muses Disert Disert seated on the rising of a Hill and in an open Heath so called where there is a large place called the Cole-plot that affordeth good store of Bitumen Dunfirmling Dunfirmling a famous Monastery in old time and of note as well for its Building and being the Burial-place of King Malcomb the Third as for giving Title to the Earl of Dunfirmling Falkland Falkland well and pleasantly seated for Hunting for which purpose the Kings have had here their Retiring-house Cupre Cupre a Borough-Town of some note STRATHERNE that is the Vale along the River Ern hath for its chief places Abergenny Abergenny once a City of good account being the Royal Seat of the Picts Kings which as 't is said Nectane their King dedicated to God and St. Bridget with a Tract of ground thereto belonging Drimein Drimein-Castle well seated on the River Ern. Tulibardin Tulibardin-Castle scituate also on the same River ARGILE a County well furnished with Pools in which together with the Sea and its many Arms which it sendeth forth are taken great plenty of good Fish and in its Mountains are bred a kind of wild Deer Places of good account are none in this County LORNE a Country of an apt Soil for bearing of Barley is well watered being divided by the large Lough or Lake called Leane It s chief places are Dunstafage Dunstafage seated near the said Lake once dignified with a House of the Kings Tarbar Tarbar where King James the Fourth ordained a Justice and a Sheriff to administer Justice to the Inhabitants of the out-Isles Bergonum and Bergonum CANTTRE that is the Lands-head as thrusting it self forth with a long and tapered Promontory which Ptolomy called the Promontory Epidiorum This County seated near Ireland Kiltan Sandell between the extream point of which and Marlock or Tor-Bay in Ireland there are scarce 13 miles It s chief places are Killtan and Sandell Isle of Arran ARRAN a small County and Isle near unto Cantire hath for its chief places Arran and Rothsay The Highlanders ALBAINE or BRAID-ALBIN whose Inhabitants are called the Highlanders a kind of rude and warlike People and much of the nature of the Irish in habit and disposition It s chief places are Enrer Lothea and Foyre PERCH a large and fertil County hath for its chief places Perch Perch or St. John's Town a place of good account and once larger than now it is being built by King William it is pleasantly seated between two Greens and on the River Tau which is navigable for Barges Dunkelden Dunkelden dignified by King David with an Episcopal See supposed to be a Town of the Caledonians Berch Also on the Tau stood the little City of Berch which was washed away by the overflowings of the said River together with many of its Inhabitants amongst which was an Infant-Child of the Kings in its Cradle Scone Scone seated on the farther side of the Tau dignified with an Inauguration of the Scotch Kings before their Union to England Westminster now being the place and where the Chair in which the Kings were then Crowned is which is at present made use of upon the like occasion Caladonia Wood. ATHOL an indifferent fertil County and well clothed with Wood where is that large and overshadowed Wood Caladonia already treated of a Country said to be infamous for Witches It s chief place is Blaire Very fertil and well watered ANGVIS a fertil County both for Corn and rich Pastures is well watered with several Rivers which lose
themselves in the Sea which serveth for its Eastern bounds It is interlaced with Hills and Forests and garnished with divers Forts and Castles It s chief places are Dundee Dundee seated on the Mouth of the River Tay a noted and well resorted Town for Trade by reason of its commodious Port for Ships Brechin Brechin scituate on the River South-Eske near its fall into the Sea and dignified by King David the First with an Episcopal See Nigh unto this Town is Red-head a place not unknown to Seamen Montross Montross of old Celurca of some account for being honoured with the Title of an Earldom Arbroth seated near the Sea a Town endowed with large Revenues Arbroth and by King William dedicated to a Religious use in honour of Thomas of Canterbury MERNIS Very fertil or MERNIA a small but plain and fertil Champaâ—â—â— Country which shooteth it self forth on the German Ocean It s chief placâ— are Dunnotyr Dunnotyr defended by a strong Castle seated on an high and inaccessibâ—â— Rock near the Sea Fordon Fordon seated also not far from the Sea BVQVIHAN washed with the Sea whose Waves did here cast up mighty Mass of Amber of an inestimable value it hath good Pastures most to feed Sheep whose Wool is excellent and its Rivers breed store of Salmon which are had at such easie rates that it is scarce worth the trouble of takiâ— them It s chief places are Rotheniay and Stanes Adjoyning to this Country lieth Boena and Bamff a small Sheriffdom alâ— Ajuza a little Territory of no great note MARR Marr. a long and narrow County somewhat inclined to Mountains bâ— well watered with the Done or Dee well stored with Salmons and other Fisâ— Its chief places are Aberdene Aberdene feated on the Sea-shoar at the Mouth of the Done dignified wiâ—â— an Episcopal See hath an Hospital also a Free-Grammar-School and is of no for taking of Salmons Kildrumy and Kildrumy MVRRAY Murray a pleasant and fertil County and the rather as watered wiâ—â— the Spey Findorne and the River and Lake Nessa which reacheth aboâ—â—â— 23 miles in length the water whereof is observed to be so warm that it nevâ— is sound to freez and this Lake is its Northern limits as the Spey is its Easterr all which empty themselves in the Sea where it formeth a Bay Its chiâ—â— places are Innernes Innernes Bean-Castle which Ptolomy thinks to be Banatia and here Anno 1460. a Marble-Vessel artificially engraven full of Roman Coins wâ— found Narden Narden or Narne an hereditary Sheriffdom and here stood within a bâ— land a strong Fortress of a great height which was kept by the Danes agaiâ— the Scots Innernes Innerlothea and Innerlothea in former times two eminent Fortifications Alâ— Elgin and Rothes Elgin Rothes places honoured with the Titles of Earldoms LOQVABREA a County well stored with Rivers and Lakes whicâ— empty themselves into the Sea it hath also good Pastures yet is it very Mouâ—â—tainous and well clothed with Wood and in the bowels of the Earth are Minâ— of Iron Iron-Mines It s chief place is Innerlothey Innerlothey once of good account being well frequented and traded unto but through the Pyracies and Wars of the Danes and Norwegians who razâ— it it hath now scarce any Remain left ROSS It s sertility a large Mountainous and Woody County which reacheth froâ— one Sea to the other hath great plenty of Stags Deer Wild-fowl and Fisâ— Its chief places are Cromarty Cromarty or the Haven of Safety as having so secure and capacious an Haâ—â— bour for Ships Ness-mouth Lovet Ness-mouth and Lovet In this County is the Territory of Ardmanoch Ardmanoch very Mountainous froâ— which the second Sons of the Kings of Scotland bear their Title SVTHERLAND regarding the Sea is well watered with Rivers bâ— sides the large Lough or Lake Shyn almost in the midst of the Country Weâ—â—â— wards of which are great store of Hills from which is dug excellent whiâ—â— Marble very good for curious Works It is a Country more fit for breediâ— of Cattle Dunrobin Dorne than for Tillage and hath for its chief places Dunrobin anâ— Dorno Very cold and barren STRATHNAVERNE a County far engaged Northwards whicâ— with Cathanes have the utmost Northern Coast of all Britain which must oâ— casion it to be of a very cold temperature it is very much inclined to sterility Strabubaster Tounge is Mountainous and but ill inhabited It s chief places are Strabubaster anâ— Tounge A MAPP of the Kingdome of IRELAND by Ric Blome by his Matys Com To the R t honble Ric Boyle Earle of Burlington â—â—ron Cliford of Lansborro in England Earle of Corke Viscount Dungaruen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lord High Treasurer of Ireland c. And to the Rt. honble Roger Boyle Earle of Orrery Baron 〈◊〉 Broghill in Ireland and of his Ma js most honble privy Councell c This Mapp is humbly Dediâ—â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 the R t honble Sr. Rob Kilrâ—â—ray of Terry Bâ—â—on in England Kt. Bart 〈◊〉 of Londonderry Baron of Crallon 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 County in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. his estate in Ireland being called Medinshill This Mapp 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 is DD by Ric Bloâ—◠〈◊〉 the R t honble Earle of Arran Viscâ—â—llough Baron Butler of Clougrenan 〈◊〉 of his Maie s most honble privy Councell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Mapp of the Province of 〈◊〉 is humble DD by Ric Blom◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honble 〈◊〉 Baron of 〈…〉 Mai s Army of 〈…〉 his 〈◊〉 most honble 〈…〉 This Mapp of the Provence of 〈…〉 Humbly DD by Ric Blome CATHANES a County washed with the Eastern Ocean where it formeth several Creeks and is well watered with Rivers which afford good store of Fish from which and by the grasing and feeding of Cattle the Inhabitants get the greatest part of their livelyhood It s chief places are Dornock a mean place yet the See of a Bishop Dornock Catnes a Maritim Town dignified with an Earldom Catnes Nigh unto this Town Southwards is Ness-head and Northwards Dunesbe-head both Maritim places and Girnego Girnego Three Mountains In this Tract are three Promontories to wit Vrdehead of old Berubium Dunsby or Dunscanby of old Virvedrum and Howbum of old Orcas There are several Isles dispersed about this Kingdom of Scotland as the Orcades Shetland and Hebrides which may properly be said to belong thereunto but as to the description thereof they shall be treated of amongst the other small Isles belonging in general to great Britain after we have treated of the Kingdom of Ireland IRELAND It s scituation IRELAND environed on all sides by the Sea and next to Great Britain may claim priority of all others in Europe It is a Country generally of a fertil Soil and plentifully stored with Cattle Fowl and Fish Fertility but is Mountainous Woody Waterish and full of unprofitable Loughs or
Bogs which oft-times prove dangerous especially to New-comers and occasion Rheums and Fluxes for the cure of which they drink a sort of hot Water called Vskebah It s Air and Temperature It is blest with a mild and healthful Air its Summer being not so hot nor its Winter so cold as in England but more inclined to soggy Mists and Rains which makes it more unfit for Tillage than Pasturage the Clime being not very favourable for ripening of Corn or Fruits but beareth such great abundance of long and sweet Grass that the Cattle which are the Inhabitants chiefest wealth are soon fat and fit for slaughter therewith And it is further observed That the Air is so pure that it neither breedeth nor suffereth any venemous Beast Serpent or Insect being brought out of other Countries long to retain their life Its Names Many have been the Names according to Tradition that this Island hath been known by Orphaeus Aristotle and Claudian named it Jerna Juvenal and Mela Iverna or Hibernia Diodorus Siculus Iris Eustachius Oyernia and Bernia the Britains Yuerdon the Natives Eryn and the English Ireland Why so called Some there be that will have it called Hibernia from Hyberno tempore that is from its Winter season others from Hiberus a Spaniard and others from the ancient River Iberus whilst some strive to have it so called from the Irish word Hiere which signifieth West or Western Coast whence Eryn may seem to fetch its derivation Festus Avienus calleth this Island Sacram Insulam the Holy Island for that the People are soon drawn thereunto witness the many Saints that it hath produced Ireland long ago inhabited If you will take for truth what the Irish Historians report this Island hath been exceeding long inhabited for according to Cambden 't is said that it was possessed by Caesarea Niece to Noah before the Floud that Bartholanus a Scythian arrived here near 300 years before the Deluge that many years after Nemethus with his four Sons arrived here but was soon forced hence by the Giant-like sort of People of the Nimrods Race here inhabiting that after this the Five Grecians seized this Island and that soon after being about the time of the Israelites departure out of Aegypt Gaothel with his Wife Scota Daughter to Pharaoh King of Aegypt landed here and called the Island Scotia from his Wifes name And further the British History saith that some Ages after Hiberius Hermion Euer and Erimon Sons of Milesius King of Spain by permission of Gurguntius the British King here planted Colonies after that the Country had been wasted by a Pestilence and from the eldest Son was called Hibernia Nor is it much to be doubted but that the Britains setled themselves here seeing there is so great affinity betwixt them and the Irish in their natures dispositions and speech It s Extent Scituation This Island contains in length about 240 miles and in breadth about 120 't is scituate under the 10th and 12th Climates the longest day making about 16 hours It is a near Neighbour to Scotland from which it is separated by an Isthmus of about seven miles but England far more remote being from Dublin its Metropolitan City to Holy-land in the Isle of Anglesey the usual place for taking of Landing about 50. It s strength It is an Island of great strength as well by Nature as Art by reason of its scituation in such Tempestuous and dangerous Seas and the several Fortifications and Castles that the English have built since they became Masters thereof It s chief Rivers It is a Country well watered having several great Rivers the chief amongst which are those of Shannon being about 60 miles navigable and after its course of about 200 miles looseth it self into the Western Ocean Liff Showre Awidaff Slanie Sione c. And besides these Rivers there are several Lakes or Loughs amongst which that of most note is Lough-Erne about 30 miles in length and 15 in breadth in which are several small Isles Its Commodities The Commodities that this Island affordeth are great abundance of Cattle Hides Tallow Cheese Wool of which they make course-Cloth Freezes Rugs Mantles c. also Furs Pipe-staves Salt Hemp Linnen-Cloth Hony and Wax and its Seas likewise afford great plenty of Cod-fish Herrings Pilchards Oysters c. Its Inhabitants It s Native Inhabitants were extreamly rude and barbarous they made use of Women in common without any difference of other mens Wives they were very bold couragious and greedy of honour constant in love impatient of Injuries of an easie belief much addicted to phantastical conceits as holding it ominous to give their Neighbours Fire on a May-day with many the like Fooleries they are much inclined to superstitious Idolatry as worshipping the Moon after her change about their Childrens Necks they hung the beginning of St. Johns Gospel a piece of Wolves-skin or a crooked Nail of a Horse-shoe which they thought preserved them from danger the Hoofs of dead Horses they held Sacred with many such like ridiculous Fancies They accounted Ease and Idleness their greatest Liberty and Riches not coveting Worldly possessions contenting themselves with mean Cottages Hovels or Cabins nor were they profuse in their Apparel or Diet being well satisfied if they had wherewith to keep them warm and to fill their Bellies their chief food being Herbs Roots Butter Milk Oatmeal and the like For their dying they hired Women to Mourn who expostulated why they would die telling them that they had such and such things and the Corps were accompanied to the Grave with howlings clapping of hands and such like sorrowful actions But many of these ridiculous and absurd Customs since the English are setled amongst them are forgotten The Christian Faith was here first planted by St. Patrick The Christian Falth first planted by St. Patrick this Patrick according to Writers was the Son of Calphurus by St. Martins Sister and born at Glasco in Scotland who in his Youth was taken Captive by the Irish Pirates and sold for six years as a Slave in the meanest condition to Macbuain yet in this dejected condition he much desired the Conversion of this Nation from their extream Idolatrous ways to the true serving of the living God insomuch that he dreamed that the unborn Babes cried unto him for Baptisin and being at length redeemed from his bondage by a piece of Gold which he found in the Field that was rooted up by some Swine he lest the Isle but still having his thoughts on these People in his Aged years he again returned and in better state than before preached the Gospel converted the People became Bishop of Armagh and when dead was received or canonized as their Saint The English become Masters of Ireland These Irish having civil dissentions amongst them prompted the English in the Reign of K. Henry the Second to attempt the Conquest of this Kingdom who in Anno Dom. 1172.
remaining nothing but Ruins Four miles from which there was another City built by Lysimachus one of Alexanders Captains which from other Cities there adjoyning was peopled by him called Alexandria or Troas Alexandria or New Troy in honour of Alexander the Great who begun the Work which though not so great rich and famous as the first yet was the Metropolis of the Province but now by the Turks quite ruinated by their carrying the Stones and Pillars to Constantinople for the beautifying of their Bashaws Houses 3. Sigaeum the Port-Town to Troy 4. Assus called by Pliny Apollonia in which place the Earth will consume the Bodies of the Dead in 40 days 5. Lyrnessus opposite to the Isle of Lesbos destroyed by Achilles and the Greeks in the beginning of the Trojan War The Province of Paphlagonia and its Cities PAPHLAGONIA hath for its chief Cities 1. Gangra remarkable for a Council there held in the Primitive times called Synodus Gangrensis 2. Pompeiopolis so called by Pompey the Great And 3. Coniata or Conica fortified by Mithridates when he was Master of this Country The Province of Lycaonia and its chief places LYCAONIA bounded on the East with Armenia Minor The most eminent places in this Country are 1. Iconium now Cogni the Regal Seat of the Aladine Kings a place of great strength whose scituation is in the Mountains advantagious for defence and safety 2. Lystra famous for the Birth-place of Timothy and where Paul and Barnabas having healed a Cripple were adored for Mercury and Jupiter And 3. Derbe where the said Apostle preached The Province of Pisidia and its chief places PISIDIA hath for its chief places 1. Seleucia built by Seleucus 2. Sagalassa scituate in the most fruitful part of this Country 3. Selge a Colony of the Lacedemonians And 4. Termessus strongly seated This Country was famous for the Battel fought betwixt Cyrus and Artaxerxes where Cyrus lost his life and the Victory out of which Xenophon made that notable Retreat with his Grecians in the despight of 20000 Men which pursued him Armenia Minor and its Cities ARMENIA MINOR is bounded on the East with the Euphrates which separates it from Armenia Major Cities of hote viz. 1. Meteline the Metropolitan City now called Suur abounding in great quantities of Wine and Oil. 2. Nicopolis built by Pompey in remembrance of a Victory he there obtained against the Forces of Tygranes King of Syrid 3. Garnasa a strong Town 4. Oromandus and 5. Arabyssus remarkable for the exile of St. Chrysostom Patriarch of Constantinople confined here by the malice of the Empress Eudoxia This Country as to its fertility pleasantness c. is the same as Cappadocia afore-mentioned The Province of Mysia and its chief places MYSIA hath for its chief places 1. Cyzicus seated in the Propontis in an Island of the same name but so near the Continent that it is joyned to it by two Bridges The Metropolis of the Consular Hellespont a place of great strength and beauty whose Walls Bulwarks Towers and Haven were made of Marble 3. Adramyttium where Paul took Shipping to go to Rome And 4. Pergamus seated in a goodly Plain on the Banks of the River Caicus a place of great strength beautified with a Library of about 200000 Volumes or Manuscripts all writ in Parchment famous also for those costly Hangings known to us by Tapestry Here was one of the 7 Churches of Asia to which St. John writ his Revelation and lastly famous for the Birth-place of Galen the eminent Physician who lived to the Age of 140 years in good health Mountains in Anatolia worthy of note The Mountains and Rivers in Anatolia may have somewhat in particular observed of them Mount Taurus begins between Lysia and Caria and extends it self all the length of Asia being a continual Ridge of Hills running through Asia from West to East which for its length height and the branches it casts forth on one side and the other the greatest and most famous Mountain in the World On Mount Ida the Trojan Paris judged of the Beauty of Juno Pallas and Venus and giving the Golden Apple to the last drew on himself and his Friends the enmity of the other two On the Mountain Tmole in Lydia Midas having esteemed Pan's Pipe to be more pleasant than the Harp of Apollo was by him pulled by the Ears not to make them greater but so hard as gave occasion to the Poets to jeer him and say that he had Asses Ears This Mountain is very fruitful especially in Vines and Saffron On Cragus was feigned to be the Monster Chimera which Bellerophon made tractable On Latmus in Caria passed the Loves of the Moon and Endymion c. Amongst the Rivers Rivers Pactolus hath rouled down so much Gold in its Streams since Midas washed there that the Riches of Croesus and others are come from thence The Granick was witness of the Victory of Alexander the Great against the Satrapes of Darius but Alexander washing himself in the cold waters of Cidnus had near lost his life The River Acheron and the Lake Acherusia near Heraclia in Bithynia are esteemed to reach to Hell and that this way Hercules brought up the Villain Cerberus Halys at present Lali served for the bounds and limits between the Kingdom of Croesus and the Empire of the Persians but it proved fatal to Croesus c. Things worthy of note in Asia Minor There are many other things observable about and within the lesser Asia The Bosphorus of Thrace or Channel of the Black-Sea or Streight of Constantinople is so narrow that Darius Hystaspes built a Bridge over it and passed with his Troops over it from Asia into Europe to make War against the Scythians Xerxes the Son of Darius did as much over the Hellespont or Streight of Gallipoli or the Dardanelles which we call the Castles of Sestos and Abydos which are seated three Leagues above the entrance and at the narrowest place of the Hellespont opposite each to other Formerly famous for the unfortunate Loves of Hero and Leander drowned in the merciless Surges Here also Xerxes whose populous Army drank Rivers dry and made Mountains circumnavigable is said to have passed over into Greece on a Bridge of Boats Sestos is strongly seated on the side of a Mountain descending to the Sea on the European shoar Abydos on a low Level on the Asian shoar The Amaniden Streights or Passes of Mount Aman between Cilicia and Syria are easie to keep the Way for about 2500 Paces being between Rocks and Crags the Feet of which are washed with many streams which fall off from the Mountains Here it was that Alexander the Great vanquished Darius The ISLANDS about ASIA MINOR THe ISLANDS about ASIA MINOR have been very remarkable to Antiquity though not so at present Islands They are almost in the Archipelago some in the Mediterranean Sea almost none in the Black Sea yet at the entrance into that
Sea and near the Bosphorus of Thrace are n = 1. Cyanees The two Islands called CYANEES so near the one to the other that the Ancients would make us believe they joyned n = 2. Lesbos METELIN of old LESBOS famous for the City Meteline which for its greatness and excellency of its Wines gives name to the Island In this place was born Sappho the Inventress of the Sapphick Verse Pittacus one of the Sages of Greece and Arion the Dolphin Harper n = 3. Scio. SCIO or CHIOS distant from the Ionian shoar four Leagues being in compass about 126 miles remarkable for the Church of its Convent of Niomene one of the fairest in the World It affordeth excellent Fruits in great plenty but of most note for its Mastick not found elsewhere it is now under the power of the Grand Signior n = 4. Icaria ICARIA now called Niceria in compass 12 Leagues here Icarus suffered Shipwreck abounding in Corn and Pasturage n = 5. Pathmos PATHMOS in compass about ten Leagues Mountainous but reasonably fruitful especially in Grain Here it was that St. John being banished by Domitian writ his Revelation to the Churches of Asia n = 6. Parmacusa PARMACVSA near Miletum where Caesar was taken by them n = 7. Claros CLAROS or CASAMO about 13 Leagues in compass very Mountainous but hath good Harbours in former times sacred to Apollo abounding in great plenty of Aloes where they are gathered and transported to other Countries n = 8. Lero LERO noted also for Aloes n = 9. Coos COOS seated in the bottom of the Aegean Sea furnished with sweet and pleasant Streams which refresh this Island and makes it very fruitful it is in compass 23 Leagues having its chief place so called fortified with a strong Tower now a Garrison of the Turks This Island is remarkable for being the Birth-place of so many famous men especially Hippocrates the Revivor of Physick when almost decayed unto the ancient practice of Aesculapius unto whom this Island was consecrated having therein a Temple made rich with the Offerings of those that had been sick whose Cures were there Registred and Apelles the famous Painter n = 10. Scarpante Scarpante stored with the best Coral in the World n = 11. Nicosia NICOSIA which was the Seat of the Kings of the Family of Lufigua and the See of an Archbishop and Peopled with 40000 Families n = 12. Farmacusa FARMACVSA scituate on the Sea much stronger than Nicosia n = 13. Bapho BAPHO of old Baphus famous for its Temple dedicated to Venus Mount Olympus now St. Michaels Mount stands in the middle of this Island n = 14. Negroponte NEGRO-PONTE where the Sea ebbs and flows seven times a day which because Aristotle could not unriddle he here drowned himself the chief City is Colchis n = 15. Samos SAMOS about 30 Leagues in compass strongly seated almost on all sides with Rocks having a fair Haven fertil in Fruits especially in Oil and Olives the Island much infected with Pirates This is the only place in the World for Spunges under whose Rocks they grow in the Sea for the getting of which they have People which from their Infancy are bred up with dry Bisket and other extenuating diet to make them lean then taking a Spunge wet in Oil they hold it part in their Mouths and part without and so they dive down into the Sea to get it those that have been used to this trade can abide under water almost an hour together n = 16. Tenedos TENEDOS scituate at the Mouth of the Hellespont opposite to Troy remarkable for the concealing the Grecian Navy which proved the final destruction of Troy n = 17. Rhodes RHODES scituate in the Carpathian or Rhodian Sea being in compass 46 Leagues a place of great strength its Soil fertil its Air temperate plentiful in all things as well for delight as profit full of excellent Pastures adorned with pleasant Trees whose Leaves are alb the year long in their verdure In this Island the Sun is so powerful and constant as it was anciently dedicated to Phoebus This Island as Sandys in his Book of Travels noteth was held Sacred to the Sun to whom they erected that vast Colossus of Brass which may well be accounted one of the Seven Wonders of the World He saith The Colessus this Colossus was in height 70 Cubits every Finger as big as an ordinary Statue and the Thumb too great to be fathomed It was 12 years a making the bigness was such that being erected at the entrance of the Port Ships past between its Legs but in 66 years by an Earthquake it was thrown down and broken in pieces And besides the Mass of Stones contained therein 900 Camels were laden with the Brass which was used about it This City bearing the name of the Island is seated 4 miles from the ancient City famous of old for their Government their expert Navigations and since for the abode of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem now in the hands of the Turk This City and Island of Rhodes as indeed Tenedos Samos and the rest of the Isles in this Sea are of little or no Trade yet they are found to produce several good Commodities And n = 18. Cyprus CYPRVS which amongst all is the greatest being in circuit about 183 Leagues distant from the Cilician shoar about 20 Leagues it stretcheth it self from East to West in form of a Fleece and thrusting forth a great many Promontories This Island during the Empire of the Persians and Macedonians was accounted for Nine Kingdoms most of them bearing the names of their principal Towns but by Prolomy divided into these 4 Provinces viz. 1. Lapethia 2. Paphia 3. Salamine and 4. Amathusia Provinces in Cyprus Places of most note are 1. Nicosia the Metropolis of the Island being a walled City in form round five miles in compass adorned with stately Buildings resembling some Cities in Florence as well for its beauty and pleasant scituation as for its plentifulness in People 2. Tremitas the Birth-place of Spiridon a famous Bishop of the Primitive times 3. Paphos seated near the Sea built by Paphos Son of Pygmalion King of Phoenicia and Cyprus where stands Pygmalions Statue which as the Poets feign was by the power of Venus turned into a Woman where she had her so much celebrated Temple and where her Votaries of both Sexes in their natural nakedness did perform her Sacrifices 4. Salamis once the Metropolitan City in the Island but now turned to Ruins in which there was a famous Temple consecrated unto Jupiter 5. Aphrodisium so named from Venus where she had another Temple 6. Famagusta though but small yet one of the chiefest in this Island strongly seated 7. Arsinoe famous for the Groves of Jupiter 8. Amathus renowned for the Annual Sacrifices made unto Adonis the darling of Venus where she had another Temple
9. Episcopia where Apollo had both a Temple and a Grove This Temple was held so Sacred that those which touched it were thrown into the Sea The scituation fertility and Commodities of Cyprus This Island is seated under the Fourth Climate which makes the longest day to be but 14 hours and a half It is exceeding rich and fertil abounding in Corn Wine Oil Silks Cotton Turpentine Wool Hony Salt Verdigreace Alum Storax Colloquintida Laudanum All sorts of Metals c. To this Isle as to all other parts of Turky no English are suffered to Trade except those of the Company of Levant Merchants where they have a Factory and a Consul who is generally elected by the said Levant Company and established by the Ambassador The People are very civil to Strangers The People of Cyprus delighting in Hospitality also addicting themselves to War being strong and active and the Women were in former times given to unchastity by reason of their so great adoration of their goddess Venus it being the custom of these Women to prostitute themselves on the Shoars to Passers by where their Virgins would do the same But upon their receiving of Christianity by the Preachings of St. Paul and Barnabas being the Birth-place of the latter this with other of their uncivil and barbarous Customs were laid aside This ANATOLIA or ASIA MINOR which I have hitherto treated of is seated for the most part all in a healthful and temperate Air the Soil being generally fruitful once very populous and replenished with many fair and goodly Cities now lamenting the loss of about 4000 some of which by Earthquakes but most by the Wars the Turks brought against them The Commodities or Merchandizes which it abounds with Commodities in Asia Minor and communicates to other Nations are chiefly excellent Wines Goats-hair Camels-hair Grograin Yarn Silk Cotton Wool Cotton Yarn Cloth of a course make Coral Gauls though not so good as those of Syria Grograins Chamlets Mohairs Turky-Carpets Spunges Turpentine the best in the World Mastick with some other Commodities of less note which the English French Venetians and Dutch fetch from hence but chiefly from Smyrna it being the chief Town of Trade being a flourishing Factory where those Nations as hath been said before keep their Consuls SOVRIA or SYRIA Its Bounds SOVRIA formerly SYRIA the Great and at present Soristan with the Eastern People is near hand that which the Romans called their Diocess of the East as may seem by our now calling it the Levant It extends from the Mediterranean Sea which washes its Western Coast to the Euphrates which on the East divides it from Diarbeck and from Mount Aman or Monte-Negro which bounds it on the North and separates it from Cilicia unto Arabia and Egypt which border on its Southern parts The Ancients have divided it into three principal Parts the particular Syria called Syria Propria which as the greatest and best held the name of all Phoenicia and Judaea or Palestine This last stretcheth more towards the South Its Parts or Division by the Turks Syria towards the North and Phoenicia remaineth in the middle and all are along the Mediterranean Sea from Anatolia into Egypt the particular Syria alone touches the Euphrates the rest upon Arabia At present the Turks divide all Syria into two Beglerbeglies Aleppo and Damascus some make a third of Tripoli of Syria and give to this last five Sangiacats nine or ten to Damascus and seven to Aleppo which in all are 16 or 20 Sangiacats whose Names and Scituations are for the most part unknown we will content our selves to speak something of the Cities which have been or which yet are the principal of all these Quarters beginning with those of Syria SYRIA PROPRIA Syria Propria its bounds fertility and people SYRIA PROPRIA is bounded on the East with the River Euphrates and on the West with the Mediterranean Sea It is very fertil affording plenty of excellent Fruits Cotton-Wool Sheep which have Tails that weigh about 30 pounds with several other good Commodities The People were formerly very industrious but much addicted to Gluttony as did appear by their often and great Feasting they were subtle in their dealings much given to Superstition being worshippers of the goddess Fortune and other of their Syrian goddesses much addicted to Plays and Pastimes and given to Scoffing and Laughter It s chief places The chief Places in this Country are 1. Antioch or Antiochia once the Metropolis of Syria once so fair that it held the third or fourth degree amongst the best Cities of the Roman Empire Its Walls are yet standing and the most beautiful that Eye ever beheld within it is nothing but Ruins It s scituation is on the River Orontes so called at present Assi or Haser four Leagues from the Mediterranean shoar a place of great strength having for its Fortification an enchosure of two strong Walls on which for their further defence were erected about 460 Towers together with a strong Castle The City before its Ruins being adorned with stately Palaces Temples c. fit for so great a City being formerly the Seat of some of the Roman Emperours and of the chief Officers of their Empire in the Orient It was the first Seat of a Patriarch that St. Peter established and which held in the Infancy of the Church 1. The Diocesses of Thrace Asia Pontus and the East 2. Daphne about five miles from Antioch so named from Daphne one of the Mistresses of Apollo who was here worshipped famous for having here his Oracle and Grove which was about 10 miles in compass all encompassed with Cypresses and other Trees so tall and close together that the Beams of the Sun could not dart through though in his greatest power watered with pleasant Streams beautified with Fountains and enriched with abundance of Trees which yield variety of excellent Fruits as well for tast as tincture for its Temples dedicated to Apollo for its Sanctuary or Asyle and for the place where Daphne was changed into a Laurel that it hath been compared with the Valley of Tempe in Thessaly 3. Aleppo built upon four Hills at present is the greatest and principal Town of all Syria and one of the most famous of the East being the ancient Hierapolis having large Suburbs which are for the most part taken up by Christians It is seated between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean Sea and in that place where that Sea and the Euphrates make the nearest conjunction which makes it capable of the best and greatest commerce of the World to wit of all the Levant with the West by the passage of the Gulph of Ormus and Balsora which brings Commodities up the Euphrates just against the City of Aleppo from whence the Caravans bring them by Land to Aleppo and carry them from thence to Alexandretta or Scanderoon scituate on the Mediterranean Sea and thence into the parts of Asia Africa and Europe which
they read in a strange tone and sing as bad during the time of their Service their heads are veiled with Linnen fringed with Knots answerable to the number of their Laws and observing a continual motion of their body to and fro and often jumping up which they account for great zeal in their devotion they observe much reverence to all the names of God but especially to Jehovah insomuch that they do never use it in vain talk Their ancient Language was Hebrew they keep their Sabbath on Saturday in which they are very strict they marry their Daughters at the Age of 12 years as not affecting a single life The fertility of the Country This Country is so fertil in all things that it was termed a Land flowing with Milk and Hony adorned with pleasant Mountains and luxurious Valleys enriched with pleasant Streams and where the Inhabitants are neither scorched with Heats nor pinched with Colds To speak of all the memorable transactions that have happen'd in this Country would require a Volume by it self I shall only run over some of the chief and then proceed to the description of some of the Cities and Places of most note that are found therein It is famous for bringing our Saviour Jesus Christ into the World where he wrought so many Miracles but infamous for their horrid action of crucifying him Memorable Transactions in this Country the Lord of Life Here it was that the Lord appeared to Jacob here out of the Plains of Moab the Ark was built of Sittim Wood here on Mount Tabor Christ was transfigured on Mount Moriah Isaac was to be sacrificed on Mount Sion was the Tower of David on Mount Calvary as some aver was the Burial-place of Adam our Forefather Here over the Brook Kedron David passed in his flight from Absalom over which our Saviour when he went to his Passion passed Here runneth the River of Jordan sufficiently famous nigh to which stood the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrha Here at a place called Endor Saul consulted with a Witch near to Sichem Jacob had his Wells Here at Ashdod in the Temple of Dagon the Ark of the Lord was brought when taken upon the entrance of which their Idol fell down Here at Hebron is the Plain of Mamre where Abraham sitting in his Tent was visited by God from Heaven in the likeness of a Man this City he bought for a Burial-place for him and his Posterity where Sarah his Wife was first interr'd And on Mount Seir was the habitation of Esau after his departure from Canaan I shall cease to trouble the Reader with the mentioning of many more remarkable Passages which were here transacted but only refer them to the Books of the Old and New Testament where they shall find them recorded also great satisfaction may be received from Josephus a Book of good repute This Country is at present possessed by the Turks as Masters of it but inhabited by Moors Arabians Greeks Turks Jews nay I may say with People of all Nations and Religions But setting aside matters of History let us proceed to say something of the principal places found herein and first with Jerusalem Jerusalem its chief Places Jerusalem is so well known in the Holy Scriptures that we must confess it hath been not only one of the greatest but one of the fairest Cities in the World being called the City of the Lord. Its Kings High-Priests Temple and Royal Palaces have made it famous even amongst the remotest people Its circuit was onto 50 Furlongs which are only 6250 Geometrical Paces but so well builded that it was capable of the receiving of 150000 Families It s Temple and Palaces especially those of Solomon were the fairest greatest and most magnificent which ever eye beheld Its Gates Walls Towers Ditches cut out of the Rock and its scituation in the Mountains made it seem impregnable This City once sacred and glorious elected by God for his Seat placing it in the midst of Nations like a Diadem crowning the head of the Mountains the Theater of Mysteries and Miracles was once the glory of the World but its Pride and other horrid Sins in the end lost it divers times Nebuchadonozor was the first that ruinâ—d it Pompey contented himself to dismantle it of its Walls and to fill up the Ditches Vespasian and Titus Caesar utterly razed it and destroyed in the place 1100000 People that were assembled to the Pass-over Adrian ruined likewise some Towers and Walls which had been left to lodge the Roman Garrison and after caused a new City to be built partly on its ancient Ruins and partly without them But with the divers changes it hath since fallen under its beauty and magnificence is quite decayed Yet is it not so lost but that there are several Places yet remaining worthy of note together with several others that were since built as on Mount Calvary where Christ the Saviour of the World was Crucified there is a rich magnificent and large Temple built by the vertuous Helena Daughter to Coilus a British King and Mother to Constantine the Great which not only possesseth the Mount but also all the Garden below where his Sepulchre was and in this Temple there are several rich Structures as one where Christ was imprisoned before his Crucifixion another where Christ was nailed to the Cross another where he was Crucified also one where the Sepulchre was the Altar of the Holy Cross the Altar of the Scourging the Chapel of the Apparition the Chapel of the Angels the Chapel of the division of his Garments the Chapel of St. Helena who built this Temple the Chapel of St. John the Sepulchre of Joseph of Arimathea under ground together with several others too long to recite To this place there is a great resort as well of Protestants as Papists though for sundry ends which brings a great Revenue none being permitted to enter without paying some Mony which the Jews here inhabiting do Farm of the Grand Signior at a large yearly Revenue and so become Masters thereof making a great profit by shewing them to Strangers which come hither from all Nations Several other places are yet remaining as the Castle of the Pisans the Monastery of the Franciscans the Church of St. James the Church of St. Mark where once stood his House a Mosque where stood the House of Zebedaeus a Chapel where stood the House of St. Thomas the Church of the Angels where the Palace of Annas the High-Priest stood the Church of St. Saviour where the Palace of Caiphas stood the Court of Solomons Temple yet remaining but in the room of the Temple a Mosque Near about Jerusalem there are several places of note yet remaining as in the way between Jerusalem and the City of Bethlem there are the Ruins of Davids Tower the Tower of Simeon Bathsheba's Fountain the Cistern of Saget the Monastery of Elias Jacobs House the Sepulchre of Rachel the Cistern of David the House of Joseph the
