for the fourth part Our Mercator doth distinguish this Globe of the Earth into three Continents hee calleth that the first which the Ancients divided into three parts the second that which we now call America the third the Southerne or Magellanicke land But we will divide the whole Globe into five patts Europe Africke Asia America and the Southerne Land EVROPE EUROPE though it be least of all yet with the chiefe Delineators of the terrestriall Globe we will describe it in the first place either for the excellencie of the soyle or the company of the inhabitants or in regard of their famous acts who have hitherto possessed it Pliny calleth it the Nurse of a People conquering all Nations and the most beautifull part of the Earth besides though other parts be greater and larger yet they are lesse inhabited and therefore for these and other causes wee may justly begin first with Europe which was the most noble inheritance of Iaphet who being Noahs eldest sonne enlarged his Territories even to the Land of his brethren Sem and Cham so much concerning the order in the next place we must shew the Etymologie of the name Herodotus noteth that the originall of this name was not knowne some say it was called so from one Europa a Tyrian the daughter of Agenor King of the Phoenicians of whom it is an ancient fable that Jupiter having transformed himselfe into a Bull and having set her on his backe carried her from Sydon into Creete or Cyprus Others rejecting fables do thinke she was carried away in a ship built in the forme of a Bull Others say it was a ship which had the protection of Iupiter and the image of a Bull upon it Palephatus of Creete writeth that it was a ship called the Bull which brought away from the Tyrian Countrie Europa the Kings daughter as captive with other maids Some do suppose that it was a militarie Legion which among other Ensignes had one Standard with the figure of a Bull in it Some say it was so called in regard of the beautie of this Region which may be compar'd to a Virgine carried away for the love of her beautie And some not unlikely have said that it was called so from Europus who as it is left to memory had heretofore a Kingdome in this part of the World Becanus beeing unwilling to be persuaded that Europe hath a Greeke name seeing the Cimmerians did inhabit it before the Greekes the former had a different Language from the latter thinketh that it was so called from the excellencie of the people For the monasyllable VER being pronoūced by the dipthong signifies some great and excellent thing and HOP doth denote a multitude of men The Asiaticans do generally at this day call the Europeans Frankimen the Turkes call those of the Romish Religion Franki and those Romei who are addicted to the Greeke Religion The Abyssines in Africke which divers Records do testifie do call us Alfrangues and the Christians Countrie Frankia So much for the Name the Situation and Quantitie followes concerning which it is to be held that Ptolomy and other Ancient Writers did place Europe betweene the 4. 9. Climes between the 11. and 21. Parallels betweene the Degrees of Latitude 36. and 54. and of Longitude 17. and 61. but in our age seeing the Declination of the Sunne as it is observed is changed and many places are added to this our Europe for they have now discovered to the 72. Degrees of Latitude EVROPE EUROPA toward the North a further description of Climes and Parallels hath beene devised so that Europe is situated betweene the 4th and 18th Climats and betweene the Parallels 11. and 36. Lastly betweene the degrees of Latitude 36. and 72. but almost betweene the degrees of Longitude 17. 71. If it be considered from the Promontorie of Spaine which is called at this day Cabo S. Vincentij even to a right line drawne from the head of the River Tanais to the Northerne Ocean but the shortest Longitude is betweene the 17th and 58. degrees counting it from the same Promontorie of Spaine even to Malea a Promontorie of Peloponesus and excluding the Islands of the Aegean Sea which may bee reckoned as part of Europe so that the most Southerne parts of Europe are in the 36. degree of Latitude as the Mountaine Calpe in Spaine one of Hercules Pillars the Southerne Promontory of Sicilie heretofore called Odyssia and the head of Peloponnesus or Morea anciently Taenaria and now Cabo Maini in which places the longest day is 14. houres and 30. minutes But the most Northerne limits of it are in the 71 degree and a halfe as the Promontory of Scandia the farthest Land Northward now called Wardhuys where the longest day is 2. moneths 22. dayes and 7. houres Moreover we make account that a line drawne straight forward from the head of Tanais to the Northerne Ocean is the Easterne limite of Europe following the common account For ancient Writers doe not agree concerning the Easterne boundes of Europe Aristotle Plato Herodotus and others who are of their opinion doe divide Europe from Asia by the River or Isthmus of Phasis which is betweene the Euxine and Caspian Sea Dionysius Arrianus Diodorus Polybius Iornandes doe divide it by the River Tanais Abraham Ortelius makes the bounds of Europe toward the East to bee the Aegean Sea the Euxine Sea the Maeoticke Lake the River Tanais and the Isthmus which lyeth straight forward from the head Springs thereof towards the North and others make other bounds Ptolomaeus doth part Europe from Asia by the same River of Tanais and a line drawne from the head thereof toward the Northerne Sea Now wee subscribing unto him with other most skilfull Geographers and descending from the Line and River of Tanais towards the South let us with others place the Easterne bounds thereof in the Maeoticke Lake the Cimmerian Bosphorus the Euxine Sea the Thracian Bosphorus the Propontis and the Aegean Sea even to the Mediterranean Sea which parts it from Africke Southward on the West the great and wide Ocean beates upon it Lastly on the North it is encompassed with the Northerne Sea Strabo doth attribute to it the forme of a Dragon of which Spaine doth represent the head France the necke Germany the body Italie and the Cimbrian Chersonesus the right and left winges For the most part it enjoyes a temperate Aire and milde Weather Whence Europe is every where inhabited although very incommodiously and hardly in those places which are beyond the 60th degree of Latitude in regard of cold And it doth not onely farre excell the other parts of the World in the wonderfull temperatenesse of the Climate temper pleasantnesse and great company of the inhabitants but also in the abundance of Fruits Trees Plants all kinde of living Creatures Mettals and in the plentie of all other things which are necessarie to sustaine mans life Yet it
gathered from all Nations which spread themselves all over this Country who did not as it seemes looke exactly into the signification of the word for he should have called them Almaines because they were all men and warriours They that derive Alemanie from the Lake Lemann would have Germany so called from a Lake without the limits thereof in Sabaudia unlesse some doe take the Acronian Lake for the Lake Leman on either bank whereof the Almaines did inhabit as Ammianus reporteth Lib. 15. And though some do promiscuously make Germanie Almany al one yet it is observed that they were two distinct Countries Spartianus in the life of Marius saith Omnis Alemannia omnisque Germania cum caeteris quae adjacent gentibus that is All Almany and Germany with the other adjacent countries Flavius Vopiscus saith in the lif of Probus Testes sunt Franci inuijs strati paludibus testes Germani Alemanni longe a Rheni semoti littoribus that is The Frenchmen are witnesses who dwell in the Low grounds the Germaines are witnesses and the Almaines who are farre off from the shoares of Rhene I omit other testimonies least I should be tedious Some also doe call it Teutonia from Teuto a certaine Captaine thereof some thinke that the Teutons who are called in their owne Countrie speech Teutche and by the Italians Tedaschi and by others Teutons were so called from Thuisto otherwise Thuisco whom they beleeve was the Sonne of Noah Tacitus maketh mention heereof Celebrant carminibus antiquis quod unum apud illos memoriae Annalium genus est Thuistonem deum terra editum filium Mannum originem gentis conditoresque that is they celebrate in auncient verses which kinde of Annalls they doe onely use That Thuisto an earthy God and his sonne Mannus were the