the Easterne nations otherwise lasie and idle more addicted vnto warres then to trades and manuall occupations poore through their sloath and the oppression of their Lords the Turkes and German Emperours Their language is a kinde of Sclavonian differing from the Poles In the parts neighbouring vnto Germany the Dutch likewise is spoken Their Religion is the Romish Catholicke and that of the Reformed Churches for both are tolerated The reformed lesse prevaileth in the countries subject to the Turkes through a iealousie of that nation forbidding all new opinions quarrells and disputes of faith which might cause innouations troubles of the State This was sometimes a flourishing and great kingdome the bulwarke of Christendome against the Infidells After long warres sundry victories and braue resistance it is now for the greatest part enthralled to the Turke The rest containing some third part obeyeth the German Emperours of the house of Austria now kings for what is left of Hungarie descended from Anne sister to Lewis the second the last natiue Prince slaine by Soliman at the battle of Mohacz It is divided by the Danow into the vpper Hungary lying North of the riuer and the Lower Hungary lying towards the South containing together before the Turkish subiection 50 juridicall resorts which they called counties 24. betwixt the Tissa Danow and Germany 8. East of the Tissa in the same diuision 12. betwixt the Danow the Dra and 6 betwixt the Danow and the Saw towards Greichs-Weissenburg The parts vnder the Turkes are gouerned by their Bassaes and other names of Magistrates after the custome of that Empire Chiefer townes in the vpper Hungary are Presburg enioying a pleasant and healthfull situation vpon the left shore of the Danow neere to vinie mountaines and the confines of Oosten-reich defended with a strong castle mounted vpon a hill the chiefe towne subiect to the German Emperours Vaccia vpon the Danow a Bishops sea Pest vpon the Danow opposite to Buda Colocza vpon the Danow an Archbishops sea Bath vpon the same shore of the Danow North of the riuer Segedin vpon the right shore of the river Tissa Agria a Bishops sea Newsol a strong towne vpon the riuer Gran. Nitri a Bishops sea vpon the river Boch Transchin vpon the riuer Wag. Tirnau East of the Tissa Debreczen Temeswar vpon the riuer Temez Varadin Beyond the Danow in the Lower Hungary Belgrade or Greichs-Weissenburg Taururum of Ptolemie a strong towne of warre hemmed in vpon the East with the Danow and vpon the South with the Saw where it is emptied hereinto defended on the other sides with strong walls deepeditches sometimes the gate and entrance into Hungary and the fortresse of the kingdome against the Infidells surprised by Soliman Emperour of the Turkes Buda or Ofen Curta of Ptolemie vneuenly seated vpon the right shore of the Danow a faire and strong towne the seat of the principall Bassa of the Turkes and the chiefe citty of the kingdome Here are bathes and springs of hot waters Gran vpon the same shore of the Danow opposite to the fall or mouth of the riuer Gran out of the higher Hungary from whence it hath beene thus named a strong towne of warre and an Archbishops sea the Primate hereof Comora vpon the Danow in an Iland Rab a Bishops sea and a strong towne of warre vpon the right shore and confluence of the Danow and the Rab naming the towne and distinguishing anciently the Higher and the Lower Pannonies Betwixt the Danow and the Dra Stul-Weissenburg strongly but vnwholsomely seated in the midst of a great Lake or inaccessable marish ioyned to the firme land with three high and broad causies built with houses and blocked vp at their ends with great Bulwarks garded in time of warre and defending these suburbs Here the kings of Hungary were crowned as likewise enterred Betwixt this and the Dra lyeth the great lake Balaton containing 24 Italian miles in length Zigeth a strong towne standing in a marish vpon the North side of the river Dra famous for the death of Soliman the mighty Emperour of the Turkes during his siege hereof Fiefkirken vpon the Dra so named from such a number of Churches a Bishops sea Vnto the crowne of Hungary belonged sometimes as they doe partly at this day the countries of Transylvania Walachia Rascia Servia Bosna Windischlandt Croatia and Dalmatia gouerned by the deputies of the kings hereof or held by their princes vnder their tribute and soveraigne right The fowre first since lying wholy within the ancient Dacia and Maesia pertaine not to this division The descriptions of the other remaine after that first brieflie I haue related the ancient estates of Illyricum whereof they were sometimes partes togither with the many changes and successions of people and Lords commaunding herein vnto this present occasioning the present estate and names ILLYRICVM THE name hereof Solinus fabulously deriveth from Illyrius son to the one-ey'd monster Polyphaemus and Galataea commanding sometimes the country The bounds are diversly set downe by ancient authours Florus and Plinie continue the name along the coast of the sea Adriaticke betwixt the rivers Arsia and Titius or the countries Histria and Dalmatia Ptolemie including Dalmatia enlargeth the accompt hereof