haue said to be in circuit 20 miles and Mutians 160. Oliaros Paros with a towne 38 miles from Delos of great name for the white marble there which at first men called Pactia but afterwards Minois From it seuen miles and a halfe is Naxus 18 miles from Delos with a towne which they called Strongyle afterwards Dia within a while Dionysias of the plentifull vines and others Sicily the lesse and Callipolis It reacheth in circuit 75 miles and is halfe as long again as Paros And thus far verily they obserue note for the Cyclades the rest that follow for the Sporades And these they be Helenum Phocussa Phaecasia Schinussa Phalegandros and 17 miles from Naxos Icaros which gaue name to the sea lying out as far in length with two towns for the third is lost before-time it was called Dolichum Macris and Ichtyoessa It is scituate Northeast from Delos 50 miles and from Samos it is distant 35 miles Between Euboea and Andros there is a frith 12 miles ouer From it to Gerestum is 112 miles and a halfe and then no order forward can be kept the rest therefore shall be set downe huddle by heapes Ios from Naxus 24 miles venerable for the sepulchre of Homer it is in length 25 miles and in former time called Phaenice Odia Letandros Gyaros with a town 12 miles about It is from Aneros 62 miles From thence to Syrnus 80 miles Cynethussa Telos famous for costly ointment Callimachus calls it Agathussa Donysa Pathmos in circuit 30 miles Corasiae Lebinthus Leros Cynara Sycinus which before-time was Oenoe Heratia the same that Onus Casus otherwise Astrabe Cimolus alias Echinussa Delos with a towne which Aristides nameth Byblis Aristotle Zephyria Callimachus Himallis Heraclides Syphnus and Acytos and this of all the Islands is the roundest After it Machia Hypere sometime Patage or after some Platage now Amorgos Potyaegos Phyle Thera when it first appeared it was called Calliste From it afterwards was Therasia plucked and between those twain soone after arose Automate the same that Hiera and Thia which in our daies appeared new out of the water neere Hiera Ios is from Thera 25 miles Then follow Lea Ascania Anaphe Hippuris Hippurissusa Astipalaea of free estate in compasse 88 miles it is from Cadiscus a promontory of Creta 125 miles From it is Platea distant 60 miles And from thence Camina 38 miles then Azibnitha Lanise Tragia Pharmacusa Techidia Chalcia Calydna in which are the townes Coos and Olymna From which to Carpathus which gaue the name to the Carpathian sea is 25 miles and so to Rhodes with a Southerne winde From Carpathus to Casos 7 miles from Casos to Samonium a promontorie of Crete 30 miles Moreouer in the Euboike Euripe at the first entrance wel-neere of it are the foure Islands Petaliae and at the end thereof Atalante Cyclades and Sporades confined and enclosed on the East with the Icarian sea coasts of Asia on the West with the Myrtoan coasts of Attica Northward with the Aegaean sea and South with the Creticke and Carthaginian seas and take vp in length two hundred myles The gulfe Pegasicus hath before it Eutychia Cicynethus and Scyrus aboue said but the vtmost of all the Cyclades and Sporades Gerontia Scadira Thermeusis Irrhesia Solinnia Eudemia Nea which is consecrate vnto Minerua Athos before it hath foure Peparethus with a town somtime called Euonos 9 miles off Scyathus 5 miles and Iulios with a town 88 miles off The same is from Mastusia in Corinthos 75 miles is it self in circuit 72 miles Watered it is with the riuer Ilissus from thence to Lemnos 22 and is from Athos 87. in compasse it containeth 22 miles and a halfe Townes it hath Hephaestia and Marina into the Market place wherof the mountain Athos casteth a shadow in the hottest season of sommer Thassos a free State is from it fiue miles in times past it was called Aeria or Aethria From thence Abdera in the continent is 20 miles Athos 62 the Isle Samo-Thrace as much being a free priuiledged state and lying before Hebrus From Imbrus 32 miles from Lemnus 22 miles and a halfe from the coast of Thracia 28 miles in circuit it is 32 miles and hath the rising of the hill Saoces for the space of ten miles and of all the rest is fullest of hauens and harbors Callimachus calleth it by the old name Dardania Betwixt Cherrhonesus and Samo-Thrace is Halomesus about 15 miles from either of them beyond lieth Gethrone Lamponia Alopeconesus not farre from Coelos an hauen of Cherrhonesus and some other of no name or regard In this sea let vs rehearse also the desart and vnpeopled Isles such as we can finde names for to