are the Parallels which are set down in our Maps and Globes But there are another sort of Parallels two of which go to a Clime These are called Artificiall Parallels because they shew the difference of the Artificiall daies and are of an unequall bredth as we shall see in the Table following The use of these lesser Parallels is to shew the Climates 〈…〉 0 1 12 15 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 1 2 12 30 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 3 12 45 〈…〉 Heteroscii 2 4 13 0 〈…〉 〈…〉 〈…〉 5 13 15 〈…〉 3 6 13 30 〈…〉  〈…〉 7 13 45 〈…〉 4 8 14 0 30 47 6 9 Alexandria Aegypt 9 14 15 33 45 5 10 14 30 36 30 5 17 Rhodes and Babylon 11 14 45 39 2 6 12 15 0 41 22 4 3â— Rome and Helesspont 13 15 15 43 30 7 14 15 30 45 29 3 48 Venice and Mailaine 15 15 45 47 20 8 16 16 0 49 21 3 13 Podaâ—a and the Lesser Tartary 17 16 15 50 23 9 18 16 30 51 58 2 44 Battavia and Wittenberge 19 16 45 53 17 10 20 17 0 54 29 2 17 Rostoch 21 17 15 55 34 11 22 17 30 56 37 2 0 Ireland and Muscovy 23 17 45 57 34 12 24 18 0 58 26 1 40 Bohus a Castle in Norwey 25 18 15 59 14 13 26 18 30 59 59 1 26 Gothland 27 18 45 60 40 14 28 19 0 61 18 1 13 Bergen in Norwey 29 19 15 61 53 15 30 19 30 62 25 1 0 Wiburge in Finland 31 19 45 62 54 16 32 20 0 63 22 0 52 Arotia in Sweden 33 20 15 63 46 17 34 20 30 64 6 0 44 The mouth of Darecally a river of Sweeden 35 20 45 64 30 18 36 21 0 64 49 0 36 Divers places of Norwey 37 21 15 65 6 19 38 21 30 65 21 0 29 Suecia Alba Rusia 39 21 45 65 35 20 40 22 0 65 47 0 22 With many Ilands 41 22 15 65 57 21 42 22 30 66 6 0 17 Thereunto adjoyning 43 22 45 66 14 22 44 23 0 66 20 0 11 Wanting special names 45 23 15 66 25 23 46 23 30 66 28 0 5 And Land-markes 47 23 45 66 30 24 48 24 0 66 31 0 0 Island under the Artick circle Periscii Here the Climats are accounted by the moneths from 56 Degr. 31. min. where the day is 24 houres unto the Pole it selfe set at 90. Degrees where the artificiall day is six Menses  These Climats are supposed to passe by Diverse Ilands within the Artick circle as Groenland Island Greenland wherein as yet fr the narrownes of these climates comming near together and the uncertainty of observation no speciall places have been assigned as to the other 1 67 15 2 69 30 3 73 20 4 78 20 5 84 0 6 90 0 â—ow a Clime or Climate is a space of the Earth contained betwixt three Parallels the midlemost whereof divideth it into two equall parts serving for setting out the length and shortness of the daies in every Country For under the Aequator the daies are of the just length of 12 hours but afterwards they increase the length of half an hour for every Clime till they come to the length of 24 hours without night at all which length attained they increase no more by hours but by weeks and moneths till they come to the length of half a year So that we are to reckon 24 Climes Northward and as many Southward Those Northward known by the proper name of the place or City over which the middle Parallel of the Clime doth pass as Dia Meroes Dia Syenes c. Those on the South by the same names with the addition of Anti as Anti-Dia-Syenes Anti-Dia-Meroes c. 'T is true the antient Cosmographers made but 7 Climes in all at the most but nine Nor needed they to adde more as the case stood with them the extent of the habitable World towards each of the Poles not being so fully known to them as it is to us And here because those Climes are not of equall bredth or extent of Latitude but grow narrower and narrower towards each Pole in which regard it is impossible to describe them under any Rule I have thought fit to adde this ensuing Table partly framed out of the Commentaries of Clavius on the works of John de Sacro Bosco and partly out of Hues his Book Of the use of the Globes The whole divided into 7 Columns In the first whereof is shewed what Climes are inhabited by the Amphiscii Periscii and Heteroscii which terms we shall anon expound In the second is set down the number of the Climes themselves In the third the number of the Parallels In the fourth the length of the daies in Summer In the fifth the distance of every Clime and Parallel from the Aequator In the seventh the name of the Town or place thorough which the middlemost of the three Parallels doth pass in this manner following Here followeth the Table of the Climes A second use of these Parallels and other Circles is for distinction of men in their severall dwellings who are according as they are treated of in Geography divided in respect of their shaddows into Amphiscii Periscii Heteroscii and in respect of their site and position into Antoeci Perïoeci and Antipodes Amphiscii are such as dwell between the two Tropicks so called because their shadows are both wayes sometimes when the Sun is North to the South sometimes when the Sun is South to the North. Periscii are such as dwell beyond the Polar circles so called because their shadows are on all sides of them Heteroscii are such as dwell in either of the two temperate Zones so called because their shadows reach but one way viz. in our Zone to the North onely as in the other to the South onely Antoeci are such as dwell under the same Meridian and the same Latitude or Parallel equally distant from the Aequator the one Northward the other Southward the daies in both places being of a length but the Summer of the one being the others Winter Perioeci are such as dwell in the same Parallel on the same side of the Aequator how distant soever they be East and West the season of the year and the length of dayes being to both alike but the ones midnight being the others noon Antipodes are such as dwell feet to feet so as a right line drawn from the one unto the other passeth from North to South through the center of the World These are distant 180 degrees which is half the compass of the Earth They differ in all things as seasons of the year length of daies rising and setting of the Sun with the like A matter reckoned so ridiculous and impossible if not somewhat worse in the former times that Boniface Arch-Bishop of Mentz hapning to see a Tractate written by Virgilius Bishop of Saltzburg touching the Antipodes and not knowing what damnable Doctrine might be couched under that strage name made
made subject to the Norwegians sometimes to the Swedes but alwayes without Law and order till by their King Godfrey or Gotricuâ— they were regulated by Laws and reduced to an orderly kinde of life anno 797. About this time they first began to infest the Coasts of England invaded Friseland with a Fleet of 200 sayl and had much weakened and indangered the great Empire of France if the unseasonable death of Godfrey and the quarrels which arose about the succession after his decease had not kept them off Their affaires at home being againe well setled they employed their whole Forces against England as the weaker Enemy over which they tyrannised 250 yeares and reigned 28 under three Kings of that Nation Outed of that and the terrour of their name being over they have been most busied with their neighbours of Sweden and Germanie improving their estate but rather by marriages and civill contracts then by force of Armes with the addition of the kingdome of Norwey and the Dukedome of Holstein their pretentions to and for a time the possession of the Crown of Sweden getting them nothing in conclusion but blows and losses So that we have no more to doe then to summe up a catalogue of the kings hereof till the uniting of the two Crowns of Denmark and Norwey leaving the rest that follow to another place The KINGS of DENMARK A. Ch. 797 1 Gotricus the first Legislator of the Danes and the establisher of their Kingdome a prudent and valiant Prince 2 Olaus son of Gotricus or Godfrey 3 Henningus son of Olaus 873 4 Siward son to a daughter of Godfrey by the King of Norwey 5 Regnier son of Siward 6 Siward II. 7 Ericus or Henricus baptized at Mentz at the same time with his brother Harald recovered the kingdom to his house of which they had been outed by the race of Godfrey 8 Canutus the son of Ericus the heathenish son of a Christian and pious Father 880 9 Froto the son of Canutus a professed Christian 886 10 Gormo our English writers call him Gormund son of Froto 889 11 Harald the son of Gormo or Gormond 900 12 Gormo II. son of Harald an enemie of the Christian Faith 927 13 Harald II. son of Gormo the second a good Christian 975 14 Sueno or Swain son of Harald at first a great Enemy of the Gospell an Usurper of the throne in his Fathers life time and a great scourge unto the English Outed of his Estate by Ericus of Swethland he received the Gospell regained his Kingdome and established Christianity in this kingdome his war on England still continuing 1010 15 Olaus the eldest son of Swaine King of Denmark and Norwey 1020 16 Canutus brother of Olaus the first King of England of the Danes succeeded his brother in the kingdomes of Denmark and Norwey to which hee added also the Crowne of Sweden 1037 17 Canutus III. sonne of Canutus the second the last king of England of the race of the Danes 18 Magnus son of Olaus King of Norwey 1051 19 Sueno II. sisters son of Canutus the second by Vlfo an English Duke 1074 20 Harald III. base son of Sueno the second 21 Canutus IV. another of the base sons of Sueno murdered at the Altar in the Church of Ottensee in the Isle of Fionia afterwards canonized a Saint 1088 22 Olaus II. another of the base sons of Swain 1096 23 Ericus II. another of the base sons of Swain the founder of the Archiepiscopall See of Lunden 1102 24 Harald IV. base son of Henry or Ericus the second 1133 25 Nicolas another of the base sons of Swain 1135 26 Ericus III. another of the base sons of Ericus the second 1140 27 Ericus IV. commonly called the fifth some of the younger houses being reckoned in nephew of Ericus the second 1150 28 Sueno III. son of Ericus the third and Canutus the fifth Grandchild of Nicolas both kings the first raigning in Scandia the other in Juitland both dead without issue Canutus being slain by Sueno and he by Waldemar 1157 29 Waldemar son of Canutus the lawfull son of Ericus the second after the interposition of so many Bastards succeded at the last in the throne of his Fathers By his means the Rugians and Vandals imbraced the Gospell 1185 30 Canutus V. sonne of Waldemar 1203 31 Waldemar II. brother of Canutus and Duke of Sleswick 1243 32 Ericus V. called the VII son of Waldemar the second slain by the practises and treason of his brother Abel 1251 33 Abel brother of Ericus slain by the Paisants of Friseland 1252 34 Christopher brother of Abel and Ericus 1260 35 Ericus VI. VIII son of Christopher 1287 36 Ericus VII IX younger son of Ericus supplanted his elder brother Christopher 1327 37 Christopher II. eldest son of Ericuss first dispossessed of his birth-right by his brother Ericus after whose death he succeeded in the Crown by the help of his halfe Brother the Earl of Holst 1334 38 Waldemar III. son of Christopher the second against whom and his eucrochments the Sea towns commonly called the Hanse did first confederate and vanquished him in many battels 1376 39 Margaret daughter and heir of Waldemar the third marryed with Aquin king of Norway so uniting the Kingdoms of whom and their successours we shall speak hereafter when we have tooke a view also of the kingdome of Norwey and the Appendixes thereof NORWEY NORWEY is bounded on the East with Swethland from which parted by a perpetuall ridge of rough and wilde mountaines called the Dofrine hills on all other parts by the Sea that is to say by that frozen Sea upon the North the German Norwegian Ocean upon the West and on the South with the Danish Sea interposing betwixt it and the Cimbrick Chersonese in breadth from Schagen the most northern point of Juitland to Congell the most Southerly town of Norwey no lesse then 250 miles It is called Norwey quasi tractus seu via Septentrionalis from the Northern situation of it containing in length 1300 miles in breadth not above halfe so much inhabited by a people given to hospitality plain dealing and abhorring theft Antiently they were great warriers and became terrible to all the more Southerne Nations by whom called Normans that is to say Homines Boreales or Northmen as Willielmus Gemiticensis rightly hath it being at that time a mixture of all the Northern Nations together or of the Norwegians and Swethlanders a part from the Danes whose steps they followed in their frequent or rather continuall Piracies on the Coasts of England France and Ireland By Helmoldus in the same sense they are called Nordluidi a name made into Latine out of the Dutch word Nord and the French word leiu signifying men of a Northern place or Nation Of the position of it in regard of the Heavens we have spoke already but more particularly it reacheth from the first Parallel of the twelfth Clime where the Pole is elevated 58 degrees 26 minutes as far as to