first founders of this Nation Strabo placeth them in Noricum some suppose that they were the Agrippine Colonie and that the place was therefore called Teutsch The inhabitants doe now call it Teutschlandt and strangers Almany The Sclavonians doe call it Nimiecha and the Graecâ—ans doe â—ow call it â—lamags and the Turkes Alaman But enough concerning the Etymologie and various appellations of Germanie now I come to the situation or quantitie thereof Besides authors doe not agree in designing and setting downe the limits of Germanie The auncients doe bounder Germany with the Rhene Danubâ—us the Ocean the River Taâ—â—â—s and the Euxine Sea The latter writers as Strabo Ptolomie Mâ—la Plinnie and many other Greeke and Latine writers doe bounder it with the River Rhene and Vestula Tacitus writeth that the mountaines or a mutuall distrust one of another doth rather separate the Germaines from the Sarmatians and Dacians than Visâ—ula All those Countries which use the Germaine speech or dialect are reckoned now as parts of Germany And therefore it stretcheth beyond those bounds which Ptolemie gives it and beyond Danubâ—us contayning Riâ—â—â—a â—â—ndelâ—â—a the higher Pannonia and beyond â—lyâ—a even to the Tridentine bounds Also beyond the Rhene Germaâ—â— did containe these Romaine Colonies and garrisons Constantia Augusta Raurâ—â—corum Argentina Nemetes Vangiones Moâ—unâ—â—aâ—â—â— Corfiâ—â—â—â—a Bonna the Agrippinâ— Colonie and other places even unto the Sea For as Ambrosius witnesseth 11 Hexamer Rhâ—â—â— was heretofore the limmit of the Romaine Empire and that on the French bancke thereof the Romaine Praâ—sidents did alwayes lye in garriâ—on against the Germaineâ— partly that they might restraine that exâ—â—â—sâ—ons and partly that they might make inroads upon them and partly that they might receive those Germaines that revolted to them And this is the Reason that on one of the banckes of Rhene there are many old 〈◊〉 but none on the other which may also be observed on the bancke of Danubiuâ— Helvetia also is reckoned now as a part of Geâ—manâ—â— the Prutenians beyond Vistula so that the bounds thereof are now much larger than those which Ptolemie attributes to it for on the Wâ—sâ—â—â— stretcheth beyond the Rhene even to Piccardiâ— and Burgundie which are parts of France on the South toward Danuviâ—â— even to the Alpes On the East beyond even to Spruâ—â—and the Northerne limit is the Ocean There are many chiefe parts of Germanie which shall be here described with the lesser subject or adjacent countries The Kingdomes are Bohemia the Palatinate and the Kingdome of Poland though it hath a different language and is not contained in the Register of the Empire yet because it is situate within the bounds of auncient Germanie which is the River Vistulâ— therefore we place it among the tables of Germanie Also we joyne the Kingdome of Hungerie to Germanie which is situate without the limmits of auncient Germanie and in regard it hath yeelded many famous Emperours and hath dominion over many Countries situate within the Empire There are also the Dukedome of Saxonie the Archdukedome of Austria Also the Dukedomes of Holst of Mâ—â—â—lenburg Pomeren Lunenburg Lawenburg Brunswijck Meissen Schasen Moravia Cleve Berge Franconia or Easterne France Bavaria Wirtenberg and the Countie of Suevia the Palatinate of Bavaria the Landgravials of Hessen Duringen and of the higher and lower Alsatia The Marckgraniate Electorship of Brandenburg and of Baden the Counties of Embdem Oldenburg Benthem Lip Diepholt Huy Mansfelt Anholt Stolberg Tirol and Livonia which is reckoned among the Provinces of Germany but because it lyeth within Sarmatia it is there described The situation being declared the qualitie of the soyle followeth which ariseth chiefely from the climate and position thereof in respect of the heavens Germany is under the sixt seaventh and eighth climates betweene the fourtie seaventh and fiftie five degrees of Latitude and the twentie fourth and forty sixth degrees of Longitude The longest day in sommer in the Southerne parallel is fifteene houres long and an halfe in the Northerne Parallel it is seaventeene houres long and a quarter and albeit Cornelius Tacitus saith that Germany is in a cold sharpe climate and Seneca reporteth that it is alwayes winter in Germanie yet it hath a temperate ayre which though it bee somewhat cold yet it is healthfull and wholesome The soyle yeeldeth Barly Wheate Rye Mill Oates and other kindes of corne and pulse The fields and Meddowes are fruitfull and the soyle is every where very fertile and yeeldeth great stoare of Corne. Germanie also hath rich Mines of Silver Brasse Iron Lead and other mettals and in some places of gold so that for mettalls it is inferiour to no Countrie There are also many excellent Salt pitts Plinnie also saith the Cadmian stones the Callais the Crystall the Onyx the Topaz and the Adamant are found in Germanie Also the hearbes Heere are a thousand delightfull gardens and Villages and Orchards full of Apples What should I mention the wines which are of an excellent taste and colour Truely there are excellent wines every where but yet in some places better than in others Heere is also great variety of living creatures and great stoare of Cattell and wilde beasts which I will not spend time to
contain all the littorall part of Africk and beyond the Aequinoctiall even to the Straits of Arabia The Regions thereof are five first the Country of Ajana in which are the Kingdomes Del and Adea Magaduzzum Secondly the Countrie of Zanguibara the Kingdomes whereof are Melinda Mombazza Quiloa Mozambique Manoemuci Cephala Manomotapa Torra and Butua the Kingdome of Cafria and Manicong in which there are sixe Provinces Sunde Pango Songo Bamba Barra Pemba to which are added the Kingdomes of Angola Loangi Anzichi There are some very great Lakes in Africke which seeme rather to be Seas thē Lakes of which the chiefest is Zembre which is fifty miles in compasse out of it there flow the Rivers Nilus Zaire and Cuama Besides this part of the VVorld hath great Rivers as Nilus Niger Senaga Cambra Zaire Cuama the River called the River of the Holy Ghost all which by their overflowing do wonderfully water it make it fruitfull It hath many great mountains amongst which the chiefe is Atlas who rising out of the vast sands lifteth up his high head above the clouds so that the top thereof cannot be seene The inhabitants call it the Pillar of Heaven It beginneth from the VVest where it gives the name to the Atlanticke Sea and from thence by a continued winding ridge it extendeth it selfe towards the East towards the borders of Egypt it is round rugged steepe and unpassable by reason of steepe rockes also wooddy and watered with the breaking forth of springs The top of this Mountaine is covered even in the Summer with deepe snow yea sometime the backe thereof if the North wind be sharpe is covered with a snow deeper then the highest tree whereby both men and cattell do perish There is another very high mountaine called Sierra Liona whose top is alwaies hid with clouds from whence a terrible noise is heard at Sea so that it is called the Mountaine of Lions The Mountaines also of the Moone much renowned by the Ancients are here placed under the Tropicke of Capricorne they are very rugged of an incredible heigth and inhabited by wild people and neere them there are such low and deepe valleies that it may seeme that the Center of the Earth is there Lastly there are the Mountaines Cantaberes in the Kingdome of Angola verie rich in silver mines and other which wee will mention in our particular Descriptions The chiefe Islands about Africke are these In the Atlanticke Ocean there is the Isle called Portus Sancti or the Isle of the Holy Port Madera the Canarie Islands and Caput Viride or the Greene Cape The Isle of the Holy Port was so called from the discoverers who having failed thither with much danger and difficultie would have this place so called in memory thereof The compasse of it is about fifteene miles Madera tooke his name from the great plenty of trees that grew here The circuit of it is about an hundred and forty miles The Canaries were so called from the multitude of dogges that were found there they were called by the Ancients the Fortunate Islands Pliny doth mention sixe Ombrio Innonia the greater and lesser Capraria Navaria and Canaria Ptolomie calls them Aprosuum Hera or Autolala Pluitalia Casperias Canaria and Centuria