princely Houses inheritable to the English Crown are â—eated in this Shire which are Enfield Hanworth White-hall S. Iames and Hampton-Court a City rather in shew than the Palace of a Prince and for stately Port and gorgeous building not inferiour to any in Europe At Thistleworth once stood the Palace of King Richard of the Romans Earl of Cornwall which the Londoners in a tumultuous broile burned to the ground many other stately Houses of our English Nobility Knights and Centlemen as also of the Worshipful Citizens of London are in this Shire so sumptuously built and pleasantly seated as the like in the like circuit are no where else to be found Near unto Thamesis entrance into this County is kept the remembrance of Caesars entrance over Thamesis by the name of Coway-stakes stuck fast in the bottom to impeach his designs and further at Stanes a Maire-stone once stood for a mark of Iurisdiction that London had so far upon Thameâ—is 7 Which City is more ancient than any true Record beareth fabuled from Brute Troynovant from Lud Ludstone But by more credible Writers Tacitus Ptolomy and Antonine Londinium by Ammianus Marcellinus for her successive prosperity Augustâ— the great title that can be given to any by Britains Londayn by Strangers Londra and by us London This City doth shew as the Cedars among other Trees being the seat of the British Kings the Chamber of the English the model of the Land and the Mart of the World for thither are brought the silk of Asia the Spices from Africa the Balms from Grecia and the riches of both the Indies East and West no City standing so long in fame nor any for divine and politick government may with her be compared Her walls were first set by great Constantine the first Christian Emperour at the suit of his Mother Queen Helen reared with rough Stone and British Brick three English miles in compass thorow which are now made seven most fair gates besides three other passages for entrance Along the Thameâ—is this wall at first ranged and with two gates openedâ— the one Doure-gate now Dowgate and the other Billingsgate a receptacle for Ships In the midst of this wall was set a mile-mark as the like was in Rome from whence were measured their stations for carriage or otherwise the same as yet standeth and hath been long known by the name of London Stone Upon the East of this City the Church of S. Peters is thought to be the Cathedral of Restitutâ—â— the Christians Bishops See who lived in the reign of great Constantine but since St. Pauls in the West part from the Temple of Diana assumed that dignity whose greatness doth exceed any other at this day and spires so high that twice it hath been consumed by lightning from heaven Besides this Cathedral God is honoured in one hundred twenty one Churches more in this City that is ninety six within the walls sixteen without but within the Liberties and nine more in her Suburbs and in Fitz Stephens time thirteen Convents of relgious Orders It is divided into 26 Wards governed by so many grave Aldermen a Lord Major and two Sheriffs the yearly choice whereof was granted them by Patent from King Iohn in whose time also a Bridge of stone was made over Thames upon nineteen Arches for length breadth beauty and building the like again not found in the World 8 This London as it were disdaining bondage hath set her self on each side far without the walls and hath leâ—t her West gate in the midst from whence with continual buildings still affecting greatness she hath continued her streets unto a Kings Palace and joyned a second City to her self famous for the Seat and Sepulchre of our Kings and for the Gates of Iustice that termly there are opened only once a Bishops See whose title died with the man No walls are set about this City and those of London are left to shew rather what it was than what it is Whose Citizens as the Lacedemonians did do impute their strength in their men and not in their walls how strong soever Or else for their multitude cannot be circulated but as another Ierusalem is inhabited without walls as Zachary said The wealth of this City as Isa once speak of Nilus grows from the Revenues and Harvest of her South bounding Thames whose trafique for merchandizing is like that of Tyrus whereof Ezekiel speaks and stands in abundance of Silver Iron Tinn and Lead c. And for London her channel is navigable straitned along with meadowing borders until she taketh her full liberty in the German Seas Upon this Thamesis the Ships of Tharsis seem to ride and the Navy that rightly is termed the Lady of the Sea spreads her sail Whence twice with lucky success hath been accomplished the compassing of the universal Globe This River Câ—nutus laying siege against London sought by digging to divert and before him the Danes had done great harmes in the City yet was their State recovered by King Elfred and the River kept her old course notwithstanding that cost In the times of the Normans some civil broyles have been attempted in this City as in the days of King Iohn whereinto his Barons entred and the Tower yielded unto Lewis And again Waâ— Tyleâ— herein committed outragioâ—s cruelties but was worthily struck down by the Major and stain in Smithfield This Cities graduation for Latitude is the degree 51 45 minutes and in Longitude 20 degrees 29 minutes 9 In this County at Barnet upon easter-Easter-day a bloudy battel was fought betwixt Henry the sixt and Edward the fourth wherein was slain one Marquess one Earl three Lords and with them ten thousand Englishmen 10 The division of this Shire is into seven hundreds wherein are seated two Cities four Market-Towns and seventy three Parish Churches besides them in London where in the Church of Gray-â—ryâ—rs now called Christ-Chuâ—ch three Queens lye interred which were Queen Margaret the D. of Phil. the hardy King of France second wife to King Edward the first the second was Queen Isabel wife to King Edward the second and D. to Philip the fair King of France and the third was Queen Ioan their daughter married to David King of Scotland ESSEX COUNTY ESSEX CHAPTER XV. ESSEX by the Normans Excessa and by the vulgar Essex is a County large in compass very populous and nothing inferiour to the best of the Land 2 The Form thereof is somewhat circular excepting the East part which shooteth her self with many Promontories into the Sea and from Horsey Island to Haidon in the West the broadest part of the Shire are they by measure forty miles and the length from East Ham upon Thamesis in the South to Sturmere upon the River Stow in the North are thirty five miles the whole in circumference one hundred forty six miles 3 It lyeth bounded upon the North with Suffolk and Cambridge-Shires upon the West with Hertford and Middlesex upon the South by Thamesis is parted from
he yieldeth plenty of Corn and bringeth forth abundance of Fruits the one through the natural goodness only of the ground the other through the diligent manuring and tillage in such wise that it would provoke the laziest person to take pains Here you may see the High-ways and Common Lanes clad with Apple-trees and Pear-trees not ingraffed by the industry of mens hand but growing naturally of their own accord the ground of it self is so inclined to bear fruits and those both in taste and beauty far exceeding others and will endure until a new supply come There is not any County in England so thick set with Vineyards as this Province is so plentiful of increase and so pleasant in taste The very Wines made thereof carry no unpleasant tartness as being little inferiour in sweet Verdure to the French Wines the houses are innumerable the Churches passing fair and the Towns standing very thick But that which addeth unto all good gifts a special glory is the River Severn than which there is not any in all the Land for Channel broader for Stream swiâ—ter oâ— for Fish better stored There is in it a daily rage and fury of waters which I know not whether I may call a Gulf or Whirl-pool of waters raising up the sands from the bottom winding and dâ—iving them upon heaps sometimes overflowing her banks roveth a great way upon the face of her bordering grounds and again retireth as a Conquerour into the usual Channel Unhappy is the Vessel which it taketh full upon the side but the Watermen will beware thereof when they see that Hydra coming turn the Vessel upon it and cut thorow the midst of it whereby they check and avoid her violence and danger 4 The ancient people that possessed this Province were the DOBUNI who spread themselves â—urther into Oxford-sâ—ire But betwixt the Severn and VVyâ— were seated part of SILURES or Inhabitants of South-VVales And upon what ground I know not let Lawyers dispute it the Inhabitants in some part of this Shire enjoy a private custom to this day that the Goods and Lands of Condemned Persons fall unto the Crown but only for a year and a day and then return to the next heirs contrary to the custom of all England besides 5 The general Commodities of this Shire are Corn Iron and VVols all passing fine besides Pasturage Fruits and VVoods which last are much lessened by making of Iron the only bane of Oke Elm and Beech. 