Chaldaea into Canâ—â—n A. M. 2021. Fifthly from their deliverance out of Egypt A. M. 2453. Sixthly from the first yeer of Jubilee A. M. 2499. Seventhly from the building of Solomons Temple An. 2932. And lastly from the Captivity of Babylon An. 3357. That which they had common with other Nations was the Aera or Epoche of the Victory of the Greeks which took beginning on the first Victory which Seleucus had against Antigonus which was in A. M. 3637. an Accompt much used by the Jews Chaldaeans Syrians and other Nations of the East But the Chaldaeans also had their own Epoche or Accompt apart reckoning their time from the first yeer of Nabonassar Salmanassar he is called in Scripture which being 438. yeers before this of Seleucus must fall in A. M. 3201. Next for the Grecians they reckoned a long while by Olympiaeies the first of which is placed in the yeer of the World 3174. of which more hereafter But this Accompt perishing under the Constantinopolitans they reckoned after by Indictions an Accompt devised by Justinian every Indiction containing 15. yeers the first beginning A. Ch. 513. which amongst Chronologers is still used The Romans reckoned first from the foundation of their City which was A. M. 3213 and afterwards from the sixteenth yeer of Augustus his Empire being that which properly is called the Roman Aera A. M. 3936. An Accompt used by the Spaniards where it first began till the Reign of Pedro the fourth of Aragon who abrogated it in his Dominions An Ch. 1350. followed therein by John the first of Castile An. 1383. and at last by the King of Portugal also 1415. The Christians generally do reckon from the Birth of CHRIST but this they did not use till the yeer 600. following in the mean time the Accompt of the Empire And finally the Mahometans beginning their Hegira for so they call the time of their Computation from the flight of their Prophet Mahomet from Mecca when he was driven thence by the Phylarchae which hapned A. Ch. 617. Of these we shall make use generally but of two alone those namely of the Worlds Creation and our Saviours Birth and of the building of Rome and the flight of Mahomet in things that do relate to those severall States Next for Geographie we will first define it and after explicate such terms or second notions as are not obvious to the understanding of every Reader First for the definition of it it is said by Ptolomie to be a description of the whole Earth or the whole Earth imitated by writing and delineation with all other things generally annexed unto it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is commonly but corruptly read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as his own words are In which we look not on the Earth simply as it is an Element for so it belongeth to Philosophy but as it is a Sphaericall body proportionably composed of Earth and Water and so it is the subject of Geography First for the Earth which is the first part of this body it is affirmed by the best Writers to be 21600. miles in compass which is demonstrable enough For being there are in every of the greater Circles 360. degrees every degree being reckoned at 60. miles let 360. be multiplied by 60. and the Product will be 21600. as before is said So that if it were possible to make a path round about the Earth an able Footman going constantly 24. miles a day would compass it in 900. days The Earth is divided In respect of men into the right hand and the left In respect of it self into parts Reall and Imaginary To Poets which turn their Faces towards the Fortunate Islands so memorized and chanted by them the which are situated in the West the North is the right hand and the South the left To the Augures of old and in our days to Priests and Men in holy Orders who usually in their Sacrifices and divine Oblations conâ—veâ—t themselves unto the East the South is the right hand and the North the left To Astronomers who turn their faces towards the South because that way the motions of the Planets may be best observed the West is the right hand and the East the left Finally to Geographers who by reason they have so much to do with the Elevation of the Pole do turn their faces towards the North the East is the right hand and the West the left The Reall parts of the Earth are divided commonly into Continents Ilands A Continent is a great quantity of Land not separated by any Sea from the rest of the World as the whole Continent of Europe Asia Africa or the Continents of France Spain Germany An Iland is a part of the Earth environed round about with some Sea or other as the Isle of Britain with the Ocean the Isle of Sicilie with the Mediterranean and therefore in Latine it is called Insula because it is situate in Salo as some derive it Touching the Continent I have nothing in general to inlarge til we come to the particular Chorography description of them But for Ilands leaving the disquisition of their being or not being before the Flood there are four causes to which they may be thought to owe their Originall 1. An Earthquake which works two waies towards their production First when by it one part of a Countrey is forcibly torne away from the other and so Eubâ—â—â— was divided from the rest of Attica And Secondly when some vehement wind or vapour being shut up in such parts of the Earth as be under the Sea raiseth the Earth above the Water whereunto the Originall of most of those Ilands which are far remote from any part of the Continent is probably to be referred 2. Great Rivers at their entry into the Sea carry with them abundance of gravell dirt and weeds which if the Sea be not the more working will in time settle to an Iland So the Corn which Tarquinius sowed in the Campus Martius being cut down by the people and cast into Tiber setled together and made the Holy Iland So the River Achelous caused the Echinades as anon we shall more at large declare 3. The Sea violently beating on some small Isthmus weareth it thorough and turneth the Peniusula into a compleat Isle Thus was Sicilie divided from Italie Cyprus from Syria England from France and Wight from the rest of England And 4. sometimes as it eateth and worketh on some places so it voluntarily leaveth and abandoneth others which in sometime grow to be Ilands and firm land under foot So it is thought the Isles of Zeland have been once part of the main Sea and Verstegan proveth it because that the Husbandmen in tilling and manuring the ground finde sometimes Anchors here and there fixt but very often the bones of huge and great fishes which could by no other accident come thither To these kinde of Ilands Pythagoras in Ovid alluding
saith Vidi factas ex aequore terras Et procul à pelago conchae jacnere marinae Et verus inventa est in montibus anchor a summis Oft have I seen that earth which once I knew Part of the Sea so that a man might view Huge shells of fishes in the upland ground And on the Mountain tops old Anchors found As concerning the situation of Ilands whether commodious or not this is my judgement I find in Machiavel that for a Citie whose people covet no Empire but their own Towns a barren place is better than a fruitfull because in such seats they are compelled to work and labour by which they are freed from idleness and by consequence from riotousness But for a City whose Inhabitants desire to enlarge their confines a fertile place was rather to be chosen than a sterill as being move able to nourish multitudes of people The like I say of Ilands If a Prince desire rather to keep than augment his Dominions no place sitter for his abode than an Iland as being by it self and nature sufficiently defensible But if a King be minded to adde continually to his Empire an Iland is no fit seat for him because partly by the uncertainty of Winds and Seas partly by the longsomness of the waies he is not so well able to supply and keep such forces as he hath on the Continent An example hereof is England which hath even to admiration repelled the most puissant Monarch of Europe but for the causes above mentioned cannot shew any of her winnings on the firm land though she hath attempted and atchieved as many glorious exploits as any Country in the World The Continent and Iland are sub-divided into Peninsula Isthmus Promontorium Peninsula quasi pene Insula is a tract of land which being almost encompassed round by water is joyned to the firm land by some little Isthmus as Peloponnesus Taurica and Peruana Isthmus is that little narrow neck of land which joyneth the Peninsula to the Continent as the Streights of Dariene in America and Corinth in Greece Promontorium is a high Mountain which shooteth it self into the Sea the outmost end of which is called a Foreland or Cape as the Cape of Good Hope in Africk Cape Comari in India c. The Imaginary parts of the Earth are such which not being at all in the Earth must yet be supposed to be so for the better teaching and learning this Science and are certain Circles going about the Earth answerable to them in Heaven in name These Circles are either the Greater Lesser in both which there are 360. Degrees which in the greater Circles are greater than those in the lesser and every Degree in the greater is 60. miles The greater Circles are either Immutable as the Aequator Mutable as the Horizon Meridian The Aequator is a great Circle going round about the Terrestiall Globe from East to West It passeth through Habassia Sumatra Guiana c. The use of it is to shew the Latitude of any Town Promontory c. Now the Latitude is the distance of a place South or North from the Aequator or middle of the World and must be measured on the Globe by the Degrees in the Meridian The Meridian is a great Circle rounding the earth from Pole to Pole There are many Meridians according to the divers places in which a man liveth but the chief and first Meridian passeth through the Island St. Michael one of the Azores The use of it is to shew the Longitude of any place Now the Longitude of a Citie Cape c. is the distance of it East and West from the first Meridian and is usually measured on the Globe by the Degrees of the Aequator The Horizon is a great Circle designing so great a space of the earth as a quick sight can ken in an open field The use of it is to discern the divers risings and settings of the Stars The lesser Circles either are Noted with some name as Tropicall of Cancer Capricorn Polar either Artick Antartick Noted with no distinct name and are the Parallels The Tropick of Cancer so called of the Caelestiall sign Cancer is distant from the Equinoctiall 2â— Degrees Northward and passeth through Barbary and India China and Nova Hispania The Tropick of Capricorn equally distant from the Aequator Southward passeth through Ethiopia inferior and the midst of Peruana And this is to be observed in these Tropicks that when the Sun is in the Tropick of Cancer our daies are at the longest and when he is gone back to the Tropick of Capricorn the daies are at the shortest The first they call the Summer the last they call the Winter Solstice the first hapning on or about St. Barnabies day in June the last on or about St. Lucies day in December The Artick Circle so called for that it is correspondent to the Constellation in Heaven called the Bear in Greek Arcâ—os is distant from the Tropick of Cancer 45 Degrees and passeth through Norway Muscovy Tartary c. The Antartick Circle so called because opposite to the other is as much distant from the Tropick of Capricorn and passeth through Terra Austrialis Incognita The use of these four Circles is to describe the Zones The Zones are spaces of earth included betwixt two of the lesser nominate Circles They are in number five one over-hot two over-cold and two temperate The over-hot or Torrid Zone is betwixt the two Tropicks continually scorched with the presence of the Sun The two over-cold or Frigid Zones are situate between the two Polar Circles and the very Poles continually wanting the neighbourhood of the Sun The two temperate Zones are betwixt the Tropick of Cancer and the Artick and 'twixt the Tropick of Capricorn and the Antartick Circles enjoying an indifferency between heat and cold so that the parts next the Torrid Zone are the hotter and the parts next the Frigid Zone are the colder These five Zones are disposed according to the order of the Zones in heaven of which thus Ovid Metamorph. 1. Utque duae dextra coelum totidemque sinistra Parte secant Zonae quinta est ardentior illis Sic onus inclusum numero distinxit eodem Cura dei totidemque plagae tellure premuntur Quarum quae media est non est habitabilis aestu Nix tegit alta duas totidem inter utramque locavit Temperiemque dedit mista cum Frigore Flamma And as two Zones do cut the Heavens right-side And likewise other two the left divide The midst in heat excelling all the rest Even so it seem'd to the Creator best That this our World should so divided be That with the Heavens in Zones it might agree The midst in heat the outwardmost excell In Snow and Ice scarce fit for men to dwell Betwixt these two extremes two more are fixt Where heat with cold indifferently is mixt Parallels called also Aequidistants circle the Earth from East to West and are commonly ten Degrees asunder Such