Ocem the Son of Ali when he shall come to convert the whole World to the Law of Mahomet for this Conversion is to begin at Coufa but they hitherto have had and may for the future have time enough to curry their Horse expecting the coming of their Cavalier 5. Orchoe now so called is the Vrchoa of Ptolomy and Vr the place of Abrahams Nativity 6. Borsippa by Ptolomy called Barsita famous for the great Victory which Cyrus the first Persian Monarch here obtained against Nabonius King of Babylon 7. Ctesiphon seated on the Tygris And 8. Sipparum noted for the great Trench made near it which was made to receive the overflowings of the Euphrates which was in compass 160 miles and in depth 20 Fathoms which was made to preserve the City of Babylon from overflowings Bagdad and Balsera have each their Beglerbies and many Sangiacs but to speak truth sometime the Turk sometime the Persian possesses these Quarters the last took Bagdad in the year 1624 which the Turks regained in 1638. Fame now speaks it the Persians MESOPOTAMIA Mesopotamia bounded and its fertility MESOPOTAMIA bounded on the West with the Euphrates The Southern part of this Country is very barren and full of Desarts scarce affording any Herbage nor hardly so much as Trees But as this part is so much deficient that towards the North hath as great plenty which makes amends abounding with great store of Corn and Wine together with all such hecessaries as are required for the life of man It s chief Placâ—â— Place of most note are 1. Rohai or Orpha which is the ancient Edesse being 10 miles in circuit scituate on the River Scirtas which passes through the midst of it not far from the Euphrates into which it falls 2. Caraemid anciently Amida seated near the Tygris encompassed with a strong Wall a Frontier Town of great strength being much desired by the Persians now the chief Seat of the Bassa which governs this Country for the Turk where the Patriarch of the Jacobite Christians also had his residence 3. Merdin not above 4 or 5 miles in circuit but is very strongly seated on a high Mountain and having a Castle of about a mile in circumference not far from which in the Monastery of Saphran is the Patriarchal See of the Jacobite Sectaries 4. Asanchif esteemed the Metropolis of the Country yet not being of above 4 or 5 miles compass but hath four great Suburbs well filled with Inhabitants 5. Carra where Crassus and the Romans were defeated is now called Herren or Harrar the City to which Abraham did remove when he went towards Canada remarkable in former times for its famous Temple dedicated to the Moon which was here worshipped under both Sexes 6. Sumiscasack not far from Edesse hath its Castle seated very advantagiously The Castle of Corna that is pointed is one of the most important places the Turks possess in all these quarters being built above the place where the Tygris and Euphrates meet to keep in awe both these Rivers And 7. Virta by some Authors supposed to have been built by Alexander the Great encompassed with Walls and fortified with Towers and Bulwarks that it was in a manner impregnable ASSYRIA Assyria bounded ASSYRIA particularly so called hath for its Western limits Mesopotamid and is called at this day Arzerum A Country very fruitful seated in a Plain It s People and their Customs c. and watered with several good Rivers the People were anciently much addicted to Marshal-affairs yet very demure in their Habit and Behaviour not going out of their Doors without first being perfumed adorned with Rings on their Fingers and a Scepter in their Hands they were much given to Bathing and especially after Copulation In their Nuptial Ceremonies they never see the Woman until they are married but when they hear a good Report of a Maiden being such as liketh them they go to her Parents and with them agree which done on an appointed time they meet in the Church in such a part of it as is designed for that use where there is a Partition with a Hole in it on one side the Bridegroom and his Friends stand and on the other the Bride and her Friends then the Cassisse or Priest bids the Bridegroom put his hand through the Hole and take his Bride by the hand which no sooner done but her Mother or some other of her Friends being prepared with a sharp Instrument pricks his hand all over and if he doth not pull away his hand when he is so pain'd but still holds her so fast that she cries they hold it a sign that he will love her and if he lets her go a sign of no great love Chief places in Assyria Places of most note 1. Ninive first built by Nimrod and afterwards so enlarged by several succeeding Kings that it became at last to exceed Babylon as well in largeness as otherwise its Walls being in circuit 60 miles being about 33 yards in height and 24 in breadth and on whose Walls there was for further strength 1500 Tunrets or Towers which made it to be thought impregble To this City the Lord sent Jonah the Prophet to Preach Repentance to them but afterwards for their Sins it was destroyed by Astyages King of the Medes out of whose Ruins the City 2. Mosul was â—aised which at present is the chief City of Assyria seated on the Tygris most eminent for being the residence of the Nestorian Patriarch where are founded 15 Christias Churches It is enclosed within a Wall and is the residence of a Bashaw a place much ruined but of note for the great concourse of Merchants this being a thorough-fare City 3. Schereâ—e zull or Schiâ—hrazur is very near to Persia and is the Seat of a Turkish Beglerby or Bassa who hath 10000 Timariots under his command for the defence and security of this Country It is near to if not the same as Arbela renowned or the Victory of Alexander the great against Darius and is said to retain its ancient name and to be an Archbishoprick of the Jacobites 4. Gâ—gilamela noted for the last and greatest Battel betwixt Alexander and Darius King of Pâ—â—sia in which Alexander gained the Victory 5. â—alach built by Nimrod being one of the Cities to which Saâ—inanassar transplanted the Ten Tribes 6. Arbela seated on the Banks of the River Caprus by some supposed to be the place where Noahs Ark was framed And 7. Sittace pleasantly seated in a fruitful Soil TVRCOMANIA Turcomania pouâ—ded TVRCOMANIA or ARMENIA MAJOR touches the Caâ—pian Sea between Georgia and Servan and on the Black Sea between Anatolia and Georgia it extends from East to West little less than 200 Leâ—gâ—eâ— and from South to North 150 answering to the great Armenia of the Ancients It s People Some divide it only into two sorts of People the Turcomans and the Curdes I would add at least the Armenians and the Georgians these possessing
memorable for being the Birth-place of Philip one of Alexanders Successors who was the first of the Romans Emperours which embraced Christianity 3. Medava now Moab according to the Translation of the Septuagint and being so the name may be taken from Moab Son of Lots eldest Daughter from whence the Moabites descended of whom mention is made in the Old Testament 4. Berenice so named from an Aegyptian Queen but better known by the name of Esion-Geber here it was that the Children of Israel did encamp where also those Ships employed by Solomon to Ophir did make their ordinary Harbour 5. Sur one of the chief Cities of the Amalekites giving name to a Wilderness there adjacent remarkable for the great Victory which Saul gave the Amalekites where also the Children of Israel first encamped after their passage through the Red Sea 6. Thara where Korah Dathan and Abiram were punished And 7. Madian seated towards the Red Sea being the City of Jethro whose Daughter Zipporah Moses took to wife Remarkable things here transacted Besides these Cities there are some others yet the Country is for the most part Desart and is the same where the Children of Israel wandred 40 years there where then inhabited the Moabites Amalekites Midianites Idumaeans and others there where are the Mountains of Sinai and Horeb. The Israelites being in these Desarts lay a whole year near this Mountain and during that time Moses received from God the Decalogue dedicated the Tabernacle ordained a High Priest Priests and Levites and established Ecclesiastical and Political Laws There is at present a Monastery of St. Katherine built by Justinian and all sorts of Pilgrims are received by the Caloyers that is Religious Greeks which inhabit there The Burning Bush in which God appeared to Moses was near Mount Horeb. The Rock which Moses struck to have Water was of this Mount and likewise on this Mountain it was that Moses besought God for the Israelites against the Amalekites also Mount Hor bordering on Idumea where Aaron died On the Coast of the Red Sea is the Castle Tor a Borough or Walled Town and a Port very famous where it is believed that the Israelites having passed the Red Sea entred the Desarts this way And it is likewise a great Passage where the Caravans stop at their return from Mecca Arabia the Desart described ARABIA the Desart so called by reason of the vast Sandy Desarts and the uninhabitableness thereof scarce affording either food for Man or Beast so that those which travel this Country are forced to carry with them their Provision and guide themselves to the place design'd by the help of Stars as they do at Sea and are forced to go in great Companies or Caravans for fear of being robbed and rifled by the wild Arabs who here inhabit in Tents which they remove as occasion serveth from place to place either for fresh Pasture or otherwise and yet much travelled by Merchants who Trade into Babylonia Egypt and elsewhere Some Authors have observed in the course of their Trade that the Sandy Desarts are their Seas the wild Arabs their Pirates and their Camels their Ships each Camel carrying 600 or 1000 pound weight It s People The People are much addicted to Theft by which they get their chief living being stout and warlike Men and not Tilling the Earth and planting Fruits Plants or the like their chief food being Venison Milk Fowls and Herbs They go half naked their Wives they hire for what time they please who in way of a Portion bring a Tent and a Spear to their Husbands Both Sexes are much given to Carnal lusts and when Women are delivered of a Child they leave it without troubling themselves with it It s chief Cities There are found in Arabia the Desart two Cities of the name of Anna or Anua one on the Euphrates and the other on the River Astan not far from the Gulph of Balsora this last is least famous the other is the most considerable of the Province seated both on the one and the other Bank of the Euphrates but the greatest part and the richest is on the Arabian side There is in all about 4000 Houses which have been much ruined in the late Wars between the Turks and Persians The City contains divers Isles on one of which is a Castle At Suskanna a Borough upon the great Road between Anua and Aleppo Texera saith That the Women are as fair as Angels if he had likewise said as wise and had spoken truth all Men from the four Corners of the World had been obliged to go to seek them 3. Mexat Ali that is the Oratory of Ali had once 6 or 7000 Houses when the Sect of Ali bore sway in those quarters there remains at present not above 500 Inhabitants 4. Mexat Ocem that is the Oratory of Ocem is not walled nor hath above 4000 Houses Saba now Simiscasac according to the opinion of Guillandin is the place from whence the Three Wise-men departed to go to Bethlem to adore the Saviour of the World This Arabia the Desart according to some hath divers Lords which command it and which for the most part are Vassals or Tributaries to the Great Turk who holds likewise a part But these People being more inclined to the Mahometan Sect of Ali which is that of the Persians than to that of Omaz which is that of the Turks are more affectionate to the Persians than to the Turks and some of these Lords likewise hold of the Persians Others give all Arabia the Desart to one King and will have the City or rather the Court of that Prince to have a wonderful disposition and scituation and that the Prince can make it all a March or Walk when and as often as he pleases which is still by going thither where they may best find food for their Horses and Camels and they say that the place being chosen they dispose the Quarters and Streets after the ordinary manner and at the same time pitch all the Tents that of the Prince in the midst and the others about alwaies in the same fashion that part which is towards the North South East or West never changing And the Quarters and Streets have their Names and their Tents in the same form insomuch that who once knows the order may easily find any which inhabit therein This moving City or rather this Court Errant contains not only the Militia of the Prince which are above 2000 Men but likewise a great number of their Nobility Merchants Artizans and divers Strangers which follow this Court. Arabia the Happy bounded ARABIA the Happy is a great Peninsula which stretcheth it self from the Mountains which divide it from the other two parts of Arabia to the Ocean being 3 4 and in some places 500 Leagues long and broad The Gulph of Balsora and Ormus otherwise the Persian Gulph washes it on the left side the Red Sea or Sea of Mecca otherwise the Arabian
of Candis Between the Kingdoms of Cambaya and Bengala are those of Candis Chitor Malway Berar Gualeor Narvar Ranas and Berar Brampore is the chief City of Candis seated on the River Tapta which descends into the Gulph of Cambaya below Surat The City is great but ill built unhealthful and a place which hath been unfortunate to many Children of the Great Mogolls In the old City of Mandow are the Sepulchres and Remains of the Palace of its Ancient Kings the new City is better built but less Province of Chitor The Province of CHITOR with its City of the same name is quite engaged in the Mountains which meet in the way of Amedebat and Cambaya to Agra The City was of 5 Leagues circuit before Ekebar took it from Raja Cana and ruined it It hath now little more then the Remains of 100 and odd Temples and of a great number of Buildings which have been stately and magnificent The Castle was in a place so advantagious and strong that the Kings of Delli could never take it and Sultan Alandin was constrained to raise the siege after having been 12 years before it Province of Malway The Province of MALWAY hath its Territory fruitful and for its principal place Rantipore others put Vgen or Ougell It s chief Fortress is Narvar whose City is near the Spring-head of a River and at the Foot of Mountains of the same name and which stretch themselves from the Kingdom of Guzurate unto that of Agra and Narvar and in these Mountains abide some Princes which obey not the Mogoll Province of Gualeor The Province of GVALEOR takes its name from its chief City where there is one of the best Cittadels or Fortresses of the Estate wherein the Mogoll confines such as are Prisoners of State and those Lords of which he hath any jealousie and where he also keeps a great part of his Treasure Province of Ranas The Province of RANAS hath for its chief place Gurchitto seated on a high Hill Province of Narvar The Province of NARVAR hath for its chief City Gehud seated on a River which falls into the Ganges and touches on the Mountains of Narvar Province of Berar The Province of BERAR hath for its capital place Shapor which reaches Southward and touches that of Guzurate and the Mountain of Rana Several other Provinces In the midst of all the Mogolls Estates are the provinces of JENVPAR HENDOWNES JESSELMERE and BANDO The Province of Jenupar takes its name from its chief City Hendowns of Hendowns which is towards the Indies Jesselmere whose chief City is so called in whose Castle Ammer in 1548. Zimlebege Wife of Hymayon flying into Persia Lay in of Ekebar who restored the Mogolls and made their Estates so great and powerful in the Indies And lastly the Province of Bando whose chief City bears the same name is between the Cities of Jesselmere Delli and Agra at 70 or 80 Leagues from the one and the other besides its City of the same name Asmere is famous for the Sepulchre of Hogimondee a Mahumetan whom the Mogolls esteem a Saint and there where Ekebar made his devotions to the end he might obtain a Son to succeed in his Estate and afterwards caused to be set up at every Leagues end a Pillar of Stone and several Lodgings to be built on the way to receive Passengers and Pilgrims The extent bounds c. of the Great Mogolls Countrey These are the Provinces or Kingdoms which the Great Mogoll possesses whose Empire stretches from South to North 500 Leagues and from West to East 6 or 700 is bounded either with Mountains or the Sea Its Neighbours are the Vsbeck the Cascar the Thibet and the Turquestan parts of Tartary towards the North the People of Maug and others which have been of Pegu towards the East the Persians towards the West and the Kingdom of Decan and Golconda towards the South The Indian Ocean where are the Gulfs of Indus and Cambaya on one side and that of Bengala on the other side wash the rest The Tartars Persians very troublesome to the Mogol Of all his Neighbors the Tartars and Persians are the most powerful The Tartars nevertheless being divided into many Estates where they border on him are more likely to damage him by Inroads then by open War The Persian regained from him Candahar some years past which he lost not again till he had at the same time to deal with the Mogolls and Turks The others have much ado to defend themselves against him as the Kings of Golconda and Decan this last having lost some part of his Estates and the other giving him some present in the way of Tribute But the great Mogoll would make nothing to seise both these Kingdoms if he were not often perplexed with intestine War and if there remained not in his Estates divers Princes which they call Rahias or Kings and many people of whom he cannot absolutely dispose neither the one nor the other obeying him or paying any Tribute to him but by constraint and the greatest part paying it only when and how they please and sometimes not at all Amongst these little Kings and People are the Rahia Bossou Petty Kings people under the Mogoll who resides at Temery 50 Leagues from Lahor The Rahia Tulluck Chan who resides at Naugracut 80 Leagues from Lahor The Rahia Decomperga is 150 Leagues from Agra residing at Calsery the Rahia Mansa is 200 Leagues from Agra residing at Serimgar The Rahia Rodorou is beyond the Ganges residing at Camayo The Muggi likewise beyond the Ganges to the South of Rahia Rodorou is very powerful as well as the two last between the Armes of the Ganges is a Prince of the ancient family of the Kings of Delli who likewise maintains himself Above Cassimere the Rahia Tibbon acknowledges neither Mogoll nor Tartar descending often and making incursions both on the one and the other The People called Balloches or Bulloques do unpunished live like Vagabonds in the Province of Haiacan likewise the Aguvanes and the Patanes in Candahar likewise the Quilles or Colles and the Resbutes in the Mountains between Cambaya and Decan and sometimes the Colles of Decan the Rebustes of Cambaya and the Patanes of Candahar have raised Tribute These Kings and People are almost all Pagans descending from divers Kings and People which possessed divers parts of the Indies before the Mogolls There is one Rahia of the Colles above Amadebat another the Rahia Partaspha near Breampure who hath some time taken and pillaged Cambaya The Rahia Rana resides at Gorchitto and after having well defended himself against the ancient Kings of India yields now some Tribute to the Mogoll Yet is the Great Mogoll one of the greatest and most powerful Princes of Asia Mogol very potent he can bring into the field 200000 Horse 500000 Foot and 2 or 3000 Elephants he gives pensions to the greatest part of the
Princes Lords Nobles and Gentry of the Country on condition that they keep for his service some 1 some 2 3 4 5 some 10 some 100 some 1000 and upwards of Horses which are to be always in readiness his Armies nevertheless consist for the most part of 100000 Horse and 200000 Foot and this besides his ordinary Garrisons His Subjects are strong and robustious use all sorts of Armes go freely to all occasions wanting nothing but Order and Policy They have no considerable Forces at Sea since the Portugalls hold from them in the Kingdom of Cambaya the City and Fortress of Diu Daman Basaim of the Isle of Saltette near Bensaim the Fort of Manora and the Rock of Asserim The Country stored with Cattle Fowle and Fish The whole Country is stored with several sorts of tame and wild Creatures as Buffes Oxen Cowes Sheep Deer Wild-Asses Bores Hares c. Variety of Fowl and Fish here are also found Crocodiles some of which are 30 foot long Cormorants and Bats as big as Crows The Mogols guard The great Mogolls ordinary Guard consists of about 12000 men besides 600 of his life guard he never stirs abroad to hunt take the Air or the like without the attendance of about 10000 men of all degrees besides to make his stare the greater there are 100 Elephants richly trapt and covered with Scarlet Velvet or the like on these Elephants there are seated two men the one to guide him and the other which supports a large Banner of Silk richly embroydered with Gold and Silver but on some of the Elephants which go foremost instead of carrying Banners they play upon Simbretts and other such like Instruments after these 100 Elephants comes the Mogoll either mounted on an excellent Persian Horse or else in a Coach or Sedan attended by his Nobles and other Courtiers after whom come about 500 Elephants Camels His State and great attendance and Wagons which are to carry the Baggage for commonly he encamps in the Field in which he takes great delight by reason of the coolness as also by reason few Cities are able to give entertainment to so great a retinue and besides his going thus to hunt or take the Air he often changes the place of his abode according to the seasons of the year The Mogoll celebrates with great pomp and state the first day of the year They have several Festival daies which they keep in great triumph wherein they have several divertisements of sports and recreations and especially the birth day of the Mogoll The language which the Great Mogoll and most people of quality speak is the Persian tongue The Inhabitants are very expert at the Bow The diseases which are common amongst them are Fevers and the Bloody Flux Their Horses are not good but their Oxen are excellent being here used instead of Horses which are very mettlesome As in this great extent of ground which we call the Mogolls Country there are several sorts of People so likewise are there divers sorts of Religions some of which I shall speak a word or two of The Benjans are Pagans they use neither Circumcision nor Baptisme they believe there is a God who created them and made the Universe but they worship the Devil believing that God created him to govern the world and do mischief to mankind to which end in all their Mosques they have the figure of him in Statues of Gold Silver Ebony Ivory Marble Stone and Wood this figure in shape is ugly and horrid to look on it is placed on a Table of Stone which serves for an Altar and receives the Offerings which are made to the Pagode on the right side of this Table is placed a Trough in which those who intend to do their devotions wash and Purifie themselves and on the other side there is a Chest in which is put their Offerings night to which in the wall is a Vessel out of which the Braman or Priest takes out a kind of yellow stuff with which he marks the foreheads of them this Braman sits at the foot of the Altar from whence he riseth often to say Prayers In their Mosques they always burn Lamps and about the Walls of them are abundance of Figures as Beasts Devils c. which they adore They much use as a part of their Religion corporal purification bathing themselves every day They are very ingenious subtil and civil there being no trade but what they apply themselves unto and are very expert in the adulteration of all Commodities They are civil in their Apparel but their Children go naked untill the age of 5 or 6 years and at 7 8 9 or 10 years of age they marry them seldom staying untill the age of 12 especially the female sex as thinking it a great shame to live so long unmarried and in their marriages they observe several ceremonies The Men are not only permitted to marry twice or thrice in case of mortality but also if their Wives prove barren but the first hath a preeminence as being mother of the Family their Sons are Heirs to their Fathers Estates but withall they must maintain the Mother and take to Wife their Sisters The Bramans or Priests are of great authority and highly respected amongst them insomuch that the Benjans will hardly engage themselves in any matter of concernment without the advice and approbation of them These Priests besides their expounding the mysteries of their Religion according to their fancies which soon take impression in the minds of these superstitious people have an oversight of Schools where Children have their education When the men are to go a journy they desire the Braman to have a care of their Wives untill they return and to supply their places another custom they have that when any are married the Bride is brought to the Braman and he is earnestly requested to enjoy the first fruits of her without which they think the marriage is not blest and for so doing he hath gifts presented him according to the qualities of the persons The Benjans believe the transmigration and immortality of the Soul thinking that the Soul of a good man is departed into the body of a Chicken or a Pigeon that of a wicked or cruel man into a Lion Tiger or Crocodile that of a glutton into a Swine that of a crafty man into a Fox c. for which reason they neither eat nor kill any thing that hath life nay they are so far from destroying them that on the contrary they will purchase them of the Mahometans and set them at liberty and for those that be lame or sick they have Hospitals for them as in Persia J. Albert de Mandelslo in his Book of Travels saith that the Benjans are divided among themselves into 83 principal Sects besides an infinite number of others those of most note as comprehending all the others are those of Samarath Ceurawath Bisnow and Goeghy The Parsis and their Religion Besides the
Benjans there is another sort of Pagans whom they call the Parsis who for the most part reside by the Sea-coast addicting themselves to Trades and Commerce they believe that there is one God preserver of the Universe who acts alone and immediately in all things but he hath as they fancy about 30 several Servants to whom he giveth an absolute power over the things which he hath entrusted them with but withall they are obliged to give an account unto him and for these Servants they have a great veneration who have each their particular charge as one having the Government of the Earth another of Fruits another of Beasts another of Military affairs Others who have influences on men some giving understanding others wealth c. Another who takes the possession of the Souls departed which conducts them to the Judges where they are examined and according to their good or evil deeds receive their Sentence and are carried by the good or bad Angels who attend the Judges to Paradise or Hell where they think they shall abide until the end of the world which will be 1000 years after which time they shall enter into other Bodies and lead a better life then they did before Another hath the goverment of Waters another of Metals another of Fire which they hold Sacred c. They have no Mosques or publick places for their Devotion they have a very great esteem of their Teachers and Doctors allowing them a plentiful Estate Their Widows are suffered to marry a second time Adultery and Fornication they severely punish They are forbidden the eating of any thing that hath life Drunkenness they likewise strictly punish These People are much given to Avarice and circumventing those they deal withal The Mahomitans or Mogolls that here inhabit are of a good stature have their Hair black and flaggy but are of a clearer Complexion then the other sort of People aforementioned Their habit behaviour They habit themselves something like the Persians their Garments about their Waists are close to their Bodies but downwards wide they use Girdles and their Shoos and the Covering of their Head is much the same with those of the Turks And they are likewise distinguished by their Glothes which according to the degree and quality and the person doth exceed in richness They are very civil ingenious and reserved yet are expensive in their Appareb Feastings and great lovers of Women And so much for the Mogolls Countrey The Peninsula of INDIA without the Ganges Its bounds THe Peninsula without the Ganges is between the Mouths of Indus and Ganges and advances from the East of the Great Mogoll unto the eighth degree of Latitude on this side the Aequator The Ocean or Indian Sea washes it on three sides to wit the Gulf of Bengala once Gangeticus Sinus on the East the Gulph of Cambaya anciently Barigazenus Sinus and the Sea which regards Arabia on the West towards the South that which regards Cylan on one side and the Maldives on the other We will divide this Peninsula into four principal parts which shall be Decan Golconda Narsingue or Bisnagar and Malabar The three first Its parts and the greatest have each their King or if there be more they depend and hold of one alone The fourth and last part hath likewise formerly been a Kingdom alone at present is many but which hold one of another DECAN THe Kingdom of DECAN is washed on the West by the Indian Ocean the Gulf of Cambaya It is divided into three others Kingdom of Decan which they call Decan Cunkan and Balaguate the two first on the Coast Balaguate is Eastward of the other two up in the Land and composed of Vallies which are below and between the Mountains of Gate beyond which are the Kingdoms of Golconda and Narsingue or Bisnagar In the particular Decan are the Cities of Amedanagar Chaul Dabul c. In Cunkan are the Cities of Visapor Soliapor Goa Paranda Pagode It s chief places c. Likewise in Balaguate Lispor Beder Doltabad Hamedanager Visapor and Beder are the principal Cities and those where the Dealcan or Idalcan makes his residence but none more considerable then Goa though they are fair well built large and populous Goa is a City as fair rich and of as great Traffick as any in the East being situated in an Island of the same name which the Rivers of Mandova and Guari make at their falling into the Sea Alphonso Albuquerque took it in the year 1510. and since the Portugals have established themselves so powerfully that their Vice-Roy a Bishop and their Council for the East-Indies have here their Residence The Commodities found in this City being the Staple of the Commodities of this part of the Indies as also of Persia Arabia China Armenia c. are Precious Stones Gold Silver Pearls Silk raw and wrought Cotton of which they make several Manufactures also Spices Druggs Fruits Corn Iron Steel with divers others which the said Countreys afford but the Natural Commodities of Goa are not considerable Besides their great Traffick with several Nations their Riches and Policy which they observe Its riches beauty c. Vincent Blanc makes account that its Hospital is the fairest the best accommodated and served and the richest of any making it exceed that of the Holy Spirit at Rome and the Infermerica at Malta which are the best of all Christendom Their Streets large their Houses fair especially their Palaces and Publick Buildings which are very magnificent Their Churches are stately and richly adorned their Windows are beautified with Mother of Pearl and Shells of Tortoises of divers colours which are ingeniously cut in neat Works This City is in compass above 15 miles and though it is without Gates or Walls yet by reason of its Castle Forts and the strength it receiveth from the Island is a place of great strength and force It hath a great and good Haven It s strength which they make their Harbor for their Indian Fleet by which they command the Seas there abouts The Portugals here live in all manner of delight and pleasure and with a pride and presumption so great that the least and most beggerly among them take to themselves the titles of Gentlemen of the House and Chamber of the King Knights Esquires c. being very highly conceited of themselves and exceeding proud and stately but withal very civil and courteous no person of quality walks the Streets a-foot but are carried by their Slaves in a Palanquin or ride on Horses and the Women seldom go abroad publickly Both Sexes are extreamly given to Venery by reason of which the Pox is very frequent among them of which abundance dies Their Women have an excessive love to white Men and will use their uttermost endeavours to enjoy them The Men are so jealous of their Wives that they will scarce suffer their nearest Relations to see them by reason they are so much desirous
Between Peleagate and Narsingue there is an obscure and deep Valley full of Trees which still drop water like those in the Isle of Ferr in the Canaries near this Valley there is abundance of Sugars whose Canes prest serve to feed Beasts among which Hogs most delight in them which makes them contract a favour rather of Sugar than Salt yet are they worth little The Revenue of the King Some give the King of Narsingue but 10 or 1200 l. Sterling of yearly Revenue whereas others report him to have 10 or 12 Millions of Gold yearly which is most likely He entertains ordinarily 40000 Naires 20000 Horses and for the service of his House 12 or 15000 Persons 1000 Horses and 800 Elephants It s People Almost all the People are Idolaters some Mahumetans and a few Catholicks The Jesuites have two residences one at Chandegry and the other at Vetlur to no small benefit Amongst the Customs of these Barbarians they have the inhuman custom for the Women to burn themselves with the Corps of their deceased Husbands Texera saith that the Naique of Madure deceasing in his time his 400 Wives and Concubines cast themselves into the same Fire and burnt themselves with the Kings Body There was 375 burnt with the Naique of Taujaor in the year 1600 and as many or more with the last Naique of Gingi Here the Women burn themselves with the Corps of their deceased Husbands As for the form and custom observed in the burning of these silly wretches I shall borrow from Sir Tho. Herbert as he hath it in his book of Travels p. 362. where he saith that the Husband being dead the Wife prepares her self for her Funeral habiting her self in transparent Lawn her Nose Ears and Fingers she adorns with Precious Stones c. but her Legs Thighs and Arms she fettereth with Chains which they hold as expressions of Love in one hand she holds a Ball and in the other a Nosegay of Flowers both as Emblems of Paradise and being thus habited she is accompanied to the place by all her Relations Friends and Acquaintance and all the way going the Branchman or Priest denotes the joys she is to possess together with the assurance of enjoying her Husband in the Elysium which words do much excite her to valour so that when she cometh to the place seeth the flame and the Carcass of her dead Husband whom she longeth to be with in Elysium being as it were like a hot-headed Lover transported with joy she takes leave of her Friends and Relations and jumps into the flame in which the Corps of her Husband was first put which soon unites in Ashes during which time they have several sorts of Musick and to make the Ceremony the better their Branchman exhorts them not to quit their Husbands casting store of sweet Wood and Oil into the fire to take away the unsavoury smell and this Law was made because the Women did frequently poyson their Husbands upon any discontent and so took others but as Linscot says this is only a Custom for their Nobles and Priests it being prohibited to the meaner People A Custom I think not greatly to be desired by any and besides this Heathenish Custom they have several others as bad and Idolatrous Satan having here displayed his Banner of Impiety being a People for the most part averse to Law and Morality Likewise the Custom which they observe in their Marriages is as strange for the Branchman with a Cow and the Man and Woman go together to the Water-side where the Priest after he hath muttered a short Prayer joyns their hands to the Cows Tai and having poured upon them hallowed Oil he forceth the Cow into the River where she continueth a good while and being come out they unty them and this they hold for a solemn Marriage and sacred for ever the Cow being a creature which by them is highly esteemed and reverenced The Coast of Choromandel and its Trade Among the places which are on the Coast of Choromandel Negapatan and Maliapur belong to the Portugals and formerly they alone of the Europeans had all the Traffick now the Hollanders hold Gueldria the English the Fort St. George called by the Indians Sadrapatan and both have their Factors throughout the Coast Megapatan is great of Trade though seated in an unhealthful Climate uttering many valuable Merchandizes They gather Rice in quantity sufficient to serve their Neighbours Maliapur a small but well known Town on this Coast is the place where those of the Country believe that St. Thomas was Martyred and interr'd and there were many Christans who called it St. Thomas when the Portugals entred the Indies they are still a considerable body and may easily be made return to true Christianity The old City is ruined the new was rebuilt by the Portugals where there is a Chapel dedicated to St. Thomas and it is erected into a Bishoprick under the Archbishop of Goa MALABAR Malabar its fertility commodities c. MALABAR is the last of the four parts we have proposed in the Peninsula of Indus without the Ganges the least in Continent but not in goodness All the Country is healthful fruitful and rich It hath little Wheat but instead of it it hath great plenty of Rice Mayz and other Grains Fruits quantity of Drugs and Spices Precious Stones Silk Ginger Cassia and abundance of all sorts of Beasts yields Wood and such fair Trees for the Masts of great Ships that Norway boasts not better yet its greatest Riches consists in its Pepper and Precious Stones Its Limits Some extend Malabar from the River of Aliga or from the Cape of Ramos unto that of Comorin but all that is between the River of Aliga and Cangerecora having already passed under the name of Canara where the Kings are Tributaries to him of Bisnagar we will follow the others who limit Malabar between the River of Cangerecora and the Cape of Comorin where there are many Kings all once subject to the Samorin of Calicut At present those of Calicut Cochin Cananor and Coulan are the most powerful The Coast of Malabar and its Parts or Kingdoms The Coast of MALABAR is about 125 Leagues in length and is divided into several Kingdoms of which the King of Cananor holds 20 Leagues he of Calicut 25 he of Cochin 15 and he of Coulan with Travancor 40 and odd the rest is possessed by many Those of Chambais Montigue and Badara are very near one another and between Cananor and Calicut Those of Tanor and Cranganor are between Calicut and Cochin Those of Porca and Calecoulan are between Couchin and Coulan and he of Travancor between Coulan and Cape Comorin near which the Country is not so good as the rest of Malabar In the High-lands are those of Cota near Cananor of Auriola of Cottagan of Bipur of Coucuran of Panur and of Curiga above Calicut Tanur and Cranganor Those of Muterte of Marta and Batimena towards
and those Estates which we will comprehend under the name of Sian are to the North of Pegu. We may consider them in two principal parts of which one shall retain the name of Sian and the other that of Malacca This latter is a Peninsula which extends it self from the first degree of Latitude unto the 11 or 12 from whence the first advances it self into the Main Land unto the 19 or 20 degree on this side the Equator It s extent They reach then each 250 and together 4 or 500 Leagues from South to North. But the Peninsula of Malacca is very streight not being above 10 or 12 Leagues broad in the Isthmus which separates it from Sian in other places 20 30 40 and some times 80. Sian is almost of an equal length and breadth Under the name of Sian separated from the Peninsula of Malacca we comprehend the Kingdoms of Sian Martaban Jangoma and Camboya under the name of Malacca those of Tanacerin Juncalaon Singora Queda Pera Patane Pan Malacca Ihor and others as in the Geographical Table The chief places of the particular Sian The Kingdom of Sian especially so called hath several Cities of note viz. First Odiaa which some call Sian the Metropolis being a City of a large extent a place of so great strength that in 1567. they stoutly defended themselves against an Army of 1400000 fighting Men which the King of Pegu brought against them for twenty Months together By reason of which together with several other mutations that have since hapned amongst them the City hath been much eclipsed of its former beauty splendor and riches yet by reason of its commodious scituation on the River Menam is still a place of great Trade and Commerce is rich and populous The Houses are built very high by reason of the annual overflowing of this River about the Month of March So that it covereth the Earth for about 120 Miles in compass which renders these Countries very fruitful as the Nile doth Egypt During this Inundation Its Inhabitants retire to the upper Rooms of their Houses and to every House there is a Boat or other Vessel belonging by which means they negotiate their affairs until the River returns to her usual bounds Its Commodities and Trade The principal Commodities of this City or indeed of the Kingdom are Cotton-Linnens of several sorts Benjamin Lacque of which they make excellent Hard Wax Also that costly Wood which the Portugals call Palo Dangula and Calamba which is weighed against Silver and Gold for 〈◊〉 Perfumes and the Wood Sapon used by Dyers also Spices some Drugs Diamonds Gold Camphora Bezar-Stones Musk Porcelaine and lastly that excellent Wine or Distilled Liquod which they call Nipe which they make of Cocos or Indian Nuts being of great esteem over all India and elsewhere It s other places are Bankock noted for excellent Pepper Lugor seated on the Sea-shore and Socotay famous for having a Temple only made of Metal which is 80 Spans high and answerable in length and breadth being adorned with abundance of Idols built by one of their Kings at his coming to the Crown Martaban its commodities c. The Kingdom of MARTABAN towards the Gulph of Bengala is contiguous to Pegu to which it hath been subject at present is to Sian This Kingdom hath many Ports frequented for Trade for besides its Grains Fruits Oils and Medicinal Herbs it is rich in Mines of Gold Silver Iron Lead Steel and Copper It hath Rubies Lacques and Benjamin c. And they make Vessels of Earth which they call Martabanes of which some are so great that they hold a Bushel This is a kind of Porcelain varnished with black and wherein they keep Water Wine Oil and all sorts of Liquors and for this reason they are esteemed in all the East Jangoma and its commodities JANGOMA on the confines of Pegu Siam and Brama hath been subject or tributary sometimes to one and sometimes to another It hath Gold Silver Copper Musk Cotton of which they make Manufactures Pepper c. It s People are more addicted to Horse than Foot service CAMBOJA is the last and most Southerly part of the Peninsula Camboja which is between the Gulphs of Sian and Cochin-china The principal Cities are Ravecca and Camboja of which the Kingdom takes it name which is under the 10th or 11th degree of Latitude and on the principal and most Easternly branch of the River Menam which as it is believed comes from China but it should be said from some Regions formerly subject to or which were part of China It s People The People in their Manners and Customs resemble those of Sian whose Subjects they have been and whose Tributaries but lately they were MALACCA Peninsula of Malacca its parts commodities c. IN the Peninsula of Malacca are divers Kingdoms which are taken notice of in the Geographical Table which all except the City of Malacca are likewise tributary to that of Sian Tenasserin is a Country of Trade by reason of its Archipelago which contains several Islands and of its Isthmus which facilitates the transportation of Merchants from one Sea to another and of its Ports which are commodious It s other places are Juncalaon Zueda Pera and Malacca all which places afford Nipe of burning Wines Ihor its chief places and commodities IHOR is beyond Cape de Sincapura and on the utmost point of the Peninsula It s chief City was taken and ruined by the Portugals in 1603 who took from thence 1500 Brass Cannons The King of Ihor for revenge besieged Malacca in 1606 with 60000 Men but was constrained to raise his Siege there are some petty Kings which are his Tributaries Pahang hath Lignum Aquila and Calamba near to that of Cochin-china of Camphire like to that of Borneo Gold but of a lower alloy than ours Petra Porea of near as much vertue as the Bezoar against poyson Diamonds Nutmegs Mace c. Patane and its Trade PATANE within few years is grown famous the Kingdom being frequented by divers Nations particularly by the Chinois who bring thither Porcelaine divers Manufactures and Instruments of Husbandry instead of which they carry back Timber for Building Cordage made of Cocos Rice and divers Skins c. The Pepper is excellent but dearer than at Bantam Their Saroy-Boura that is the matter of Swallows Nests which we shall speak of in Cochin-china is much sought after The Soil is good producing Fruit every Month in the year Their Hens Ducks and Geese often lay Eggs twice a day Amongst an infinite number of Fowl they have white Herons and Turtles of various colours like Paroquetoes Patane Singora Brodelong and Ligor are on the same Gulph which may be called also by Patana and makes part of that of Sian Patane and Ligor towards the two ends Singora and Brodelong in the midst and at the bottom of this Gulph and these two last are head Cities of Provinces