wit Desticos Larnos Cyssicos Carbrusa Celathusa Scylla Draconon Arconesus Diethusa Scapos Capheris Mesate Aeantion Phaterunesos Pateria Calete Neriphus and Polendus The fourth of those great seas in Europe beginning at Hellespont endeth in the mouth of Moeotis But briefly we are to describe the forme of the whole sea to the end the parts may be sooner and more easily known The vast and wide Ocean lying before Asia and driuen out from Europe in that long coast of Chersonesus breaketh into the maine with a small and narrow issue and by a Firth of 7 stadia as hath been said diuideth Europe from Asia The first streights they call Hellespontus this way Xerxes the King made a bridge vpon ships and so led his armie ouer From thence there is extended a small Euripus or arme of the sea for 86 miles space to Priapus a city of Asia wheras Alexander the great passed ouer From that place the sea grows wide and broad and again gathereth into a streight the largenesse thereof is called Propontis the streights Bosphorus halfe a mile ouer and that way Darius the father of Xerxes made a bridge ouer and transported his forces The whole length of this from Hellespont is 239 miles From thence the huge main sea called Pontus Euxinus and in times past Axenus takes vp the space between lands far dissite and remote asunder and with a great winding and turning of the shores bendeth back into certain horns and lieth out-stretched from them on both sides resembling euidently a Scythian bow In the very mids of this bending it ioineth close to the mouth of the lake Moeotis and that mouth is called Cimmerius Bosphorus 2 miles and a halfe broad But between the two Bosphori Thracius and Cimmerius there is a direct strait course between as Polybius saith of 500 miles Now the whole circuit of all this sea as Varro and all the old writers for the most part do witnesse is 2150 miles Nepos Cornelius addes thereto 350 miles more Artemidorus maketh it 2919 miles Agrippa 2360 miles Mutianus 2865 miles In like sort some haue determined and defined the measure on Europe side to be 4078 miles and a halfe others 1172 miles M. Varro taketh his measure in this manner from the mouth of Pontus to
but couetousnesse neuer consider that the same might with more safetie be performed by skill and learning And therfore seeing there be so many thousand poore sailers that hazard themselues on the seas I will treat of the winds more curiously and exquisitly than perhaps beseemes the present worke that is begun CHAP. XLVII ¶ Many sorts of Windes MEn in old time obserued foure Windes only according to so many quarters of the world and therefore Homer nameth no more a blockish reason this was as soone after it was iudged The Age ensuing added eight more and they were on the other side in their conceit too subtill and concise The Modern sailers of late daies found out a meane betweene both and they put vnto that short number of the first foure windes and no more which they tooke out of the later Therefore euery quarter of the Heauen hath two windes a piece From the equinoctiall Sunne-rising bloweth the East-winde Sub-solanus from the rising thereof in the Mid-winter the South-east Vulturnus The former of these twaine the Greekes call Apeliotes and the later Eurus From the Mid-day riseth the South winde and from the Sun-setting in Mid-winter the South-west Africus They also name these two Notus and Libs From the Equinoctiall going down of the Sun the West winde Fauonius commeth but from that in Summer season the North-west Corus And by the same Greekes they are termed Zephyrus and Argestes From the North waine or pole Ar cticke bloweth the North winde Septentrio betweene which and the Sun rising in Summer is the North-east winde Aquilo named Aparctias and Boreas by the Greekes A greater reckoning than this for number is brought in by some who haue thrust in foure more betweene namely Thracias betweene the North and the Summer setting of the Sunne in like manner Caecias in the midst betweene the North-east Aquilo and that of the Sun rising in the Equinoctiall Sub-solanus Also after the Sun-rising in Sommer Phoenicias in the middest betweene the South-east and the South Last of all betweene the South and the South-west Lybonotus iust in the middest compounded of them both namely betweene the Noonestead and the Sunsetting in Winter But here they could not lay a straw and see to make an end For others haue set one more yet called Mese betweene the North-east winde Borias and Caecias also Euronotus betweene