6 These with all other provisions are traded thorow twenty five Market-Towns in this County whereof two are Cities of no small import the first is Glocester from whom the Shire taketh name seated upon Severn near the middest of this Shire by Antoninâ— the Emperour called Glouum built first by the Romans and set as it were upon the neck of the Silures to yoke them where their legion called Colonia Gleuum lay It hath been walled about excepting that part that is defended by the River the ruines thereof in many places appear and some part yet standing doth well witness their strength This City was first won from the Britains by Cheulin the first King of the West-Saxons about the year of Christ 570 and afterwards under the Mercians it flourished with great honour where Offrick King of Northumâ—erland by the sufferance of Ethelred of Mercia founded a most stately Monastery of Nuns whereof Kineburgh Edbergh and Eve Queens of the Mercians were Prioresses successively each after other 7 Edelfled a most renowned Lady â—ister to King Edward the elder in this City built a fair Church wherein her self was interred which being overthrown by the Danes was afterwards rebuilt and made the Cathedral of that See dedicated unto the honour of S. Peter In this Church the unfortunate Prince King Edward the second under a Monument of Alablaster doth lye who being murdered at Barkley Castle by the cruelty of French Isabel his wife was there entombed And not far from him another Prince as unfortunate namely Robert Curthose the eldest son of William the Conquerour lyeth in a painted wooden Tombe in the midst of the Quire whose eyes were pluckt out in Cardiffe Castle wherein he was kept prisoner twenty six years with all contumelious indignities until through extream anguish he ended his life And before any of these in this City say our British Historians the body of Lucius our first Christian King was interred and before his days the Britains Arviragus The graduation of this County I observe from this City whence the Pole is elevated in the degree of Latitude 52 and 14 minutes and in Longitude from the West 18 and 5 minutes 8 The other City is Bristow fair but not very ancient built upon the Rivers Avon and Frome for trade of Merchandize a second London and for beauty and account next unto York This City standeth partly in this County and partly in Sommerset-shire but being a County of it self will acknowledge subjection to neither 9 A City more ancient hath been Circestar by Pâ—olomy called Corinium by Antonine Durocornovium by Giraldus Passerum Vrbem The Sparrows City upon a flying report that Gurmund a Tyrant from Africk besieging this City tyed fire unto the wings of Sparrows who lighting in the Town upon light matter set flame upon all The circuit of whose walls extended two miles about wherein the Consular Port or ways of the Romans met and crossed each other This City was won from the Britains by Cheulin first King of the West Saxons afterwards it was possessed by the Mercians and lastly by the Danes under Gurmâ—nd the former no doubt mistaken for him wherein a rable of them kept the space of a year Anno 879 and never since inhabited according to the circuit of her walls 10 Places of memorable note are these The Island Alney near unto Glocester wherein Edmund Iron-side the English and Canutus the Dane after many battles and bloud fought in single Combat hand to hand alone until they compounded for the Kingdoms partition Barkley Castle where King Edward the second was thorow his fundament run into his bowels with a red burning Spit Tewkesbury the fatal period of King Henry the sixth his government and the wound of the Lancâ—strian Cause for in a battle there fought in Anno 1471 Prince Edward the only son of King Henry had his brains dashed out in a most shameful manner the Queen and his Mother taken prisoners and most of their favourites slain and beheaded And at Alderley a little Town standing eight miles from the Severne upon the Hills to this day are found Cockles Periwincles and Oysters of solid stone which whether they have been Shel-fish and living creatures or else the sports of Nature in her works let the Natural Philosophers dispute of and judge 11 The places of piety set apart from other worldly Services and dedicated to religious uses by the devotions of Princes erected in this Shire were Tewkesbury Deorâ—ust Glocester Minching Burkley Kinswood Circester Winchcombe and Hales
not a little glory of their Merlin who as they say was therein born the Son of a bad Angel or of an Incubus Spirit the Britains great Apollo whom Geffery ap Arthur would rank with the South-saying Seer or rather with the true Prophets themselves being none other than a meer Seducer and Phantastical Wizard which howsoever Alani de Insulis in his Commentaries hath laboured to unlock those dark and hidden Similies wherewith his Book is pestred and full yet was it not without cause forbid the reading by the Council of Trent as vain and not worthy of Countenance or Credit At the entrance of the Normans this Town was brought under their obedience and for a long time was distressed with the Calamities of War yet afterwards was made by the English Princes the Chancery and Exchequer of all Southâ—Wales And at this day is yearly governed by a Maior who ever after is an Alderman and Iustice of the Peace two Sheriffs elected out of sixteen Burgesses all of them in Scarlet a Sword-Bearer a Town-Clerk and two Sergeants with Maces from whence the Pole is raised 52 degrees 15 minutes in Latitude and for Longitude is in the degree 15 and 30 minutes from the first point in the West according to Mercator 7 East from this place are the ruines of Carreg-Castle which stood mounted on a high Hill under the which many Vaults and spacious Caves far into the ground are seen wherein is thought the People unable to â—ight were therein secured in time of their Wars Where also is a Well take the report from Giraldus who writeth it that in this place twice in four and twenty hours â—bbing and twice flowing resembleth the unstable motions of the main Sea 8 This Shire is watred with twenty eight Rivers and Rivelets of name strengthned with ten Castles traded in six Market-Towns divided into six Hundreds wherein are seated fourscore and seven Parish-Churches GLAMORGAN Shire GLAMORGAN-SHIRE CHAPTER VII GLAMORGAN-SHIRE as some think named from Prince Morgan the possessor thereof or according to others is taken from Morgan an Abbey founded by William Earl of Glocester upon the Sea-shoar in the South of this Shire lyeth bounded upon that part altogether with the British-Sea the West by Logor is parted from Caermarden-shire the North butteth upon the County of Brecknock and the East by Remney is divided from Monmouth 2 The form of this Shire groweth still wider from her West-point spreading her broadest touch in the East betwixt which extreams I find by measure to be well-near forty English miles and from North to South not altogether twenty miles the whole in circumference about one hundred and twelve miles 3 The Air is temperate and gives more content to the mind than the Soil doth fruit or ease unto Travellers The Hills being high and very many which from the North notwithstanding are lessened as it were by degrees and towards the Sea-coasts the Countrey becometh somewhat plain which part is the best both for plenty of Grain and populous of Inhabitants The rest all Mountain is replenished with Cattel which is the best means unto wealth that this Shire doth afford upon whose Hills you may behold whole Heards of them feeding and from whose Rocks most clear springing waters thorow the Vallies trickling which sportingly do pass with a most pleasant sound and did not a little revive my wearied spirits among those vast Mountains imployed in their search whose infancy at first admitted an easie step over but grown unto strength more boldly forbad me such passage and with a more stern countenance held on their Iourney unto the British-Seas and Taâ—e among these is accounted for a chief 4 Upon whose fall and East-bank the fairest Town of all South-Wales is seated the Britains Caerdid the English Caerdiffe which Fitz-Haimon fortified with a Wall and Castle in the Reign of King Rufus when he and his Norman-Knights had overcome Rhese the Prince of these parts and thrust out Iustine from his lawful possession This Town he made his own Seat and Court of Iustice enjoyning his Consorts to give Aid to this honour and to hold their Portions in Vassallage of him Strong was the Castle as by the trust therein reposed may well appear where the youngest brother Beaâ—clark kept Captive the eldest Curthose both of them Sons to the Conquerour the space of twenty six years This Castle is large and in good repair whence the Town-Wall went both South and East to the Rivers side thorow which four Gates enter into the four Winds and contain in compass nine hundred and twenty paces and along the River a sure defence upon her West-side three hundred more so that the Town containeth in circuit twelve hundred and fourscore paces But as the Tave is a friend to the Town in making a Key for arrivage of shipping so is she a foe to S. Maries Church in the South with undermining her Foundations and threatning her fall The Town is governed by a Mayor yearly elected out of twelve Aldermen assisted with other twelve Burgesses a Town-Clerk four Constables and two Sergeants with Maces whose site is observed from the North-Star to lie in the degree of Latitude 51 and 49 scruples and from the â—irst point in the West 16 and 53 scruples 5 In the same graduation almost is sited the City Landaf wherein is a Castle and Cathedral Church dedicated to S. Telean Bishop of the same without any other memorable matter worthy the speaking of 6 But things of strange Note are these by the report of Giraldus who affirmeth that in a Rock or Cliffe upon the Sea-side and Island Barry lying near the South-East point of this County is heard out of a litttle chink let him take heed what he faith the noise as it it were of Smiths at their work one whiles â—he blowing of Bellows to increase the heat then the strâ—aks of the Hammer and sound of the Anvil sometimâ—s the noise of the Grind stone in grinding of Iron Tools then the hissing Sparks of Steelâ—gads as they flie from their â—eating with the puffing noise of Flames in a Furnace And whether this is the place whereof Clemens Alexandrinus speaketh I deâ—ermine not where in his Writings he hath these words They that have recorded Histories saith he do say that in the Isle of Britain there is a certain Hole or Cave under thâ— bottom of an Hill and on the top thereof a gaping Chink into the which when the Wind is gathered and tossed to and fro in the Womb or concavity thereof there is heard above a sound of Cymbals for the Wind being driven back from his hole is forced to make a loud sound as her vent 7 More Westward from hence upon the River Ogmore and neer unto Newton in a sandy plain about an hundred paces from Severne there springeth a Well though not of the clearest water where at the flowing and fulness of the Sea can hardly any water be gotten but at the Ebb and Fall oâ—