Towns and Cities by which they have a great Revenue Isles seated on the Gulph of Sian In the Gulph of Sian are seated several Isles some of which are well known as the Isle of Goeteinficos about 27 Leagues long and 15 broad seated about three or four Leagues from Ligor and Bordelong in the Peninsula of Malacca and between this Isle and the Land of Malacca lieth several small Isles The next of note are the Isles of Macaria and Panian then the Isles of Cara which are four in number and the Isles of Cosyn which are three in number with several others of no account Isles seated in the Sea called the Gulph of Bengala In the Gulph called the Gulph of Bengala are likewise seated several Isles the chief of which are the Isles of Chubedu Chudube and Ledoa of Dos Alevantados Aligada and Durondiva whose chief place is Siriaon the Isles of Andemaon which are 10 in number two of which are indifferent large likewise the Isles dos Cocos dos Caboses Tanasseri Tavay Alta and Craro which said Isles are not far distant from the Sea-shoar of the Land of Sian two of which are each about 20 Leagues in length and the one 10 and the other about 7 in breadth Also in this Gulph are the Isles of Caremubar of Raza dos Sombreros de Palm Siano Sambilano Batun Pera Pinaon Canal de St. Georgo Nicubar and others many of which are well known and frequented by Merchants affording several of the Indian Commodities The Kingdom of CHINA with its Provinces and Isles which may be considered as they lie Northernly and Regarding the Sea as Leaoton Leaoton or Leaoyang Richeo Pequin Peking Quangping Himpin Tianchevoy Scianton Xanton or Cinan Pamnihu Cincoyan Laicheu or Lincheu On the Firm Land as Sciansi Taven Lugan Tatong Sciansi Pingans Suchio Sciensi Siganfu Jengan Pingleang Pichin Linyao Honan Honan Temechio Caifung Nanyang Chinchio Southernly and On the SEA to wit Easternly as Nanquin Nanking Chicheu Lucheu Funiam Xanuchi Chequian with its Isles of Quinsay now Hancheu Haugcheu Liampo Aucheo Succu Chequia Mochosa or Cheuxan Sunkiam or Changque Suan Olepio Avarello Chaposi Fuquien Chincheo Focheu Yenping Chining Hinghoa Isles of Lanquin Baboxin Southernly as Canton Canton Nanhium Lampaca Quanycheu Uchuen Zauquin Luicheu Isles belonging to Canton as Aynan Kinchensu Bancao Thinosa Amacao Omandari Pulotio Quancy Quancy Colin Nangan Zunnan Junnan Hilan Within Land as Chiamsi Nanchang Kiencham Linkiang Juencheu Nangam Huquan Cingiang Huchang Vuchang Yocheu Cangte Suchuen Paoning Xunking Quicheu Quincheo Rueyang Hiauchoau Liping Cipan Pauhuâ— In Isles and Peninsula's about the Coast of CHINA as those of Corey Hianking Kingzan Civenlo Larrons Fuego Lequejo Grande De los Roys Mages de Pescheurs Gillira Wankan Tayoan Formosa Tabaca Miguel Tabaca Xima Hainan A New Mapp of y Empire of CHINA With its severall Provinces or kingdomes Together w th the adjacent Isles of Iapon or Niphon Formola Haman etc. To the Worship fl Thomâ—â— Robinson of the Inner Temple London 〈◊〉 cheif 〈◊〉 of his Maty Court of Comon Pleas This Mappe is humbly DD by RB CHINA The Kingdom of China CHINA is on the East of Asia and of all our Continent and if we consider its greatness fruitfulness riches the great number and politeness of its Inhabitants the beauty of its Cities its Manufactures and for having had the inventions of Silk Printing Paper Artillery c. it is worthy of note It s several Names Ptolomy knew this Country under the name of Sinarum Regio but it hath been observable by us that the Chinois knew not any thing of that name and that when this great Empire falls from one Family to another he that begins the Family gives such a new name as he pleases to the Kingdom and these names are very specious as formerly it had the name of Than that is Boundless Yu that is Repose Hin which signifies Great Sciam which is an Ornament Cheu that is Perfect and so others The Family that reigns at present gave it the name of Miu that is Brightness and the last Kings of the same Family have added Ta which is Kingdom so that Ta-Min signifies the Kingdom of Brightness The People neighbouring upon China take little heed of the changing of these names but on the contrary some name it in one manner and some in another Those of Cochin-china and Siam call it Cin from whence we have formed the name of China those of Japhan Than the Tartars Han the Saracens and Mahometans of the West call it Cathay under which name is likewise comprehended the Eastern part of Tartary It s greatness extends from the 18th or 19th It s extent unto the 43th or 44th degree of Latitude and from 147 to 166 degrees of Longitude and in some places from 145 to 172 that is about 24 degrees of Latitude which amount to 600 Leagues from North to South and 18 or 20 and sometimes 25 degrees of Longitude which amount to 4 5 or 600 Leagues from West to East some Authors have esteemed this Kingdom greater but the Father Jesuites have observed the height of Pequin and its most Northern parts The number of its Provinces Parts Cities and Towns It contains 16 Provinces all rich plentiful and which might well merit the name and title of Kingdoms they are subdivided into 28 Regions or less Provinces of which some have 12 some 15 fair Cities amongst which are 180 great Cities 319 great Towns and 1212 lesser in all 1771 Cities and fair Towns China very populous However it be a great number there is the same likewise of lesser places insomuch that in Anno 1557 there was found in China more than 40 Millions of Men which paid Tribute or Tax In 1616 there was near 60 Millions Among which the Women Young men under 20 years Eunuchs Souldiers Officers Sick people and those of the Kings kindred were not comprehended which together would amount to a very great number Divers Kings subject to the King of China There are accounted likewise Tributaries to the King of China 3 Kings towards the East 53 towards the West 55 towards the South and 3 towards the North which are 114 and many have assured his Revenue to be 150 Millions of Gold per annum China bounded The bounds of this great Monarchy are very advantagious the Sea washing it on the South and East where there are divers little Islands and Rocks along the Coast a Mountain of above 500 Leagues long being its Northern bounds and great sandy Desarts and Forests mixt with Mountains limit it on the West unto the South Sea these were its natural defence but upon the Tartars often invading them and being at once Master of 33 important Towns and fearing lest they should be quite subdued concluded a Peace with the Tartars agreeing to pay them 2000 Picos of Silver for the defraying the charges of their Army and they to return home and render up
they seldom are seen abroad Their habit They wear their Garments very long with long loose sleeves those of the Northern Provinces make use of Furs and those of the Southern wear Silk but persons of quality are richly habited and adorned with many Pearls and Precious Stones They are great lovers of Women as also of their bellies commonly eating thrice a day their diet being good and cleanly drest and they as neat in eating it making use of Knifes and Forks They are addicted to Arts and Sciences They are very ingenious and much more industrious and Politick then their Neighbours having the use and understanding of Arts and Sciences both liberal and Mechanical as Philosophy Physick Astronomy concerning the Heavens and Stars the Eclipses of the Sun and Moon c. in the which they have abundance of vain fancies Also they are expert in Musick and making of Musical Instruments Navigation Architecture Painting Sculpture making of Clocks casting of Metals in Images Medals or the like these with several other inventions too tedious to name they had the benefit of before us yet are they not in that perfection as they are with us And as for Armes they have their courage so low Not good Souldiers that both the Souldiers and the Commanders submit themselves to the whip when they have been wanting in their duty so that it was said that when the Tartars affaulted them it sufficed them only to have shewed them the whip to have put them to slight as the Scythians their predeceisors once served their slaves who during their long absence had married their Mistresses It is likewise reported that the China Horses could not suffer the weighing of the Tartarian Coursers and the Chinois Cavaliers being of the same humor they were more likely to run than fight Moreover the Chinois are very ceremonious courteous and great complementers for which they have several Printed Books which they teach their children not passing by any one that they know without kind salutations and if they happen to espy any friend which comes out of the Country besides their kind greeting his first question will be to ask him whether he hath dined or supped which if he hath not he will carry him to a Tavern and give him a treatment of Flesh Fowle and Fish and if he hath din'd a collation of Fruits and Conserves They are also very costly in their Feasts and Entertainments as in variety of Meats Fruits Preserves to which may be added other delights as Musick Singing Dancing Plaies and other pastimes And for persons of quality they observe more state some Feasts lasting about 15 or 20 days They have several days which they make great account of in Feastings and merriments but above all others their new years day which is in March where also their Priests are present at their rejoycings adding to the solemnity of the day Sacrifices which they make to their Gods In their Marriages they also very expensive in their Feasts for the Bridegroom receives no other Portion from her friends then what they bestow in their entertainments but on the contrary he gives her a Portion which the gives to her friends in thankfulness for their care in her education Their Religion and belief The Chinois may be held as Pagans and Idolaters not knowing the true Religion but worshipping Idolls they invoke the Devil they hold the immortality of the Soul and after this life it goeth to eternal bliss or torment they also hold a kind of Purgatory and that their friends and relations upon their prayers and supplications may have some ease for which purpose they have a day set apart for the performing of this ceremony They have four orders of Religious men they observe all one fashion but are distinguished by their colour they all shave their beards and heads they make use of Beads and say their Matins c. as the European Monks do Mandelsloe saith that they are much addicted to incantations and charmes not doing any thing of concernment without they have first consulted it by their charmes and if they prove not according to their desire they will raile and abuse their Gods with scurrilous language fling them down beat them whip them and tread upon them but when their choler is asswaged they will cogg with them give them good words and pretend sorrow and if the charme favour them then they offer to them Geese Ducks boiled Rice c. These charms are commonly two small pieces of wood one side being flat and the other being hallow which they fling upon the ground and if it happen that the round side of both or of one is downwards they take it for an ill omen if uppermost for good They believe that all things visible and invisible were created by Heaven who by a Vicegerent governs the Universe another who governs all Sublunary things they also add three principal Ministers one looks to the production of Fruits and the generation of Men and Animals another governs the Air and causeth Rain c. and the other governeth the Waters and Sea Mandelsloe saith also Their funeral Ceremonies that at their Funerals they have several ceremonies as soon as any person is deceased they wash his body put on his best Clothes and set him in a Chair where his Wife Children and other Relations kneeling down about him take their leave of him which done they put him into the Coffin set it upon a Table covering him with a Winding-sheet which reaches to the ground on which they draw the Picture of the deceased where they leave him 15 days during which time in some other Room they set on a Table Wine Fruit and Lights for the Priest who watcheth after which time they carry the Corps to the Burial place his Relations commonly mourning for a year The King governs by his own Will The Government of the Kingdom or Empire of China is wholly at the power of the King either to change take away or augment Laws when and as oft as he pleases yet doth he not execute any rigorous Laws upon them scarce acting or imposing any thing upon his Subjects without the Advice of his Council of State besides this Council of State he appoints others as well for the Administration of Justice as for the oversight of other affaires in the Kingdom but they neither inflict any punishment to Criminals or determine any thing of themselves but make their report to the King who decides the same They are very circumspect how they condemn any person not passing their sentence till the offence is found so clear and evident that the offendor is not able to justifie himself they use fair means first for the finding out of the truth and if that will not do they then inflict several tortures upon them their executions are various and more cruel according to the offence committed some being hanged some they impale some they burn their greatest punishment is inflicted on
fertile as that of Pequin neither is it so large so populous nor so pleasant yet with the industry of the Inhabitants it produceth Corn Rice and Mayz but in recompence it breeds great quantity of Cattle and hath so many Vines that it furnishes the whole Kingdom with Pickled Grapes and Raisins It hath likewise two sorts of Mines the one of Brimstone the other of Stones which burn and may be called Coals In the Sulphur Mines they make little holes to draw out heat enough to boyl any thing they need The Mines of Coals are inexhaustible encreasing from time to time and these Coals well prepared will keep fire day and night without being touched In this Province are about 90 Cities and great Towns six of which are of considerable note as 1 Sciansi 2 Taven 3 Lugan 4 Talong 5 Pingans 6 Suchio all which are well built and very populous The Province of Sciensi described The Province of SCIENSI or XEMSI which Purchas calls Soyohin Mendoza Sinsay is the most Westward of all the Six Northern Provinces and the greatest of all the 16 Provinces Siganfu is esteemed its chief City the great Mountain and Wall doth bound it from the Tartars the Soyl is dry yet yields good store of Wheat Mayz and Barley but little Rice it feeds much Cattle and the Sheep are sheared thrice a year in Spring Summer and Autumn their first shearing is the best It yields Musk which is the Navel of a Beast of the bigness of a Hinde They have Gold which they gather amongst the Sand of the Rivers for the Mines though it hath some yet they are not open It produceth divers Perfumes and Rhubarb which they carry into Persia and other places And it is through this Province that the Caravans come from the West This Province is very populous and is well stored with great Towns and Cities having 8 great Cities as 1 Siganfu its Metropolis afore spoken of 2 Jengun 3 Pingleang 4 Pichin 5 Lynyao with a great many of less note The Province of Honan and its chief places The Province of HONAN which Purchas calls Oyman is very fertile and the Climate very temperate the freest from Mountains and the farthest from the Sea It produceth the best Fruits in the World as well those known to us in Europe as others and that in so great quantity that they are scarce valued The River of Caramoran after having divided the Provinces of Sciansi and Sciensi takes its course through the middle of Honan and discharges it self into the Sea by the Province of Nanquin It comprehendeth 7 great Cities the chief of which bears the name of the Province it s other chief places are 1 Temâ—chio 2 Caifung 3 Nanyang and 4 Chinchio besides about One hundred less ones all well inhabited Hitherto we have surveyed the six Northern Provinces of China we come now to the 10 more to the South The Province of Nanquin its Cities The Province of NANQVIN is the fairest and richest and its Inhabitants the most civilised of all the Kingdom and the Kings of China did alwaies make their residence at Nanquin till of late they have made it at Pequin It comprehends 14 great and fair Cities viz. 1 Vmthienfu or Nanquin which is the Metropolis of the Province 2 Chicheu 3 Lucheu 4 Funiam and 5 Zanuchi all which are very populous some of which have about 200000 people which only work in making of Calicoes All which are commodiously seated on arms of the Sea which make several Isles And beside these Cities there are about 100 small ones of less note I shall only speak something of Nanquin The City of Nanquin described Vmthienfu or Nanquin as we call it yet ceases not to be the greatest fairest and richest City of the whole Kingdom next to Pequin The form and Symmetry of its Buildings in its Palace in its Temples in its Gates in its Towers and in its Bridges as likewise in its publick and particular Houses and their Ornaments are wonderful It is situate upon the River of Batampina and upon an indifferent high Hill so that it commands all the Plains there adjacent The circumference is 8 Leagues 3 long and 1 broad all encompassed with a strong Wall of hewed Stone about which there are 130 Gates at each of which there is kept a Porter with two Halberdiers whose Office is to take the names of every one that passes every day in and out and besides the strong Wall there are for further defence 12 Forts or Cittadels In this City there are accounted above 800000 Houses besides 80000 Mandarins Houses 60 great Market places 130 Butchers Shambles each containing about 80 Shops 8000 Streets whereof 600 are fairer and larger then the rest all which are broad straight and well disposed and are compassed about with Ballisters of Copper The Houses are about two stories high and built of Wood except those of the Mandarins which are composed of Hewed Stone and encompassed with Walls and Ditches over which they have Stone Bridges with rich Gates and Arches The Houses or rather Palaces of the Chaems Auchacys Aytans Tutons and Chumbims which are Governors of the Kingdoms or Provinces of the Empire of China under the Emperor are stately Structures of about 6 or 7 stories high and richly adorned with Gold in which are kept their Magazins for Arms Ammunition as also their Treasuries their Wardrops and their Fine Porcelain which by them is so highly esteemed Here are about 2300 Pagodes a thousand of which were Monasteries for Religious Persons which are exceeding rich Here are also about thirty great Prisons which will contain about two or three thousand Prisoners a-piece Also a great Hospital for the relief of the Poor At the entrace of every principal Street for the security of the Inhabitants there are Arches and Gates which are kept shut every hight and in most of the chief Streets are pleasant Fountains In this City there is accounted about ten thousand Trades for the working of Silks which from thence are sent all over the Kingdom which at every New and Full Moon amongst divers other Commodities are vended at Fairs in several places of the City It s Traffick and Commerce bring thither so great a multitude of People that its Streets are scarce able to be passed for the throng Its Commodities and Manufactures are in so great esteem that they utter better then others and all the neighbouring Countries make a great number of Manufactures The Revenue which the King receives from this Province is exceeding vast the Inhabitants paying into his Exchequer Sixty Millions of Crowns yearly besides great Excises upon all Commodities if Mandelsloe may be believed and if he receiveth so much out of one Province judge what a vast Revenue he hath from all the Provinces many of which are no ways inferior to this The Province of Chequian The Province of CHEQVIAN which Purchas calls Essiram passes likewise for one of the
Ceyram Flones and Timor each 60 Leagues long but for the most part their breadth is not above a third or quarter of their length The True Moluccoes are only 2 3 4 or 5 Leagues long and 5 6 10 12 and 15 in circuit Their Commodities and Ferillit Amongst all these Isles the True Moluccoes are the most known by reason of their Cloves with which they abound and furnish all Asia and Europe They have neither Grains nor Mines of Gold few Beasts much exellent Fruit and several Spices as Ginger Cinnarion Mace Nutmegs c. and divers Drugs amongst others a kind of Wood that being put to the fire burns flames and yet consumes not The Cloves are their principal Riches Ternate Tidore and Machian have the most and Machian fewer Ternate yields yearly 400 Bahars of Cloves Tidore and Machian each 300 And in the great Harvests which are but once in seven years Machian yields 15 or 1600 Tidore 12 or 1300 and Ternate 1000 or 1200 each Baher is 600 li. Flemish Their scituation These Isles lie to the Westward along the Coast of Gilolo so neat the Equator that the most Southerly part is not above 24 or 25 Minutes beyond that Line nor the most Northerly above 48 or 50 Minutes on this side iâ—â— so that together they have not above one degree of Latitude and about 10 or 12 Minutes which maks 30 Leagues Their Longitude is between the â—0th and 30th Minutes of the 168 Meridian or degree of Longitude The Isles of Ternate Tidore c. TERNATE is the most North and from it Southward are TIDORE TIMOR MACHIAN and BACHIAN for little account is made of the rest Bachian is 15 or 16 Leagues circuit Ternate Tidore and Machian 10 or 12 Timor 5 or 6. the rest less The Isle of Ternate its chief places fertility and commodities TRENATE is esteemed the principal Isle being about 8 Leagues in circuit and its Kings the most powerful both of the True Moluccoes and of all that I have passed under the general name of Moluccoes yet he suffers in Ternate Nostra Seniora della Rosario and Gammalamme in the hands of the Spaniards Ta-comma Talucco and Malayo in the hands of the Hollanders which are in good intelligence with him as Enemies to the Spaniards The chief place is called Gamma-Lamma is seated on the Sea-side more long than broad and of an indifferent bigness its Houses Mosques as also its Palace-Royal are built of Canes or Timber its Road and Haven is good and frequented by Ships The Country is not bad yet it yields but little provision besides Poultry and Goats it yields also excellent Almonds and bigger than ordinary and that in great plenty they have also abundance of Cloves and other Spices some Drugs with such other Commodities as are found in the rest of the Islands The Isle of Tidore and its chief places c. TIDORE those of the Country say Tadura which signifies Beauty is a little greater than Ternate and as fruitful Here the People are very industrious in pruning and watering the Clove-trees by which means they are exceeding fair and strong Here grows white Sandall-wood which is held the best in all the Indies Here are also found the Birds of Paradise It hath its particular King The Spaniards hold Taroula Castello-Viejo and Marieco which the Hollanders have sometimes taken Timor or Mother was once so ill treated by the Spaniards that its Inhabitants abondoned it and retired to Gilolo The Hollanders built the Fort of Nassan and have invited near 2000 of its Inhabitants to return Machian as well as Timor belongs to the King of Ternate the Hollanders hold Taffasso Tallibola Nuhaca or Naffaquia and Mauritio it is peopled with about 9 or 10000 persons The Isle of Bachian described BACHIAN or BAQVIAN is the greatest of all the Moluccoes but ill peopled and having but few Cloves but in recompence it hath plenty of Fruit and its Sea stored with Fishes It is divided by several little Channels scarce navigable which yet divide it into many parts of which Marigoram is in the midst of the others where the King of this Isle resides The Hollanders hold on the Coasts the Forts of Gammeduore and Laboua both once called Barnevelt This Isle is of an indifferent large extent the King is absolute the Soil good and would become very fertil if the Inhabitants would leave off their Idleness and give it Tillage MACHIAN is indifferent large and fertil and well inhabited its chief places are 1. Tassaso 2. Tabillola 3. Mauricio and 4. Nubaca TIMOR Motir or MOTIL is of a less compass and Triangular It s chief place is Nassaw The Isle of Gilolo described GILOLO or BATOCHINE extends it self to the second Degree on this side and only to the first beyond the Equator It hath then 3 degrees of Latitude It s Longitude begins a little after the 168th Meridian and reaches to the 172 which are near 4 Degrees which amount to little less than 100 Leagues of length and breadth but it is composed but of 4 Peninsula's of which one advances towards the North the other three towards the East and of these three the middle one reaches so near the Land of Papous that there is but a Streight between them It s People and chief places It is subject in part to the King of Ternate in part to the Kings of Gilolo and Loloda It hath Savage People on the North part where is the Coast of More and in some Mountains in the middle of the Country and the City of Mamaye is in form of a Republick The City of Gilolo is not above six Leagues from Ternate towards the North. Those of Gilolo Sabugo and Aquilamâ— are near together Eastward of Tidore and on the West Coast of Gilolo On the other side and towards the East are the Fortresses of Tolo Isiau and Jaffougo these six places are in the Spaniards hands The Hollanders hold Sabou and Coma Sabou a little above Gilolo Tacoma or Cuma on one of the three Eastern points The Air. The Air of Gilolo is intemperate hot which makes it unhealthful the Soil not very fertil yet hath it great plenty of Rice wild Hens and other Fowls On its Shoars it hath Shell-fish whose Meat in taste is much like Mutton and about the Isle plenty of Trees which they call by the name of Sagou from which they have a Fruit which they make their Bread of of the Sap or Juice they make a pleasing Drink which they use instead of Wine and of a Hair which grows on its Bark they make their Cloaths It hath but few Cloves neither have they many Cattle except tame and wild Hogs The People are well proportioned but rude and savage some of them Gentiles the rest Mahometans The Isle of Celebes described CELEBES is composed of many Islands so near the one to the other that they are commonly esteemed but one They
places which are here had at easie rates viz. Spices precious Stones Ammunition Sandal-wood Silk both raw and wrought into several Fabricks as Velvets Sattins Damask Cabinets Lacque Porcelain Callicoes Frankinsence Camphora Benjamine c. It is governed by a Supream or Sovereign Prince whom they entitle the Mattaran and hath four Deputies or Tetrarchs his Subordinates It is very well peopled the Houses of persons of quality are better built then the rest having square Courts at their entrance and commonly there is a Mosque belonging to every one of them as also a Cistern to wash themselves in The Palace is indifferently well built shewing some kind of State here the Chinesses who are great traders to this City bring in most of the Commodities except Pepper Cotton Wool and Rice have a place of meeting for their worship The Cities of Jacatra Fifteen or twenty Leagues from Bantam is Jacatra now Batavia since the Hollanders have builded this on the ruins of the other where they had a fair Magazine The King of Jacatra assisted by some English besieged it about the year 1618. the Hollanders defended themselves till March 1619. that their General Koen returning from the Moluccoes raised the siege took and ruined Jacatra and rebuilt Batavia with a very good Cittadel This place is at present the Seat or Court of the General and Councellors of the East-India Company for the Vnited Provinces Continuing along the Coast Japara and 100 or 120 Leagues from Batavia is JAPARA a City and Kingdom with a good Port and a fair River TVBAN 20 or 25 Leagues from Japara likewise a City and Kingdom and Gulph Jortan Fifty Leagues farther is the City River and Port of Jortan which is of great concourse for those that go or return from Bantam to the Moluccoes and from the Moluccoes to Bantam Passaruam Passaruam is 20 Leagues from Jortan and Panarucan yet 8 Leagues farther This makes the most Easterly point of Java Major Balambuan is 12 or 15 Leagues from Panarucan inclining towards the South All these Cities have each their Kings Balambuan regards the Isle of Baly Balambuam and the streight that is between them takes its name from Balambuan as the most famous Many Portugals remained at Panarucan to facilitate the Commerce they had of the Moluccoes of Amboyna Banda Timor c. with Malacca or those places they possess on this side Panarucan being in the way between Near this City a Sulphurous Mountain cast forth such great quantity of Stones and Cinders in 1588 that 10000 persons were stifled In the midst of the Isle of JAVA and towards the South Coast is the City of Maderan or Materan Maderan described the residence of the most powerful King of Java This City is 100 Leagues from Bantam 100 or 120 from Balambuan and only 35 or 40 from Japara This King once commanded the whole Isle he yet commands those Kings which are in the High-land and on the South Coast Those on this side have freed themselves from his Rule rendring him only certain Duties yet some places he holds on this Coast The Isle of Java Minor We have no certain knowledge of JAVA Minor if we do not esteem it to be those Isles to the East of Java Major and whose Northern Coast we only know Mark Paul of Venice who made the first Relation saith that it contained 2000 Leagues Circuit which would be more then our great Java as we know it at present he saith it had eight Kingdoms of which he had seen six gives to the soil the same qualities with the great one but that its Inhabitants were more savage and some Man-eaters we shall presently speak a word or two of both Java's The Isles of Baly and Madura On the East of Java is BALY Isle which hath not above 40 Leagues Circuit yet is peopled with 600 thousand Souls hath its particular King rich and magnificent Madura Ifle on the North-East of Jortan in the Java Major is likewise full of people Its Cities are very fair hath its particular King its people are wicked and perfidious It s People The people of all these Isles are Mahometans on the Coast up in the Country great Idolaters and some Man-eaters They have many Kings and have hitherto been able to hinder the Spaniads Portugals and Hollanders from building on their Coasts yet these last have lately got Butavia which they bravely maintain The people are corpulent of a middle stature broad-faced little eyes they wear long hair of a Chestnut complexion they are addicted naturally to theft stout and couragious very malicous when angred very proud deceitful and great lyars their cloathing is as the other Indians that is only a piece of cloth tied about their privy parts Yet some exceed whereas others go quite naked They yet retain divers barbarous Customs and Ceremonies as well in matters of Religion as otherwise Their weapons are the Bow and Arrows the Dart the Lance and Shield and Crizes a strange and cruel weapon It s Fertility The Country or Islands are very fertile affording very many rich Commodities as hath been spoken of already which are all very excellent they have several sorts of both tame and wild Beasts abundance of Fowls and Fishes among the rest Oysters which if Mandelsloes may be credited weigheth 300 pound weight among their Serpents they have Crocodiles very large and for their Fruits they may compare with most places as well for the fairness pleasant tastes as for the great variety of them This Isle is much troubled at some part of the year with dreadful Thundrings and Lightnings Let us now make a short observation on the one and the other Java and the neighbouring Isles and Countries according as Mark Paul of Venice hath described them It seems that his great Java must be the Isle of Borneo his Isles Sondor and Condor must be Pulo Londor his Province of Beach the Peninsula of Malacca his Isle Patan that of Sumatra and his Java minor our present Java major And it is to be believed that Borneo Sumatra and Java are likewise the three Sindes of Ptolomy The Isles of CEYLAN and the MALDIVES The Isles of Ceylan and the Maldives NOt far from the Cape of Comori are the Isles of CEYLAN on one side and the MALDIVES on the other Ceylan 60 Leagues towards the East and the Maldives 150 between the East and the South Ceylan its scituation and extent CEYLAN is the Trapobane of the Ancients though Ptolomy makes it unmeasurably greater then Ceylan is now found It s scituation is on this side the Ganges and near Cape Comori of old Comaria Extrema likewise near Cape de Cael of old Gori or Caligicum promont and on the streight of Manar or Quilao of old Argaricus Sinus near which or a little farther is the Land of Madura of old Madura Regia Pandionis and divers other particulars making sufficient proof The Indians
Provision very plentiful There grows neither Rice nor Wheat yet are Provisions better cheap than in the rest of the Indies They have Rice from the Continent and gather at home Millet in abundance and the Grain of Bunbi like to Millet but black They have much Fruit Citrons Pomegranates Oranges Bananes and above all so great abundance of that Nut of India called Cocos that no Country in the World hath so much All the Levant is furnished hence lading every year several Ships They have many Animals little Beef or Mutton no Dogs for they abhor them Quantity of Fish Shells pass instead of Money They have many little Shells which pass in many places for Money and they lade yearly 30 or 40 Ships with these Shells for Bengala only besides what they lade for other parts Their Tortoise Shells are much esteemed at Cambaya because they are smooth black and well figured with which they make Combs Cases of Looking-glasses c. Their Tavarcarre or Cocos particularly of the Maldives is very Medicinal and of greater value then their Amber-greece and their black Coral The King alone is to have this Tavarcarre and Ambergreece not permitting his Subjects to trade in it There is brought to the Maldives in exchange of their Commodities Rice Cloth Silk Cotton Oyl Areca Iron Steel Spices Porcelain Gold and Silver which come not thence again Its Inhabitants make use of all sorts of Arms yet their King is neither rich nor powerful except in his Isles and in regard of his own Subjects The Coco-Nuâ— and Tree of great use for several things Amongst the rarities of this Isle their Candou and their Coco's are observable They make Planks of the Wood of Candou with which they draw out of the Sea all sorts of weights though of 10000 pound Their Tree is as great as our Walnut-Tree leaved like the Aspin and as white but very soft It bears no Fruit they make Fisher-boats of it and with rubbing two pieces of this wood together kindle fire as we do with a Flint and Steel yet it neither burns nor consumes As for the Coco's or Walnut of India it furnishes them with all things necessary for mans life they extract from it Wine Honey Sugar Milk Oyl and Butter It s Kernels they eat instead of Bread with all sorts of Meat the Leaf being green serves for Paper to write being dry they fold it in little Bands and make Panniers Dossers Vmbrello's Hats Coverlids and Carpets the Sprig which is the middle of the Leaf being dry hardneth and of it they make Cabinets Chests and other Moveables of the Shell which incloses the Fruit they make Ladles Spoons Plates Cups c. They may build a whole House out of these Trees the Trunk may serve for Beams and Joynts the Branches cut in two or three for Pails to pail in Gardens or Houses and for Laths to cover them and the Leaves sewed together and disposed in ranks upon those Laths cast off the Water as well as our Tiles They build likewise many Ships only out of the Coco-Tree the Keel Sides Planks Pins Hatches Masts and Yards Cordage Anchors Sails and even all the Utensils of a Ship are taken from this Tree and sometimes their Lading whether for Provision or Moveables or to furnish Rigging for other Ships is likewise taken out of this Tree alone And so much for the Eastern Isles and all Asia AFRICA as it is divided into AFRICA or LIBYA Exteriour or Outward and comprehendeth BARBARY which containeth the Kingdoms of Morocco Morocco Fez Fez Sala Telensin Telensin Algier Algier Bugia Tunis Tunis Tripoli Tripolis Barca Barca Desart of Barca Ammon BILIDULGERID which containeth several Kingdoms and Provinces the chief of which are Sus or Tesset Tesset Darha Darha Segellomessa Segellomessa Tafilet Tafilet Tegorarin Tegorarin Zeb Nesta Bilidulgerid Fezzen Gademes EGYPT which is divided in Sayd or Bechria Cairo Errif Alexandria Rosetta Coast of the Red Sea Sues Grodol Interiour or Inwards and comprehendeth ZAARA or SAARA where are the Kingdoms and Cities of Zanhaga Tegassa Zuenziga Zuenziga Targa Targa Lempta Lempta Berdoa Berdoa Gaoga Goaga Borno Borno The Land of NEGROES where are the Kingdoms People or Countries On this side the Niger as of Gualate Gandia Genehoa Genehoa Tombut Tombotu Agades Agades Canun Cano. Cassena Cassena Gangara Gangara Between the branches of the Niger as of The Jaloses People Solul The Biatares People Biatares The Sousâ—s People Beria Beyond the the Niger as of Melli Melli. Mandinga Mandinga Gago Gago Guber Guber Zegzeg Zegzeg Zanfara Zanfara GUINEE with its Kingdoms Parts and chief Places of Melegutte Bugos Particular Guinee or the Ivory Coast St. George de la Minâ— Cape of Palmeâ— Benin Benin AETHIOPIA Higher or under Egypt and comprehendeth NUBIA where are the Kingdoms Countries and Cities of Bugia Bugia Jalac Jalac Nuabia Nuabia Dancala Dancala Cusa Cusa Gorham Gorham Damocla Damocla Somna Somna The Empire of the ABISSINES where are several Kingdoms Countries and Cities the chief of which are Tigremahon Chaxumo Barnagasso Barva Angota Angotina Dancala Degibeldara Amara Amara Bagamedri Beza Ambian Amasen Damute Damute Agag Agag Cafates Cafates Narea Zeb Ambiam Ambiam BARBARY or ZANGUEBAR which is divided into Zanguebar with its Kingdoms and Cities of Mozambique Quiloa Quilmanca The Coast of AJAN with its Kingdoms and Cities of Adea Adel Magadoxo The Coast of ABEX with its chief Places and Isles of Arquico Suaquen Lower or Interiour and comprehendeth CONGO with its several Kingdoms or Provinces the chief of which are Loango Loango Pemba Pemba Angola Engaze Bamba Bamba Songo Sonho The Coast and Country of CAFRES with its several Estates Kingdoms Capes Ports and Isles the chief of which are the Cape of Good Hope Cape of St. Nicholas Port of Carascalis Isles of St. Christophers Isles of St. Lucia MONOMOTAPA with its Kingdoms and chief Places of Monomotapa Monomotapa Butua Butua Monoemugi Agag Zesala Zesala In divers ISLES In the Mediterranean Sea Malta Valetta In the Western Ocean as the Canary Isles Canaria The Isles of Cape Verd St. Jago The Isles of St. Thomas Pavoasaâ— In the Eastern Ocean as Madagascar Vingagora Zocotora Zocotora A New MAPP of AFRICA Designed by Mounsi r Sanson Geograph r to the French King Rendered into English and Ilustrated with Figurs By Richard Blome By the Kings Especiall Command VOLO VALEO To The Right Honi ble Charles Howard Earle of Carlisle Viscount Morpeth Baron Dacres of Gisland Lord Leivtenant of Cumberland Westmoreland Vice Admirall of the Caost of Northumberland Cumberland Westmoreland Bishopricke of Durham Towne and County of Newcastle and Maritin parts adjacent 〈◊〉 of the Lords of his Maities most honble privy Councell This Mapp is most humbly D. D. by R. B. AFRICA AFRICA is a Peninsula so great that it makes the Third and most Meridional part of our Continent It approaches so near to Spain that only the Streight of Gibraltar divides them and touches so
little upon Asia that only an Isthmus of 30 or 40 Leagues between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean joyns them together Its Bounds Besides this Isthmus Africa is bounded on all sides by the Sea as appears by the Map The Latins called it most commonly Africa It s Name and the Greeks Libya yet both the one and the other are indifferently found in the Authors of the one and the other Tongue The first was given by one Afer descending from Abraham and Kethura others say of one Afer Son of the Libyan Hercules or according to the Greeks it is taken from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Sine Frigore because according to its scituation it must be without Cold. According to the Arabs the name should be taken from Ifriquia that is Divided because were it not for that Isthmus which joyns it to Asia it were quite divided from our Continent According to the Punick Tongue it signifies the Land of Corn for the abundance of Grains gathered in that particular part called Africa The name of Libya is taken either from Libya the Daughter of Epaphus the Son of Jupiter or from Libya one of the three Lakes which descend into the River Triton or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in the ancient Greek Idiom signifies Black because its Inhabitants are Black or from Lub which among the Arabs signifies Thirst because a good part of the Country wants Water But these Histories Fables and Etymologies are taken from divers Authors of divers Tongues and for different Reasons there may be new ones found or made to content those which are covetous of them It s Form and Promontories The Form of Africa is near Triangular yet it advances four Promontories to the four principal places of the World Cape Bona towards the North the Cape of Good Hope towards the South Cape Guard a Fuy towards the the East and Cape Verd towards the West the three last are on the Ocean and the first on the Mediterranean Sea It s length and breadth It s length taken from Cape Verd to Cape Guard a Fuy is about 2000 Leagues Its breadth from Cape Bona to that of Good Hope is about 1800 Leagues but both its length and breadth are found much less in all other places It s Scituation It s scituation is under or about the Torrid Zone the Equinoctial Line passing over it and cutting it in two though unequal parts The most part of Africa is between the two Tropicks which it out passes 11 ½ Degrees and and 15 Degrees on one and the other side to wit 11 ½ Degrees beyond the Tropick of Capricorn and 15 on this side that of Cancer How Inhabited It is every where inhabited though not so well as Europe or Asia whether by reason of the insupportable Heats which reign there or because it hath many Countries dry and without Water or because it hath others where there is much Sand easily removed by the Wind often burying Men in it or by reason of the great number of venemous fierce and cruel Beasts which are found through the whole or because they sell and transport one another for Slaves I leave to judge It is moreover observable that it is fresher and cooler under and about the Equator than under and about the Tropicks The reason is because the Sun makes two Summers and two Winters under and near the Equator and that the Nights are equal to the Days which is a great refreshment It s Division Divers Authors divide Africa in a very different manner yet most agree to make first the Division into two great parts calling that Oriental which is on the East of the Nile and that Occidental which is on the West others by the Equator calling it Northern on this side and Southern on the other side the Equator Others by the Colours of the People observing that on this side the Tropick of Cancer they are white and beyond it black But all these Divisions have many faults to avoid which and to make our Division of Africa into two great Parts agree with that of ancient Authors and with the disposition in which the Country is now found I draw a Line from the Gulph of St. Thomas unto the extremity of Egypt on the Red Sea This Line carried along where the Estates are distinguished one from the other divides Africa into two equal parts cuts no Estate in two and that which is on this side is called by the Ancients and by the Modern more precisely Africa or Libya that which is beyond this is called both by the one and the other Ethiopia This first Division will facilitate those of the other parts dividing Africa or Libya into two and Ethiopia likewise into two Africa or Libya into the higher and farther in regard of us and exteriour and interiour in regard of those of the Country Ethiopia into high and low according to the Moderns or into Ethiopia under Egypt and Ethiopia Interiour according to the Ancients Its Parts and their bounds In the Higher and Exteriour Africa or Libya we have Barbary Billedulgerid and Egypt In the Farther and Interiour Africa and Libya Saara or Desart the Country of the Negroes and Guinny In the Higher Ethiopia or under Egypt are Nubia Abissina and Zanguebar In the Lower or Interiour Ethiopia Congo the Mono-Motapa and the Cafres Barbary extends it self along the Mediterranean Sea from the Ocean unto Egypt and is bounded on the South by Mount Atlas Billedulgerid lies along this Mountain likewise from the Ocean unto Egypt bounded on the South by Saara or Desart Egypt is only one Valley from the Cataractes of Nile unto the Mediterranean Sea This last part hath retained its ancient name the other two put together answer to what the Ancients called Mauritania Africa proprie dicta and Libya likewise proprie dicta so that the most Western parts of Barbary and Billedulgerid together make Mauritania the Middle Africa and the most Eastern Libya Likewise Saara or Desart the Country of the Negroes and Guinny stretch themselves from the Ocean unto the High and Low Ethiopia And the most Western part of Saara answers to the ancient People Gatuli the Easternly part of Garamantes The Country of the Negroes to Nigritarum Regio Guinny to many People of which the most famous have been the Perorsi This Guinny is 750 Leagues long The Country of the Negroes near 1000 Saara Billedulgerid and Barbary each 11 or 1200 Leagues their breadth being only 100 200 or 300 Leagues The length of Egypt from South to North is not above 200 Leagues It s breadth if we esteem it only the Valley along the Nile is very narrow and sometimes only 5 10 sometimes 12 or 15 Leagues We have divided Ethiopia into the Higher and the Lower placing in the Higher Nubia Abissina and Zanguebar in the Lower Congo Mono-Motapa and Cafres Nubia is for the most part on this side and to the
