of S. Andrew the Apostle translated first from Patras in Peloponnesus where he suffered death unto Constantinople and thence brought hither by a Monk called Albatus Regulus in the yeer 378 if they be not mistaken in the time who made the storie Over which Râ—licâ—s he is said to have built a Monastery which after grew to be a City called from the Founder Fanum Reguli in honour of the Saint S. Andrews The Bishop hereof is the Metropolitan of all Scâ—tland the City seated on the Ocean neer the fall of the Ethan overlooked with a strong and goodly Castle the Archbishops seat 5 Falkland in the same Province of Fife beautified with a retiring house of the Kings resorting often thither on recess from business or for the commodity and pleasure of hunting which the place affords 6 Dundee in Latine Taodunum a rich and noted port at the mouth of the Tay the chief Town of Anguis 7 Aber-don at the mouth of the River Done whence it hath the name the word Aber in the Bâ—itish signifying the mouth or influx of a River an Vniversity and Bishops See 8 Peâ—th or S. Iohns Town seated on the Tay but in the middle of the kingdom walled and replenished with an industrious people the chief Town of the Sheriffdom of Perth 9 Scone on the further side of the Tay adorned heretofore with a famous Monastery the usuall place for the Inauguration of the Scotish Kings the fatall stone on which they did receive their Crown the Palladium of the Scotish Kingdom here kept till the removall of it unto Westminster by King Edward the first Vpon which stone there were of old ingraven these Verses Ni fallat fatum Scoti quocunque locatum Invenient lapidem regnare tenentur ibidem Translated in old Meeter thus The Scots shall brook that Realm as natif ground If Weirds fail not whaire ere this Stane is found Most happily accomplished in the Succession of King James the sixt to the Crown of England 10. Dunbritton Bâ—itannodunum in the Latine seated in a grassie Plain at the fall or influx of the River Levin into the Cluyd upon two steep and precipicious Rocks flanked on the West with the said two Rivers and on the East with a myerie Flat drowned at every full Sea the strongest Hold of all the Kingdom and thought to be impregnable but by Famine or Treason and the chief Town of the West side of Scotland the name hereof communicated to the Fryth adâ—oyning The Antient Inhabitants of this Countrie dwelling within the limits of the Roman Province were the Gadeni possessing Tevidale Twedale Merch and Lothien whose chief Citie was Castra Alala now Edenburgh 2 the Damnii dwelling in Cluydsdale Lennox Sâ—erling and Menteith whose chief Citie was Vanduara now Renfraw Lindum now Linlithquo 3 the Sâ—lgovae inhabiting in Iadd sdale Eusâ—dale Eskdale Annandale and Niddisdale whose chief place was Carbantorigum now Caer-Laverocâ— and 4 the Novantes conteining Galloway Carriâ—k Kyle and Cunningham principall places of the which were Leucopibia now Whit-herne and Reâ—igoâ—um now Bargenic Without the Province amongst the Picts or barbarous Britans divided generally into Caleaonii and Meatae the Nations of most note were 5 the Caledonii properly so called taking up all Strathern Argile Cantire Albanie Lorn Perth Angus and Fife 6 the Vermines of Mernis and Mar. 7 the Talzali of Buquhan 8 the Vacomagi of Loqbuabre and Murray 9 the Cantae of Ross and Sutherland 10 the Cantini of Cathness and 11 the Cornubii of Sâ—rathnavern the furthest Countrey Northward of all the Iland Chief Towns of which were Tamia Banatia Orea Devana and Tuesis which we know not where to find upon any certainty The fortunes of this people as they related to the Romans hath been shewn before On the withdrawing of whose Forces so much hereof as formerly had belonged to that Empire was possessed by the Saxons the residue thereof as formerly by the Scots and Picts save that the Saxons not content with that which the Romans held made themselves masters also of the plain Countries lying on the German Ocean to which the passage out of Germany was both short and easie By which accompt besides those places in the East they were possessed of the Counties or Sheriffdoms of Teifidile weedale March Lothien Liddisdale Eusedale Eskdale Annandale Nâ—disdale Cluydsdale Galloway Carick Kyle Cunningham Lennox and Sterling being the richest and most flourishing part of the modern Scotland The Scots for their part had the Counties of Cantire Argile Braid Albin or Albaâ—ie Lorâ— Lâ—quhabre and Strathnavern lying on the West and North the other Northern moyite excepting some parts neer the coast of the German Ocean possessed by the Saxons conteining the now Counties of Catness Sutherland Ross Murray Buqâ—hâ—n Marre Mern Anguis Athol Perth Fife Strathern and Menteâ—th being only left unto the Picts From whence the Saxons and Scots came into these parts hath been shewn already And for the Picts to omit here the refutation of those who will have them to descend from the Agathyrsi a People of Scythia they were no other than such of the naturall Britans as never were brought under the Râ—man Empire but still preserved their Countrie in its former Libertie called therefore by Tâ—rtulliâ—n inaccessa Romanis loca as indeed they were and using still their antient custom of painting their bodies after the rest of their Countriemen had conformed themselves to more civill courses were by the Romans called Picti and by that name first mentioned in the Panegyrick of Eunomius in the time of Constantine the Great They long possessed these parts without any In-mate even till the yeer 424. when the Irish-Scots wanting room at home and having formerly possessed themselves of the Western Isles first set foot in Britain with whom they had continuall Warre till in the end the Scots prevailing compelled the Picts to abandon to them the Western parts and withdraw themselves into the Eastern Afterwards growing into better terms with one another and willing to enlarge their borders towards the more flourishing South they contracted an Offensive and Defensive League against the Britaus whom on all sides they most miserably tortured till vanquished and beat back by the conquering Saxons against whom they contracted a new Confederacy Taking the advantage of the death of Etheldred King of the Northumbers and the invasion of the Danes on the rest of England they got into their hands all Bernicuâ—a or so much of the Kingdom of the Northumbrians as lay on the North of Twede and Solway reckoned from that time forwards as a part of their Dominions But this good neighbourhood held not long betwixt these two Nations It hapned at the last that Achaius King of the Scots maried Fergusia Sister unto Hungust King of the Picts and had by her a Sonne called Alpine who after the death of Hungust dying without issue and having none of a neerer kindred was in the judgement of the Scots to succeed in that Kingdom But the Picts alleging
to the Crown of England by the puissance of King Edward the first by whom made one of the shires of Wales as it still continues Not far from Anglesey some what inclining to the South is the Isle of Bardsey by Ptolomie called Edri by Plinie Adros by the Welch Eulby extending towards the East with a rockie Promontory but rich and fruitfull towards the West the retiring place of many godly and devout Hermits in the former times Southwards from hence and over against St. Davids are two other Ilands the one called Selame plentifull of wild honey the other named by the Welch Lymen by the English Ramsey thought to be the Limni of Ptolomie the Silimnum of Plinie but not else remarkeable VI THE ILANDS OF THE SEVERN SEA are four in number of no great note but I must take them in my passage to the Isles of Silly Of those the first is Flat-Holm from the flat and levell the 2d Stepholm from the steep and craggie disposition of it both by the Welch called Echni and both situate over against the County of Somerset More towards the opening of the Channel lieth the Isle of 3 Chaldey called by the Welchmen Inis Pâ—r of as small note as the other and at the very mouth thereof the Isle of 4 Lundey over against Devonshire the principall Iland of this Sea extending two miles every way of excellent pasturage well stored with Conies and great plenty of â—igeons Situate a good distance from any part of the land in the middest of the Salt and Brackish Ocean and yet yieldeth many Springs of Fresh-Water for the use of the people inhabiting for the most part in a Town of the same name with the Iland A place of very great strength and safety begirt about with dangerous unapproachable Rocks and having but one way of access into it and that so narrow that two men cannot go a brest VII The Isles of SILLY in number 145 are situate over against the most Western Promontorie of Cornwall from which distant 24 miles and lie round together in the manner of a ring or Circle Discovered first by the Silures a Phoenician Colonie in Spain opposite against which they lie thence called Silures by Solinus much traded and resorted to by the said Phoenicians from the Isle of Gades invited thereunto by the unexhaustible Mines of Tinne which they found amongst them A Trade so great and gainfull to them that they held it a great point of State 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to keep it as a secret from all the World as we find in Strabo who addes the story of a Carthagâ—nian or Phoenician Merchant incountred in his voyage hither by some Roman Vessels and splitting his ship on the next shore where he knew the Romans would not follow him rather than let them know to what place he was bound Rewarded for his honest care and recompenced for the loss of his ship and goods out of the publick Treasurie From this abundance of Tinne the Graecians when they came to know them called them Cassitâ—rideâ— Cassiteres in that language signifying Tynne accordingly Herodotus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 affirming that he knew not those Ilands called Cassiterides from whence Tynne was brought The richness of this Commodity the pleasures of the place and the Western Situation of them make many of the Grecians call them the Hâ—sperides mistaking them for the Fortunate Ilands By Solinus they are called Silures as before is said Sigdeles in the corrupt Copies of Antoninus insulae Sillinae by Severus Sulpitius from whence we have the name of the Isles of Silly The Flemings I know not why call them the Sorlings All of them very fruitfull in Corn and Herbage besides the treasures hid within well stored with Conies Cranes Swans and most sorts of Wild Fowl Ten of them more esteemed than the rest are called by the names of 1 Aâ—math 2 Agnes 3 Sampson 4 Silly 5 Bresar 6 Rusco 7 S. Helens 8 Arthur 9 S. Maurice and 10 St. Maries Of which the most famous in the accompt of former times was that of Silly as giving name unto the rest but in the present estimate St. Maries is accompted the chief of all 8 miles in compass fruitfull of all necessaries and fortified with a very strong Castle built by Queen Elizabeth well manned and Garrisoned for defence of a large and goodly Harbour made amongst these Ilands capable of the greatest Navies These Ilands first discovered by Himilco a Carthaginian sent by that State to search into the West Coasts of Europe became of great same afterwards both in Greece and Italy by reason of the Mines of Tynne spoken of before So beneficiall to the Romans that they used to send hither their condemned Prisoners to work in the Mines as the best service to be done by their forfeited lives And hither amongst others Iustantius a fierce Priscillianist for his factious and seditious cariage was â—ent by Maxâ—mus ad Sulliman 〈◊〉 ultra Britanniam deportatus as Sulpitius hath it After the Romans had forsaken their hold in Britain they returned again into the power and possession of the Naâ—ives from whom subdued and added unto the English Crown by Atheâ—stan the eighth King of England now ordered for Civill matters as a part of Cornwall for military by their own Captain subordinate to the Lord Lieutenant of that Countie and for the Tâ—â—-trade by the Lord Warden and Court of Stanneries An Officer and Court erected for the benefit and regulating of the Tinners of Cornwall who by reason of their employment in there Mines have many privileges and exemptions more than other Subjects but of late limited and restrained by Act of Parliament VII The Isle of WIGHT lieth over against Hampshire from which it seemeth to have been divided the passage betwixt it and Huâ—st-Castle on the opposite shore being very narrow and the name of it intimating some such division For by the Bâ—itans it was antiently called Guith which signifieth a breach or separation from whence the English have their Wight the turning of Gu. to W. being familiar with the Saxons and all other Dutch people and from the same Root probably the Romans had the name of Vectis Vecht Wight and Guith being words of such neer resemblance that we need not travell further for an Etymologie The Iland of an Ovall form 20 miles in length and 12 miles broad about the middest from thence growing narrower towards each end to the North and South Naturally fenced about on all sides on the South especially where it looks towards France on which side inaccessible by reason of the steep and craggie Rocks the whole length thereof and not much less safe on the North-west where the remainder of the Rocks which they call the Shingles and the Needles not worn away either at or since the first separation from the other shore make the passage dangerous except to single ships and those not unacquainted with the course of the Channell Towards the North-East
as formerly was said here are very few and of those few the principall are called Lycus and Lapithus the first running towards the South the last towards the North both not seldome so dried up that they leave their empty Channels without any water Both also have their Source from the hill O'ympus the highest Mountain of the Iland garnished with Trees and fruits of all sorts in compass about eighteen Leagues which make four and fifty Italian miles and at the end of every League a Monastery of Greek Monks or Caloires and a fountain of fresh water for the use of the house Here are also two other little Rivers the one called 3. Bodeus the other 4. Tolius but of the same nature as the former By Ptolomy or in his time divided into four parts or Provinces but since it fell into the hands of the Lusignan family distributed into twelve Counties or Cantrades most of them called by the names of their Principal Towns viz. 1. Nicosia 2. Famagusta 3. Paphia 4. Audima 5. Limissa 6. Masorum 7. Salines 8. Messoria 9. Crusocus 10. Pentalia 11. Carpassus 12. Cerines The whole containing besides these Cities and great Towns 805 Villages or thereabouts which they called Casales whereof the one half antiently belonged unto the Crown the other half divided betwixt the Lay-Nobility and the Ecclesiasticks the Patrimony of these last being computed at 80000 Crowns of annual rents besides casualties and the vails of the Altar But because the tracing out of these Cantrades will be very difficult as a way which none have gone before me I will adhere to the division made hereof in the time of Ptolomy into the Provinces of 1. Paphia 2. Amathusia 3. Lapethia and 4. Salamine 1. PAPHIA so called of Paphos the chief town thereof taketh up the West part of the Iland in which the Townes of most importance and observation are 1. Paâ—hos on the Sea-side by Pliny called Pala-paphos or old Paphus built as some say by Cyniras the Father of Myrrha and so named in memory of Paphus his father but as others say by Paphos the Sonne of Pygmalion Kings of Phoenicia and Cyprus to which last Ovid doth agree who speaking of Pygmalions statue turned into a woman by the power of Venus or rather of his beautiful wife fabled for the surpassing whiteness of her skin to be made of Ivorie he addes this of her Illa Paphum genuit de quo tenet insula nomen She Paphus bare from whom the name Of Paphia to the Iland came Here Venus had her so much celebrated Temple hence the name of Paphia and here her Votaries of both sexes in their natural nakedness did perform her sacrifices Both Town and Temple ruined by a fearfull Earthquake or as the Legends have it by the prayers of Saint Barnabas the ruins of it still remaining 2. Paphos Nova or New Paphos Now called Basso five miles from the old built by Agapenor one of the Nephews of Lycurgus the Spartan Law-giver after the sack of Troy forced hither by a violent tempest consecrate to the same impure Godess and much frequented but without injury to the other those which here offered not thinking they had done her sufficient service unlesse they went in a solemn manner of procession and paid their vowes also at the other 3. Arsinoe situate betwixt both built by or called so in honour of Arsinoe daughter of Ptolomy the first King Egypt and Lord of Cyprus of that house 4. Drepanun now called Trepano under the Promontory so named a well-traded Port but miserably defaced by the Turks when they took this Iland 5. Connelia one of the richest of the Iland by reason of the plenty of Sugar and Cotton and Wooll growing thereabouts Built in the place of 6. Cithera dedicated to Venus also but differing from the Iland of that name in the Aegean Sea rather in pronunciation than the purity of her oblations the last syllable save one in the name of that Iland being short in verse but this of Cyprus sounding long as in this of Virgil. Est Amathus est celsa mihi Paphos atque Cithera Cithera Amathus divine And lofty Paphos are all mine 2. On the South-East of Paphia lieth the Province or District of AMATHVSIA taking up the South parts of the Island which look towards Egypt Chief Towns hereof 1. Amathus giving name unto this division then of most note and much frequented for the annuall sacrifices made unto Adonis the darling of Venus who had here another of her Temples the ruins of both hardly now discerned Built as some say by Amasis King of Egypt when he conquered this Iland but as others say by some of the Anathites descended from Anath one of the Sons of Canaan 2. Cetium or Citium for I find it called by both names the birth-place of Zeno the Stoick hence called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Citiensis and memorable for the death of Cimon the Athenian Generall a Town wherein the memory of Cittim the Son of Javan is most apparently preserved 3. Episcopio one of the chief of all the Island built on the place or out of the decay of 4. Curias not far from the Promontory of the same name founded by the Argives where Apollo had both a Grove and a Temple by the name of Apollo Hylates his Altars in those times held so sacred that whosoever presumed to touch them was thrown into the Sea from the Promontory or rocks adjoining 5. Salines or Salinae so called from the rich Saltpits one of the chief Towns of this part and giving name to one of these twelve Cantrades into which the whole is now divided 3. LAPETHIA the third part of the Iland lyeth on the North thereof opposite to Cilicia in Asia Minor Places of most importance in it 1. Nicosia the Regall City of the Kings and the See of the Arch-Bishop and the chief of the Iland antiently called Ledronsis and Lenteinis but those mames long ago laid by Situate in the midest of the Isle and in a plain and champain Countrey obundantly fertile and delightfull Environed with a fair wall so exactly round as if it had been drawn with a pair of compasses in circuite about five miles and both for situation numbers of people and magnificent buildings of all sorts both publick and private compared by some to the most beautiful City of Florence Fortified by the Venetians when in their possession with new walls deep ditches and eleven strong Bullwarks with three great Out-works all of them built according to the Art of modern fortification But notwithstanding all these works and the help of 250 peece of Cannon planted on the walls and about the City it was by the Turks taken at the second or third assault Septemb. 9. Anno 1570. So evident a truth it is that Fortifications are more strengthened by the gallantry and courage of the Defendants than the Defendants are by their Fortifications 2. Cerines situate neer the Sea strong by art and