Imperiall Crown and Scepter with the titles of Caesar and Augustus given at every word would think that the whole action did take life from him Whereas indeed he hath not so much priviledge as a negative voice but is to put in execution such Decrees and Sanctions as these â—states assembled have thought fit to make not able to doe any Act by his own authority which may speak him Emperour But on the other side the Princes take power unto themselves of making laws for and impoâ—ing taxes on their subjects of raising war upon one another or against a third and doing many other Acts of supreme authoritie which in the Emperour would be counted matters of mal-administration Such points as these together with the appointing of Judges and the like chief Magistrates as they relate unto the Empire are not to be concluded of but in generall Diets which may be summoned by or without the Emperour as occasion serveth And to this weakning of the majestie and power Imperiall the neighbouring Princes have afforded their best assistance jealous of their own interesse and decrease of power if that vast body so well limbed 〈◊〉 be strongly jointed and all the severall Members of it united under the command of one Supreâ—â— head Clear proof whereof we have in those solemn leagues and confederations made in their severall times against Charls the 5. and the late Emperour Ferdinand the 2. as soon as they began to be in some possibilitie of setling the Imperiall majestie in its proper splendour and bringing down the Princes to a lower pitch As for the Forces of the Empire for by that name we are to measure the abilities and power of Germanie we may discern them by those Levies which have been raised upon particular occasions or by the joint consent of the Free Estates assembled in the Imperiall Diets First for particular Levies made by private persons we find 12000 Foot and 8000 Horse raised by the Prince Palatine of Zweybruck for aid of the French Hugonots against their King and on the other side no fewer then 7000 Horse under the conduct of the Duke of Aumal and the Earl of Mansfield for the service of that King against the Hugonots And as for Levies made by consent of the States we find that Charls the 5. had under his Ensigns at Vienna 90000 Foot and 35000 Horse Maximilian the 2. at Javerin in Hungarie 34000 Horse and full 100000 Foot and finally that in the war betwixt Charls the 5. and the Protestant Princes there were no lesse then 150000 men on both sides which numbers no one Countrie in Europe is able to equall In a word it is generally conceived that the Empire is able to raise 200000 Horse and Foot with Arms Canon and Ammunition of all sorts proportionable which the instances before brought do most plainly evidence Touching the Revenue of the Empire I find them estimated by Boterus and some others since at seven millions of Crowns yearly Which may be true enough taking the Kingdoms of Hungarie and Bohemia with the hereditary Estates of Austria into the accompt But since they are not so united unto the Empire but they may at some time or other be disjoined again no reason they should come into the reckoning unlesse it be as the Revenue of the Emperour though not of the Empire But as for the Revenue of the Empire it self taken abstractedly from the personall and patrimoniall Estate of the Emperour whosoever he be it can amount to no such sum the tribute paid by the Free or Imperiall Cities at least 60 in number amounting to no more per annum then 15000 Florent or 1500 l. English and what is that but like a Pepper corn for a quit-rent in that mighty Continent By this we may conjecture what the rest may come to And though in the way of saving charges which may be reckoned as a part of his income also the Princes and Free Cities be bound to aid him in the time of war against the Turk with 3842 Horse and 16200 Foot which he may challenge without troubling the Diets for it yet war is such a great devourer that if the Diets doe not grant him greater helps he is like to be but a sorry gainer by the undertaking besides the smalnesse of those forces considered with the numbers they are able to raise and the puissance of the enemie whom they are to encounter Finally for the Arms of the Empire they are Sol an Eagle displayed with two heads Saturn armed and crowned Mars the two heads signifying as some think the Eastern and the Western Empires Cuspinian a learned German conceives rather that these Arms are two Eagles conjoined and not one Eagle with two heads and that they were taken up by the German Nation in memorie of the three Legions of Quintilius Varus discomfited by them at what time they seised on two of the Roman Eagles the Militarie Ensign of that people the third being cast into the Fennes by the Standard bearer But whether it be one or two certain it is that the one head is quite pulled off and the whole bodie quite stripped of all its Feathers the Imperiall dignitie being little more then titular dispoiled and stript of all Authority appertaining to it There are in Germanie Archbishops 6. Bishops 34. Universities 21. Viz. 1 Colen 2 Triers 3 Ments 4 Heidelberg 5 Tubingen 6 Ingolstade 7 Viennae 8 Herborn 9 Hanaw 10 Wirtenberg 11 Friberg 12 Altorf 13 Prague 14 Olmunts 15 Frankford 16 Rostock 17 Gripswald 18 Jene 19 Lipsique 20 Wittenberg 21 Marpurg And so much for GERMANIE OF DENMARK THE Kingdome of DENMARK or DENEMARK reckoning in the additions of the Dukedom of Holstein and the great continent of Norway with the Isles thereof now all united and incorporated into one Estate is bounded on the East with the Baltick Sea and some part of Sweden on the West with the main Western Ocean on the North-east with a part of Sweden full North with the main Frozen Seas and on the South with Germanie from which divided on the South-west by the River Albis and on the South-east by the Trave a little Isthmus or neck of Land uniting it to that Continent It tooke this name from the Danes of long times the Inhabitants and Possessours of it so called quasi Danorum tractus sive Regio as Mercator hath it because the Countrie of that people but rather quasi Danorum limes the bounds or marches of the Danes bordering close upon the Dutch from whom it had the name of Danemarch As for the situation of it in regard of the Heavens it lieth partly in the Northern temperate Zone and partly within the Artick Circle extending from the middle Parallel of the tenth Clime or 55. degree of Latitude where it joineth with Germanie as far as the 71 degree where it hath no other bound but the Frozen Ocean By which accompt the longest day in the most Southern parts hereof is 17 hours and
the 71 degree of latitude By which accompt the longest day in the Southern point is but 18 houres whereas at Wardbuys being situate furthest North of all this Countrey they have no night for almost three whole moneths together The Countrey for the most part rocky mountainous and barren full of vast woods extreme cold and but ill inhabited In the best parts thereof if affords little corn and in the most northern none at all in so much that the common sort of people are fain to use dryed fish that which we commonly call stock-fish in stead of bread But the better that is the richer sort buy corn of such Merchants as come to traffick with them Their chief commodities are stock fish rich furres train-oyle pitch and tackling for ships as masts cables deal-bords and the like which the inhabitants exchange for corn wine fruits beer and other necessaries for mans life The Countrey is exceedingly troubled with certain little beasts which they call â—â—mmers They are about the bignesse of a field mouse and are by the inhabitants said to drop out of the clouds in tempestuous weather They devoure like the Locusts every green thing on the earth and at a certain time dye all in heaps as it were together and with their stench so poison the air that the poor people are long after troubled with the Jaundies and with a giddinesse in the head But these beasts come not so often to infect the land as the Whales doe to terrifie and molest the shores the Western Seas being very deep and therefore a fit habitation for those great Leviathans against whose violence and surie the Mariners and peopel of the Seacoast have found a Remedie which is by casting out some water intermixed with the oyl of Castor the smell whereof doth force them to retire immediately Without this helpe there were no fishing on these Coasts which is the greatest Staple commodity besides materials for shipping which the Countrey yeeldeth The Towns here are exceeding thin and in them the houses for the most part very poore and miserable commonly paâ—ched up of durt and hurdles not much unlike our ordinary Cottage houses in the Fen-Countreys Distributed into five Prefectures or Governments according to the number of the Castles which command the same Of these 1 The first most towards the South is the Castle of BOHVS to which are subject the townes of 1 Marstrand seated in a Demi Island begirt with Rocks of most note for the infinite quantity of berings caught hereabouts 2 Congel upon the Sea a town of Merchandise opposite to Schagen in Denmark 3 Oddewald 2 AGGERHVIS the second of the five Royall Castles hath under its command the townes of 1 Anslo or Asloia on a Bay or Gullet opposite to Juitland an Episcopall See and of most esteeme of all the Countrey by reason of the Courts of Judicature which are therein held 2 Tonsberg or Koningâ—berg that is to say the Kings or the Kingly Mountain formerly a retiring place of the Kings of Norwey 3 Fredrichstrad built by one of the Fredericks Kings of Danemark 4 Schin or Schon remarkable for its Mines of iron and copper 5 Saltzburg 6 Hammar the greater and 7 Hammar the lesse divided by the interposing of the Bay called Sinus Moesianus in former times the See of a Bishop since removed to Astoia or rather thereunto united in these later times as many poore Bishopricks bee in Ireland 3 BEGGER-HVSE is the third Castle of command herein Subordinate whereunto are 1 Bergen the principall Town of the countrey an Episcopall See and the ordinary residence of the Governour for the Kings of Denmark situate amongst high mountaines at the bottome of a deep Creek or arâ— of the Ocean called Carmesunt a noted Port and much resorted to by Merchants of most foraine Nations bringing in corn meat bread beer wine and Aqua vitae to supply the naturall wants and defects hereof and in exchange transporting hence fish furres cordage and other materials for shipping In which regard accounted formerly one of the four chief staple Townes of the Dutch Merchants of the Hanse the other three being London in England Novagrod in Muscovie and Bruges in Flanders But of late time this Bergen hath lost most of its trade removed hence to Wardhuis neerer unto Muscovie as the great town of Novogrod by reason of the change of navigation through the Baltick into the Northern passage hath given way to S. Nicolas and Bruges was deprived of her traffick by Antwerp from whence it is removed to Amsterdam For the Hollanders by blocking up the haven but especially by keeping Bergen ap Zome have such a command over the river that no vessell can passe or repasse without their licence 2 Staffanger an Episcopall See also but not else observable 4 The Castle of TRVND-HEIM is the fourth situate in the Town of Trondheim formerly called Tronden and in Latine Niâ—rosia the See of an Archbishop who is the Metropolitan of Norwey A beautifull City heretofore but since the subjection of this Countrey unto the Danes reduced to a Burrough so called of the River Nider upon which it is seated and Rosa the name then of the principall Church which in time gave place to the Cathedrall for greatnesse and neatnesse of the fabrick all of polished stone not giving place to any in Europe about the year 1530 much defaced with fire which began at the Altar the damage done by it being estimated at 7000 Crowns A great summe of money in those times and so poore a countrey So that by casting up our reckoning wee finde in Norwey one Archbishop and four Bishops that is to say the Archbishop of Trundheim or Nidrosia the Bishops of Bergen Anslo Staffanger and Hammar Of the same power jurisdiction and revenue since the Reformation as those of Denmark whereof and of the first conversion of this people to the Christian Faith we have spoke already 5 The fifth and last Castle which commands this contrey is that of WARDHVYS so called of the town of Wardhuys as that is from the Isle Ward in which it is seated A small Castle and the town in former times but mean and poore situate in the extreme North point of all this Kingdom but in those times accounted as it easily might for the chief of this Prefecture and honored in the summer time with the seat and residence of the Governour retiring more Southwards in the winter at what time by reason of the extremity of the cold and long absence of the Sun for months together the Town lying within the Artick Circle it is hardly habitable But of late times it is much improved both in wealth and building by reason of the removall of the English trading from Novogrod near the Baltick Sea to the Town of St. Nicolas not far hence drawing by that means the trade of Muscovie and Norwey more neere together So that now it is not onely usefull unto the Danes in regard that it