and doth place them all almost in a right Line towards the North. Cadamustus maketh ten seaven tilled three desert the names of those that are manured are the Islands of Fracta Lancea Magna Sors Grand-Canarea Teneriffa Gomera Palma and Ferro Cape Verde or the greene Cape is planted with greene Trees and from hence it hath that name The Isles thereof toward the West doe lie in the midst of the Ocean as the Islands of S. Anthony S. Vincent S. Lucia S. Nicholas the Island of Salt Bonavista Maggio or May Saint Iames and the Island called Insula del fuego In the Aethiopian Ocean are the Islands called Insula Principis and Saint Thomas his Island Behinde the Promontory called Caput Bonae spei or the Cape of good Hope there are other Islands but none inhabited except the Island of Saint Laurence ASIA ASIA succeeds Africke in my division This name was allotted it from the Nymph Asia as Varro witnesseth of whom and Iapetus Prometheus was borne Others say it was so called either of Asius the sonne of Atys or from Asius the Philosopher who gave the Palladium of Troy to the custodie of the Citie for which that they might gratifie him his whole dominions which before was called Epirus they called Asia And from hence afterward as from the more noble part all the whole tract of Land began to bee called Asia Moreover as Lybia doth both signifie a third part of the World and a part of this part So it is observed that Asia doth signifie both the whole Continent and that part which is hem'd in with the Mountaine Taurus wherein doe dwell the Lydians the Carians the Lycaonians Paphlagonians Ionians Aeolians and others which part for distinction sake is commonly called Asia the Lesse the Turkes call it Natolia There is saith Varro Lib. 4. an Asia which is distinguisht from Europe in which is Syria and there is an Asia which is called the former part of Asia in which is Ionia and our Province But all Asia is called in the Holy Scriptures Semia It is almost wholly situated in the Northerne part of the World from the Aequinoctiall Circle to the 80th degree of Northerne Latitude except some Ilands pertaining to Asia some whereof are stretched out beyond the Aequator Southward Hence arises a great difference through all Asia in the length of the artificiall dayes For in the last Parallel which is drawne not farre from the Aequinoctiall the longest day is almost twelve houres About the middle of Asia the longest day is fifteene houres and in the most Northerne Parallel their light continually endureth almost for foure whole Moneths in Summer According to the Longitude Asia is stretched forth from the Meridian of 52. degrees even to the Meridian of 196. according to some but if we follow the description of Mercator the most Westerne Meridian thereof passeth through the 57th degree neare to the furthest Westerne part of Asia the Lesse and the most Easterne Meridian through the 178th degree On the North it hath the Scythian Sea on the South the Indian on the East the Easterne Sea on the West the Bay of Arabia or the red Sea the Mediterranean and Euxine Seas And as in the higher part it cleaveth to Europe so in the Southerne part it is joyned to Africke by an Isthmus yet Pliny and Strabo with some others doe stretch out Asia even to Nilus and doe reckon all Egypt to Asia In Asia the face of the skie is both pleasant and wholesome the Aire milde and temperate Yet all Asia doth not feele this temperatenesse for the right hand and left hand parts thereof are exceeding hot and cold The
Irishman in what part of Galloway Ireland stood valuing this Towne as the whole Country and the whole Country as this Towne There are reckoned to Galloway Anner Clare Sligo Arctlo and Alon Townes of note The Auteri whom I mentioned before did heretofore possesse the more Southerne part of this Connacia where is now Twomondia or Claria the Country of Clan-Richard and the Baronie of Atterith which plainely intimateth whence came the name of the Auteri Twomond called by Giraldus Theutmonia which though it lie beyond the River Senus or Shinnin may be added to Momonia is stretched forth into the Sea with a great Promontorie famous for the Seat of an Archbishop which they call Toam and for the Earles thereof namely the O-Brennis who descending from the ancient Earles of Connack were honoured by Henry the Seaventh with the Title of Earles of Twomond This Country or the most part of it the English call Clare-shire from Thomas Clare the youngest sonne of Gilbert the first Earle of Glocester to whom King Edward the first gave this Country Clan-Richard that is the Land of the sonnes of Richard is next unto this it tooke its name according to the Irish custome from one Richard an Englishman called de Burgo or Burgensis who afterward in this Country became a man of great note and power and out of this Family Henry the eighth created Richard de Burgo Earle of Clan-Richard Atterith commonly Athenri doth glory in that warlike Baron Iohn de Bermingham an Englishman out of which Family the Earles of Louth are descended but these Berminghams of Atterith degenerating into the Irish Wildenesse and incivilitie will scarce acknowledge that they were once English In this Atterith Geographers doe place the mouth of the River Ausoba which is now called the Bay of Galway for Galway in Irish called Gallive is seated on it being a faire Towne which through the benefit of the River is filled with many commodities brought thither both by Sea and Land Geographers doe also place the River anciently called Ravius but now Trowis in Connack it is also knowne by the name of Bannus for the inhabitants do call it Banny This River comming out of the Lake Ernus is the bounds of Connack and Vlster THE THIRD TABLE OF IRELAND ULTONIA CONATIA et MEDIA MEDIA MEDIA is the third part of Ireland which in the Country speech is called Mijh the English call it Methe Giraldus Midia and Media because perhaps it lyeth in the very middle of the Island For the Castle of Killaire in those parts which Ptolomie calls Laberus is held to be in the middle of Ireland and so much the name it selfe doth expresse for Lair in the Irish speech signifies the middle Richard Stanthurst writeth thus concerning the Etymon or signification of the word Media In the yeare of the World 2535. five brethren possessing the Islands they resolved to divide it equally into foure Provinces that so they might governe in them severally But least their younger brother whose name was Slanius might bee without some honour they consented together to bestow on him a share taken out of all foure partes Which was received by him chearefully and hence some suppose that it was called Media It stretcheth and extendeth it selfe from the Irish Sea even to the River Shennin which River doth part it from Connack It hath a wholesome pleasant Aire and deligthfull Prospect It aboundeth with corne pasturage and cattle having store of Flesh Butter Cheese Milke and the like and in regard of the strength of the Townes and Castles and the peace arising thence it is called the Chamber of Ireland The Irishmen doe write that this Country heretofore had Kings and that Slanius afterward became sole Monarch of all Ireland But when the English had set foote in Ireland Hugh Lacey did conquer the most part of it and King Henry the Second King of England granted it unto him to hold in fee and stiled him Lord of Media He having his head on a suddaine cut off by an Irishman while he was building the Castle of Derworth left behinde him Hugh Earle of Vltonia and Walter Lord of Trim the Father of Gilbert who dyed before him But by the daughters of Gilbert Margaret and Matilda the one part fell by the Ienvills of the House of Lorraine and the Mortimers unto the King for Peter of Ienvill being borne of that Matilda had issue Ioane who was married to Roger Mortimer Earle of March the other came by the Verdons to many Families in England In our forefathers time by an Act of Parliament it was divided into two parts namely into East and West Media The River Boand or Boyne which Ptolomie calleth Buvinda runneth through the East side and afterward when it hath washed Droghda a faire and populous Town called so from the bridge it divideth that part from Vltonia The Westerne Media hath nothing worthy of memory or note beside Laberus which Camden seemes to call Kaillair and the Towne of Delvin which heretofore did honour Peter Meset and now the renowned English Familie of the Nogents with the title of