vnto the riuer Drilon and borders of Macedonia confining vpon the other sides with Histria the two Pannonyes and the Higher Mysia Strabo extendeth it along the sea-coast towards Greece and the South-East vnto the mountaines Ceraunij inwards towards the North and West vnto the riuer Danow and the Lake of the Rhaetians or Acronius besides the parts before mentioned comprehending Rhaetia Noricum Pannonye Histria and Dardania with the part of Macedonia where lay the townes of Dyrrachium Apollonia and Oricum Vnto these of Strabo wee finde added in Appian the Tribali and Mysij reaching Eastwards along the course of the Danow vnto the sea Euxinus now Maggiore The Emperour Constantine the Great hauing diuided the Romane Empire into 4 supreme iurisdictions or gouerments vnder the Praetorio praefecti of Italy Gaule Asia and Illyricum we read afterwards by this occasion all the parts of Europe subiect to that Empire and lying East of Gaule and Italie Thrace onely and the Lower Maesia excepted to haue beene contained vnder the generall name hereof called thus after the title or name of the chiefe prefect or province of the division Sextus Rufus liuing in the time of the Emperour Honorius reckoneth 17 provinces of Illyricus or Illyricum two of Noricum two of Pannonia Valeria Savia Dalmatia Maesia two of Dacia Macedonia Thessalia Achaia two of Epirus Prevalis and Crete Iornandes nameth 18 prouinces two of Noricum two of Pannonia two of Valeria Suevia Dalmatia the Higher Maesia Dardania two of Dacia Macedonye Thessalye Epirus Crete Praevalis and Achaia The authour of the Notitia with some difference nameth likewise 18 provinces but accompteth only 17 in the grosse six of Macedonye which were Achaia Macedonia
Ocean The towne is rather to be accompted rich then beautifull the streetes houses for the most part standing disorderly by meanes of the hilly and vneven site thereof and the carelesnesse of the Moores never curious in private buildings It contayneth some 32 Parish churches 350 streetes 11000 dwelling houses 20000 households 160000 inhabitants besides Churchmen strangers and them that follow the Court with the subvrbs about 7 miles in compasse extended along the riuer rather in length then widenes and within the ancient walls not being very spacious being much enlarged since the discovery trade of the Indies Botero I know not how rightly giveth herevnto a fourth place amongst the more great and renowned cities of Europe Santaren Scabaliscus of Ptolemy and Scalabis of Antoninus Pliny surnamed Praesidium Iulium then a Roman colony and a juridicall resort for a third part of Lusitania seated in a fruitfull soile vpon the Taio named thus from S t Irene a Num of Tomar there supposed to haue beene martyred and here enshrined Cascais at the mouth of the Taio vpon a Promontory or wedge of land named from hence Cabo de Cascais by Solinus Promontorium Vlyssipponense On the further shore of the riuer lyeth the Promontory Barbarium of Ptolemy Strabo now Cabo de Spichel Sintra vpon the maine Atlantique at the end of the long mountainous ridge called Mons Lunae by Ptolemy Hither for the pleasure of the adjoyning shady woods and coole breathing Ocean the kings of Portugal vsed to retire in Summer and recreate themselues with hunting and other exercise Coimbre pleasantly seated amongst vineyards and woods of oliues vpon a scalpe or rocke on both sides of the river Mondego a Bishops See and a noted Vniversity The students hereof enjoy their distinct priviledges from the towne and were esteemed betwixt three or foure thousand at what time that Philip the second by Ferdinand Duke of Alva subdued the Portugals Neere here vnto at Condexa la Veia stood sometimes the towne Conimbrica of Pliny Lamego Viseo Guarda Bishops Sees Tomar Here the Kings of Portugal were accustomed to bee crowned The auncient inhabitants hereof were the Lusitani contayned first onely betwixt the Duero Taio afterwards vpon the division of Spaine by the Romans into the three Provinces before mentioned extended beyong the Taio over part of the Turditani Celtici vnto the river Anas Promontory Sacrum PORTVGAL BETVVIXT THE DVERO AND MINIO COntayned within those two rivers the most fruitfull and best inhabited part of Portugal but the poorest in regard of the great distance thereof from Lisbona and its more Northerly situation lying out of the way betwixt that city and the rich conquest of the Portugals Chiefer townes are Braga Breacaria Augusta of Ptolemy Bracara of Antoninus Bracae of Pliny then a juridicall resort suited by 24 towneships and giuing the surname to the Callaici Braecarij By Antoninus in his Catalogue of famous cities it is reckoned amōgst the foure chiefest in Spaine By the Suevians afterwards it was made the royall seate of their Kings It is now an Archbishops See and the best towne of the division contayning about two thousand inhabitants subject to the Bishop in both jurisdictions civil ecclesiasticall Porto Miranda Bishops Sees vpon the Duero Braganca from whence the Dukes of Bragança are entitled The auncient inhabitants hereof were the Callaici Braecarij of Ptolemy In forreine parts the Kings of Spaine now hold in right of the crowne hereof vpon the coast of Barbary