the Poets so often speak of as Tibi serviat ultima Thule in Virgil Nec sit terris ultima Thule in Seneca the Tragedian nor did there want some reason to perswade them to this opinion this being indeed the furthest part of the old known world But greater reasons are against it For when Solinus saith multae sunt circa Britannicum insulae equibus Thule ultima I hope Thule must be one of the British Isles And when Tacitus saith of Agricola inâ—ulas quas Orcadas vocant domuit despecta est Thule I am sure that Iseland is so far from being kenned at any one of the Orcades that it is at least eight degrees distant So that Thule must be sought for in another place and where that is hath beene shewed already And as for Iseland it was so farre from being known unto the Antients that it was hardly known unto those of Norwey till the yeare 874. when some of the Norwegians driven out of their countrey by Harald the first who first suppressing the many Petite Kings of the Norwegians made many of them secke new dwellings of which some few arrived here where finding roome enough to plant in and no great losse if any by the change of their dwelling they invited many of their friends and countreymen to come unto them Anno 1070 they were converted to the Gospell by some Preachers sent hither from Adelbert the Archbishop of Breme By whose perswasion and procurement they founded two Episcopall Sees adding thereto in tract of time eight Religious houses that is to say the Monasteries of Pingore Remestâ—de Modur and Monkeniâ—re under the Government and jurisdiction of the Bishop of Hallar and those of Vedey Pernebar Kircâ—ebar and Skirde under the Bishop of Schaâ—holt In the year 1260. it was first brought under the Crown of Norwey following since that the fortunes of it in all changes both of Church and State made subject with it to the Kings of Denmark together with it reformed in matters of Religion according to the confession of Ausbourg retaining still their Bishops with a limited power and turning the Revenues of their Monasteries unto other uses as there they did according to the will and pleasure of their Lords of Denmark II. Southwest of Iseland lies another and as cold an Isle commonly called by the name of FREEZELAND from the continuall Frosts unto which it is subject By the Latines it is called Frizlandia to distinguish it from Frisia or Friseland in Germany Situate under the North frigid zone but not so much within the Arctick as Iseland is the longest day here in the height of summer not exceeding 20 houres and yet the soyl so cold and barren that it beareth neither corn nor srunit the Inhabitants living most on fish which as it is their onely food so is it also their chief commoditie wherewith to entertain or invite the Merchant And hereof there is such aboundance caught upon their coasts that they are never without the company of Hansemen Scots Hollanders Danes and English by which last so frequented in these later times that it hath beene called by some the Western England For quantity it is somewhat bigger then Iseland but by reason of the bitter air and the defects above mentioned very thinly inhabited The chief Town of it is called Freezeland by the name of the Island situate on the Eastern shore of it Besides which there are some others set down in the maps as 2 Samescot 3 Andefort 4 Sorund but not much observable Westward hereof as Zieglerus and out of him Maginus telleth us is a lesse Island called Icaria giving the name of Marc Icarium to the Sea adjoining so called by his mistake or translation of the Fable from 〈◊〉 the son of Daedalâ—s a King of Scotland who did once but no body knows when Lord it over these Islands III. GROENLAND so called as some say from the greennesse of it in the Summer as others say by Antiphrasis because never greene by reason of the sharpnesse of winter But the former Etymâ—lâ—gie is more agreeable to the state of the Countrey For though it be continually covered with snow except in June July and August insomuch that though the people bee alwayes clad with Furres and skinnes yet they feel no heat yet in those months it is exceeding fresh and green and afford's good pasturage It is situate for the greatest part within the Arctick between the 65 and 77 degrees of Northern Latitude so that the longest day in the southern part is 21 houres and an halfe and in the most northern they have no night for three months and two weeks The known length of it is affirmed to be 600 miles and may be much longer then so for ought that any body knows there being no perfect discovery made of it hitherto though much frequented by the English and Hollanders two great Sea-faring Nations for the benefit of Whale-fishing much there in use Their chief commodities are Fish white Bears wilde Deer and some store of Cattell there bred upon their pastures but housed for the most part all the Winter the greatest part of the people dwelling in Caves and delighting in Negromancy to which more wilfully addicted then those in Iseland because lesse acquainted with the Gospell Places of most importance in it are 1 Saint Thomas in which there is a Monastery of Dominion Friers seated in the north-east part of the Iland concerning which Mereator speaks of one thing which is very observable relating that it is not farre from a flaming or burning mountain seated upon hot scalding springs conveyed by pipes of stone into the Mâ—nastery and serving both as a stove to warm them and for a fire to boyle their Victuals The walls of the Monastery built of Pumice stones cast out of that Mountain which being tempered with the water of those burning springs doth make a glutinous substance serving in stead of Lime and as long durable The Gardens of the Convent in regard of this heat flourish all the yeer with hearbs and sweet-smelling flowers and the adjoyning Sea for the same reason being never frozen affords good plenty of Fish and Fowl the whole year about not onely for the Monkes but the neighbouring Ilanders so farre and to this purpose he The second Towne of note is Ilva not farre from this Monastery And 3 Munderpre on the South-east point Others as in a Country not well discovered we have little notice of though it be neer 300 yeereâ— since Nicolas Zeni a Venetian cast by tempest on the coast of Freeze-land and by the King thereof employed upon new discoveries anno 1380. first made it known to us of Europe immediately on that discovery possessed by the NORWEGIANS and made a Member of that Crown As for the NORWEGIANS themselves now their fellow-subjects they were first known in the time of Ptolemy by the name of Chedini possessing then the western parts of Scandia Uniting with their neighbours both Danes and
and crushed the Grecians beginning then to cast off the yoke of Macedon 12. 3745 10 Philip the son of Demetrius 42. 3787 11 Perjeus the son of Philip the last King of Macedon the subversion of which estate was first begun in the time of his Father who had not onely warred upon the Aetolians and others of the Greekes whom the Romans had taken into their protection but fided with Hannibal against them Upon which grounds they sent first Titus Qu. Flaminius one of their Consuls by whom Philip was vanquished at the battell of Cukos-cephalos and his Kingdome made tributary unto Rome After which picking a quarrell against Perseus also managed with variable successe by Licinius Martius and others of their Commanders they dispatched Paulus Aemilius with an Army into Macedon to bring him to absolute subjection Who sped so well that Macedon was made a Province of the Roman Empire and Perseus led captive unto Rome anno 3789. In which triumph besides the pomp of leading a Captive King in bonds Aemilius caused the ready money which he brought out of Greece to be carryed in 750 Vessels every vessell containing 3 Talents which made so infinite a summe that the Roman people were free for many years after from all taxes and impositions 3798 Macedon thus made a Province of the Roman Empire and afterwards divided into three parts or Provinces that is to say Macedonia Prima Macedonia Secunda or Salutaris and Prevalitana in the new modell of Constâ—â—â—ne became a Diocese the Diocese hereof containing the Provinces of Crete Achaia old and now Fpirus Macedonia Prima and the greatest part of Salutaris the residue of Salutaris and Prevalitana which makes up the Countrey now called Albania being laid to the Diocese of Dacia It continued part of the Eastern Empire till towards the last fatall dissolution of it though many times harassed and depopulated by the Sclavonians Bulgarians Rosses and others of the barbarous people at their severall invasions of it finally conquered by the Turkes first under the conduct of Bajazet their fourth king taking Nicopolis a town hereof bordering on Thrace and lying North of Sinus Strimenius now the Bay of Contesso and after under Amurath the second their fixt King making themselves masters of The ssalonica the chief City of it and therewith of all the countrey By reason of which many invasions and last desolation by the Turkes there is scarse one of all those many Cities before mentioned now of any eminence except Thessalonica onely the rest being miserably destroyed And for the Countrey it selfe it is governed by a Turkish Sanziack under the Beglerbeg of Greece his annual Revenew being but 8000 Crownes nor any thing else required of him then to maintaine 100 horse in ordinary pay for defence of his Province and to finde 400 Horse on extraordinary occasions as the Grand Signeur shall command him 7 THRACE THRACE hath on the East Pontus Euxinus Propontis and Hellespont on the West Macedon on the North the hill Hoemus on the South the Aegoean Sea and part of Macedon A very large and goodly Province extending 20 dayes journey in length 7 dayes journey in breadth and in relation to the heavens reaching unto the 44 degree of Northern latitude so that the longest day in summer is about 15 houres three quarters By severall men according to the times they lived in it hath been called by divers names by Stephanus Aria by Suidas Odryss by Lycephron Crestona by some writers Scythia by Josephus the Hebrew Thyras But generally it is called Thrace or Thracia and that as some say from Thrax the son of Mars as others from Thraca an Inchantresse more probably from the serity and barbarous condition of the first Inhabitants the name in the Originall Greek bearing that construction most likely from Thyras the son of Japbet who first planted here in memory of whom it did retaine the name of Thyras in the time of Josephus besides many other footsteps and remembrances of him in the name of many of their townes and some of their