Carthage and hath made the Royal Residence of Antaeus whom Hercules defeated and from whence he brought the Golden Apples gathered in the Hesperides Gardens It is at present one of the principal Fortresses of the Kingdom and hath often been attempted by the Portugals and Spaniards The Province of Habat is part on the Ocean Province of Habat part on the Mediterranean Sea and holds all the streight of Gibraltar on the African side opposite to Spain in Europe The principal Cities of this Province are Arzila which the Portugals took in 1471 carrying away all its inhabitants and among the rest Muley Mahomet el Oataz then seven years old after King of Morocco who remembring more his imprisonment then the liberty he had from Spain in the year 1508 raised 10000 Moors besieged and took the City of Arzila and the Castle the Portugals hardly defending themselves in a Tower which was yet relieved the City and Castle retaken and the Moors well beaten The Portugals afterward and under some pretext abandoned this place which Muley Mahomet called the Black returned it to Don Sebastian King of Portugal in 1578 but which the Xeriffs retook again and do at present possess The City is great and strong with a Port on the Ocean the soyl produces more fruits and Pulse then Grain and Wood. 2. Tangier of old Tingis hath been the most famous among the Ancients builded as they say by Antaeus and so renowned that the neighbouring Mauritania took from it the name of Mauritania Tingitana and the Streight of Fretum Tingitanum yet were its Bishop and Government united not long since to that of Ceuta where they had their residence till the dis-union of the Estates of Portugal and Castile Ceuta remaining in the hands of the Spaniards Tangier and Cazar Ezzaghir returning to the Portugals The former of the two last is now delivered into the hands of the English upon the marriage of Donna Catharina Infanta of Portugal with our Soveraign Lord King Charles the Second of happy memory Where we have a good Fort and Mold for the convenience of shipping by which means it may be in time a place of a considerable Trade It is made a very strong place since the English have been masters of it and doth contain about 1500 Houses well built they have pleasant Gardens Near to this place it is said that Hercules overcame Antaeus a monstrous Giant of 64 Cubits high 3. Tettuan or Tetteguin hath not above 800 Houses which are as well built as any in Barbary and a good part of the Moors driven from Granada being retired thither it is maintained in a good estate they are continually coursing on the Sea and keep many Christians their Slaves In this Country are abundance of other Cities though of no such considerable note as those aforementioned Its Mountains which are counted about 8 are inhabited by the Tribes of Gumera who drink Wine though contrary to the Law of Mahomet and pay some 3 some 4 others 6000 Duckats yearly That of Rahon hath Vineyards and its Inhabitants make quantity of Sope and Wax Benifensecare besides its Wax yields Hides and Linnen-Cloth and on its Srturday Markets the Christians muy Trade Benihurus is almost dis-inhabited by reason of the Neighborhood of Gazar Ezzaghir under whose government it hath been Chebib on the contrary is much augmented after that the Portugals took Tangier the ancient Inhabitants of this retiring thither Benichessen hath its Inhabitants addicted to Arms as likewise Quadres near the Streight and Bemguerdarfeth near Tittuan to whose government they are obedient serving against the Garrison of Centa They have formerly furnished the Kings of Granada with a great power and among them with one Helul whom their Poems and Romances esteem the terror of all Spain Angera hath Flax of which they make Linnen-Cloth as also Timber fit to build Ships Province of Errif Errif above the Mediterranean Sea and between the Rivers of Gomer and Nochor advances it self in the Land as far as the Mountain which separates it from the Provinces of Fez and Chaus It is very Mountainous and Woody it is little fruitful in Grain abundant in Barley Vines Figs Olives and Almonds Hath quantity of Goats Asses and Apes few Sheep or Oxen. The Houses are only of one Floor and ill covered the Inhabitants are valiant but much addicted to drink Its Cities are almost all on the Coast as Gomer Terga Bedis Mezemma and others The most part ill inhabited by reason of the Neighborhood of the Spaniards 1. Gomer is seated on a River of the same name 2. Those of Terga use much Fishing uttering their Salt-Fish to the Inhabitants of the Mountains but at present almost quite deserted 3. Bedis or Belis with its Castle its Palace and its Port is in some esteem and maintains some Gallies But much molested by the Fort of Pennon de Velez which the Spaniards hold in an Island not above 1000 or 1200 paces from Bedis 4. Mezemma seated on a Mountain formerly great and well peopled hath now nothing but Walls The Mountains have Vines Barly Horses Goats Fruits c. Some pay some tribute and others none at all That of Bemguazeval can arm 25000 men hath quantity of Towns and a City famous among them and a Volcano which continually casts forth fire Susaon is one of the most fruitful and most pleasant places of Africa It s people under their Xeque keeping themselves in liberty Province of Garret Garret possesses the rest of the Coast upon the Mediterranean Sea unto the River Mulvia which separates it from Telansin Mellila hath been its chief City at present in the hands of the Castilians as is Chasasa and both the one and the other have their Port that of Mellila much better and may count 2000 Houses serves as a passage to the Traffick between those of Fez and the Venetians There are excellent Mines of Iron in the neighborhood The middle of this Province is Mountainous It s extremity towards the South joyning to the Province of Chaus is untilled and without Water Province of Chaus The Province of Chaus is so great that it contains a third part of the Kingdom The Rivers of Cebu or Suba of Mulvia of Nocor and some others have here their Springs at the foot of divers Branches of the Atlas This Country is but meanly inhabited considering its bigness and its people fierce and warlike to which they are addicted not caring much for Traffick or Tilling their Ground which if well ordered would produce several good Commodities Among its Cities Tezza is the chief and is esteemed the Third of the Kingdom of Fez and makes no less then 5000 Houses The Nobility have here many rich Palaces but the private Houses are not fair It is adorned with 3 Colledges 23 Baniaes many Hospitals about 100 Mosques or Temples among which there is one greater though not richer then that of Fez. It hath a magnificent Castle and the Kings
Marins sometimes made here their residence and gave it to their second Son as well because of the beauty of the City and the civility of its Inhabitants as for the goodness of the Air and the abundance of all sorts of Fruits which they gather there 2. Turet is beyond the River Mulvia and on the River Quhas so advanced on the Frontiers that the King of Fez and Telensin have often carried it the one from the other It is seated on a Hill in the midst of a Plain but encompassed about with Desarts very advantagiously inclosed with strong Walls well built within and filled with about 3000 Houses 3. Dubdu is on the side of a high Mountain from which many Fountains descend and run through the City 4. Garsis And 5. Haddaggia are on the Mulvia 6. Gherselvin only is beyong the Atlas and on the borders of Segellesse it is handsom within but beautiful without c. The Inhabitants of its Mountains Among the Inhabitants of the Mountains there are some rich who pay little or nothing others poor and over burthened with Tribute The Plains of Sabhelmarga hath almost nothing but Charcoal-men by reason of the adjacent Woods that of Asgari-Cameren Shepherds because the Grass grows all the year that of Guregra Husbandmen the Land being proper for Grain In this Province there is a remarkable Bridge over the River Sebu which runs between Rocks so high A strange Bridge that this Bridge is 150 yards from the Water It is a Basket or Pannier hung upon two Cords which turn upon two Pullies fastned to the ends of two great Piles of Wood on each side of the Valley And those who are in the Basket there may go about ten persons draw themselves from one side to other by the Cords which are made of Sea-Bulrush as well as the Basket The Country of Fez and Morocco of a different nature The Kindoms of Fez and Morocco ought to be considered in four sorts of Lands Mountains Vallies Plains and Coasts and the most part of their Provinces have these sour sorts The Mountains are almost all in the hands of the Arabs and Bereberes who live partly free partly tributary The Vallies are almost all the same according as they are more or less engaged in the Mountains or near the Plains The Plains are all obedient The Coasts in part belong to the Kings of Fez and Morocco in part to the Portugals and Spaniards these holding what is on the Mediterranean Sea the others on the Ocean So that considering the Continent of these two Kingdoms even when they were united there was always a quarter or third part which obeyed not the Xeriffs or Kings of Fez and Morocco But if they had been absolute in these two Kingdoms they might easily have brought into the field One hundred thousand Horse and more then so many Foot The Moors of this Kingdom and their disposition The Moors of Fez and Morocco are well disposed strong Active and yet melancholly they may marry four Wives and repudiate them when they will giving them the Dowry they promised when they espoused them And if they would be rid of them better cheap they treat them ill and these Women may forsake their Husbands quitting their Dowry Besides these four Wives they may have as many Concubines as they can keep but the Law permits them not to lie but with the one or the other of the four Wives Persons of Estate spend so much on their Weddings that they say commonly That the Christians spend the greatest part of their Goods in Law-suits the Jews in their Paschal-Feasts and the Moors in their Nuptials They enterr their dead in Virgin-Earth that is where no person hath been before enterred fearing least at the general Resurrection it should be difficult to unmix all their pieces Arabs here inhabiting which much annoy the Countrey Besides these Moors in the Estates of Fez and Morocco there are many Arabs which go by Cabilles or Lineal Descent and which make War and Peace as they please between themselves and with the Moors Wandering continually and pillaging now one Coast and then another They either assault or convoy the Caravans according to their interest sometimes serving the Kings of Morocco sometimes making War upon them Those that are in the highest Mountains of Atlas are so rude and barbarous that the Ancients have believed them to be Satyrs Pans Aegipans that is Half Devils In some Cities there are quantity of Jews almost no Christians except they be Slaves or some Merchants The Kingdom of ALGIER and TELENSIN The Kingdom of Algier THe Kingdom of ALGIER is at present the most famous or rather the most infamous on the whole Coast of Barbary As well for its Riches and Forces as for those Pyracies it exercises towards the Christians and the barbarousness it useth towards its Captives It s name is taken from the principal City seated in the midst of its Coast on the Mediterranean Sea towards the West it is separated from the Kingdom of Fez by the Rivers of Zhas and Mulvia towards the East divided from that of Tunis by the Guad-il-Barbar The Northern Coast is washed by the Mediterranean Sea the South confined by the Mountains of Atlas which divide it from Segelmesse Tegorarin and Zeb parts of Billedulgered It s length from West to East is near 300 Leagues its breadth 50 60 or 75 Leagues It s Division and parts We will divide it into five parts of which that of Algier shall make the middle one Telensin and Tenes shall be on the west Bugia and Constantina on the East The Turks as Grammajus saith hath established 20 Governments whereof 10 are on the Coast and 10 others within Land On the Coast there are 5 West ward of Algier and 5 Eastward of Algier Sargel Tenes Marsalquibir Hunain and Haresgol advance towards the West Algier Bugia Gigell Constantina and Bona towards the East Of the 10 Governments which are within Land Grammajus places 6 in the Mountains of Telensin or Benrasid Tenes Algier Bugia Constantina and Bona. These names of Mountains being taken from Cities neighboring on them and almost all on the Coast The 4 Governments remaining are Steffa Necab or Necaus Mezella or Mesila and Mastin which are the names of their chief places But Grammajus not contenting himself with this division within Land makes yet other 10 of which 4 he calls Kingdoms and which are only Tributary Huerguela or Guergela Cuco Tricarta or Techcort and Labes 2 Provinces Benirasid and Tebesse 2 Dynasties or Signiories Meliana and Angat And likewise 2 Kingdoms subject Telensin and Tenes Of these 10 pieces Telensin Angat Benirori Tenes and Meliana are towards the West Coco Labes and Tebesse towards the East Guerguela and Techcort far towards the South These 2 last are so engaged in Billedulgerid that I cannot well describe them with the Kingdom of Algier though they be Tributary to it And the Governments
Houses have their Fountains and Wall-nut Trees 5. Mezume is adorned with a Castle a Palace and a fair Temple 6. Teguident hath a large circuit which had been empty had not sometime since a Marabut repeopled it These two places are by some esteemed in the Quarter of Telensin Among the Mountains Beni-Abucaid is near to and of the appurtenances of Tennes Guanseris can set forth 2 or 3000 Horse and 15 or 16000 Foot The Quarter of Algier and its parts and places The Quarter of ALGIER comprehends likewise that of Couco in the Mountains of Eguiel-Vandaluz alias Couco and Tubusuplus which is the principal place built on the top of a Rock craggy on all sides It may contain about 1600 Houses the Kings or Lords of the Country reside here and have oft disputed their liberty with the Kings of Algier These Mountains are two or three days Journey long and their approaches very difficult They yield Olives Grapes and especially Figs of which the King makes his principal Revenue Cattle Iron Saltpeter and the Plains afford Corn and every where Spring of Running-water The People are Bereberes and Azuages well armed and couragious The Metropolis of the Kingdom is ALGIER at present the most famous place of all the Coast of Barbary The City of Algier described either for its Riches and Power or for the extent of its Estates It is seated on the declension of a Mountain in form of a Triangle so that from the Sea all its Houses appear one on the top of another which renders a most pleasant prospect to the Sea Its circuit is not above 3400 Geometrical paces fortified with some ill-disposed Bastions but the Island which was before it is joyned to the City some years past where is built a Pentagone the better to secure the Port and Island and keep it from being fired as in 1596 1606 c. It is a City not so large as strong and not so strong as famous Famous for being the receptacle of the Turkish Pirates who so much domineer over the Mediterranean Sea which too often proves to the great damage of all Merchants who frequent those Seas This City hath at present 12 or 15000 Houses it had not when J. Leon of Africa wrote above 4000. The Streets are but narrow but the Houses fair and well built yet one which runs along the Sea is fair and large they count 100 Mosques whereof 7 are very sumptuous 5 Houses or Lodgings of Janizaries capable to hold each of them 600 Men 62 Bania's of which two are very beautiful 100 Oratories of Turkish Hermits and almost as many publick Schools Out of the City are many Tombs of Turks Moors and Jews the burying place of the Christians is without ornament Among these Tombs is remarkable that of Cave Daughter of Julian Earl of Baethica who having been ravished by Roderic King of the Goths was the cause of the Moors descent into Spain It hath almost no more Suburbs the City being encompassed with many Hillocks and rising Grounds whose sides and Vallies are covered with 12 or 15000 fair Gardens abounding with store of pleasant Fruits with their Fountains and other places of delight Beyond these Hills is the Plain of Moteja 15 or 16 Leagues long and 8 or 10 broad very fruitful in Grains This place is famous for the Shipwreck which Charles the Fifth here suffered who besieging this Town Here Charles the Fifth suffered Shipwreck lost in its Haven at one Tempest as Heylin noteth besides a great number of Karvels and small Boats divers strong Gallies 140 Ships a great many Pieces of Ordnance about half his Men and such great quantity of gallant Horses that in Spain they had almost like to have lost their race of good and serviceable Horses The Cities 1. Temeudfusta about 7 or 8 Leagues from Algier with a good Port and 2. Teddeles 18 or 20 are the best places of the Coast the first answers to the ancient Jomnium Municipium the other to Rusipisir likewise Municipium 3. El Col de Mudejares of old Tigisi is newly repeopled by the Morisque Mudejares of Castile and Andalusia and the Tagartins which were of Valentia It is 8 or 10 Leagues from Algier beyond the River Selef which they here call the River of Saffran 4. Gezaira a City seated on the Sea-shoar 5. Mensora And 6. Garbellum both Sea Towns The Fertility and People of Algier The Air about Algier is pleasant and temperate The Land hath excellent Fruits as Almonds Dates Oils Raisins Figs some Drugs c. The Plain of Moteiia is so fertil that sometimes it yields 100 for one and bears twice a year good Grains In the most Desart Mountains are found Mines of Gold Silver Iron quantity of fierce Beasts The Country affords excellent Barbary Horses also Estridge Feathers Wax Hony Castile Soap c. Besides they have good quantities of most Commodities which by reason of their Piracy they take from other Nations to the great inriching of the place most of the Inhabitants living by it setting out Vessels in Partnership and sharing the Gains selling the Commodities and the Men they take as Slaves in open Markers The Natives of Algier are fairer and not so brown as the Moors but the City is filled with all sorts of Nations The Janizaries make the greatest part of the Militia The Turks have the chief Trade who are found to transport several Commodities to other Countries but there are many of the Moors driven from Spain and others who have retired themselves from the Mountains many Arbas Jewish and Christian Slaves The number of the Inhabitants of this City cannot be esteemed by the 12 or 15000 Houses it contains for there are some Houses where are found 100 200 or 300 Persons the Christian Slaves only amount to about 30 or 40000 within and about the City and there are no less than 6000 Families of Renegadoes But the Right Honourable the Earl of Sandwich late General of the English Fleet by order from King Charles the Second put out to Sea with a Fleet of Ships scoured those Seas forced them to deliver up all the Slaves who were Subjects in any of the Kings Dominions as well as Englishmen and brought them to very honourable terms By which they are not to seize or stop any English Ship but give them free liberty of Trading where they please and the like Peace is made with Tunis and other of the Turks Territories But these perfidious People soon violated it Province of Bugia its chief places and fertility The Province of BVGIA is between the Rivers Major and Sefegmar This on the East that on the West On the Coast are two principal places Bugia and Ghegel in the Land are Steffa Labes Necaus and Messila in some consideration 1. Bugia is a great City its circuit capable of 20000 Houses but hath not above 8000 but that which is uninhabited is Mountainous and inconvenient It was built by the Romans
And 7. Sebeicum a City near the Sea-shoar nigh to which are three small Isles Along the Coast are some Isles among which that of Gerbes is well known The Isle of Gerbes described formerly it was joyned to the Firm Land by a Bridge It had two Cities now hath nothing but one Castle worth notice and many Hamlets which gather little Corn but much Fruits among the rest Lotos so sweet and pleasant that the Companions of Vlysses having tasted them sought no longer to go into their Country This Isle hath about 18000 Paces circuit yields one of the greatest Revenues to the King or Bassa of Tripoli by reason of the confluence of Merchants who fetch thence Cloth and divers Scuffs and carry them to Alexandria in Egypt c. one of the principal parts of the Revenue of the same Bassa is the Saffron of the Mountain of Garian which is on the South of Tripoli And this Saffron is found the fairest and the best of all others BARCA Barca on the Coasts of Barbary described THE rest of the Coast of Barbary is now known under the name of BARCA it is bounded on the East with Egypt on the South with the Desart of Nubia on the West with Tripoli and on the North with the Mediterranean Sea which is also some of its Western bounds The Ancients called it particularly Libya comprehending that which is farther in the Land and which we call the Desart of Barca and divided this Libya into the Cyrenaick the Marmarick and Libya Exteriour This last being the nearest to Egypt the Cyrenaick to Tripoli and the Marmarick resting for the middle Likewise the most Northern and Maritim part of the Cyrenaick hath passed under the name of Pentapolis because it had five fair Cities to wit 1. Bernichum 2. Torochara 3. Ptolemais now Ptolometa and 4. Boni-Andreas and these four are on the Sea the fifth Cayroan within Land This by much the most famous was a Colony of the Lacedemonians and hath yielded Learned Men Its scituation is on an eminence that discovers the Sea and its Campaign as of those other Cities is moistned by divers Waters and their Soil so fruitful that some have esteemed the Hesperian Gardens with their Golden Apples about Berenice It s other chief Towns and Cities are 1. Barca an Inland City of some account 2. Melela 3. Careora 4. Camera 5. Zunara 6. Avium and 7. Saline All Maritim Towns and Cities and of some account Battus gave the first beginning to Cyrene and he and his Successors reigned near 200 years after which the City was sometimes in Liberty and sometimes under Tyrannism Among which Nicocrates having put to death Phaedimus Husband of Aretaphila to espouse her she endured him sometime her Husband and that until she had occasion to gain the Brother of Nicocrates named Leander to whom she gave her Daughter in marriage and by his means rid her self of Nicocrates and soon after by the means of her Daughter of Leander also and so set the City at liberty which endured till the time of Alexander the Great when the Country fell to the Ptolomies Kings of Egypt afterwards to the Romans to the Soldans of Egypt and to the Turks having almost always followed the Fortune famous of this Quarter and hath given its name to the Kingdom The Arab of Nubia makes much account of it in his time and lays out divers ways and gives the distances from this place to others farther in the Desart Moreover this quarter of five Cities is called by some Mesrata and its Inhabitants esteemed rich The fertility of the Country its Trade and Commodities They trade both with the Europeans Negroes and Abissines fetch from them Gold Ivory Civet Musk and Slaves which they transport into Europe besides their Native Commodities and bringing from Europe Corn Linnen Woolen Cloth c. which they carry to the Negroes Abissines and elsewhere It s other chief places in the Kingdom of Barca are 1. Doera 2. Forcella 3. Salinae 4. Luchun 5. Solana 6. Musolomarus 7. Cartum 8. Albertonus 9. Roxa. 10. Raibba and 11. Ripaealba All Maritim Towns and Cities and most of which having good and commodious Roads Ports and Havens and well frequented and inhabited Between Cayroan and Alexandria there is on the Coast the Port of Alberton Paraetonium which is considerable both for its goodness and greatness And sometimes the Ancients have called it Ammonia because from hence was a way to the Temple of Jupiter Hammon This Temple hath been very famous among the Pagans Bacchus returning from Asia which he had overcome caused it to be built in honour of his Father who under the shape of a Ram had shewed him as he passed with his Army where to find Water in those Desarts and he first consulted the Oracle and put it in such repute that divers other Heroes afterwards consulted it Perseus when he was sent to fetch the Head of Medusa the Gorgon Hercules going from Mauritania where he had overcome Antaeus towards Egypt where he was to defeat Busiris Alexander the Great to make it believed he was likewise the Son of Jupiter and that the Empire of the World was destin'd to him But Cambyses the Son of Cyrus having a design to pillage this Temple beheld his Army perish in these Desarts and was saved himself only to see his own madness and to die unhappily by his own Weapon About this Temple there are some Springs of Running water and some Trees which makes this quarter pleasant Among these Waters that which they called the Fountain of the Sun had this particular quality that it was very hot at Midnight and very cold at Noon-day the cold increasing from Morning till Noon and diminishing until Evening and from thence the heat increasing till Midnight and diminishing until the Morning There were three several ways which they used ordinarily to go to this Oracle the shortest was by Alberton which as we have said was upon the Coast and from whence it was but 1300 Stadia which are about 162000 Paces Another way was from Cayroan from whence it was 3000 Stadia or 375000 Paces ' Pliny saith 400000 the difference is 25000 Paces The longest way was from Memphis from whence it was 3600 Stadia or 450000 Paces These are 180 Leagues for this last 150 or little more for the second and 65 for the first All these ways are very difficult the Country being only Desarts of Sands so dry that the Wind moves them like the dust of the High-way and that in so great a quantity that they are able to interr Carravans And if there be any Habitations in these Desarts and where there is any Springs of Water they are distant one from the other 40 50 60 sometimes a 100 Leagues and these Habitations have little or nothing since that of Hammon the most considerable is not above 80 Stadia or 4 Leagues circuit and yet it had a King a Great Priest c. The
Quarters of which Ydausquerit Extuca and Nun are on the Sea Tesset Guadenum Ifrena or Vfaran and Archa within the Land Each of these parts have many Cities It s chief places and its fertility Castles and Villages and the most part of its People are Bereberes Africans or Arabs 1. Ydausquerit is the best Quarter and the most fruitful yields Fruits sweet and sowr as Oranges Citrons c. Also Wheat Barley c. Feeds much Cattle among others multitudes of Horses can raise 5000 Horse and 30000 Foot They are held the best Souldiers in all Billedulgerid and almost of all Africa 2. Extuca is proper only for Pastures abounds in Goats 3. Nun hath but little Barley and few Dates 4. Tesset is a Town of about 400 Houses hath some trade with the Negroes The Inhabitants of Guadenum live of Goats Milk by Hunting and of Dates and the Country hath Ostriches Those of Ifrena trade with the Portugals at Guarguessen and those of Archa hath only Dates And in these seven Quarters there are several other Towns and Cities as Buzedora Vtemila Albene Ausulima Buleza and Suana all Maritim places opposite and not far from the Canary Isles The Kingdom of Darha and its chief places DARHA is on the East of Tesset and Morocco It is divided commonly into three parts of which the chief retains the name of Dara the other are Taffilet and Ytata which pass likewise under the name of Taffilet All these parts have been divers times under the Dominion of the Xeriffs of Fez and Morocco Darha is about a River of the same name and where the River doth overflow it it is indifferent fruitful Among its chief Cities are 1. Bemsabih 2. Quitera Tagumadert from whence came the Xeriffs of Fez and Morocco 3. Taragalel of 4000 Houses and a Jewry of 400. 4. Tinzulin the most spacious of all 5. Timesguit of 2000 Families And 6. Tesuf once the Royal City of all these Quarters now in Ruins The Kingdom of Taffilet with its chief places TAFFILET hath born the Title of a Kingdom as well as Dara and its chief City of the same name hath more than 2000 Families of Bereberes To this place as Heylin observeth did Mahomet the Second Son of Mahomet Ben Amet and second King of Morocco of this Family confine his eldest Brother Amet having took him Prisoner in Anno Dom. 1544. Ytata is for the most part esteemed under Taffilet though near upon as great The Land belonging to the one and the other are harsh and Mountainous and scituated between Dara and Segelomessa Taffilet toward Morocco from whence it is separated from Mount Atlas Ytata towards the Saara or Desart where is that of Zuenziga The Kingdom of Segelomessa described SEGELOMESSA is one of the greatest and best Provinces or Kingdoms of all Billedulgerid It s chief City bears the same name is made famous by the Arab of Nubia It hath been ruined and rebuilded within 100 and odd years it is seated in a Plain and on the River Ziz Where and on those of Ghir Tagda and Farcala are likewise some other Cities more than 300 walled Boroughs and a great number of Villages The Rivers overflow and make fertil the Country as doth the Nile in Egypt The Inhabitants may raise about 120000 Men to bear Arms they have sometimes been subject to their Lords sometimes to the Kings of Fez and Morocco now are partly divided into Lines and Communalties and partly subject to the Arabs Several small Estates in and about Segelomessa Under the name of Segelomessa we will pass with Sanutus 12 or 15 little Estates which have but few Cities or walled Towns and some Villages Poor and almost all subject to the Arabs QVENEG hath 3 Cities of which Zebbellinum the chief is on a very high Rock and holds the passage of Segelomessa to Fez by Mount Atlas Gastrirum another City is on the side of a Mountain Tamaracostum is on a Plain Besides these Cities there are about 12 Towns and twice as many Villages They have sometimes aided the Xeriffs of Fez and Morocco with 8000 Men. Helel is the principal of its quarter and the residence of the Lord of Malgara Manunna the chief of Rheteb is peopled with Moors and Jews all Merchants and Artizans These places are on the Ziz descending from the Atlas towards Segelomessa Suhail Humeledegi and Vmmelhefen make each their Estate apart The last is on the way from Segelomessa to Dara The Land is quite Desart covered with Sand and black Stones TEBELBETTA hath 3 Cities 12 Villages FARCALA 3 Cities 5 Villages TEZERIN 5 Cities 15 Villages BENIGOMIA 8 Cities 15 Villages the Cities Mazalig Abuhinanum and Chasaira make each their Estate BENIBESSERI GVACHDA and FEGHIGA have each 3 Cities and some Villages Those of Feghiga addict themselves to Traffick and Letters gather quantity of Dates as doth likewise Guachda An excellent Mine of Iron employs those of BENIBESSERI in carrying it to Segelomessa A rich Mine of Lead and another of Antimony yields profit to those of Chasair who carry them to Fez the others bear only Dates and their Inhabitants are oppressed by the Arabs who rule over them Togda besides its Labourers of the Land hath some Tanners of Leather and the Soil yields Grains and Fuits I have made Tegorarin and Zeb the 4th and 5th Parts of Billedulgerid taken in general Under the name of Tegorarin I shall comprehend Tesebit and Benigorait under that of Zeb I comprehend Mezzab Techort or Techortina and Guergela Quarter of Tegorarin described TEGORARIN hath more than 50 Cities or walled Towns and 100 or 150 Villages the chief of which are Tegorarin Tuat and Tegdeat The Country is abundant in Dates yields Corn when watered feeds no Cattle except it be a few Goats for their Milk Its People addict themselves to Trade fetch Gold from the Negroes which they carry into Barbary and bring from thence several Commodities to carry to the Negroes Receiving Strangers with delight and letting nothing be lost that they can leave with them to enrich their Country Tesebit or Tesevin hath 4 Cities 28 Villages the most part of the Men are black the Women only brown and comly All poor as likewise in the Desart of Benigorait Province of Zeb and its chief places The Province of ZEB is more to the East than Tegorarin it touches the Kingdom and Province of Algier and Bugia near Mesila on the North is divided from the Regions of Mezzab Techort and Guergela towards the South by divers Mountains It s principal Cities are five Pescara Borgium Dusena Nesta Teolacha and Macaxa One part of these Cities were ruined when the Arabs entred into Africa a part by Barbarossa the most part afterwards resloted At present the Turks the Kings of Couco and Labes and the Arabs receive some Tribute from them The Inhabitants of Pescara live in the Fields in the Summer being constrained to
abandon the City by reason of the multitude of Scorpions whose biting is mortal as is that of the Black Scorpions which are towards Calaa in the Kingdom of Labes yet here the Inhabitants taking but two drams of a little Plant it cures them though bitten and preserves them a whole year saith the Arab of Nubia from biting Borghia is well peopled hath many Artizans and Labourers The Water which passes at Deusen is hot as likewise that which passes at Nefta The Inhabitants of Teolacha are proud and haughty Quarter of Mezzab its chief places c. described The Quarter of MEZZAB is to the South of that of Zeb and is a great passage from divers parts of Barbary to go towards the Land of the Negroes which makes those of the Country trade on the one and the other side They have six walled Towns and a great number of Villages are Tributary to some Arabs The Estates of Techort and Guerguela The Estates of Techort and Guerguela have each their Prince or King they have sometimes been free sometime Subjects or Tributaries to Morocco Telensin Tunis and in fine to the Kings of Algier to whom they give a certain number of Negroes in form of Tribute Each Estate takes its name from its chief City besides which they have each of them many walled Towns and about 100 or 150 Villages and about 150000 Duckats of Revenue They can raise 40 or 50000 Men but they are but bad Souldiers Techort though on the top of a Mountain and having 2500 Houses was yet taken by the Turks of Algier with a very few people and 3 Pieces of Cannon They have abundance of Dates from whence flows their Riches they want Corn and Fish they treat Christians favourably and are more civil than their Neighbours Quarter of Billedulgerid with its parts and chief places BILLEDVLGERID or BELED-ELGERED that is the Country of Dates is a particular Province of Billedulgerid taken in general This Province is above the Coast of Tripoli and we add the Quarters of Teorregu Jasliten Gademez and Fezzen The particular Billedulgerid is so rich in Dates that it takes thence its name and hath communicated it to the neighbouring Countries and to all that part which is above Barbary It s principal Cities are Tensar Caphsa and Nefsaoa and a great number of Villages Teorregu hath 3 walled Towns and 26 Villages of which the chief bears the name of Teorregu Jasliten 3 or 4 Towns and 30 Villages and the chief so called Gademez hath 16 walled Towns and about 60 Villages the chief of which are Gademes and Statio Fezzen more than 50 Cities or walled Towns and above 100 Villages The two last Estates are free the other subject to the Turks or to the Kings of Tunis and Tripoli Caphsa of old Capha which is believed to be built by the Libyan Hercules is put by some among the Governments of Tunis EGYPT may be divided into three Parts and then The first shall contain the Twelve Cassilifs or Governments within EGYPT as In the Higher EGYPT the Cassilifs of GIRGIO Asna Barbanda Girgio â—â—id Chiana MANFEâ—OUT Maâ—â—â—oâ—â— Aâ—â—otha AEBENSUEF Fium Mâ—niâ— Benisuaifa MINIO Assuana Chana Minio Ichmina CHERKâ—FFI Almona Paulicella Anthium FIUM Fium Cosora GIZA Gezâ— CAIRO Cairo Sues Elmena Larnabula Antâ—â—li Emelcocena In the Lower EGYPT the Cassilifs of MANSOURA Heroa Mansoura Belbesa Sahidum Berâ—lies Mesela Elboera Teâ—exa Faramida Cassia GARBIA Damiata Petra Bourles Beltina Migâ—â— Eliâ—ala Demanohoura MENUFIA Menufia BASBEIH or CALIOUBIEH with the Territory of ERRIF or ALEXANDRIA Tureta Zuga Euoâ— Sebennets Alexandria Turâ—is Bochira Arabum Rosetto Atacona Tunia Turamania Alhaman Democuria The Second Part shall contain the Cities seated on the RED SEA among which are those of Buge â—ibid Saâ— Cosur Ficte Dacati Suguam Libelezaita Azirut Grodol The Third shall be the Cassilif or Government of BONHERA or BAERA without the True EGYPT and in LIBYA but under its Jurisdiction whose chief places may be considered as as they lie On the Sea among which are those of Ripaealba Roxa Lagoseium Albertonus portus Solona Musulomara Trabochus portus Patriarcha portus Salinae Favara Forcella Bon Andreas Doera Laaneum Zadra Tolomeâ—a Taochara Berzebona Berâ—ichum Careora Camera Avâ—um portus Salinae Within Land as Cayroan Barca Solue Altahune Nachel Maghar Alacquin EGYPT OF all the parts of Africa EGYPT is the nearest and only contiguous to Asia and this Neighbourhood hath perswaded some Authors both Ancient and Modern to esteem Egypt either in whole or in part in Asia At present we hold it all in Africa and give for its bounds the Red Sea Egypt bounded and the Isthmus which is between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean on the East the Desarts of Barca on the West Nubia on the South and the Mediterranean Sea on the North. The Nile alone washes this Region through its whole length which is from its Cataracts to the Sea about 20 Leagues or more its breadth not being above half so much and of that breadth that which is between the Mountains which incloses the Valley of Nile on the East and the Coast of the Red Sea is but Desart there being nothing inhabited but the Valley which lies on both sides the Nile inclosed with Mountains and very narrow in the higher part of Egypt but enlarging it self much more as it approaches the Sea Of this Figure which the Country makes the Ancients have taken occasion first to divide it into high and low It s Division and Names after into high middle and low Higher which they called Thebais by reason of Thebes at present Saida Middle which they called Heptanomos by reason of the 7 Nomi Provostships or Governments it contained at present Bechria or Demesor Lower and more particularly Egypt and sometimes Delta the best part of the lower having the form of a Greek â–³ the two sides of which were inclosed by the branches of the Nile and the third by the Sea and this part is now called Errif The Romans changed something in the number and in the names of these Provinces which we shall now omit At present Egypt is divided into 12 principal Cassilifs Sangiacats or Governments of which five answer to the Higher Egypt viz. Girgio Manfelout and Aebensuef on the left hand of the Nile Minio and Cherkeffi on the right still descending the Nile two with the Territory of Cairo answer to the Middle Egypt viz. the Cassilifs of Fium and Giza on the left and Cairo with its Territory on the right hand of the Nile then four others answer to the Lower viz. Mansoura Garbia Menoufia Callioubech or Basbieh with Alexandria and its Territory for the Cassilif of Bonhera or Baera is out of the limits of the ancient and true Egypt and in Libya which passes commonly under the name of the Kingdom of Barca Egypt of great Antiquity EGYPT is very famous in that they would make us believe that the first Men were here formed and as
on the top thereof grow certain Strings which resemble Hair the great end of the Branches appearing like Hands extended forth and the Dates as Fingers And so much for Egypt LIBYA INTERIOR which doth comprehend ZAHARA or SAARA with its Parts or Provinces of ZANHAGA Tegassa ZUENZIGA Zuenziga Ziz Ghir TARGA Hair Targa LEMPTA Lempta Dighir Agades BERDOA Berdoa BORNO Borno Kaugha Amasen GAOGA Gaoga The Land of NEGROES with its Parts or Kingdoms as they lie On this side the Niger as GUALATA Guadia Angra Arguya GENEHOA Genehoa Walade Ganar Samba-Lamech TOMBUT Tombut Salla Berissa Guegneve AGADES Agades Deghir Mura CANUM Cano Tassana Germa CASSENA Cassena Nebrina Tirca GANGARA Gangara Semegonda Between the Branches and about the Mouth of the Niger as JALOFFES Emboule Lambaya Yagoa Bersola Nabare Besu Catcheo Boyla Codan Julieto GAMBIA CASANGUAS BIAFARES Emboule Lambaya Yagoa Bersola Nabare Besu Catcheo Boyla Codan Julieto Beyond the Niger as MELLI Melli. SOUSOS Beria MANDINGUE Mandinga Tocrur GAGO Gago Dau. GUBER Guber ZEGZEG Zegzeg Channara ZANFARA Zanfara Reghebil GUINY and regarding the Atlantick Ocean with its Parts or Kingdoms of MELEGUETTE with its chief Places as they lie On the Sea as Bugos Timaa Bagga Serbora Masfah Faly Hamaya Samwyn Crou and Growaly Within Land as Bolombere Quinamora GUINY particularly so called or the IVORY or GOLD Coast with its chief places as they lie On the Sea as Tabo Taboe Petoy Wetoe Moure Nassau St. George del Mina Cormantir Berku Pompena Within Land as Laboure Uxoo Quinimburm Acanes Grandes Dauma Aâ—â—â—raus Adios St. Eaurenco Zabandu Buma Roggis Jamo BENIN with its chief Places as they lie On the Sea as Popou Jackeyn Loebo Fosko Borli Bodi and Cesge Within Land as Bâ—din Oâ—verre Aâ—ovon and Curamo ZAHARA That is DESART Zahara its name and description of the Country IN our Africa or Libya Interior we have placed ZAHARA the Country of the NEGROES and GVINY Zahara is an Arab name and signifies Desart and this name is taken from the quality of the Country so the Arabs divide the Land into three sorts Cehel Zahara and Azgar Cehel hath only Sand very small without any Green Zahara hath Gravel and little Stones and but little Green Azgar hath some Marshes some Grass and little Shrubs The Country is generally hot and dry it hath almost no Water except some few Wells and those Salt if there fall great Rains the Land is much better But besides the leanness of the Soil there is sometimes such vast quantities of Grasshoppers that they eat and ruin all that the Earth produceth Through this Country the Caravans pass which adds no small advantage unto it It is so barren and ill inhabited that a Man may travel above a week together without seeing a Tree or scarce any Grass as also without finding any Water and that Water they have is drawn out of Pits which oft-times is covered with Sand and tastes very brackish so that many times Men die for want of it which knowing the defect those Merchants which travel in this Country carry their Water as well as other Provisions on their Camels backs It s People The People are Bereberes and Africans likewise Abexes and Arabs of which the first are seated in the most moist places the others wander after their Flocks Some have their Cheques or Lords almost all follow Mahometism Though the Air be very hot yet it is so healthful that from Barbary the Country of the Negroes and other places Sick people come as to their last remedy It s division and parts described This great Desart is divided into seven principal Parts of which the three Western are Zanhaga Zuenziga and Targa or Hair The four towards the East are Lempta Berdoa Gaoga and Borno Almost every part reaches the full breadth and all together make but the length of this Desart ZANHAGA is most Westward Zanhaga and touches the Ocean with this Desart are comprehended those of Azaoad and Tegazza This last yields Salt like Marble which is taken from a Rock and carried 2 3 4 or 500 Leagues into the Land of the Negroes and serves in some places for Money and for this they buy their Victuals These People use it every moment letting it melt in their Mouths to hinder their Gums from corrupting which often happens either because of the heat which continually reigns or because their food corrupts in less than nothing In the Desart of Azaoad and in the way from Dara to Tombut are to be seen two Tombs the one of a rich Merchant and the other of a Carrier The Merchants Water being all gone and ready to die for want buys of the Carrier who had not overmuch one Glass full for which he gave him 10000 Ducats a poor little for so great a Sum but what would not a man do in necessity yet at the end the Carrier repented his bargain for both the one and the other died for want of Water before they could get out of the Desart Those near the Sea have some Trade with the Portugals with whom they change their Gold of Tibar for divers Wares To the Hono ble the Governour Sub Governour Deputy Governour Court of Assistants of the Hono ble Company of Royall Adventurers of England tradeing into Affrica This Mapp is humbly dedicated by Ric. Blome â—FRICA or LIBIA ULTERIOUR Where are the COUNTRIES of SAARA DESERT â—he COUNTRIE of NEGROES and GUINE With the Circumjacent Countries and Kingdoms Designed by Monsieur Sanson Geographer to the French King and Rendered into English by Richard Blome By the Kings Especiall Command Printed for Richard Blome The Country or Desert of ZVENZIGA Zuenziga under the name of which passes that of Cogdenu and is more troublesom and dangerous than that of Zanbaga as also more destitute of Water and yet it hath many People among others certain Arabs feared by all their Neighbours and particularly by the Negroes whom those Arabs take and sell for Slaves in the Kingdom of Fez But in revenge when they fall into the hands of the Negroes they are cut into so many pieces that the biggest that remains are their two Ears It s chief places are Zuenziga and Ghir The Desart of TARGA or HAIR some esteem this last the name of the Principal Place Targa and the other of the People is not so dry nor troublesom as the two others There are found many Herbs for Pastures the Soil indifferent fruitful and of a temperate Air. They have some Wells whose Water is good In the Morning there falls store of Manna which they find fresh and healthful of which they transport quantity to Agades and other places It s chief places are Targa and Hair LEMPTA is likewise esteemed the name of a People Lempta and its principal place also Digir This Desart is dry and more troublesom than that of Targa and its People haughty brutish and dangerous to them that cross it going from Constantina