the townes of Seuta Tangier and Mazagone in the Ocean on the hither side of the Cape of Good hope the Ilands of the Açores Madera Cape Verde Saint Thomas del Principe the fortresses of Arguin S. George de la Mina in the land of Guinea in America Brasil extended for 1500 miles along the Sea-coasts towards the Straights of Magellan devided into 18 governments or praefectureships beyond the cape of Buona Esperanza the Iland Mozambique and forts of Sena Sofala and in Asia Diu Chaul Goa Cochin Damain Bazain Malaca CASTILLE AND LEON BOunded vpon the West with the riuer Guadiana and the line before described drawne betwixt that river the Avia dividing it from Portugal with part of the Atlantique Ocean extended betwixt the mouth of the riuer Minio Cabo Finisterre vpon the North with the Cantabrique Sea vnto Fuentarabia and the Pyrenaean Mountaines vpon the South with the Sraights of Gibraltar Sea Mediterranean and vpon the East first with the Pyrenaean Mountaines frō Fuentarabia vntill towards the head of the riuer Arga or Aragon parting it from France then with a winding line drawne from the Ebro and by the townes of Taradona Hariza Daroca Xativa Orihuela continued vnto the mouth of the riuer Segura dividing it from the kingdome of Aragon It contayneth the countries of Galitia Asturia Biscaia Olava Guipuscoa Navarra Castillia la Nueva Castillia la Veia Estremadura Andaluzia Granado Murcia or some two third parts of the whole Spaine GALITIA HAving vpon the South the rivers Minio and Avia the bounds thereof Portugal vpon the North West the Seas Cantabrian Atlantique and vpon the East the riuer Mearo deviding it from Asturia The country is very mountainous overspread with the branches of the Cantabrian Alpes drie barren and ill inhabited Chiefer townes are S. Iago an Arch-bishops See named thus from the supposed reliques of S. Iames the Apostle the son of Zebedee the Patron of the Castillians visited here by continuall pilgrimages from all the parts of Christendome subject to the Papacy Lugo Lucus Augusti of Ptolemy Antoninus and Lucus of Pliny then a juridicall resort suited by 16 people or townships and surnaming the Callaici Lucenses It is now a Bishops See The ancient inhabitants of the countrey hereabouts were the Capori of Ptolemy part of the general name of the Callaici Lucenses Orense Aquae Calidae of Ptolemy Aquae Celeniae of Antoninus named thus from the hot medicinable bathes thereof now a Bishops See seated vpon the Minio The particular inhabitants hereof were the Cilini of Ptolemy part of the Callaici Lucenses Tui Tude of Ptolemy and Castellum Tyde of Pliny now a Bishops See vpon the same riuer of Minio frontiring vpon Portugal The particular inhabitants were the Gruij of Ptolemy the Gravij of Pliny part of the Callaici Braecarij Corunna Flavium Brigantium of Ptolemy and Brigantium of Antoninus now a noted port vpon the Sea Cantabrian The towne is exceeding strong the chiefe Bulwarke and defence of Galitia and these Northerne parts divided into the High and the Base townes severally fortified The Hauen is very spacious able to containe the greatest navy of ships Nearer to Asturia vpon the same Sea-coast lyeth the great promontory named by Ptolemy Lupatia Cory and Trileucum now Cabo Ortegal Ponte-vedre Baiona sea-coast townes vpon the Westerne Ocean betwixt
length totally subdued by Edmund Monarch of the Saxons aided by Lewelin king of Dimetia or Southwales and giuen by Edmund vnto Malcolme king of the Scots to be held vnder the sief of the kings of England with condition to defend the Northerne frontire of the English against the Danes and forraine invaders After this time Cumberland and Westmoreland or the countrey hereof for aboue the space of one hundred yeares were possessed by the Scottish Nation whose Praefects as the Scottish writers tearme them or immediate Princes were the eldest sons or next Heires of Scotland By king William surnamed the Conquerour they were taken from the Scots and with the rest of England subjected to the Normans King Stephen ingaged in a dangerous war against Maâ—de the Empresse restored Cumberland to the Scots to be held with the old conditions recouered againe not long after by king Henry the second his successour disliking this liberalitie of Stephen and so great a diminution of his kingdome and incorporated with the Crown of England in which vnion the country hath euer since continued the name language and accompt of the Britons thorough their English and Scottish subjection being long since here worne out and extinguished THE VVELSH BRITONS THese in their natiue language call themselues Câ—mro Cymero and Cymbri as their Latihe Authours Cambri and their countrey Cambria which they would haue to be deriued from Camber one of the sonnes of Brutus their progenitour vnto whose share this part of the Iland should fall in the devision hereof with his brethren a fable begunne by Geffrey or Monmouth and yet maintained by all their Historians Commentatours men otherwise learned and skilfull in antiquities but over zealous to preferre the glory of this their Troian descent The name as before we haue shewed was common to the Britons of Cumberland and to the rest of the nation the words Britons