place by reason of the fires which formerly have flamed so hideously especially in the yeer 1444. that it made not only the rest of these Ilands but all Sicilie tremble Neer unto this Isle was fought the first Navall fight betwixt Rome and Carthage Before which time the Romans had never used the Seas as being totally imployed in the conquest of Italie insomuch that when they had built their Gallies they were fain to exercise their men in rowing by placing them on two Seats neer the water with Oars in their hands Which notwithstanding having devised an Engine like a Grapling-hook they so fastened the Adverse Fleet unto them that the whole â—ight seemed a Land-battell fought upon the Sea The victory fell unto the Romans C. Duilins the Consul then commanding in Chief and was honoured with the first Navall Triumph that was ever solemnized at Rome After this Iland was once known to the Greeks they sent from all their chief Cities 〈◊〉 rall Colonies who planted in the Sea-coasts of the Country as before we noted But so as they never united themselves in a body together but had their severall estates and particular ends whereby they came to be divided into many factions and at last made themselves a prey to as many Tyrants Phalaris lording it at Agrigentum Panaetius at Leontium Gelon at Sâ—racuse Cleander at Gelae and when one Faction grew too weak to resist the other they called in severall Forein Nations to abet their quarrel For on this ground the Carthaginians were first called into Sicilie by the Messenians against the Agrigentines and on the same was managed here a great part of the Peloponnesian wars the Athenians siding with the Leontines and the Spartans with he Syracusans in which the whole power of Athens was broken by Sea and Land and their two Generals Nicias and Demosthenes murdered in prison But because Syracuse was a Citie of the greatest authority and of greatest influence over the rest of Sicilie we shall more punctually insist on the State and affairs thereof the government of which at first was popular as it was in most of the Greek Colonies according to the platforms which they brought from home and was but newly altered to the Aristocraticall when Gelon made himself King of it about 26 years after the expulsion of the Tarquins at Rome whom with as many as succeeded in the Royal dignity take along as followeth The Tyrants or Kings of Syracuse A. M. 3465. 1 Gelon the Prince or Lord of Gela taking advantage of the quarrels in Syracusa betwixt the Magistrates and people made himself Master of the Citie and was chosen King A valiant and prudent Prince by whom 150000 Carthaginians were slain in battle for their welcome into Sicil. 7. 3472 2 Hiero the brother of Gelon a valiant King also but a rude and covetous man whereby he lost the love of his people 11 3484 3 Thrasibulus brother of Hiero whose Government proved so cruell and unsupportable that he held it not above 10 moneths who being forced into Exile by the Syracusans the people did a while enjoy their libertie but withall fell into those Factions which after 60 years made them lose it again 3544 4 Dionysius that so famous Tyrant from being Generall of the Forces of the Syracusans made himself their King A man of great vices but great vertues withall He brought almost all Sicilie under his obedience and the Town of Rhegium in Italy reigning in all 38 years 3582 2 Dionysius II. succeeding his Father in his Kingdom and vices but not in valour or wisdom was first outed by Dion a noble Gentleman of Syracuse and afterward taken Prisoner by Timoleon of Corinth to which Citie he was sent and there dyed in exile 3635 6 Agathocles by trade a Potter after that a Souldier 20 years after the death of Timoleon made himself King of Syracusa To draw the Carthaginans out of Sicil he passed over into Africk and besieged Carthage which example Scipio after followed but with better fortune 29. 3681 7 Hieron II. of a Commander of their Armies chosen King of Syracuse by a party which he had made amongst them In his time brake out the first Punick War the Romans being called in by the Mamertones who held Messana against the Carthaginians the Lords at that time of the greatest part of the Iland 56. 3737 8 Hieronymus the sonne of Hiero after whose death Syracuse and all Sicil became subject to Rome by the fortunate conduct of Marcellus Of these eight Kings the six first commonly pass under the name of Tyrants from whence and from some others of like disposition who Lorded it over the rest of the Free Cities of Sicil the name of Siculi Tyranni grew into a Proverb But of all none more hated than the two Dionisii who were so odious that there were continuall execrations poured on them only one old woman praying for the life of the later Who being asked the cause made answer that she knew his Father to have been a monstrous and wicked Tyrant on whom when the curses of the people had prevailed and obtained his death this his son succeded worse by far than he for whose life she was resolved to pray lest after his death the devill himself should come amongst them But to proceed after these Tyrants as they called them were rooted out and the Iland was conquered by Marcellus it alwaies followed the fortune of the Roman Empire till in the partition of that Empire it fell together with Apulia and Calabria into the power of the Greeks In the declining of whose greatness this Iland having been miserably pilled and spoyled by the Emperor Constans An. 669. became a prey to the Saracens from then recovered again by the help of the Normans who held both this and the Realm of Naples in Fee of the Church under the title of Kings of both Sicils From that time forwards it ran the fortune of that Kingdom subject unto the Princes of the Norman and German lines till the death of Conrade no interruption intervening After whose death when Munfroy or Manfrede the base sonne of the Emperor Frederick and Brother of Conrade had forcibly made himself King of these Countries it was offered to Richard Earl of Cornwall Brother to Henry the third of England a Prince of such riches that he was able to dispend an hundred Marks perdiem for ten years together which according to the Standard of those times was no small sum But the conditions which the Pope ptoposed were so impossible for the Earl to perform that his Agent told him he might as well say to his Master I will give thee the Moon climb up catch and take it The Earl refusing it it was offered the King for his second sonne Edmund who was invested by the gift of a Ring and money coyned in his name by the Popes appointment with the inscription of Almundus Rex Siciliae But the King not being able to pursue the business
think that it was denominated from Venetia which in the old Latin signifieth the seething or frothing of the sea VENETIA A maris exaestuatio est quae ad Littus veniat saith the old Glossarie upon Isidore out of Marcus Varro But the truth is that it was so called from the Veneti the old Inhabitants of the neighbouring Province of Friuli who to avoyd the fury of the barbarous Hunnes then threatning Italie abandoned the main land and built this City in the bogs and marishes of the sea adjoyning And that it might afford them the greater afetie they not onely built in the most inward part of the Adriatick sea commonly called the Gulf of Venice but in the midst of many Lakes of salt-water extending thirty miles in compass and having on the East the said Adriatick sea for the length of 550 miles betwixt which and the sayd Lakes there is a bank or causey which they call Il Lido made as it were by nature to defend the Ilands which lie in this Lake from the violent fury of the sea A Causey of 35 miles in length bending like a Bow and opening in seven places only which serve as well to keep the lakes always full of water as for the passage of Ships and Barks of smaller burden the bigger being compelled to lie at Anchor on the South side of the City near to a place called Malamocco and the Castles of Lio which are very well fortified and there must remain till they are brought in by skilfull Pilots who know the passages which by reason of the shifting of the sands change very often On the West and North sides it is compassed with very deep Marishes about five miles distant from the land and on the South with many Ilands in which are severall Churches and Monasteries like so many Forts which lie between it and those parts of Italie which are not under the obedience of the Commonwealth So that it is impossible to be taken but by an Army which can stretch 150 miles in compass It is built as before is sayd on 72 Ilands the principall of which are 1 Heraclea the first seat of the Duke of Venice from thence removed to Malamocco and the last to Rialto more famous at this time for being a Bishops See than the number of Citizens 2 Grado to which the Patriarchall See of Aquileia was removed by Pelagius the second about the year 580 making it thereby the Metropolitan of Friuli or the Country of Venice but from thence it hath been since removed to another of these Ilands called Castello Olindo 3 Rialto which is of most esteem and reputation so called quasi Rivo alto because the Marishes are there deeper than in other places or quasi Ripa alta because it lay higher above the waters than the other Ilands For which reasons that Iland getting reputation above the rest most of the Gentlemen setled their dwellings in the same and drew thither in the end the Dukes Palace also insomuch that in some antient writings the whole City hath been called Rialto many of the old Records being dated in such and such a year of the Rialto But as they did increase in numbers so were they fain to spread themselves from one Isle to another till in the end they built on all the Ilands which lay near together and might conveniently be joyned by Boats or Bridges By this Rialto runs the passage called the Grand Canale being in length about 1300 paces and some fortie in bredth adorned on both sides with stately and magnificent Palaces and covered with an incredible number of Boats called Gondolos very neatly built and veiled over with cloth so that the Passengers may go unseen and unknown without the molestation of sun wind or rain For publique buildings it hath in it 70 Parish Churches to each of which belongeth a Market-place and a Well 31 Cloysters of Monks 28 of Nuns besides Chappels and Almes-houses The principall Church of this City is that of S. Mark the Patron of their Commonwealth whose body they report to have been brought hither from Alexandria in Egypt and intombed herein Affirmed by some to be the richest and goodliest Church in all the World The building of Mosaick work of which work they boast themselves to have been the Authors A kind of work by the Grecians called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by the Latin Writers Musiva Musica and Musaica wrought out of stones or metaâ—s of divers colours unto the shape of Flowers Knots Birds Beastâ— and other fancies of the Workman yet done with such exactness of skill and judgement that it seemeth to be all one stone the work rather of Nature than Art A Church of admirable work both within and without compacted of most rare peeces of Marble Porphyrie and a rich stone which the Lapidaries called Ophitis because it is speckled like a snake adorned on the outside with 148 Pillars of Marble and eight of Porphyrie near the door besides 600 Marble pillars of a lesser size which carry up an open Gallery round about the Church from whence the Magistrates and others of the principall Citizens behold such Shews as are presented in the Market place adjoyning to it The Church in length not above 200 foot of Venice measure nor above 50 in bredth the roof thereof being of an Orbicular form lieth open at the very top where the light comes in there being no windows in all the Church as commonly the Churches in Italie are exceeding dark either to strike in the spectators a religious reverence or to make their Candles shew the better And for the inside of the Church the riches of it are so great the Images so glorious the furniture of the Altars so above comparison that all the treasures of the State may seem to be amassed in the decking of it And yet as goodly and as glorious as the Fabrick is it is still unfinished and as some think is kept unfinished on purpose partly to draw on other Benefactors to advance the work the benefit of whose liberality may be employed unto the use of the publick Treasury and partly lest the Revenues which are given already should be resumed by the Heirs of the deceased if the work were ended So infinitely doth the furniture of the Church exceed the sumptuousness and beauty of the Church it self Of other of the publick buildings the Counsell-house the Ducall Palace Monasteries Churches and the like though stately and magnificent structures I forbear to speak Nor shall I here say any thing of their private houses so large and beautified that here are said to be no fewer than 200 most of them on the Grand Canale able to entertain and lodge the best King in Christendom All I shall adde and so leave this City will be a word or two of their Arsâ—nall and publick Magazine In the first of which they have in readiness 200 Gallies with rooms for Cables Masts Sails Victuals and Ammunition of all sortt able
name And it was called Albion as my Authors tell me either from Albion the Brother of Bergâ—on the Sonne of Neptune mentioned by Aeschilus Dionysius Strabo Mela Solinus 〈◊〉 and others it being not improper that the greatest Iland of the Ocean should be denoâ—â—luated from a Sonne of the greatest Sea-god or from the old word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying White amongst the Greeks from whence the Latines had their Album by reason of the white chalkie cliffs seen by the Mariners a farre off as they sailed those Seas But to return again to Britain in the generall notion and to the severall Ilands which that name includeth we may distinguish them into the Greater and the Lesser the Greater subdivided into 1 Great Bâ—itain or Britain specially so called and 2 Ireland the Lessâ—r into 1 the Orcades 2 the Hâ—brides 3 Man 4 Anglesey 5 The Ilands of the Severn Sea 6 the Sorlinges or Isles of Silly 7 Wight 8 Thanet 9 Sunderland and 10 Holy Iland GREAT BRITAIN TO speak much of GREAT BRITAIN or BRITAIN specially and properly so called I hold somewhat superfluous it being our home and we therefore no Strangers to it Yet as Mela once said of Italie De Italia magis quia ordo exigit quam quia monstrari egeat pauca dicentur not a sunt omnia so say I of Britain It is so obvious to the eye of every Reader that he needs not the spectacles of Letters Yet something must be said though for methods sake rather than necessity First then we will begin with laying out the bounds thereof as in other places which are on the East the German Ocean dividing it from Belgium Germanie and Danemark on the West S. Georges Channel which divides it from Ireland and to the North of that with the main Vergivian or Western Ocean of which the Antients knew no shore on the North with the Hyperbâ—rcan or Deucaledonian Ocean as Ptolomie calls it extending out to Iseland Freezeland and the ends of the then known World and on the South the English Channel which divides it from France The length hereof from North to South is reckoned at 620 Italian mlles the greatest bredth from East to West measured in a right line no more than 250 of the same miles but by the crooks and bendings of the Sea-coast comes to 320 miles the whole circumference accompted 1836 miles The greatest Iland in the World except Java Borneo Sumatra and Madagascar and therefore by Solinus and some other Antients to whom those Ilands were not known called the other World by others of late times the Ladie and Mistress of the Seas Situate under the 8th 9th 10th 11th and 12th Climes so that the longest day at the Lizard point in Cornwall being the most Southernly part hereof containeth 16 hours and a quarter at Barwick which is the Border of England and Scotland 17 hours 3 quarters and one hour more at Straithby head in the North of Scotland where some observe that there is scarce any night at all in the summer Solstice but a darker Twilight To which alludes the Poet saying Et minima contentos nocte Britannos and the Panegyrist in the time of Constantine amongst other commendations which he gives to Britain saith that therein is neither extreme cold in Winter nor any scorching heats in Summer and that which is most comfortable long dayes and very lightsome nights Nor doth the Panegyrist tell us onely of the temperateness of the Air or the length of the dayes but of the fruitfulness of the soyl affirming Britain to be blessed with all the commodities of Heaven and Earth such an abundant plenty of Corn as might suffice both for Bread and Wine the woods thereof without wild Beasts the Fields without noysome Serpents infinite numbers of milch-Beasts and Sheep weighed down with their own Fleeces Whereto adde that of Alfred of Beverley a Poet of the middle times saying thus of Britain Insula praedives quae toto vix eget orbe Et cujus totus indiget orbis ope Insula praedives cujus miretur et opâ—et Delicias SOLOMON Octavianus opes A wealthy Iland which no help desires Yet all the World supply from her requires Able to glut King SOLOMON with pleasures And surfet great Augustus with her treasures Proceed we next to the name of Britain of which I find many Etymologies some forced some fabulous and foolish and but few of weight That which hath passed for currant in former times when almost all Nations did pretend to be of Trojan race was that it took this name from Brutus affirmed to be the Sonne of Silvius who was the Grandchild of Aeneas and the 3d King of the Lâ—tines of the Trojan Blood Which Bâ—utus having unfortunately killed his Father and thereupon abandoning Italy with his friends and followers after a long voyage and many wandrings is said to have fallen upon this Iland to have conquered here a race of Giants and having given unto it the name of Britain to leave the Soveraignty thereof unto his posterity who quietly enjoyed the same till subdued by the Romans This is the summe of the Tradition concerning â—rute Which though received in the darker times of ignorance and too much credulity in these more learned dayes hath been laid aside as false and fabulous And it is proved that there was no such man as Brutus 1 From the newness of his Birth Geofry of Monmouth who lived in the reign of K. Henry the second being the first Author which makes mention of him for which immediately questioned by Newbrigensis another Writer of that Age. 2ly By the silence of all Roman Historians in whom it had been an unpardonable negligence to have omitted an Accident so remarkable as the killing of a Father by his own Sonne especially when they wanted matter to sill up the times and the erecting of a new Trojan Empire in so great an Iland 3ly By the Arguments which Caesar useth to prove the Britains to be derived from the Galls as Speech Lawes Customes Disposition Making and the like 4ly And lest it might be said that though the Britans in Caesars time were of Gallick race yet there had been a former and more antient people who had their Originall from the Trojans Tacitus putteth off that dispute with an Ignoramus Qui mortales initio coluerint parum compertum est saith that knowing writer And 5ly By the Testimony of all Roman Histories who tell us that Caesar found the Britains under many Kings and never under the command of one sole Prince but in times of danger Summa Belli administrandi communi consensu commissa est Cassivellauno as it is in Caesar Dum singuli pugnabant universi vincebantur as we read in Tacitus To omit therefore that of Brutus and other Etymons as unlikely but of less authority the name of Britain is most probably derived from Brit which in the antient British signifieth Painted and the word Tain signifying a Nation agreeable unto the