the South and the south-Southwest winds Besides all these there be some winds appropriate and peculiar to euery nation which passe not beyond one certaine tract and region as namely Scyros among the Athenians declining a little from Argestes a winde vnknowne to other parts of Greece In some other place it is more aloft and the same then is called Olympias as comming from the high hill Olimpus But the vsuall and customable manner of speech vnderstandeth by all these names Argestes only Some call Caecias by the name of Hellespontias and giue the same winds in sundry places diuers names In the prouince likewise of Narbone the most notorious winde is Circius and for violence inferiour to none driuing directly before it very often the current at Ostia into the Ligurian sea The same wind is not only vnknown in all other climats of the heauen but reacheth not so much as to Vienna a citie in the same prouince As great boisterous a wind as he is otherwise yet a restraint he hath before he come thither and is kept within few bounds by the opposition of a meane and small hill Fabianus also auouches that the South winds enter not so far as into Aegypt Whereby the law of Nature sheweth it selfe plainely that euen windes haue their times and limits appointed To proceed then the Spring openeth the sea for sailers in the beginning whereof the West winds mitigate the Winter weather at what time as the Sun is in the 25 degree of Aquarius and that is the sixt day before the Ides of February And this order holdeth in manner with all other winds that I will set downe one after another so that in euery leape yeare ye anticipate and reckon one day sooner and then againe keep the same rule throughout all the foure yeares following Some call Fauonius which beginneth to blow about the 7 day before the Calends of March by the name of Chelidonius vpon the sight of the first Swallows but many name it Orinthias comming the 71 day after the shortest day in winter by occasion of the comming of birds which wind bloweth for nine dayes Opposite vnto Fauonius is the VVind which we called Sub-solanus Vnto this VVind is attributed the rising of the Vergiliae or seuen stars in as many degrees of Taurus six daies before the Ides of May which time is a southerly constitution and to this Winde the North is contrarie Moreouer in the hottest season of the Sommer the Dog-star ariseth at what time as the Sun entreth into the first degree of Leo which commonly is the 15 day before the Calends of August Before the rising of this star for eight daies space or thereabout the Northeast winds are aloft which the Greekes call Prodromi i. forerunners And two daies after it is risen the same winds hold still more stiffely and blow for the space of fortie daies which they name Etesiae The Suns heate redoubled by the hotnesse of that star is thought to be asswaged by them and no winds are more constant nor keep their set times better than they Next after them come the Southerne winds againe which are vsually vp vntill the star Arcturus riseth and that is nine daies before the Aequinoctiall in Autumne With it entereth Corus and thus Corus beginneth the Autumne And to this Vulturnus is contrarie After that Aequinoctiall about 44 daies the Virgiliae go downe and begin winter which season vsually falleth vpon the third day before the Ides of Nouember This is the winter Northeast wind which is far vnlike to that in Sommer opposit and contrary to Africus Now a seuen night before the Mid-winter day and as much after the sea is allaied and calme for the sitting and hatching of the birds Halciones whereupon these daies tooke the name Alcionis the time behind plaieth the part of Winter And yet these boisterous seasons full of tempests shut not vp the sea for pyrats and rouers at the first forced men with present perill of death to run headlong vpon their death and to hazard themselues in Winter seas but now a daies couetousnesse causeth men to do the like The coldest winds of all other be those which we said to blow from the North-pole and together with them their neighbor Corus These winds do both allay and still all others and also scatter and driue away clouds Moist winds are Africus and especially the South wind of Italy called Auster Men report also that Caecias in Pontus gathereth draweth to it selfe clouds Corus and Vulturnus are dry but onely in the end when they giue ouer The Northeast and the North engender snow