Britaine not being British originally but imposed by the Greekes and forreiners The Etymologie hereof we cannot conjecture vnlesse from Gomar the sonne of Iapheth first peopling these VVesterne parts of Europe and from whom after Iosephus and Zonaras the Gaules were aunciently called Gomarenses and Gomares of which nation the first Britons were a colonie Their name of Welsh or Walsh was Dutch and of a later imposition signifying strangers with the Saxons in which accompt the English still held the Britons They were a more great strong remainder of the vanquished Britons vnder their King Careticus before mentioned driuen ouer the Severne by the victorious Saxons and sheltering themselues amongst the Silures Ordovices and the Mountaines of the VVest The name notwithstanding of the Welsh we finde not vntill afterwards and the yeare 708 at what time we first read in Henry of Huntington of one Gerent King of the Welshmen ouercome in so attaile by Ina the VVest-Saxon some 19 yeares after the decease of Cadwallader and end of the British kingdome The more auncient bounds hereof were vpon the South the sea of Severne by which they were diuided from the Cornish Britons vpon the West the Irish Ocean and vpon the North East the rivers Dee Severne from the Mercian Saxons By the raigne of Offa King of the Mercians succeeding in the yeare 758 all the plaine Country beyond the Severne where now is Herefordshire with parts of Glocestershire Shropshire and Worcestershire being subdued and taken in by the Saxons of Mercia they were wholy shut vp within their Mountaines for their better distinction enclosed by Offa and severed from his English with a wide and deep ditch continued from Basingwerk vpon the Dee betwixt Chester Ruthland in Flintshire along the hills vnto the mouth of the river Wye neere Bristoll whose tract in many places is yet seene and named Claudh Offa in their language or Offa's ditch afterwards the common bound of both nations Others notwithstanding as a more known limit make the river Wye to be the bounds of both Their government after Cadwallader was vnder diverse Lords whom their Histories call Kings Amogst these their Chronicle maketh mention of Edwall Roderique and Conan Tindaethwy descended from Cadwallader and following in a direct line the progenitours of the succeeding Princes Afterwards Roderique surnamed the Great grandchild by his mother vnto Conan Tindaethwy attained to a Monarchy of the whole Wales which about the yeare 870 he deuided into three parts or provinces which limited and distinguished with their meeres he left vnto his three sons with the authority name of Kings Guinedh or Northwales bounded with the Dee the Ocean the riuer Dovi the part of Anarawd his eldest sonne Deheubarth or South-wales lying beyond the riuer Dovi Powys extended vpon the East toward England the portions of Codelh and Mervin his two yonger sonnes These likewise subdeviding their estates amongst their numerous issue as did continually their successours after them for such was then the bad custome of the Welsh the countrey againe became shared amongst many petty Lords each sonne hauing a part of his fathers inheritance whereof some notwithstanding the eldest sonne most commonly or who otherwise overtopped the rest in power or favour with the people still bore the titles of their generall divisions knowne in their histories by the names of Kings of North and South-Wales and Lords of Powys continuing those stiles vntill towards their subiection to the English Amongst these likewise one was still accompted soveraigne or chiefe Lord to whom the rest were to pay tribute and to doe seruice which honour by the order of Roderique the great and of Howell Dha their lawgiuer was due vnto the succession of Anarawd before mentioned the Kings of Northwales the first borne or chiefe of the house of Cadwallader These their soueraigne lords are named kings in the Welsh historie vnto Owen surnamed Guyneth succeeding about the yeare 1137 who first is called Prince which title is continued vntill the time of Edward the first King of England to Lâ—evelyn their last prince taken vp since by the heires of the house of England By Egbert the great Saxon Monarch the nation is first made subject to the tribute and homage of the English ruled neuerthelesse after their owne lawes and free from forreine yoake vntill the Kings of England of the Norman race By Bernard de Neumarck a Norman gentleman assisted by the Aubryes and other of the French English nobility in the raigne of William Rufus king of England Brechiniauc now Brecknockshire after a long and hard warre is wrested herefrom and annexed to the English Empire By Robert Fitz-hamon in the same raigne Morganwc now Glomorganshire By Arnulph of Mountgomerie and Girald of Winsore his successour in the warre in the raigne of King Henry the first the Country of Dyvet now Pembrokeshire at what time a colonie of the Flemmings whose countrie had beene drowned by the Ocean by the permission hereof were planted in Ros a part of Dyvet continuing