a Bishops See by King Henry the 8th The buildings generally fair the Streets wide and open with Galleries before every door under which a man may walk dry from one end to the other The rest of chief note shall be specified on another occasion with this advertisment that the ordinary Cities of England are not to be compared with those of France and Italy First because the Nobles and Gentry of those Countries live for the most part in the Cities ours in Country-Villages And secondly because the Londoners so ingross all trading that they draw thither all the Wealth and treasure of the Kingdom By means whereof that every day increaseth in wealth and beauty the rest except Bristol only doe decay as sensibly that Citie being like the Spleen in the body naturall the monstrous growth whereof starveth all the rest of the Members Liene excrâ—scenâ—e reliquum corpus contabescit as the Doctors have it There are in England but two Vniversities which may equall six nay ten of all other Countries so that Paris be not in the number most of them being no better than our Colleges of Westminster Eaton or Winchester and none so liberally endowed as some one of these in the Vniversities Of which there are 16 in Cambridge some of them called only by the name of Halls but these endowed with Lands and Fellowships as the others are In Oxford there 18 Colleges endowed with Lands besides six Halls where Students live at their own charges in both of them Professors of the Arts and Sciences as also of Divinity Law Physick and the Learned Languages with liberall Salaries and in each to the number of 3000 Students so regular in their lives and conversations as are not to be found in the World besides The fairer and more antient Oxford which of long time together with Paris in France Bononia in Italy and Salamanca in Spain hath been honoured with the Title of Generale studium For that the Vniversity of Cambridge though giving upper hand to her Sister of Oxford she may take place of all the Vniversities in the World besides is not of so long standing as that of Oxford is evident by the testimony of Robertus de Remington cited by Master Camden viz. Regnante Edwardo primo It should rather be read secundo de studio Grantbridge facta est Academia sicut Oxonium where the word sicut doth not import an idenity of the time but a relation to Oxford as to the pattern We see this truth yet clearer in the Bull of Pope Iohn the 21 the contemporary of our Edward 2d as I find in the work of that great Searcher of Academicell Antiquities Mr. Brian Twine Aâ—ostolica authoritate statuimus saith the Bull quod Collegium magistrorum scholariâ—m ejusdem studij speaking of Cambridge Vniversitas siz censenda c. But what need more than Resolution of the Commons of the first Parliament holden under King Iames. For when he Clerk of that House had put the name of Cambridge before Oxford they taking disdainfully that Hysteron Proteron commanded the Antiquities of both Vniversities to be searched and after fearch made gave the place to Oxford But to proceed the Vniversity of Cambridge as it was much of a later Foundation so was it long before it grew into esteem insomuch that when William of Waâ—nslate Bishop of Winchester and Founder of Magdalen College in Oxon whereof I was once an unworthy Member perswaded King Henry the sixth to erect a College in Oxford as some of the Kings his Predecessors had done before him immo potius Cantabrigiae replyed the King Vt duas si fieri possit in Anglia Academias habeam No said the King in Cambridge rather that so if possible I may have two Vniversities in my Realm of England As for the Storie of this Country that it was first peopled out of Gaul is affirmed by Caesar proved by many strong and concluding Arguments as their Religion Manners Languages Customs and the neerness of the one to the other To omit therefore the Fable of Brute and the Catalogue of 68 Kings which are said to have reigned here successively before the coming of the Romans Certain it is that Caesar found the Countrey cantoned into many Kingdoms four in Kent alone and the people to be very rude and illiterate Such Learning as they had was locked up in the brests of the Druides who committed nothing unto writing and by that means kept the People in continuall ignorance communicating what they knew to none but those of their own Order and therein being sought to by the Druides or Priests of Gaul who came over into this Island to them and did from them receive the knowledge of their sacred Mysteries Being conquered or discovered rather by Iulius Caesar it was not so much as looked after by the two next Emperours Augustus and Tiberius counting it an high point of Wisdom not to extend the Empire beyond the Ocean Caligula had once a mind to the Adventure but he durst not follow it But Claudius his Successor undertook the Enterprise sollicited thereunto by Bericus a noble Briton who for sedition and some practices against the publick was expelled the Countrey Hereupon Aulus Plautius is sent over with some Roman Forces by whom and Pâ— Ostorius Scapula his Successor Togodumnus and Caractacus two Kings of the Britains were severally overcome in battel a Roman Colonie planted at Camalodunum and the Southern parts thereof reduced to the form of a Province After this time by little and little the whole was conquered as far as to the Frythes of Dunbarten and Edenburgh Agricola in the time of Domitian having the happiness and good fortune to goe beyond the furthest of his Predecessors and so much moderation not to venture further where there was nothing to be got but blowes cold and hunger At the first entrance of the Romans the Iland was divided into severall Nations each governed by its own Kings and particular Princes different in their ends and counsels and so more easily subdued by united Forces The principall of which for it is needless to make mention of inferiour Claâ—s were 1 the Danmonij containing Devonshire and Cornwall whose chief Cities were Isca now Exeter and Volcha neer the Town of Falmouth in Cornwall 2 the Durotriges inhabiting only in the County of Dorset whose chief Citie was Danium or Durnovaria which we now call Vorchester 3 the Belgae planted in the Counties of Somerset Southampton and Wilts whose chief Cities were Aquae calidae now Bath Ventu Belgarum now Winchester and Sorbioâ—unum the seat of old Salisbury 4 the Attrebatij confined within Barkshire only the chief Citie of whom was Guallena where now is Wallingfâ—rd 5 the Regni possessed of Sussex and Surrey whose chief Cities were Vindeliâ— now Winchelsey and Neomagus situate some ten miles from London 6 the Cantianâ— or the Kentish having Durovernum now Canterbury Dubris now Dover and Rhutupiae now called Richborough for their principall Cities
Baltick Sea wherewith it it is almost incompassed beautified with the fair Castle of Hansburg begun by John the eldest son of king Christiern the first then Duke of Holst but finished by Frederick the second King of Denmark 4 Londenberg in the Peninsula called Elderstedâ— over against De Sorants an Island of the German Ocean 5 Sternberg the ordinary residence of the Governor for the King of Denmark 6 Gottorp a strong Fort or Castle of the Duke of Sleswicks at the end of a large Bay or Inlet of the Baltick also remarkable for the Toll-booth or custom-house there erected at which there is Toll paid one yeare with another for 50000 Oxen sent out of North-Juitland into Germâ—nie 7 Sleswick originally by the Danes called Heydebui built as they say by Hethe a Queen of that Nation but by the Saxons called Sleswick as the town upon the River Slea there running into the Baltick and giving to the Towne a fair and commodious Haven This of long time hath been accounted the chief Town of this Province honoured with an Episcopall See and being made the head of the Dukedome so giving name unto the whole A Dukedome first erected by King Henry of Denmark who gave it to Waldemar great Grandchilde of Abel a former King an 1280. to be held by him under the right soveraignty of the Kings thereof But the male-issue failing it returned to the Crown and was by Margaret Queen of Denmark conferrred on Gerrard Earl of Holstein as before was said anno 1386. Repenting afterwards of that Act shee extorted it out of the hands of the Widow of Gerrard again recovered by the valour and good fortune of his sonne Adolphus After whose death it fell together with Holstein upon Christiern of Oldenburg King of Danemark as before related by whom incorporated with that Crown never since aliened but assigned sometimes in portion for the younger Princes the Patrimony at this time of the sonnes of Alexander surnamed of Sunderburg the place of his Nativity son of John one of the younger sonnes of King Christiern the third NORTH-IVITLAND the most Northern part of all the Chersonese hath on the South the Dukedome of Sleswick but on all other parts the Sea Divided commonly according to the number of the Bishopricks into four Dioceses or Districts that is to say 1 The Diocese of RIP or Ripen bordering next to Sleswick and containeth 30 Praefectures or Herets as they use to call them seven Cities or walled Townes and ten Castles The Chief of which are 1 Ripen the Episcopall See situate neer the German Ocean 2 Koldins on a Creek of the Baltick Sea where Dorothy the Dowager of Christiern the third built a publick School one of my Authors cals it an University 2 The Diocese of ARTHVSEN lying on the North of Ripen but more towards the Baltick containeth 31 Herets or Prefectures seven Cities or walled Townes and five Castles The chief whereof are 1 Arthusen the Episcopall See seated on the Baltick enjoying a commodious Port and well frequented the first Bishop hereof being that Coppo who converted this nation Christianitie and Episcoparie going for the most part hand in hand together Schunderburg on the South of Arthusen 3 Kalloe a strong Castle of the Kings seated in the inmost part of a large Bay occasioned by the Promontorie or Cape of Hillenis extending hence two Dutch miles to the high hill of Ellemanberg Opposite whereunto and pertaining to this Jurisdiction lie the Ilands of 1 Samsoe 2 Hiolm 3 Tuen 4 Hiaâ—nce perhaâ—s Gernâ— 5 Hilgenes and others 3 The Diocese of WIBORCH on the north of Arthusen containeth sixteen Herets the Ilands of 1 Jegen 2 Hansholm 3 Ostholm 4 Cifland 5 Egholm and 6 Bodum three Cities or walled Townes and as many Castles the principall of which are 1. Wiborch the Episcopall See an Inland City but situate on a water which â—unneth into the Bay of Limford The ordinary seat of Judicature for both the Juitlands for all Causes as well Criminall or Civill the Court continually sitting from one day to another unlesse perhaps the Judges doe sometimes adjourne it for their own refreshments 4. The Diocese of BVRGLAVE or Vandalia lying furthest north is commonly subdivided into four parts or members that is to say 1. Thyland lying south of the Bay of Limford on the Baltick side whose chief town is 1 â—lborch the ordinary seat and residence of the Bishop of Vandalia from hence many times stiled Alburgensis situate on the Bay aforesaid which opening into the Baltick Sea extendeth thorow the maâ—n land Westwards almost as far as the German Ocean 2 Morsee lying on the Ocean and containing three Prefectures or Herets the town of Nicopen the Castle of Lunstod and the Isle oâ— Agerce 3 Hanheret on the northwest of the Bay of Limford containing four Herets the town of Thysiad where Christiern the third founded a publick School or such another University as that of Kolding the Castle of Orumne and the Ilands of Oland and Oxcholm There is in this part also the high Rock called Skaringelint a noted Sea-mark fitly serving to give notice to the Sayler of the Quicksands which lie underneath it and about this Coast 4 Vensyssell Venfilia or Wenslie that is as Mercator doth expound it Vandalorum sedes the seat of the Vandals taketh up all the rest of the north of Juitland containing six Prefectures the Ilands of Groysholm 2 Hartzholm and 3 Tydsholm three towns and one Castle the most remarkable of which is Schagen with the most northerly point of all this Chersonese In this part is a very high mountain called Mount Alberg in which are found some marks and remainders of the ancient Gyants as the inhabitants believe and report accordingly The Inhabitants of both Juitlands in the time of Ptolemy and before were the Cobandi Chali Phundusii Charudes and in the most northern tracts the Cimbri of whom the four first were but Tribes or Nations These moving towards the South in that great expedition against Spain made by the neighbouring Vandals on the Roman Empire occasioned the Juites and Angli to inlarge or shift their dwellings each taking up the parts which lay nearest to them The Juites or Gutae being a people of Scandia and there placed by Ptolemy took up the nothern parts hereof from them named Juitland the other being a people of the Suevi dwelling on the south of the Elb possessed them of those parts which lay next the Saxons their old friends and confederates their chief town being Sleswick where Angelen now an obscure village once of greater note doth preserve their memory But these uniting with the Saxons in the conquest of Britain and leaving none behind which were fit for action or not enough to keep possession of the Country against new Invaders gave opportunity to the Danes to come in upon them By whom these Countries being conquered as far as to the River Eydore were planted by Colonies of Danes and made a part of that
the Romans to live according to their own Lawes in memory of that benefit they refused to declare against them in behalf of Antioâ—hus who thereupon made himself master of the Town and consequently of the Iland But forced to leave the place upon the losse of the battell at Thermopylae it became free again till finally made subject unto Rome with the rest of Greece and with it made a part of the Easten in Empire In the division whereof amongst the Latines it fell to the share of the Venetians who from hence used with their Gallies to infest the shores of Turkie and disturb their trade Provoked wherewith especially with their taking of Aenus a City of Thrace under the conduct of Nicolas Canalis the Venetian Admirall who in that enterprise had took 2000 Turks which he carried with him into this Island Mahomet the Great resolves upon the conquest of it and with a puissant Army sets before the Town And though it cost him dear yet at last he got it and therewith all the Island also which depended on the fortunes of it an 1471. SALAMIS is nigh unto Megaris one of the Provinces of Achaia famous for the overthrow of the populous Navy of Xerxes by the Athenians and their confederates What was the number of the souldiers and gallies of the Persian side hath been already declared The Grecian Fleet consisted of no more then 270 vessels whereof 127 were rigged and set forth at the charge of the Athenians only the rest by the associates Yet was the admiralty committed to Eurybiades a Lacedoemonian the Athenians preferring the main care of the common safety before an unseasonable contention for priority The Spartans seeing the inequality of forces intended not to have hazarded the battell but with full say I to have retired to Peloponnesus into which countrey the Persians had made incursions respecting more the welfare of their own countrey yet defensible then the desperate estate of Attica This designe was by Themistocles as carefull for the estate of Athens as they for Sparta signified to Xerxes who getting between them and home compelled them to a necessitie of fighting but to his own ruine For in the conflict more then 200 of his ships were sunk and most of the rest taken the confederates having lost of their Navy forty onely Between the Athenians and Megerenses were many contentions for this Island the fortune of the Athenians in the end prevailing It hath in it a City of the same name the royall seat of Telamon the father of Aiax so famous in the warre of Troy more memorable for giving birth to Solon the Legislator of Athens one of the seven wise men of Greece VII AEGINA now called Engie an Island situate over against Sinus Saronicus being that Bay of Corinth which openeth into the Aegean hence called Golfo di Engia the Realm of Aeacus made for his justice and integrity one of the three Judges of Hell the other two being his brother Rhadamanthus and Minos the King of Crete It had formerly beene called Oenone and Oenope but tooke this name from Aegina the daughter of Asopus a King of Baeotia on whom Jupiter is said to have begot both Aeacus and Rhadamanthus The people hereof are properly called Aeginenses and Aeginetae much spoken of in the wars of Athens from which distant about 12 miles Thâ— ground hereof is very stony but good for barley of which very plentifull inhabited in former times by a laborious and thriving people to whom they gave in those dayes the name of Myrmidons the Island being also called Myrmidonia quod formicarum more terram foderent because Emmet-like they digged up and under the earth to make it the more fit for tillage and dwelt at first in Caves without any houses Hence the occasion of the fable of turning Emmets into men at the prayers of Aeacus both tale and people after I know not how carried into Thessaly where before we found them VIII The CYCLADES so called because they lie in a circle round about Delos are in number 53. They are also called the Islands of the Arches because they are in the sea called Archipelago They stand so close together that in a clear day a man may see 20 of them at a time for which cause it is with good reason accounted to be a dangerous place for saylers in a storm The chief of these Cyclades are 1 DELOS quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying apparent because when all the earth had abjured the receipt of Latona at the request of Juno this Island then under water was by Jupiter erected alost and sixt to receive her and in it was she delivered of Apollo and Diana of which thus Cvid Erratica Delos Errantem accepit tunc cum levis insula nabat Illic incumbens sub Palladas arbore palma Edidit invita Geminos Latona noverca Unsetled Delos floating on the wave A little Island entertainment gave To wandring Laton spight of Juno's head Under Minerva's Palme-tree brought to bed Notable also is this Island for the Temple of Apollo and a custome neither permitting men to die or children to be born in it but sending sick men and great-bellied women to Rhene a small Island and not much distant By a more antient name it is called Ortygia and by that name mentioned in many of the Poets both Greeke and Latines The chief town of it called also Delos is situate on a plaine environed with rocks neer the hill called Cynthus whence Apollo had the name of Cyntbius and Diana of Cymhia as of Delius and Delia from the Island In this towne had Apollo both his Temple and Oracle delivered here more plainely then in other places and for that reason as some say called Delos the word in Greek signifying manifest or apparent made famous by the resort of people from all places hither especially from the neighbouring Islands who sent yearly multitudes of men and troopes of Virgins to celebrate his solemn ities with heards of Sacrifices More wealthy afterwards by the removing of the trade of Corinth hither that town being utterly destroyed by the Romans and this made choice of by the Merchant partly by reason of the immunities of the place but principally in regard of the convenient situation betwixt Europe and Asia Continuing in great wealth and power till Mithridates laid it wast and at last on the ceasing of Oracles utterly forsaken Both Town and Island now called Diles By which name also Khene an adjoining Island before mentioned is at this day known chained to the other by Polycrates the Tyrant of Samos and now united to it at the least in name 2 TENOS by Aristotle called Hydrusa by some Ophiussa by the Modernes Tyna The chiefe Town of it of the same name so called from one Tenes the builder of it and giving name unto the Island Memorable for a fountaine called Dipnosus of which Aristole and Athenaeus doe both affirm that the waters will not mix with