Saxon at Alesbury in the year of grace 592 overcame the Britains and bare down all things before him yet no sooner was their Heptarchy weaned and their Monarchy able to stand alone but that the Danes before their strength and growth was confirmed waxed upon them and they not able in so weak a hand to hold fast that weight of greatness they had so grasped gave place to their Conquerours who did many harms in this Province for in the year 914 the Danes furiously raged as far as Brenwood where they destroyed the City Burgh the ancient seat of the Romans afterwards a Royal house of King Edward the Confessor which they utterly destroyed 5 The Shire-Town Buckingham fruitfully seated upon the River Ouse was fortified with a Rampire and Sconces on both banks by King Edward the elder saith Marianus the Scotish Writer where in the heart of the Town hath stood a strong Castle mounted upon a high hill which long since was brought to the period of her estate now nothing remaining besides the signs that there she had stood The River circulates this Town on every side that only on the North excepted over which three fair stone bridges lead and into which the Springs of a Well run called S. Rumalds a child-saint born at Kings-Sutton canonized and in the Church of this Town enthrined with many conceited miracles and cures such was the hap of those times to produce Saints of all ages and sexes This Town is governed by a Bayliff and twelve principal Burgesses and is in the degree removed from the first point of the West for Longitude 19 33 scruples and the North-pole elevated in Latitude for the degree of 52 18 scruples 6 A Town of ancient note is Stony Straâ—ford the Romans Lactorodum being built upon that ancient Causey-way which is called VVatling Street where remain the marks thereof even unto this day At this place Edward the elder stopped the passage of the Danes whilst he strengthened Torcester against them and herein King Edward the eldest since the Conquest reared a beautiful Cross in memory of Eleanor his dead Queen as he did in every place where her Corps rested from Herdby in Lincoln-shire till it was received and buried at VVestminster 7 Places intended for Gods true worship built by devout persons and sequestred from worldly imployments were at Launden Luffeld Bidlesden Bradwell Nothey Ankerne Missenden Tekeford Patrendune Asbridge and Alesbury Asbridge in great repute for the bloud supposed out of Christs sides brought out of Germany by Henry the eldest son of Richard King of the Romans and Earl of Cornwall whereunto resorted great concourse of people for devotion and adoration thereof But when the Sunshine of the Gospel had pierced thorow such clouds of darkness it was perceived apparently to be onely honey clarified and coloured with Saffron as was openly shewed at Pauls Cross by the Bishop of Rochester the twenty fourth of February and year of Christ 1538. And Alesbury for the holiness of S. Edith was much frequented who having this Town allotted for her Dowry had the world and her husband farewel in taking upon her the vail of devotion and in that fruitful age of Saints became greatly renowned even as far as to the working of miracles These all in the storms and rage of the time suffered such shipwrack that from those turmoiled Seas their Merchandise light in the right of such Lords as made them their own for wreacks indeed 8 With four Castles this Shire hath been strengthened and thorow eleven Market-Towns her Commodities traded being divided for service to the Crown and State into eight hundreds and in them are seated one hundred fourscore and five Parish-Churches OXFORDSHIRE OXFORD-SHIRE CHAPTER XXI OXFORD-SHIRE receiveth her name from that famous Vniversity and most beautiful City Oxford and this of the Foord of Oxen say our English Saxons though Leiland upon a ground of conjecture will have it Ousford from the River Ouse by the Latines called Isis which giveth name likewise to the adjoyning I stand Ousney The North point of this Shire is bordered upon by the Counties of VVarwick and Northampton the East with Buckingham the West by Glocester-shire and the South altogether is parted from Bark-shire by Thamisis the Prince of British Rivers 2 The blessings both of the sweet-breathing heavens and the fruitful sight of this Counties soil are so happy and so fortunate that hardly can be said whether exceeds The Air milde temperate and delicate the Land fertile pleasant and bounteous in a word both Heaven and Earth accorded to make the Inhabitants healthful and happy The hills loaden with Woods and Cattle the valleys burthened with Corn and Pasturage by reason of many fresh springing Rivers which sportingly there-thorow make their passage whereof Evenlod Charwell Tame and Isis are chief which two last making their Bed of Marriage near unto Dorchester run thence together in one channel and name 3 The length of this Shire is from Cleydon in the North-West unto Caversham in her South-East near unto Thamisis and amounteth almost to forty miles the broadest part is in her Western Borders which extending from the said Cleydon in the North unto Faringdon seated upon the River Isis in the South are scarcely twenty six and thence growing narrower like unto a Wedge containing in circumference about one hundred and thirty miles 4 The ancient Inhabitants known to the Romans where the Dobuni part whereof possessed further Westernly into Glocester-shire and nearer Eastward betwixt the bowing of Thamisis were seated the Ancalites who sent their submission unto Iulius Caesar when report was made that the Trinobants had put themselves under his protection whereof followed the Britains servitude under the proud yoke of the all-coveting Romans yea afterwards this Counties people being very puissant as â—acitus termeth them and unshaken by wars withstoâ—d Ostorius Scâ—pula the Roman Lieutenant chosing rather to yield their lives in battle than their pâ—rsons to subjection Of later times it was possessed by the Mercian Saxons as part of their Kingdom though sometimes both the West Saxons and the Northumbrians had the dispose of some part thereof for Beda aâ—firmâ—th that King Oswold gave the then flourishing City Dorchester unto Berinus the VVest Saxons Apostle to be his Episcopal See whence the good Bishop coming to Oxford and preached before VVulpherus the Mercian King in whose Court Athelwold the South-Saxons heathenish King was then then present he with all his Nobles were converted to the Faith of Christ and there baptived whereby Berinus became the Apostle also of the South-Saxons 5 Other places of memorable note either for actions therein happening or for their own famous esteem are the Roll-rich stones standing near unto Enisham in the South of this Shire a monument of huge stones set round in compass in manner of the Stonehenge of which fabulous tradition hath reported forsooth that they were metamorphosed from men but in truth were there erected upon some great victory
the whole City Leicester was besieged and thrown down by King Henry and the Wall that seemed indissoluble was utterly raced even to the ground The pieces of these Fragments so fallen down remained in his days like to hard Rocks through the strength of the Morter cementing whole lumps together and at the Kings command the City was set on fire and burnt the Castle raced and a heavy imposition laid upon the Citizens who with great sums of money bought their own banishments but were so used in their departure that for extream fear many of them took Sanctuary both at S. Edmunds and S. Albans In repentance of these mischiefs the Author thereof Earl Robert built the Monastery of S. Mary de Pratis wherein himself became a Canon Regular and for fifteen years continuance in sad laments served God in continual prayers With the like devotion Henry the first Duke of Lancaster built an Hospital for an hundred and ten poor people with a Collegiate Church a Dean twelve Canons Prebendaries as many Vicars suffciently provided for with Revenues wherein himself lyeth buried and it was the greatest ornament of that City until the hand of King Henry the eighth lay over-heavy upon all the like foundations and laid their aspiring tops at his own feet The fortunes of another Crouch-back King Richard Usurper who no less remarkable in this City than the former Robert was both of them in like degree of dishonourable course of life though of different issue at their deaths the one dying penitent and of devout esteem the other leaving the stench of Tyranny to all following ages who from this City setting forth in one day with great pompe and in Battle aray to keep the Crown sure upon his own Helmet in a sore fought field yieldeth both it and his life unto the head and hands of Henry of Richmond his Conquerour and the next day was brought back like a Hog naked and torn and with contempt without tears obscurely buried in the Gray Friers of this City whose suppression had suppressed the plot place of his grave and only the stone-chest wherein he was laid a drinking trough now for horses in a common Inn retaineth the memory of that great Monarchs Funeral and so did a stone in the Church and Chappel of S. Maries inclose the Corps of the proud and pontifical cardinal Wolsey who had prepared for himself as was said a far more richer Monument 7 Other places worthy of remembrance in this Shire were these In the West where a high Cross was erected in former times stood the fair City Cleycester the Romans BENONNE where their Legions lay and where their two principal ways crossed each other as the Inhabitants report Loughborow in the North verge was as Marianus affirmeth taken from the Britains by Cuthwolse their King about the year of Christ 572. At Redmore near Bosworth Westward in this County the Kingdom of England lay in hazard of one Battle when King Richards field was fought where the Land at once was free from a Tyrant and wicked Usurper Neither may we pass Lutterworth as the least in account where the famous Iohn Wickliff Englands Morning star dispersed the clouds of all Papistical darkness by preaching the