Princes of which we have already spoken in our generall Preface Finally by the Turkes it is called Romania either from the many Roman Colonies which were planted here or because Constantinople the chief City of it was antiently called Nova Roma and by that name it is now called in most modern Writers The Countrey generally is neither of a rich soyle nor a pleasant air the corn and other fruites by reason of the coldnesse of the Climate leisurely ripening the Vines yeelding more shade then juice and the trees for the most part more leaves then fruit yet in some parts there be many large and goodly plaines where they reape good store of corn but of Pulse especially and towards the Sea-side they have plenty of wine which Pliny much commended both for strength and goodnesse The people antiently were very bold and valiant and called by some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because every man was a law to himselfe So that it was truly said by Herodotus that if they had either beene all of one minde or under one King they had been invincible Of manners they were rude and savage somewhat neer to bruâ—ishnesse buying their wives and selling both their sonnes and daughters as in open market in which since imitated by the Turkes who possesse their Countrey The men were more courageous then comely wearing cloathes according to their conditions ragged and unseemly The marryed women were in love to their husbands so constant that they willingly sacrificed themselves at their funerals The Virgins were bestowed not by their own parents but the common Fathers of their Cities Such as brought neither beauty nor vertue for their dowry were put off according to their money most times sold as other cattell in the markets In matters of Religion they worshipped Mars Bacchus Diana Mercury as did other Gentiles swearing especially by the first from whom they bragged themselves to have been descended But their chiefe nationall deity was one Zamolxis sometimes a native of this Countrey who having been brought up under Pythogoras and returning home prescribed then good and wholesome Laws assuring them that if they did observe the same they should goe unto a place when they left this world in which they should enjoy all manner of pleasure and contentment By this means having gotten some opinion of adivinity amongst them he absented himselfe after was worshipped as their God Upon these principles when any one was born amongst them his Parents and other friends sitting round about him lamented bitterly his coming into the world ripping up all the miseries and afflictions whereto he was to be exposed in this present life and so deplored his condition as absolutely miserable and unhappy But on the contrary when any one chanced to dye they buryed him with all joy and alacrity highly rejoycing that by this means he was freed from the crosses and dysasters of this wretched World Expressed thus briefly after his
MCCC tenuerunt Imperium ab Asyriis ad Medos Arbaces transfert SENECA EPIST. 17. Omnes quae usquam rerum potiuntur urbes ubi fuerint aliquando quaeretur vario exitii genere tollentur LONDON Printed for Henry Seile 1652. ASIAE Descriptio Nova Impensis HENRICI SEILE JohanÌ„ Goddard sculpÌ„ 1652 COSMOGRAPHIE The Third Book CONTAINING THE CHOROGRAPHIE and HISTORIE of the Lesser and Greater ASIA And all the principall Kingdomes Provinces Seas and Isles thereof OF ASIA ASIA is bounded on the West with the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas the Hellespont Propontis Thracian Bosphorus and the Euxine Sea the Palus Maeotis the Rivers Tanais and Duina a line being drown from the first of the two said Rivers unto the other by all which parted from Europe On the North it hath the main Scythick Ocean on the East the Streits of Aman if such there be the Indian Ocean and Mare Del Zur by which separated from America on the South the Mediterranean or that part of it which is called the Carpathian washing the shores of Anatolia and the main Southern Ocean passing along the Indian Persian and Arabian coasts and finally on the South-west the Red Sea or Bay of Arabia by which parted from Africk Environed on all sides with the Sea or some Sea-like Rivers except a narrow Isthmus in the South-west which joynes it to Africk and the space of ground whatsoever it be betwixt Duina and Tanais on the North-west which unites it to Europe It took this name as some will have it from Asia the daughter of Oceanus and Thetis the wife of Japetus by him mother to Prometheus as others say from Asius the son of Atis a King of Lydia from whence that Conntrey first afterwards all Anaâ—olia or Asia Minor and finally the whole Continent had the name of Asia Others again but more improbably derive the name from Asius the Philosopher who gave the Palladium unto the Trojans in memory whereof that Countrey first and after the whole Continent did receive this name But these Originations being very uncertain Bochartus out of his great affection to the Punick or Phoenician language will have it called so from Asiâ— a Phanician word signifying Mâ—aium or the middle because Anatolia or the Lesser Asia which gives name as he conceiveth to the Greater also lieth in the middle as it were betwixt some parts of Europe and Africa And so farre the Conjecture doth find countenance from some antient writers that Asia is said by Plinie to be inter Africam Europan to be betwixt Africa and Europe by Mela Medium nostris oequoribus excipt to be embraced in the middle of two Seas he meaneth Pontus Euxinus and the Mediterranean and finally by Eustathius conceive them all of Anatolia or the Lesser Asia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to have a middle situation betwixt Europe and Africa But by what name and on what grounds soever it be called by the Greeks and Latines it is otherwise and with better reason called in holy Scriptures by the name of Semia as being that portion of the world wherein the whole posterity of Sem had their seates and dwellings If the observation of Maginus be of any weight It is situate East and West from the 52. to the 169 degree of Longitude and North and South from the 82 degree of Latitude to the very Aequator some onely of the Islands lying on the South of that 〈◊〉 so that the longest Summers day in the Southern parts is but twelve houres onely but in the most Northern parts hereof for almost four whole moneths together no night at all And for a measurement by miles it stretches in length 5200. and in bredth 4560. miles This Countrey hath heretofore been had in especiall honour 1. For the Creation of man who had his first making in this part of the world 2. Because in this part of it stood the garden of Eden which he had for the first place of his habitation 3. Because here flourished the four first great Monarchies of the Assyrian Babylonianâ— Mâ—dâ—s and Persians 4. Because it was the Scene of almost all the memorable actions which are recorded by the pen-men of the holy Scriptures 5. Because that here our Saviour CHRIST was borâ— here wrought he most divine miracles and here accomplished the great work of our Redemption 6. And finally because from hence all Nations of the World had their first beginning on the dispersion which was made by the sonnes of Noal after their vain attempt at Babel The chief Mountains of this great Continent not limited within the bounds of any one Province for of those we are to speak in their severall places are 1. Mount Taurus which having its beginning in 〈◊〉 a Province of Anâ—iolâ—â— passeth directly East-wards to the Indian Ocean and reckoning in its severall wind â—gs turnings with its spurs and branches every way is said to be 6250. miles long and 357 m. broad This Mountain or rather Ridge of hils divideth the Greater Asia as the Aequator doth the World into North and South memorable for three difficult passages from the one to the other the first out of the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 into Ciliciae called Pylae Ciliciae the second out of Scythia or Tarterie into Turcomaâ—â— called 〈◊〉 Portae and the third out of Scythia into Persia called Portae Caspia Of which and of the whole course of this Mountain more at large hereafter 2. Imaus which beginning neere the sheres of the Northern Ocean runneth directly towards the South dividing the Greater Asia as the Meridian doth the World into East and West and crossing Mount Taurus in right Angles in or about the Longitude of 140. This on the North of Taurus hath no other name among the Latines then Imaus onely and by that name divide â— Scythia into Scythia intra Imaum and Scythia extra Imaum but by the Tartars is called Altay by some writers Belgion And on the South-side of that Mountain is known in Ptolomy by the name of Bâ—â—â—go extending from Mount Caucasus or some other Branch of the Taâ—rus to the Cape of Câ—mari in the Southern Ocean supposed by some to be Mount Sephar mentioned Gen. 10. v. 30. of which we shall say more also when we come into India The estate of Christianity in this vast Continent is in ill condition discountenanced and oppressed though noâ— quite extinguished For all the great Princes and Commanders of it being either Mahometans or Pagans the most that can be hoped for of the Christian Faith is a toleration or connivence and that not found but with an intermixture of such afflictions as commonly attend discountenanced and disgraced Religions Yet is not Christianity so over-powered either by Mahomet â—nisme or Paganisme but that in Asia the Lesser Syria Palestine and Armenia a great part of the inhabitants do retain the Gospel under their severall Paâ—â—â—â—chs and Metropolitans differing in some few points from one another but in many from the Church of Rome with which
the City 10. Turcoman in the midle way betwixt Tauris and Casbin 11. Damoan at the foot of Taurus a Town of 200 houses not here considerable but for the signification of the name which is said to signifie a Second Plantation and being situate at the foot of so high a Mountain occasioneth some of the Jews to think that the Ark rested not farre off as perhaps it did not 12. Maranâ— in the Extremity of the Countrey but of lesser note The first Inhabitants hereof were the posterity of Madai as before was said Ragan the sonne of Phaleg taking up those parts which lay next Assyria Divided in long tract of time into several Tribes as the Codusâ— Amariacle Margasi Sagartii Debryces Tapyri and some others Governed by King immediatelly from the first Plantation for we find that Pharnus King hereof was overthrown and slain by Ninus the grand-sonne of Nimrod After this made subject to the Assyrians their Kings were onely 〈◊〉 at the best but Homagers perhaps no better than Provincial Governours under that great Monarnarchy Of most esteem amongst them was that Arsaeus who with an Army of 800000. men if the number be not mistaken incountred the Cadusii by whom discomfited and slain But the Cadusii so broken that they were fain to put themselves under the power of the Persians and so continued till the time of Arbaces the last of these Provincials and the first Monarch of the Medes He living in the time of Sardâ—napalus had the chance to see his Lord and Master in a womans dress spinning among his Concubines otherwise behaving himself in a brutish manner which so moved him that he resolved to be no longer subject to so vile a Monster Communicating his thoughts unto Belochus Governour on Babylon and well seen in Astrology he was incouraged to proceed and sped so well that having made themselves Masters of Ninive the Imperial City though Sardanapalus for a time put them shrewdly to it they divided betwixt them his Estates To Belochus fell Assyria and Babylonia with the Provinces of the West of Tigris to Arbaâ—es Media and the rest which now make up the Kingdome of Persia But being a mild Prince and desirous by fair and gentle means to assure his Empire he confirmed the Persian Satrapaes in their former Governments reserving nothing to himself but a titular Soveraignty Of whom and his Successors more when we have taken in the rest of the Provinces PERSIA PERSIA is bounden on the East with India on the West with Media Assyria and Chaldaea on the North with Tactarie on the south with the main Ocean So called from Persis the predominant Province of it that which gave law to all the rest as that is said to do from Perseus the sonne of Jupiter and Danae affirmed by the Grecians to have conquered these Eastern Countries and to have left his name to this