Persians laid the tributes of the Western Provinces whence all Riches had in time the name of Gazae Once Caleb took it but not able to hold it against the Philistins he again deserted it Destroyed by Alexander the Great and re-built again it made notable resistance against the Maccabees till at last forced by Simon the brother of Judas who liked the place so well that he intended to have made it his place of residence not so decayed in length of time but that it was a goodly City in the dayes of Brochardus And is still the best of all this coast built on an hill encompassed with rich and pleasant vallies the building low and mean as in other places but some of them adorned with pillars of fair Parian marble digged out of the remaining ruins 6. Maioma the Port Town of Gaza but made a City of it self by Constantine by whom called Constantia but restored again by Julian unto those of Gaza and by him commanded to be called Gaza Mariâ—ma These were the chief places holden by the Philistims a strong and Giantlike race of men such as the Scripture call by the name of Anak or the Sonnes of Anak Originally descended from Casluhim and Copthorim of the race of Mizraim the sonnes of Cham as appeareth both by the common consent of antient Writers and plain Texts of Scripture Jerem. 47. 4. and Amos 9. 7. These being setled first in the borders of Egypt and Idumaea where the Casluhim gave name unto the Province of Casiotis and the Mountain Casius proceeded North-wards and subdued the Avim a Canaanish people planting themselves in their habitations as is said expressely Deut. 2. 23. Here Abraham found them in his time and here they were when Israea went down to Gezar Governed at first by one King whom they called alwayes by the name of Abimelech as the Egyptians theirs by the name of Pharaoh sometimes by five according to the number of their principal Cities but still united in the times of approaching dangers Too strong to be subdued by the Tribes of Israel they made head against them and mastered them at several times for above 150. years Tyrannizing over them till broken by Sampson and for a time kept off by Samuel Recovering again they vanquished the Israelites in the time of Saul whom they discomfited and hanged his dead body barbarously on the walls of Bethsan But David a more fortunate Prince overthew them in many set battels and at length took the Town of Gath one of the strongest Towns they had and by that means so weakned them that they durst not stirre all the time of David nor a long while after Beginning to be troublesome in the dayes of Ozias King of Judah they were warred on by him their army overthrown Ita and Amnia two of their strong Forts took and razed and the Town of Gath again dismantled In the time of the Idolatrous Achaz associating with the Edomites who evermore attended the destruction of Judah they brake out again took Bethsemes Aialon Timnah and some other Towns carried away many Prisoners and flew much people But the good King Ezeâ—â—ah made them pay dear for it taking from them the greatest part of their Country betwixt Gath and Gaza Which notwithstanding they recovered to so great esteem that the whole Countrey had from them the name of Palestine But broken by degrees by the Maccabaeans they lost both their power and reputation passing in common estimate as a part of â—ewry the fortunes of which it followed for thetimes succeeding 2. The Tribe of DAN so called from Dan the fift sonne of Iacob by Bilhah the hand-maid of Rache of whom were mustered at Mount Sinai 62700. fighting men and 66400. at the second muster in the Land of Canaan where their lot fell betwixt Ephraim on the North Simeon on the South the Tribe of BENIAMEN on the East and the Mediterranean on the West Places of most note in it 1. Ioppa now called Iaffa once a famous Mart-Town and the onely Haven to Iudaea in foregoing times the Town where Ionah took ship to fly unto Tarshiesh where Peter raised Dorcas from death to life and where he lying in the house of one Simon a Tanner was in a vision taught the conversion of the Gentiles This City they report to have been built before the floudn here they say reigned Cepheus whose daughter Andromeda was by Perseus delivered from a Sea-monster some of whose bones the people use to shew to strangers even till the flourishing of the Romans Just as our Citizens of Coventry and Warwick shew the bones of the Dun-Cow of Dunsmear heath and the bones of I know not what Gyant slain by Guy Earl of Warwick In the time of the Maccabees it was garrisoned by the Syrians who having in the Port a Fleet of good power and strength invited 200 of the chief Citizens to go aboard with them and there drowned them all for which their fleet was fired by Iudas and such as did escape the fire fell upon his sword Twice taken by the Romans and the second time burnt unto the ground new walled and fortified with Towers by King Lewis of France in the year 1250 the Holy Warres then drawing to their finall end Now nothing standing of it but two little Turrets where are certain Harquebusses for defence of the Haven none of the best defended from the South and West winds with eminent Rocks but exposed to the fury of the North which makes it more unsafe than the open Seas when inraged by Tempests Not much frequented by the Merchant who trade here but for Cottons onely and hold their Factory not far off in a Town called 2. Rama by the Moores called Ramula situate in a sandy plain on the rising of a little hill built of free-stone but the streets thereof narrow and the houses contemptible More beautifull in the ruins of some Christian Churches and a Monastery built by Philip the Good of Burgundie where the house of Nicod mus stood than in any of the remaining edifices 3. Iamnia neer Ioppa where Iudas burnt the rest of the Syrian Fleet the flame whereof was seen to Hierusalem 240 furlongs off mentioned by Ptolomy and in the times of Christianity an Episcopall Sâ—e now not discernable in the ruins 4. Cedar or Cedron fortified against the Iews by Cendebaeus one of the Lieutenants of Antiochus who hereabouts was overthrown by the Maccabees 5. Modin a small Town but honoured with the birth and sepulchre of those Maccabaeans the Sepulchre being seven Marble Pillars of so great an height that they served as a mark for Seamen 6. Gibbethon in the Countrey called Makats a City of the Levites but afterwards possessed by the Philistims at the sieige whereof Nadab the Sonne of Ieroboam King of Israel was slain by Baasha who succeeded and Omri chosen King on the death of Zimri 7. Cariathi rim where the Ark of the Lord was kept for 20 years in the house of Aminadab
of Asia were armed like the Indians but the Aethiops of Africa were arrayed with the skins of beasts Here then we have an Asian Aethiopia in the time of Herodotus the same acknowledged by Pausanias an old Greek writer and by Philostratus after him though they look for it in the wrong place the first amongst the Seres in the North of Asia the other on the River Ganges too much in the East Nor doth Aethicus one of the old Cosmographers published by Simlerus shoot more nâ—or the mark who speaking of the River Tigris faith that it buryeth it self and runneth under the ground in Aethiopia Which though Simler doth interpret of these parts of Arabia yet questionless that Author meaneth it of the Countreys about Mount Taurus where that River doth indeed run under ground and having passed under those vast mountains riseth up again But what need further search be made to find out the situation of this Aethiopia when it is bounded out so plainly in the holy Scriptures For when it is said of Zipporah the wife of Moses that she was an Aethiopian woman Num. 12. 1. who is well known to have been a native of this Countrey and when it is said in the 2 Chron. 21. 16. that the Lord stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistims and of the Arabians that were near the Aethiopians it must needs be that the Aethiopia there spoken of must be conterminous to the rest of Arabia and be intended of that Countrey wherein Madian was So where God threatneth by the mouth of the Prophet Exekiel that he would lay wast the land of Egypt from the Tower of Syene even unto the borders of Aethiopia chap. 29. 10. that is to say from one end thereof unto the other it followeth necessarily that Aethiopia there meant must be this part of Arabia or the Land of Chus as the bound of Egypt most remote from the tower of Syene which all Geographers acknowledge to be in the extreme South parts thereof towards the Cataracts of Nilus For to expound it as some do of Aethiopia in Africk on the borders whereof Syene stood and stood so indifferently betwixt it and Egypt that Stephanus an antient Writer makes it very doubtfull to which of the two it did belong were to make the Scripture speak plain non-sence as plain as if a man should say that the French comquered all the Netherlands from Graveling to Flanders or that the sword hath ranged over all England from Barwick to Scotland As then we have found this Aethiopia of the old Testament to be neer the Philistims on the one side and the Land of Egypt on the other so may we find it to be bounded also on the East with Babylonia or Chaldoea the River Gihon which is said to compass the whole Land of Aethiopia or the land of Chus Gen. 2. 13. being no other than a branch of the River Euphrates which falleth into the Lakes of Chaldoea So that the translation of the Septuagint in reading Chusit is or the land of Chus by Ethiopia needs no such alteration or emendation as some men suppose The mistakes whereof there have been many which arise from hence not being to be charged on them or on their translation but on the ignorance of the Reader or errour of such Expositors who dreaming of no other AEthiopia than of that in Africk have made the Scriptures speak such things as it never meant and carried these Chusites into the African Ethiopia where they never were And yet perhaps it may be said that this posterity of Chus being streitned in their own possessions or willing to seek new adventures might have crossed over the Red-Sea or Gulf of Arabia being but seven miles broad where narrowest and mingling with the Sons of Ludim on the other side might either give the name of Aethiopians to them or receive it from them Now to go forwards with the story the first great action atributed to these Cbusites or Arabian Aethops incorporated with the rest of those mingled Nations is the expedition of Zerah the King hereof against Asa King of Judah drawing after him an Army of a million and three hundred Chariots of war the greatest Army ever read of in unquestioned story but for all that discomfited by the Lord of hosts on the praiers of Asa and all the spoyl of that huge Army carried to Hierusalem After this Tirrakth another of these Aethiopian Kings finding how dangerous the great growth of the Assyrian Kingdome might prove unto him prepared a puissant Army against Senacherib then besieging Libna threatning the conquest of all Judah and invading Egypt upon the news of whose approach Senacherib's forces which were even upon the gaining of Pelusium the Gate of Egypt were fain to dislodge and provide for their safety For though Herodotus call Senacherib King of Arabia and Assyria yet was he Master onely of those parts of Arabia which had been formerly possessed by the Kings of Israel being no more than some few Cities of Petraea bordering next unto them or perhaps called so onely in respect of those parts of Syria and Mesopotamia which were sometimes comprehended under the name of Arabia as before is said What part they after took in the great war betwixt Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt is not hard to say For that besides the same reasons of state obliging them to side with the Egyptian were stil in force their giving Necho leave to pass thorow their Countrey with his Army to invade the Babylonian on the banks of Euphrates make that plain enough Now that both Tirr akah and Zerah were Kings of this Asian and not of the African Aethiopia is most clear and evident partly in regard the Kings 〈◊〉 Egypt would never suffer such huge Armies to pass thprow the whole length of their Dominions but principally because it is said in the holy Scriptures that Asa having overthrown that vast Army of Zerah smote all the Cities about Gezar which formerly had belonged unto the Philistims but were then possessed by these Chusites and their Associates After this either as Confederates or subjects we find them aiding unto Xeâ—xes in his war on Greece and like enough it was that in Alexanders march from Egypt towards Persia they submitted to him as did all the other Countries thorow which he passed He being dead Antigonus one of his great Commanders sent Athenaeus with an Army to bring them in who being trained into an ambush was discomfited by them Demetrius the Sonne of Antigonus thinking that he had done enough in revenge of that overthrow by compelling them to sue for peace In the time of the Seleucian race in Syria we find them governed by Kings of their own most of them called by the name of Aretas of which one was of special note in the declining forrunes of the Seleucidans for bidding very fair for the Crown of that Countrey another mentioned by Saint Paul 2 Cor. 11. 32. as Lord of
nor the sonne of Julius But leaving Joseph to the singularity of his own conceits we find nothing done by the Assyrians or Chalaeans after this subjection which might denote them to have been once the Lords of so great an Empire Successively inslaved by the Medes Persians and Macedonians then by the Persians again afterwards by the Saracens next by the Turks a third time by the Persians once again by the Turks of the Ottoman Family unto whom now subject never endeavouring to assert in the way of war or opposition either their antient reputation or their native liberties but suffering themselves to be won lost fought for and again recovered by their quarrelsome Masters as if they had no title to their own Countrey but were born to follow the fortunes of all pretenders The reason of which is principally to be ascribed to the form of Government used amongst the Persians which was so Despoticall and absolute if not tyrannicall that they held all the people conquered by them in the nature of slaves not suffering any to grow great in a state of inheritance or to enjoy any place of power and profit under them in the conquered Provinces but at the pleasure of the Prince as it is now used amongst the Turks of the Ottoman Empire By means whereof the great men having no alliances amongst themselves and as few dependants amongst the people were never able to take head against the Conqueror but in the fall of the present Prince fell together with him it being a good rule of Machiavet that where the antient Nobility is in good regard linked in alliances with themselves and well respected by the common and inferiour people there it is difficult for the Invader though a Conqueror to win a Countrey and harder to keep it being conquered But on the other side where Nobility is quite worn out the Prince doth hold his Subjects in the nature of slaves there both the Conquest will be easie and soon assured For to what purpose should the Subjects resist the Conqueror or stand any longer to their King than he stands to himself when they are sure the Conqueror can lay upon them no heavyer burdens than they were accustomed to before and have withal a flattering hope that their new Masters may be gentler to them than their former were It fares with them no otherwise than with Aesops Ass which refused to make the opportunity of an escape from the hands of the enemie by which he was taken because he knew it was not possible they should lay more load upon his back than his old Master made him bear To which condition the Chaldeans and Assyrians being brought by the Persians and never accustomed to the tast of a better fortune have followed the same successes as the Persians did falling together with them from one hand to another the particular accompt of whose estate we shall find in Persia taking this onely for the close that when Solyman the Magnificent had discomfited Tamas King of Persia and taken the great City of Bagdat Caramit Merdin and the rest both in Assyria Chaldaea and Mesopotamia submitted to him without any resistance and received his Garrisons And for a confirmation of his estate he received at the hand of the Caliph of Babylon who by an old Prerogative had the nomination or confirmation at the least of the Kings of Assyria and the Sultans of Aegypt the Royall Ornaments and Ensignes Anno 1534. incorporating by that means those Regions into his estates and making them Provinces of his Empire in which he left a Beglerbeg at Bagdat to command in chief and divers Sanziacks in their severall and respective Provinces And though the Persian Kings have since taken and are still possessed of some places of importance in them yet I account them in regard of the said investiture and the long possession following on it for Provinces of the Turkish Empire as I do Media of the Persian though Tauris and some other peeces of it be possessed by the Turks OF MOUNT-TAURUS MOVNT-TAVRVS is a constant and continuall Ridge of hils which extend from the Mediterranean to the Indian Seas running thorow the whole length of Asia from West to East and dividing it as the Aequator doth the Globe into North and South It was called Taurus from the word Tur or Taur which in the Syriack and Chaldaean signifieth a mountain the common name of all high mountains being made peculiar unto this by reason of its greatness and continued length yet so that it had other names also in some parts thereof according to the Regions and Nations by which it passed and on which it bordered The course where of is thus set down by Sir Walter Ralegh premising onely that it beginneth in the Province of Lycia a Region of Asia Minor neer the Mediterranean These Mountains saith he which sunder Cilicia from the rest of Asia the less on the North thereof are called Taurus and where they part it from Comagena a Province of Syria they are called Amanus On the East side of the River Euphrates which forceth it self a way thorow it it sometimes resumeth the name of Taurus as in Ptolomies three first Tables of Asia and sometimes taketh the name of Niphates as in the fourth retaining that uncertain appellation so long as they bound Armenia from Mesopotamia After the River Tigris hath also cut them asunder they continue the name of Niphates altogether untill they separate Assyria and Media but then they call themselves Coatras although between the upper and lower Media they appear not alwaies but are seen discontinued and broke in pieces such parts of it as are found in the midle of that Countrey being called Orontes those which lie more towards the East being named Coronus out of the Southern parts whereof issueth the River of Bagradus which divideth the antient Persia from Caramania Continuing further East-ward by the name of Coronus they give unto the Parthians and Hyrcanians their proper Countries and afterwards change themselves into the Mountains of Seripht out of which riseth the River Margus And now beginning to draw towards the end of their course they first make themselves the South border of Bactria and are then known by the name of Paropamisns and after take unto themselves the name of Caucasus where the famous Rivers Indus Hydaspis and Zaradrus have their first beginnings In this point do they hold their heads exceeding high to equal the Mountains of Imaus whom they encounter within the 35 36. 37. Degrees of Latitude and the 140 Degree of Longitude known by no other name than this till finally they terminate their course in the Indian Seas So farre and to this purpose that noble Gentleman It may be added hereunto that though the antient Writers could trace the course of this Mountain no further than the meeting of it with Imaus yet later observations follow it to the wall of China the parts beyond Caucasus being now known by the