Gospel in that his charge the stile of his pen so piercing in power that the man of Sin ever since hath been better known to the world 8 Religious houses by Princes erected and by them devoted to God and his service the chiefest in this Shire were at Leicester Grace-Dieu Kerby-Bellers and at Burton a Spittle for Lazers a disease then newly approached in this Land for the erection whereof a common contribution was gathered thorow the Realm the patients in this place were not so much deformed in skin as the other were in the defects of the soul whose skirts being turned up to the sight of the world their shames were discovered and those houses dissolved that had long maintained such Idolatrous sins 9 This Shires division is into six Hundreds and in them are seated twelve Market-Towns for commerce and containeth in circuit two hundred Parish-Churches LINCOLNE SHIRE LINCOLN-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXI THe County of Lincoln by the Normans called Nicolshire is confined on the North with Hamber on the East with the German Ocean upon the South is parted from Cambridge and Northampton-shire by the River Nyne and on the West from Nottingham and York-shires by Dun and Trent 2 The length of this Province extendeth from Barton unto Humber in the North unto Stanford upon the River Nyne in the South are miles by our English measure fifty five and the breadth thereof from Newton in the West stretched unto Winthorp upon her East Sea containeth thirty five The whole in circumference about one hundred and eighty miles 3 The Air upon the East and South part is both thick and foggy by reason of the Fens and unsolute grounds but therewithal very moderate and pleasing Her graduation being removed from the Aequator to the degree of 53 and the winds that are â—ent of her still working-Seaâ— to disperse those vapours from all power of hurt 4 The Form of this County doth somewhat resemble the body of a Lute whose East-coasts lye bow-like into the German-Ocean all along pestered with inlets of salt waters and sands which are neither firm nor safe for travellers as those in the South proved unto King Iohn who marching Northward from Northfolk against his disloyal Barons upon those washes lost all his furniture and carriage by the sudden return of the Sea and softness of the Sands 5 Her Soil upon the West and North is abundantly fertile pleasant and rich stored with pasturage arable and meadowing grounds the East and South Fenny and brackish and for Corn barren but for fowl and fiâ—h exceeding any other in the Realm wherein at some times and seasons of the year hath been taken in nets in August at one draught aboue three thousand Mallards and other Fowls of the like kind 6 The Shires commodities consist chiefly in Corn Cattle Fish Fowl Flax and Alablaster as also in a Plaister much esteemed of by the Romans for their works of Imagery and whereof Pliny in his Natural History maketh mention And the Astoriâ—es a precious stoâ—e Star-like pointed with five beams or rays anciently esteemed for their vertue in victories upon the South-west of this County near Bever are found not far thence in our Fathers memory at Harlaxton was ploughed up a brazen vessel wherein was inclosed a golden Helmet of an ancient fashion set with precious stones which was presented to Katherine of Spain Wife and Dowager to King Henry the eighth 7 This Shire triumpheth in the birth of Beauclerk King Henry the first whom Selby brought forth and of King Henry the fourth at Bullingbrooke born but may as justly lament for the death of King Iohn herein poisoned by Simon a Monk of Swynsted Abbey and of Queen Eleanor wife to King Edward the first the mirrour of wedlock and love to
down when also the Town it self suffered the calamity of fire but recovered to her former estate hath since increased in beauty and wealth and at this day is governed by a Mayor and six Aldermen clad in Scarlet two Sheriffs two Chamberlains a Town-Clark and six Sergeants with Maces their attenders whose position hath the Pole elevated fifty three degrees 25 minutes in Latitude and hath the Meridian nine degrees and 25 minutes This Town hath been honoured by these Princes Titles and these Princes dignified with the Earldom of Nottingham whose several Arms and Names are in the great Map expressed Religious houses that have been erected and now suppressed in the compass of this County chiefly were Newsted Lenton Shelford Southwell Thurgarton Blith Welbeck and Radford in Nottingham the White and Gray Friers besides a little Chappel dedicated to S. Iohn All which shew the devotions of those former times which their remembrance may move if not condemn us that have more knowledg but far less piety The Shires division is principally into two which the Inhabitants term the Sand and the Clay but for Tax to the Crown or service for State is parted into eight Wapentakes or Hundreds wherein are seated 168 Parishes Churches DARBY SHIRE DARBY-SHIRE CHAPTER XXXIII DARBY-SHIRE lieth inclosed upon her North parts with York-shire upon the East with Nottingham-shire upon the South of Leicester-shire and upon the West is parted with the Rivers Dove and Goyt from Stafford and Chess-shires 2 It is in Form somewhat triangle though not of any equal distance growing from her narrow South-point still wider and in the North is at the broadest For from Stretton near the head of Mese to New-Chappel seated near the head of Derwent the two extreams from North to South are thirty eight miles but from the Shire-Oaks unto the meeting of Mersey and Goyt the broadest part of all this Shire is not full twenty nine the whole in circumference exâ—endeth to an hundred and thirty miles 3 The Air is good and very healthful the Soil is rich especially in her South and East parts but in the North and West is hilly with a black and mossie ground both of them fast handed to the Ploughers pains though very liberal in her other gifts whose natures thus dissenting the River Derwent doth divide asunder that taketh course thorow the heart or the midst of this County 4 The Ancient People that possessed these parts in the times of the Roman assaults were the Coritani whom Ptolomy dispersed thorow Northampton-shire Leicester Rutland Lincoln Nottingham and this Shire who were all of them subdued by P. Ostorius Scapula Lieutenant in this Province for Claudius the Emperour But Romes Empire falling in Britain by the intestine Wars among themselves the Saxons a more savege and fearful Nation soon brought it under their subjection and made this a Province unto their Mercians Kingdome whom the West-Saxons first wan and again lost to the Normans 5 It is stored with many commodities and them of much worth for besides woods and Cattle Sheep and Corn every where over spreading the face of this County the Mill-stone Crystal and Alablaster the Mines of Pit-coal Iron and Lead are of great price whereof the last is mentioned in Pliny who writeth that in Britaine in the very crust of the Ground without any deep digging is gotten so great store of Lead and there is a Law expresly made of purpose forbiding men to make more than to a certain stint whose stores are plenteâ—usly gotten in thoâ—e Mountains and melted into Sowes to no small profit of the Country There is found also in certain veins of the earth Stibium which the Apothecaries call Antimonium and the Alchymists hold in great esteem 6 Places of Commerce or memorable note the first is Darby the Shire-Town called by the Danes Deoraby seated upon the West-bank of Derwent where also a small Brook rising Westward runneth thorow the Town under nine Bridges before it meets with her far greater River Derwent which presently it doth after she hath passed Tenant-Bridge in the South-East of the Town But a Bridge of more beauty built all of Free-stone is passed over Derwent in the North-East of the Towâ— whereon standeth a fair stone Chappel both of them bearing the names of S. Maries five other Churches are in this Town the chief whereof is called Alhâ—llows whose Steeple or Bell-Tower being both beautiful and high was built only at the charges of young Men and Maids as is witnessed by the inscription cut in the same upon every square of the Steeple Among the miserable desolations of the Danes this Town bare a part but by the Lady Ethelfleda was again repaired and is at this day incorporated with the yearly government of two Bailiffs elect out of twenty four Brethren besides as many Burges of Common-Councel a Recorder Town-Clerk and two Sergeants with Mace whose Graduation is observed from the Aequator to be 53 degrees 25 scruples and from the first point in the West 19 degrees 2 scruples 7 Little-Chester by the Romish Money there daily seemeth to have been ancient and that a Colony of of the Roman Souldiers there lay Yet of far greater Fame was Râ—pandunum now Repâ—on where Ethelbald the ninth King of the Merciaâ—s and fifteenth Monarch of the Englishmen slain at Seggâ—swald by the treason of his Subjects was interred and whence Burtâ—red the last King of that Peopâ—e was expâ—lsed with his Queen Ethelswith by the rage of the Danes after twenty two years Reign But with a more pleasing eye we may behold Melborn the Memorial of Englishmens great valour where in that Castle was kept prisoner Iohn Duke of Burbon taken Captive in the Battle of Agincourt and therein detained the space of nineteen years 8 Thingâ— of stranger note are the hot Water-springs bursting forth of the ground at Buxton where out of the Rock within the compass of eight yards nine Springs arise eight of them warm but the ninth very cold These run from under a fair square building of Free-stone and about threescore paces off received another hot Spring from a Well inclosed with four flat Stones called Saint Anns near unto which another very cold Spring bubled up The report goeth among the by-dwellers that great cureâ— by these waters have been done but daily experience sheweth that they are good for the Stomack and Sinews and very pleasant to bathe the body in Not far thence is Eldâ—n hole whereof strange things have been told and this is confidently affirmed the waters that trickle from the top of that Cave which indeed is very spacious but of low and narrow entrance do congeal into stone and hang as isâ—ckles in the Roof some of them were shewed at my being there which like unto such as the Frost congealeth were hollow within and grew Taper-wise towards their points very white and somewhat Chrystal-like And seven miles thence upon a mounted-hill standeth a Castle under which there is a Hole or Cave in the