notwithstanding now it be guilded all ouer semblably there standeth in the courtly pallace of Octauia the image of Cupid holding a thunderbolt or lightning in his hand ready to shoot but it is a question who was the maker of him And yet this is affirmed That the same Cupid was made by the liuely patterne of Alcibiades who at that age was held to be the fairest youth that the earth did beare In the same place and namely in the schoole or gallerie of learned men there be many more images highly commended and yet no man knoweth who wrought them As for example four that resemble Satyres of which one seemeth to carry on his shoulders prince Bacchus arraied like a girle in a side coat or gown another likewise beareth yong Bacchus in the same order clad in the robe of his mother Semelle the third maketh as though he would stil the one Bacchus crying like a childe the fourth offereth the other a cup of drink to allay his thirst furthermore there be two images in habit and form foeminine representing gales of wind these seem to make sail with their owne clothes As doubtfull also it is who made the images within the railed inclosure in Mars field named Septa which do represent Olympus Pan Chiron and Achilles and yet so excellent pieces they be that men esteeme them worthy to be kept safe satisfaction to be made with no lesse than their death vnder whose hands and custody they should miscarrie But to returne againe vnto Scopas he had concurrents in his time and those that thought themselues as good workmen as himselfe to wit Bryaxis Timotheus and Leochares of whom I must write jointly together because they joined all foure in the grauing and cutting of the stately monument Mausoleum This Mausoleum was the renowned tombe or sepulchre of Mausolus a petty king of Caria which the worthy lady Artemisia somtime his queene and now his widow caused to be erected for the said prince her husband who died in the second yeare of the hundredth Olympias and verily so sumptuous a thing it was so curiously wrought by these artificers especially that it is reckoned one of those matchlesse monuments which are called the seuen Wonders of the world from North to South it carrieth in length 63 foot the two fronts East and West make the bredth which is not all out so large so as the whole circuit about may containe foure hundred and eleuen foot it is raised in heigth fiue and twenty cubits and inuironed with sixe and thirty columnes on the East side Scopas did cut Bryaxes chose the North end that front which regardeth the South fell to Timotheus and Leochares engraued at the west side but Queene Artemisia who caused this rich sepulchre to be made for the honour and in the memoriall of her husband late deceased hapned her selfe to depart this life before it was fully finished howbeit these noble artificers whom she had set aworke would not giue ouer when she was dead and gone but followed on still and brought it to a finall end as making this account that it would be a glorious monument to all posterity both of themselues and also of their cunning and in truth at this day it is hard to judge by their handyworke who did best There was a fifth workman also came in to them for aboue the side wall or wing of the tombe there was a Pyramis founded which from the very battlements of the said wal was carried to the heigth of the building vnderneath it the same grew smaller still as the worke arose higher and from that heigth at euery degree which in the whole were 24 was narrowed and taken in vntill at last it ended in a pointed broch in the top whereof there is pitched a coach with foure horse swrought curiously in marble and this was the worke of Pythis for his part So that reckoning this charriot with the sharp spire the Pyramis vnder it vnto the battlements and the body of the sepulchre founded vpon the bare ground the whole worke arose to an 140 foot in heigth But to come to some particular works of Timotheus beforesaid his hand wrought that statue of Diana in marble which standeth at Rome in the chappell of Apollo scituate in mount Palatine and yet the head belonging thereto which now this image carrieth Aulanius Evander set vnto it in place of the former As touching Menestratus men haue in high admiration Hercules of his making as also Hecate which standeth in a chappell at Ephesus behinde the great temple of Diana the sextons or wardens of which chappell giue warning vnto those that come to see it that they looke not too long vpon it for dazling and hurting their eyes the lustre of the Marble is so radiant and resplendent I cannot range in a lower