names the whole Bay being now called Mare Elkariffe and the entrances thereunto the Streits of Balsora these last so called because they opened the way to the Town of Balsora the most noted Empory of those parts in the times foregoing Chief Isles hereof besides those on the Arabian shore of which we have already spoken are 1. Taxiana on the coast of Susiana 2. Tabiana 3. Sopththa and 4. Alexandri or the Isle of Alexander on the shores of Persis Of which that which is called Sopththa seems to take name from Sabta the sonne of Chus planted upon the opposite shore of Arabia Felix and therein giving name to the City of Sapthta which we find in Ptolomy And finally joying to Carmania there are the Ilands called 5. Sagdana the chief Town whereof was antiently named Miltus and 6. Vorochtha fituate at the very mouth of the Straits now called ORMVS by the name of the Town and Promontory of Armuza in Carmania neer adjoyning to it and unto which it did in former times belong This Iland situate as is said at the mouth of the Gulf or Bay of Persia is in compass about 20 miles stony and full of rocks in a manner barren of all necessaries except salt wherewith their very Rocks are covered and of salt-stones many houses built So destiture of all things fitting for the life of man that the Inhabitants had all their victuals even the very water which they drank from some of the adjoying Countries The air so hot in time of Summer that the people rest themselves in caves covered over with wood where they stand or sit in water up to the chinne and have loop-holes in the tops of their houses to let in the wind Which notwithstanding in regard of the situation it was of late one of the richest Empories in all the world the wealth of Persia and East-India being brought hither and conveyed hence up by water to the River Euphrates and so by boats or on camels backs to Aleppo Alexandretta Tripolis from whence dispessed into all the Countries on the Mediterranean and to some beyond The people hereof in their persons habit and Religion participate somewhat of the Arabians but most of the Persians Mahometans for the most part of the Saphian Sect the rest but few in number of the Christian faith to which converted by the preachings of Father Gasper a Portugal Jesuite since the setling of that Nation there The chief and onely City was of the same name with the Iland founded some seven hundred years a goe by one Mahomet Dranku descended from the Kings of Saba in Arabia Felix who with many families of the Saboeans passed over the Straits into Carmania and the Isles adjoyning and liking the situation of this Iland built this City in it which he called Ormus or Armuzium according to the name of the Town and Promontory upon which it heth The City seated at one end of the Isle about 2 miles in compass well built and adorned with a fair market place some Churches and a well-fortisied Castle furnished with all necessaries to maintain a Siege By reason of its wealth and resort of Merchants grown to such esteem that it gave occasion to this Distick Si terrarum Orbis quaqua patet annulus esset Illius Ormusium gemmadecusque foret That is to say Were all the World a Ring this Isle alone Might of that Ring be thought to be the Stone It was first under its own King whose dominion extended also into some part of the Continent on either side and over all the rest of the Ilands within the Gulf. His Revenue of no great yearly value till the coming of the Portugoels hither by whom it was discovered under the conduct of Albukerque Anno 1506. Who having fortified some part of it for their own desence and made it the Staple of their trade for the Indian Merchandise so enriched the same that the Revenue of those Kings though Vassals and Tributaries to the Portugoels amounted to 14000 Seriffs yearly In this flourishing state it stood till the year 1622. when Abas the Sultan of Persia having received some affront at the hands of the Portugueze or desuous to remove the trade of Ormuz to some Port of his own gave order to Emangoly Chawn the Duke of Shiras to laysrege unto it with an Army of 15000 men Who seeing no hopes of mastering it by his land-forces only furnished himself with the ships and Cannon of some English Merchants to whom he promised many things which he never performed For being once master of the City he destroyed it utterly removing the Ordinance to Lar the wealth thereof to his own treasurie of Shiras the materials of the houses to Gombroon spoken of before the Portugueze and Christian natives passing over unto Musbakat in Arabia Felix Since which time though the English Captains that adventured in it were disappointed of the spoyl which they did expect yet so much honour hath been given by the King of Persia to the English Nation that their Agent who resideth at Gombroon takes custome of all strangers which do trafick thither 5. GEDROSIA GEDROSIA is bounded on the West with Carmania on the East with Cambaia or Guzarat a Province of India on the South with the main Indian Ocean on the North with Drangiana and Arachosia The reason of the name I find not Now by Mercator called Gest by Castaldus Circan The Countrey desolate and barren like the worst part of Carmania much destitute of fresh water and covered over with loose sands dangerous to the native and stranger both Some rain they have but not sufficient to allay the heat and drouth which they suffer under and yet by reason of that heat it assordeth in some places Nard and Myrrhe with some other spices Some Brooks here are or rather Torrents which falling from the hills do somewhat qualifie the indisposition of the soyl and make it habitable The chief of which was called Arbius antiently the chief Mountain Baetius Towns of most name in it 1. Rhagiana honoured by Ptolomy with the name of a City and 2. a Port or Harbor called Mulierum portus or the Haven of women 3. Arbis upon the banks of the River Arbius presented so us also by the name of a City 4. Musarna the chief of the Musarnae a chief tribe of this Countrey 5. Parsis or rather Easis as the Greek text hath it the Metropolis of the whole Province in the time of Ptolomy 6. Gest the chief City at the present but for nothing memorable The old Inhabitants hereof were the Masarnae bordering on Arachosia the Parsirae towards Carmania the Rhâ—mae on the banks of Indus and the Orbitae or Arbituri on the shores of the Ocean The Countrey of no note in preceding times till made famous by the follies of Alexander Who finding by the hard bout which he had with Porus that there was litle hopes of the Conquest of India would needs make a fruitless voyage to see the
Southwards in the Latitude of 28. But what it loseth in Antiquity it hath got in honor the Town and Territory being a peculiar Kingdome till Echebar the Mogul subdued it Anno 1598 in his passage from Lahor to Decan But it lost nothing by the hand For Echebar delighted in the situation of it and that withall it stood in the middest of his Kingdomes made it the Seat Royall of his Empire fixt there for the most part ever since by means whereof exceedingly increased in wealth beauty and greatness the very Castle in which the Mogul usually resideth being two miles in compass environed with most high and unscalable walls and fortified with great store of Ordinance The whole space betwixt it and Fatipore being 18. miles affirmed to be a continuall Market and all the Intervall from hence to the Town of Lahor from which distant 600 miles towards the South adorned with continuall Rowes of Trees on both sides of the wayes most of them bearing a kind of Mulberâ—y and at every ten miles end houses erected by the King or some of the Nobles for beautifying the way to the Regall City preserving their own memory and the safe lodging of Passengers in danger otherwise by night of Theeves and Cut-throats 3. Hendee a Town more towards the South beautified with a fair Castle of the Kings cut out of the main Rock and wrought with carved work round about fortified with 50 peeces of Ordinance and thought impregnable for that cause made a Prison for great persons Here are also two Hospitals for such Captains and Captains only as are maimed in the wars 4. Beani twelve course or 18. miles from Fattipore the most noted place for Indico in all the Indies for the making whereof they have here twelve mills Which Indico by the way groweth on a small shrub like our Goose-berry-bushes bearing seed like a Cabbage-seed which being cut down are laid in heaps for half a year and when rotten brought into a vault to be trodden with Oxen from the Stalks and being ground small and fine at the Mills is last of all boiled in furnaces refined and sorted 6 SANGA SANGA is bounded on the North with the East parts of the Realm of Agra on the South and West with Cambaia from which parted on the West by the Mountain Gate and on the East with Oristan The reason of the name I find not this Country being too far South to be so called from Sangalassa a Town of chief note neer the fountains of Indus where placed by Arianus lib. 5. Places of most importance in it 1. Azmere or Agimer 180 miles from Agra At the end of every course each course a mile and an half a fair pillar erected and at every tenth course a fair Seraglio such as we call Innes for the entertainment of Travellors All built by Echebar who wanting Children is said to have gone in Pilgrimage on foot from Arra to Azimere saying his prayers at the end of every course and lodging all night at the tenth 2. Citor the chief City of Sanga and once a Kingdome of it self or the chief of that Kingdome Situate in the midle way betwixt Surat a known Port of Cambata and Agra spoken of before and most magnificently built on the top of a rocky hill to which the passage is so narrow and so well fortified there being in it three Gates at the top the middle and the bottom that thereby and by other advantages of Art and nature it was thought impregnable Affirmed to he 12 miles in compass beautified with many goodly buildings both publique and private but once more glorious than it is here being to be seen the ruins of 100 Temples and above 100000 houses either demolished by the wars or suffered to decay by the great Moguls who would not willingly have any thing in the Indies of more Antiquity than themselves and therefore are rather inclined to build new Cities than uphold the old The greatness and Antiquity of it have made some men think that it was the Royall Seat of Porus. Others affirm the same of Delly but neither rightly the Kingdome of Porus lying more towards the River Indus and not so far South Governed not long since by a Queen called Crementina not more fair than valiant who revolting from Badurius King of Cambaia to whom she formerly had paid tribute was dispossessed of the Town of Citor where she had fortified her self with 30000. foot and 2000 horse the People in a desperate resolution laying all their treasures on an heap which they burnt together with themselves in which flame it is said that there perished 70000 persons But the Cambatan did not long enjoy his victory For not long after both the City and a great part of the Countrey was conquered by the great Mogul the mountainous parts hereof being held against him by Ramee the Sonne or successor of Qu. Crementina till seeing himself destitute of all better helps he put himself into the hands of one of the Sonnes of the late Sultan by whom reconciled unto his Father Some other Towns there are in this Province and in that of Agra before mentioned and those of good esteem perhaps amongst the natives but of no observation or importance in the course of business 7 CAMBAIA CAMBAIA hath on the East Delly and part of Mandao on the West Gedrosia a Province of the Persian Empire on the North Dulsinda and the rest of Mandao on the South the main Ocean and some part of Decan It lieth on both sides of the Indus and is so called from Cambaia the chief Province of it The whole divided into 1. Sinda 2. Guzarate and 3. Cambaia specially so called 1. SINDA hath on the East the River Indus by which separated from Mandao on the North that part of Sanga which is called Dulsinda on the West parts of Gedrosia and Guzarate and on the South the rest of Guzarate onely coasting along the Western banks of the River Indus whence it had the name that River being now called Sind as was said before And for this reason as I take it the Western part of Sanga lying North of this took the name of Dulsinda and not Dulcinda with a C as most commonly written The Country for the generality very rich and fertile but in some places nothing but a sandy Desart inhabited for the most part by wild Asses Foxes Deer and some wilder beasts but none so wild as the Caelies a robbing nation so numerous withall that they sometimes rob whole Caravans as they pass that way notwithstanding the many Forts and Castles built of purpose to secure those passages Places of most importance in it 1. Tutta or Gutu Nagar Tutta on the banks of Indus a Town of great trade but most frequented by the Portugals who here receive such Indian commodities as come down the water from Labor returning Pepper in exchange which they bring up the River from their other Factories 2. Lawribander at the mouth or out-let
of the Indus three dayes journey from Tutta the Port-town unto which it is notwithstanding that distance Supposed to be situate in or neer the place of that Alexandria which Alexander built in memory of his navigation down this River to the Indian Ocean An Haven much frequented because free from worms which about Surat and other Havens on these Seas so infest the ships that without much cost and care bestowed upon them they make them unable to return 3. Calwalla memorable for the Tenure as given by Echebar the Mongul to a company of Women and their posterity for ever to bring up their daughters to dancing and more wanton exercises 4. Radempoore a great Town with a strong Castle seated at the edge of the Desarts thorow which those that are to pass use here to provide themselves of water and other necessaries for their journey 5. Nuraquemire a pretty Town on the further side of the Desarts esteemed a Paradise by such as have passed thorow those uncomfortable and dangerous sands for the space of ten or twelve daies journey 6. Sarrama a large Town twenty miles from Tutta the Center in which all lines meet and from whence the distances of all Towns in Sinda are accustomably measured The Countrey antiently subject to the Kings of Cambaia and in the right of that Crown to the Great Mongul but the people for the most part so untamed and masterful that except in some of the greater Towns they pay no Tributes and in some places even within half a daies journy of Tutta will acknowledge no King but rob and spare whom they please If at any time the Mogul sends a force against them as he doth sometimes they fire their houses made like a Bee-Hive of straw and mortar which are soon rebuilded and retire themselves unto the Mountains Yet one good quality they have amongst many ill ones When they have robbed a Traveller or took money of him in the way of toll or custome for his passage by them they will conduct him honestly to the end of the Desarts lest any should rob him but themselves 2. GVZARATE hath on the North Sinda on the South the main Ocean the River Indus on the East on the West Gedrosia which the Indians call Nawatacos but the Persians Circam The Soil of the same temper and fertilitie with that of Cambaia specially so called and there we shall speak further of it The common people whom they call Guzorates of the same disposition generally with the rest of the Indians but the greatest part of the Countrey is possessed by the Resbutes or Rasâ—ooches the antient Inhabitants of this tract Who when their Countrey was subdued by the Moores or Saracens retired unto the Mountains and fatuesses of it standing upon their guard and were never yet subdued by the Great Monguls Who though possessed of the Sea-shores and most Towns of consequence are fain to leave the inland parts and open Countries to the power of these Out-lawes who either prey upon the people or force them to compound for their peace and quiet at uncertain prices Their Arms most commonly a Sword Buckler and Launce well-horsed and resolute in any thing which they undertake which made one of the Moguls say of them that no men in the world knew to die but they Places of most importance in it 1. Diu in a Peninsula looking towards Persia but on the Eastside thereof neer the mouth of Indus Possessed by the Portugal and by them fortified with a strong and impregnable Citadel built with the leave and liking of King Badurius thereby to buy their aid against Merhamed the Mongul who had newly vanquished him A matter of such consequence to the Crown of Portugal that John Bo elius confined to India for some Crimes by him committed undertook in hope by the merit of that service to obtain his pardon to carry the first news of it in a small vessel not above 18 foot long and but 6 foot broad the best which for the present could be provided which with great courage he performed and thorow that large wide and tempestuous Ocean came in safety with his news to Lisbon to the great joy of the King but greater admiration of all sorts of people Scarce settled in their new possession when besieged by Solyman Bassa Admirall to Solyman the Magnificent with a Flcet of 80 ships and Gallies Anno 1537. offended with the Portugals for aiding the King of Persia more for diverting the Spice-trade unto Alexandria In which he had so ill success that having assaulted it in vain with his Land-forces he was fain to raise his siege in such hast and tumult that he left his great O dnance behind him 2. Sauran a Town and Castle of the Resbutes spoken of before and by them held against the power of the Great Mongul 3. Boldra a very fair and beautiful City but of no great compass 4. Ardovat not far from the banks of the Indus on the North of this Region towards Sinda 5. Madibat by some called Amadabat affirmed to be both for wealth and greatness the cheif of Guzarate neer as big as London well walled and situate on a plain neer the Rivers side seldome without Merchants of all Religions Jews Gentils Christians Moores some of all and neither 6. Saringt 7. Periano 8. Serkeffe this last remarkable for the Sepulchres of the old Kings of Cambaia fair and well kept and visited from all parts of the Kingdome Nothing considerable in this part of the Countrey as to point of story but what is common to them with the rest of Cambaia but that the Rasbutes or Rasbooches still remain unconquered Possessed not only of the hills and Mountains but of some strong holds and governed by the Heads of their Casts or Tribes all which acknowledge the Morgul for their Superiour in regard of his power but none of them obey him as their Lord or Soveraign conceiving it to be some abasement of their own authority if they admit of him as an Umpire to compose their differences which they sometimes do 3 CAMBAIA specially so called hath on the North Mandao on the South the main Ocean and some part of Decan on the East Delly from which parted by a ridge of Mountains on the West the Main Ocean with some part of Guzarate It standeth on the East-sides of the out-less of Indus running along the Sea-shore for 500 miles and took this name from Cambaia the chief City of it The Countrey said to be the most fruitful of all India abounding in Rice Wheat Sugar Spices of all sorts and choicest fruits of silk and Cotton so great plenty that they fraught yearly forty of fifty ships with those commodities In the mountains they find Diamonds Chalcedonies and a kind of Onyx-stone which are called Cornelines and corruptly Cornelians Amongst the Rarities hereof they reckon the Abades a great Beast twice as bigge as a Bull having on their snowts a little horn and the hide so hard