Children only leaving a small vent for the issuing forth of their Urine And thus sowed they keep them carefully at home until they be married and those that are by their Husbands found not to have this sign of their perpetual Virginity are sent to their Parents with all kind of ignominy and by their Parents are as disgracefully received The Country though unhealthful to the Europeans ought to be esteemed good since the Inhabitants are rich the Soil fruitful in Grains and Fruits feeding many Beasts and Fowl Its Forests full of Game and its Neighbouring Sea full of excellent Fish The Isle and City of Mombaze MOMZAMBE is 150 Leagues from Quiloa seated on a little Hill and an in Island at the bottom of a Gulph where great Ships may ride safe at Anchor This City was formerly great being about a League in circuit encompassed with a strong Wall and fortifled with a good Castle well Peopled of a good Trade its Streets in good order and its Houses high and well built with Stone and Chalk appearing almost all towards the Sea It was found out when Vasco de Gama was in the Indies and afterwards taken and retaken divers times by the Portugals who keep a Fort by reason of the goodness of the Haven and to maintain their trade The Isle of Mombaze is but small The Kingdom of Melinda described MELINDA is another Kingdom but of a small extent yet made considerable by the good intelligence it hath always preserved with the Portugals Since Vasco de Gama passed there the first time in 1489 until this present which hath stood it in good stead the Neighbouring States having been taken pillaged and burned divers times This kept entire maintaiming its Trade with the Portugals and with the East It s chief City bears the name of the Kingdom seated in a fruitful and delightful Soil yielding great plenty of Rice Millet Flesh good store of Fruits as Lemmons Citrons Oranges c. But not well furnished with Corn the greatest part whereof is broughtout of Cambaya a Province in India This City is fair well Walled and the Houses built after the Moorish manner with many Windows and Terrasses It s People The Inhabitants on the Sea Coasts are of the Arabian breed and of the same Religion Those of the Inlands which are the Original Natives are for the most part Heathens and of an Olive colour but inclining to white and their Women of a very white Complexion as in other places They are said to be more civil in their Habit Course of life and entertainment in their Houses than the rest of this Country and great Friends to the Portugals who return the like kind usage to them This Kingdom of Melinda is not distant from Mombaza above 30 Leagues by Land and 60 by Sea whose People are of the same nature and disposition with those of Melinda Estates of Lamon Pate and Chilicia The Estates of LAMON PATE and CHELICIA and likewise some others are under the Government of Melinda Panebaxira King of Lamon and Brother to the King of Chelicia surprized in 1589 Rock Brito Governour of Melinda and some other Portugals whom they sold to the Turks The Admiral Thomas Sousa Cotinho assaulted them took and cut off the Head of the King of Lamon quartered the others and hung them up in divers places to serve for example These Kings are almost all Mahometans yet here are found some few Christians which inhabit among them We have observed on the Coast of Zanguebar but five or six different Estates or Kingdoms there are some others but of lesser note and all Tributary or in good Intelligence and trading with the Portugals The Coast of Ajan described Thee Coast of AJAN contains the Republick of BRAVA which Sanutus calls Barraboa then the Kingdoms of MAGADOXA ADEA and ADELL some of their People on the Coast are White BRAVA is well built an indifferent Mart rich and pays Tribute to the Portugals It is the only Republick at present in Africa being governed by 12 Councellors or Statesmen MAGADOXA is its chief City and hath sometimes been so powerful that it ruled over all this Coast it is scituate in a delightful and fruitful Soil and neighboured by a safe and large Haven which is much frequented by the Portugals and is very rich affording Gold Hony Wax and above all Abyssin Slaves which by the Portugals are held in great value for which they bring them in exchange the Silks Spices Drugs c. of India ADEA extends it self but little towards the Sea The Country is fertil in Grains as Wheat Barley Rice c. It is well shaded with Woods and large Forrests which are plentifully furnished both with Fruits and Cattle besides a greatincrease of Horses The Inhabitants are of the Mahometan Religion It s People and follow the Arabians in many of their Customs from whom they were descended keeping much of their Language and in their Habit naked save only from the middle downwards Of Complexion for the most part of an Olive colour and well proportioned not very expert in Arms except in poysoned Arrows It s other chief places are Barraboa and Quilmanca seated on the Sea which is called the Coast of Ajan as is Magadoxa ADELL within these few years is become the most powerful of all these Kingdoms Its Estates extending both on the Arabian Gulph or Red Sea and on the Great Ocean stretching 200 Leagues on each side Cape Guardafuy ending both the one and the other towards the East regards in the Sea the Isle of Zocotora famous for the quantity and goodness of the Aloes here gathered which they call Zocotorin about which are several other Isles but not so considerable being small and many not inhabited The Arab of Nubia would make us believe that Alexander the Great was in this Island drove thence the Inhabitants and planted Greeks the better to manage the Aloes which Aristotle had so much prized to him It s chief City takes its name from the Kingdom its others places of most note are 1. Zeila of old Avalis and its Gulph Avalatis Sinus is one of the best places of the Kingdom of Adell though about the City there wants Water yet the Country farther off furnishes Wheat Barley Millet Oil of Sesamum Honey Wax Fruits Gold Ivory and Incense They fell to the Turks and Arabs abundance of Abyssin Slaves which they take in War and in exchange receive Arms Horses c. This Zeila is a noted Port Town well frequented with Merchants by reason of the variety of good Commodities that it yields Once of great beauty and esteem till in the year 1516 it was sacked and burned by the Portugals before which it was esteemed the most remarkable Empire of all AEthiopia for the Indian Trade 2. Barbora and 3. Meta are two of the most noted Sea-Port Towns in all Adell both under the Turks Jurisdiction The first is seated on the same Sea Coast as
one Will in Christ After the receiving of the Sacrament they hold it unfitting to Spit until Sun-fet Those Beasts which in the Old Law are held unclean are so esteemed with them They keep their Sabbath-day on Saturdays they allow their Priests no yearly means or slipends neither do they suffer them to beg but they are forced to get their livelyhoods by the sweat of their brows and labour of their hands They accept only of the three first General Councils They have moreover a Book which is writ in eight Volumes and as they say by the Apostles assembled at Jerusalem for that purpose the Contents thereof they most strictly keep We have divided AETHIOPIA into the Higher and Lower esteemed the Higher that which is towards the North and the East the Lower that which is towards the South and West We have succinctly discoursed of the Parts of the Higher proceed we now to the Lower Lower Aethiopia its extent and bounds This Lower AETHIOPIA extends it self from the River of the Camaronts where the bottom of the Gulph of St. Thomas is and so turning about the Capes of Negro Bona Esperanza and Des Carientes into the River of Cuama which bounds it from Zanguebar part of the Higher Aethiopia as the other doth from the Kingdom of Benim part of Guiny which is in Libya Interior We have like wise subdivided this Lower Aethiopia into three parts It s division and parts viz. into Congo Monomotapa and the Country of the Cafres We may yet subdivide these three Parts each into two others which will make six The first shall be what is between Guiny and Congo the second Monomotapa and Mona-Emugi and the last the Land of Cafres on this side and Westward and the Land of Cafres beyond and Eastward of the Cape of Good Hope Between Guiny and the Kingdom of Congo there are divers Kingdoms and divers People The Ambosins and Camarones are on the Sea then the Kingdoms of the Capones the Country of Angra the three Kingdoms of Cacombo Gabom and Pongo of which this last is most powerful Among these Estates are the Capes of Lopo Gonsalves up in the Land are the Kingdoms of Biafra Medra Dauma c. The Land of AMBOSINS and CAMARONES are near the River of Camarones a Country very fertil The Lands of Capones and Angra are pleasant because of the many fresh Streams which water them The first are poor the Capones are malicious those of Angra addicted to Arms. The Estates or Kingdoms which are about the Cape of Gonsalves It s People have their People of the same Tongue the same Religion who are Idolaters and the same Manners and their Kings and Lords are in peace and in good intelligence with one another Those nearest the Sea are the most courteous and civil by reason of the confluence of Strangers and when they trade with those of Europe they white their Faces with Chalk their beautiful Garments are made of Mats tissued with the Rind of certain Trees and properly accommodated Those of Biafra more advanced in Land are very barbarous addicting themselves to Witcherafts and sometimes sacrificing their Children to Devils Those of Medra Dauma and some others further off are almost quite unknown and possibly not worth regard The Portugals traded here alone a long time and possessed several Parts on this Coast within few years the Hollanders have taken divers places from them some of which they have since retaken The Kingdom of CONGO Kingdom of Congo with its Parts or Kingdoms described BEyond the Equinoctial Line and unto Cape Negro lies the Kingdom of CONGO under the name of which we comprehend many others which have been Subjects Tributaries or Allies to the King of Congo as are the Kingdoms of Loanga and the Anziquaines to the North of Cacongo and the People Gallas or Giaquas to the East of Angola Malemba Mataman and others to the South Kingdom of Loanga described The Kingdom of LOANGA hath its principal City of the same name others say Banza Loango or simply Banza it is seated on the Sea as is Quilongo Quanvi and Majumba It comprehends six Provinces and is throughout indifferent fertil in Grains affords excellent Fruits Wine of Palms breeds many Cattle and all things necessary for life is found here it is well stored with Elephants having more than any other Country in these parts they have quantity of Ivory but have neither Gold nor Silver The Country is very hot by reason of its lying under the Line but indifferent healthful and well peopled Their King once subject writes himself now but Ally to the King of Congo and is called Mani-Loango and the Governours of the six Provinces likewise Mani that is Lord of such or such a Province Their Subjects are all Bramas who by Religion are Heathens Kingdom of Congo and its Provinces The Kingdom of CONGO may be said to be the fairest of the Lower Aethiopia though those of the Monomotapa and Mono-Emugi have more extent yet hath he alwaies been esteemed the most Polite hath had all his neighbours Subjects and the most part yet his Allies It may have in length 200 Leagues and about 120 on the Coast It is subdivided into six great Provinces to wit Bamba Songo Sunda Pango Batta and Pemba which together hath 30 or 40000 little Towns Songo Sunda and Pango lies upon and mounting from the Sea up the River Zaire Bamba Pemba and Batta are towards the River of Coanza and the Lake of Aquilonda these three last making the most Southern parts the three other the most Northern of the Kingdom and all take their names from the principal places where the Governours of the Provinces reside The Country of BAMBA is well stored with Beasts and Birds Bamba both tame and wild well watered with Rivers hath Mines of Silver and its People exceeding strong It s chief places are Bamba on the River Loze Motole on the River Dorati Bengo also Pavo Lengo and Mussulo on the Sea SONGO lies on both sides the River Zaire Songo which sends forth many turbulent Streams and hath so many Islands that one part of it hath very little to do with the other its chief places are Sonho nigh to Cape de Pedro and on a branch of the Zaire also Bommo Matinga Cabinde Malemba and Cascais which three last are on the Sea SVNDA is indifferent fertil Sunda hath several rich Mines of Metals among the rest the Inhabitants set the greatest esteem upon Iron by reason that of it they make their Materials for War it is parted by the Zaire This Country furnishes forreign Merchants with several rich Furs as Sables Martrons c. It s several chief places are Sunda Betequa Iri and Quincasso PANGO is but barren Pango its Inhabitants barbarous but strong in Arms It s chief places are Pango Cundi-Funquenes and Angote and this Country is watered with the River Zaire BATTA is
The first by 150 Portugals at the head of 8 or 10000 Congolans which may make us judge of the goodness of their Militia The Kingdom is divided into Provinces or Mirindes which have each their Sobas which a 100 years ago or little more were only Governours for the Kings of Congo now subject all to the Great Soba of Angola who makes only some Present to the King of Congo It s People use the same Tongue Mony and Arms with those of Congo The Empire of the MONO-MOTAPA The Empire of the Mono-Motapa its extent state and power of their Kings THE MONO-MOTAPA that is the Emperour King or Sovereign of Motapa is according to Vincent Blanc called by his People Tabaqui and possesses an Empire so great that it is made of 1000 Leagues circuit It is said by him that this Prince deports himself with gravity and that there is no access to his person but with very great submissions That he is always adorned with Chains and Precious Stones like to a Woman or rather like a Spouse Is pleased to receive Presents but gives little keeps a great Seraglio of Women which it is forbid to approach and one part of his Guard according to some is likewise composed of Women who are active at their Arms and couragious He calls his principal City Madrogan which is the Mono-Motapa of others where his Royal Palace is which is magnificent and great flanked with Towers without with four principal Gates within hung with Tapestries of Cotton mixed with Gold and adorned with many rich and stately Moveables His Habit c. This Prince is always clothed after the manner of his Predecessors nor may he change any thing except the Ornaments of his Neck and Buskins He wears no Forrein Stuffs for fear of Poyson and Witchcraft his Drink 〈◊〉 Wine of Palm distilled with Manna Amber and Musk. He spends much in Odours and Perfumes making them be mixed in those Lights which are carried before him and which serves where he is His Court hath a great many Officers which serve with order and silence besides which they are thronged with People His Officers are easily known because they carry the Talmassara on their Shoulder more or less enriched according to their condition or degree of place but all in the same fashion with the Kings The Inhabitants are all black of a mean stature active and such good Foot-men It s Inhabitanâ—â— that they are said to out-run Horses They are couragious addicted to Arms as also to Trade The Commonalty cover themselves but below the Waist for which their Apparel is made of Skins of Beasts Cotton Cloth or the like but the better sort have Cloths and Stuffs which are brought them from the Indies The Maids cover nothing of their Body till they are married Their Houses are of Wood or Earth whited fashioned like a Clock or rather like a Bell. Those of the greatest Lords are the highest They have as many Wives as they please but she who is the first espoused is always the chief and her Children alone inherit the Fathers Goods and Estate The Women are here used very respectfully none offering so much as to take the Wall of them The Maids are here not thought fit to be married till their Menstrua or Natural Purgations shews their ability for Conception which makes them solemnize with a great Feast their first Flux They have no Prison in all the Country but all Affairs are determined and ended on the place so soon as they are convicted of the fact or crime but above all Offenders those for Theft Adultery and Witchcraft are the most severely treated And this sudden execution of Criminals makes the King to be reverenced by his Subjects Christianity found here some difficulties at the beginning at present it is established by the consent of the King who hath likewise permitted the Portugals to work the Mines of Gold and Silver which in this Country are in great quantity and so rich that there are some who call this Prince The Emperour of Gold Not only the Mines but likewise the Rivers have Gold in their Sand among which those of Dos Infantos of the Holy Ghost and of Cuama towards their Springs which are towards the Lake Zachaf but those of the Country care for no more of it than is necessary to truck for what they have need of It s Fertility The Woods have great store of Elephants which yields them Ivory as also other Beasts Hath rich Pastures which are well furnished with Cattle hath Grains Fruits Fowl is well watered with many Rivers in which are abundance of Fish The Air is temperate except that their Winter is colder than may be expected in that Climate by reason of the Mountains which enclose it on all sides and cross the Country And their Winter is in the same time when we have our Summer to wit when the Sun is about the Tropick of Cancer The power of the King The Mono-Motapa is said to be one of the most powerful Princes of Africa if we consider the greatness of his Estate his Riches and the great number of Princes which hold of him or are under his Dominion They yearly receive the Fire which the Mono-Motapa sends them or upon refusal are accounted Rebels But all these People though hardy and addicted to Arms are unexpert in them so that their Number would do them little good if assaulted by the Europeans They believe only in one God and punish with death Idolaters and Sorcerers The chief places in the Empire of the Mono-Motapa But a word or two of the chief places of this Empire and first of the Kingdom or Province of BVTVA whose chief places are Butua Carma Gallita Zet seated an the Lake Zachaf Dobdel Calburas Tialso and Zimbra both under the Tropick of Capricorn Bafat Quiticu Armeta Maitagasi Boro Amara Giera and Hagala most of which are Cities of some account and seated on Rivers The chief places in MONO-MOTAPA particularly so called are Mono-Motapa the chief of the Empire Zuggi Jouros and Mosata The chief in ZEFALA bears the same name seated in an Isthmus so called The chief in QVITEVA is Cuama seated on the River so named Abâ—â—â— the Shoar of Zefala are several Isles among which three bear the name of VCIQVE PARVAE three of VCIQVE MAJORES and two of SPICHELLAE and farther a Sea and towards the Isle of Madagascar is the Isle of BAIXOS DE INDIA The chief place of SEDANDA is so called And the chief places of CHICANGA are Zimbdos and Buro And these are the Parts comprehended under the Empire of the Mono-Motapa The Empire of the Mono-Emugi The Mono-Emugi that is Lord of Emugi hath his Empire or Estates between the Abyssins the Cafres the Mono-Motapa and the Zanguebar so that it is about the Mountains of the Moon The Giaques or Zaggaes which joyn to Congo are likewise esteemed subject to this Empire He hath often War
MALTA Marzasirocco Vallettâ— il Borgo Madalena Medina St. Maria Meleca St. Maria Loretâ—â— Rodumifessa GOZA Goza Cast Scilendo Cumin Cumin Forfala Gamelera Chercura Lampedusa Limosa Panthalaria Galata Albusama In the Occidental or Atlantick Ocean as On the Coast of MOROCCO as the ISLES of Madera Tonzal Sancta Crâ—â— Porto Sancto The CANARY ISLES or ISLES of Forteventura Forteventura Chabras Lanegala Lancellotta Lancellotra Porto de Cavallos Grand Canaria Canaris Tedele Arginogy Teneriffe Laguna St. Crux Gomer Gomer Fer Hierro Palma Palma St. Andre The ISLES seated about those of the CANARIES Graclosa Alegria St. Clara Rocco Savages The ISLES of CAPE VERD or the ISLES of St. Antonio St. Vincent St. Lucia St. Nicholas Salt Bonavista Mayo Fuego Brava St. Jago St. Jago Ribera Grande In the Meridional of AETHIOPIAN Ocean as Between GUINY and the Lower AETHIOPIA where are the ISLES of St. Thomas Pavoasan Princes Anncabon St. Matthew Assension St. Helena Perdinando Po Tristan de Cunha Goncalo Alvarer On the Coast of ZANGUEBAR as the ISLE of Madagascar or St. Laurence Vingâ—gora Tombaja St. Andrew Cacambout Port of St. Vincent St. Anthony St. Augustine Boamarage Angoada The ISLES seated about the Isle of MADAGASCAR and in the Sea of ZANGUEBAR particularly so called among which are those of Zocotora Penda Zanzibara Sanctus Rochus Monfia St. Christophers St. Esprite Comerae Aliadorae Syrtium Nona Baixos St. Anthony St. Maria Radix St. Maurice Mascarenhae Diego Roix Johannis de Lisboâ— Sancta Clara Sancta Justâ—â— or Juliani St. James St. Vincent In the Red Sea or Sea of Mecque And on the Coast of the Higher AETHIOPIA as the ISLES of Bahia Cabras Suaquem Miri Meger Maczuam Balaccia St. Piâ—trâ— THE ISLE OF MADAGASCAR OR St. LAURENCE Isle of Madagascar with its length and breadth THE Isle of MADAGASCAR or St. LAVRENCE is much greater than any about Africa if not the greatest of both Continents It stretches it self from a little on this side the 12th unto a little beyond the 26th degree of Meridional Latitude which are more than 14 degrees of Latitude but sloping from North North-West to South South-East it is from Cape St. Sebastian to that of St. Romain about 400 Leagues long It s breadth ought to be considered at twice in that part nearest the Equator it is 60 or 75 Leagues broad in that part towards the South the least breadth passes 120 and stretches sometimes to 150 Leagues Its Commodities and Trade Our last Relations say That it hath Mines of Gold Silver Copper Iron Rocks of Chrystal and excellent white Marble that there are found Emralds Saphirs c. many sorts of Gums and Rozins especially great store of that Gum which the Druggists call Dragons Blood which they extract out of the Flowers of a certain Tree which grows there They have also Talque Cotton Indico Sugar Canes Saunders Ebony Ivory Honey Wax Hides Their Ground yields Salt Salt-Peter and in most places Grains and upon their Sea Coasts is found abundance of Ambergreese And for these and several other Commodities that are here found are brought them in exchange Corals Pater-Nosters Chains Beads Bracelets Glass-Pendants and divers Toys c. It s People and their abode Its Inhabitants are for the most part Black or very Tawny and some White which in all appearance came from Asia They are of a good Stature and well shaped are very tractable and courteous to Strangers and more especially to the French than any other Europeans are addicted to idleness and not caring to cultivate the Earth their clothing is only a piece of Cotton-cloth of several colours which they fasten about their Middles and hangs down to their knees and on their Heads a Cap made of the Bass of a Tree besides which they adorn themselves about their Neck Arms Legs c. with those Toys aforesaid Their Feeding is exceeding gross their Houses are no better than Hog-sties or little Huts made of Branches of Trees except those of their princes which are made of Wood but of no large size nor over handsom They lie upon Mats and their Cloth which they wear about them in the day serves for a Coverlid in the night They are Heathenish and given to Adoration some say they adore the Devil using Sacrifices which they do in the Woods not having Churches they have no Civil Form of Government but he that can make the greatest party and hath the greatest Family is in most esteem and command to which end they have as many Wives as they can keep to increase their Progeny The Isle very plentiful of Cattle They have a great number of Oxen Sheep Kids Hens of divers sorts and quantity of Rice they make Wine with Hony and certain Roots which is so strong that they are frequently drunk with it they have for the most part those Beasts that are found among us but yet all with some difference Their Oxen have between their Neck and Shoulders a great lump of Fat which they esteem excellent Their Sheep have their Tails 20 Inches about and as much in length Their Goats are very high and their Hogs little They have Salamanders Camelions of divers colours Apes of many kinds and believe that these Apes would speak but for fear they should be compelled to labour They have Crocodiles and Tortoises of which some have their Shells so great that they will cover 10 or 12 Persons and they find sometimes 5 or 600 of their Eggs as big as Hens Eggs their Flesh is delicate and fat in taste resembling Veal They have other Tortoises which are only 3 or 4 foot diameter and their Shells being polished are figured with divers colours of which they make Cabinets little Boxes and other pretty Moveables esteemed in the Indies and in Europe Their Fowls Their Pheasants are stronger and fairer than ours their Partridges bigger and of divers colours They have Paroquets as big as Crows and black another middle sort and some as little as our Larks the one and the other of divers colours They have Singing-Birds not yielding to those of the Canaries Their Bees are little their Hony excellent their Ants flie and leave on the Bushes where they light a white Gum which they use instead of Glue Their Colibri or Fly-Bird scarce weighing two Bees so little is it feeding only on the Dew it sucks from Flowers They catch in their Seas an infinite quantity of Fish among others Skates so great that they are able to satisfie 300 persons one meal Their Date-Trees supply them with Drink their Orchards with Fruits their Cotton with whereof to make Thred and Stuffs for Clothing their Indico with a Blew colour their Tamarind refreshes them their Rape or Balasier blacks their Teeth which by them is esteemed a great Beauty they gather Aloes from several Trees One of the principal riches of the Country is Ebony both for its beauty smoothness and black colour and for the flame and odour it yields in
the fire It s Sap infused in Water heated and taken luke-warm purges Flegm and cures Venerial distempers Their Fruits Among their Fruits they have Damsons twice as big as ours Mirabolans of many kinds Anana's Citrons Oranges Pomegranates Grapes Dates Coco-Nuts c. They gather Maniguet Ginger and divers Roots which they eat instead of Bread and which serves for divers other uses they have quantity of Rice Millet Beans Pease French-Beans both red white green and all sorts of Pulse The Sensitive Herb is found among the Tapates whose Leaf touched they all close and shut up one within anothen hanging towards the ground and not raising up nor opening themselves again till a good while after and that by little and little It s chief places The Isles hath many good Roads and commodious Ports and every where are found good Water and Victuals but the Air is unhealthful to the Europeans by reason of the great Heat which here reigneth it lying under the Torrid Zone yet the French have established a Colony sometimes in one place and sometimes in another The Bay of Anton-Gil or of St. Anthony is the best in all the Island On the same Coast and farther towards the North is Boamarage more towards the South Arganda and continuing Cacambout Manialoufe Manajara or the Port of Pruâ—es Matatane Manapate or the Port of Gallions Manatenga Andâ—â—boul Romag near the Port St. Cace and Antipere or Sancta Clara near Cape St. Romain All these places or Ports are builded with Wood covered with Leaves and inclosed with Pallisadoes as throughout all the Isle On the other side towards the West and directly opposite to the Coast of Africa are Vingagora St. Andreâ—â—â— the Bay of Pracel St. Vincent St. James the Port or Guâ—ph of St. Augustine the best next to Antongil Tombaja c. The middle of the Isle rises into Mountains covered with Wood where is Ebony Saunders Orange-Trees Citron-Trees c. The Isle of Sancta Mary described About Madagascar are a great many of Isles as that of SANCTA MARY near the Bay of Anton-Gil about ten or twelve Leagues in circuit is fair and fertile affords store of Provisions and Potters Earth and their Seas quantity of Whales which they catch by darting on them a certain Iron fixed to the end of a Cord which when they have tired themselves they make to the shore and of these Whales they make Oyl with which as also with their Provisions and Potters Earth they drive a Trade The Isles of Comeres described The Isles of COMERES are Five principal ones as St. Christophers St. Esprit Loura Comera and Gasidsa The Inhabitants of this last are perfidious the others more civil and under one King alone who resides at Ansuvanny where there is some Trade the most part are Mahometans the Soil is pleasant and fertile because of the Rivers which descend from the Mountains and water their Fields They have all sorts of Birds they have no Iron they fetch from Madagascar Rice Millet Amber-greece and Slaves which they transport into Arabia and the Red Sea from whence they bring Stuffs and Indian Habits Amfium or Opium In 1613. the Hollanders tauched on this Island and received great refreshment It is observed that for a Quire of common Paper they had an Ox for a common Looking-Glass another for a Dozen of Little Bells which they fastned to Hawks Legs another for a Bar of Iron three Oxen c. The Isle of Maurico described The Isle MAVRICE or SANCTA APPOLLINA between 19 and 20 degrees seems to have been inhabited before the Hollanders established a Colony It is about 15 Leagues in compass Mandelslo saith that this Island hath a good Haven both deep and large enough for fifty Said of great Ships to harbor in which makes it to be very pleasant having many Mountains which are well cloathed with Trees and always green among which some are so lofty that they seem to overtop the Clouds And its Valleys as pleasant and green and adorned with several sorts of Trees as well those that bear Fruits as Cocoes Dates Oranges Citrons c. as those which yield none as great quantity of excellent Ebony and other Trees some of whose wood is Yellow others Red others mixt and all with fair and lively colours The Leaves of their Palm-trees are large enough to cover a man the Birds are here so tame that they suffer themselves to be taken with the hand or killed with a stick They have Tortoises strong enough to bear a man but fourfooted Beasts they have none Besides these Isles aforesaid there are several others which are seated about the Isle of Madagascar as Two bearing the name of Deigosoares Two by the name of Nunni Pereirae Three by the name of Deigo Roix Four by Sancta Clara Two by St. Romanus Three by St. Julianus Three by St. Jacobus Nine by St. Vincent Three by St. Christophers Three by Comora And eight by the name of Bugi Also the Isles of Boamarage St. Anthony St. Maria Radix Mascarenhae Johannis de Lisboa Syrtium and Mosambicha-Nova with some others The Banks of India very dangerous for Shipwracks Between the Isle of Madagascar and the main Land about 70 Leagues from the Isle 100 from Cefala and 150 from Mozambique are the Banks of India infamous for Shipwracks and particularly for that of the Admiral Fernando Mendoza in 1586. The Banks and Rocks are of sharp Stones and with divers points like to Coral some black others white others green but all horrible even to behold There rests a great number of Islands to the North and East and between the North and East of Madagascar and among these Isles many Banks and Rocks We will omit a particular description of them as unnecessary and only say that the French have often designed to establish a powerful Colony in the Countrey encouraged by its Commodities and the great Commerce it is like to maintain The Isles of CAPE VERDE The Isles of Cape Verde described viz. ONe hundred and fifty Leagues from Cape Verde and towards the West are a body of Islands which extend themselves from 13 ½ unto the 19 degree of Latitude and from 153 ½ unto 157 or thereabout of Longitude They are called in general the Isles of Cape Verde because that Cape is the nearest main Land to them Amongst these Isles there are 10 in some consideration though a part of them not inhabited they are ranged almost in form of a Cressant or Semi-Circle of which the convex part regards the Continent and the two Points the Ocean That which makes the Point towards North and West is that of St. Antonio which those of St. Vincent St. Nicholas and Sancta Lucia follow advancing between East and South then those of Salt Bona Vista and Maya descend from North to South and are the most Easterly of all Those of St. Jago of Fuego and Brava the most Southern returning from East to
West and advancing a little towards the South So that St. Anthony and Brava make the two Ends or Points towards the West Bona Vista makes the middle of the half Circle towards the East SANCTA LVCIA St. Nicholas St. NICHOLAS and St. JAGO are the greatest having each 100 or 120000 paces of length 15 20 or 30000 of breadth and 200 or 250000 paces of circuit St. Anthonio and St. Vincent are less by more then half and not of above 100000 paces in circuit the rest which are the least have not above 30 40 or 50000 paces I make no account of seven or eight others whose names have not been given us and which are rather Rocks than Isles St. JAGO is the greatest and the chief of all having a Bishops seat in the City of the same name St. Jago besides which are Ribera Grande with a good Port towards the West Praya towards the East St. Mary towards the North all with their Ports Some place likewise St. Thomas whose Port is dangerous others St. Domingo others St. Michael possibly these fall under some of the others Ribera Grande hath 500 Houses the Air is unhealthful the Land hilly but the Valleys fruitful in Grains Vines Fruits Sugar Canes Millons c. Feeding much Fowl and Cattle and particularly Goats in abundance These Beasts bringing forth young every four Moneths and three of four at a time and the Kids are very fat and delicate Sancta Lucia St. Vincent St. Anthony SANCTA LVCIA is the best peopled after that of St. Jago St. Nicholas St. Vincent and St. Anthony have been esteemed Desert yet they appear to have many Inhabitants though not so many as they could feed The Ships of the Vnited Provinces passing here in 1622. found in that of St Anthony 500 persons Men Women and Children all Aethiopians St. Vincent and St. Nicholas had no less At Mayo these Aethiopians are strong and of good stature but it is to be believed that every where are some Portugals to keep the rest in aw Salt Bona Vista The Isles of SALT of BONA VISTA of MAYO and of St. JAGO yield so great quantity of Salt which is made naturally of the Water which the Sea from time to time leaves that besides what they consume in the Countrey they laded every year more then 100 Ships which is transported into other Countreys and yet there remains six times as much which becomes useless It is reported that the Isle of Mayo could make alone lading for two thousand Sail of Ships yearly and the others not much less The other riches of the Countrey lies in the Skins of their Goats which are in so great quantity through all these Isles that many flocks are seen of 1000 Head The Skins are sent to Brasil Portugal and other places and make excellent Cordovants The Flesh is salted in the Countrey and sold to Ships going and returning from Brasil to the Indies Besides the Salt and Woats which are the principal riches of the Countrey they have many Wild Horses Oxen Apes c. also Cotton whereof they make several Manufactures Also Rice and many sorts of Grains Among their Fowl they have one kind particular to them which they call Flamencos the Feathers of their Bodies are all White and those of their Wings Red as Blood Their Tortoises are not above two or three foot long they come out of the Sea and lay their Eggs in the night covering them with Sand and the heat of the Sun hatches them Fuego Brava In Fuego and Brava they gather Wines which yield little to those of the Canaries The Sargasso Sea Between the Islands of Cape Verde and the main Land inclining towards the Canaries the Sea is called Sargasso because from the 20 to the 24 degree and for the length of 30 40 or 50 Leagues the Sea is covered with an herb like to that which is found in the bottom of Wells and which the Portugals call Sargasso This Herb except that it is more Yellow resembles Sea-Parsley bearing certain Grains or Fruit at the end but of neither taste nor substance Many have been much troubled to know from whence these Weeds come which are distant from the Isles and from the firm Land more then 60 Leagues and in a part of the Sea where there is no bottom found Nevertheless they are so close and in so great quantity that the Water seems rather a Meadow or Green Field then a Sea Ships which fall among these Weeds had need of a good Wind to disingage themselves and I believe it was these which hindred Sataspes from finishing his course about Africa and were the cause of his misfortune This Sataspes Son of Teaspes one of the Achemenides A story of Sataspes having ravished the Daughter of Zopyrus the Son of Magabises was condemned by Xerxes to be crucified His Mother the Sister of Darius caused this punishment to be changed into another to wit he was caused to make the Circumnavigation of Africa which could not be done without great difficulty and hazard He embarked in Egypt passed the Pillars of Hercules entred into the Occidental Ocean and passed far to the South along Africa but knowing that it would yet require much time and pains to end this course he returned into Egypt and thence to the Court where he said he had met with somewhat that hindred his Ship from passing farther Xerxes took him for a liar and made him suffer the death he was before condemned to But to continue The Isles of Cape Verde The Position wherein the Isles of Cape Verde are now found answers much better to the Position of the Fortunate Isles of Ptolomy then that of the Canaries Ptolomy places his Fortunate Isles between the 10 and 16 degree of Latitude the Isles of Cape Verde are between the 13 and 19 the Canaries beyond the 26. The Meridian of the Fortunate Isles of Ptolomy is at 8 degrees of Longitude from the Coast of Africa and towards the West The least Meridian of the Isles of Cape Verde is at 8 degrees of Longitude from the same Coast and towards the same side The least Meridian of the Canaries touches the Coast of Africa Ptolomy confines his Fortunate Isles under one Meridian and extends them from South to North between the tenth to the sixteenth parallel or degrees of Latitude which are five degrees of Latitude The Isles of Cape Verde are not justly under one Meridian but under two or three and extend themselves from the 13 ½ to the 19 which are five degrees of Latitude The Canaries on the contrary are all couched from West to East and almost under the same parallel or degree of Latitude which is the 27 lengthning themselves from the first to the 6 of Longitude These four Reasons are very strong to prove that the Isles of Cape Verde do rather answer to the Fortunate Isles of Ptolomy then the Canaries Their distance in regard of the Aequator is
not different from that of the Fortunate Isles of Ptolomy but three degrees that of the Canaries is 15. Their distance in regard of the Coast of Africa agrees with that of the Fortunate Isles not with that of the Canaries The disposition of their scituation from South to North approaches near to that of the Fortunate Isles and the number of the degrees of Latitude which they contain absolutely agrees with it The scituation of the Canaries from East to West and the little Latitude they contain are much contrary Notwithstanding all these Reasons we shall yet make it appear that oft-times we must not conclude on the Positions of Ptolomy and that the Canary Islands answer to the Fortunate Islands of Ptolomy and the Ancients and not these of Cape Verde Let us speak first a word of the Madera's and Porto Sancto which belong to the Crown of Portugal as well as those of Cape Verde But before I pass to the Madera's a word or two concerning its Inhabitants who Mondelslo maketh to be black corpulent but well proportioned he saith they are envious mischievous and dangerous people for the most part Pagans worshipping the Moon and adoring the Devil whom they call Cammate Some of them are Mahometans as far as Circumcision They marry many Wives whom they make to labour like Slaves as well in the Fields as in their Houses and they are accustomed to such hardship that as soon as they are delivered they go and wash themselves and the Child in the Sea or next River They are not admitted to sit at meals with their Husbands but wait till they have din'd or supt They believe the Resurrection of the Dead but withal think that they shall rise White and trade there as the Europeans do He saith they are great Drunkards and their debauches are always at the Funeral of their Friends which commonly lasts four or five days together During which time they do nothing but drink and weep in remembrance of their Friend departed They are very turbulent and quarrelsome being always at wars with their Neighbours their Arms are the Bow and a kind of Lance in which they are very expert He saith also that the greatest Marks of their Victories are the Privy-parts of their Enemies which they cut off and give to their Wives who wear them as Neck-laces which by them are esteemed far beyond Pearl The Countrey is indifferently fruitful The Fertility hath store of Cattle as Oxen Beufflers Elks c. whose Hides they have a good Trade for as also for Elephants Teeth Wax Rice Amber-greece Sugar Canes Cotton whereof they make several Manufactures Cordovants c. MADERA Island The Madera Isle first discovered by the Portugals THe Isle of MADERA or MADEIRA as the Portugals say is under the 32 degree of Latitude about 25 Leagues long 8 or 10 broad and 60 of circuit It was discovered in 1420 by John Gonsalvo and Tristan Vaez under the Auspicies of Henry Infanto of Portugal and under the same Johannes Zarco and likewise Tristan Vaez discovered Porto Sancto in 1428. The one and the other were Desert and particularly Madera was so covered with Wood that they were fain to set it on fire to make room for what they would Till The History saith that this fire lasted six or seven years before it ran through all the Island and consumed the Woods and among the first Inhabitants some were constrained to save themselves in the Water to avoid the heat of the Earth but yet their design so well succeeded that the Earth for a long time after yielded sixty for one which by little and little diminished to 50 40 30 and possibly now to twenty five for one The Air is almost always temperate It s Air Fertility and commodities many Fountains and seven or eight Rivers so refresh this Countrey that it is very pleasant and fertile The Vines bear more bunches of Grapes than Leaves and their wine is strong and racy their Wheat excellent though the Countrey be Mountainous Their Sugars delicious bearing the Bell from all others they have much Fowl as Hens Pigeons Quails Partridges they have quantity of Fruits as Oranges Citrons Pomegranates Honey Wax Dragons Blood Cordevants Cedar-wood with which they make all sorts of Joyners work so artificially that it is transported into Europe and elsewhere Those Mountains and Woods which are restocked have Wild Boars It s chief piaces c. It s principal Towns are Tunghal or Tonzal the chief of the Island and a Bishoprick Moncherico or Monchico and Sancta Crux All the Island contains 36 Parishes 5 or 6 Religious Convents 4 Hospitals 6 or 7000 Houses and about 25000 Persons so many Castles and Gardens in the Field that it seems a Garden of Pleasure Porto Sancto The Isle of PORTO SANCTO or the Holy Port hath almost the same Commodities with Madera but is not above 8 or 10 Leagues in circuit hath no Fortress which was the reason that in 1606. the Pyrates took away 6 or 700 persons Madera answers to the Ancient Cerne Atlantica and some have esteemed Porto Sancto to answer to the Ancient Ombrio or Inaccessibilis but we shall shew the Countrey in the Canaries The CANARY Islands The Canary Islands described viz. THe CANARY Islands are Westward of Africa almost opposite to the Capes of Bojador or Non they are to the number of Seven seated between the 26 and 28 degrees of Latitude and between the 5 and 6 or little more of Longitude If we comprehend some little Isles above Lancelotta and likewise the Salvages they would reach to the 29 or near the 30 if likewise the Madera and Porto Sancto they would pass beyond the two and thirtieth degree of Latitude But there are few Authors esteem the Salvages almost none the Madera among the Canaries because this last is too far distant and belonging to the Crown of Portugal the Canaries to the Crown of Gastile and the Salvages being Desert almost no account is made of them And now we shall make it appear that the Body of the Seven Isles of the Canaries answers in all things to the Body of the Seven Fortunate Isles of the Ancients Canary Isles the Fortunate Isles of the Ancients why We have before set down those Reasons which might make us believe that the Isles of Cape Verde might answer to the Fortunate Islands but now shall produce others and those stronger for the Canaries In the Occidental or Atlantick Ocean and to the West of Africa Ptolomy makes account of only one Body of Islands which he describes to the number of six We find now in that Ocean and not far from Africa three different Bodies of Islands and each very considerable to wit the Azores the Canaries and those of Cape Verde Of these the Canaries are nearest to Africa and the most Eastern the Azores the farthest and most Western and those of Cape Verde do remain in the middle as to Longitude And