here euer since their succession and English language and occasioning the name of little England beyond Wales By the Earles of Chester Warren and Mortimer with others about the same times the parts of Flint Denbigh together with Caeretica and the land of Gwent now Cardigan Monmouthshire are likewise taken in and subdued The valour or fortune of King Edward the first put an end to this languishing estate of the Welsh after some yeares warre vanquishing and killing Lhewelyn ap Gruffith their last prince and annexing the whole Wales to the English subiecting the people to his English lawes King Henry the eight of later yeares descended from the Welsh by the fathers side incorporated the country with the kingdome of England investing the Welsh with all the rights and priviledges of his English subjects in which ranke and vnion they now remaine The princes hereof from more certaine cleare times follow with that truth which their Histories will afford Roderique surnamed the Great Monarch of the Welsh sonne to Meruyn Vrych a nobleman of Wales Esylht daughter to Conan Tindaethwy son to Roderique Molwynoc son to Edwal son to Cadwallader the last king of the Britons Parting Wales into the divisions before mentioned he allotted Guynedh or Northwales vnto Anarawde his eldest son and vnto Cadelh Mervyn Deheubarth or Southwales Powys with condition that the two younger brethren their successours should be leigemen acknowledge the soveraignety of Anarawd the kings of Northwales confirmed afterwards by the lawes of Howel Dha He deceased in the yeare 876 slaine by the English Anarawd prince of Guynedh or Northwales soveraigne or chiefe King of the VVelsh eldest son to Roderique the Great The order of the kings of Southwales Lords of Powys for thus were they called and of the many inferiour Lords or Princes in each devision for as before euery son after the custome of the present Germans had a share of his fathers possessions I haue omitted in regard of their number Edwal Voel prince of Guynedh chiefe King of VVales sonne to Anarawd succeeding about the yeare 913. In the raigne hereof Athelstan King of England forced a tribute vpon the Welsh of 20 pounds of gold and 300 of silver with 200 head of cattaile remitted afterwards by King Edgar for a tribute of wolues Howel Dha Prince of Deheubarth or Southwales Powys soveraigne King of VVales succeeding in the yeare 940 descended from Cadelh brother to Anarawd the sonnes of Edwal Voel the right heires excluded Hee made lawes for the VVelsh obserued by the nation vntill their subjection to the English Iames and Ievaf sonnes to King Edwal Voel joynt princes of Guynedh and chiefe Kings of VVales succeeding after the decease of Howel Dha Owen with other the sonnes of Howel Lords of Southwales and Powys contending with them for the soueraignety being overthrowne by them in battaile and their elder brother Meyric omitted as vnfit for government Vnto these princes Edgar the King of England forgaue the tribute of money imposed by Athelstan exchanged for a certaine number of wolues constantly brought in by the VVelsh after my Authour vntill they were all destroyed The relation I leaue to the censure of the reader These afterwards falling out Ievaf is taken prisoner and Iames remaineth sole king overcome not long after and chased out by Howel sonne to Ievaf Howel Prince of Guynedh chiefe King of Wales sonne to Ievaf succeeding about the yeare 973 his father freed by him and set at liberty but not restored to the soveraignty He was slaine fighting against the English without any male issue Cadwalhon Prince of Guynedh soveraigne King of Wales son to Ievaf and brother to Howel succeeding about the yeare 984. He was slaine in battaile with Meiryc his brother by Meredith son to Owen king of Southwales Meredith Prince of Guynedh and chiefe king of Wales having slaine Cadwalhon Meyric son to Owen king of Deheubarth or South-wales After the decease of his father he likewise got seized of Southwales He afterwards lost Guynedh or Northwales vnto Edwal son to Meyric the eldest son of Edwal Voel the right heire in his absence set vp by the inhabitants Edwal prince of Guynedh chiefe King of Wales son to Meyric eldest son to Edwal Voel succeeding in the yeare 992. He was slaine in fight by the Danes leaving behind him a young son named Iames. In the yeare 998 died also Meredith aforesaid King of Southwales leaving one onely daughter named Angharat marryed to Llewelin ap Sitsylht By meanes hereof for want of heires or fit to goyerne Conan ap Howel Aedan ap Blegored contended for the gouernment when comming to battail Conan is slaine and Aedan vsurpeth the kingdome Aedan ap Blegored prince of Guynedh and soveraigne king of Wales succeeding in the yeare 1003. He was slaine with his foure sons in the yeare 1015 by Llewelin ap Sitsylht husband to Angharad Llewelin ap Sitsylht descended from king Anarawd and Angharad his wife daughter to Meredith king of Southwales after the decease of Aedan the vsurper soveraigne kings of Wales Hee was slaine in the yeare 1021 by Howel Meredith sons to Edwin son to Eneon brother to king Meredith leauing a son named Gruffith ap Llewelin After the death of Llewelin ap Sitsylht Iames son to King Edwal tooke vpon him the gouernment of Northwales as right heire Iames the second prince of Guynedh chiefe king of Wales son to king Edwal He was ouerthrowne slaine in