degree vnto these the three Charites or Graces which are to bee seen in the Basse court before the Citadell of Athens the which Socrates made I meane not that Socrates whom I reckoned among painters although some thinke he was the same man As for Myro whom I commended for a singular imageur in brasse there is in marble of his portraying and ingrauing an old woman drunken which he made for them of Smyrna a piece of worke as much esteemed and spoken of as any other And here I cannot but thinke of Pollio Asinius who as he was a man of a stirring spirit and quick conceit delighted to haue his librarie and monuments to be inriched with such antiquities as these for among them a man shall see the Centaurs carry behind them vpon their croup the Nymphs which Archesitas wrought the Muses named Thespiades of Cleomenes his cutting Oceanus and Iupiter done by the hand of Eutochus the statues on horse back resembling women called Hippiades which Stephanus wrought joint Images of Mercurie and Cupid called Hermerotes the workmanship of Tauriscus I meane not the grauer of whom I spake before but another Tauriscus of Tralleis Iupiter syrnamed Xenius or Hospitalis which came out of the hands of Pamphilus an apprentice to Praxiteles as for the braue piece of worke to wit Zetus Amphion Dirce the Bull and the bond wherewith Dirce was tied all in one entier stone which was brought from Rhodes to Rome it was done by Apollonius and Tauriscus these men made question of themselues who should be their fathers professing in plaine termes that Menocrates was taken and supposed their father but indeed Artemidorus begat them and was their father by nature in the same place among other monuments the statue of father Bacchus made by Eutychides is much commended Moreouer neare vnto the gallerie of Octauia there is the Image of Apollo wrought by Phyliscus the Rhodian and hee standeth in a chappell of his owne Item Latona Diana the nine Muâ—…es and another Apollo naked As for that Apollo who in the same temple holdeth in his hand a harp Timarchides was the workman of it but
The North winde also bringeth in haile so doth Corus The South wind is exceeding hot and troublous withall Vulturnus and Favonius be warme They also be drier than the East and generally all winds from the North and West are drier than from the South and East Of all winds the Northern is most heathfull the Southern wind is noisome and the rather when it is drie haply because that when it is moist it is the colder During the time that it bloweth liuing creatures are thought to be lesse hungry the Etesiae giue ouer ordinarily in the night arise at the third houre of the day In Spaine and Asia they blow from the East but in Pontus from the North in other quarters from the South They blow also after the Mid-winter when they be called Orinthiae but those are more milde continue fewer daies Two there be that change their nature together with their site and place the South winde in Affrick bringeth faire weather and the North wind there is cloudy All winds keep their course in order for the more part or els when one ceaseth the contrary beginneth When some are laid the next to them do arise they go about from the left hand to the right according to the Sun Of their manner and order monthly the prime or fourth day after the change of the Moone doth most commonly determine The same windes wil serue to saile contrariwise by means of setting out the sailes so as many times in the night ships in sailing run one against another The South winde raiseth greater billowes and more surging waues than the North for that the South wind ariseth below from the bottome of the Sea the other blustereth aloft and troubleth the top of the water And therfore after Southern winds earth-quakes are most hurtful The South wind in the night time is more boisterous the Northerne wind in the day The winds blowing from the East hold and continue longer than those from the West The Northern winds giue ouer commonly with an odde number which obseruation serueth to good vse in many other parts of naturall things and therfore the male winds are iudged by the odde number The Sun both raiseth and also laieth the windes At rising and setting hee causeth them to be aloft at noon-tide he represseth and keepeth them vnder in Summer time And therefore at mid-day or mid-night commonly the winds are down and lie still for both cold and heat if they be immoderate do spend and consume them Also rain doth lay the winds and most commonly from thence they are