Of which thus Isidore Persae populi à Perseo Rege sunt vocati qui à Graecia in Asiam transiens ibi barbaras gemes gravi diuturnoqâ— bello perdomuit et victor nomen subactae Genti imposuit In the Scripture it is constantly called Elam till the time of Daniel the Prophet from Elam the sonne of Sem who was planted there But after that the Medes and Persians had subdued Babylon and transferred the supreme Monarchy to themselves we find this people called by the name of Paras whence the name of Persian seems to come the word Paras or Pharas signifying as much as horsemen Given therefore to this Nation as it is supposed from an Edict of Cyrus who not onely taught them the art of horsemanship but set forth a law that it should be a repoach to any man to go on foot sive multum sive parum â—tinâ—ris esset conficiendum whether the journey that he had to go were long or little Called sometimes also Achaemenis from Achaemenes the sonne of Perses one of the first known Kings hereof and by that name Non tot Achaemeniis arm antur Susa Sagittis they occurre in the second of Propertius Where by A haemeniae Sagittae he means Persian Arrows It is of very great extent stretched out in length from the 82. degree of Longitude to the 120. being 38 degrees in all and in breadth from the 23. degree of Northern Latitude to the 43. being 20 more According unto which position with reference to the heavenly bodies we shall find it seated under the third fourth fift and sixt Climates the longest summers day in the Southern parts being thirteen houres and almost three quarters and fifteen houres one quarter in the parts most Northwards The Countrey not alike in all places as it is impossible it should in so great a compass But generally it is of a pure and wholesome air the high hills shading it on the one side from heat of the Clime under which it lieth and the warmth of the Sea wherewith encompassed cherishing a great part thereof And so it is affirmed to be by Quintus Curtius Regio non alia in tota Asia salubrior habetur temperatum coeâ—um hine perpetuum Jugum opacum et umbrosum quod astus levat illinc mare adjunctum quod modico tepore terras fovet Then for the Earth it is by reason of the great heat of the Sunne very dry and sandy in many parts destitute of water few Rivers and not many Lakes by consequence neither well peopled nor manured for the greatness of it men loving to inhabit and I cannot blame them where they may have the use of water Which notwithstanding it is furnished with all necessaries both for life and pleasure one part affording that which the other wanteth as shall be shewed in the description of the several Provinces The people antiently were trained up to the warres but chiefly unto Archerie from their very childhood Indulged the liberty of having as many wives as they pleased they never saw the children begotten of them untill five years old At that age sent unto their Fathers they were taught presently to handle the Bow and Arrows Upon this ground we find the Bow of Elam mentioned by the Prophet Jâ—remy chap. 4. and the Quiver of Elam by the Prophet Esaiah chap. 22. v. 6. as the Armes peculiar to that Nation or most used amongst them They were good horsemen also and well skilled at their darts and slings till wealth and ease and the pride of so great an Empire made them wholly feminine depriving them of those abilities both of mind and body wherein they did excell most Nations in their harder times In all their fortunes very obsequious if not servile to their Kings and Princes in whose presence it was a crime to spit but to deny obedience unto his commands an offence so heinous as was not to be punished with less than the loss of life and want of buriall In this observance of their Kings followed if not out-striped by the modern Persian A race of men affirmed to be cunctorum
Mahomet having treacherously practised the death of Mirza his elder brother suceeeded his Father recovered almost all which the Turks had gained and added the Kingdomes of Ormus Heri Candahor and Hyrcania to the Crown of Persia 7. Soffie the Nephew of Abas by his sonne Mirza whose eyes he caused to be put out on a false suspition at the age of fifteen years succeeded committed by his Grand-father during his minority to the protection of Emangoly Chawn or Duke of Shyras A Prince who since he came to age hath had a good hand against the Turks attempting the recovery of Bagdel and other places which had been taken from them in the time of Abas The Government of these Persian Kings though it be despoticall and severe hath a great deal less of the Tyrant in it than any other of the Mahometan Kings or Princes these cherishing their Brethren maintaining Nobility amongst them and incouraging industry which makes them to be better served than the Turk or Tartar to both whom they are farre inferiour both in power and treasure Their Officers of of State and men of principall inployment for the most part Eunuchs as generally in all the Empires of the East such Persons being thought most trusty because abstracted from the obligations of wife and children they study more the Princes service than their own advantages Their forces consist most of Horse to which they are inclined more generally than to serve on root and yet the greatest body of horse which they have brought at any time into the field came not to above 30000 but those well furnished and appointed maintained on Lordships and Estates after the manner of the Turkish Timariots The Foot-Souldiers of his own Countries but poor and raw and very seldome stand their ground That defect being for the most part supplied by Mercinaries The inconvenience of which being found by Sultan Abas he served himself of children bought of Christian Parents neer the Euxine Sea from whence the Egyptian Sultans had their Mamalucks whom they call by the name of Cozel-Bassas or Red-capâ— so named from the colour of their Turbans trained up by them in their Religion and warlike Discipline as the Turks their Janizaries yet farre inferiour to the Turk against whom if they have prevailed since the time of Abas they may ascribe the greatest part of their good fortune to those divisions and Rebellions which in these late times have been frequent in the Turkish Empire And as for their Sea-forces they are inconsiderable For though they have a large Sea-coast both on the Persian Bay the Caspian Sea and the Southern Ocean yet are they very poor in shipping suffering the Moscovite to ingross the trade of the Caspian Sea the Portug â—â— to manage that of the Southern Ocean as formerly that also of the Persian Bay till the taking of Ormuz The Revenues of this Kingdome in the time of Hysmael the first Sophy were exceeding great insomuch that Tamas his Successor to ingratiate himself with all sorts of people released them of all kinds of Customes imposed on Merchandise either imported or exported And this they say amounted to the summe of 90000 Tomans yearly which reckoning every Toman at 20 Crowns made up a million and 800000 Crowns of annuall income Which notwithstanding his Revenue was computed at four or five millions of Crowns yearly raised out of Domain lands the tenth of fruits the profit of mines and the 〈◊〉 payed by every subject when he sets up shop But Tamas finding this not to be sufficient to maintain his Royalty doubled the value of his money and thereby for the present his Revenues also Since that they have been much empaired by the Conquests made upon them by the Turks who had got from them so much land as maintained 40000 Timariots and yielded to the grand Signeur one million of yearly income whether improved again or not to their former height I am not able to determine And so much for Persia OF TARTARIA ARTARIA is bounded on the East with China the Orient all Ocean and the streights of Anian by which parted from America on the West with Russia and Podotra a Province of the Realm of Poland on the North with the main Scythick or frozen Ocean and on the South with part of China from which separated by a mighty wall the the River Oxus parting it from Bactria and Margiana two Persian Provinces the Caspian Sea which separates it from Media and Hyrcania the Caucasian Mountains interposing betwixt it and Turcomania and the Euxine which divideth it from Anatolia and Thrace So called from the Tartars a puisant and mighty people now possessed hereof the reason of whose name we shall shew hereafter It containeth all those great and spacious Provinces which the antients called Seres Scythia extra Imaum Scythia intra Imaum Sacae Sogdiana the greatest part of Sarmatia Asiatica and part of Sarmatia Europaea extending it self the whole length of Asia from the River Tanais to the Eastern Ocean taking in Taurica Chersonesus and some other parts of Europe also So that if we measure it by miles it is said to contain 5400 from East to West and 3600 from North to South a greater quantity of ground than the Turkish Empire but of less fertility and accompt In measuring by the way of degrees it reacheth from the 50. degree of Longitude to the 195. which is 145. degrees from West to East and from the 40th degree of Northern Latitude unto the 80th which is within ten degrees of the Pole it self By which accompt it lieth from the beginning of the sixt Clime where the longest day in summer is 15 hours till they cease measuring by Climates the longest day in the most Northern parts hereof being full six moneths and in the winter-half of the year the night as long The Countrey lying under such different Meridians and such distant Climes must needs be such as no generall Character can be given of it and therefore we shall deferre that with the names of the Rivers and chief Mountains to the description of the several and particular Provinces But for the people being much of the same nature in every part we may take the measure of them here Affirmed to be of square Stature broad faces hollow eyes thin beards thick lips flat noses ugly Countenances swart of complexion not so much by the heat of the Sunne which keeps farre enough off as their naturall sluttishness Barbarous every where in behaviour especially in those parts which they call Asiatica and Antiqua but withall very strong of body swift of footmanship vigilant in time of service and patient of all extremities both of cold and hunger The women suitable to the men scorning or wanting ornaments to set themselves out or when they do they seldome go beyond copper feathers or such precious gew-gawes In behaviour they are rude and barbarous as before was said eacing their Enemies when they take them as in way of revenge first letting
Provinces and the number of their Towns and Cities I have thought fit once for all to lay down in this Diagramme following The Provinces Cities and Towns in China Pro. Cit. To. 1 Canton 37 190 2 Foquien 33 99 3 Olam 90 130 4 Sisnam 44 150 5 Toâ—enchia 51 155 6 Cansâ—â— 24 122 7 Minchian 25 29 8 Ochian 19 74 9 Honan 20 102 10 Pagnia 47 150 11 Taitan 47 78 12 Quinchen 45 113 13 Chagnian 43 95 14 Susnam 41 105 15 Quinsay 31 114 By which it doth appear that in these fifteen Provinces there are 591 Cities 1593 walled Towns and besides them 1154 Castles 4200 Towns unwalled and such an infinite number of Villages that the whole Country seems to be but one City onely It reacheth from the 130th to the 160th Degree of Longitude and from the Tropick of Cancer to the 53d degree of Latitude So that it lyeth under all the Climes from the third to the nineth inclusively the longest Summers day in the Southern parts being thirteen hours and fourty minutes increased in the most Northern parts to 16 hours and 3 quarters Enjoying by this site an air somewhat of the hottest especially in those parts whichly neer the Tropick but with all very sound and healthy and fit for the production of the choisest fruits The Countrey very rich and fertile insomuch that in many places they have two and in some three harvests in a year well cultivated and sowed with all manner of grain and planted with the best kind of fruits which do not onely come to a speedy maturity but to more excellencie and perfection than any of these Western parts The like is also said of their Pearls and Bezoar fairer and of greater vertue than those of America or any other part of the world besides Particularly it aboundeth with Wheat Barley Rice Wooll Cotton Olives Vines Flax Silk all kind of metals Fruits Cattle Sugar Honey Rhubâ—rb Camphire Ginger all kinds of Spices medicinall woods called China-wood by the name of the