the yeare 1037 by Gruffith son to Llewelin Angharad Gruffith prince of Guynedh chiefe king of Wales son to Llewelin ap Sitsylht Angharad He also subdued Southwales slaine by treason Blethyn Rywalhon sons to Angharad aforesaid Conwyn ap Gueristan her second husband princes of Guynedh and chiefe kings of Wales after the decease of king Gruffith Rywalhon being slaine in the yeare 1068 in a battaile fought betwixt these Meredith and Idel sonnes to king Gruffith Blethyn by this meanes remaineth sole King of Northwales He was slaine in the yeare 1073 by the treason of Rees ap Owen ap Edwyn Trahern ap Caradoc prince of Guynedh or Northwales and chiefe king of Wales cosen german to king Blethyn Hee was slaine in battaile by Gruffith son to Conan son to king Iames the second Gruffith ap Conan prince of Northwales chiefe king of Wales In the yeare 1079 after my Authour and the raignes of Gruffith ap Conan Rhees ap Theodor king of Southwales William the Conquerour king of England tooke the homages of the Welsh princes Not long after vnder William Rufus by the good leaue hereof Morganwc Brechiniauc and the Countrie where now is Cardiganshire parts of Deheubarth or Southwales with some part of Northwales neighbouring vnto Chester are subdued by Robert Fitzhamon Bernard de Neumarck other valiant Norman adventurers and added to the English government In regard hereof Matthew Paris maketh William Rufus the
of Spaine within the Iberus of Strabo Tarraco colonia a towne of the Scipioes after Pliny Tarraco the richest of the maritine townes vpon that Sea after Mela Tarraco builded by the Scipioes of Solinus now Taragona and Subur Subur of Mela now Siges These 6 people are all now contained within the large country of Catalonia Pliny addeth the Vettoneâ— doubtlesse the Vettones of Ptolemy in Lusitania but misplaced Icositani Itani and Mentesani The countreyes Mavitania and Dietania and of townes amongst the Autrigones Lucentum and Baetulo Betullo of Mela and amongst the Arevacae Saguntia Strabo addeth the Lartolaeitani Lusones Sidetani inhabiting towards the mountaine Orospeda to the South of the Celtiberi Artabri at the Promontory Nerium and the Celtici neighbouring to the Artabri and descended from those other of that name inhabiting the shoare of the riuer Anas Of townes he addeth Aâ—ontia seated vpon the riuer Durius amongst the Vaccaei amongst the Oretani Cetulum Cherronesus and Cartalias amongst the Ilergetes Iliosca vpon the Ocean amongst the Vascones Idanusa and amongst the Verones Serguntia and Varia vpon the Iberus hitherto navigable Segida amongst the Arevaci and Noega amongst the Astures Pliny accompteth the whole number of townes in this division to haue beene 294 in his time amongst which 12 were Roman Colonies 13 Municipia 17 free of the right of the auncient Latines one confederate towne and 136 Stipendiaries divided amongst 7 iuridical resorts of Carthago nova Tarraco Caesaraugusta Clunia Asturica Lucus and Bracara The Emperour Constantine the Great afterwards subdividing the greater Province of Tarraconensis and adding the Ilands of the Baleares and the country of Tingitana in Africke vnto the accompt hereof distinguished the whole into 7 parts or Provinces remaining vntill the end and dissolution of the Westerne Roman Empire of Baetica Lusitania Gallaecia Carthaginensis Tarraconensis Tingitana and of the Ilands Of these Baetica and Lusitania were bounded as before The name of Gallaecia was enlarged Eastwards as farre as the Pelendones and Celtiberi besides the Callaici before-mentioned containing the Astures Murbogi and Vaccâ—i at this day Galitia Asturia Leon Portugal betwixt the riuers Minio and Duero with the greatest part of Castilia la Veia Carthaginensis so named from the city Carthago nova contained the Oretani Carpetani Pelendones Arevacae Celtiberi Bastitani Contestani and Edetani now Castillia la Nueva Murcia and Valentia with parts of Andaluzia Castillia la Veia and Aragonia The rest of the continent Tarraconensis comprehended The Province of the Ilands contained those of the Baleares and Ebusa now Mallorça Menorça Ivyca and Formentera Hispaniae Tingitania the Iland of Gades with the opposite shore of Africke lying on the farther side of the straights of Hercules named thus from the towne there of Tingis now Tangier Of these the three first Provinces were consulary or governed by Proconsuls the foure other were Presidiall coÌ„maunded by the Roman name of Praesides Sextus Rufus nameth only six Provinces Tarraconensis Carthaginensis Gallaecia Baetica Lusitania and Tingitania omitting that of the Ilands whereof differing from the Authour of the Notitia onely Baetica and Lusitania he maketh consulary the rest Presidiall This was the estate of Spaine during the government of the Romans confounded and quite altered by the comming of the barbarous people by the justice and decree of God who will haue nothing here eternall but himselfe and to checke the pride of that mighty Nation with vnresistible fury swarming in hither in the raignes of the Emperours Honorius and Valentinian the third The Inuasion and Dominion of the Barbarous nations THey were the Vandals Silingi Alans Suevians and Gothes whose originall first entrance