Barons For Gilbert Nogent as Richard Stanihurst hath it who writ eloquently of Irish matters having a gentlemans estate was rewarded by Hugh Lacy for his service performed in the Irish warres with the Colonies of Delvin and Four from him are the Barons of Delvin descended Those Irish Countries of O-Malaghlem Mac-Coglan O-Madden and Mogoghian whose names have a barbarous sound we leave unto others Among the Townes of Media Pontana is reckoned which is commonly called Droghda being a faire Towne and having an Haven fit for the receipt of Shippes But there are some who place the middle part of this Towne in Vltonia beyond the River There are also in Media these Townes Molingar Four Delvin Trimme Kelles Navain Aboy Dulek and Scrin There are also in this Province neare Fonera three Lakes not farre one from another whereof every one containeth his severall sorts of fish which never come one to another although the way be passable by the River flowing betweene them and beside if the fish be carried from one Lake to another they either die or returne to it againe Here is the River Boand aforesaid called so from the swiftnesse of it for Boan both in Irish and Welch doth signifie swift and Nechamus hath sung of it THE FOVRTH TABLE OF IRELAND WHICH CONTAINETH THE EASTERNE PART AND DOTH present these following Territories to view Glandeboy Tirone Arde Lecale Enaugh Arthule Newry Morne Fuse Vriel and many others also the Cities Armack and Downe LAGENIA THE FOVRTH TABLE OF IRELAND ULTONIA ORIENTAL Et quantum longis carpunt armenta diebus Exiguâ tantum gelidus ros nocte reponit How much the flocks doe eate in the long day The cold dew in the short night doth repay But for the company of Gyants which Giraldus placeth in this Country I leave it to those who admire fabulous
inheritance of this Countrie and gave it to Gaspar his Unkle and Earle of Bedford but hee dying without issue the King tooke it againe into his owne hands Caermardenshire is bounded on the East with Glamorganshire and Brecknock-shire on the West with Penbrockshire on the North with the River Tay separating it from Cardiganshire on the South with the Ocean It is sufficiently fruitfull abounding with flocks of cattle and in some places with pit-coales The chiefe towne of the Shire is Caermarden which Ptolemie calls Maridunum Antoninus Muridunum having pleasant Meadows and woods about it it is very ancient and as Giraldus saith it was encompassed with a stone wall part whereof yet standeth There is also the auncient towne of Kidwilly which now is almost ruinated for the Inhabitants passing over the River Vendraeth Vehan did build a new Kidwilly being drawne thither with the conveniencie of the Haven which yet is of no note The Rivers are Vendraeth Vehan Towy or Tobius and Taff. Penbrokshire is on every side encompassed with the Sea except on the East where part of Caermardenshire and on the North where part of Flintshire lyeth against it The countrie beeing neare Ireland hath a temperate and wholesome aire and is plentifull in all kinde of graine The chiefe towne hereof is Penbro now called Penbroke and seated on a craggie long rocke The other Townes of note in this Countrie are Tenby Hulphord now called HarfordWest and Menevia or Tuy Dewi which the English at this day do call S. Davids I finde but two Rivers in this Shire but here is a Port called Milford-Haven which is the fairest and safest in all Europe Gilbert Strongbow was the first Earle of this Countie on whom King Stephen did first conferre the title of Earle of Penbroke and hee left it to his sonne Richard Strongbow who subdued Ireland from whom with his daughter Isabel William Lord of Hempsted and Marshall of England a man flourishing both in times of peace and warre received it as her dowry Concerning the other Earles read Camden Brecnockshire is called so from the Prince Brechanius as the Welchmen suppose This is bounded on the East with Hereford on the South with Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire on the West with Caermardenshire on the North with Radnorshire The countrie is very full of Mountaines yet it hath every where fruitfull vallies The chiefe towne in it is Brecnock stiled in the Brittish tongue Aber-hodney and placed in the midst thereof There are also the townes of Blueth or Bealt Hay or Trekethle The River Vaga called by the Brittaines Gowy and by the English Wye watereth the Northerne part of the countrie and Vsk runneth through the middle thereof Herefordshire called in the Brittish tongue Ereinuc is as it were of a circular forme it is environed on the East with Glocester-shire on the South with Monmouthshire on the West with Radnor and Brecnock shire and on the North with Shropshire It is a pleasant countrie full of fruit and cattle Hereford or Hareford is the chiefe citie of this countrie having round about it faire medowes and fruitfull fields it is encompassed with Rivers almost round about on the North West with a namelesse river on the South with Vaga which hasteneth its course hither out of Wales There are also the townes of Lemster called anciently Leonis monasterium and by the Brittaines Lhanlieni Webley Ledburie and Rosse and there are in it 157 Parishes The chiefe Rivers here are Vaga Lug Munow and Dor. THE FIFTH TABLE OF ENGLAND Containing these Shires Yorkeshire Lincolnshire Darbyshire Staffordshire Nottinghamshire Leicestershire Rutlandshire and Northfolke THE fifth Table of England comes to be unfolded in the which the first that wee meete withall is Yorkeshire the greatest Shire in all England and called by the Saxons Ebona-yâ—yne On the East it is bounded with the German Ocean on the West with Lancashire and Westmoreland on the North with the Bishoprick of Durham and on the South with Cheshire Darbyshire Nottinghamshire and Lincolneshire It is held to be temperate and fruitfull If in one place it bee sandie stony and barren in an other place it hath fruitfull fields if heere it be voide of woods there it is shadowed with thick trees Nature being so provident that the Countrie is more pleasant by this variety Here is Eboracum called by Nennius Caer Ebrauc and by the Brittaines Caer Effroc but commonly stiled Yorke It is the second Citie of all England and the fairest in all this Country which is a great strength and ornament to all the North parts It is pleasant large strong beautified both with private and publick Buildings and full of wealthy Citizens The River Ouse doth as it were part it and divide it into two Cities which are joyned together by a great stone Bridge There are also the Townes of Kingston upon Hull Dancaster called by the Scots Doncastle and by Antoninus Danum Halifax anciently Horton Pontfreit Shirborne Wetherby Kingston Patrington called anciently Praetorium and many others for there are in this Shire 39 great Townes and 459 Parishes besides many private Chappels of ease which great Parishes are faine to provide in regard of the multitude of the Inhabitants The chiefest Rivers are Don or Dune Calder Arc Wherfe Nid and Ouse which arising out of the Mountaines doe runne through the fruitfullest parts of the Country There are also other Rivers as Cokar Fosse Derwent Foulnesse Hull Teyse Dow Rhie Recal and Wisck Lincolneshire is a great Country being almost three score miles long and in some places more than thirty miles broad On the East it is beaten with the German Ocean on the North it toucheth the Aestuarie of Abus or Humber in the West it looketh toward Nottinghamshire and on the South it is parted from Northamptonshire with the River Welland It is a Country that produceth much fruit and breadeth up abundance of cattell The chiefe Citie of this Shire is Lincolne which Ptolemie and Antoninus call Lindum The Citie it selfe is large and faire being seated on the side of a Hill where the River Witham bendeth toward the East There are also the Townes of Stanford Grantham Ancaster anciently called Crococalana Crowland Spalding Boston rightly called Botolps towne and others And there are in this Shire about 630 Parishes This Countrie is watered with many Rivers as Witham which is full of Pikes Lud Trent Welland Idle Pan c. The next Countrie that followeth is Darbyshire which on the South is enclosed with Leicestershire on the West with Staffordshire on the North with Yorkeshire on the East with Nottinghamshire It is of a triangular forme but not equilaterall or having equall sides It is divided into two parts by the River Derwent The Easterne and Southerne parts are tillable and fruitfull the Westerne part is all rockie and full of craggie barren Mountaines