Countrey Musk and Salt the custome for which last in one City onely which is that of Câ—â—tâ—â— amounteth to the yearly value of 180000 Crownes It yieldeth also an Herb out of which they press a delicate juice which doth not onely serve them instead of wine but preserveth their health and freeth them from many of those inconveniences which the immoderate use of wine doth breed to others Such store of Poâ—ltry of all sorts but of Ducks especially that in the Town of Canton onely before mentioned it is thought there are 12000 eaten every day one day with another The people are for the most part of swart complexion but more or less according to their neerness to the heats of the Sun short-nosed black-eyed and of very thin beards They wear their garments very long and are so much delighted with their own fashion and composure that as the Negâ—oâ—s use to paint the devil 〈◊〉 as a colour contrary to their own so when these Chinots use to draw the picture of deformed persons they set him forth in a short coat broad eyes long nose and a bushy beard They are much given unto their Bâ—â—lics and eat thrice a day but then not immoderatâ—ly drink their drink hot and eat their meat with two sticks of Ivory Ebonâ—â— or the like not touching their meat with their hands at all and therefore no great foulers of linnen The use of silver forks with us by some of our Spâ—uce gallants taken up of late came from hence into Italy and from thence to England Their mariages they celebrate most commonly in the New-Moon and many times put them off till March when the year beginneth with them as it doth with us in which solemnity they spare for no câ—st or charge musick and Stage-plays and good cheer many daies together Yet doth not this take them off a jot from their natural industry and their proficiencie in Manufactures and Mechanick Arts. For the sonne is bound to follow his fathers occupation which law preventing the roaving about of idle people and exciting in each breast an emulation of every Art maketh the Inhabitants excellent Artificers In giving almes they are bountiful to the maimed and the lame but reject the blind as being sufficiently able to get sustenance for themselves by corporall labour as grinding of Corn c. They have long enjoyed the benefit of Printing before it was known in Europe but print not as we do from the left hand to the right nor as the Jews from the right hand to the left but from the top of the leaf dowaward to the bottom Gunnes also have been used among them time out of mind whence they are so well conceited of themselves that they use to say They themselves have two eyes the Europaeans one and the rest of the people of the world not one A pretty flourish of self-praising Now Gunnes were in use in these Eastern Countries and consequently also amongst them even when Bacchus made his expedition into India which was some three or four years before or after the departure of Israel out of Aegypt Sir Walter Rawleigh seemeth to affirm because Philostratus in the life of Apoll nius Tyanaeus telleth us how Bacclâ—us was beaten from a City of Oxydâ—acae by thunder and lightning which he interpreteth to be the Cannon But certainly himself in another place of his most excellent book acknowledgeth this Philostratus to have written fabulously and therefore no ficâ— fouâ—dation for a conceit so contrary to probability and the opinion of all times Besides whereas Dion telleth us that by the benefit of thunder and lightning from Heaven Severus discomfited Pesâ—â—ninus Nâ—ger and by the same means was himself repulsed from the wall of Petra in Arabia we may if this interpretationhold good as easily maintain that Severus had great Ordnance in his Camp and the Arabians in their Town As for Pâ—â—â—ting whether John Gertrudenberg learned it of the Chinois or whether good inventions like good wits do sometimes jump I dare not determine sure I am that he first taught it in Europe and as some say in the year 1440. At Halam a Town of Holland It is first said to be practised and at Mentz perfected Now wheras it is by some doubted whether the Art of Printing be available to the proficiency and advancement of Learning or not I must not herein be both a Judge and a party but must leave the decision of the point to men uninteressed Onely this I dare boldly say that this most excellent invention hath been much abused and prostituted to the lust of every foolish and idle paper-blurrer the treasury of learning being never so full and yet never more empty over-charged so with the froth and scumme of foolish and unneceslary discourses In which though all Nations have their share therein and we of late as much as any the Dutch have been accompted the most blame-worthy who not content to scatter their poor conceptions onely amongst
Landlord and him the subjects do not onely reverence as a Prince but adore like a God For in the chief City of every Province they have the Kings portraiture made of gold which is always covered with a veil and at every New-moon the Magistrates and other inferiour Officers use to kneel before it as if it were the King himself By these and other artifices of the like contrivement the Common-people are kept in such awe and fear that they are rather slaves than subjects calling their King the lâ—mp of the world and Son of the evershining Sun without whose light they were able to see nothing In every Province except Paquin and Tolenchia onely he hath his Deputies or Vice-Royes maintained by liberall stipends from the publique treasury but those he governeth by himself Some laws they have and those affirmed to have been written 2000 years since as is like enough they were So strongly do they favour of the ignorance and Aâ—heism of the darkest times the manner of life by them allowed most obscene and shameless their idolatries most gross and palpable their exorcisms ridiculous and the prostitution of their Virgins most abhominable and the variety of sensuall prophanations to an illuminated mind most base and contemptible In a word nothing commendable in their course of life notwithstanding the brags which they make of themselves but their Arts and industry The forces which this King is able to draw into the Field must needs be infinite considering that incredible number of subjects under his command For whereas France is thought to contain 15 millions of people Italy with the Isles as many Germany with the Switzers and Belgick Provinces about that proportion Spain not above seven Millions and the Kingdome of England about four this Countrey one-is computed at 70 millions which is more by 15 millions than all together Proportionably his Levies must be so much greater than can be ordinarily raised out of those Countries But because it may be thought that his subjects though more in number may be less trained to the warres than those of Europe the contrary is affirmed by such as have taken an estimate of the forces which every Province is bound to entertain in continuall readiness And by that estimate it appeareth that in the year 1557 though a time of peace there were dispersed in the fifteen Provinces of this Realm to the number of five millions 846500 Foot and 948350 Horse Nor is he less powerfull for Sea-service having continually great Fleets for the guard of his costs in continuall attendance and many more ready to set out when there is occasion insomuch that the Chinois use to say in the way of a Proverb that their King is able to make a bridge of ships from China to Malaca which are 500 leagues asunder Some of these ships whereof the King hath above a thousand of his own besides those of his subjects of great magnificence and beauty the Officers and Souldiers in all which are exceeding well paid and rewarded answerably to their merits And as this King is able to raise greater forces than any from his own estates so doth he also de facto do it when the urgency of his affairs do require it of him his ordinary stint being 300000 foot and 200000 horse without which compleat number not onely in the muster-rols but in bodies of men he vouchsafes not to go into the field Answerable unto these great Levies of men must be his Revenue which they who have travelled in this search if they tell us true and do not build upon an hope of not being confuted as for my part I fear they do affirm to be 120 millions of Crowns answered unto him out of the profit of the mines of Gold Silver and other metalls the tenth of all commodities which the Earth brings forth the tolls imposed on that uspeakable quantity of merchandise which passeth on so many navigable Rivers from one Town to another the customes taken of all those rich wares which are brought into Europe and the Gabell laid on Salt in all parts of his Kingdome Out of which summe the payment of his Fleet discharged the entertainment of the Souldiers satisfied and his Court defraied there remaineth 40 millions of Crowns de claro to be disposed of either in his treasury or private pleasures or the works of magnificence and ostentation And so much for China OF INDIA INDIA is bounded on the East with the Orientall Ocean and some part of China on the West with the Persian Empire on the North with some branches of Mount Taurus which divide it from Tartary and on the South with the Indian Ocean So called from the River Indus the neerest of esteem and note in all the Country towards these parts of the world It is conceived to be the largest Country of any one name in the world except China and Tartaria affirmed by Pomponius Mela to be of such a great extent on the Sea-coasts of it that it was as much as a ship could sail in 40 daies Extended from 106 to 159 Degrees of Longitude and from the Aequator to the 44th degree of Northern Latitude By which accompt it lieth from the beginning of the first to the end of the sixt Clime the longest summers-Summers-day in the Southern parts being 12 hours only and in the parts most North 15 hours and an half Concerning the monstrous Fables which the ages foregoing have delivered to us of this Countrey give me leave to say that as the Poets used of old to fill up the times of which they were ignorant with strange fictions and prodigious metamorphoses or as our modern Geographers in the Maps of the world fill up those unknown parts thereof of which they can give us no certain description with strange pictures and uncouth shapes of beasts and trees so also the writers in former ages have filled the more remote Countries of which they knew little with such impossible and incredible relations Hence there have been attributed to this India the fables of men with dogs heads of men with one leg only yet of great swiftness of such as live by sent of men that had but one eye and that in their foreheads and of others whose ears did reach unto the ground It is reported also that this people by eating a dragons heart and liver attain to the understanding of the languages of beasts that they can make themselves when they list invisible that they have two tubs whereof the one opened yields wind the other rain and the like But these relations and the rest of this strain I doubt not but the understanding Reader knoweth how to judge of and what to believe For my part I am of the same mind with Curtius Plura equidem transcribo quam credo nec enim affirmare ausâ—us sum quae dubito nec subducere sustineo quae accepi I may perhaps relate some things which I do not credit but shall not let them pass without some