which can make himself Lord of Coquinai which are the five Realms about Meaco is called Prince of Tenza and esteemed Soveraign of the rest Which height of dignity Nabunanga before mentioned in his time attained to after him Faxiba and since him Taicosuma that sovereignty being now in a likely way to become hereditary For Faxiba having brought under his command most of these small Kingdoms transported the vanquished Kings and the chief of their Nobles out of one Countrey into another to the end that being removed out of their own Realms and amongst strange subjects they should remain without means to revolt against him A mercifull and prudent course Having reduced into his power at least 50 of these petit Kingdoms he divided the greatest part of the conquered territories amongst his own faithfull friends and followers binding them to supply him with certain numbers of men upon all occasions By which and other politick courses he so setled himself in those estates that Taicosuma his sonne succeeded without opposition who had he lived would have abolished the vain title of the Dairi or took it to himself as he had the power sollicited thereto by the King of 〈◊〉 But dying in or about the year 1607. Fereâ—sama his son succeeded and may be still alive for ought I can learn What the Revenues of this King are it is hard to say I guess them to be very great in regard he maketh two millions of Crowns yearly of the very Rice which he reserveth to himself from his own demeasns The store of Gold and pretious stones which these Islands yield being wholly his must needs adde much unto his Coffers And for his power it is said that Faxiba was able to raise so good an Army out of the estates demised by him to his faithful followers that he resolved once on the conquest of China and to that end had caused timber to be felled for 2000 vessels for the transporting of his Army And had he lived a little longer t is probable enough he might have shaken that great Kingdome the 〈◊〉 being so much the better Souldiers that a small party of them would defeat a good Army of 〈◊〉 The fear whereof made the King of China after his decease correspond so fairly with his Successour Adjoining to Japan betwixt it and China lyeth the Iland of COREA extended in length from North to South the people whereof being distressed by the Japonites called in the Chinese by whom delivered from their Enemies and restored to liberty as before was noted 2. PHILIPPINAE South of Japan lieth a great frie of Islands which are now called PHILIPPINAE in honour of Philip the second King of Spain in whose time discovered by Legaspi a Spanish Captain 〈◊〉 1564. Strangely mistaken by Mercator for the Barussae of Ptolomy those being placed by him in the bottom of the Gulf of Bengalâ— five degrees South of the Aequator these sicuate on the East of China â—â— 13 or 14 degrees of Northern Latitude those being only five in number these reckoned at above ten thousand The Air in all of them generally very mild and temperate especially in the midland parts that on the shores somewhat inclining unto heat The soil abundantly fruitful of all commodities both for necessity and delights that is to say Rice Pulse Wax Honey Sugar Canes many pleasant fruits the fairest Figges of all the world plenty of fish variety of Birds and Beasts as well wild as tame great store of Cotton Wooll some Mines of Gold and of other mettals great abundance Of all these Islands there are only fourty in possession of the King of Spain belonging properly to Aâ—ia but by him placed under the Government of New Spain in America because discovered by 〈◊〉 at the instigation or procurement of Don Lewis de Velasco who was then Vice-Roy of that Province In these 40 Ilands there are thought to be at the least a million of people subject to that Crown many of which have been converted by the Friers and Jesuites unto Christianity Of these the principal in account are 1. LVSSON affirmed to contain in compass 1000 miles beautifyed by the Spaniards with a fair City seated on a commodious Haven which they call Manilla in which resides the Deputy or Lieutenant Governor for all these Ilands and the bishop of the Philippines for ordering all affairs of those Churches II. MINDANAO 380 Leagues in compass in which are many good Towns as 1. 〈◊〉 2. Pavados 3 Subut 4. Dapiro and some others III. TANDAIR more fruitful than any of the rest and of good extent 160 Leagues in circuit more specially called Philippina because first discovered and so named IV. PALOHAN as much mistaken by Mercator for the Bazacata of Ptolomy These with the rest subject in former times to the Kings of China till they did voluntarily abandon them and confine their Empire within the Continent On this relinquishment the people fell into Civâ—â— warres every man getting what he could for himself and the stronger preying on the weaker which factions and divisions gave great help to the Spaniard in the conquest of those few which are under their power Ilands of more importance to the Spaniards than is commonly thought and therefore furnished by them at their first plantations with Bulls Kine Horses and Mares which before they wanted and do now reasonably abound with For besides the abundance of victuals and some plenty of Gold which they find therein the situation is very fit to subdue the rest of the neighbouring Ilands to settle the commerce betwixt China and Mexico to bring on a continual trade betwixt the Ilands of this Sea and those of America and finally to prevent the Moors or Arabians from planting their Mahometanism any further Eastwards Not far from these on the South of Japan bending towards the west is another great heap of Rocks and Ilands Some of them rich in Gold and furnished with very choise fruits and other necessaries and peopled with a stout and warlike breed of men well skilled in Archerie The chief whereof have the names of 1. Lequin Major 2. Lequin Minor 3. Hermosa 4. Reix Magos c. of which little memorable And not far off those called 5. Ciumbabon in which is said to be a Plantanimal or sensible tree and 6. Matban unfortunately remarkable for the death of Magellanus slain there in a battel with the Natives 3. The Isles of BANDAN THe Isles of BANDAN are in number seven that is to say 1. Mira 2. Rosalargium 3. Aâ—â— 4. Rom 5. Nerra 6 Ganuape the least of all continually burning and for that cause deserted of its inhabitants and 7. Bandan bigger than any of the rest and therefore giving name to all Situate South of the Philippines in the seventh degree of Southern Latitude More fruitful of Nutmegs than any other of all these parts for which cause never without the concourse of forein Merchants from Java Malaca and China and of late times from these Northern Countreys
him and Mizraim possessed himself of all the rest from the greater Syrtis to the Ocean Remainders of whose name we find in the River Phut by Ptolemy called Phthuth with but little difference save that it savoureth more of the African roughnesse near which Josephus findeth a Region called the Country of Phut a Nation called he Phuteans seconded herein by S. Hierome who speaking of this Regio Phutensis in Mauritania where the River Phuth is placed by Ptolomy voucheth in generall terms the testimony of old Writers both Greek and Latine So that of this there is no question to be made Such Nations as descended of this Plantation shall be hereafter spoke of in their several Provinces Governed at first by the Chiefs of their several families but in the end reduced under the command of the Kings of Mauritania and Numidia and the State of Carthage The two first Natives of this Country of the race of Phut the last descended also of the seed of Cham their common Parent by the line of Canaan who on the conquest of their Country by the Children of Israel forced to seek new dwellings and having store of ships to transplant themselves and their families setled in the maritime parts of Mauritania and Africa properly so called For that the people of those parts though lost into other names and families were antiently of a Canaanitish or Phoenician race may be made apparent 1. By the nearnesse of their Language the Punick or Phoenician and old Hebrew tongue differing only in the dialect and pronunciation 2. By the name Poeni or Phoeni little differing from that of the Phoenices 3. By this testimony of S. Augustine who telleth us in the Comment on S. Pauls Epistle to the Romans begun but not finished by him Interrogati Rustici nostri quid sint respondent Punici Chanani that is to say that when any of the Inhabitants of this Country he himself was one were asked what they were they answered Chanaanites 4. We find in Herodotus how Cambyses having totally conquered Egypt intended a war against the Carthaginians who were then a State it seemeth of some power but the Phoenicians being the onely Sea-faring men Cambyses then had absolutely denied to be imployed in that service they being sprung from the same tree that the Carthaginians were 5. We read in Procopius out of which it is cited by Evagrius Scholasticus how on two marble-pillars situate nigh unto Tingis or Tanger there was in the Phoenician language and character engraved Nos fugimus à facie Joshuah praedonis filii Nave that is to say We flie from the face of that Robber Joshuah the son of Nun. The setling of this people there a great incitement questionlesse unto Dido to come thither also who feared as much danger from her brother Pygmalion King of Tyre whose hands had been embrued in the blood of her husband as the others did from the sword of Josuah Gathering together all her treasures which were very great accompanied with her brother Barca and her sister Anna the set sail for Africk and landing in the Bay where after stood the City of Carthage she obtained leave to build a Fort of no greater bignesse then the could compasse round about with an Oxes hide This the beginning of that City hence the name of Byrsa which at first it had First founded in or about the year of the world 3070. which was about 144 years after the building of Solomons Temple 143 years before the building of Rome and about 290 years from the destruction of Troy By which accompt I note this only by the way it is impossible that Dido or Elisa for by both these names we find her called should ever see the face of Aenaeas unlesse it were in picture or imagination and therefore as impossible she should either fall in love with him or be got with child by him or finally kill her self on her being forsaken All which being delivered by Virgil in his excellent Poem did for long time obtain a generall belief with most sorts of men Hereunto consenteth Ausonius who honouring the Statua of this abused Princesse with an Epigram of 18 verses among others gives us these four Invida cur in me stimulasti Musa Maronem Fingeret ut nostra damna pudicitiae Vos magis Historicis Lectores credite de me Quam qui furta deum concubitusque canunt Why didst thou stir up Virgil envious Muse Falsely my name and honour to abuse Of me let Histories be heard not those Who to the World Jove's theft and lusts expose Credible it is that Aenaeas being driven on the coast of Africk was by some Prince there courteously entertained as a man whose fame had been his harbinger but why the story should be fastned on Dido I see not Perhaps the unfortunate death of this Queen who laid violent hands on her self gave occasion to the Poet to fain that it was for the love of Aenaeas whereas it was indeed to avoid the lust and fury of Jarbas a potent King in Africk who violently desired to have his pleasure on her But to proceed This City thus founded in a place commodious for trade and merchandise in short time grew exceeding wealthy And having wealth enough to hire mercenary souldiers of which the needy Mauritanians Numidians did afford good store they conquered all the Sea-coasts from Cyrene to the Streits of Hercules now called the Streits of Gibraltar and so much also towards the South as was worth the conquering within which space possessed of 300 Cities Grown to such height that all the African Kings and Princes and amongst them the Kings of Numidia and Mauritania were at their devotion They began to cast their eyes on Sicily a wealthy Island lying near unto their Coast which questionless they had possessed if the Romans envious of their greatness and fearing their neighbourhood had not took upon them the defence of the Mumertines and under that pretence got some footing in it The end of this war after many brave exploits on both sides was the driving the Carthaginians out of Sicil their abandoning all the Islands betwixt them and Italy and the payment of 3200 Talents amounting to about two millions of Crowns And such end had the first Punick war managed for the most part in Sicil during which time and the first war there managed by the Carthaginians Africk it self was twice invaded first by Agathocles Tyrant of Syracuse or so commonly called and afterwards by Regulus a Roman General but with no other great successe then the spoil of the Country The second followed not long after but the Scene was altered begun in Spain prosecuted in Italy and ended in Africk Begun by Annibal the son of Amilcar descended from Barca the brother of Dido or Elisa who having conquered a great part of Spain and thereby both increased his reputation and experience conducted his victorious Army through Gaul and over the Alpes into Italy it self defeated the Army of
of Cattel The chief City of it called Amara by the name of the Province situate in the midst of the Empire and though not much distant from the Aequator if not plainly under it yet blessed with such a temperate air such a fruitful soyl such ravishing pleasures of all sorts that some have taken but mistaken it for the place of Paradise So strangely Heaven Earth Nature and Humane industry have joyned their helps together to enrich and beautifie it But that which is the greatest Ornament of this Province and indeed of the whole Empire of AEthiopia is the Mountain Amara situate in a large and delightful Plain the bottom of the Hill in circuit 90 miles and a dayes journey high the Rock so smooth and even but lesser and lesser towards the top that no wall can be more evenly polished the way up to it is cut out within the Rock through which are divers holes forced to let in the light so easie of ascent that one may ride up with great pleasure and in the midst of the Ascent a spacious Hall as it were to rest in the top it self is a large plain 20 leagues in circuit compassed with an high wall to the end that neither man nor beast fall down upon any chance beautified towards the South with a rising hill out of which issueth a sweet Spring which watering the several palaces and gardens of it uniteth it self into a Lake for the use of Cattel the Plain enriched with all sorts both of fruit and grain adorned with two magnificent Monasteries in each of which are founded 1500 Knights of the Order of S. Anthony a Religious Militia and honoured with 34 Palaces in which the younger sons of the Emperour are continually inclosed to avoid sedition they enjoy there whatsoever is fit for delight or Princely education and from hence some one of them who is most hopeful or best liked is again brought out if the Emperor die sonless to be made successor This mountain hath but one ascent up as before was said which is impregnably fortified and was destinate to this use Anno 470 or thereabouts by the Emperor Abraham Philip advised hereunto as he gave out by an heavenly vision In one of these Palaces is a famous Library wherein are said to be many books which with us are either in part or totally lost as the Oracles of Enoch with the mysteries which escaped the flood being by him engraven on pillars the whole works of Livy and others Which being heretofore translated by the Saracens into the Arabick tongue when having plundered all the most famous Libraries of the East and West they burnt the Originals out of a plot to make that language as renowned and as generally studied as the Greek or Latine are said by some good fortune to be here preserved 5. DAMVT DAMVT hath on the North Amara on the West Bagamedrum on the South Goiamy and on the East the great Lake of Barcena and some part of Zanguebar one of the Provinces of Aethiopia Exterior The Country plentifully furnished with Gold Ginger Grapes Fruits and Living creatures of all sorts For none more famed then for their Slaves sold in great numbers into Arabia Egypt Persia India and much esteemed by them who buy them for their abilities in was dexterity in business but specially for their fidelity in all things which they undertake For this cause placed in Offices of great trust and power by many of the Eastern Princes who using a tyrannical Form of Government and not daring to trust the sword into the hands of their Subjects or to advance them unto places of Court or Counsell do for the most part arm these Slaves and trust them also with the conduct of their chief Affairs A trust in which they never falsified or failed in a true discharge but when presuming of their power and those Advantages which so great a trust and power had presented to them they got into their hands the Kingdom of Bengala and kept it many yeers in a succession of the Abassine Slaves wherewith they still made up their numbers till outed not long since by the Great Mongal The Oxen of this Country are said to be neer as great as Elephants their horns so large that they serve as Tankards to carry and as Barrels to keep either wine or water Here is also said to be a kinde of Unicorn very fierce and wilde fashioned like an horse but no bigger then an Ass but we must think these Unicorns to be but Rhinocerots or else we shall very much mistake the truth of the matter And for the People to go them both over once again they are for the most part Gentiles some Christians intermixt amongst them who have sundry Monasteries To this Kingdom belongeth the Principality of Couche said to have more Gold in it then all Peru a Mountain all of Gold if the Friers say true The People Gentiles but the Prince not long since gained to the Christian â—aith into which he was baptized by the Abbot or chief Governour of the Monasteries on the hill Amara Gradeus the Emperour being his Godfather by whom named Andrew And here they have an hill of great height and very difficult ascent from the top whereof they use to cast headlong such of the Nobility as by the Emperours sentence are condemned to die What Towns they have either in that Kingdom or this Principality I am not able to resolve unless 1 Damut and 2 Couche may be two and the two most eminent as giving name to those estates 6. GOIAMY GOIAMY hath on the North Damut on the West Bagamedrum on the South and East some Provinces of the other Aethiopia The Country in the North parts full of Desarts and Rockie Mountains in the residue plentifully furnished with all things necessary Great store of Gold they finde but drossie the people not knowing how to refine and purifie it or loth here as in other places of this Empire to take pains that way for fear of drawing in the Turks and Arabians to partake of the booty It containeth in it many Rivers or rather Torrents which come tumbling down the hills with a mighty violence and a terrible fall making a noise not much inferiour to a clap of thunder and amongst other Lakes two of special note which for their greatness seem to be Seas in which as some report Mermaids and Tritons or Men-fishes use to shew themselves and out of which it is thought by others that the Fountains of Nilus do arise and both true alike But past all doubt the Abassines themselves are of this opinion and therefore in the stile of the Negaz so they call their Emperour he is termed King of Goiamy with this addition In which are found the Fountains of Nilus Deceived alike in their opinion touching this particular the Springs or Fountains of that River being further South though possibly having lost himself in these vast Lakes and issuing hence into a more
