briefly of the Globe of the whole Earth and things incident thereunto then more particularly of the several parts thereof and every remarkable Country in each part as I promised in the beginning The Globe of the earth therefore is defined to be a spherical body proportionably composed of earth and water the two parts thereof The parts of the earth are either real or imaginary The real parts are either Continents or Islands A Continent is a great quantity of Land not interlaced or separated by the Sea wherein many Kingdomes and Principalites are contained as Europe Asia Africa and America An Island called in Latin insula quasi in salo is a part of the earth environed round with water as Brittain Iava St. Laurence Isle Bermoodes Now these again are sub-divided into a Peninsula Isthmus and a Promontory A peninsula is such a tract of Land which being almost incompassed round by waters is nevertheless joyned to the firm land by some little Isthmus as Peloponesus Taurica Cymbrica and Pervana An Isthmus is a little narrow neck of land which joyneth any peninsula to the Continent as the straits of Dariene in Peru and Corinth in Greece A Promontory is some high mountain which shooteth it self into the Sea the utmost end of which is called a Cape as that great Cape of good hope and Cape Verde in Africa Cape Gomerie in Asia and that of St. Michaels mount in Cornwall the North Cape in Norway and divers others There are also other real parts of the earth as mountains valleys fields plains woods and the like The other general part of the Globe is the water divided into the Ocean Secondly the Sea Thirdly the Straights Fourthly Creeks The Ocean is the general collection of all waters which invironeth the whole world on every side The Sea is part of the Ocean to which we cannot come but through some strait as the Mediterranean Sea the Baltick Sea and the like These two take their names either from the adjacent places as the Brittish Ocean the German sea the Atlantick sea and the like Or from the first Discoverer as the Magellanick sea Forbushers Straits or from some remarkable accident as the Red-sea from the red colour of the sands and the like Thirdly a Straight is a part of the Ocean restrained within narrow bounds and opening a way to the sea as the Straits of Gibralter Hellespont Anian Fourthly a Creek is a crooked shore thrusting forth as it were two arms to embrace and affectionately to hold the Sea as the Adriatick Persian and Corinthian Creek Hitherto belong Rivers Brooks and Fountains engendred of congealed air in the earths concavities and seconded by Sea-waters creeping through hidden crannies thereof Thus much of the real parts of the Earth in general The compass of the whole earth is cast by our latest learned Geographers twenty one thousand six hundred English miles which we thus compute We see by continued experience that the Sun for every degree in the heavens gains sixty miles upon the earth towards his circuit round and after three hundred sixty degrees returneth to the same point in respect of us as before it was Add the number of sixty so oft and you will find the account the same and so by proportion of the circumference to the Diameter which is tripla sesqui septima the same which twenty two hath to seven We may count likewise the earths thickness to the center The whole Diameter by rule being less than a third part of the circuit That in the proportion to twenty one thousand six hundred will be six thousand eight hundred seventy two half the number will reach the middle of the world and that is three thousand four hundred thirty six being considered with great exactness as the measure of such a great bulk as the earth is can easily be taken and comprehended Geographers attribute unto the earth five circles The first is the Equinoctial when the Sun in his course is come thereunto about the eleventh of March and September the day and the night are of equal length through the whole earth It is also termed the Equator and by the Sea-faring men the middle Line because it divideth the earth into two equal parts of which the one lyeth towards the north the other towards the south and because it is in the middest between the two poles of the world one in the north the other in the south The second circle is called the Tropick of the Crabb because when the Sun is come thither about the tenth of Iune it returneth by little and little unto the Equator And then unto them that dwell on the north-side of the Equator is the day longest and shortest to them that dwell on the south-side thereof This circle is distinct from the Equinoctial Twenty three Degrees three Minutes and an half Northward The third is called the Tropick of Capricorn because the Sun being come thereto on the eleventh of December turneth his course backward to the Equator and then contrariwise to them who live on the north of the Equator is the day shortest and longest to them on the south thereof it is distant from the Equinoctial southward twenty three degrees thirty one minutes and an half The fourth is called the Artickcircle the fifth the Antartick of which the