in Ila Bunals and Iona now Columbkill where as Donald Munro who travelled through these Islands reporteth are three Tombs having the several Inscriptions of the Kings of Scotland of Ireland and of Norway 19 Among these Western Islands the Hebrides Skie Mula Ila and Arran are the greatest All of them plentiful of Corn Woods Salmons and Herrings as others of Conies Deer Horses and Sheep where in some they are wild and in others without any owners but the People uncivil and lacking Religion they rather live rudely in state of necessity than as Lords of these portions which God hath allotted them and with a sufferable ease ignorant of ambition enjoy those contentments which some others though they no great sum do more laboriously attain unto by the Precepts of Philosophy for feeding themselves with competency without any excess they return all the over-plus unto their Lords as do the Inhabitants of Hirta and Rona but alas Religion not known among them these penurious vertues are rather the curses of Cham than the followings of Christ who forbids us to be too careful for the morrow 20 The â—sles of Orkenay upon the North of Scotland lying in a most raging and tempesâ—uous Sea are about three and thirty in number whereof thirteen are inhabited and the other replenished with Cattel in these are no venomous Serpents nor other ugly vermin the Air sharp and healthful and the Soil apt to bear only Oats and Barley but not a stick of Wood among these Pomonia is the greatest accounted and called the Main-Land affording six Minerals of lead and Tin and in her chief Town a Bishops See wherein are seated twelve Parish Churches one of them very magnificent for so remote a Country 21 Of all the Romans Iulius Agricola first discovered the Orkenays yea and subdued them if we will believe Tacitus but Pomponius Mela that wrote thirty years before him doth mention them and Iuvenal in Hadrians time after him tells us the Romans had won them and lastly Claudian nameth Saxons that were slain in them and so doth Ninius name Octha and Ebissus Saxou Commanders who in their roving Pinnaces wasted the Orknays These Islands Donald Bane the Usurper of the Scottish Crown gave the King of Norway for his assistance and by the Norwegians were they held the space of an hundred and sixty years until that Alexander the third King of Scotland with Sword and Composition got them from Magnus the Fourth King of Norway which afterward King Haquin confirmed unto King Robert Bruce but lastly Christian the First King of Norway and Denmark utterly renounced all his right to those Islands when he gave his Daughter in Marriage unto King Iames the Third which deed was further ratified by the Pope who openeth the way to the possession of Kingdoms with his own Key 22 More North and further than this Chart could well express lie the Isles of Shetland of some thought to be Thule and by the Commenter upon Horace the Fortunate Island where as Tzeâ—zes fabuleth the Souls of good Men are ferryed into those Elizian Fields that ever grow green and whence Iulius Caesar could hardly be drawn as Muretus had written but their Fictions intended only that the vertuous Souls of the dead passed the uttermost bounds of earthly abode and attained to an ever-pleasing repose and ever-flourishing happiness which whether they borrowed from the description of Paradise taken both for a fair Garden and the Souls happy rest I cannot define but sure they would not have made those Fields always green if they had seen how they lie ever covered with Ice and Snow being in the 63 degree of Latitude as Ptolomy hath placed it where for the most part is a continual Winter but for proof that this was the Thule besides Ptolomies Positure Saxo Grammaticus betwixt Norway and Scotland hath placed it and Solinus two daies sailing from the point of Caledonia and Tacitus saith that the Romans kenned Thule afar off as they sailed about Britain by the Orcades and lastly Mela maketh it to face Berge a City in Norway THE KINGDOME OF IRLAND IRELAND Described CHAPTER I. THe Traditions of time have delivered unto us divers names whereby this famous Island is recorded to have been called yet none of more fair probabiliâ—y than that of Ortheus Aristotle and Claudian by whom it is named Ierna by Iuvenal and Mela called Iuverna by Diodorus Siculus Iris by Martian of Heraclea Ioyepnia by Eustachius Oyernia and Bernia by the native Inhabitants Erin by the Britains Yverdon the Welsh Bards in their Ballads Tirvolas Totidanan and Banno and by the Engâ—ish Ireland But from whence these diversities were derived arise many opinions Doubtless it is that Hibernia Iuverna and Overnia came from Ierna spoken of by Orpheus and Aristotle and the same Ierna as alâ—o Iris Iverdhon and Ireland from Erin the term that the Inhabitants now usâ— From this Erin therefore a word proper to the Nation the original is most likely to be deduced 2 Some derive Hibernia from Hiberno tempore that is from the Winter season some from Hiberus a Spaniard some from a Duke named Irnalph some again from the ancient River Iberus and some from Hiere an Irish word which signifieth the West or a Western Coast whence Erin may also seem to fetchâ—he derivation for it lieth furthest Westward of any Region in ail Europe As also for that the River running in the most remoâ—e West-part of this Island is in Pâ—olomy called Iernus like as the furthest Western Promontory in Spain from whence our Irish-Men came is by Strabo called Ierne and the River next unto it by Mela Ierna yea and Spain it self for the Western situation is called Hesperia the West-Cape of Africk Hesperium and in Germany Westrich and Westphalen from their position have their names Postelius a man that rather followed his own fancy than the judgement of others fetcheth the original of Ireland from the Hebrews as if Iâ—in should be as much as Iurin that is the Iews land which opinion I hold no better than those that would have it from the Winter-like storms although upon every Wind the Air is cold there 3 Festus Avienus in that little Book which he entituled Orae Maritimae calleth Ireland Sacram Insulam that is The holy Island to which opinion the people are soon drawn by reason of the many Saints that the Island is said to produce and the blessed Soil that affords no venomous Creatures to retain Life It is thought that Plutarch meant Ireland by his Ogygia for her great antiquity and of latter times by Isidore and Bede it was called Scotia of those Scots that inhabited it and that thence the name of Scotland together with the Scots themselves came into Britain 4 For largeness and circuit in times past this Island challenged the third place in rank of all the Isles of the then known World for thus have Geographers left us that the Indian Taproban for greatness was the first the Isle
88 France 98 Belgia 109 Spain 120 Italy 131 Hungary 142 Denmark 151 Poland 161 Persia 175 Turkish Empire 180 Kingdom of China 189 Tartaria 198 LONDON Printed by W. G. 1675. A NEW AND ACCVRAT MAP OF THE WORLD Drawne according to y e truest Descriptions latest Discoveries Pe. Kaerius Caelavit 1646. The General Description of the WORLD HEaven was too long a reach for Man to recover at one step And therefore God first placed him upon the earth that he might for a time contemplate upon his inferiour works magnifie in them his Creator and receive here a hope of a fuller bliss which by degrees he should at last enjoy in his place of rest For this end was the lower World created in the beginning out of a rude Mass which before had no Form And that it might be made habitable the Lord separated the dry Land from the Waters upon the third day Yet so as still they make but one Globe whose center is the same with the middle World and is the Point and Rest as it were of all heavy Bodies which naturally apply themselves to it and there are supported by their own weight and equal poise 2 It hath seemed incredible to such as measure the Wonders of God by Mans Wisdom that this mâ—ssie part of the World should subsist by it self not boâ—n up by any outward Prop encompast only with 〈◊〉 and fleetingAir such as can neither help to sustain nor râ—sist the fall couâ—d the earth be moved from her duce place But the wonder will ceâ—â—e if we remember that the Lord sitteth upon the circle of the earth Isa. 40. He set it upon her foundations so that it shall never move He covered it with the Deep as much a Garment The Waters would stand above the Mountains but at his rebuke they fled Yet he set them a bound which they should not pass 3 Thus ordered by Divine Providence the Earth and Sea composed themselves into a Spherical Figure as is here described And is caused by the proper inclination of each part which being heavy falls from everâ— point of the Circumference and claps about the center there settles as near as it may towards his place of rest We may illustrate both the figure and situation by a familiar similitude to an ingenious apprehension Suppose we a knot to be knit in the midst of a cord that hath many ends and those to be delivered to sundry men of equal strength to be drawn several ways round from every part above and below and on each side questionless whilest every man draws in the boes of the knot it must needs become round and whilest they continue to pluck with equal strength it must rest immoveable in the middle betwixt them since every strength that would destory hath a strength equal to resist it So it is in the bosom of the earth where every part meets upon equal priviledge of naâ—ure nor can any press farther than the center to destroy this compacted figure for it must meet there with a body that will oppose it Or if not yet could it not pass since every motion from the