looked for to blow where clouds break and open the skie to be seen And verily Eudoxus is of opinion if wee list to obserue the least reuolutions that after the end of euery fourth yere not only all winds but other tempests and constitutions also of the weather return again to the same course as before And alwaies the Lustrum or computation of the fiue yeres beginneth at the leap yere when the Dog-star doth arise Thus much touching general winds CHAP. XLVIII ¶ Of sudden Blasts NOw wil we speake of sudden blasts which being risen as hath bin said before by exhalations of the earth and cast downe againe in the meane while appeare of many fashions enclosed within athin course of clouds newly ouercast For such as be vnconstant wandering and rushing in manner of land flouds as some men were of opinion as wee haue shewed bring forth thunder and lightening But if they come with a greater force sway and violence and withall burst and cleaue a dry cloud asunder all abroad they breed a storme which of the Greeks is called Ecnephias but if the clift or breach be not great so that the wind be constrained to turne round to roll and whirle in his discent without fire i. lightening it makes a whirle puffe or ghust called Typhon i. the storme Ecnephias aforesaid sent out with a winding violence This takes with it a piece broken out of a congealed cold cloud turning winding and rolling it round and with that weight maketh the owne fall more heauie and changeth from place to place with a vehement and sudden whirling the greatest danger and mischiefe that poore sailers haue at sea breaking not onely their crosse saile yards but also writhing and bursting in pieces the very ships and yet a small matter is the remedy for it namely the casting of vinegre out against it as it commeth which is of nature most cold The same storme beating vpon a thing is it selfe smitten backe againe with a violence and snatcheth vp whatsoeuer it meeteth in the way aloft into the skie carrying it back and swallowing it vp on high But if it breake out from a greater hole of the said cloud by it so borne down and yet not altogether so broad as the abouenamed storm Procella doth nor without a cracke they call this boisterous wind Turbo casting downe and ouerthrowing all that is next it The same if it be more hot and catching a fire as it rageth is named Prester burning and withall laying along whatsoeuer it toucheth and encountereth CHAP. XLIX ¶ Other enormious kindes of Tempests NO Typhon commeth from the North ne yet any Ecnephias with snow or while snow lieth on the ground This tempestuous winde if when it brake the cloud burned light withall hauing fire of the owne before and catched it not afterward it is very lightning and differeth from Prester as the flame from a cole of fire Againe Prester spreadeth broad with a flash and blast the other gathereth round with forcible violence Typhon moreouer or Vortex differeth from Turben in flying backe and as much as a crash from a cracke The storme Procella from them both in breadth and to speake more truly rather scattereth than breaketh the cloud There riseth also vpon the sea a darke mist resembling a monstrous beast and this is euer a terrible cloud to sailers Another likewise called a Columne or Pillar when the humour and water ingendred is so thicke and stiffe congealed that it standeth compact of it selfe Of the same sort also is that cloud which draweth water to it as it were into a long pipe CHAP. L. ¶ In what Lands Lightenings fall not IN Winter and Summer seldome are there any Lightnings and that is long of contrary causes because in Winter the aire is driuen close together and thickened with a deeper course of clouds besides all the exhalations breathing and rising out of the earth being stark congealed and frozen hard do extinguish cleane what firie vapour soeuer otherwise they receiue which is the reason that Scythia and other cold frozen quarters thereabout are free from lightenings And Aegypt likewise vpon the contrarie cause and exempt from Lightnings namely exceeding heate for the hot and dry exhalations of the earth gather into very slender thin and weake clouds But in the Spring and Autumne lightnings are more rife because in both those seasons the causes as well of Summer as