us therefore leave this Gomer for Theode and say That farther in the Sea and about 100 miles or as others say 100 Leagues from the Canaries is an Isle they call San Borondon Authors say that those which think not of it find it sometimes by chance but that it is never found by those who expresly seek it However it be it is held for truth and Vincent Blanc assures us that from the top of Teneriffe whence may be seen all the Canaries this is likewise sometimes seen yet that those which attempt to go to it cannot find it though with great pains whether it be that the Fogs hide it or that some Current carries them from it and for this reason they have given it the name of Fortunada Incontada and Nontrovada c After all these particularities I can doubt no longer but this Isle is the Aprositos Inaccessible and the Ombrio that is the shadow of the Ancients And so the whole body of the Canaries will answer to the whole Body of the Fortunate Isles without adding the Madera and from hence we have reason to place the first Meridian in the Canaries as Ptolomy hath placed it in the Fortunate Isles since these first answer to the last which will give a great facility to the reconcilement of Ancient and Modern Geography otherwise not to be done Let us proceed to what each of the Canaries may have at present considerable beginning with those nearest the main Land The Isle of Forteventura described Forteventura once Erbania is not far distant from the Cape Bojador above 10 or 12 Leagues from the Great Canary 16 or 18 from Lancelotta 6. It s greatest length is 25 Leagues 15 or 16 its greatest breadth In the middle it streightens so much that there remains only a League or two from one Sea to another And this part was crossed with a Wall which separated the Island into two Estates when it was discovered The Land is partly Mountainous and partly in Plains fruitful in Wheat and Barley Along the Coast glide many streams of Fresh Water and along these streams are the Tarbais Trees crooked and soft which bear Gum of which is made pure white Salt In the Countrey besides the Palm Trees which bear Dates the Olive Trees Mastick Trees and the Orsolle a Grain for Dying there is a kind of Fig-tree from which they have Balm as white as Milk and which is of great vertue in Physick They make Cheese of their Goats Milk with which the Countrey is so well stocked that they may afford more then 50000 yearly and besides the profit made of their Skins and their Fat each Beast yielding 30 or 40 pound their Flesh is excellent The Ports of this Island are not proper but for smaller Vessels It s chief places towards the Sea are Forteventura Ricquerocque Chabras Baltarhays Lanegala Fozonegro and Tarafulo Most of which are well frequented by Merchants especially by the English who of late are incorporated into a joynt Fellowship and Stock and not only to this Isle but to all the Seven Canary Isles The Isle of Lancelotta LANCELOTTA is 16 or 18 Leagues long and 10 or 12 large The access to it is difficult on the North and West Coast the Countrey is plain towards the East and the Continent where its Town and Ports are as Cayas or Lancelotta Porto de Nayos and Port de Cavallos These last are near one to the other the Isle hath the same properties with that of Forteventura The Great Canary Isle The GREAT CANARY is almost equal in length and breadth which is about 18 or 20 Leagues It is the principal of these Islands both because of its greatness fertility and the goodness of its Air and because the Governor and Bishop of these Islands whose yearly Revenue is 12000 Ducats have their Residence in the City Canaria Its Inhabitants chief places fertility commodities and Trade which is fair its Inhabitants well clad and civil and how hard soever it rains its streets are dry being only Sand. It s other places are Tedele Galder Argores Gusa and Del Douze Ingennos or Twelve Sugar Engines This Island it exceeding fruitful and the Soyl so fertile that they have two Harvests in one year reaping their Wheat Barley and other Grains in February and May. Their Wheat excellent and its Bread very white but from the excellency of its Fruits as Oranges Citrons Pomegranates Figs Olives Apples Pears Peaches Melons Potato's and above all from its Wine which is far beyond that of Spain Which among all others bears the Bell with us in England From these we may judge of the goodness of the Island They have also several other good Commodities as Honey Wax Sugar-Canes Cheese and Wood in great abundance and breeds such plenty of Cattle that the Leather is not one of the least Commodities they vend to other Nations as Spain England Holland c. They have also store of Fowl it is well covered with Firr Trees Dragon Trees Palm Trees c. And its Rivers well filled with Fish but above all they have Plantons which delights in Water it is cut and shoots forth yearly into three or four Branches each Branch bears 30 or 40 Apples resembling a Cucumber they incline to black being ripe they eat more deliciously then any Comfit in the World The Isle of Teneriffe with its high Pike Teitha described TENERIFFE which some call Enfer is distant from the Grand Canary 16 or 18 Leagues towards the North-West It s utmost length is about 24 or 25 Leagues and 12 or 15 its greatest breadth The Land is raised in little Hills and towards the middle is the Pike of Teitha or Terreira a streight and round Mountain which reaches in height 45000 English paces which is 45 miles some make it not so high others higher but all agree that it is the highest Mountain in the World even so high that it may be seen in a clear day 60 Leagues distance at Sea and from the top of it a man may easily discover and count all the other Canary Islands though some of them be above 50 Leagues distance from this It often casts forth fire and Sulphur It s Summit is in form of a Sugar Loaf or sharp point called the Pike of Teneriffe For two or three miles about it are only Cinders and Pumice Stones two or three Miles lower all is covered with Snow throughout the year though there never fall any in those Islands and yet lower are found the great Trees Vintaico whose Wood is very weighty and never rots in Water Under these Trees Laurels cover almost 10 or 12 miles of the Countrey where the Singing Birds of the Canaries known among us by the name of Canary Birds warble their pleasant notes The foot of the Mountain casts forth divers Branches and extends it self into a good part of the Island which abounds more in Corn then any of the rest and sometimes it alone feeds them all
the Castle of St. Elmo doth merit fame not only for its buildings which are curious but for the entertainment there given to those that fall sick where the Knights themselves lodge when sick or wounded to receive cure where they are exceeding well attended have excellent good dyet served by the Junior Knights in silver and every friday visited by the Grand Master accompanied with the great Crosses a service which was from the first institution commanded and thereupon called Knights Hospitallers Here are as Sandys saith three Nunneries one for Virgins another for Bastards and the third for penitent Whores Castle of St. Elmo The Castle of St. Elmo is at the end of the City of Valetta towards the Sea and at the opening of two Ports During the siege of Malta it was taken and sackt by the Turks after having wasted 18000 Cannonshot given divers assaults and lost 4000 men of their best Militia among others Dragut one of their most famous Coursaiers The Christians lost 1300 men among whom many Knights But this Fort was restored to a far better Estate than before and is separated from the City only by a ditch cut likewise in the Rock on the other side and on the point of the Borgo is the Fort of St. Angelo and likewise above the Borgo and the Isle of Sengle have been made new works to hinder the Turks from lodging there Besides these three Cities and the Forts about them the ancient City of Malta Medina is in the middle of the Island on an easie ascending hill and in an advantagious scituation The Turks assaulted it in 1551 but soon retired The Bishop of the Isle hath here his residence and near the City is yet the Grotte and Chapel of St. Paul where they believe he preached and where he lay when he suffered shipwrack and this place is of great account among them All these Cities and Forts have 250 or 300 pieces of Cannon on their Rampart The Isle very strong and well provided for War and their Magazins are so well provided with Powder Shot Wood Bisket Salt-meats and all Provisions and Ammunition that they call it Malta Flor del Mondo Malta the Flower of the World being provided alwaies with Ammunitions and Provisions for a three years siege yet this is to be understood not only because of its Fortifications and Ammunitions but likewise because of its force and the resolution of its Knights The Order of Knighthood first instituted This order of Knighthood according to Sandys received their denomination from John the charitable Patriarch of Alexandria though vowed to St. John Baptist as their Patron Their first seat was the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem built by one Gerrard at the same time when the Europeans had something to do in the Holy-Land where they received such good success and became so famous that they drew divers worthy persons into this society which by Pope Gelasius the second was much approved of He saith that one Raymond was the first Master of this Order who did amplifie their Canons and entituled himself The poor servant of Christ and Guardian of the Hospital in Jerusalem and at the allowance of one Honorius the second were apparelled in black garments signed with a White-Cross this Order we have said began at Jerusalem and at first meddled not but with the Government of the Hospital of St. John and were called Fryers Hospitallers or simply Hospitallers as those of the Temple Templers but when these Hospitallers were constrained to make profession both of Hospitality and Arms they were called Knights Hospitallers or Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem These Knights oft forced to remove their habitations after the loss of Jerusalem they held their Convent in the City and Fortress of Margatt then in Aicre or Ptolomaido and all the Latine Christians being driven from the Holy Land and from Souria they retired into Cyprus But during their stay in Cyprus they gained Rhodes and established themselves there so powerfully that they were called Knights of Rhodes Margaret was taken from them in 1285. Aicre in 1291 little less than 200 years after Godfrey of Bulloin had Conquered the Holy Land and this order began before after the loss of Aicre they lived in Cyprus from 1291 to 1309. in which year they took and settled in Rhodes and maintained it more than 100 years sustaining four sieges till in 1522 Sultan Solyman became Master of Rhodes they then retired into Europe now into one place and then into another and in fine to Malta which Charles the fifth gave them in 1530. with some little neighbouring Isles as likewise the City of Tripoly in Barbary which they could keep no longer then 1551. that place being too far engaged in the Enemies Country These Knights are of divers Nations and are divided into eight Tongues to wit of Province of Auvergne of France of Italy of Arragon of England of Germany and of Castile so that the three first are in France and the last in Castile each Tongue contains many Priories and each Priory many Commanderies these three Tongues which are in France have near 300 Commanderies The other five Tongues which are in Italy Arragon England Germany and Castile made near 400. but there are no more in England England the Kings of England when they confiscated the goods of the Church having likewise seized the goods and Commanderies of the Knights of Malta and in Germany a part of these Commanderies being fallen into the hands of Lutherans and Calvinists serve no longer so that at present France alone furnishes little less than half the Commanderies of Malta And it hath been observed that from the first establishment of this Order unto this very present of 57 great Masters there hath been 37 French only 4 or 5 Italians 7 or 8 Spaniards and 11 whose Nation and Tongue the History could not observe but apparently the most part were French since this Order began by the French of these 34 known 12 were in the Holy-Land and in Souria 13 in Rhodes and 〈◊〉 in Malta unto Father Paul of Lascaris of every one there is a Grand Prior who lives in great reputation in his Country who orders the affairs of their Order and for England St. Johns by Clarken-well in times past was a mansion of the Grand-Prior There are several Councels among these Knights Their Government as that for deciding of differences which may happen among them the Councel of War the General Chapter which may augment or moderate the Authority of the great Master renew the Ordinances and Government of the Religion or their Order and which is held every five years The Ceremonies performed in making these Knights The Ceremonies used in Knighting are these which follow first being cloathed in a long loose garment he goeth to the Altar with a Taper in his hand of White Wax where he kneeleth down and desires the Order of the Ordinary then
by Richard Blome By his Majesties Especiall Command London Printed for Richard Blome To the Rt. honble Anthony Earle of Shaftesbury Baron Ashby of Wimbourne St. Giles and Lord Cooper of Paulet This Mapp is most humbly D.D. by R.B. AMERICA AMERICA is a Continent different from that wherein we inhabit or which we call Ours for the surface of the Globe being described into two Hemispheres divided by the first Meridian America is in that Hemisphere which is opposite to ours The Voyages of Columbus Cabral and Visputius into America In 1942 and some succeeding years Christopher Columbus a Genouese for and in the name of Ferdinand King of Arragon and Isabella Queen of Castile made divers Voyages into the Islands which are before this Continent and discovered part of the Coasts of the Continent In 1501 Alvares Cabral for and in the name of Emanuel King of Portugal Navigating along the Coast of Africa on a Voyage to the East-Indies some Eastern Winds carried him so far to the West that he discovered the Coast of a main Land which was afterwards called Brazil where a little after Americus Vesputius a Florentine was expresly sent with a particular charge to discover this Country In which he was so happy that his name was given to that part of the Coast which he discovered and in fine to the whole Continent From these Voyages of Columbus Cabral and Americus Vesputius the Spaniards pretend to be the first who discovered or caused to be discovered and gave knowledge of this Continent America known by the Ancients The Greeks and Latins have given fair testimonies that the Ancients have had some knowledge of America Plato in his Timaeus and in his Critias calls in the Atlantick Isle and esteems it as great or greater than Asia and Africa together It seems that Plato or Solon or the Priest of Egypt c. had knowledge of the greatness scituation and form of the two parts of America so well they agree to Asia and Africa the Northern America with Asia the Southern with Africa America bounded AMERICA is almost divided into two parts of which one is between the Equator and the North the other in regard of us is towards the South and part under the Equator After Plato Theopompus either in his Treatise of Wonders or in his History makes mention of another Continent besides ours and touches divers particulars Among others that its greatness is so vast that it was not wholly known that its Men were greater stronger and lived longer than we that they had Gold and Silver in so great quantity that they made less account of it than we do of Iron That they had a great number of Cities and among others two very great ones and of Customs much different the principal aim of the one being to War and the other to Religion which I esteem agreeing with Cusco and Mexico which we have so found when first known to us Mexico more inclined to War and Cusco to the adoration of its Divinities AMERICA having been known to the Ancients under divers names and all these names preserved till now there remains to know from whence the People of this America should descend whether from Europe Asia or Africa It is to be believed that the first of our Continent which were carried into America were so either by chance or by force the Eastern Winds having driven them from the Coast of Africa or Libya where they sailed and carried them so far into the West that they have found these Lands And it is likewise to be believed that of those which have been so carried some have been unfurnished of Victuals for so long and impremeditated a Voyage and so have been constrained to eat some among them to preserve the rest as others since have done And thus America may have been peopled by divers Nations How America became first peopled by those of our Continent and at divers times and according to the Parts from whence they were according to the hunger and necessity they suffered upon the Sea they became more or less barbarous And that some have been carried by chance or force from our Continent to the other we may judge both by Ancient and Modern Histories Diodorus Siculus makes mention of certain Phoenicians Aristotle had said almost the same before of the Carthaginians who sayling along the Coast of Africa or Libya were carried far into the Occidental Ocean where they found a very great Isle distant from our Main Land many days sail and the Country as beautiful as that of Toscany so that some of Carthage would here have settled but that the Republick prohibited any more to pass fearing lest it should weaken their Estate commanding those which were passed to retire and abolishing as much as they could the knowledge of their Country yet with design to retire thither if they should become so unfortunate as to fall under the Romans subjection Those particulars which Authors apply to this Isle agree better with America Meridionalis which is almost an Isle than with the Isles on this side it Besides these Authorities of the Ancients the accident which arrived to Alonzo Zanches de Guelva in Adalousie or whatever other Pilot he was who landing at the Madera where was Christopher Columbus who told him how he had been carried by force into the West which he had discovered and how he had returned And the like accident which happened to Cabral in 1501 as we have already said makes it sufficiently appear how the same thing may have hapned to other Saylors and particularly to those Nations on this side which lie upon the Ocean as the Moors Spaniards Celtes and Bretons c. And those who traded on the Ocean as the Phoenicians Carthaginians and Tyrrhenians and this is the more easily because between the two Tropicks the Eastern Brises or Winds do for the most part blow and easily carry nay sometimes force Ships from East to West It is true that it is hard to turn from East to West by the same course And possibly from these two so different things the Poet took occasion to say Facilis descensus Averni Sed revocare gradum superasque revertere ad auras Hoc opus hic labor est Understanding it easy to descend from our Continent into the other which we esteem the Lower Hemisphere but hard to return from that to ours which we esteem the Higher the means to return with least difficulty not being found out but with time and after having and that at divers times essayed all courses which is by disingaging themselves from between the Tropicks which some attribute to Pedrarias de Avila who about the year 1514 began to give Rules for the time of parting and the course was to be held to go from our Continent to the other and likewise the time and course to return from the others to ours Since some have passed from this world of our Continent and by
of Ships in like manner are they found in the Gulph or Bay of St. Laurence Besides the Cod-fish here are other sorts of Fish in great plenty as Thornback Ling Salmons Oysters c. The greatest of these Isles and which commonly takes the name of New-found-land is 4 or 5 Leagues circuit It is scituate betwixt the degrees of 46 and 53 of Northern Latitude and is severed from the Continent of America by an Arm of the Sea and is distant from England about 600 Leagues A Country ill-inhabited towards the East and South the Inhabitants being retired farther within Land but the English have of late settled some Colonies to maintain their Fishing-Trade Its Inhabitants The Natives are of a reasonable good Stature and well proportioned but full-ey'd broad-faced beardless and of an Oker complexion not over ingenious their Houses are very mean and their Apparel and Furniture worse The Country being for the generality reputed fertil if well cultivated and would yield good Grains is enriched by Nature with plenty of Fish Fowl and wild Beasts and is blest with a wholsom Air though the rigour of the Winter season and the excess of Heats in Summer do something detract from its due praise East of New-found-land is a great Bank a thing as remarkable as any in all Canada This Bank is much different from those which are covered with Water when the Sea is high uncovered and dry on an Ebb Saylors must shun such Banks like death This which we now speak of is like a Country overflown always covered with the Sea and having at least 20 30 or 40 Fathom water for the depth is unequal Off from this Bank on all sides the Sea is no less than 200 Fathom deep and yet this Bank is 200 Leagues long 20 25 and sometimes 50 broad It is on this Bank that the New-found-landers that is those Ships that go to fish for Cods of New-found-land do for the most part stop and make their freight About this great Bank and more towards the Main Land than the Ocean there are some others much less but of the same nature It is almost incredible how many Nations and of each how many Sail of Ships go yearly to fish for these Cods with the prodigious quantity they take a Man being able to take 100 of them in the space of an hour The manner of Fishing They fish with Hooks which are no sooner thrown into the Sea but the greedy Fish snapping the Bait is taken by the Hook and drawn on Ship-board they lay him presently on a Plank one cuts off his head another guts it and takes out its biggest bones another salts and barrels it c. Which being thus ordered is hence transported by the English and other European Nations into all parts of Europe as also into the other three parts of the World They Fish only in the day time the Cod as they say not biting in the night nor doth this Fishing last all Seasons but begins a little before Summer and ends with September In Winter the Fish retires to the bottom of the deep Sea where Storms and Tempests have no power Another kind of Fishing Near New-found-land there is another kind of fishing for the same Fish which they call dried Fish as the other green Fish The Ships retire into some Port and every Morning send forth their Shallops one two or three Leagues into the Sea which fail not to have their load by Noon or a little after They bring them to Land lay them on Tables or Planks and order it as the other but after the Fish hath been some days in salt they take it forth exposing it to the Air and Wind lay it again in heaps and return it from time to time to the open Air till it be dry That this Fish may be good it must be dried in a good and temperate Air Mists moisten it and make it rot the Sun hardens it and makes it yellow At the same time they fish for Cods green or dry the Fishers have the pleasure of taking Fowl without going forth of their Vessels They take them with a Line as they do fish baiting the Hook with the Cods Liver these Fowl being so greedy that they come by flocks and fight who shall get the Bait first which soon proves its death and one taken the Hook is no sooner thrown out again but another is catch'd in the like nature But enough of these and of Cod-fishing In the year 1623 Sir George Calvert Knight the Principal Secretary of State and afterwards Lord Baltimore obtained a Patent of part of New-found-land which was erected into the Province of Avalon where he settled a Plantation and erected a stately House and Fort at Ferry-land where he dwelt some time And after his death it fell to his Son the Right Honourable Caecilius late Lord Baltimore also Proprietor of Mary-land CANADA taken particularly is on the Right hand and towards the lower part of the great River The River Canada and its name is communicated both to the River and Neighbouring Country This River is the largest of America Septentrionalis and one of the fairest in the World It is about 200 Fathom deep and at its Mouth 30 Leagues broad It s course according to the report of those of the Country is already known for 4 or 500 Leagues and there is some likelyhood that we may in the end discover that the Lake which seems to be its head-Spring disburthens it self into the Sea by two or three different courses one towards us which is that of Canada another towards the West and above California the third towards the North and into the Christian Sea and that the Mouth of this may shew us the way we have so long sought to go to the East-Indies by the West People with whom the French Trade Their Colonies The People with whom the French trade here are the Canadans the Hurons the Algonquins the Attiquameques Nipisiriniens Montagnets those of Saguenay Acadia c. And to this purpose they have divers Colonies on the great River at Tadousac at Quebeck at Three-Rivers at Sillery at Richelieu at Montreal and without the Bay of Chaleur at Miscou at Port-Royal c. This Trade is only managed by Exchange they give the Skins of Bevers Otters Martles Sea-Wolfes c. for Bread Pease Beans Plumbs Kettles Cauldrons Hatchets Arrow-heads Pinchers Coverlids c. But to instruct them in Christianity many Ecclesiasticks of Religious Orders have had divers disbursements and residences likewise an Hospital and Seminary of Vrsilines The Jesuits have the chief care of these Houses North of Canada is ESTOTTILAND Estottiland or TERRADE LABRADOR near Hudsons Streight it is called sometimes the Land of Cortereal and sometimes new Britany however I esteem it a part of new France the Country is Mountainous Woody full of wild Beasts well furnished with Rivers rich in Metals of a fertil Soil in most places and would produce
grains fruits c. if its Inhabitants would give it tillage South of Canada are New England New York Maryland Virginia and Caroline of which in Order New England described NEW ENGLAND North of Maryland according to the report of Captain Smith hath seventy miles of Sea Coast where are found divers good Havens some of which are capable to harbour about five hundred sail of Ships from the fury of the Sea and winds by reason of the interposition of so great a quantity of small Isles which lie about the Coast to the number of about two hundred And although it be seated in the midst of the Temperate Zone yet the Climate is more uncertain as to heat and cold than those European Kingdoms which lie parallel to it Yet the Air is found very healthful and agreeable to the English which hath occasioned the settlement of divers Potent Colonies here who live very happily and drive a considerable Trade for their provisions to our American Plantations especially to the Barbados This Country is Inhabited by divers sorts of people the chief amongst which are the Bessabees about the River Renobscot and the Massachusetes a great Nation The Native Inhabitants and every one are governed by their particular Kings and do much differ in Customs and Manners from one another as they do in the other parts of America living generally at variance with each other Their chiefest riches is in their Furrs and Skins which they sell to the English in truck for Commodities they are for the most part ingenious well disposed and with little pains would be brought to Christianity This Country is for the generality of a fertil soil is well watered with Rivers hath plenty of Fish as Cod Thornback Sturgion Their Fish Porpuses Haddock Salmons Mullets Herrings Mackeril Plaice Oysters Lobsters Crab-fish Tortoise Cockles Muscles Clams Smelts Eels Lamprons Drums Alewives Basses Hollibuts Sharks Seals Grampus Whales c. Here are great variety of Fowl as Phesants Partridges Pigeons Heathcocks Fowls Oxeyes Geese Turkeys Ducks Teal Herns Cranes Cormorants Swans Brants Widgeans Sheldrakes Snipes Doppers Blackbirds Loon Humbird with divers others too tedious to name They have also great plenty of Beasts both tame and wild as Cows Sheep Goats Swine and Horses Beasts and for wild Lyons Bears Wolves Foxes Martins Rackoons Mooses Musquasus Otters Bevers Deer Hares Coneys c. Amongst the hurtful things the Rattlesnake is the most dangerous and here are several sorts of stinging Flies which are very troublesom to the Inhabitants Trees Here are sundry sorts of trees as the Oak Cyprus Pine Cedar Chesnut Walnut Firr Ash Elm Asp Alder Maple Birch Sassafras Sumach c. also several Fruit-trees as Pomgranates Maracocks Puchamins Olives Apples Pears Plumbs Cherries Grapes Fruits with those common in England And their ground also produceth Potatoes Carrots Turrips Parsnips Onyons Cabbages with most of the Roots and Herbs found in England The soil being very agreeable for them But the fruits are not found here so good as in Virginia nor in Virginia as in Caroline as lying more Southwards and having the greater influence of the Sun This Country affordeth several rich Furrs hath Iron Amber Pitch Tarr Masts Flax Linnen Cables Its Commodities and Grains in great plenty The English which now Inhabit this Country are very numerous and powerful having a great many Towns several of which are of considerable account and are governed by Laws appropriate to themselves and have their Courts of Judicature and assembling together each Town having two Burgesses for the looking after the affairs of the Colony Government And as to matters of Religion and Church Government they are very strickt and make a great show being much of the stamp of the ridged Presbyterians Amongst their Towns these are of chief note 1. Boston commodiously seated for Traffick on the Sea Shore It s chief Towns at present a very large and spacious Town or rather a City being composed of several well ordered streets and graced with fair and beautiful houses which are well inhabited by Merchants and Tradesmen who drive a very considerable Trade It is a place of great strength having two or three hills adjoyning on which are raised Fortifications with great Pieces mounted thereon which are well guarded 2. Charles Town seated on and between the Rivers Charles and Mistick it is beautified with a large and well built Church and near the River-side is the Market place from which runs two streets in which are divers well built houses 3. Dorchester an indifferent Town seated near the Sea 4. Cambridge commodiously seated on a River doth consist of several streets and is beautified with two Colledges and hath divers fair and well built houses 5. Reading commodiously seated about a great Pond and well Inhabited 6. St. Georges Fort seated on the mouth of the River Sagadebock 7. New Plymouth seated on the large Bay of Potuxed With divers other Towns of some account most of which bear the Names from those of England but amongst the Indians are known by other names New York described NEW-YORK formerly New Netherland is seated betwixt New England and Virginia It is now called New York from his Royal Highness the Duke of York the Proprietor thereof by grant from his Majesty It is a Country of a fertile soil is well watered with Rivers and is found to produce the same Beasts Birds Fowls Fish Fruits Trees Commodities c. and in as great plenty as New England so they need not be taken notice of here This Country is also possessed by sundry sorts of people not much unlike those of New England and are very expert at their Bow and Arrows which is their chief weapon of War are found to be of a ready wit and very apt to learn what is taught them in their Religious Rites divers ceremonies are observed amongst them It s Native Inhabitants and are said to worship the Devil whom they much fear their Priests being little better than Sorcerers who strangely bewitch those silly people When any woman findeth her self quick with child she keepeth her self chast from man until her delivery the like she observeth in the time of her giving suck a strange Custom which our European Dames would not well relish upon the least offence the man turneth away his wife and marrieth again and the Children begotten by her she keepeth Furnication is here permitted they are very dutiful to their Kings they believe the transmigration of the soul and concerning the Creation of the world have strange foolish opinions They are much addicted to sports recreations and dancings and observe Festival times Their habit is but mean as the rest of the Indians yet do they paint and besmear their faces with several colours which they hold Ornamental their dyet and habitations are also mean Here is one very considerable Town now called New York being well seated both for security trade and pleasure in a small
Isle called Mahatan regarding the Sea made so by Hudsons River which separates it from Long Island The Town is large containing about 500 well built houses and for Civil Government it hath a Major Aldermen Sheriff and Justices of the Peace for security of the Town here is raised a Fort called James Fort a place of considerable strength The Town is Inhabited by Dutch as well as English and hath a considerable Trade with the Indians and is like to be a place of considerable Account Province of Maryland described MARYLAND is South of Virginia from which it is severed by the River Patowmeck The Bay of Chesopeak giving entrance to Ships into Virginia and Maryland passeth through the heart of this Province and is Navigable for about 200 miles into which fall the Rivers of Patowmeck Patuxent Severn and Sasquesahanough which lie on the West side of the Bay and to the East those of Choptanke Nantecoke Pocomoke with some others to the great improvement of the soil The Country of late years since the felling the Woods and the people accustoming themselves to English dyet is very healthful and agreeable to their Constitutions few dying at their first coming of the Countreys disease or seasoning and as to temperature of the Air the Heats in Summer nor the Colds in winter are offensive to its Inhabitants It s soil The soyl is rich and fertil naturally producing all such Commodities as are found in New England and doth abound in the said several sorts of Beasts and Fowl both tame and wild hath also the same Fish Fruits Plants Roots Herbs Trees Gums Balsams c. but the Fruits are more excellent and in greater plenty here Mulberry trees grow wild and were the people industrious the Silk trade might be soon brought to perfection but their imployment is altogether taken up in planting and ordering their Tobacco Trade which is the only and Staple Commodity of the Countrey which they vend for such necessaries as they have occasion for They yearly freighing about one hundred sail of Ships there with People The Natives as to their Complexion Stature Costoms Laws Religions Dispositions Habit Dyet c. are much the same with the Indians in the other parts of America and are of divers Tribes or sorts of People and each governed by their particular King This Province of Maryland is by Patent granted to the Right Honourable the Lord Baltimore and to his Heirs and Assigns being absolute Lord and Proprietor of the same having Royal Jurisdictions and Prerogatives both Military and Civil as making of Laws pardoning of Offences conferring of Honours Coyning of Money c. and in acknowledgment thereof paying yearly to his Majesty and his Successors two Indian Arrows at Windsor Castle on Easter Tuesday This Province is severed into ten Counties viz. five Eastwards Division of the Province into Counties and five Westwards of Chesopeak Bay and in every County there is held an inferiour Court every two months for small matters from which there lyeth Appeals to the Provincial Court at St. Maryes and each County have their Sheriffs Government and Justice of the Peace The English which are reckoned about 16000 have begun of late to build some Towns which 't is hoped in few years will come to good perfection as Calverton Herrington and Harvy-Town all commodiously seated for the benefit of Trade and conveniency of Shipping but the principal Town is St. Maryes seated on St. Georges River beautified with several well built houses where his Lordship Charles Lord Baltimore hath his House and where the general Assemblies and Provincial Courts are held and publick Offices kept But his Lordship 's general Residence is at Mattapany about eight miles distant where he hath a fair and pleasant house Virginia by whom first descovered VIRGINIA is said to be first discovered by Sir Francis Drake as indeed all this tract of Sea Coast and was so named by Sir Walter Rawleigh in honour of Queen Elizabeth who then Reigned but before it was brought to any perfection much time was spent with no small expence and loss of mens lives And about the Reign of K. James a Patent was granted to certain persons as a Corporation and called the Company of Adventurers of Virginia but upon divers misdemeanours and miscarriages about the year 1623 the Patent was made void and hath been since free for all his Majesties Subjects to Trade unto It is scituate Southwards of Maryland Its Bounds and hath for its Eastern limits the Atlantick Ocean It is blest with a good Air and the Clime of late since the clearing of woods is found very agreeable to the English so that few die of the Country disease called seasoning It s Fertility The soil is so fertil that an Acre of ground commonly yields 200 bushels of Corn and is very apt to produce what is put therein as English Grains Roots Seeds Plants Fruits c. besides those appropriate to the Country and other adjacent parts of America and it is observed that their Fruits which are in great abundance and of various sorts for goodness may compare with those of Italy or Spain which are esteemed the best in Europe They have great abundance of Beasts Fowl and Fish It s Beast Fowl and Fish much the same as in New England which I have taken notice of in New England and their Turkeys are said to weigh about six stone amongst their small Birds is the Mock-Bird which counterfeiteth the notes of all Birds for which it is esteemed excellent Its Commodities The Commodities which this Country doth or may produce are Flase Hemp Woad Madder Pot-Ashes Hopps Honey Wax Rapeseed Anniceseed Silk if they would make it Mulberry Trees here growing in so great plenty several sweet Gums and excellent Balsomes Alome Iron Copper several sorts of Woods Plants c. used by Dyers Pitch Tarr Rosin Turpentine sundry sorts of rich Furrs Elk-skins and other Hides but above all Tobacco which is their principal Commodity and the standard by which all other Commodities are prized but it were to be wished the Inhabitants would imploy their time about other Commodities as well as Tobacco and they would soon find the profit and their Tobacco would not be such a drugg as now it is Its Rivers This Countrey is well watered with several great and strong Rivers which loose themselves in the Gulph or Bay of Chesopeak which gives entrance for Shipping into this Countrey as well as to Maryland and is a large and capacious Bay found very commodious for Shipping being said to run up into the Country Northwards above 200 miles amongst the Rivers those of most note are Pawhatan now James River found Navigable about 150 miles Pamaunke now York River also large and Navigable about 60 miles and Rapahanock which is long and Navigable about 120 miles And near or adjoyning to these Rivers for the conveniency of Shipping the English are seated
and have some Towns It s chief places the chief of which is James Town commodiously seated on James River a neat Town and beautified with well built Brick Houses and here are kept the Courts of Judicature and Offices of publick concern for the Countrey Next to James Town may be reckoned Elizabeth a well built Town seated on the mouth of a River so called Also Dales-gift Wicocomoco Bermuda and others The Governour of this Country is sent over by his Majesty and the Country is governed by Laws agreeable with those of England and for the better observing the same the Country possessed by the English is divided into the Counties of Caroluck Charles Glocester Hartford Henrico James New Kent It s division into Counties Lancaster Middlesex Nansemund Lower Norfolk Northampton Northumberland Rapalianock Surrey Warwick Westmorland the Isle of Wight and York and in each of these Counties are held petty Courts every Month from which there may be Appeals to the Quarter Court at James Town As to the Natives which here Inhabite they are much of the nature of those already treated of so I shall omit them here Only say that it is the Habitation of divers sorts of Indians which have no dependance upon each other being of particular Tribes and having their peculiar King to govern them every Indian Town being the habitation of a King and these people do rather live at enmity than amity together It s scituation bounds CAROLINA a Colony not long since established by the English and is that part of Florida adjoyning to Virginia in the Latitude of 36 degrees and extendeth it self to that of 29 which makes it extream Southern bounds on the East it is washed with the Atlantick Ocean and on the West it hath that large tract of Land which runneth into the Pacifick Ocean It is a Country blest with a wholsom and temperate Air the heat in Summer nor the cold in Winter which is so much as to check the growth of Plants Trees c. the several fruits and plants having their distinct seasons being no waies troublesome to its Inhabitants but very agreeable to the English and being found thus healthful hath occasioned several persons to remove from the Bermudes to settle here who dwelling in so pure an Air durst not venture in any other Country Nor do those from the Bermudes only remove hither but from most of the American Plantations as well as from England it being esteemed by all one of the best Colonies that ever the English were Masters of for here is altogether Health Pleasure and Profit centered together which cannot be met with in so large a measure in any other part of the Indies This Country has first Inhabited by the English about the year 1660 and became a Proprietorship which his present Majesty King Charles the Second The Proprietors granted by Patent to the Right Noble George Duke of Albemarle the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Clarendon William Earl of Craven Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury John Lord Berkley Sir George Cartwright Sir Jo. Colleton and Sir William Berkley and to their Heirs and Successors and the said Lords Proprietors having by their Patent power to Establish a Government and make Laws for the better regulation thereof and the inviting of Inhabitants have formed a Model so well framed for the good and welfare of the Inhabitants that it is esteemed by all judicious persons without compare The Natives of Carolina according to the observation of one Ledener who made three several journeys from Virginia to Carolina about the Year 1670 for a discovery of those parts The Native Inhabitants and the nature and disposition of the Inhabitants are said to be of a ready wit and good understanding they instruct their Children in such things as relate to their Families and Country which is so preserved from Generation to Generation They worship one God as Creator of all things to whom their High Priest offers Sacrifice but believes he hath something else to do than to regard Humane affairs committing them to lesser Deities viz. to good and evil Spirits to whom their inferiour Priests make their devotion and Sacrifice They believe the transmigration of the soul and when any one dieth they interr with them provisions and Housholdstuff for the next World which they fancy to be beyond the Mountains and Indian Ocean In their Marriages they are very Superstitious for the generality they are of a good and honest meaning much addicted to mirth and dancing and above all are much prone to Honour and Valour which they place above all other vertues They are great favourers of the English living together in love and friendship and upon all occasions ready to contribute their assistance unto them The Country is by them divided into several Kingdoms and the people in the one keep no correspondence with those that border upon them often waging War against one another The Soil is rich and fertile and produceth excellent Fruits as Apricocks Peaches Grapes of which the English have made good Wine Olives of which good Oyl is made Wallnuts Apples Pears Plumbs Its Fruits Cherries Figgs Mulberries Strawberries Water-Mellons Marachocks Quinces and other Fruits known to us in Europe which for goodness are no wales inferiour to them and in the Southern part Oranges Limes Pomegranates and Pomecitrons and the earth is generally very apt to produce and bring to maturity Corn all sorts of Garden Herbs Roots c. Commodities The Commodities which this Country doth and may produce are Wines Oyls Silk Mulberry-trees growing wildly Cotton Indico Ginger Tobacco Masts for Shipping which for length streightness and bigness are the best in the World c. And it is believed that here may be made more Wines Oyls and Silk than England will vent Besides the Mulberry-trees here are Cedar Oak both white and red Its Trees Poplar Bay Ash Pine with divers others whose names are not yet known The Woods are well stored with Pheasants large Turkeys Partridges Fowls Turtle-Doves Pigeons great variety and plenty of small Birds also Deer Hares Conies c. The Country is well watered with Rivers which with the Sea sufficiently furnish the Inhabitants with excellent Fish and such common in Virginia here are great plenty of wild Fowl as Geese Cranes Herons Swans Curlews Heath Cocks Oxeys Brants Dotterels Widgeons Teal Duck and Mallard in an undestroyable quantity Here are at present two considerable Settlements viz. at Albemarle River in the North and at Ashley River in the middle of the Country which is likely to be the scale of Trade for the whole Country as being very commodiously seated for Shipping and in a healthful place In all these parts which we have passed under the name of CANADA the the people are very barbarous having neither Religion nor Learning Divers people have diversity of Languages they count their years by the course of the Sun their months by that of the Moon their