one is distant twenty three degrees thirty one minutes and an half from the north pole the other just so many from the south pole And are described by the revolution of heaven from the poles of the Zodiack which is the Sun Mercator the ancient Astronomer understood by the Arctick circle not onely that aforesaid but also every circle whose half Diameter answereth to the pole in any place whatsoever and containeth according to the Altitude of every Countrey certain stars which never set but alwayes are above the earth so that in all regions differing in Latitude this circle is diverse as also is the Antartick Now the four lesser circles the two Tropicks and polar circles do fitly part the earth into five Zones that is to say girdles because they compass like bands the round Globe of the earth The first of these Zones lyeth under the Artick or north circle and is called the cold north Zone the second lyeth under the Antartick or south circle and is called the cold south Zone the third is situate in the middle between the two Tropicks called the scorched Zone the fourth lyeth under that which is between the north circle and the Tropick of Cancer and is called the temperate north Zone the fifth also is under that space which is between the Tropick of Capricorn and the south circle and is called the temperate south Zone Now to understand rightly the situation of Countries their Longitude and Latitude according to the mind of Geographers is to be known The Latitude of places which with the height of the Pole is alwayes one beginning at the Equinoctial is taken two manner of wayes either towards
the south or toward the north unto the number ninety The Longitude is returned from the Meridian circle and about the west Islands called Carva and Flores beginning right at the Equator easterly and running forwards unto the number three hundred sixty As for example London lyeth from the Equinoctial northward fifty one degrees and a half which is the Latitude and the Longitude thereof is twenty degrees answering unto that degree of the Equinoctial reckoning from the Meridian And now that I have briefly touched upon the Longitude and Latitude of Countries and having often spoke of the Meridian and Horizon I shall I hope not unprofitably take time in a word or two to tell you what each of them are The Meridian is a great circle rounding the earth from pole to pole There are many Meridians according to the divers places in which a man liveth But the chief and first Meridian passeth through the Islands Saint Michael and of the Azores The Horizon is a great circle designing so great a space of the earth as a quick sight can ken in an open field the use of it is to discern the divers risings and settings of the stars I shall now speak a little of the Climates and Parallels and then I hope I have done with things generally concerning the earth A Climate is a space of the earth included within the space of two parallels The use of them is to shew the difference of length and shortnesse of dayes over all the world as you may see in the midst of every climate the number of the longest day in the year under that climate the longest day in one climate differing half an hour from the longest of another so that there are twenty four climates consisting of forty eight parallels ere the day come to be twenty four hours of length which is twelve hours longer than the Equinoctial day is Now under the Equinoctial line and thirteen degrees that is three parallels on either side thereof the dayes exceed not the length of Twelve hours but after in every clime encrease the length of half an hour and when they come to forty eight parallels and twenty four climates as I said before the dayes being then twenty four hours long their increase is then by whole weeks and months till in the twenty fourth clime about the pole the day is full half a year long and as it is thus between the Equator and the north pole so it is between the said Equator and the south pole wherefore there are two sorts of climes that is twenty four northern and as many southern touching the names of which and other circumstances I shall say nothing here but leave the readers to other more large discourses thinking this enough in a Tract of this nature to have spoken of things generally concerning the whole earth The whole Earth is now divided into four parts Europe Asia Africa America Of each part and their several Regions Empires Kingdoms Dominions Common-wealths Titles of honours and Laws as briefly as I can together also with their sundry trade and commodities Europe though the least of the three first parts of the world nevertheless excelleth all other parts in worthiness power renown multitudes of well-builded Cities and of People skilful in all kind of arts also excelling in virtue and the knowledge of God better than all the riches of the world Through the Grecian and Romane Empire in it it hath had once the Dominion over Asia and Africa Mr. Heylin mentions in it fourteen mother Tongues which I will not stand now to name It hath plenty of grain plants fruits coals rivers and fountains of admirable