water is sweete and fresh Durius is the greatest River in Spaine because so many Rivers do runne into it that it would be too tedious to reckon them up it floweth out of the Mountaine Idubeda where it is called Sierra de Cocolo it divideth the Vectones from the Asturians and the Portugalls from the ancient Gallicians And having viewed the Towre Sullana called Tordesillas Salabris Miranda and other Towns fortie English miles beneath Lamego neere to a Towne of Portugall which is called Porto with a violent course it doth mingle it selfe with the Westerne Ocean The River which Ptolemie and others call Tagus ariseth in the high cliffes of the Mountaine Orospeda some fiftie furlongs from a little towne which is called Tragacet not farre from the Citie Concia now called Guensa And gliding by the Carpetanâ— it visiteth Toledo the royall citie and having a bridge there over it it watereth the noted faire Cities of Talavera Augustobroga Alcantara and others and so cutting almost through the middle of Portugall it dischargeth it selfe into the West Ocean beyond Lisbone by a mouth or outlet as some observe which is seven miles and an halfe broad The Inhabitants at this day call this River Tato The Portugalls Tejo The River Tagus having sands mingled with gold as Solinus in his Polyhistor Isiodorus Lib. 13. Etymolog cap. 21. do witnesse hath beene preferred before all the other Rivers of Spaine Emanuel Henricus a man worthy of beleefe doth affirme in Ortelius that it hath at this day golden sands as also many other Rivers of Portugall And Pomponius doth testifie that it hath great store of Fish Oysters and Pearles in it The river Anas well knowne to the Latine and Greeke Writers taketh its originall out of the great Lakes in Laminitania as Pliny writeth Lib. 3. Naturalis Histor cap. 1. now called Campo de Montiel and gliding by the Oretam neare to a Town which the Spaniards call Cagnamanus so to Metallina where Vitellius pitcht his Tent as the ancient inscriptions of the place do shew it hideth it selfe at last in the bowels of the Earth though Georgius of Austria Provost of Harlebeck doth witnesse in Ortelius that this is rather a common opinion than true and by and by after it hath runne some 15 miles as if it rejoyced to have many new births as Pliny saith breaking forth neare Villaria and having runne and glided by Meriâ—la where it hath a long stone-bridge over it and other Cities toward the South it â—owleth it selfe into the Sea neare the Castle of Marin The Spaniards call it at this day Rio Guadiana by borrowing a word from the Arabians for with them Guad signifies a river The river which Ptolemie calls Bâ—tis doth arise neare Castaon out of the mountaine Orospeda as Strabo and Stephanus do write and out of that part thereof which is called Sierraâ— Alcaraz This river running Westward from its fountaine and gliding by Corduba and other townes at last declineth Southward toward Sevill and with a large mouth being one league over but full of slatts and sands discargeth and emptieth it selfe into the Atlanticke Sea not farre from Caliz Here is a faire river which the ancients called Auro and Olivetis Strabo and Pausamas call it Tartessus Livy noteth that the Inhabitants did call it Circes which name it retained for a long time as Marius Niger witnesseth notwithstanding the Africans had gotten Spaine and yet at length it was by them called Guadalquivir or as others write Guadalâ—hebir as it were to say the great river Here is also the river Minus in Hispania Tarraconensis the head whereof beginneth eighteene miles above the Sextian Altars which are now called Lugo neare to a towne commonly called Castell Ferde This river passing by the towne called Porto-maâ—in and sliding by the bridge Belsarius and the Citie Orense at last joyneth it selfe with the river Avia at Valentia and having runne eighteene miles further it doth cast it selfe into the Ocean There are other rivers as Lethe Turtus Limaea Sicores Chalibs Austra and others of lesser note which I leave to be unfolded or described by others lest I should be too tedious The Sea calleth on us nex to be entreated of together with the Bayes and Havens which belong unto it Spaine is enclosed on every side with the Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea except that part which is joyned to the Pyrenaean mountaines and to Aquitania In regard whereof it is very fit to traffique and merchandise with all parts of the old and new world The Sea round about it doth afford abundance of all kindes of fish as Whales Congers Tunies Soales Lampreys and the like beside Oysters and other Shell-fish There are three famous Bayes of Spaine which lye all towards the Mediterranean Sea the Sucronensian Illicitane and the Virgitane The greatest of them all is the Sucronensian receiving the Sea as Mela saith with a large mouth or inlet which within groweth narrower and narrower The Illâ—â—tane is the middlemost in bignesse now called Puerto d'Alicante The least is the Virgitane Bay and is so called as Mela writeth from the towne Virgi now stiled Vera or Bera Ptolemie corruptly calls this towne Vrâ—e or Virge Autoninus as erroniously calleth it Vrei and Pliny vvith no lesse error Vrgi The Gaditane Bay vvas so called in Mela lib. 3. from Gades now it is called Baia de Ca liz The chiefe Havens in Spaine are first that vvhich the ancients called Magnus betweene the Nerian and Scythian Provinces which now is called Corunna Secondly Amibalus Portus now called Alber in the Kingdome of Algarbia Thirdly that which Pliny calls Amanum now Fuentarabie as Villonovanus or Barnino as Moralis thinketh Fourthly Portus Tarraâ—onensis of which the Italian Poet Silius writeth thus Lib. 15. The stranger in the Haven then doth land Of Tarraconia while the shippes do stand In the safe harbour labour is laid by And feare of the deepe Sea while here they lye And lastly the Haven of Venus so called by Mela which lyoth at the foote of the Pyrenaean hills Now followe the mountaines the chiefe whereof are the Pyrenaean mountaines dividing Spaine from France Ptolemie and others call them Pyrenea and Stephanus calleth them Pyrena Tibullus Pyrene Livy and others call them Saltus Pyrenaeus the Spaniards generally call theÌ„ Los Pirencos for they have divers names in divers parts thereof Some would have them so called from fire or because they are often struck with thunder or because all the woods thereof as Diodorus writeth in his sixt Booke were heretofore set on fire by sheep-heards and so burnt downe Silius the Italian Poet doth give them this denomination from a maide called Pyrena the daughter of Bebryx whom Hercules lay withall upon this mountaine and being afterward torne to pieces by wild beasts she was buried here The Pyrenaean mountaines as they do stretching and extending themselves from the East unto the West even to the Celtick Promontorie divide Spain
is sixteene miles long and on that side which lyeth toward Sabaudia it is 12 miles long and it is foure miles broad It hath at least sixteene Ports or Havens Out of the Port Morgiensis and Rotulensis commonly called Rolle the best wine is brought to Geneva and out of the Port of the Promontory commonly called Pormentou and the Port of Nero commonly called Nerny great store of wood and coale is brought to Geneva The River Rhodanus flowing into Lâ—mann from the first rising thereof even to his entrance into the Lake is not navigable for ships neither from the Helvetian bridge in the Suburbs of Geneva even to the next towne called Sâ—ssel which is seaven miles distant from the Cittie The same River in a certaine place five miles distant from the Cittie falleth into a deepe pit under ground Iurassus is such a long Mountaine that the Germaines did heretofore call the inhabitants thereof Longimans For from the top of them you may behold the Churches of Geneva and Basil being foure or five dayes journey distant one from another Also there is a wonderfull rocke full of holes which Sebastian Munster describeth in his Cosmographie Also the virgins Castles built by Iulius Caesar Also the Towne of Saint Claudus because lame people came thither from remote parts for religion sake Also a snowie fountaine in Summer time also a naturall Pit that is as broad as any Theater and as deepe as a Church and as darke as a Cave being continually full of snow Ice and