middle were to ascend which Nature will not permit in a body of weight as the earth is 4 Now though in a Sphere every cross line which way soever drawn if it run through the middle must needs be of equal quantity and therefore admits no difference of length or bredth yet the Geographers for their purpose have conceived and but conceived a Longitude and Latitude upon the earth The Longitude they reckon from the first Meridian in the Azores and so Eastward round number the degrees upon the Aequator The Latitude from the Aequator to each Pole and number the degrees upon the outward Meridional circle This inkling may suffice to instruct the ignorant in the search of any place that shall be hereafter mentioned in my Discourse 5 The compass of the whole is cast by our latest and most learned to be 21600 English miles which though none ever yet so paced as to measure them by the foot yet let not the ignorant reject this account since the rule by which they are led cannot fail For we see by continual experience that the Sun for every degree in the Heavens gains 60 miles upon the earth towards his circuit round and after 360 degrees returneth to the same point in respect of us as before it was Repeat the number of sixty so oft and you will find the account just And so by proportion of the circumference to the Diameter which is triplâ— sâ—squi septimâ— the same which 22 hath to 7 we may judge likewise of the earths thickness to the Center The whole Diameter must by rule be somewhat lesser than a third part of the circuit that in proportion to 21600 will be 6872 half the number will reachâ— the middle of the world and that is 3436. In this report both of the quantity and form of the earth we must not require such exactness as cannot vary a hairs bredth for we see the mountains of the earth and oftentimes the waves of the Sea make the superficies unequal It will be sufficient if there be no difference sensible to be reckoned in so great a bulk for let us rudely hew a ball out of rough stone still it is a ball though not so smooth as one of Crystal Or suffer a mote to fall upon a Sphere of glass it changeth not its figure far less are the mountains which we see in respect of the whole lump For other rules or terms Geographical I refer them to a peculiar tract that will afford me more room and time 6 When the Earth and Sea were thus prepared with a due figure a just quantity and convenient â—eat both in respect of the Heavens and themselves Nature began at command of the most High to use her Art and to make it a fit dwelling place for the Image of God for so was man created and so indeed was the Earth no other than the picture of Heaven The ground brought forth her plants and fruits the Skies were filled with the Fowl of the Air the waters yielded their fish and the fields their Cattel No sooner his house was thus finish't but man enters upon his possession the sixth day And that shall be our tract to find out the worlds first Inhabitants where it was peopled in the beginning and how it was over-spread with Countries and Nations as now it is 7 In the first Age there was little need of skill to measure the whole Earth A garden plot might suffice and so for a time it did It was planted in Edâ—n But where that was I may not peremptorily determine nor indeed dare I be so curious in the search The hidden things belong to thâ— Lord the revealed to us Deut. 29. God himself in the beginning set a Cherubion and the blade of a sword shaken to keep the re-entry from our first parents and we may affirm hath
â—â—ey were so long since known I must doubt For the bestowing of Iocktan and his sons it was toward the East from Mesha to Sephar but where those are Saint Hierome confesseth himself at a stand And for my part I will travel no farther in these hidden Mysteries than I find a path beaten before me 16 This may satisfie the ingenuous that I have as far as I might in this little room trac't the first Nations from their first Founders which they had in the beginning But to draw the direct line of every people mixt as they now are I think a work impossible to me I am sure it is For besides our several translations and promiscuous commerce that puzzle us in the knowledge of our selves we have of late found and as yet are in search of a new people that know not their own Original nor have we any means to examin it but conjectural such as may fail To Moses time the Scripture affordeth us a certain truth for as many as he mentioneth and since we have some light from such as have laboured in the search of Antiquities The Families as Iosephus gives time are truly and curiously brancht forth and placed among the Genealogies before our Bible of the last Translation by our well-deserving Countrey-man Mr. Iohn Speed 17 Thus far it was requisite we should know at large the growth of the world from the beginning and how the whole earth which at first knew but one Land-lord hath been since rent into several parcels which Kings and Nations call their own and maintain their claim by force of Arms. This little compass will not admit a more particular relation of their affairs For that I must refer my Reader to their Historians and now desceâ—d to the Geographical Description and division of the world as in after Ages it was found by our first Artists and hath been since more at large discovered by the experience of our later Travellers 18 And in this we may still observe our method For questionless by the same degrees almost as it was inhabited so it grew into the knowledge of our ancient Geographers And therefore our first Authors in this Science bounded their Descriptions within a less compass and divided the world into those three parts only which you see lie closest about the point of the earth where the first men first Religion first City first Empire and first Arts were For in Prolomy's time about an hundred and forty years after Christ we hear not of either Land or Sea known more than was contained in Asia Africa and Europe 19 And of that he never knew the East and North parts of Asia nor the South of Africa no nor the most Northerly parts of Europe but placed the end of the world that way in Vltima thule about sixty three degrees from the Aequator And Southward the other way not above 17 degrees Prasso Permotorio which at this day is called Mosambique Râ—cks So the whole Latitude of the world then known did not reach the fourth part of the Compass In the Longitude indeed they came not so far short yet leâ—t they just half to the search of their posterity For they placed their first Meridian in the Fortunate Islands and ended their reckoning in Region Sinarum of the Eastern Indies and that is distant but 180 degrees toward the 360 which is the compass of the whole 20 But God in these later times hath enlarged our possessions that his Gospel might be propagated and hath discovered to us Inhabitants almost in every corner of the earth Our later Geographers have set their mark beyond Ptolomy's 60 degrees Eastward And Westward to the utmost parts of America So that there are already known 340 of the earths Longitude Toward the North Pole we have gained more in proportion as far as Nova zembla and the Sea is known to be navigable to the eighty first degree whether the rest be Land or not it never yet appeared to any â—s I hear of but an Oxford Frier by a Magick Vâ—yage He reports of a black rock just under the Pole and an Isle of Pygmies Other straâ—ge miracles to which for my part I shall give little credit till I have better proof for it than the Devils word Now of all the Southern course is most unknown aud vet Arâ— hath not been Idle nor altogether lost 〈…〉 in the search it hath discoverd Countries â—bout the 52 degree toward the Pole but so â—ncertainly that it may well yet keep her name of Terra incognita 21 Admirable was the wit of that man that first found out the vertue of the Load-stone and taughtâ— us to apply it in the Art of Navigation And indeed the industry of them is much to be honoured that have since venâ—ured born their means and persons upon dangerous attempts in the discoveries of People and Nations that 〈…〉 God nor had apparent means for their Redemption without this help Among these though the Genâ—â— Spaniard and Portugal carry the first name we have noble spirits of our own Nation not to be ranked in the last place Stupenda fuit revera industria Anglorum saith Keckerman And indeed we may justly enough requite him with his own Elogy The Dutch to have done their parts to joyn a new World to the old 22 To us it may well be called a new World for it comprehends in it two Continents either of them larger than two parts of the other are The one is that Western Hemisphere that bears the name America from Americus Vesputius but was indeed discovered seven years before he knew it by Christopherus Columbus in the year 1492. And the other is the Terrâ— Magellanica seated about the South Pole and first sound out by Ferdinand Magellanus some twenty yearâ— after or thereabout and is thought to be greater than the whole earth beâ—ides Hitherto it is but conjectural and some few Provinces have been rather descried than known You shall find them named in their several Regions upon the Sea-Coasts Nova Guinea Terra del Feugo 〈◊〉 Regio Lucach Beach and Malâ—tur 23 With these additions the World by some is divided into six parts Europe Asia Africa America Septentrionalis incognita and Terra Australis Magellanica which are thus disposed in the Globe of the Earth Asia in the Eâ—stern Hemisphere And being the first part which was inhabited shall be the Point unto which I will direct the rest paâ—t on the West and part on the South is Africa siâ—uated on the North and West Europe more toward the West America uâ—raque full North Septenâ—rionalis incognita and full South the Terra Magellanica 24 Those we will reduce in our method to the four common parts which generally pass in our deâ—criptions of the World Europe Asia Africa America utraque in this last include the Terra Setâ—entrionalis and Magellanica as others have before done and allow it not a several part by it self in regâ—rd that little can be reported of