virtue it needs nothing but what may be well spared as hot spices not so fit for our temper precious jewels the nourishers of vain and soul-destroying pride and wild beasts which cause desarts where they breed yet of gold silver and other commodities it hath a part it is divided on the east from Asia partly by the Rivers Duina and Tunnis and partly by the lake called Meotis now termed Mare de le Zabacche pont Euxine or Mare Maggiore From Africa it is severed by the midland Sea on the west and north side it hath the great Ocean I shall follow Mr. Heylin's method in the description of the Regions and Countries thereof beginning with first Italy then going secondly to the Alps thirdly France fourthly Spain fifthly Brittain sixthly Belgia seventhly Germany eighthy Denmark ninethly Swetheland tenthly Russia eleventhly Poland twelfthly Hungary thirteenthly Solavonia fourteenthly Dacia and the fifteenth Greece speaking of the several Islands as they relate to some or other of the greater Countries Italy the Mother of all Latine Learning stretcheth out easterly on Asia between the Adriatick and Thuscan Seas and borders towards the west upon France and towards the north on Germany and is severed from those countries by the river Varus and the mountains called Alpes the rest being compassed with the Sea It hath had seven kinds of Government first Kings second Consuls third Dictators forth Decemviri fifth Tribunes sixth Emperours seventh Popes It flourished most in the time of Christ and a little afterwards by means of the great and wide dominion of the mighty city of Rome which then reigned as Queen of the world over many Lands of Europe Asia and Africa This land excelleth all the lands of Europe in fruitfulness and pleasantness the inhabitants are witty industrious and frugal yet hot and lascivious And withall the men very jealous and that taken to be not without cause The religion there now professed is the Popish religion unto which they are more straightly kept by the Inquisition The chief Wares which are carried out of Italy into other Countries are rice silks velvets sattins taffaties grogrems rashes stamels bumbasins fustians felts serving for Clokes costly arras gold and silver thred allum galls Venetian drinking and looking-glasses It containeth at this day the Kingdoms of Naples Sicily and Sardinia the lands and patrimony of the Church so called which the Pope posseth the great Dukedomes of Urbin and Tuscany the Common-wealths of Venice Genoa and Luca and the estates of Lumbardy being the Dukedomes of Millain Mantua Modena Parma Monferrat and the Principality of Piemont of all which I shall observe somewhat The Kingdome of Naples in Italy is environed on all sides with the Adriatick Ionian and Tuscan Seas excepting where it joyneth on the west to the Lands of the Church from which separated by a line drawn from the mouth of the River Tronto or Druentus falling into the Adriatick to the spring head of Axofenus it taketh up all the east of Italy one thousand four hundred sixty eight miles it hath anciently been called the Kingdome of both the Sicilies The fertilest place of all Italy abounding in all things necessary for life delight and physick Hence are also brought the Neapolitan Horses It hath had thirteen Princes twenty four Dukes twenty five Marquesses ninety
permit them to beg Seventhly they baptize themselves every Epiphany in lakes and ponds because that day they suppose Christ to have been baptized of Iohn in Iordan Eightly they eat not of those beasts which in the old Law are reckoned for unclean Ninthly and they keep the Jews Sabbath equally solemn with the Lords day Tenthly they minister the Lords Supper to Infants presently after baptisme Eleventhly they teach the reasonable soul of man is derived from the parents by seminal propagation Twelfthly that Insants dying unbaptized are sanctified in the womb by vertue of the Lords Supper received by the mother after her conception And finally they shew a Book of eight volumes writ as they say by the Apostles assembled at Ierusalem for that purpose the contents thereof they observe most solemnly and they differ from the Papists as the Christians in Egypt they are under the Government of Prester Iohn and the Turk I pass by Ethiopia inferior the people being Pagans where we may observe the distinguishing goodness and grace of God who by people under the same climate and Region is known and unknown a peculiar Kingdom surrounded every where with Pagans and Mahometans worshipping the living God and believing in Christ though erring in many circumstantials of Orthodox Doctrine imputable chiefly to remedilesse Tradition This is the Abassine Empire from whence the Eunuch that was converted by St. Philip the Treasurer to Queen Candace came and which is now the Realm and Dominions of Prester Iohn a Prince of large Territory but of scant and narrow fame for any atchievment and may be supposed more beholding to credulous reports for his Greatness than any real existence thereof However he serves with others to fill up that great Desart and truly Terra Incognita of the world the