Crystall Not farre from the Lake Lemann on that part which lyeth toward Sabaudia there are Mountaines which in the midst of Summer are covered with snow There is a certaine Mountaine a mile distant from the Citty Geneva upon which some THE LAKE LEMANN Lacus LemaÌ„nus Lac de Geneve not without horrour ascend by steps cut out of the rocke which are very narrow and almost innumerable And some setting their foote upon the last step when they beheld the deepe praecipice beneath them have gone backe againe There is also another Mountaine not farre from Aquila a towne towards Valesia of whose wonderfull effects we may reade the whole story in the memorable Histories of our time in the Chapter of Earthquakes lately set forth in French at Paris The Mountaine of S. Sergius is the most fruitefull of all the Chablacian Mountaines among which there is one other very fruitefull The other doe beare nothing but wood and shrubbes and pasturage for Kine which in the Summer time doe fatt themselves on the plaines of the Mountaines and doe give good store of milke But who can reckon the memorable chances or events happening there in the time of Warres Or how great and fearefull is the Praecipice of the Mountaine Mustracensis from which every yeare many horses loaden and Merchants doe fall headlong Concerning the rockes which are sharpe like teeth or swords we must write in a more accurate stile or else be silent Concerning the foote of the Mountaines of Aquiane it is knowne that they are unknowne by reason of the depth of the Lake from the bottome whereof they doe arise The most of the woods they doe yeeld Chesnuts both to the poore and rich and Acornes for Hogges and Swine also fire-wood and cart-timber and plough-timber for husbandmen In these places there are few or no Churches which have reliques of Saints in them because Idolatrie is banisht from hence But there are many sumptuous and magnificent Temples especially that at Lausanna being built within of black Marble and the auncient Temple at Geneva being full of Iron worke being twice or thrice endangered by thunder so that the leaden crosse of it was burnt and the high Tower fell down which was built before the coÌ„ming of Charles the great Adde to these the Temple of Vâ—viacum seated among the Vineyards out of the walls of the Citty and the Temple of Morgium lately beutified But all the Images are defac'd Geneva hath an hospitall for Orphans and for the sicke but both of them are included in the Hospitall for strangers in which there dwelleth a Catechizer and a Schoole-master who doe take paines in comforting the sicke and reading prayers to them it hath also a Physician and an Apothecary belonging thereto The Municipall Court in Geneva in which every day five and twenty wise and pious Senators doe meete together to consult of affaires belonging to the Common wealth and in which also the written records and bookes are kept is watched every night by the Cittizens On one side of the Gate there is placed a magnificent seate of judgement commonly called the Tribunall On the other side of the Gate there is a notable monument of time occasion the means of the renovation of this state And neere the Court there is an Armory well furnished There are also in and about this Cittie many high bulwarkes fortified with shot There have beene and are many Castels in this Country one of which is called S. Catherines Castell in which those warlike engines or instruments were layd up which were provided for the seige of Geneva and brought thither in the yeare 1590. It was taken by King Henry the fourth who commanded it to be rac'd Anno. Dom. 1601. The other Castle which the Genevians built over against it for peace sake and for sparing of charges they suffered to fall to ruine The third Castle commonly called Ripaâ—lle by the ayde of the French Cohorts came to be under the power of the Genevians Anno 1589 and is now desolate as also the fourth which belonged to Versonius when the Genevians tooke it There are some Towers cunningly and ingeniously raised one of which is called Turris Magistra or the Mistris Tower which defends Geneva on that side which is next the Lake and Sabaudia the other is called the Towre of the Island or Caesars Tower which is seated on a high Island for the defence of the Bridg which heretofore appertained to the Heluetians as it is reported it was built by the same Emperor The Statutes and Laws of the Common wealth and Colledge of Geneva may be read in a printed book Here is a great number of noble families As concerning men famous for wit and the profession of Arts and sciences there have beene many who have gotten much same by their divine and Philosophicall workes As Peter Viretus Verbigenensis Gulielmus Farellus Ioannes Calvinus Antonius Sadeel Petrus Cevalerius Nicolas Colladonus Cornelius Bertramus Alberius Alizetus Sequierius Bucanus all of which in the former age were a long time diligent Preachers and professors at Geneva Lausanna Morgium and Albona after whom there succeeded these famous writers Theodorus Beza Veselius Simon Goulartius Silvanectinus Antonius Faius Ioannes Lacomotus Iames Lectius a Senator Ioannes Deodatis of Geneva professor of Divinitie and the Hebrew tongue Isaac Casaabon the Kings Professor for the Greeke tongue and Gasparus Laurentius professor of the same Language Moreover
Danubius beginning from Austria and Moravia Lazius reckneth to bee Tarchzal in Greeke Carpatus which was heretofore so called from the Minerals in it it stretcheth and extendeth it selfe thorow the Counties Turocensis Arnensis Liproviensis Cappusiensis Gewineriensis and Sariensis which the Inhabitants call by divers names as den Vatter den Munch den Wurtgarten den Schnepberg The second River is Matran which is planted with Vines neere Agria The third and greatest of all is Erdel There are many other Rivers which for brevitie sake I omit and so conclude Germany ITALIE IN VVHICH THESE Countries are contained Lombardie The Dukedome of Venice Liguria the Dukedome of Genua The Dukedome of Friulum Istria The Country of Romandiola The Dukedome of Thusany The Dukedome of Spoleto The Marquiship of Anconitana Latium now called Campagna di Roma Abruzzo Aprutium Samnites Terra di Lavoro Campagna felice a Principality Apulia the Kingdome of Daunia piana Lucania Basilicata Princip Terra di Barri Apulio Peucetia Terra di Otranto Regnum Calabria superior Regnum Magna Graecia Brutij Calabria inferior The Kingdome of Naples doth containe a great part of these Countries Because I know but a few Counties and Sigeionries in Italie and Greece and seeing their names and places cannot bee assign'd in Tables in regard of the imperfection of Tables therefore I will describe but a few of them For every Student may set downe those which hee shall finde It would affoord us a faire prospect into matters of Policy if the Nobility of severall Kingdomes and their Offices Places and Lordships were knowne Which if every one would performe in his owne Country hee should deserve much praise ITALIE· ITALIA ITALIE· GERMANIE was described before both in generall and speciall and now having viewed the former I doe enter into Italy which as Pliny saith Lib. Natur. Hist cap. 20. is a Country sacred to the gods the most happiest in all Europe the Mother of Plenty the Mistris of Policy the Princesse of Nations and the Queene of the World It had heretofore divers names Dionysius Halicarnassaeus Lib. 1. of Roman Antiquities writeth that the native people did call this noble Country Saturnia and the Graecians did call it Hesperia Ausonia and Oenotria and that at last in Hercules time it began to be called Italy It was called Saturnia from King Saturne But it seemeth that this appellation did not appertaine to all Italy but to a part of it which was also called Latium Hyginus would have it called Hesperia from Hesperus who fled from his Brother Atlas and Macrobius from Hesperus the Evening Starre in Latine call'd Vesperugo which is seene alwayes in the West It was call'd Ausonia from Auson They call'd it Oenotria from the goodnesse of the Wine or from Oenotrus King of the Sabines It was called Italy from Italus whom Aristotle maketh to be King of Oenotria But Festus saith Lib. 9. Italiam dictam quod magnos Italos hoc est Boves habeat vitulos enim Italos esse dictos That is Italy was so called because it hath great Italy that is Oxen for Calves are called Itali Timaeus fabulously reporteth that it was so called from the Oxe Italus