a Town called 14. Argyropolis or the Silver City long ago destroyed And now there is 15. Sura a new Town in the territories of the King of Bantam built by some of the Subjects of the King of Passarva who being oppressed by their own King came into this part of the Country where they goâ— leave to build this City The people whereof live quietly according to their own Laws follow their Husbandry abroad but never marry and yet do not want a constant Succession adopting some of the other Javans into their Society as they find their numbers to diminish Of the story of this Iland I can say but litle Divided into many petit and inconsiderable Kingdoms and those divided too by Mountains crossing the Iland in the middle from West to East which cut off all commerce and correspondence betwixt one another Some of these Kings Mahometans some Gentiles as before was said all subject or Homagers at least to one of the Kings of the Gentiles who hath his dwelling in the middest of the Iland Next him the King of Tubâ—n was conceived to be richest and the King of Ballambua of the greatest territory whose Family after long warre and blood-shed begun in the murder of his daughter is said to be wholly rooted out by the King of Passarva These Kings much reverenced by their subjects and so well obeyed that whatsoever they command is done be it never so dangerous 2. IAVA-MINOR situate on the South of the other is said to be 2000 miles in compass and to be very neer the firm land of Terra Australis inâ—ognita or the Southern Continent Not very well known to any of our late Adventurers but generally affirmed not so much on certain knowledge as unsure conjecture to be of the same nature and condition with the greater Iava The Inhabitants hereof in the time of Paulus Venetus who had travelled in it reported to be Cannibâ—ls Idolaters devourers of their Parents and dearest friends and to worship all day whatsover they saw first in the morning Divided then into eight Kingdoms distinguished by the names of their principall Towns Six whereof he had seen which are these that follow 1. Felech where the Townsmen were Moorâ—s and the Paisants Gentiles 2. Basma which did acknowledge the Great-Cham of Tartaria for Lord in chief but without paying of any tribute 3. Samara where none of the North-Stars could be seen 4. Lambri in which some men were said to have tails like dogs 5. Fanfur in which they have a Tree the wood whereof put in water will sink like iron of which they use to make Launces that will pierce an Armour And 6. Dragorian of which there is nothing memorable or prodigious but that the people of it use to eat their neerest kinsmen and that no Prodigie at all because used by others To these two we may joyn MADVRA on the North of the greater Iava fertile of Rice but otherwise of so waterish and moist a Soyl that the men and Cattel use to go knee-deep when they sow it The chief Town whereof is called Arosbay And on the East of the same Iava the Iland Baly exceeding populous for the bigness supposed to contain 600000 Inhabitants and very well provided of Buls Buffais Goats Horses Swine many kind of fruits and some store of metals 8. SVMATRA SVMATRA lieth on the North of the Greater Java betwixt it and the Streight of Sincapura the most Southern Town of the Golden Chersonese The Streight in that place so streight and narrow not above a musket shot in breadth that some conccive this Island to have been formerly joined unto it by some little Isthmus since worn away by the violence and working of the Sea and that this Iland and not the Land of Malaca was that Golden Chersonese which we find in Ptolomy More probably by farre than that we should run after to the Isle of Japan situate on the East of China so farr from any part of India where it is placed by the Author of the Atlas Minor The length hereof extended from the North-west to the South-East is said by some to be 900. by others but 700 miles the breadth 200 and the whole compass one and twenty hundred Strangely affirmed by some writers to be the biggest of all â—he East who yet assign a greater circuit unto Java and as great to Borneo Situate under the Aequator which divideth it into two parts very neer an equalite that on the North-side reaching unto five degrees that on the south-side but to seven degrees from the line it self By which accompt there is little difference betwixt the length of a day and night both much at one in all times of the year whatever The air hereof by consequence must be very hot but withall unwholsome not so much in regard of the extream heats as by reason of the gross vapours drawn from the many Fens and Rivers which are found to be in it and the thick woods which intercept the free course of a purging wind The soil not capable of such grain as in other places except Rice or Millet for I know not otherwise how to render the Latine Milium but yielding Ginger Pepper Camphire Agarick and Câ—ssia in great abundance It affordeth also great plenty of Wax and Honey store of Silks and Cottons rich mines not onely of tin iron sulphur and other Minerals but of Gold such quantity that some conceive this Island to be Salomons Ophir And if Pedrunka Sirie one of the Kings of this Iland in a letter written to King James did not brag too impudently it may be probable enough For by that letter it appeareth that all the furnitures of his house and the trappings of his Elephants and horses withal his Armour were of pure Gold and that he had in his dominions a whole Mountain of Gold King of which Golden Mountain he entituleth himself in his Regal Stile The Inhabitants are many of them good Artificers cunning Merchants or expert Mariners All of them Gentiles till about two hundred and thirty years since at what time by the diligence of some Arabian Merchants trading to this Island Mahometanism began to spread upon the Coasts But in the inland parts of the Countrey they are Gentiles still and still retain amongst them their old barbarous customes The most loving men unto their enemies that were ever known for otherwise they would never eat them Having eaten they use their skuls instead of money which they exchange or barter for such necessaries as their wants require and he is thought to be the wealthiest man amongst them who hath most of this coin Those of the other Religion though in most points and customes they agree with the rest of the Mahometans have this one singular to themselves which is that once every year on a certain day they go solemnly unto their Mesquits to see if Mahomet be come leading a spare Horse for him to ride upon which missing him is mounted at their coming
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they are the very words of my Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isidor in the second Chapter of his book above mentioned ascribeth it to Aquila the Libertus or freed man of this Moecenas and to Tertius Persannius and Philargius who added to this invention Yet had all they their chief light in it from Tullius Tito a freed-man of Cicero's who had undertaken and compassed it in the Prepositions but went no further At the last it was perfected by Seneca who brought this Art into order and method the whole volume of his contractions consisting of 5000 words Deinde Seneca contracto omnium digestóque aucto numero opus effecit in quinque millia But now I make haste to take a survey of these Egyptians as they stand at the present much differing from the ingenuity and abilities of their Predecessors For such as have observed the nature of the Modern Egyptians affirm them to have much degenerated from the worth of their Ancestors prone to innovations devoted to luxury cowardly cruel addicted naturally to cavill and to detract from whatsoever is good and eminent In their dealing with other men more observant then faithfull of a wit much inclining to craftiness and very eager on their profit Of person of a mean stature tawnie of complexion and spare of body but active and quick of foot Such as inhabit in the Cities apply themselves to merchandise grow rich by Trading reasonably well habited and not much differing from the Turks in their dress and Fashion Those in the Country who betake themselves to Husbandry affirmed to be a savage and nasty People crusted over with dirt and stinking of smoak sit company for none but those of their own condition Nothing now left amongst them of the Arts of their Ancestors but an affectation which they have unto Divinations to Fortune-telling great pretenders by which and by some cheating-tricks in which very well practised great numbers of them wander from one place to another and so get their livelyhood occasioning the vagabonds and straglers of other Nations who pretend unto the same false Arts to assume their names The whole body of the Inhabitants now an Hochpot or medley of many Nations Moors Arabians Turks the natural Egyptian making up the least part of the reckoning The Women of the same complexion with the men but well formed and featured did they not too much affect a seeming corpulency which if they cannot get in flesh they will have in cloaths Very fruitfull in child bearing and quick of dispatch when they are in labour some of them having three or four children at a Birth those that are born in the eighth moneth living to good Age and not in danger of death as in other Countries Such of them as dwell in Cities cover their faces with black Cypres bespotted with red their armes and ancles garnished with bracelets and hoops of gold silver or some other Mettal Those in the Country for a vail use some dirty clout having holes onely for their eyes which little is too much to see and abstain from loathing Both in the City and the Country contrary to the custom in all places else the women use to make water standing and the men couring on their knees The old Egyptians were so eminent in Arts and Learning that from them Pythagoras and Democritus learnt their Philosophy Lycurgus Solon and Plato their Forms of Government Orpheus and Homer their Poetical fictions of the Gods Particularly here â—lourished Aristarchus that famous and learned Grammariâ—n 2. Herodian a diligent Student and searcher into curious â—rts 3. Ammonius the Master of Plotinus 4. Didymus surnamed Chalcenteros for his indefatigable industry in several Sciences 5. Manethon an old Historian of whom we have nothing but some fragments 6. Appianus an Historian of a later date whose works are extant 7. Didymus the Grammarian 8. Cl. Ptolomaeus the Geographer 9 Achilles Statius the Poet 10. And before all the profound Philosopher Mercurius â—â—â—named Trismegistus And after their conversion to the faith of Christ 1. Pantaenus the first Reader of Divinitiâ— in the Schools of Alexandria 2. Origen and 3. Clemens Alexandrinus both skâ—lled in the universality of Learning 4. Dionysius 5. Athanasius and 6. Cyril all three Bishops of Alexandria and the glories of their severall times Now nothing but ignorance and Barbarism to be found amongst them The Christian faith was first here planted by S. Mark whom all Antiquity maketh the first Bishop of Alexandria His successors till the time of Heraclus and Dionysius chosen continually out of the Presbyterie or Cathedral Clergie afterwards out of the Clergie at large Their Jurisdiction setled by a â—anon of the Council of Nice over all the Churches in the whole Diocese of Egypt taking the word Diocese in the Civil notion containing Libya Pentapolis and Egypt specially so called to which though Epiphanius addes Thebais Maraeotica and Ammoniaca yet he addes nothing in effect Thebais and Maraeotica being parts of Egypt as Ammoniaca was of Libya Afterwards the Aethiopian or Abassine Churches became subject to this Patriarch also and do acknowledge to this day some relation to him By the coming in of the Saracens and the subâ—ugation of this Country Christianity fell here into great decay languishing so sensibly since those times especially since the conquest of it by the Turks that whereas Brochardus in his time reckoned three hundred thousand Christians in the last estimate which was made of them they were found to be but fifty thousand This small remainder of them commonly called Cophti either from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 scindo because they retained the use of Circumcision with their Christianity or from Coptus a chief Town in Egypt in which many of them did reside or finally by abbreviation from Aegopâ—to corrupted from Aegyptii their own National name They are all Jacobites in Sect from whom they differ notwithstanding in some particulars in some from all other Christian Churches in many from the Church of Rome The points most proper to them 1. Using Circumcision with their Baptism but rather as a National then Religious custome though in that sense also laid aside as is said by some by the perswasion of some Legates from the Pope of Rome in a Synod held in Caire An. 1583. 2. Conferring all sacred Orders under the Priesthood on Infants immediately after haptism their Parents till they come to sixteen years of age performing what they promised in their behalf viz. Chastitie fasting on Wednesday and Friday and the four Lents of the year 3. Reputing Baptism not to be of any efficacie except ministred by the Priest in the open Church in what extremity soever 4. And yet not baptizing any Children till the sortieth day though they die in the interim 5. Giving to Infants the Sacrament of the Eucharist assoon as Christened 6. Contracting marriages even in the second Degree of Consanguinitie without dispensation 7. Observing not the Lords day nor any