curiosity of travel being no way competent to the danger among such inhospitable and savage people as that quarter does the Map to idle or no purpose and therefore it shall take up no further room for the Description of it we will only touch a little upon the Southern Coast where we are concerned in matter of Trade Guinea stretching all along the South-west Shore of the Atlantick Sea is bounded on the North and East with Lybia famous for Mines of Gold hidden in the Bowells of some of its inland Mountains for which it is very much traffiqued by all the European Nations even the Swedes Danes and Dantzickers though lockt up by a dangerous Sea at home such is the sacred thirst of that Mettal that through all hazzards and difficulties it is attempted The Hollander to secure his footing there and to make a propriety hath built several Forts and established a Guinea-Company in imitation of the English who justly claim the right possession being the first discoverers and that made Essay of the place and are still better liked and entertained by the Natives then the Dutch are Since His Majesties Restitution they have quitted and delivered several Forts built upon the passage into the Countrey to the English Fleet sent thither to settle the Trade and former Factory according to its former Regulation Here may not be omitted that little spot of earth lying in the Mediterranean Sea the Isle of Malta which by Geographers is reckoned as part of Africa for no greater reason I suppose then St. Pauls character of the Inhabitants upon his Shipwrack there in his Voyage to Rome where he calleth them Barbarians a term appropriate to the adjacent Continent for this Island is scituated South from Sicily from whence it is not half so far disjoyned as from the Coast of Africa and is the Diamond to that large circumference It is very notable for the famous repulse and defeat of the Turkish Armado about 1490. being besieged by Sea by Mustapha Bâ—…ssa when Mounsieur de Valette a Frenchman was grand Master in honour of whom and their deliverance they have built and called their chief City Valette The Knights that are called of this place were formerly of Rhodes which Solyman the Great conquered and from thence setled here To this Order none but Gentlemen of three Descents are admitted and must be Papists The whole Order consisted of Seven Colledges French Spaniards Germans Italians English Portugals and Sâ—…voyrards but since the Reformation in England we have had none of the Order which mindes me of a Speech of Queen Elizabeth concerning forreign Honours conferred on some of her subjects That she would have her Sheep to be known by her own Brand. It continues at present in Statu quo a great vexation and terrour to the Turkish Navigation with whom they are to be at perpetual Enmity by their vow of Knighthood And thus much may suffice to be spoken of Africa we will next Enumerate the perticular Cities and Rivers The chiefest Cities of Africa with the names of the Rivers which are there most famous IN Barbary which containeth the Kingdoms of Fez Morocco Tremiser Algeir Tunis Tripoli and Barca there are the famous Cities Morocco Fez Tangier Telensin Oran Algeir Constantine Tunis Tripoli and Barca The Rivers there most famous are the Tensife the Ommiraby and the River of Cebus Mulvia Rio Major and the Magrida In Belledulgered which containeth the Kingdoms of Suz Daza Sagelmosse Tegorarin Biledulgerid and the Desart of Barca there are these famous Cities Taradante Dara Segelmoss Tegorarin Zeb Billedulgerid the chiefest Rivers are the River of Sur the River of Darba and the Ghir In Egypt are the famous Cities of Sabod Cairo Alexandria Rascha or Rosesta Damiettâ—… Cosir and Surs the renowned River is the River of Nilus In the desert of Zaara are these memorable cities Zauhaga Zuenzera Targa Lemta Berdoa Gaoga and Borno In the Country of the Negroes are these remarkable Cities Gue Eata Gueneha Tombu Agados Cano Cassena Gangara Tula Catan or Senega Guinala Beria Melli Songo Gago Wuber Zegzog and Sanfara the rivers here that are most famous are Sernoga Gambaea and Rio Degrand In Gniomy are these famous Towns Serze-Lionne or Cachieu Saint George De la Mine and Benin In Nubia are these remarkable Cities Gorham Cusam Nubia Dancala Iulac Bugiha Canfila and Dafila In the upper Ethiopia which containeth the Kingdomes of Barnegus Tigremahon Amara Damont Cafatos Innari Gogame Baga Medri Meroe Ximenchi and Dambaea There are these famous Cities Barone Caxumo Amara Damont Gefates Narre Goyame and Adeghena the Rivers which are here most memorable are the Rivers of Zaire and Quilmanci In that part which is called Zanguebar are these remarkable Cities Dambea Mosambiqueâ—… Quiloa Monbaze Melinda On the side of Aian are Bravâ—… Magadaxo Adea Adel. On the side of Abex Erocco or Arquico Suâ—…quem Biafra In the lower Ethiopia which comprehendeth Congo Caffrare and Monomotepa are the famous Cities of Banza Loanga S. Salvador Cabazze or Dongo Safula Simbaos or Messapa and Butua and Tang or Tete the Rivers are Cuana Spiritu Sancto and the River Dos infantes In Africa are divers other Islands