raigne continuance and successions we are next to relate The Vandals THese are named by Pliny the Vindili being one of the fiue general nations whereinto he divideth the Germans and whereof he maketh the Burgundiones a part By Tacitus they are called the Vandalij by Cassiodorus the Vandali by Orosius Isidore and Paulus Diaconus the Wandali They were a noted German people inhabiting beyond the riuer Elb vpon the coast of the sea Baltique in the parts where now lye the great Dukedomes of Pomeren and Mecklenburg wherein the name in some Latine Authours is yet continued In the eleuenth yeare of the Emperour Honorius and Arcadius and yeare of Rome 1172 Arcadius and Probus then being Consuls with the Alans and Suevians they first entred Gaule drawne in by the traiterous practises of Stilico Guardian of the Westerne Empire in the minority of Honorius by the advantage of the troubles which might be hereby occasioned the feare and discontentednes of the people their dislike of the present government and desire of innovation which he thought might happen hoping to get the Empire for his son Eucherius borne of the sister of Honorius Some three yeares afterwards in the first yeare of Honorius and Theodosius accompanied with the same nations and quitting Gaule they first broke into this province of Spaine let in by the Honoriaci another sort of Barbarians named thus from the Emperour Honorius vnder whose pay they had served keeping then the straights and passages of the Pyrenaean Mountaines for the Tyrant Constantinus rebelling against Honorius The part wherein they first planted was Gallaecia which they inhabited together with the Suevians Afterwards they remoued into Baetica vnto the Silingi In the fourth yeare of the Emperours Theodosius Valentinian about 18 yeares after their first Spanish invasion abandoning Spaine they ferried ouer into Afrique invited thither by Bonifacius governour of that province rebelling against Valentinian which not long after Bonifacius repenting himselfe of his folly and in battell overthrowne by them old Carthage taken and the Romans quite expulsed they vtterly brought into subiection continuing their name there dominion for aboue the space of one hundred yeares vntill the raigne of the Emperour Iustinian the first Emperour of the Greekes In the raigne of this prince by his leiftenant the valiant Belisarius they were totally subdued and their kingdome and name in Gilimer their last king quite extinguished Their religion at their first comming into those Westerne parts was Gentilisme By their after acquaintance with the Gothes they turned Arrian Christians which heresie they kept vntill their extirpation Their kings whereof we reade were Gunderichus vnder whom they first invaded Gaule Spaine Gensericus brother to Gunderichus vnder whom with 80 thousand fighting men they first passed into conquered Afrique and afterwards tooke sacked Rome Honorichus son to Genserichus Gundabundus son to Genzo brother to Honorichus Trasamuadus brother to Gundabundus Hilderichus son to Honorichus He was deposed by Gilimer Gilimer son to Genzo descended of Genserichus He was overcome taken prisoner by Belisarius in whom ended the kingdome nation hereof in Afrique The whole time from their first invasion of Spaine vntill their overthrowe extirpation in Afrique Isidore reckoneth to haue beene 133 yeares 7 moneths
fruitfull and pleasant vally of some 60 Italian miles in length continued from the head of the Aada along the course of that riuer vntill the entrance thereof into the Lake of Como divided into 6. goverments or prefectureships The wines of this country are much commended transported in a great abundance over the Alpes into Bavaria Switzer-landt and other parts Chiefer townes following the course of the riuer Aada are Bormio a prefectureship seated at the head of the vally and the river vnder the mountaine Braâ—lio called otherwise by the Dutch Wormsser ioch Tiran a prefectureship Teio a prefectureship the chiefe fortresse of the vally Sondrio the chiefe towne a prefectureship The governour or captaine hereof for so he is named is Lieutenant of the whole country having here the like commande as hath the Captaine of Lugano in the prefectures belonging to the 12 Cantons Morbengo a prefectureship situated neere vnto the Lake of Como These 8 prefectureships of Plurs Chiavenna and the Valtolina are subject to the ioint commaund of the three Leagues or Cantons of the Grisons The language hereof as of those other appertaining to the Switzers is the Italian NETHERLAND THE Country hath been thus named from its maritime and more flat and lower situation It is accompted part of Germany with the Free Country of Burgundie making the tenth circle of the Empire although at this day it neither acknowledgeth the Emperours not obeyeth the Laws and orders appointed by the Diets diuided amongst sundry free states and gouerments partly now commanded by the Princes of the house of Burgundie and Austria partly by the generall States of the Vnited Provinces It boundeth vpon the East with the districts of Trier Luick Gulick Cleve and Westphalen vpon the North with the riuer Eems East-Freislandt vpon the South with Lorraine Champaigne and