to revenge this Affront he put to Sea at his own expence with a hundred and fifty Souldiers and eighty Mariners landed in Florida and with the aid of those of the Country who affected the French retook Caroline from the Spaniards with two other Forts which they had new built caused them to be hanged on the same trees whereon they had hanged the French razed the Fort and returned into France in 1568 where he had no small trouble to clear himself for his exploit The fertility of Florida Florida being between the twenty fifth or thirtieth and fortieth Degrees of Septentrional Latitude the Countrey cannot chuse but be good their Woods and Forests are well cloathed with trees as lofty Cedars large Oaks Cyprus and Bays trees of a large proportion also great store of that wood called by the French Sassafras as also another tree called Esquine the Bark of which trees are an excellent remedy for many distempers especially the French Disease And in these Forrests and Woods are found all sorts of Beasts and Fowl the Country is well stored with several sorts of Fruits as Grapes Cherries Plumbs Mulberries Chesnuts c. It is enriched with Mines of Gold and Silver but in no great plenty nor much regarded by the Natives It is well watered with fresh Streams which are stored with variety of Fish and Crocodiles which they eat they have all sorts of Fowl and Venison as we have The people are of an Olive-colour great stature Its Inhabitants as to their Stature Habit Customs c. but well proportioned their hair is black which they wear very long their women do far exceed other adjacent Nations in handsomness which makes them much desired by Strangers and their shape and beauty is more discernable in that they go naked till their Purgations and afterwards only they make use of skins of Beasts taken in hunting which they embellish with Feathers of divers colours which they tie about their waists and hangs down to their knees only to hide their Privities and their Arms Back Breast Knees and other parts which are exposed to sight are stained with several sorts of Paintings not to be washed off which is esteemed a great ornament among them They bear some reverence to the Sun and Moon they are accounted very crafty cunning deceitful revengeful and much addicted to War their Arms are Bow and Arrows as are almost all the Americans they know the nature of their Herbs and have Flowers of fine colours they pass a part of the year in the Woods where they live on Hunting and part near the Lakes Rivers and Sea where they Fish They have a Custom among them that is the Women when their Husbands die do cut of their hair and strew it on his Sepulcher and are restrained from marrying again till their hair is long enough to cover their Shoulders The Country yields great plenty of Mayz which is their natural bread which they sow and reap twice in one year this Grain they gather and put into publick places and distribute it to every Family as occasion requires The manner of their Whale Fishing Their Whale Fishing is made with a cunning and boldness which those of Europe dare not attempt The Fisherman having discovered one enters into his Canott then leaps upon his back and there riding takes his time to plunge a stick into one of his nostrils and what ever endeavour he uses though he plunge under water he holds fast and expecting his rising fastens another stick on the other side and then retires with a cord fastned to these sticks the Whale not able to breath grows weak and then by little and little he draws it to the shore where assisted by his Companions he cuts it in pieces drying it to make Flowr and of that Flowr Bread which lasts a long time The people of Florida are governed by their Paraousti's who lead them to War where they kill the men but preserve the women and children they have their Jovona's or Sacrificers who serve as Physicians and to whom they bear honour Their Paraousti's being dead are interred with many Ceremonies living are much feared and obeyed They have many wives among which one is esteemed the chief whose children may hope for the charge and dignity of their Father The House of Paraousti Ovade when Captain Albert was there to beg of him some provisions besides divers moveables and ornaments was hung as high as a Pikes length with Tapestry made of rare Feathers and of most beautiful colours composed of such Artifice that they were worth the most part of ours The Coverlid of his Bed was white tissued in divers copartiments and with a fringe of Scarlet about it Rivers in Florida Rivers of most note in Florida are 1. Rio de Flores 2. Rio de Spirito Sancto 3. Rio de Neives 4. Rio Grande 5. Rio Secco 6. Rio Garunna 7. Rio Charente 8. Rio Axona and some others Chief Towns Chief Towns or rather Cottages in Florida are 1. St. Hellens on a promontary so named 2. Port Royal a good and well frequented Haven seated on the mouth of a River so named 3. St. Matthews 4. St. Augustine 5. St. Phillip 6. St. Jago once if not at present possessed and fortified by the Spaniards with some others of less note The ISLES of BERMUDES EAst of Virginia and Florida we have the Isles of BERMVDES so called from John Bermudes a Spaniard by whom it was first discovered also called the Summer-Islands from the Shipwreck which one Sir George Summers an English-man there suffered It is about 15 or 1600 Leagues from England 400 from Hispaniola and only 300 from the nearest Coast of Virginia and Florida Of these Isles the greatest called St. Georges Its Parts is five or six Leagues long and almost throughout not above a quarter third or half a League broad the others are much less All together make a body which form a Cressant and inclose very good Ports as those of Southampton Harrington Pagets the Great Sound Dover and Warwick It s Air. The Air is almost always serene sometimes moist and hot but very healthful agreeing well with the English Bodies who have here at divers times settled and established a fair and powerful Colony and have strongly fortified the Approaches which at present are very difficult and the Earth is exceeding fertil yielding two Crops a year The Earth fertil their Mayz they gather in July and December They have excellent Fruits as Oranges Dates Mulberries c. They have plenty of Tortoises which is their ordinary food and the Hogs which the Spaniards formerly carried thither are excellent and much increased they have many Sea-birds and other ' Fowl they have no fresh Water but that of Wells and Pits there being neither Fountain nor Stream in these Islands They have no venemous Beasts their Spiders not being poysonous but of sundry and various colours No venemous Beast here and in the Hot
other Sex It is distinguished as under its Ancient Kings into these Quarters which at present are called that of St. John of St. Maria the Round of St. Paul and of St. Sebastian and of St. James formerly Tlatelulco In this last which is very great and the fairest is the Palace of the Vice-Roy the House of the Archbishop the Court of Audience the Mint and other Offices In this City of Mexico is a Cathedral Church which was begun by Cortez with so much haste that to raise two Columns for want of Materials they made use of the Stones which had made part of the Statues of the Idols Here is also a Printing-house several Houses of Jesuits Dominicans Franciscans Augustinians and other Religious Orders some Colledges abundance of Hospitals and other publick Buildings all of great state and beauty They have here four things which are remarkable for Beauty viz. their Women their Apparel their Horses and their Streets Chulula described Among those places which are or have been on the two Lakes of Mexico Chulula is reckoned one of the fairest scarce excepting that of Mexico with which it in times past contended as well for state as bigness once containing near 20000 Houses and beautified with so many Temples as there are days in the year The People were said to be so addicted to Idolatries and so barbarous in their bloody Sacrifices Its Inhabitants that it sacrificed yearly no less than 5000 Infants of both Sexes on its Altars before its Idols Tezcuco described Tezcuco once twice as great as Sevil in Spain its Streets are fair and large its Houses stately and Beautiful and adorned with many Conduits and Aquaeducts which furnished them with fresh Water though seated on the brinks of the Salt-Lake of Mexico Quitlavaca Quitlavaca described built on divers little Islands like to Venice was joyned to the Continent by a Caus-way made of Flint-stones of about a League long but narrow called by the Spaniards Venezuela containing about 2000 Houses Yztalpalapa Yztalpalapa described seated part on the Lake and part on the Banks with a Paved way to Mexico from which it is distant two Leagues once a large City having no less than 10000 well built Houses which were plentifully supplied with fresh Waters from its many Ponds as well as its beautiful Fountains Queretaro hath two Fountains Queretaro described of which one is so hot that its Waters at first burn being cold fatten Cattle the other runs four whole years continually and ceases other four whole years having likewise this property that it increases in dry and diminishes in moist and rainy weather Mestitland described Mestitlan once of good repute containing about 30000 Inhabitants seated on an high Hill begirt about with pleasant Groves and fertil Plains which affords excellent Fruits and very good Grains Cuyocan of about 50000 Houses and Mexicaltzingo of about 4000 Cuyocan and Mexicaltzingo described both upon the Lake were in times of Paganism adorned with many beautiful Temples so rich that at a distance they seemed to be made of Silver but now their lustre is decaied most of them being converted to Monasteries and Religious Houses Acapulco a City and Port on Mer del Sud Acapulco described seated on a safe and capacious Bay full of convenient places or Docks for Ships to ride in so that it is said to be the safest Haven of all those Seas it is distant from Mexico 100 Leagues The Mexicans keep here some Vessels and trade to the Philippines and to China from whence they are distant 3000 Leagues The Air of Mexico The Air of Mexico is sweet and temperate though scituate under the Torrid Zone the Heats thereof much qualified by the cooling Blasts which rise from the Sea on three sides of it as also by the frequent refreshing Showers which always falls in June July and August which is their hottest Season of the year The Soil is so fertil that they gather their Crop twice a year yet want they good Wine and good Oil by reason of the Summer-Rains It s fertility It is believed that no Country in the World feeds so much Cattle some private persons having 40000 Oxen or Cows others 15000 Sheep c. and an infinite number of tame Fowl as Hens Turkies c. whence it comes that Oxen Sheep Goats Hogs and tame Fowl are hardly worth the buying Their Horses are excellent the Race coming from the best of Spain Mines in Mexico There are few Mines of Gold though many of Silver about Mexico as those of Comana Fuchuco Archichica Temozcaltepeque Zacualpa Tasco Ymiquilpo Cu Tepeque Talpajava Zumpango Guanaxuato and others And these Mines are not so rich as those of Peru but easier wrought and with less expence and loss of Men. The principal Riches of the Country after their Silver Gold Iron and Copper are their Grains Fruits Wool Cotton Sugar Silk Cocheneel the grain of Scarlet Feathers Honey Balm Amber Salt Tallow Hides Tobacco Ginger and divers Medicinal Drugs Its Inhabitants The Natives of this Country are more ingenious than the rest of the Savages and are much civilized since the Spaniards had to do here they are excellent in many Mechanical Arts especially in making fine Pictures with the Feathers of their Cincons which is a little Bird living only on Dew and place their Colours so well that the best Painters of Europe admire the delicacy they far exceeding a piece of Painting They have some memories of their Histories make use of certain Characters instead of Letters of our Alphabet their Tongue was extended so far as they could extend their Dominion though in divers Provinces there were diversity of Languages They are excellent in refining of Metals expert Goldsmiths and curious in Painting upon Cotton The Plant Magney a very great rarity Among their Rarities of this Country there is a most admirable Plant called Magney from which they extract several things it hath on it about 40 kinds of Leaves which are fit for several uses for when they are tender they make of them Paper Flax Thread Cordage Girdles Shoes Mats Mantles Stuffs c. upon them grow Prickles so strong and sharp that they make use of them instead of Saws also they serve for Needles The Bark if it be roasted maketh an excellent Plaister for Wounds from the top Branches comes a kind of Gum which is a sovereign Antidote against Poyson from the top of the Tree cometh a Juyce like Syrup which if seethed will become Hony if purified Sugar they make also Wine and Vinegar of it and it affordeth good Wood to build with In this Country are two Mountains one which vomits flames of Fire like Aetna and another in the Province of Guaxaca which sendeth forth two burning streams the one of black Pitch and the other of red The Kings of Mexico were rich and powerful in regard of their Neighbours having no less than 2 or 3000 Men
which followed the Moon and all the rest Executioners of the Justice of the Sun to whom alone they sacrificed Sheep Lambs Rabbits Fowls Spices Henbs Habits Their Sacrifices Their Priests c. besides Men and Children as was said before The Priests of this Temple were all Descendants of the Ynca's In the Temples of other Provinces it sufficed that they were descendants of the Priviledged Ynca's Curaca's or Governours of those Provinces They called Priviledged those to whom the Ynca-Mango-Capac had communicated this Title for them and their Children but ordinarily the great Priest was Vncle Brother or one of the nearest kin to the Ynca To make appear the Riches in some respect of this Temple The richness of the Temple that which inclosed the divers apartments of the Sun Moon Stars c. were all wainscotted with Plates of Gold The Sun placed on his Arter towards the East was of one Plate of Gold much thicker than the others and the Figure in the same manner as our Painters here describe it viz. a round Visage environed with Rays and Flames At the taking of Cusco this piece or the Image of the Sun fell to Maneca serra de Lequisano a Castilian who being a great Gamester lost it one Night at play which made it to be said That he had plaid away and lost the Sun in a dark Night long before it was day On the two sides of the Sun were the Bodies of the Kings or Ynca's deceased ranged according to their times and enbalmed in such manner that they appeared living They were seated in Thrones of Gold raised upon Plates of the same and accommodated in degrees or ascents The Bodies of the Queens were according to the same order in the apartment and on both sides the Figure of the Moon where all the Ornaments Doors Wainscots Thrones c. were of Silver Near this Temple was a Garden where the Herbs Plants Flowers Trees and where Beasts of all sorts as also Birds even to Butterflies and Flies were of Gold and Silver and so lively represented that they seemed Natural And there were likewise of these Gardens near the Palace of the Ynca's and near the Houses of the Virgins vowed to the Sun In all the Provinces there were Temples of the Sun built after the model of those of Cusco but not so rich Here the Virgins that vowed to the Sun were taken from the Curaca's or the fairest in the Province Of these the Ynca or King might make use but not of those of Cusco being reserved only for the Sun and which the Ynca himself might not see Though these Ynca's and their People adored not nor made any Sacrifice but to the Sun yet the most knowing among them esteemed much beyond the Sun the Pachachamac that is the Author of the Vniverse The Opinion of the Ynca's but whom not seeing they contented themselves to adore in their inward parts They had likewise some knowledge of the Deluge believing that the Souls could not die and that the Bodies should revive Their Amauta's or Philosophers addicted their principal study to the Morals cared little for the Metaphysicks Medicine or Astronomy yet observed the Equinoxes the Solstices and called the Eclipses the Anger of the Sun and the Sickness or Sleepiness of the Moon from which they wakened her by making great noises Their Poesies were on divers honest Subjects their Comedies and Tragedies on divers accidents of human life or on the Victories and Triumphs of their Ynca's or Curaca's But we are entred too far into this matter The Ynca G. de la Vega saith that there is Subject to many Volumes if we would recount all observable and good in the ancient Government of Peru touching the Order established to know the number of Persons that was in each City and each Province what was its Revenue what Forces might be raised touching the Judges the Curaca's or Governour and other Officers of Policy or for the Militia touching the publick Magazins for Provisions cloaths and Arms touching their Ceremonies in their Sacrifices in their Feasts in their Funeral Pomps in their mourning a whole year after the death of their Kings likewise in the establishment of their Colonies of their Schools of their Post-houses on great Rods which they had built so stately that the Romans had not the like The Spaniards great enemies to the Menicans But as he saith the best of these good Laws and Policy was abolished when the Spaniards became Masters of the Country adding that if there were Barbarism before the reign of the Ynca's after them the Spaniards brought in another worse than the first The Inhabitants of the Country for the most part not having what was necessary for life whatever labour or service they rendred their Masters who ought to have contented themselves with the Riches they had reaped and may yet reap from the goodness of the Country The ransom of Atahualpa the pillage of Cusco and the first incursion which the Spaniards made into Peru yielded them the value of 20 Millions of Ducats but Pizarre and Almagre the two first Spanish Chiefs which conquered Peru and put to death Atahualpa and in likelyhood Guascar likewise Brothers and Ynca's were so blinded with the Gold they found and became so cruelly covetous that each seeking to have all they began between themselves an unhappy War and in the end murthered hanged strangled and beheaded one another till there was not left one of them their Children or Brothers c. By which God seemed not only to have chastised their unbridled Ambition and insatiable Avarice but to revenge the Blood of the Ynca's they had unjustly slain and their ill treating the Indians Province of Panuco and in fertility The Province of PANVCO is 100 Leagues long and as many broad divided by a River of the same name into two almost equal parts That which is Southward and towards Mexico is the most fertil and best tilled the other towards the North and Florida being worse Like wife that which approaches the Sea is worth much more than that within Land The Castilians have established only three Colonies Its Colonies and chief places described of which St. Stevan del Puerto is the Metropolis seated on a River of the same name and 12 Leagues from the Sea the greatest Town of Traffick in this Province built by Ferdinando Cortez out of the Ruins of Panuco once the chief City of the Province till destroyed by him Next St. Jago de los Valles likewise on the same River scituate on an open Country and therefore fenced about with a Wall of Earth And Thirdly St. Lewis de Tempico seated on the North Banks of the River Panuco and near the Coast of the Gulph of Mexico These Colonies are so weakned by the incursions of the Inhabitants who now knock one on the head and then another that the best had not above sixty Native Spantards An. 1600. They have Mines of Gold in the
Country which are not wrought good Salt-pits out of which they draw the greatest profit c. The Province of Mechoacan and chief places described The Province and Bishoprick of MECHOACAN between those of Mexico and New Gallicia stretches on the Coast of Mer del Sud near 100 Leagues advances within Land from that Coast to the Zacatecas near 150 Leagues Places of most note are 1. Colina seated ten Leagues from the Sea built by Gonsalvo de Sandoval in the year 1522. 2. Zacatula on the Mer del Sud and at the Mouth of a River of the same name 3. Mechoacan the Metropolis which takes its name from the Province so called now the Seat of the Archbishop 4. Zinzouza once the Seat of the Kings of Mechoacan 5. Pazcuaro once the Seat of the Bishop 6. Valladolid seated near a Lake as large as that of Mexico once the Seat of the Archbishop till removed to Mechoachan 7. La Conception de Salaga 8. St. Michael built by Lewis de Velasco then Vice-Roy of Mexico 9. St. Philip built by the said Velasco at the same time to assure the way going from Mechoacan or Mexico to the Silver Mines of Zacatecas this way being often pestered and frequented by the Chichimeques Otomites Tarasques and other barbarous and as yet unconquered People who greatly perplex and annoy the People that border upon them Some place likewise in this Province the Cities of Leon of Zamora of Villa de Lagos and about 100 Towns of which many have their Schools The Soil of this Province and its Commodities The Soil of this Province is very different but every where fertil and in most places yields such great increase of all sorts of Grains Fruits c. that it hardly hath its fellow in the whole World It produceth likewise Cotton Ambergreese Gold Silver Coppers soft and hard of the soft they make Vessels of the hard Instruments instead of Iron They have black Stones so shining that they serve them instead of Looking-Glasses They have store of Plants Medicinal Herbs Mulberry-trees Silk Hony Wax c. The Country is said to be so healthful and of so sweet an Air It s Air. that Sick people come hither to recover their health It is well stored with Rivers and Springs of fresh Water which makes their Pastures exceeding rich and fat Cattle and Fowl are here found in great plenty and their Rivers and Lakes afford store of Fish The vertue of the Plant Gozometcath Between COLIMA and ACATLAN is found the Plant Gozometcath or Olcacazan which takes Blood-shot from the Eyes preserves the strength of the Body or restores it to the Weak cures the Tooth and Head-ach resists all Poysons and in fine is most excellent against all Diseases Those of the Country will judge of the event of any Sickness whatsoever it be when they apply the Leaf on the party If they fasten easily they soon hope a cure but if they resist or fall off they expect nothing but a great and long sickness or death The Province of Thascala with is Cities described THASCALA or LOS ANGELOS is between Mexico and the Gulph of Mexico from whence it advances unto the Mer del Sud stretching it self on the Coast of this Sea 25 Leagues on the other 75 or 80. Places of most note are 1. Thascala which gives name to this Province once the Seat of a Bishop and once governed in form of a Common-wealth and exceeding populous It had four principal Streets or Quarters which in time of War were each of them governed by a Captain and in the midst of these Streets it had a most spacious Market-place which was always thronged with People for the negotiating of their Affairs It is scituate on an easie ascent betwixt two Rivers encompassed with a large pleasant and fruitful Plain about 20 Leagues in compass 2. Los Angelos or the City of Angles a fair City built by Sebastian Ramirez Anno 1531 now the Bishops Seat 3. Vera Crux built by the said Cortez being a place of great concourse by reason of its near scituation unto the Gulph from whence it is a thorough-fare to the City of Mexico which is distant from it 60 Leagues It s Port of St. Joan de Vlva though but bad is in some esteem being the best on the Mer del Nort and held more commodious than that of Mexico 4. Zempoallan seated on a River of the same name the Inhabitants whereof did Ferdinando Cortez good service in his conquest of Mexico Beside those Towns or Cities they count in this Bishoprick or Province 200 Towns 1000 Villages and 250000 Indians under its Jurisdiction which are exempted from all extraordinary charge and imposition because of their assisting the said Cortez in his conquest of Mexico The Country is more hot than cold fruitful in Corn Mayz Sugar Wine The fertility of the Province Fruits feeds much Cattle full of rich Pastures well watered with fresh Streams In the Valley of St. Paul was a Country man possest of 40000 Sheep which were the product of only two which were brought him from Spain The Inhabitants are much of the same nature and condition with those of Mexico aforesaid The Province of Guaxaca with its chief places described GVAXACA is between the Mer del Nort and Sud The Plain of the Province makes a Lozenge whose 4 sides are each 75 Leagues or little more Its Cities are 1. Antequera a Bishprick and which sometime communicated its name to the Province It is seated in the Valley of Guaxaca and adorned with stately Buildings and beautified with a magnificent Cathedral Church whose Columns are of Marble and of a prodigious height and thickness 2. St. Jago seated in the Valley of Nexapa but upon a lofty Hill 3. St. Ilefonso on a Mountain in the Province of Zapoteca 4. Spiritu Sancto in the Quarter and on the River of Guaxacoalco near the Mer del Nort. 5. Cuertlavaca of note for a Labyrinth not far distant hewed out of a Rock 6. Aquatulco a noted Port on the Mer del Sud well frequented by those who transport the Merchandizes of Europe and Mexico to Peru a place of great Riches till plundered by those two eminent Travellers Drake and Cavendish both Englishmen besides those places there is said to be 300 Towns and as many Estancia's or Hamlets which are inhabited by the Natives of the Country which pay Tribute to the Spaniards The divers Quarters of this Province are all fertil not only in Grains The fertility and commodities of this Province but also in Fruits Cocheneil Silk Cassia and the Earth well stored with Mines of Gold Silver and other Metals and almost all the Rivers stream down sand-Gold Here is also a kind of Almond which they call Cacao which they make use of instead of Mony The Province of Tavasco described TAVASCO is only a Coast of an 100 leagues long between Guaxaco and Jucatan scarce 25
ill peopled they fish for Pearls in Mer Vermejo and on the East of the Coasts of California and likewise along and on the Coasts of New Granada or New Mexico Mark de Niza a Franciscan his Relations of this place Mark de Niza a Franciscan made a Voyage into these parts in 1529 and at his return recounted Marvels of what he had seen and understood of People that wore about their Heads pieces of Mother of Pearl of divers Provinces rich in Gold of Cities and Houses well built whose Gates were adorned with Turquoises and other Stones That the chief City of Cibola was greater than Mexico That the Kingdoms of Marata Acu and Tonteac were likewise very rich and powerful Also the description of these parts by Vasque de Cornada The Relation of this Fryar caused Mendoza Vice-Roy of Mexico to send Vasque de Cornada Governour of New Gallicia to search out the truth Who far from finding the Riches he hoped for found only people naked very poor rude and barbarous some Cities he found indifferently well built but sadly furnished assuring us that the Kingdoms of which the Fryar had made so much account of were almost all Imaginary Tonteac being only a Lake about which there were some few Habitations Marata a thing invisible and Acu a beggerly Town in esteem amongst them only gathered some Cotton Possibly the Fryar said more than he had seen that he might incite the Spaniards to send some Colonies hither and have the Means to convert those People And Cornada less because he found not that present profit which he did in his Government however it be this contrariety with those we have observed touching the City of Granada and the Provinces of Quivira and Anian may make us see how dangerous it is to trust those that come from parts so remote and unknown whatever specious or fair Habit they wear or whatever good Tongue they have or whatever protestations they make of Truth The Audience of GUATEMALA THE Audience of GVATEMALA is between the Seas Del Nort and Sud and between divers Isthmus's and Tongues of Land which are found in the most Southernly part of America Septentrionalis Its Provinces are Guatemala Its Provinces Soconusco Chiapa Vera-Pax Honduras Nicaragua Costarica and Veragua The Province of Guatemala with its Cities described GVATEMALA and SOCONVSCO are on the Mer del Sud Chiapa within Land Vera-Pax and Honduras on the Mer del Nort Castaria Nicaragua and Veragua on both Seas Guatemala hath 150 Leagues along the Coast and advanceth within Land 30 or 40 Leagues Here were built the Cities of St. Jago of Guatemala St. Salvador or Curcatlan La Trinidad or Conzonate St. Michael and Xeres de la Frontera or Chuluteca they are all upon or little distant from the Sea Guatemala is more advanced within Land and yet the principal being the Seat of the Bishop and Court of Audience In 1541 this City was almost overwhelmed by a deluge of boyling Water which descending from that Vulcan which is above and near the City threw down and tumbled over all that it met with as Stones Trees and Buildings where it stifled many People and among the rest the Widow of him who had conquered and so ill treated that Province The City was rebuilt farther to the East and may have near 100 Houses about 1000 Inhabitants and its Country about 25000 Indians Tributaries A certain private Person had once a strange phancy came in his head A strange phancy of a private Person in these parts and the event thereof that there was a very rich Mine of Gold in this Vulcan of Guatemala and that he needed but to find some way to put down a Cauldron and draw out what he could wish for as one doth Water out of a Well he undertook the enterprize and caused to be made great Chains of Iron and a great Cauldron so strong that he believed the fire could not damage it he caused a way to be made to carry to the top of the Mountain his Chains Caularon and Machins which were to serve to let down and draw up his Caulâ—ron full of Gold which he believed to coyn at the bottom of the Mountain but he found the Fire so violent that in less than a moment of time he had neither Chains nor Cauldron Which so perplexed him with grief and shame to see his own folly having not only spent all his own Estate but the best part of his Friends so that he would have precipitated himself into the Mountain had he not been hindred but in a short time he died for anger and grief The sertility of this Province withits Commodities and Trade The Country is colder than the scituation may bear and subject to Earthquakes hath excellent Balms liquid Amber Bezoar Salt Grains is full of rich Pastures which are well stooked with Cattle plenty of Cotton Wool excellent Sulphur store of Medâ—â—inal Drugs and abundance of Fruits among others Caâ—ao in such great plenty that it yearly lades many Vessels which are transported to other places The Country is more inclining to Mountains than Plains but well watered with Rivers The People are pusillanimous and fearful Its Inhabitants the Men are expert at the Bow and the Women at the Distaff they are more civil and embrace Christianity more than their neighbouring Countries do and are willing to receive Advice from the Spaniards who are their Masters The Province of Soconusco described SOCONVSCO hath only the little City of Guevetlan on the Coast and nothing of particular or worthy to be noted in it only it hath some Grains feeds some Cattle its Rivers have Fish and its People more barbarous and rude The Province of Chiapa described CHIAPA is not over fertil in Grains nor Fruits but the Country well cloathed with lofty Trees and some of which yield Rozin others precious Gums and others bear Leaves that when they are dried into powder make a Sovereign Plaister for Sores The Country is full of Snakes and other venemous Creatures Places of most note in this Province are 1. Crudad-Real built by the Spaniards scituate in a round Plain at the Foot of a Hill It s chief places and begirt with Mountains resembling an Amphitheater now the residence of a Bishop and governed by City-Magistrates by them called Alcaides 2. Chiapa seated in the fruitfullest Valley of the whole Country 3. St. Bartholomews remarkable for having near it a great Pit or opening of the Earth into which if any one casts a Stone though never so small it makes a noise so great and terrible as a clap of Thunder 4. Casapualca a small Town but famous also for a Well it hath whose Waters are observed to rise and fall according to the flowing and ebbing of the Sea Among the Bishops of Chiapa one was Bartholomew de las Casas of the Order of St. Dominique Some memorable actions of Bartholomew de las Casas Bishop
of Chiapa who having seen the Cruelties with which the Spaniards treated the People of America endeavoured by divers Remonstrances to hinder it for the future and to that end went into Spain but finding no redress wrote and printed a Treatise of their Cruelties which was endeavoured to be supprest but some Copies escaping were translated and reprinted in Italian and other Languages There are in this Relation things that can scarce enter into the belief of man He makes account that in divers parts of America and its Isles the Spaniards had put to death in his time which was fifty years after their Invasion of it 12 or 15 Millions of Persons The Spaniards cruelty towards the Natives by several cruel and unchristian Isâ—â— Deaths as by Fire Hunger Boiling of them impaling them by the Hâ—â—â—â—â— and Sword as also in excessive Labours in the working in their Mines in earrying of heavy Burthens like Horses and the like Cruelties He also saith that they treated those that remained worse than Slaves nay worse than Beasts cutting off the Ears of some others Noses or Hands sometimes cutting them alive into pleces and quarters to feed their Dogs and learn them to devour these poor Americans and if they found one of these Dogs killed or a Spaniard knockt on the head in the Field they would hang up a dozen of these miserable People in honour as they said of the Twelve Apostles or else put the neighbouring Country to Fire and Sword He saith that it was ordinary with them to abuse Boys to deflour Virgins and to ravish Women whom they sold afterwards for a Cheese and oft-times a hundred Men and Women and sometimes five hundred and more for an Ass or a Horse He observes that a certain Chacique having escaped out of Hispaniola into Cuba to shun the cruelty of the Spaniards they becoming after Masters of Cuba and this poor Chacique falling into their hands they condemned him to the Fire where being incited by a Fryar to turn Christian that at least after this life he might be saved in Paradise when he understood that it was a place that the Spaniards went unto he would not be a Christian nor go thither so much he dreaded them And he affirms that the most part of these Murthers Burnings and Pillages were voluntarily done to terrifie others and make themselves absolutely obeyed which they might as well have gained by fair means and gentle usage But let us return to what concerns our Audience Remarkable Fountains Near Chiapa are several Fountains which have some singularities as that aforesaid which rises and salls with the flowing and ebbing of the Sea though far from it Another that for three years together increases though there be never so little Rain and for three years after diminisheth though there be never so much and so continues from three years to three years Another there is that falls in Rainy-weather and rises in dry And there is another that kills Birds and Beasts that drink of it yet cures those Sick which demand violent Remedies But we should swell too large if we should speak of all Singularities found in America The Province of Honduras with its chief places described HONDVRAS and NICARAGVA are two great Provinces Honduras is more than 200 Leagues long and near 100 broad Nicaragua little less Honduras communicates its name to the Gulph which lies on Mer del Nort It s chief places are 1. Valladolid of near an equal distance between the two Seas scituate in a pleasant and fruitful Valley and on the banks of the River Chamalucon 2. Gratias di Dios scituate on a high ground 30 Leagues Westward of Valladolid and near the rich Mines of Gold of St. Piedro and serveth for a place of defence for those that work in the Mines against the Savages 3. St. Juan del porto de los Cavallos once a famous Port but through its Ruins is uninhabited 4. Truxillo seated on the ascent of a little Hill betwixt two Rivers in a rich and fruitful Soil with the benefit of an excellent Port. 5. St. George de Olancho seated in the Valley of Olancho noted for the Golden Sands that the River Guayape was said to yield The Country hath pleasant Hills The fertility of the Province with its commodities and fruitful Valleys for Grains Fruits and rich Pastures It is well furnished with Rivers hath Mines of Gold and Silver but it s greatest profit is made by Wool which it transports to other places The Province of Nicaragua described NICARAGVA hath five Colonies of Spaniards the Country is destitute of Rivers except that part which is towards Veragua called Costa Rica the want whereof is supplied by a great Lake which ebbs and flows like the Sea Upon its Banks are seated many pleasant Cities and Villages which are inhabited by the Spaniards and Indians a Lake well stored with Fish and as full of Crocodiles The Air of the Country is healthful though hot It s sertility in its â—â—â—its Cattle Fowl c. the Soil fruitful and pleasant it hath Fruits Cows Hogs Sheep Turkies Pullain and so many Paroquets that they are hurtful It yieldeth not much Grain it hath plenty of Cotton-Wool and Sugar-Canes and towards Segovia are some Mines of Gold and Silver Its Inhabitants Its Inhabitants are of a good stature active very comformable to the Spaniards as well in Behaviour as Apparel It s chief places are It s chief places 1. Leon scituate on the aforesaid Lake in a Sandy soil but begirt with Woods It is the residence of the Governour as also the Seat of a Bishop 2. Grenada on the same Lake beautified with a fair Church and a strong Castle seated in a fruitful Soil and well stored with Sugar-Ganes 3. Jaen seated at the end of the said Lake 4. Segovia the New is farther within Land rich in Veins of Silver 5. Realeijo near the Mer del Sud having the benefit of a good Port by reason of which it is inhabited for the most part by Shipwrights Mariners and those that depend upon Naval Affairs The Province of Costarica described COSTARICA and VERAGVA are the two most Eastern Provinces of the Audience of Guatemala In COSTARICA are the Cities of Carthage seated between two Seas where there are some places which serve in for Ports Aranjues and Nicoya are on the Mer del Sud Castro de Austria within Land The Province of Veragua described VERAGVA hath towards the East the Isthmus of Panama and was once under the Chamber of Panama though this City be esteemed in America Meridionalis and Veragua in the Septentrionalis There are placed in this Province four or five Cities of Spaniards viz. 1. La Conception seated on the Mer del Nort and is the Residence of the Governor 2. La Trinidad seated also on the said Sea 3. Sancta Fe within Land being the place where the Spaniards melt refine and cast their Gold into
Barrs and Ingots 4. Carlos seated on the Mer del Sud And 5. Parita seated on the said Sea The Country both of the one and the other Province is rude mountainous and little fertil only for Mayze and Pot-herbs In supply thereof they have exceeding rich Mines of Gold and Silver in their Mountains and Sand-gold in their Rivers but there remain yet some Natives in these quarters who still molest and annoy the Spaniards killing and eating them when they can catch them The Isles ANTILLES or CAMERCANES BEtween the two America's Septentrionalis and Meridionalis and before the Gulph of Mexico are abundance of Islands of different greatness HISPANIOLA and Cuba are the greatest Jamaica Boriquen and others of the middle sort the rest much less Hispaniola Christopher Columbus the first discoverer of this Islâ—â— Its Coloâ—â— HISPANIOLA is in the middle of these Isles near 200 Leagues from West to East and 50 or 60 from South to North. Christopher Columbus was the first that made discovery of this Isle in his first Voyage that the made in 1492. being conducted thither by some of the Inhabitants of Cuba There remain 10 Colonies of Spaniards of which 1. St. Domingo built by Bartholomew Brother to Christopher Columbus is the chief pleasantly seated its houses well built which for the most part are of Stone its Haven is large and safe for Ships to ride in it is enriched by the Residence of the Governour the Court of Audience the See of an Arch Bishop the Chamber of Accounts the Treasury Court and besides many Convents of Religious Houses and Hospital endowed with a large yearly Revenue a place of great Trade till the taking of Mexico and the discovery of Peru since which time it hath much decayed nor hath it yet recovered it self of the great loss and damage it sustained by Sir Francis Drake in 1586. It now being Inhabited by not above 2000 Families of which about 600 are Natural Spaniards the rest Mestiz Mulatts Negroes and Canaries Porto de la Plata holds the second place by reason of its Commerce and is well seated on a commodious Bay Then 3. St. Jago de los Cavallieros for the beauty of its scituation 4. El Cotuy for its Gold Mines 5. Salvaleon de Yquey for its Sugars and Pastures 6. Azua likewise for its Sugars being a noted Haven 7. St. Maria del puerto for its Cassia 8. Monte Christo for its Salt 9. La Conception de la Vega the foundation of Christopher Columbus for whose fake it was made an Episcopal See which at present is united to St. Domingo and the last of the ten Colonies is El Zeybo seated on the Sea shore but of small account This Isle stocked by the Spaniards So soon as the Spaniards were Masters of this Island they caused to be brought from Spain Grains Fruits and Beasts of all sorts The Grains would not thrive in the Plains by reason of the richness of the soil the stalks taking away all the force of the seed but when they found out the reason they sowed them on hills and there where the land was lean so that then they yielded a great increase The Fruits became excellent and the Beasts multiplied in such manner that they grew wild for want of proper owners being hunted to death by any one only for their skins The Sugar Canes brought from the Canaries yielded exceeding great profit The Country for the most part flourishing and beautiful the Trees and Meadows being alwaies in their Summer livery and the soyl so fertil that in the space of sixteen or eighteen daies herbs and roots will come to their perfection and ripeness but the Mines of Gold Copper and other Metals which remained are no longer wrought the Spaniards having consumed and perished in them not only the most part of the antient Inhabitants of this Country but likewise of the Neighbouring Isles The Isle of Cuba described The Isle of CVBA is longer and streighter than Hispaniola near 300 Leagues from West to East and from South to North only twenty five or thirty almost every where so that in Continent these two Isles are almost equal their qualities are likewise in many things correspondent as in their Grains Cattle and Fruits The Air of Cuba is healthful and its Forrests furnished with the best Wood Its Fowls for building of Ships It feeds store of Pullein Pigeons Tortells Partridges Flamengo's Whose feathers are white when little and of many colours when grown great It s Rivers stream down more Gold than those of Hispaniola Its Ports likewise greater and more safe but yet there are more Rocks and Banks about Cuba than Hispaniola It s chief places described with some of their rarities For the greatness of the Isle it hath but few Cities the chief of which are St. Jago seated in the bottom of a capacious Bay about two Leagues from the Sea whose Port is esteemed one of the best of all America being the seat of a Bishop who holds from the Arch Bishop of St. Domingo and beautified with a Cathedral Church and some Religious houses near the City and from the Sierra de Cobre they fetch Copper yet the City is much ruined and hath little trade Towards Baracoa its Mountains yield Ebony and Brasile it hath this inconveniency that its Port cannot receive great Vessels The goodness of the Air the fertility of the Soil and a pleasant Plain hath made St. Salvador the best place of the Island where they have a great trade though off from the Coast Near Porto del Precipe a Haven-Town in the North parts of the Isle there are Fountains of Bitumen which they make use of instead of Pitch to caulk their Ships and the Indians for divers Medicines The Port of Havana having its entrance streight and deep receives the Ocean in form of a Gulph capable to receive a thousand Vessels and secure them from the fury of the Sea or Winds The two Capes which inclose it have their Castles to defend the entrance and a third joyning to the City regards the opening of the Port the Ships which return from New Spain into Europe assemble together at Havana where they are furnished with all things necessary either for Food or War and dispose themselves to depart by the month of September passing by the Channel of Bahame which carries them into the Ocean Twenty five Leagues from Havana towards the East is the Port of Matanca's that is Massacres for that once those of the Country here slew some Spaniards A Vast Prize taken by Pieters Heyn In 1628 Pieters Heyn General for the West India Company surprized the Fleet returning to Spain and carried it in to the West India Company It was loaden with Silver Silk Cocheneil Hides Cassonade or powder Sugar and divers other Merchandizes all of great value This Prize was esteemed worth near seven Millions of crowns yet this great service was but very ill recompensed by the Governours