and a great number of poor Children which they daily feed besides the Tythes of all the Mountain in which it standeth fruitful and rich and at least 30 miles in compass they have many good Farms at the foot of the said Mountain and an hundred small Villages appertaining to them out of which they raise yeerly great provision of Corn and above 2000 head of Catteil their Revenues out of Tigremaon being reckoned in A Revenne able to maintain them and their Hospitality in regard their Novices or young Monks are sent abroad to earn their living or to manure their Lands and attend the husbandrie of the house the elder onely being found at the charge of the Monastery though all alike bound to the performance of Religious Offices 5 Erocco another noted Port on the Red Sea or Bay of Arabia to which a passage openeth thorow the Streits of the Mountains as it doth to Suachen conceived to be the Adulis of Ptolomy the Aduliton of Pliny Now in possession of the Turks or at their command 6 Santar 7 Giabel 8 Laccari and 9 Abarach these four last in the Province of Dafila This Country at the present and for long time past is subject both to the Great Neguz or the Frestegian of Aethiopia and the Grand-Signeur of the Turks naturally subject to the one and tributary to the other Governed by a King of their own whom they call Barnagassus by the name of his Province a Vassal and Homager to the Aethiopian to whom he payeth the yearly tribute of 150 of the best breed of Horses besides some quantities of Silk and some other commodities but so ill neighboured by the Turks that he is fain to pay also to the Beglerbeg or Bassa a resident at Suachen 1000 Ounces of Gold yearly for a composition For the Turks having by the conquest of Egypt made themselves masters of those Countries towards Aethiopia which formerly were allied to or confederate with the Mamaluck Sultans within short time viz. An. 1558. possessed themselves also of the town of Suachen and the parts adjoyning made it the residence of one of their Beglerbegs or Bassa's and gave him the title of Beglerbeg of Abassia as before was said Forgot by the industrious Collector of the Turkish History in his enumeration of the Beglerbegs or Bassas of Africk To this they added not long after all the rest of the Sea coasts and the Port of Erocco and not content therewith after some short breathing made a further inrode in which they did so waste the Country that in the end they compelled the Barnagassian not being aided by the Neguz to this Composition 9. DANGALI 10. DOBAS SOuth and South east of Barnagasso lie the two Kingdoms of DANGALI and DOBAS that of Dangali bordering on the Red Sea the other more within the Land both of them held by the Mahometans or Arabian Moors both in continual enmity with the Abassine Emperors and both of like nature in regard of the soil and people DANGALI hath on the North Barnagasso on the South some part of the Kingdom of Adel on the East the Red-Sea or Gulf of Arabia on the West Dobas before mentioned It taketh upsome part of the Arabick Bay within the Streits of Babel-Mandel and without those Streits the greatest part of that spacious Bay which anciently was called Sinus Avaliticus as far as to the Promontory then called Mosylon neighboured by a noted Emporie of the same now the Cape of Docono neer unto which the Sea makes a little Gulf and suddenly streitneth it self again so as the Channel cannot be above ten or twelve leagues broad And in this Channel are five or six Ilands which hinder the passage so as Sailers must have good experience to avoid the Rocks which lie neer those Ilands Chief Towns hereof 1 Bebul or Babel which gives name to the Streits of Babel Mandel a narnow Frith opening out of the Bay of Arabia into the Aethiopian Ocean 2 Vella a well-frequented Port conceived to be the same which Strabo calleth Antiphila not found by that name in Ptolomy 3 Zagnani and 4 Zama in a Province of this Kingdom called Lacca 5 Docano neer the Cape so called and therefore probably the Mosylon of the antient Writers 6 Dangali not far from the Sea-side which gives name to the Kingdom Nothing else memorable of this Kingdom but that there are in it two great Lakes wherein live Crocodiles as in Nilus On the South-west of Dangali lieth the Realm of DOBAS extended on the West to the borders of Angote The Country large containing twelve or as some say 24 several Presectures Of so good Pasturage that the Kine hereof are of greater size then in other places and those for number not easily matched in all this Empire The people such professed Enemies of the Christian faith that they suffer not any man to marry till he hath killed twelve Christians Some reckon them for Tributaries to the Prete or Negus but it is only when they list so far from being Contributioners towards the support of his estate that they take from him what they can The chief of their towns 1 Doba which gives name to the whole kingdom 2 Bally upon the same River but more neer the head on which Dobas standeth 11. ADEL ADEL is bounded on the North with some parts of Dangali and the Red Sea on the South with Adea on the East with the Red-Sea and the Indian or Arabian Ocean on the West with Fatigar extended on the Sea coast from the Cape of Docono to the Cape of Guardasu conceived most probably to be the Ardmata of Ptolomy a noted Promontory in his time The Country plentiful of Flesh Hony Wax Corn Gold and Ivory great flocks of Sheep and many of those Sheep of such burdensom Fleeces that their tails weigh 25 pounds some Kine they have which have horns like a Stag others but one horn only and that in the forehead about a foot and an half long but bending backwards The People inhabiting on the Sea coasts are of Arabian parentage and of the Mahometan religion those towards the Inland Countries of the old Aethiopick race and wholly Gentiles Chief towns hereof 1 Zeila a noted Port town situate in or neer the place where Ptolomy placeth Avalites stored with variety of merchandise and yielding some representation of Antiquity in the building thereof being lime and stone materials not much used amongst them in these later times Of great both beauty and esteem till the year 1516. when sacked and burnt by the Portugals before that time the most noted Emporie of all Aethiopia for the Indian trade 2 Barbora seated on the same Sea-coast well frequented by Merchants and possibly may be the Mundi or Malao of Ptolomy neighboured by a lofty Promontory which they call Mount Fellez 3 Mette another of the Sea-towns neer the Cape of Guardafuni supposed to be the Acane of the Antient writers 4 Assam 5 Selir and 6 Bidar on the Sea-coasts
them that for a Shirt a Razor and a little Bell they sold fifteen Kine and then fell out among themselves who should have the Bell. The Town conveniently seated on a large and â—pacious Haven and fortified with a very strong Castle in the hands of the Portugals who in their going to the Indies and returning back use to call in here and fit themselves with all things necessary to pursue their voyage A Town of so great wealth and trading that the Captain of the Castle in the time of his Government which continueth only for three years is said to lay up 300000 Ducats for his Lawfull gains of the Gold that cometh from Sofala A gain so great that at the end of his three years he is to serve for three years more at some place or other of the East Indies at his own charge without any allowance from the King or State of Portugal and then permitted to return to his native Country Such of that Nation as are suffred to inhabit here are enjoyed to be married to the end the Iland should be well-peopled and as well maintained which otherwise perhaps might have few else in it but the Garrison Souldiers and the Factors of particular Merchants 5. SOFALA lieth on the South of Mosambique from which parted by the River Cuama the greatest River of those parts and thence extended to the mountains which they call Manica by which separated from Monomotapa So called from Sofala the chief City of it situate in a little Iland as the former are but with great influence on the Land adjoyning Both Town and Iland subject unto the power of the Portugals who have a Fort the better to secure the Factory by them here erected one of the richest in the world the People bringing hither great quantity of Gold of which they have most plentifull Mines which they exchange with them for their cloth and other commodities It is supposed that the Gold brought into this Town amounteth to two Millions yeerly The supposition so agreeable to all other circumstances that little question need be made of the truth thereof Insomuch as this Country for its abundance of Gold and Ivory is by some thought to be that land of Ophir to which Solomon sent and of this opinion Ortelius in his Thesaurus was the first Author but in my minde upon no probable conjectures and against very strong presumption For first Ophir the son of Joctan of whom mention is made in the 10. of Gen. vers 29. and from whom the land of Ophir in all likelyhood took its name is in the next verse said to have planted in the East whereas this Sofala is situate South-west from Chaldea in which the confusion of Tongues and dispersing of the People began And secondly it is impossible for the Navie of Solomon which lay at Ezion Geber in the Bay of Arabia to have spent three years in coming hither and returning which we finde to have been the usual times of finishing the voyage to Ophir 1 Kings ch 10. Ophir then is some part of India but whether it were the Iland of Sumatra or that of Zeilan or one of the Molucco's or the land of Malaza called by the Ancient Aurea Chersonesus I dare not determine confidering what worthy men maintain these several opinions 6. MOENHEMAGE or MONOEMVG the only inland Province of any note hath on the East Mombaza and Quiloa on the West the famous River Nilus on the North some part of the Dominions of the Abassine Emperours on the South Mosambique The Conntry very plentifull of Mines of Gold yet the People use it not for money but barter it in exchange with the Portugal Merchants for Silks Taffatas with which they use to cloath themselves from the Girdle downwards In stead of money they make use of Red Counters much resembling Glass Governed by a King of their own who holds confederacie with the Kings of Mombaza and Quiloa for the better ordering of their Trade To whom are also subject a wild and cruel people called Agag inhabiting on Lake Zembre and the banks of the Nilus dispersed about the fields in their homely cottages black Cannibals and of an horrible aspect more horrible then otherwise they would be by drawing lines upon their cheeks with an iron-instrument and forcing their eye lids to turn backwards By the assistance of this people the King of Moenhemage hath hitherto preserved his Estate against the King of Monomotapa and they themselves by some of their own Leaders did so distress the King of Congo that they forced him to retire to a small Iland where he hardly scaped a violent and untimely death most of his people being starved Of which more hereafter Touching the rest of these Provinces we can say but little and that little of no great note or certainty but that they differ for the most part from one another both in speech and behaviour each Village under a several King and each in continual quarrel with its next neighbours whom if they overcome they eat At leasure times they live by hunting and the flesh of Elephants And amongst these but more upon the Borders of the Abassine Empire I place the Gallae a Nationless nation as it were without house or dwelling without Law or Government as barbarous and horrid as the Agags whom some call Jagge or Giacqui are affirmed to be who watching their advantages and joyned together in some Arts of doing mischief have made of late such desolations in the Countries of the Prestor-John 2. MONOMOTAPA MONOMOTAPA BENOMOTANA or BENOMOTAXA for by all these names it is called is bounded on the North with the River Cuama by which and the Mountain of Magnice it is parted from Zanzibar on the West and South by the River of the Holy-Ghost by which separated from Cafraria and on the East by the main Ocean So that it is almost an Iland said to contain in compass 750 Spanish leagues or 3250 Italian miles The Air hereof is said to be very temperate and the Country very good and pleasant yet full of Forrests Well watered besides the two great Rivers before mentioned with the Streams of 1 Panami 2 Luanga 3 Arruga 4 Mangeano and certain others which carry gold with them in their sands By means whereof it 〈◊〉 not only abundance of Corn but great store of Pasturage on which they breed infinite Herds of Cattel and other Beasts very large and great such store of Elephants that they kill 5000 yearly form other reason but to make merchandise of their Teeth their Gold-Mines great and small reckoned to 3000 some in the hils of Magnice others in the Provinces of Matuca and Boro the places where the Mines are known without further Art in the discovery of them by the dryness and barrenness of the loil as if Nature could not hoord up gold in her spacious bosom but she must needs be barren of all good works The People are of mean stature and black complexions but
who formerly made their Nest like Birds on the tops of trees 2 Bizu 3 Los Angadesos two small villages on the other side of the Country possessed by the Savages Besides these and some sorry sheds here and there dispersed all the rest a Desart So that not being able to maintain the reputation of a distinct Province the government here of hath of late been devolved on the Prefect of Panama 3 NOVA AND ALVSIA hath on the West the River Darien and the Golf of Vraba on the East the Province of S. Martha on the North the main Ocean and on the South the new Realm of Granada So called with reference to Andalusia a Province of Spain Called also by some Writers Carthagena from Carthagena now the chief City of it It is in length from the Golf of Vraba to the River of Magdalen 80 Leagues and neer upon as much in breadth Mountainous and very full of woods but in those woods great store of Rosin Gums and some kinds of Balsams Here is also said to be a Tree which whosoever toucheth is in danger of poisoning The Soil by reason of the abundance of rain which fals upon it very moyst and spewie insomuch that few of our Europaean fruits have prospered in it Few veins of Gold in all the Country except only in that part hereof which is called Zena where the Spaniards at their first coming found great store of treasure But it was taken out of the graves and Monuments of the dead not found in Mines or digged for as in other places such being the reputation of that Territory in former times that the Nations far and neer did carry the bodies of their Dead to be buried in it with great quantity of Gold Jewels and other Riches The Natives very fierce and stout whiles they were a People But giving the Spaniards many overthrows before fully conquered they have been so consumed and wasted by little and little that there are not many of them left Chief Rivers hereof 1 Rio de los Redos 2 Rio de los Anades both falling into the Bay of Vraba 3 Zenu which passing thorow the Province above-mentioned to which it gives name falleth into the Ocean over against the Iland Fuerte 4 S. Martha of long course and much estimation For rising in the most Southern parts of the New Realm of Granada neer the Aequinoctial it passeth thorow the whole length of that Kingdom and at the last mingleth its streams with that of the River Magdalen not far from Mopox By the Natives it is called Cauca And as for Mountains those of most note are a continual Ridge of hils by the Spaniards called Cordillera by the Natives Abibe craggie and difficult of ascent in breadth affirmed to be 20 leagues but the length uncertain the furthest ends of them towards the South not discovered hitherto Places of most importance in it 1 Carthagena situate in a sandie Peninsula ten degrees distant from the Aequator well built and for the bigness of it of great wealth and state consisting of 500 houses or thereabouts but those neat and handsom Beautified with a Cathedral Church three Monasteries and one of the best Havens of all America Well fortified on both sides since the taking of it by Sir Francis Drake who in the year 1585. took it by assault and carried thence besides inestimable sums of money 240 Brass pecces of Ordinance 2 Tolu by the Spaniards called S. Jago twelve miles from Carthagena memorable for the most soveraign Balsam of all these parts called the Balsam of Tolu little interior if at all to the Balsam of Egypt 3 Mopox or Santa Crux de Mopox neer the Confluences of the Rivers of Martha and Magdalens 4 Baranca de Malambo on the Banks of the River Magdalen six leagues from the Ocean where such Commodities as are brought by sea for the New Realm of Granada use to be unshipped and carried by Lighters or small Boats up the River 5 Sebastian de Buena vista built by Alfonso de Oieda An. 1508. in his first attempt upon this Country situate on a rising ground neer the mouth of the Bay of Vraba a league and an half from the sea 6 Villa de Maria 30 leagues South of Carthagena but of no great note 4 S. MARTHA hath on the West Nova Andalusia on the East Rio de la Hacha on the North the main Ocean on the South the New Realm of Granada about 70 leagues in length and as much in breadth So called from S. Martha the chief City of it The Country mountainous and barren not fit for pasturage or tillage productive notwithstanding of Limons Orenges Pomgranats and such other fruits as are brought hither out of Spain The Air on the Sea-coasts very hot and scalding and in the midland parts as cold because of the neighbourhood of some Mountains alwayes covered with snow The principal of those Mountains a long Ridge of Hils by the Spaniards called Las Sierras Nievadas or the Snowy mountains discernable by the Mariners 30 leagues at sea by whom called the Mountains of Tairona from a Vallie of that name beneath them the Inhabitants whereof by the advantage of those hils have hitherto preserved their liberty against the Spaniards The rest though subject to the Spaniards have their several â—â—ings affirmed to be an arrogant and ill-natured people made worse perhapâ— then indeed they are by reason of their hate to the Spaniards whose government they live under with great unwillingness Chief Rivers of this Province 1 Rio Grando de la Magdalena which hath its fountain in the hils of the new Realm of Granada not far from the Aequatâ—r but its fall into the Ocean betwixt Carthagena and S. Martha in the Latitude of 12 Degrees where dividing it self it maketh an Iland of 5 leagues long and after openeth into the Sea with two wide mouths discernible for ten leagues space from the rest of the Main by the taste and colour of the water 2 Rio de Cazaze which falleth into the Magdalen as doth also 3 Caesar by the Natives called Pompatao which having its fountain neer the City of Kings in the Vale of Vpar passeth directly towards the South till it meet with 4 Ayumas another River of this Tract accompanied with whom he runneth westward for the space of 70 leagues and endeth in the great River of Magdalens as before is said neer the Forrest of Alpuerte 5 Bubia 6 Piras 7 Don Diego 8 Palamini 9 Gayza falling into the Ocean Towns of most observation 1 S. Martha situate on the shores of the Ocean in the Latitude of ten Degrees 30 Minutes neighboured by a safe and convenient Haven defended from the winds by an high Mountain neer unto it and honoured with an Episcopal See Small and ill built when it was at the best nor well recovered of the spoil it suffered by Sir Francis Drake An 1595. and by Sir Anthony Sherley the next year after 2 Tenariffe on the