Picardie in France and vpon the North-West with the German Ocean It lyeth betwixt the 22½ and 30 degrees of Longitude and the 48½ and 53½ degrees of Northern Latitude or betwixt the 16 or middle paralel of the 7 clime and the 21 paralel or end of the 8 clime The longest day beyond Arras in the furthest South containeth 16 houres beyond the towne of Dam or at the riuer Eems in the furthest North 16 houres three quarters The circuit of the whole is 340. Flemish miles or some one thousand Italian or English The parts hereof towards the West and North along the Sea-coast are flat plaine and marishie abounding chiefly in pasturages milke butter cheese horses and beeues of an extraordinary stature and bignesse Those contrariwise towards the South-East or bordering vpon Luick Lorraine swell with rising hills and woods reliques of the great forrest of Ardenne All parts are tolerably fruitfull No country for the quantitie is more populous replenished with 225 walled townes and citties besides aboue 6600 burroughs and villages for the most part very strong and numerously inhabited by industrious and curious artificers and rich tradesmen and marchants The shipping of the maritime coasts seeme to exceed in number all the rest of the world amassed together swarming in all seas and Oceans and bringing hither as to a common magazin whatsoeuer riches and commodities the earth or sea affordeth by the commodious situation thereof and oportunitie of the great rivers of the Scheldt Mase and Rhijn distributed from hence into all lands the seat of negotiation and trading The ancient inhabitants were the Frisij now West-Freislandt North-Hollandt with part of the district of Vtreicht the Batavi inhabiting the Iland of the Rhijn intercepted betwixt the middle branch thereof and the Wael with the neighbouring shore of Gaule containing now South-Holland with parts of Vtreicht and Gelderlandt the Caninefates containing also part of the same Iland the Bructeri where now Deventer and Swol in Over-ysel the Vsipij now the country of Zutphen part of the Sicambri now Arnhem and Veluwe in Gelderlandt the Advatici now Brabant or part thereof about Bosleduc or Doway the Morini now Flanders the Atrebates now Artois the Nervij now Hainault and the country about Tournay the Tongri now part of Brabant about Antwerpe and part of the Treveri now the Dukedome of Luxemburg The fiue first nations were Germans inhabiting beyond the Rhijn The rest were parts of the Gaules Belgicke descended notwithstanding from the Germans By C. Iulius Caesar in his warres of Gaule these last were subdued to the Romans vnder which subiection they continued vntill the expiration of that Empire comprehended vnder the Provinces of Belgica Secunda and Germania Secunda The other remained still free from forraine yoak with other neighbouring Dutch people by occasion hereof not long after vniting into the common name of the most warlike and victorious French famous in the later Roman histories and in short time conquering and overspreading all Gaule Germanie vnto the rivers Elb and Saltza Pannonie the greatest part of Italy with part of Tarraconensis in Spaine won from the Moores Vnder the French who here succeeded vnto the Romans the whole was contained vnder the name kingdome of Austrasia or Oosten-reich After that the French Monarchy became divided amongst the posteritie of the Emperour Lewis the Godly the part hereof broke into sundry new principalities and goverments remaining vnto this day partly holding of the French kings or successours of Charles the Bald and partly of the German Emperours the Dukedomes of Brabant Luxemburg Gelderlandt and Limburg the Earledomes of Flanders Hollandt Zealandt Haynault Artois Namur and Zutphen the Lordships of Freislandt Groningen Vtreicht Over-ysel and Malines and the Marquisate of the Sacred Empire the manner and occasion of whose beginnings together with their continuance and state vnto our times is set downe in the Description of France Of these Flanders Artois appertained to the soveraigntie of the kings of France quitted vnto Philip the second king of Spaine and the Princes hereof by Henry the second French king in the late league of Cambraye The rest were held vnder the Dutch Emperours By Philip the Hardie the countries of Brabant Flanders Artois and Limburg with Malines and the Marquisate of the Sacred Empire became added to the dominion and family of Burgundie by Philip the Good Holland Zealandt West-Freislandt Hainault Luxemburg Namur by the Emperour Charles the fift Gelderland Zutphen Vtreicht Over ysel and Groningen the manner whereof is likewise shewed in France Since this vnion by the power and greatnesse of their Princes the Provinces haue beene wholy with drawne from all acknowledgement and subiection of the German Emperours French kings their ancient Lords governed in manner of free States by their Princes and magistrates and making a distinct nation and common-wealth by themselues knowne now by the names of Netherland the Low Countries the Lower Germany and of the 17 Provinces called thus from their number language and situation Duke Charles surnamed the Fighter Prince hereof son to Philip the Good had an intent to vnite the parts then