one of Geryons Heard which being droven away by Hercules did swim over the Sicilian Bay and in the Tyrrhene language a Bull is called Italus And the same Dionysius Halic Lib. Antiq. Rom. saith that it was heretofore called Vitalia if we may beleeve Hellanicus Other ancient appellations of Italy which belong rather to the parts thereof than to the whole Country we omit Strabo and Ptolemy doe make Italy a Peninsula beeing encompassed on three sides with the higher Sea the lower Sea and the Jonian Sea on the fourth side it hath the Alpes for towards the West it hath the Italian Alpes which the ancients did distinguish by peculiar names as the Sea Alpes the Cortians the Grajans and the Rhetians which lye Northward even to the River Arsia and containeth the Poenine and the Julian Alpes and so it runneth Northward by the Hadriatick Sea even to the Jonian Bay which is over against it Eastward and lastly Southward and Westward it is beaten with the Mediterranian Sea as also the Tyrrhene and Ligustian Shores and the Hadrian Sea washeth the Southerne part where Forum Iulij and Histria lyeth The length from Augusta Praetoria to Brutium even to the Promontory or Leuâ—opetra is 755. miles the greatest breadth is 475. miles the middlemost breadth is 130. the least breadth is 72. The whole compasse of Italy according to Castaldus is 2550. miles Those which have measur'd it more exactly doe make it to be 2250. and those who have measured it most exactly doe reckon it to bee not above 2240. Eustathius doe liken Italy to an Ivie leafe Pliny Solinus and others doe resemble it to an Oke leafe because it is longer then broad bending his head on the left hand and so endeth in the figure of an Amazonian Brestplate The latter Writers doe more conveniently compare it to a mans thigh the skin whereof lyeth over against the lower Sea the Calfe over against the higher Sea and all the foote is washed with the Jonian Sea The heele doth looke toward Epirum the sole of the foote is the Tarrentine Bay the more fleshy parts doe make the Promontories Zephyrius Carcinus and Bruttium the toes are turned toward Sicily the knee is in the Populonian Promontory the hippe and upper part of the thigh doe touch the Alpes I have spoken of the name and quantity of Italy the quality followeth which alwaies ariseth from the Situation of a Country If any one will take a diligent account of it he shall finde that according to the Longitude the most Westerne Meridian doth fall upon the 29. degree and the most Easterne Meridian the 43. degree It is 7. degrees in Latitude for the most Southerne Parallel is 28. degrees distant from the Aequator and the most Northward 46. and so he shall finde that Italy is in the fifth and sixth Climats and all the Parallels between eleven and sixteene in which space of Land the day differeth one houre For the longest day of Summer in the Southerne Parallel is 14. houres long with three fifths but in the Northerne Parallel it is 15. houres long with three fifths Italy having such a Situation and having the Alpes running thorow it which passe length-wayes thorow the middle of Italy on both sides especially on the South side have faire fruitfull Fields Hills lying by them and therefore it is no marvell that all the times and seasons of the yeere are so temperate and that it is so fruitfull especially in some places The Country is very temperate and very plentifull and hath good store of Corne being not chargeable in tilling but very gainefull to the Husbandman The Rosselanian fields in Vmbria are reported to have beene so fruitful that Varro witnesseth Caesar Vopiscus when he pleaded his cause before the Censors said that the Rosean Fields were the
water they have digged Wells not farre from the Sea shoare for the Sea doth not flow above a foote high The ayre in these Ilands is cleere and temperate and not too hot so that fruits brought from other places doe grow and thrive here very well but yet for want of heate they doe seldome come to maturity or ripenes they reape two Harvests in a yeere and their Wheate is bigger than ours Two graines of Maiz will grow to a pound waight Neither are they much troubled with cold or raine by reason of the divers windes which come from the Sea which doe also mittigate the heate they have thunder often but it doth no harme There are no venamous creatures in these Ilands neither doth the earth bring forth any venemous thing except one Plant. So that the English doe live here peaceably and commodiously and have abundance of all things necessary A DESCRIPTION OF THE SVMMER ILANDS Mappa AESTIVARVM Insularum alias Bermudas dictarum ad Ostia Mexicane SOVTHERNE AMERICA· SOutherne America or Pervana followeth betweene which and new Spaine there is a Neck of Land or Isthmus which is 18. miles broad Which keepeth the Country Pervana from being an Iland and it is called the Province Dariena from the great River Dariene Moreover all Southerne America hath the forme of a Pyramis being broad beneath and sharp toward the top the Base whereof is neere the Isthmus Northward the top thereof doth lesson by degrees like a Wedge even to the Straits of Magellan toward the Southerne Pole and so endeth in a sharp point The parts of it are many but these 5. are the chiefe Castella aurea Popajana Peruvia Chile and Brasilia Castell aurea or Castiglia del oro was so called from the great store of Gold which it hath It is situated by the Isthmus which joyneth the Southerne part of America to the Northerne The breadth of the Isthmus is 73. miles But this part of Land is but little inhabited in regard of the intemperatenesse of the ayre and Marshes or standing waters And it hath no Corne but they gather their Maiz twice or thrice a yeere It hath two Citties Nombre de dios by Mare dael Nort or the North Sea and Panama by Mare del Sur or the South Sea It hath Gold-bearing Rivers and Mines of Gold whence great store of Gold is gotten The Country Popayana beginneth from the North side at the Citty Antioch and endeth on the South side at the Citty Quinto Therefore it is bounderd on the North with Castella aurea from which it is separate by the Citty Antioch On the South it bordereth on the Country Pervana and is parted from thence by the Citty Quinto on the East it is bounderd with the Kingdome of New Granada and the Country Pervana which beginneuh from thence Eastward On the West it hath the Southerne Sea This Country is full of high rugged Mountaines SOVTHERNE AMERICA AMERICA MERIDIONALIS The Kingdome of Chili is situate beyond the Tropick of Capricorne betweene Peruvia and the Country of the Patagons the latter on the North side the former on the South side on the West it hath Mare Pacificum or the peaceable Sea It was so called from the cold in these parts which is so vehement that it will freeze Horses and their Riders untill they be hard as Ice It hath raine and thunder and severall seasons according to the time of the yeere as in Europe but that it is Summer with them when it is Winter with us All the Country is partly Maritine and partly Mountainous the Maritine part which lyeth neere unto the Sea is the hotter The soyle is naturally fruitfull and hath abundance of all things necessary as Honey and Woad for Diers c. It hath also long Pepper and the Vines which were brought thither out of Spaine and planted there doe yeeld good Wine It hath also geeat store of pure Gold And the fruits which are brought out of Spaine and planted here doe easily grow here are great store of Cattell and Ostriches The Metropolis is S. Iames his Citty which is a Colony of Spaniards That part which lyeth neere the Sea is watered with many Rivers which together with the Snow which melteth with the dayes heate doe fall downe from the tops of the Mountaines and so runne into the Pacifique or Magellanick Sea but for the most part the vehemency of the cold doth freeze them by night but in the day time they runne when the Ice is thawed The Mountaines in these Countries doe exceed all the other Mountaines in the Indies The more Easterne Country Brasill remaineth which was so called from the great store of red wood growing there which is called Brasill wood It is situate betweene the two Rivers Maragnon and Della Plata Maffejus describeth it thus Brasil runneth forth from 2. degrees from the Aequator to 45. degrees Southward it lyeth in a triangular or three cornerd figure the Basis whereof is turned against the North and so runneth straite forward from the East unto