South 7 Guahabu and 8 Cabaya in the West and in the North 9 Cibao rich in Mines of Gold 10 Marien the Landing place of Columbus and 11 Maguana in the center of the Iland the King whereof in the time of Columbus was named Conabo of greatest power of any of those petiâ— Roytelets Another division of it hath been made by Nature parting it by four Rivers all rising from one Mountain in the midst of the Iland into four Divisions the River Jache running towards the North 2 Nubiba hastning to the South 3 Yuna or Junna towards the East and 3 Hatibonico to the West But these divisions being long since grown out of use we will survey the chief of the Towns and Cities of it as they come before us And they are 1 S. Domingo first built by Bartholomew Columbus Anno 1494. on the East bank of the Ozama and afterwards in the year 1502 removed by Nicolas de Obando then Governour of the Iland to the opposite shore Situate in a pleasant Country amongst wealthy Pastures and neighboured with a safe and capacious Haven the houses elegantly built most of them of stone and the whole well walled beside a Castle at the VVest end of the Peer to defend the Haven enriched by the residence of the Governour the Courts of Justice the See of an Archbishop and besides many Convents and Religious houses an Hospital endowed with 20000 Ducats of yeerly Rent Esteemed of greatest Trade and concourse of Merchants till the taking of Mexico and the Discovery of Peru since that 〈◊〉 sensibly decaying and now reduced unto the number of 600 Families of Spaniards the greatest pâ—â—t of the City and all the Suburbs inhabited by Negros Mulatos and other Strangers Not yet 〈◊〉 of the hurt it had by Sir Francis Drake who in the year 1586 â—ook it by force and held it for the space of a moneth burning the greatest part of the houses and suffering the rest to be redeemed a certain price 2 Salvaleon 28 Leagues to the East of Domingo 4 Jaguana called also Santa 〈◊〉 del Porto from a safe and beautifull Haven adjoyning to it situate in the VVest part of the Iland of no great bigness consisting of no more then 150 houses when it was at the greatest but made much less by Captain Newport who in the year 1591. burnt it to the ground 4 Cotuy in the North of the Iland opposite to S. Domingo from which distant almost 60 Leagues a little Town but formerly of great esteem for its Mines of Gold 5 Conception de la Vega the foundation of Christopher Columbus for whose sake afterwards adorned with a See Episcopal 6 Puerto de la Plata 40 Leagues from Domingo on the Northern shore where built on a commodious Bay by Nicholas de Oâ—â—â—â— before mentioned by whom also fortified the second Town of wealth and Trade in all the Iland 7 Azâ—a now called Compostella a noted Haven and much resorted to for Sugars which it yields abundantly This Iland was first discovered by Columbus for I believe not that it was any of the fortunate Ilands which we read of in the life of Sertorius in the first voyage which he made conducted hither by some of he Inhabitants of the Isle of Cuba Landing and gaining the good will of the Savages by gentle usage he obtained leave of one of their King or Caciques to build a Fortress in his Country which he called Navided or Natividad leaving in it 36 Spaniards to keep possession whom he found both mastered and murdered at his coming back Being now better furnished for a new Plantation he built the Town called Isabella in honour of Isabella Queen of Castile near the Mines of Cibao which afterwards was deserted also and the Colonie removed unto S. Domingo the Spaniards sending one Colonie after another till at last their number was increased unto 14000. besides women and children But having rooted out the Natives by their infinite cruelties and exhausted the riches of the Country with as infinite covetousness they betook themselves to fresher Quarters abandoning the Iland to devour the Continent Once had the Ilanders rebelled and fortified themselves in the Province of Baoruco a place so naturally strong that there was little need of the helps of Art Not brought to leave that fastness but on such conditions as made the Spaniards less insolent and themselves less slaves 5. CVBA CVBA lyeth on the West of Hispaniola from which parted by a Frith or narrow Channel interposed betwixt the two Capes of S. Nicholas and that of Mayzi Backed on the North with a frie of Ilands called the Lucaios and some part of the Peninsula of Florida extended towards the East to the extream point or Foreland of Jucutan called Cape de Gotache from which distant about 50 Leagues and neighboured on the South with the Isle of Jamaica It is in length from East to VVest that is to say from Cape Mazie towards Hispaniola to the Cape of S. Anthony 230 Leagues in breadth where broadest hardly 40 but fifteen in others For the fertility of the soil contending with Hispaniola for the preheminence but in the temperature of the Aire a great deal before it Liberally stored with Ginger Cassia Mastick Aloes Cinnamon and Sugar not reckoning such commodities as are common unto this with others besides great plenty of Flesh and Fish and of Fowl no scarcity The Gold more drossie in the Mine then in Hispaniola but the Brass more perfect Hilly and full of lofty Mountains but those Mountains clad with divers trees some of which drop the purest Rosin and the Hills sending to the Valleys many notable Rivers Pestered with many sorts of Serpents not so much out of any ill condition of the Soyl and Air as by an old Superstition of the Savages in former times not suffered to kill them when they might this being a Dish reserved for the higher Powers not able afterwards to destroy them when it would have been suffered What other Savage Rites they had is not now material the Spaniards having took an Order that they should not trouble us in that particular Yet thus much we may adde in memory of the first Inhabitants that an old man of 80 years one of the Caciques of the Iland addressed himself unto Columbus at his first coming hither advising him to use his Fortune with moderation and to remember that the souls of men have two journeys when they leave this world the one foul and dark prepared for the injurious and cruel person the other delectable and pleasant for the men of peace It is said also of them that they knew not the use of money nor understood the niceties of Meum and Tuum Tenants in common to the blessings which the earth brought forth and Coheirs of Nature Amongst the Rarities of this Iland they mention a Fountain out of which floweth a pitchy substance which is found frequently on the Seas into which it falleth excellent for the Calking of ships
Secondly a Navigable River but the name not told us the waters of which were so hot that a man could not endure to hold his hand in them They tell us also thirdly of a Valley 15 Leagues from S. Jago which produceth stones exactly round as if made for pleasure but yet meerly natural But these no greater Rarities then in other places nor altogether so great as in Hispaniola Of which they tell us of a fair River whose waters are Salt and yet none but fresh streams fall into it Of another Lake three Leagues in compass on the top of the Mountains into which many Rivers were known to run without any Exit Neither of these so strange or rare as the Cucuyo a kinde of Scarabe or Beetel the eyes and wings whereof when opened give so great a light in the darkest places that a man may see to read and write by it as well as by Candle Rivers of most note 1 Cante much annoyed with Crocodiles a Beast not common in these Ilands nor elswhere in this exceeding dangerous to such as repose themselves on the Banks of the River 2 Arimao which disburdeneth it self neer the Port of Xagua 3 Rio de Porcos full of Rocks and quick-sands at the entrances of it 4 Rio Escondida passing betwixt Habana and the Port of Marancas 5 Marien and 6 Tanne of less note Besides these there is Xagua a safe Station and Road for shipping of a narrow entrance but large and spacious when once entred above ten Leagues in length and of breadth proportionable So fenced on all sides from the winds that ships lie here in â—afety without any Anchor Some other Baies there be as usefull though not so considerable Towns of most consequence 1 S. Jago in the South part of the Iland situate about two Leagues from the Main but in the bottom of a large and capacious Gulf the most noted Port of all these Seas Built by Don Diego de Velasques An 1514. Afterwards made a Bishops See beautified with a Cathedral some Religious houses once not inferiour unto any for numbers of People though now few enough 2 Baracao 30 Leagues on the East of S. Jago the same Foundation as the other and neighboured by great quantities of Eben-wood 3 S. Salvador by some called Bayamo according to the old name of the Province in which it standeth built by Velasco in the most pleasant and richest part of all the Iland but not so fitly as the other for Trade and Merchandise 4 Porto del Principe an Haven Town in the North parts not far from which is the Fountain of a pitchie or bituminous liquor spoken of before which I conceive to be much of the same nature with the Fountains of Naphta in the East 5 Trinidad another of Velascos foundations nine or ten leagues Eastward of the Port of Xagua once well frequented but now forsaken and meer nothing 6 Havana in the North parts opposite to Florida a noted and well traded Port so strongly situate and fortified both by nature and Art that it seems impregnable The Entrances defended with two notable Castles a greater then either opposite to the mouth of the Haven all so commodiously built and well planted with Ordnance that they are able to keep out and scatter the greatest Navy Neer one of them standeth an high Tower from the top whereof notice is given unto the Guards of every ship that cometh within view of the Watchmen The best assurance not only of this Iland but the Bay of Mexico and therefore honoured for the most part with the seat of the Governour and the greatest Trade of all these Seas the ships which are bound for Spain from all parts of the Gulf tarrying here for one another till all met together and setting fail from hence by the Streits of Bahama amongst the Isles of the Lucaios This Iland one of the first which was discovered by Columbus who having almost tired the Spaniards with the expectation first fell upon the Iland of Guahanani one of the Lacaios to which he gave the name of S. Saviours From thence he sailed to Baracoa on the North of this Iland which he caused to be called Fernandina in honour of Ferdinand the Catholick King of Castile and Aragon at whose charge and the incouragement of Isabella his Heroick Queen he pursued this enterprise Landing he asked the People if they knew Cipango by which name Paulus Venetus calls the Isle of Japan and they conceiving that he enquired after Cibao of great note for the richest Mines in Hispaniola pointed towards Hayty some of them going with him to conduct him thither Cuba by this means laid aside and all the thoughts of Spain upon Hispaniola where they found many golden provocations to invite their stay till hungring after more Gold and some new Plantations they passed over hither and in few years by the prudent conduct of Velasco got such footing in it and made that footing good by so many Colonies that their title and possession was beyond dispute and so continueth to this day 6. JAMAICA IAMAICA lyeth on the South of Cuba from which distant 20 Leagues and as much or very little more from Hispaniola Discovered in the second voyage of Columbus by whom named S. Jago that name changed afterwards to Jamaica It is in length from East to West about 50 Leagues and in breadth 20. the whole compass estimated at 150. the middle of it under the 18 Degree of Northern Latitude Of a rich soyl abundantly provided of all things necessary well stocked with Cattle and no less plentifully stored with most sorts of Fruits which either Industry or Nature have supplyed it with Great store of Cotton-wooll and such abundance of Jaccu a Root whereof the Savages once made their bread that it was deemed the Granarie of the neighbouring Ilands And were it not disfurnished of convenient Ports which is all the want of it would be as much frequented by the sea-faring men as any other in those parts Once very populous now destitute of all the natural Inhabitants this Iland and that of Porto Rico loosing in few years 60000 by the Spaniards cruelties Cruelties which not only raged upon the men but destroyed posterity the Women here and elsewhere so abominating their sad condition that they strangled their Children in the birth to the end they might not live to serve such a cruel Nation Chief Towns hereof for though it be well watered it hath no great Rivers 1 Sevilla in the North-part of the Iland beautified with a goodly Monasterie the Abbot whereof hath all Episcopal jurisdiction and is priviledged to wear a Miter in nothing more enobled then that Peter Martyr the Historian to whose Decades all succeeding Ages are to be beholding for the Chorographie and History of these parts of the World was once Abbot here 2 Mellilla a small Town but memorable for the unfortunate shipwrack of Columbus on the shores adjoyning 3 Oristan on the South of the Iland
encouragement wherein he gave me this direction following The News saith he of this New Streit coming into Spain it pleased that King in the year 1618 to send and searâ—â— whether the truth were answerable unto the Report And finding it 〈◊〉 much broader then the other and not above seven Dutch miles long decreed that being the more 〈◊〉 and compendious way for Navigators and less subject to dangers his Auxiliary Forces should be sent that way into the East Indies to defend the Philippinae and Molucco Ilands and the way by the Cape of good Hope to be left In regard that every such voyage requireth twice as much time besides the variety of winds and often change of the Air not only troublesom but full of disâ—â—â—es consumeth the one half of the men before they return Whereas â—â—is way gaineth time and if need be they may dispatch business in the West as they travell into the East without any extraordinary danger or loss of men So far the very words of my letter The intelligence given me in this Lâ—tter I finde confirm'd in a Relation of the Voyage made by Captain Don Iuan de More Anno 618 at the command and charge of the King of Spain who presently arm'd and furnished eight tall Ships to send this new way unto his Philippines and Moluccos under the conduct of Petrus Michaeles de Cordoelâ—n Since it hath been found by experience that even from our parts to the Moluccos through this â—retum de Mayre is but a passage of eight moneths Sine ulla insigni navigantium clade saith the Narrator But of this streit enough to 〈…〉 my unknown 〈◊〉 willers 〈◊〉 and enform my Readeâ— extreamly sorry that the Gentleman was 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 his name that so his memory might have lâ—ved in these Papers if they themselves bedest nate to a longer life Now for the nature of the sâ—il it is said to be very full of Mountains but those Hills apparelled with woods intermâ—xt with Vallâ—es the Vallies for the most part full of little Brooks which fall down from the Mounâ—â—â—ns and afford good Paâ—â—urage the Sea-coasts well provided of Bays and Roads not unsafe for shipping though the Air everywhere but châ—fly neer the Sea be much subject to Tempests As for the People they are said to be of a white complexion but their Face Arms and Thighs coloured with a kinde of Oâ—er of full stature and well proportioned their hair black which they wear long to seem more terrible The men most generally naked the women only shaded on their secret parts with a pace of Leather Towns they have none nor any Habitations which deserve the name of Houses so that the most which we can do is to Coast the Iland In which we finde towards Mare del Noort 1. A large Arm of the Sea called Entrado de S. Sebastian 2. The Cape of S. Ives 3 Mauritius land 4. Promontorio de Buen Suscio or the Cape of Good Success Opposite where unto in another Iland is the Cape of S. 〈…〉 and betwixt them the Streit called Fretum le Maire Then in the New South Sea as they call it there are 5. Barnwelts Iland 6. the Ilands of S. Ildesonso 7. Cape Horn on a fair Promontory in the South west Ande which doubled the Countrie goes along with a strait shore on which I finde some Bayes and Capes but no names unto them till we come to the VVestern entrances of the Streits of Magellan opposite unto Cape Victoria so often mentioned 2. INSVLAE SOLOMONIS or the Ilands of Solomon are situate on the VVest of Terra del Fogo 11 degrees on the South of the Equinoctial Discovered in the year 1567 by Lopes Garcia de Castro sent by the Vice Roy of Peru to finde out new Countries By whom thus named in hope that men would be the rather induced to inhabit in them imagining that Solomon had his Gold from these Lands of Ophir In number they are many but 18. the principal Some of which 300 miles in compass others 200 and others of them less till we come to fifty and beneath that none All liberally furnished with Dogs Hogs Hens Cloves Ginger Cinnamon and some veins of Gold The chief of these eighteen are 1 Guadalcanal supposed to be the greatest of them upon the coast whereof the Spaniards sailed 150 Leagues where they found a Town which they burned and sacked because the People of it in a sudden surprize had killed fourteen of their men 2 S Isabella 150 leagues in length and eighteen in breadth the Inhabitants some black some white some of brown complexion 3 S. Nicolas 100 Leagues in compass inhabited by a People which are black of hue but said to be more witty then the other Salvages All of them situate betwixt the Strests of Magellan and the Ilands of Thieves and yet not well agreed upon amongst our Authors whether to be accompted Ilands or a part of the Continent The Spaniards having layled 700 Leagues on the Coasts hereof and yet not able to attain unto any certainty But being they pass generally in Accâ—mpt for Ilands and by that name are under the Vice Roy of Peru who appoints their Governours let them pass so still 3. NOVA QVINEA lyeth beyond the Ilands of Solomon in respect of us preceeding 〈◊〉 have begun from the Land of Fire Discovered as before was said An. 1543. by Vilia Lobuâ— Horrera attributes the discovery of it to Alvarez de Saavedra and sets it higher in the year 1527. more perfectly made known if I guess aright by Fernando de Quir. Who being sent with two Ships to make a more full discovery of the Ilands of Solomon and taking his course about the height of the Magellan streits discovered a main Land coming up close to the Aequinoctial on the Coasts whereof he 〈◊〉 800 Leagues till he found himself at last in the Latitude of 15 Degrees discovering a large Bay into which fell two great Rivers where he purposed to settle a Plantation and to that end presented a Petition to the King of Spain This Country I conceive by the site and position of it to be Nova Guinea coming up close as that doth to the Aequinoctial and after turning to the South towards the Tropick of Capricorn where it joyneth with Malatur And taking it for granted as I think I may I shall afford the Reader this Description of it out of his Memorials in which it is soberiy affirmed to be a Terrestrial Paradise for wealth and pleasures The Country plentifull of Fruits Coco-nuts Almonds of four sorts Pomâ—citrens Dates Sugar canes and Apples plenty of Swine Goats Hâ—ns Partâ—iges and other Fowl with some Kine and Buffals Nothing inferiour as it seemeth to Guinea in the Land of Negroes and from thence so named For as he saith he saw amongst them Silver and Pearls and some told him of Gold the Countries on the Coast seeming to promise much felicity within the Land The Ayr he found to be