produce the same Commodities as the rest of the Caribe Isles It is a well Governed Colony of the English and its Inhabitants which are esteemed about 3 or 4000 live a good quiet and contented life and free from want of Food or Rayment for Divine Worship here are three Churches and for its security hath a Fort and a publick Store-house This Isle as the rest of the Caribe's is troubled with Muscheto's Chigos Murigoins and other stinging Flies which are found troublesom to the Inhabitants ANTEGO an Isle about 6 or 7 Leagues in length Antego and as much in breadth in many places it is seated in the Latitude of 16 deg 11 minutes it hath some few Springs of fresh water but hath many Cisterns and Ponds for the preserving of Rain water It is encompassed with Rocks which makes its access difficult and dangerous Here are plenty of wild Fowl and Fish nor is there any want of tame Cattle It is in the Possession of the English but thinly Inhabited not exceeding 8 or 900. St. VINCENT seated in the Latitude of 16 deg about 20 miles in length St. Vincent and 15 in breadth of a fertil soil yielding abundance of Sugar Canes which grow naturally without planting It affords many safe Roads and convenient Bays for Shipping is well watered but the English who are Masters of it have made as yet no great settlement DOMINICA Dominica seated in the Latitude of 15 â—1 deg about 12 Leagues in length and 8 in breadth It is very Mountainous but hath fertil Valleys affording good Tobacco which is the chief Commodity It is a Colony of the English but not considerable MONTSERAT Montserat In the Latitude of 17 deg a small Isle of about 10 miles in length and less in breadth very Mountainous but interlaced with fertil Valleys It is much Inhabited by the Irish who have a Church ANGVILLA Anguilla in the Latitude of 18 deg 21 min. about 10 Leagues in length and 3 in breadth It is a poor beggarly Isle Possessed by about 2 or 300 English but said not worth the keeping BARBADA Barbada in the Lat. 17 ½ degree an Isle of no great extent not exceeding 15 miles in length of a fertil soil yet of no account to the English who are Possessors thereof Sancta Crux SANCTACRVX Inhabited by the French the Isle is woody and mountainous and not well provided with fresh waters and of no considerable note GVADALOVPE Guadaloupe about three Leagues in length possessed by the French of good Anchorage in most parts of the adjoyning Sea and of some note for its fresh water which it furnisheth Ships with in their necessity to finish their Voyages GRENADO Grenado but a small Isle being not above six miles in length in form of a Cressent the two horns being not above a mile asunder it is possessed by the French said to be of a fertil soil and well clothed with Woods and hath a commodious Haven And now I shall be bold to say that Hispaniola Cuba and the Neighbouring Isles answer to the Hesperides of the Antients All agree that the Hesperides were 40 daies sail from the Gorgades and the Gorgades only two from the Coast of Africa The Isles of Cape Verde answer to the Gorgades as we have made appear in Africa From these Isles to those of Hispaniola and Cuba is at present 25 or 30 daies sail which may well be 40 of the Antients and moreover there is no Isles in the Atlantick Ocean beyond these And when the Antients place these Hesperides in one Gulph alone as Capella doth or in more as Solinus doth they seem to mean the Gulph of Mexico which contains many other lesser And if Pliny seems to make account but of two Hesperides and others of many more Pliny understands Hispaniola and Cuba alone in regard of which the rest are little considerable Solinus and Capella intend in general the body of these Islands But let us proceed to America Meridionalis AMERICA MERIDIONALIS The degrees of Latitude and Longitude of America Merionalis AMERICA MERIDIONALIS is the most Southern part or Peninsula of America which extends it self from about the 12 degree on this side of the Aequator unto the 54 beyond it which are 66 degrees of Latitude and from the 291 or 92 where is Porto Viejo unto about the 350 where there is Cape St. Augustin which are 57 or 58 degrees of Longitude It reaches then from South to North 1650 Leagues from West to East little less than 400. Its bounds on the North and East are the Mer del Nort towards the South the Magellanick Sea Its bounds And on the West the Mer del Sud or Pacifick Sea It s form approaches near a Triangle whose sides are almost equal from Porto Viejo to Cape St. Augustin are 1400 Leagues from Cape St. Augustin to Cape Freeward in the middle of the streight of Magellan are 1500 Leagues and from that Cape to Porto Belo 1600. It s scituation is for the most part under the Torrid Zone part under the Antartick temperate Zone of that which is under the Torrid Zone the greatest part is beyond the Aequator the less on this side so that the greatest part of these people have their seasons contrary to ours The Coasts of this Country are all known more or less the Inlands very little America Meridionalis divided into parts AMERICA MERIDIONALIS may be divided into PERUVIANA and BRASILIANA subdividing Peruviana into Terra Firma and Peru and Brasiliana into Brasile and Paraguay the first division is taken by a line which from the mouth of the Amazona goes to seek the utmost part of Chili towards the South and this line divides America Meridionalis into two equal parts the one belonging almost wholly to the Castilians alone and the other for the most part to the Portugals These have their Vice-Roy in St. Salvador a capital City in the Bay of All-Saints and almost in the middle of the Coast of Brazile the other in Lima or Los Reyes that is the Kings at present a capital City and in the middle of the Coast of Peru. A New Mapp of AMERICA MERIDIONALE Designed by Monsieur Sanson Geographer to the French King and Rendred Into English and Illustrated by Richard Blome by his Maiestis Especiall Command London Printed for Ric Blome 〈◊〉 the R t Honâ—â—â— Iames Duâ—â— of Monmouth Auckland Earle of Doncaster Dalkeith Baron of Ashdale Tindale Whichester c. This Mapp is most humbly Dedicated by Ric Blome We may yet divide the Terra Firma into Terra Firma and Guiana Peru into Peru and Chili Brazil into the Coast of Brazil and Main Land of Brazil Paraguay into Paraguay and the Magellanick Lands Of this America Meridionalis Brazil possesses all that is towards the East Terra Firma and Guiana that which is towards the North Paraguay and the Magellanick Lands that which advanceth
Gusph of 7 or 8 Leagues wide leaving on the Right hand Cape de Condi or d'Orange There is found along this River Tobacco Canes from which Sugar may be extracted and Shrubs which yield Cotton and amongst the Beasts they have Stags wild Boars tame Swine and Beeves which have no Horns c. But let us speak a word or two of the temperament and quality of the Soil of these Quarters in which there is something extraordinary It is true that Guiana is under The scituation of Guiana or very near the Aequator that part which stretches most within Land and the nearest to the Amazons is under the Equator from that line the Coast stretches on this side unto the 8th degree of Latitude yet the greatest part of this Coast lies under the 4th 5th 6th and 7th of these degrees which is almost in the middle of the Torrid Zone and consequently seems to be in a Climate extreamly hot But the Eastern-winds which do almost continually blow upon the Coast the Nights being equal with the Days the large Rivers which refresh and water the Country the great Dews which fall the height of their Mountains the thickness of their Forrests c. yield such refreshments as renders this Country one of the most pleasant and would be made were it cultivated one of the best and richest Countries in all America They have two Summers and two Winters their Summers during the Aequinoxes and their Winters during the Solstices and to speak truth they have always either Spring or Autumn their Flowers being always in their beauty the Trees always in their verdure and their Fruits fit to gather all the yearlong The Air is so temperate and healthful that those of the Country live commonly 100 or 120 years sometimes 150 without being subject to any disease or sickness The fertility of the Country Provisions cost almost nothing all sorts of Game being had for only hunting all sorts of Fish are here very plentiful They have several rich Commodities as Cotton Cotton-Thread and Hamacks or Beds of Cotton China-wood green Ebony white and red Saunders Dyersstood Brazil Medicinal Oils Jallop Salsaparilla Turbith Gayac Gommegutte Gum-Arabick Gum-Eleni a Balm excellent against the Gout Torquesses Emeralds Stag-skins Tigers Otters and black Foxes grains of Musk taken from Lizards Munkeys Apes and Tamarins a little Beast of pleasure so beautiful and joyful that one alone hath been sold for 500 Crowns The Americans themselves loving to play with them and putting about their Necks collars of Pearls and Pendants of Stones in their Ears In the bowels of its Earth are Mines of Copper Tin Lead and Iron which are very rare in America and to all appearance there are Mines of Gold and Silver here is also Roch-Alum Chrystal of the Rock Azure and likewise Dragons Blood c. That part of Guiana most advanced within Land and which retains particularly the name of Guiana is very little known yet here should be the Kingdom and City of Manoa or El Dorado of which some have formerly made such account but not being found at present is by most believed Imaginary The AMAZONE THE River AMAZONE is the greatest and swiftest either in the one or other part of America and it may be said the largest of both Continents From its Springs to its disburthenings into the Sea is 8 or 900 Leagues in a strait line and according to its course 11 or 1200 it receives both on the Right and Left abundance of Rivers of which some have 100 200 300 others 4 5 or 600 Leagues course All the Amazon is inhabited by abundance of People The Amazon inhabited by abundance of People less barbarous than those of Brazil nor yet so much civilized as those of Peru were They eat not one another for by their Hunting Fishing Fruits Corn and Roots they are furnished with what is needful either for Meat or Drink they have some Idols particular to them but pay them no adoration contenting themselves to expose them to publick view when they enterprize any Affair It s beginning Springs and Mouths The breadth of its Channel The Amazon begins at the Foot of the Cordillier Mountains 8 or 10 Leagues from Quito in Peru pressing forward its streams from West to East Its Springs and its Mouths are under or near the Aequator The breadth of its Channel from Junta de los Rios which is 60 and odd Leagues from its Springs unto Maranhon is of one or two Leagues and below Maranhon two three or four enlarging still as it approacheth the Sea where it makes an opening of 50 or 60 Leagues between the Capes de Nort and Zaparare this on the Coast of Brazile the other on the Coast of Guiana Its depth likewise from Junta los Rios unto Maranhon is at least 5 or 6 Fathom in some places 8 or 10 from Maranhon unto Rio Negro 10 15 or 20 and from Rio Negro to the Sea 30 40 50 and sometimes much more The course of the Amazon endeavoured to be found out by Prancis Orilhant Pedro de Orsua and others with the adventures mis-fortunes which befel them One Francis Orilhane was the first that took any pains to know the course of this River In 1540 he transported himself to Junta de los Rios where he caused to be built a Vessel proper to descend this River to the Sea In 1541 he imbarqued himself with some Souldiers had divers encounters in the way but about the end of August he found the Sea after which he hasted to Spain to make this discovery known unto the King In 1549 he returned from Spain to the Amazone where after his spending a long time upon the great Sea being sometimes beaten to and fro by the impetuosity of the winds which caused great storms then retained as long by calms which together with the loss of a great many of his men at length he entred into its mouth yet after all these labours and miseries he was so unhappy that not finding the true channel to remount the Amazone he died with grief having gained nothing for all his travel labour and expence but the honour that some give his name to the River calling it Orelhane After Francis Orelhane the Amazone was let alone for a good continuance of time In 1560 those of Lima in Peru tried it another way they caused some to embark on the River of Xauxa otherwise of Maranhon which begins in Peru below Guanuca and about 150 Leagues from Lima passes within 30 or 40 of Cusco and by a course of 5 or 600 Leagues descends into the Amazon which hath scarce made 300 at this meeting yet is found the large this voyage was likewise unhappy for Pedro de Orsua Chief of this expedition was slain by his own men and Lopez de Aguyre chief of the sedition finished to descend to the Sea by the Orinoque and landed at La Trinity where he was arrested and chastised for his felony In
1566 those of Cusco tried again the discovery of the Amazone by the Amarumaye which could not succeed there being two competitors for this expedition who made war fought and weakned each other in such manner that there remained but a few to be knockt on the head by the Chonchis Maldonado one of the Chiefs of this expedition together with two Fryers escaped and brought the news after this of Maldonado no more discovery of the Amazon was attempted till 60 or 70 years after In 1635 Jean de Palacios reattempted this design transporting himself with some others to Annete to see with what means he might serve himself to make this voyage but in 1636 he was killed and the greatest part of his men returned but two Friers and 5 or 6 Souldiers put themselves into a Skiff with a resolution to descend the River and in the end arrived at Para the chief Colonie of Brazile under the Crown of Portugal where they told the news to Piedro Texeira Captain Major of Para. Texeira happy in the discovery of the course of the Amazone Though Brazile was then in arms against the Hollanders yet Texeira forbore not to equip 47 Barquesâ—â— caused to be embarqued in them 70 Portugals with 1200 Indians who knew how to manage Armes and likewise 800 Boyes and Women to serve them with these he departed in October 1637. remounted the River and was so happy that he finished his voyage even to Peru left a part of his men there where the River Chevelus falls into the Amazone the rest he left at Junta de los Rios except himself with some few persons which came to Quito where he made his report in September 1638. The news being brought to Lima to the Count of Chinchon Vice-Roy of Peru he gave order to furnish them with all things necessary for their return and that the Father Christopher de Acogne a Jesuite and his companion should go with them to carry the news to Spain They parted from Peru in February 1639 and arrived at Pera in December following and soon after Father Christopher de Acogne carried the news to Spain arriving there in 1640. and exposed his relation to publick view These two last Voyages of Texeira mounting and descending the River have given us a more ample and true knowledge of the Amazon than all those before him could do and according to their report all the Regions which are about the Amazon enjoy a temperate Air. The Eastern Winds which blow all day the Nights equal to the Days the annual Inundations like to those of the Nile the great quantity of Trees and Forrests which are upon or near the River yield much refreshment and keeps them from being troubled with thousands of ugly Insects which they are pestred with at Peru and Brazil They say that the Leaves and Fruits of the Trees the verdure of their Herbs and the beauty of their Flowers gives great delight to the Inhabitants all the year long The Country very fertil The Country by reason of the Inundation of the River is very fertil in Grains hath rich Pastures and their Fruits Plants and Roots are in great plenty and may compare with any Country in all America their Rivers and Lakes are well stored with Fish among others the Sea-Calf and Tortoise are very large and delicate The Country is well cloathed with Woods some Trees being 5 or 6 Fathom about and along the River may be built as great Ships as any that swim on the Ocean Their Ebony and Brazil is grown to an inexhaustible quantity they have great store of Cacoa and Tobacco plenty of Sugar-Canes which they might easily husband and abundance of other Commodities without having regard to Gold Silver and other Metals which are found there Abundance of different Nations along the Amazon They have abundance of different Nations upon and about the Amazon the most part of these Nations so well peopled and their Villages so thick that the last House of the one may easily hear the noise made in the first House of the other Of these People the Homagues are esteemed for their Manufactures of Cotton-Cloth the Corosipares for their Earthen Vessels the Surines for their Joyners-work the Topinamubes for their Power The Bow and Javelin being their general and common Arms. Rivers that fall into the Amazon Among the Ravers that fall into the Amazon the Napo the Agaric the Putomaye the Jenupape and the Coropatube and with some others have their Sands mixt with Gold below Coropatube there are divers Mines of Gold in the Mountains of Yaguare Mines of Silver in that of Picory and of divers Stones in that of Paragoche and of Sulphur in many others The Amazonian Women As for the Amazonian Women and their Kingdom from whence it is pretended this River took its name many accounts have been made and divers Relations given of it to Quito Cusco and other places and possibly those of the Country would have frighted the Castilians and Portugals which have been on this River But it is no otherwise than that the Inhabitants of the Country being in Arms there hath sometimes been some Women so couragious as to be in their party but there never was a whole Country or Kingdom of these Women And in fine they seek them so far within the Country that they cannot be on the Amazon so those may turn to a Fable as well as those which the Greeks have formerly recounted to us of such Wonders PERUVIANE where there shall be TERRA FIRMA whose Governments or Provinces with their chief places are those of PANAMA Panama Nembre de dios Darien CARTHAGENA Cartagenâ— Moâ—â—â— Sancta Maria. la Conception St. MARTHA St. Martha Teneriff Tamalameque Los Reys RIO de la HACHA Occanna Rio de la Hacha Rancheria VENEZULA Venezula Nos signo de Carvalleda St. Jago de Leon. Nueve Xeres Valenza la Nueve Segovia la Neuve Tucuyo Truxillo New ANDALUSIA Comana Corduba Maurenabi PARIA Macureguara Catetios Orinaque OARIBES Taupuramunen Mâ—reshego GUIANA Macurewaraj Manoa del dorade POPAYAN Sancta Fee de Antiochiâ— Calamanta Arma. Anzerma Carrago Popayan Almangher Timana Truxillo Guadalajara St. John de Pasto GRANADA Sancto Fee de bogata St. Michael Tocayma Tunia Trinadad St. John de los lanos Velez Mariquita PERU with its Audiences of QUI TO with its Provinces of PERU Quito Rio bamba Porto Viejo Guayaquil Cuenca Loxâ— Zamora Yaen St. Michael de los QUIXOS Baesa Archidona Avila Sevilla del Oro. PAZAMOROS Loyola Valadolid St. Jago de las Montaneâ— LIMA whose chief places are Lima. Cusco Arequipa Valverde Arnedo Leon de Guanuco la Parsilla Truxillo Miroflores Cachapoyas De la PLATA whose chief places are de la Plata Potossi Oropesa Sancta Crux de la Sierra The Country of the AMAZONS or the people Inhabiting by the River AMAZONE which are many and of sundry sorts CHILI whose parts of Jurisdictions take their names from their chief Cities in each
Valley of the same name and neighboured by a good but small Haven 2. Conception seated in a capacious Bay by which and the Mountains which encompass it which are well fortified it is a place of good strength so that it is made the Residence of the Governour where he hath a strong Garrison of Spaniards 3. L'Imperial scituate on the Banks of the River Cauten a place of great strength and power esteemed one of the strongest in this Country and is the See of a Bishop 4. Villa Rica 25 Leagues from the Mer del Sud another Colony of Spaniards 5. Valdivia neighboured by a capacious and safe Haven as also by rich Mines of Gold another Colony of Spaniards 6. Osorno plentifully stored with Mines of Gold but seated in a barren soil 7. Castro built on the Bay of Ancud in a fruitful Island about 50 Leagues in length and 9 or 10 in breadth 8. St. Jago seated on the Banks of the River Topacalma at the Mouth whereof is a noted Haven called Valparaiso and 9. Serena scituate on the Banks of Rio de Coquimbo not far from its influx into the Sea a Town though but small yet of good strength especially since it is become a Colony of Spaniards rich also in Mines of Gold Chili very cold Chili in their Language signifies Cold which in regard of the Mountains of Sierra Nevada de los Andes are said to be extreamly cold and where reigns a certain Wind so sharp and piercing that it insensibly extinguishes the natural heat so that people often die in a moment and then freezes and hardens their bodies in such manner that they corrupt not The Valleys and the Plains nearest the Sea are well inhabited It s Fertility and have the Air healthful serene and temperate the soil exellent and Fertil though not without some difference according as it is nearer or further from the Equator The Quarter of Chili ought to be hotter and that of the Imperial as hot as Spain but the vicinity of the Mountains on one side and the other renders it a little colder than otherwise might be expected as to the Climate but yet hot enough to be one of the best Parts of America The Valley of Copiapo yields sometimes Three hundred for one those of Guasco and Coquimbo are held no waies inferiour to it that of Chili is so excellent Mines of Gold Silver and other Metals that it communicates its name to the Country Above these Valleys are Mines of Silver Quick-silver Copper Lead and great plenty of Gold both in the Ingots and Sand. Valdivia gained great riches here Valdivia who was here after Almagre and who at the beginning succeeded better than his Predecessor had done extracted a great quantity of Gold out of this Country and caused to be wrought several Mines of Gold so rich that each Indian rendred him thirty or forty Ducats daily and when he had employed but twelve or fifteen Indians in this work they would have yielded three or four hundred Ducats a day and in a month about Ten thousand and in a year about a hundred or â— hundred and twenty thousand Ducats This agrees with what the Ynca Garcilasso de la Vega reports in his History saying that the Count Valdivia had for his Portion a part of Chili and that his Subjects rendred him the yearly tribute of a hundred thousand Pezo's of Gold But the thirst after this Metal being instiable and Valdivia The Avarice of Valdivia proves his ruin and death the more he received the more still he coveted forced to work in these Mines those Indians who not accustomed to so hard a labour nor to serve so cruel a Master resolved to rid themselves of him and to cast off their heavy yoke In pursuance of which those of Arauco and thereabouts began the revolt and after divers encounters slew and took a hundred and fifty of his Horsemen These Arauques with their Neighbours assembled themselves to a Body of Twelve or thirteen thousand men who after having been divers times beaten by Valdivia and in all likelihood of being quite subdued at length an old Indian who in all possibility had before observed the order which the Spaniards held in their Battels advised them to divide their men into many Squadrons and shewed them how each Squadron one after another must assault the Spaniards and that the first Squadron being broken must rally in the tail of the last which succeeded so well that in the end they so wearied the Spaniards and their Horses that when they began to think of a retreat they were prevented and utterly defeated Some say that Valdivia being fallen into their hands was fastened to a Tree and his Almoner to another so near together that they might discourse together and condole one anothers misfortunes And that the Arauques from time to time though contrary to their custom to eat human flesh did cut off gobbets of flesh from their Leggs Thighs and Arms which they caused to be roasted boyled or broiled according to their several Appetites which they did eat in the sight of these poor tormented Creatures whilst they were finishing their daies in such a lingring death Others say that they took off the top of his skull and poured melted Gold into his Brains Mouth and Ears making afterwards a Goblet of his Head and Trumpets of his Bones c. The City of Valdivia taken and destroyed by the Natives with others After the death of Valdivia the Spaniards had great disadvantages in Chili till that Gracias de Mendoza son to the Vice Roy of Peru had reduced part of these people to obedience which continued for no long season for in 1599 these people surprized the City of Valdivia seized on the gates and chief places invested every house to the end nothing might escape their hands set fire through all killed and took prisoners 4 or 500 men women and children took the Fort wherein were three hundred thousand Pezo's of Gold besides which they carried away with them all the Arms Ammunition and Artillery After the taking of Valdivia the Imperial was besieged which they stoutly defended and maintained for the space of Twelve Months and would have done longer were it not for the Famine and sickness that so extreamly reigned amongst them that reduced their Forces together with the Inhabitants of the City to about twenty men who no longer able to defend themselves submitted to the mercy of the Arauques So that in the end of 13 principal Cities that were in Chili 6 or 7 were ruined viz Valdivia l' Imperial Ongol Chilliam St. Crux la Conception and Villarica Osorno in time received relief The men found in the taken Cities were knockt on the head they permitted the ransom of women one of whom they gave for a pair of Spurs a pair of stirrups or a Horses bridle for a Sword they would give half a dozen but this commerce was soon Prohibited by the Vice-Roy
great Demi-circle hath no less than 1200 Leagues The Mer del Nort washes it on the North South-East and East Paraguay and Peru bounds the rest towards the South and West Great part of Brazile unknown The high Country is wholly unknown and likewise part of the Coast It hath every where abundance of Barbarous people who make war with and eat one another the divers relations hitherto given us make mention of more than 100 of these peoples The parts best known yet these are few in regard of those yet unknown The most famous and best known are the Margajas Topinambous Ovetacas Paraibas Petiguares Tapouyes Cariges Morpions Tobajares c. The Portugals have only seized on what they found most commodious on the Coast and have from time to time placed divers Governments which they call Capitanies The most antient is that of Tamaraca then of Fernambuco The Governments or Capitanies which the Portugals hold now the most famous of all is that of the Bay of all Saints they count Fourteen in all which following the Coast from the River of Amazones towards Paraguay are Para Maranhan Giara Rio Grande Parayba Tamaraca Pernambuco Seregippe Baya de Todos los santos los Isleos Porto seguro Spiritu sancto Rio Janiero and St. Vincent Chief places in the Capitany of St. Vincent described Each Capitany hath depending on it one or two more Colonies of Portugals In the Capitany of SAINT VINCENT the principal is Santos seated at the bottom of an Arm of the Sea distant from the Main about three Leagues accommodated with a very good Port capable to receive Vessels of 400 Tuns This Town is Inhabited with about two hundred Families of Portugals who have beautified it with a fair Church and two Convents of Friers and since the assault that Sir Thomas Cavendish made upon it in 1591 they have environed it with a wall and well Fortified it with strong Bastions The next is Saint Vincent which hath not above one hundred houses of Portugals but its Port little commodious The third and fourth Cities are Itanchin and Saint Paul beyond the Mountains and Forrest Pernabiacaba which are very difficult to cross the way being cut through the trees the City is seated on the Top of a little hill and neighboured by some Mines of Gold found in the Mountains a Town of about one hundred houses and two hundred Families beautified with a Church two Convents and a Colledge of Jesuits This Capitany wants Salt Wine and Oyl but in recompence they have all sorts of Fruits and many Mines of Silver about St. Paul The Capitany of Rio Janiero with its chief places described and its Commodities The Capitany of RIO JANIERO takes its name from its Rivers so called because it was entred into in the month of January The Portugals have built the City St. Sebastian at the mouth of the Gulph which the River makes falling into the Sea and Fortified it with strong Bulwarks And more to the West they have likewise built the City of Angra de los Reyes and made it a strong Colony This Capitany hath much Brazile-wood Cottons and all Provisions but no Sugar These two Capitanies Rio Janiero and St. Vincent are on this side and beyond or rather under the Tropick of Capricorn The Capitany del Spiritu Sancto with its Cities The Capitany DEL SPIRITV SANCTO hath one of the best soils of all Brazile well stored with Cotton-wool but deficient in Sugars It s River is called Parayba from a name common to three Rivers in Brazile one is beyond St. Vincent the second this and the last waters the Capitany of Parayba that which waters Spiritu Santo is pleasant but rapid The City hath but two hundred and odd Families of Portugals It s principal buildings are a Church dedicated to St. Francis a Colledge of Jesuits and a Monastery of Benedictines Porto Seguro and its Cities PORTO SEGVRO belongs to the Duke of Aveiro and hath three Colonies viz. 1. St. Amaro or St. Omers once of great account for making Sugars where they had five Sugar Engines for the ordering and making it but deserted by the Portugals for fear of the incursions of the Savages 2. Sancta Cruz a Town not very large neither with a commodious Harbour 3. Porto Seguro containing not above two hundred houses but held of some Antiquity It is built on the top of a white cliff which commands the Haven The soil of this Capitany is so fertil in Grains and Fruits It s fertility that it furnisheth its Neighbours It hath likewise Sugar Los Isleos with its chief places LOS ISLEOS belongs to Don Luco Giraldo a Portugal It s chief Town is seated on a small River but neighboured by a great Lake of twelve Leagues circuit from which this River takes its rise and contains not above 150 or 200 Families of Portugals It hath a long time suffered persecution and the Colony almost lost by the Guaymures a race of the most savage and barbarous people of Brazile which being driven out of their own Country fell into this Praefecture which they had utterly ruinated had not as a Jesuite tells us some of the Relicks of St. George been brought hither which seeing the Planters re-took courage and bravely repulsed these Barbarians The River which waters this City turns eight or ten Mills or Sugar-Engines Baya de los Santos described The Capitany del BAYA DE LOS SANTOS took its name from the Bay or Gulph wherein is seated St. Salvador its principal City This Bay having its mouth to the Sea eight or ten Leagues wide and its depth twelve fifteen or twenty fathom every where encloses many Isles of which the most outward to the Sea is Taperico This Bay makes likewise divers openings fifteen or twenty Leagues within Land from whence it receives the Rivers of Pitange Ceresippe Cachera and others each with their little Gulph This Bay is memorable for the rash attempt of Peter Heyns a Dutchman A memorable Exploit of Peter Heyns a Dutchman Admiral of a Fleet of the Vnited Provinces for the West India-Company who in 1627 entred this Bay where there were 26 sail of Spanish Ships four of which were men of War all lying under the Protection of the Castles and Forts who notwithstanding the shots that he received from the Forts Castles and Ships fell amongst them with such boldness that he sunk their Vice-Admiral and took all or most of the rest with a condition only of their lives The City of St. Salvador The City of St. Salvador is fair and beautified with many stately Edifices is in the most Northern part of the Gulph seated on a little Hill and towards the Sea it regards its Ports made in a Demi-circle whose two points or extremities have each their Castle St. Antonio towards the Sea and Tapesipe towards the Bay This City all environed with a wall is great and populous and dignified with
Salt-pits near the Point de Salinas The principal Fortress that the Portugals hold here is De los tres Reyes or the three Kings on the right hand of the River The Coast of Brazile from Cape de Frio until on this side of that of St. Augustine and so to the middle of the head of Potengi stretches from South to North and continually regards the East The rest of this Capitany and that of Siara Maranhan and Para extend from East to West regarding the North and are the nearest to the Equinoctial Line The Coast of these four last Capitanies hath no less extent on the Sea than that of all the others together but are worth much less The Capitany of Siara with its Commodities The Capitany of SIARA is among many Barbarous People and therefore not much frequented yet is of some trade by reason of the Cotton Chrystal Precious Stones and many sorts of Wood which are here found They have likewise many Canes of Sugar which are of no use there being no Sugar Engines in the Country The Capitany of Maranhan with its chief places The Capitany of MARANHAN is an Isle which with some others is found in a Gulph about twenty five Leagues long and broad This Isle hath forty five Leagues Circuit hath twenty seven Villages of which Junaparan is the chief and in each Village four five or 600 men so that the French made account of 10000 men in this Island The fertility of the Country with its Commodities The Air serene temperate and healthful the Waters excellent and which scarce ever corrupt on the Sea The Land as fruitful as any in America yielding Brazile-wood Saffron Cotton Red-dye Lake or Rose colour Balm Tobacco Pepper and sometimes Ambergrease is gathered on its Coast The Land is found proper for Sugar and if it were tilled would produce Grains some say it hath Mines of Jasper and white and red Chrystal which for hardness surpasses the Diamonds of Alenzon It is well watered with fresh Rivers and pleasant Streams well cloathed with Woods in which are store of Fowl The people are strong of body Its Inhabitants and Apparel live in good health commonly dying with age the women being fruitful till eighty years of age both Sexes go naked until they are married and then their apparel is only from the Wast to the Knees which is Manufactures of Cotton or Feather-works in which they are very ingenious The Country or the Isle of the Tapouies The Tapouy Tapere that is the Country of the Tapouies is another Isle East of Maraguon at Full-sea it is an Isle on the Ebb only Sands separate it from the Continent The soll is yet better than that of Maranhan it hath but fifteen Villages the chief bearing the name of the Country they are greater and better peopled than those of Maranhan The Country and City of Comma West of Tapouy Tapere and on the firm Land Comma a City River and Country of the same name is of no small value it s fifteen or sixteen Villages are as well peopled as those of Tapouy Tapere Between Comma and Cayetta which approaches Para are divers people descending from the Toupinambous as those of Maranhan and Comma descend from the Tapouyes The French were likewise divers times possessed of the Isle of Maranhan Ribaut was here in 1594. Ravardiere in 1612. This last chose a most commodious place in the Island and built the Fort of St. Lewis the Portugals drove them out in 1614 and built new Forts St. Jago and Neustra Sennora Among the Rivers that full into the Gulph of Maranhan Miari is the greatest then Taboucourou The Capitany of Para with its Commodities The Capitany of PARA hath a square Fort seated on a Rock raised four or five fadom from the neighbouring ground and well walled except towards the River it hath four or five hundred Portugals who gather in the Country Tobacco Cotton and Sugar This Capitany holds beyond the Mouth of the Amazone Corrupa and Estiero and among the Mouths of that River Cogemine Of a temperate Air. Brazile hath an Air sweet and temperate though under the Torrid Zone the daies and nights being almost equal the freshness of the Sea Rivers and ordinary Dews contributing much to its wholsomness They lie very subject to Storms and Thunders and if it lighten in the evening it is without Thunder if it Thunder without Flashes That which likewise proves the goodness of the Air is that their Serpents Snakes Toads c. are not venemous Serpents Toads c. not venemous here but often serve for food to the Inhabitants yet the soil is more proper for the production of Fruits Pastures and Pulse than the Grains or Vines of Europe They carry them Wine and Flowr Corn being subject to spoil on the Sea The Natives use Rice and Manjoche to make their Bread It s fertility and Commodities They have likewise quantity of Pulse Trees which bear excellent Fruits Herbs Four-footed Beasts Birds and Fish in great abundance many of which are not known to us many sorts of Palm-trees which yield them great Commodities they have some Mines of Gold but more of Silver but the riches of Brazile is drawn from the Sugars and the Brazile-wood which comes from their Araboutan a mighty Tree which bears no Fruit. They have abundance of Parroquetos among their Monkeys they have black ones and of divers colours the most part very pleasant The skin of the Tapiroussou curried becomes so hard that it makes Bucklers not to be pierced by the strongest shot Arrow The Inhabitants of Brazile and what they are addicted unto their Customs c. Their Habit. The Brazilians are of a mean stature gross headed large shouldred of a reddish colour their skins tawny they live commonly to a hundred and fifty years and free from diseases caring for nothing but War and Vengeance They wander most part of their time in Hunting Fishing and Feasting in which Manjoche furnishes them with Bread Cumin-seed with Drink and and the Flesh of Beasts or of their Enemies cut in gobbets and some Fish are their most excellent meats The men are very cruel forgetful of courtesies received and mindful of injuries The Women are very lascivious they are delivered with little or no pain and immediately go about their affairs and not observing the custom of a Months lying in as is used among us They let their hair grow long which ordinarily hangeth over their shoulders both Sexes go naked especially till Married They are esteemed excellent Swimmers and divers being able to stay an hour together under water They paint themselves with divers colours all over the body on which they leave no hair not so much as on their Eye-lids but only a Crown about their Head and fasten a Bone which is well polished and some little Stone which is esteemed amongst them in their upper Lip and Cheeks Others cut their skin in Figures and
mixing a certain tincture it never comes out They make Bonnets Frontlets Ruffes Bands Cloaks Girdles Garters and Bracelets with Feathers of divers colours which they work and mix the colours together very excellently The Brazilians which have stayed among the Portugals are for the most part become Christians the others wander without Religion Some knowledge of the Sun Moon and Stars There is a great diversity of Tongues among them insomuch that Jarric assures us that in his time he observed sixty different ones and though they have no Sciences yet have they some knowledge of the course of the Sun Moon and Stars giving them divers names and calling the Eclipses nights of the Sun and Moon The riches of Braâ—ile All the Wood of Brazile belongs unto the King of Portugal private persons not being permitted to trade in it Their riches come from Whale-Oyl Confects Conserves Tobacco Silver Hides and other Commodities but principally from Sugar no Country in the World exporting so much as Brazile doth The Isle Madera hath but ten Sugar Engines the Isle of St. Thomas possibly less but Brazile 4 or 500. The names of Mestiz Mulates Cariboco Criolo c. Explained As for the names of Mestiz and Mulates which divers times have been met with it is to be observed that the Portugals being long since here established and having from time to time caused to be transported a great many Negroes as well Men as Women to serve them This mixture of divers Nations and divers colours hath made them to distinguish their Children and to call those who came from Father and Mother of the Europeans Mozomâ—o those who came from an European and a Brazilian Mestiz or Mamelucco those from an European and a Negroess Mulates those from a Brazilian and a Negroess Cariboco those from the Father and Mother of Aethiopians Criolo Moreover it hath been known that an Aethiopian woman whose Husband was likewise an Aethiopian hath brought forth two Children the one black and the other white and a Brazilian Woman whose Husband was likewise a Brazilian to bring forth two the one white and the other black and oft-times blacks have whites and whites blacks and there are to be seen white Aethiopians that is to say in all the features of their face and in their hair all the proportions of an Aethiopian but with skin and hair white Before Brazile lyeth a train of low Rocks but of a small breadth but which continue almost all along the Coast leaving but certain overtures by which the Rivers discharge themselves into the Sea Ships that go or return from Brazile pass necessarily by these overtures or openings which oft times proves very dangerous PARAGVAY or Rio de la Plata THe Province of PARAGVAY or Rio de la Plata other then the Province de la Plata in Peru is on the River which those of the Country call Paraguay the Spaniards Rio de la Plata from whence it takes its name We may comprehend under the name of Paraguay or Rio de la Plata all the neighbouring Provinces and those which are on the Rivers falling into the Paraguay and consider them in three or in seven parts To wit in Paraguay or Rio de la Plata which may make the higher and lower part of that which is upon the River Into Chaco and Tucuman which are on the Rivers which descend on the right hand and into Parana Guayr and Vraig which are on the Rivers which descend on the left hand These are towards Brazile and the Mer del Nort the other two towards Peru and Chili and the two first in the middle The River of Paraguay described The River of Paraguay or de la Plata hath its springs in the Lake of Xarajes on the confines of Peru and Brazile and descending from north to South turns in the end to South-East receives a great many fair and large Rivers among others Putomayo Vermejo or Salado and la Garzarone on one side Guaxarape Parana and Vraig on the other The Paraguay falling into the Sea makes a Gulf of fifty and odd Leagues wide between the Capes of St. Mary and St. Anthony and an hundred and fifty Leagues within Land is ten or twelve and descending farther fifteen twenty or five and twenty Leagues broad but of so little depth and so cumbred with Rooks and Banks that what with them and the sudden storms which often rise from the South sailing up it proves very dangerous The Province of Paraguay described The particular Province of Paraguay in the highest part of the River is little known nor have the Spaniards here any Colonies yet it bears its name common with the River and communicates it to all the neighbouring quarters The People are not so barbarous as in Brazile It s People some addicting themselves to Husbandry in which the men till and sow the ground and the Women reap and gather in Harvest others know how to make Stuffs Vestments spin Cotton c. The Province de la Plata with its Colonies described Below Paraguay is the Province dela Plata where the Spaniards have some Colonies viz. 1. The Assumption being the chief place in this Countrey is well built and very well frequented neighboured by a great Lake in the midst of which is a great Rock which exalteth its head about one hundred fathom above the water this Town is said to be inhabited by three sorts of people viz. 1 By natural Spaniards who are Masters of it to the number of about four hundred families 2. Mulatoes being those that are born of Spaniards and Negro's of which there are said to be several thousands and lastly by Mestizo's which are such as are begotten by the Spaniards upon the Natives and these are not in such great number The next Town of note is Buenos Ayres seated on the ascent of a small Hill on the Southern Bank of the River de la Plata said to contain about two hundred families of Spaniards It is encompassed with a Mud-Wall but it s chiefest strength is in its Castle which is but small neither over-well provided with Ordnance and Ammunition the other Towns are Las Siette Corrientes St. Fe and St. Spiritu or Torre di Gabboto the two last and Buenos Ayres are on the right side the Assumption and Las Corrientes on the left and this two hundred and fifty or three hundred Leagues from the Sea Buenos Ayres little less than an hundred St. Fe little more the Assumption alone is on the Paraguay Las Siette Corrientes where the Parana c. falls into the Paraguay The fignification of Paraguay de la Plata This name of Paraguay is given by the Natives of the Country and signifieth a River of Feathers either because there are here found great quantities of Birds whose Feathers are various and of divers colours or because those of the Country dress and adorn themselves with those Feathers The name de la