though but a single Province in this Belgia yet of that esteem as the whole Countrey bears her name and may indeed well enough upon the same reason as she took it up For as the most will it had its its Etymon à flatibus fluctibusque quibâ—â— tota haec obnâ—xia est regio 5 For on the North it is bounded with a part of the great Sea and on the West with the main Ocean On the East with the Rivers Rhene and Mosa and on the South with Loraign Campaigne and Picardy parts of the Kingdom of France It is accounted to be in circuit 1000 Italian miles no Country abounds more with Lakes Pools and Rivers of great note The principal are Rhene Mosa and Scaldis 16 others are specially named by Maginus and more intimated which afford them great store of Fish as well for their own use as supply for traffique to other Nations 6 Yet by reason of her watry situation it must needs be that the air is exceeding moist and therefore unwholsome but not so as heretofore For the multitude of Inhabitants and those wonderful industrious have laboured out of many of her marshes and drawn their Pools into running channels and by this means fewer vapours arise insomuch that now the Natives at last may very well agree with the temper which as Maginus gives it incolarum â—anitati necnon digestioni conducit Their Summer is pleasant not extream hot nor abounds it with such troublesome flies and gnats as ours doth There is seldome any thunder heard or lightning seen or Earthquake felt The reason is the same for all The Winter is not altogether so tolerable but brings with it bleak winds and much rain Yet betwixt both the Country is moderately fertile yields corn and fruit in some places more and in some leâ—s very few Grapes and those make but a hard Wine no store of Mines and yet they are as rich as those which have 7 For the people are very thrifty painful and ingenious in the invention of many pretty things which draw many other Nations to them for Traffique and they lie as fit for it having free access by Sea to and from all the chief parts as of Europe so also Asia Africa and America and are as skilful to trace the Seas at pleasure They have the name for the first Authors of the Compass Clock and Printing They are excellent Artificers for working of Pictures in glass for laying Colours in Oyl for Tapestry and other Hangings â—in brief for any Oeconomical commodity either for use or ornament and in their own private Families excell any other people The men are of a goodly presence of a cold or at least no cholerick temper They neither love nor hate any extreamly but will soon forget both a good turn and they say an injury They are not very open or easie of belief nor apt to be deceived Not very proud nor exceeding base Not much given to Venus but more to Bacchus especially when he presents himself upon an English Beer-barrel For they will hardly make a bargain before they be well whetted This is their common character but for the best part of it we have found it far other as in their commerce with us in the East Indies we have found where by their extream dealings with our Nation they have made known their unthankfulness for the many benefits our English have shewed them But I return to their better qualities Their women are fair somewhat bold and free in their carriage but yet sober and honest excellent housewives and in some places traffique abroad while their men play the cot-quâ—ans at home 8 As in their other businesses so in their studies they are very laborious and indeed trouble the world with writing more than they have thanks for as if they had a right since they were the inventers of the Press to use it at pleasure so they do and send forth every 〈…〉 performed by their boys towâ—rds a Degree with a clutter of tedious Anagrams prefixed â— But 〈◊〉 hath heretofore bred maâ—y excellent men in their faculties Iustâ—s Lipsius Erasmus Rodulphâ—s 〈◊〉 Ortelius Mercator And at this day how many others good members of the Reformed 〈◊〉 within the compass of the States government The rest which are under the Arch-Duke must appear Roman Catholicks In divers parts of Belgia the Christian Religion was planted by Wilbrod an English man 9 The last quality required in a Nation of esteem as they are is valour And indeed I may well place it last For so it grew upon them since the long war which they have had with the Arch-Duke Before they lived for the most part in peace and as they had but little use of Chivalry so they had as little heart to it but were counted a heavy dull people To say truth they have hardly yet recovered that censure for in the managing of their Land-fights especially they are content enough to give way to other Nations and will hardly second them in any dangerous attempt The English have both acted and suffered their parts in the behalf of the Low Countries and that me-thinks might have been remembred in the midst of their tyrannical usage of our Merchants 10 These Netherlands towards our latter times were divided into 17 Provinces whereof the most part had several Rites and Governours four Dukedomes seven Earldomes five Baronies and one Marqueship But by the next marriages of the heirs to the sundry Titles the whole at last fell upon one and was made an entire Government and known by the name of the Dukedom of Burgundy Yet still doth each Province retain her proper Laws liberty of Religion and other Customes which their Rulers in succession were sworn to maintain for their parts and the people again for their security had this main prerogative left them from the beginning that if their Prince should at any time attempt the contrary they might after Declaration proceed to the choice of a new Governour These Conditions confirmed it continued for a while peacefully and by marriage with Mary heir and last of the house of Burgundy it fell to Maximilian of Austria Emperour of the Germans And his Successour Philip matching in the like sort with Ioan heir to the Kingdom of Spain joyned both together in his eldest son Charles the fifth who by the Mother was entituled to Spain and by his Father to Bargundy or Netherlands as for Austria it passed to another brother Thus came it subject to the King of Spain And while yet the Emperour enjoyed it they felt no misery of civil wars among themselves When he left it he commanded this charge withall to his son Philip the second that he should intreat the Low-Countries well But this he either forgot or neglected and taking it in foul scorn to be so curbed by the conditions of his Predecessors began first with a pretence to Religion and at last embroiled them in a bloudy war which hath found no end to this
takes up the largest part thereof it being all that part which lies beyond the River Indus now Sâ—â—do and bounded Eastward with part of China and the Indian Ocean Southward wholly with the Indian or Oriental Ocean Westward with Persia and Northward with that part of Mount Taurus which divides it from Tartary This Countrey as it was by the Ancients so is still primarily distinguished into India intra Gangem and India extra Gangem the first is vulgarly term'd Indostan the other Mangi under which some doubt not to comprehend China it self already described It extends from the nequator to the 44th degree of Northern latitude which makes the longest day 15 hours and ½ as in terrestrial length it reacheth from the Fountains of the River Inâ—us to the utmost Promontory of the Golden Chersonese six hundred German miles So that the temperature of the Air must needs be very diverse under so large an extent lying partly under the torrid partly under the temperate Zone Many vast and barren Desarts there are but generally the Soil is fruitful and the Countrey abounding with things convenient for life and in some parts are produc'd most delicious fruits especially the Palm of which the people of those parts make Wine more frequently than of the Grape and for Gums Spices and all sorts of rich Drugs it surpasseth all other Countreys but that which is the chief glory of the East-Indies is that the rest of the World receives lustre from the Diamonds Rubies and other precious Gems that are brought from thence So that it so far out-shineth the opposite or Occidental Indies by how much these Gems exceed in value Gold it self besides the great Trade that is driven in many places in Silks and other curious Stuffs and rich Commodities whereupon they are much frequented and resorted to by Strangers from all parts of the World The Indian people are generally of a complexion somewhat tawny tall of stature and strong of constitution healthful and for the most part long-liv'd even many times to the age of 130 years notwithstanding their addiction above all other people in the World to luxury and venereal exercises It is permitted them to marry every man as many Wives as he can maintain whereof nevertheless one of them hath a more peculiar respect and observance and a predominance over the rest for which she pays dear enough if she survive her Husband for at his death she is obliged to throw her self into the same Funeral Pyre with him They are simple-hearted and vold of all fraud and deceit in their bargains and contracts and not given to any quirks or cavils in the Law and scarcely is there any such thing as the every known among them so that their houses have little or no need of the guards of locks and bolts so usual and necessary among us The lowermost rank of people go very ill-habited or rather almost stark naked except their head feet and what decency requires to have hid but those of Quality Birth or Estate go richly clad in Silks fine Linnen or other the most costly attire and spare for no adornments of Pearl and the most precious of Gems and they stand very much upon the honour of their Birth and Family observing a suitable grandure in their garb and retinue admitting not of any mixture of affinity with those of mean degree The strength of the Indian Militia consists in their Nairi who are a select number of the Nobility and better sort of Citizens who from seven years of age are train'd up in all manner of bodily exercises by which and by a continual inunction and