the West The farthest corner or point doth reach to unknowne Countries Southward The East side hath the Ocean betweene it and Aethiopia A high ridge of Mountaines doth part the other side of it from the Province of Peruana which are so high that Birdes are tyred with flying to the top of them All the Country is pleasant and hath a delightfull wholesome ayre by reason that the gentle Breezes of winde which come from the Sea doe dispell the morning vapours and clouds and doe purifie the ayre This Country openeth partly into Plaines and riseth gently into Hills having a fat Glebe and a fruitfull soyle alwaies greene and for the seed which is sowne it returneth a great interest of increase and especially it hath great store of Sugar It hath many wilde Beasts which are partly knowne and partly unknowne and Birds of an excellent colour Here are many Colonies of Portugals who having built many Houses to boyle Sugar in namely Pernambicum Caput St. Augustini Portus Omnium Sanctorum where the Bishop and the President of the Province are resident This part of the Country is full of Fountaines Woods and Rivers as the Silver River which runneth into the Sea 40. leagues with such violence that the Marriners can take in fresh water from thence before they discover Land The Brasilians doe worship no Gods at all yet they adore the rising Sunne and they beleeve the immortality of the Soule THE STRAITES OF MAGELLANA· ANd so much concerning Southerne America Fretum Magellanicum or the Straites of Magellan are now briefely to be unfolded and described It was so called from Magellan who discoverd this narrow Sea Of whose skill and experience which hee shewed in finding out the Molucco Ilands by a Voyage made Westward wee have spoken other wheres He on the 24. of August when the winde stood faire weighed Anchor out of S. Iulians Bay where he had laine a long
time being not vexed so much with windes and high Seas as the civell dissentions of the Castellanians and Portugals After hee sayled some dayes Southward hee came to the Promontory of the holy Crosse Here one of his Ships runne a shore but the Men Ordnance and fraight was saved Afterward when he observed that the shore did bend a little from the South Eastward hee began to bee in hope of reaching the Straites And on the 26. of November this narrow passage was discover'd into which Magellan with foure other Ships entred Here they thought good to stay in a certaine Bay and to send 3. Ships before to â—ound the passage and to make discovery One of the Ships in which was Alvarus Meschita having past thorow stood out to Sea againe and so directing their course Northward it was brought first to Aethiopia and afterward to Spaine and 8. moneths after they had left their company Alvarus was brought before Charles King of Castile as a Captive The third Ship made report that it was a straite narrow Sea by observing the flowing and ebbing of the Sea It was the Moneth of November and the night was five houres long the shore on the right hand and the left or the Starbord and Larbord shore was very solitary and no creature to be seene but that on the left side they saw a great fire And this was the cause why they called that Country Terra del Fuego and they supposed that the Inhabitants had discoverd them Magellan having left 2. Ships in this manner he furnished the other according as was fitt for the present occasion and discovering all as he went two and twenty dayes after he entred the Bay or Straite he was brought into another Sea which for the quiet peaceablenesse thereof he called Mar del Zur or Mare Pâ—cificum that is the peaceable Sea But this Straite being environd on every side with high Rocks is 120. miles long or according to others 76. miles the breadth of it is not equall and very different for sometimes it is 2. or 3. miles broad and sometimes 10. or 5. and where it is narrowest it is a mile broad The Northerne Sea on the East side is carried betweene the Straites of either land 70. miles and more where it mingleth with the Southerne Sea on the West side winding thorow those Promontories it meeteth with the Northerne Sea where their Waves meete very violently and with a great noise so that all the Sea is coverd with froth The Southerne Sea doth flow and ebbe more gently for the Westerne part of the Bay being very deepe and broaderâ— affordeth a quieter passage to the Sea when it floweth But the Easterne part of the Straites is full of Flats and Sands and many Ilands which causeth the raging and troublesomenesse of the Seas on either Shore there are high trees Moreover when Magellan had layne halfe a yeere in these Southerne parts hee viewed and discoverd nothing but the shoares but the innermost parts of the Country remained unknowne but yet it is manifest that that part which lyeth Southward is most of it a Mountainous Woodly Country and hath Snow continuall upon it Some say blue Snow hath beene found here which I leave to others judgement Magellan called this Southerne Land del Fugo from the fire or fires for when he discoverd these Straites he saw no mortall creature but he often beheld in the night time many great fires as we said before on the left hand But the Southerne Land on the West side doth looke toward both the Iavas Summatra and the Molucco's on the East it hath Affrick and the Aethiopian Ocean on the North it hath the Straites of the Magellan Bay and the Land of the Patagons The Country on either shore is barren and unfruitful but yet it hath great strange unknowne Trees Here are at all times great store of Pinguines Cormorants and Sea-calfes For the Pinguines come hither in the moneth of September and doe hatch their young ones in October In the Moneth of Aprill they flie to the Sea and after they are gone there commeth great store of Cormorants They are called Pinguines apirguedine from their fatnesse the old one doe weigh 13.14 or 16. pounds the younger 8. or 12. pound They are black on the backe and white on the belly and they have a Milke white circle round about their neck Their backs are like the Sea Calves and as thicke as a Hogge which you cannot pierce with a Speare Their Bill is bigger than a Crowes bill but not crooked Their necke is thicke and short Their bodies are as bigge as a fat Goose but not so broad They have no wings in stead whereof they have two pinnions coverd with feathers which hang downe like wings which doe make them swim wonderfull fast They live by Fish for they are Water-Fowle They goe straite upright with those pinnions hanging downe They have black feete like Geese but not so broad If any pursue them they will cry with a voyce like a man Mergus or the Cormorant is so called by Varro Lib. 4. concerning the Latine tongue because mergendo se in aquam captat escam he getteth his food by diving into the water unto whom Ovid in his Metamor Lib. 11. concerning Aesacus the sonne of Priam doth assent where he singeth thus THE STRAITES OF MAGELLAN· FRETUM Magellani Aequor amaâ— nomenque manet quia mergitur illi Hee loves the Sea and keepes that name Because he dives into the same And though divers kindes of Water-fowle doe the same yet the ancient Latines did call this kinde of Bird onely Mergus or a Cormorant which the Greekes doe call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Italians Corvo Marino the Germanes Tuâ—her and the English doe call a Cormorant Turner an Englishman saith that this Bird is as bigge as a Goose of a browne colour having a long Bill and crooked in the end flat footed heavie bodyed the shape of her body when she standeth upright is like a Bird sitting Pliny writeth that she buildeth her Nest in Trees but Aristotle saith upon the Sea Rocks Ovid calleth that Bird which hath long legges and a great throat a Cormorant for he saith Longa internodia crurum Longa manet cervix caput est a corpore longe His Thighs and Neck both long are His Head is from his body farre The Cormorants contrary to all other Birds have their feete under their tayle so that when they stand on the ground they beare their breasts strait upright as men doe as the Author of the Booke of naturall matters writeth Pliny calleth Phoca Phooke and the Sea-calfe Albertus also calleth it the Sea Wolfe and otherwhiles the Sea Dog the Germanes call Ein meer Kalb and the English call it a Seale It doth Bay like a Calfe his tongue is cloven into two parts his teeth are like Sawes and his hinder feete like the tayles of Fishes it hath a small tayle which is coverd