suppling of their nerves joynts and bones with oil of Sesamum they attain in time to an incredible dexterity and agility of body The chief Ministers and Dispencers of the Rites and Ceremonies of their Religion or rather Idolatry are said to be of the stock of those ancient Brachmanes who doubtless were the same with the Gymnosophists so term'd by the Greeks among whom they had a very great fame being mentioned for their Learning and Philosophy by divers both Greek and Latin Writers and reckoned in the same rank of honour and esteem as the Magi among the Persians and the Druids among the Gauls and Britains The great Mountain Taurus which for extent is doubtless the biggest in the World stretcheth in a continued ridge through the whole length of Asia only under several names as Imaus Emodus Caucasus Parapomisus c. This Mountain Taurus is judged to be the same with that Mount Ararat mentioned in holy Scripture upon which the Ark of Noah rested after the Flood Of the Rivers of India Oriental Indus and Ganges are the chiefest and most famous and of the number of the most principal and largest of all Asia Indus which gives denomination to the Countrey and is now vulgarly called Hiind Duil Inder Caercede and by some Pengah taking its rise in Parapomisus or Naugrocot a branch of the Mountain Taurus falls after 900 miles course Northward with seven mouths into the Indian Ocean having taken in by the way 19 navigable Rivers the chief whereof are Hydaspes and Hypasis which terminated Alexander the Great 's expedition This River where broadest is accounted 50 furlongs broad where deepest 15 paces deep Ganges now Guencam from her uncertain original some say the Mountain Imaâ—s falls into the Ocean having according to the testimony of Pliny taken in by the way 30 Navigable Rivers This River where narrowest is accounted two German miles broad where shallowest 100 foot deep It is moreover famous for the 460 Channels cut like so many wounds out of its sides by Cyrus King of Persia in revenge for the drowning of an Horse upon which he set a very great value The Empire of the Great Mogul is so promiscuously spread throughout that part of India which lies within Ganges that there are reckoned up no less than 37 Provinces or Kingdoms under his Dominion But because his Dominion doth not exactly comprehend all Indostan or Interior India others have chosen rather to divide it into those several Regions which have been adjudged the proper contents or comprehensions of it In most of which however the Mogul hath the greatest share if not the intire Iurisdiction of them namely these 14 following 1 Dulcinda in which the chief Cities and places of note are Caximir Roree Sestan and Multan 2 Pengah supposed the ancient Kingdom of Porus conquered by Alexander the Great The first Ciâ—y of this Province is Laâ—or once the Royal Seat of the Mogul Other places of note are Sultan-Puare Atheâ— and if we reckon as some do the Kingdoms of Haiacan and Buchor under this division Buchor and Suchor 3 Mandao the warlike temper of whose women-Inhabitants hath made them pass for a race of the Amazons The Head-City of this Province is of the same name remarkable both for its 30 miles circuit and for the great Battel between Baldurius King of Cambay and Mirumudius or
by Pearl-fishing Chamdagrir sometimes honoured with the Residence of the Narsingan Kings Prepeti where an annual Feast is celebrated to their Saint Pereimar once sole King of Malabar Golconda peculiar to Musulipatan a little Province subject to the Crown of Narsinga Madura Gingi and Tanajor the Seat of the Naigi or Tributary Roytelets to the King of Narsinga Mâ—liapur called by the Christians St. Thomas from a supposition that this Apostle martyred by the Idolaters was here interred it is said to have had once 330 Temples Cheromandel whence all that Sea-coast which lies on the West-side of the Gulf of Bengala is denominated Negapatan said to be chiefly inhabited by Thomasians Tarnassart once the Royal Seat of a Kingdom so nam'd Casta remarkable for the kind custom of women there who accompanying their dead Husbands into the Grave are buried with them alive Bisnagar ruined by the joynt Forces of four Decan Kings whereupon the Court was removed first to Ponegardo thence after a short time to the City of Narsinga where yet for the most part it remains 12 Oristan whose eminent Towns or Cities are besides that which gives name and credit to the Countrey Catech â— once the Seat of the Kings of this Countrey till vanquished by the Mogul Bacolli peculiar to a little Kingdom so called Angeli Simergan and Senerpase 13 Bofanter containing divers petty Kingdoms as Botia Kacares Conche Gouren Rame Recon Tippura all denominated from their predominating Cities 14 Patanau of which Patane is the mother City the rest are Banaras seated upon the River Ganges frequented by those whose supeâ—stition leads them to bath in that reputed holy stream Siripur and Ciandecan the Seat of two old Princes not yet subdued by the Mogul Sagtagam reckoned of late too 15 Bengala taking name together with a famous Gulf from a City of great Trade seated on the Ganges whose holy waters enrich it also with a concourse of Pilgrims The rest are Gonro anciently the Seat of the Bengalan Kings Caligan a place once of Traffick as seated on the Gulf Taxda till the diversion of the Channel Porto Grande and Porto Pequeno two Towns built by the Portugheses adjoyning to the North of Bengala and therefore accounted part of it the City and Kingdom of Arachan India extra Gangem contains several Territories which are either large Kingdoms of themselves or are divided into divers lesser Kingdoms the first are six namely 1 Brama or Bâ—rma 2 Cauchin-China 3 Camboia 4 Iangoma 5. Siam 6 Pegu. 1 Brama is subdivided into these following lesser Kingdoms viz. Cavilan or Calum Prom Melinta Miranda Bacan Tangu â—va and Brama peculiarly so called all taking â—his appellation from their grand Cities and inhabited by the Brames or Bramines 2 Cauchin-China with its principal City of the same name it is divided into three Provinces each governed by his particular petty King but all under one Head and he tributary to the King of China 3 Camboia with its Capital City of the same name divided also into two inferior Provinces Champa and Camboia properly so called 4 Iangoma or the Countrey of the Laos divided into three Provinces Lavea Curroy and Iangoma strictly so called 5 Siam a Peninsula the same which of old was termed Aurea Câ—ersonesus or the Golden Cherâ—onese and supposed by some to be Solomon's Land of Ophir as the other tract of this part of India was called the Silver Region This Peninsula comprehends within it the Kingdoms of Malaca Patane Ior Muontay and Siam peculiarly so called Malaca denominated from its Emporium or City of greatest Trade belongs to the Portugheses who have also Sincapura and PaloZambilan Patane or as some say Pathane to distinguish it from that Patane already mentioned taking name also from its chief City where by the Queens leave for it hath of late been governed by Queens the English and Hollanders have their several Factories Muantay whose chief City Odia may be well reputed the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom of Siam being the Seat-Royal of the Siamese Kings it is situate like Venice upon several little Islands tack'd together with Bridges in the River Capumo Siam specially so called whose Cities of chiefest note are Socotai remarkable for a Temple 80 spans high all intirely made of metal Quedoa a Town of great Trade for Pepper of which the best sort is there to be had Tavy lying on the Sea-coast and bordering on the Kingdom of Pegu. Lugor near the Isthmus of the Chersonese Calantan peculiar to a petty Kingdom subordinate to the Crown of Siam Pegu divided into several lesser Kingdoms Verma Marin Martavan Orachan and Pegu peculiarly so called all denominated from their prevalent Cities besides which we find not in the three first any of remark but in Orachan there are also mentioned Dianga destroyed by the Portugheses who took it Ann. 1608. In Pegu Cosmi built of Canes of a vast circumference in the midst of a wilderness Coilan a quadrangular City whose four sides are said to consist of four miles a piece Dala chiefly memorable for the Stables of the Kings Elephants Lanagen delightfully seated among Palm-trees Tocabel and Dian both seated upon a River full of habitable Vessels as big as Gallies Meccao a place of retreat for the King by reason of its strong Castle in time of imminent danger but above all the Cities Pegu it self exceeds in strength pleasantness of situation and sumptuousness of building RUSSIA The Description of Russia RUSSIA sirnamed Alba to distinguish it from Russia Nigra a Province of Poland otherwise called also Moscovia from its chief Province is the greatest or rather only Empire of all Europe and one of the greatest of all the World extending from the 43 d to the 66th degree of Northern latitude the longest day in the most Southern parts 16 hours and an half and in the most Northern 22 hours and an half the length in terrestrial measure is reckoned from the Promontory Litamin vulgarly Cape Oby to the Town Czercassy 380 German miles the bredth from Corelenburgh a Town in the Confines of Finland to the River Ob near Lopin 300 German miles each German mile being equivalent to four of ours all under the Dominion of one Prince the Czar or Emperor of Russia otherwise stil'd the Great Duke of Moscovy It is bounded on the North with the frozen Sea on the East with Tartary on the South with part of Livonia a Province now belonging to the Kingdom of Poland and those Cremensian Tartars inhabiting the Southern Shores of Mar del Zabache and the Euxin or Black Sea on the West with certain Mountains and the River Polne which separates it from Livonia and Finland This large Countrey is judged to have been the principal habitation of the ancient Sarmatae or Sauromatae who yet besides what belongs at present to the Great Czar are concluded also to have possest all Borussia Livonia and Lithuania and that part of Moldovia between the Rivers Ister Tyra and Hierasus As to