vineyards and famous for drunkennesse proceeding of strong wine and the liquor of the grape commended so highly in all countries and as they were wont to say in old time there was the exceeding strife between father Liber and dame Ceres From hence the Setine and Cecubine countries spread forth and to them ioine the Falerne and Caline Then arise the mountaines Massici Gaurani and Surrentine There the Laborium Champaine fields lie along vnder their feet and the good wheat haruest to make fine frumentie for dainties at the table The sea-coasts here are watered with hot fountaines and among other commodities throughout all the sea they beare the name for the rich purple shell fish and other excellent fishes In no place is there better or more kind oyle pressed out of the Oliue And in this delightsome pleasure of mankind the Oscians Grecians Vmbrians Tuscanes and Campanes haue striued who could yeeld best In the skirt and edge thereof is the riuer Sauo Vulturnum the town and riuer both Liturnum and Cumo inhabited by Chalcidians Misenum the hauen Bajae Baule the pooles Lucrinus and Auernus neer vnto which was somtime the town Cimmerium Then Puteoli called also the Colonie Dicaearchia After that the plaines Phlegraei and the meere or fenne Acherusia neere to Cumes And vpon the very strond by the sea side Naples a citie also of the Chalcidians the same that Parthenope so called of the tombe of a Sirene or Meeremaid Herculanium Pompeij and where not farre off the mountaine Vesuvius ouerlooketh and the riuer Sernus runneth vnder the territory of Nuceria and within nine miles of the sea Nuceria it selfe Surrentum with the promontory of Minerua the seat sometime of the Meermaids From the cape Circeij lies the sea open for saile 78 miles This is counted the first region of Italy next Tibris according to the description of Augustus Within it are these Colonies Capua so called of the Champane country Aquinum Suessa Venafrum Sora Teanum named withall Sidicinum and Nola the Townes be Abellinum Aricia Alba Longa Acerrani Allifani Atinates Aletrinates Anagnini Atellani Asulani Arpinates Auximates Auellani Alfaterni and they who of the Latine Hernick and Albicane territories are surnamed accordingly Bouillae Calatiae Casinum Calenum Capitulum Cernetum Cernetani who be called also Mariani Corani descended from Dardanus the Trojane Cubulterini Castrimonienses Cingulani Fabienses and in the mount Albane Foro populienses Out of the Falarne territory Frusinates Ferentinates Freginates Faraterni the old Fabraterni the new Ficolenses Fricolenses Foro-Appi Forentani Gabini Interramnates Succasani called also Lirinates Ilionenses Lauinij Norbani Nementani Prenestini whose citie was in times past named Stephanus Priuernates Setini Signini Suessulani Telini Trebutini surnamed Balinienses Tribani Tusculani Verulani Veliterni Vlubrenses Vluernates and aboue also Rome her self the other name whereof to vtter is counted in the secret misteries of ceremonies an impious and vnlawfull thing which after that it was abolished and so faithfully obserued to right good purpose and for the safetie thereof Valerius Soranus blurted out and soone after abid the smart for it I think it not amisse nor impertinent to insert there in this very place an example of the ancient religion instituted especially for this Silence for the goddesse Angerona whose holiday is solemnly kept with sacrifices the â—…2 day before the Kalends of Ianuary is represented by an Image hauing her mouth fast sealed and tied vp This citie of Rome had 3 gates when Romulus left it or rather foure if we beleeue the most men that write thereof The wals thereof when the two Vespacians Emperors and Censors both to wit the Father and Titus his son took the measure which was in the yere after the foundation of it 828 were in circuit 13 miles and almost a quarter It containeth within it seuen Mountaines and is diuided in 14 regions and 265 crosse streets or carfours called Compita Larium The measure of the same equall space of ground running from the gilden piller Milliarium erected at the head or top of the Rom. Forum to euery gate which are at this day 37 in number so ye reckon once the 12 gates alwaies open and ouerpasse 7 of the old which are no more extant maketh 30 miles 3 quarters and better by a straight line but if the measure be taken from the same Milliarium before-said through the suburbs to the vtmost ends of the houses and take withall the Castra Praetoria and the pourprise of all the streets it comes to somewhat aboue 70 miles whereunto if a man put the height of the houses hee may conceiue verily by it a worthy estimate of the excellency thereof and confesse that the statelinesse of no citie in the world could be comparable to it Enclosed it is and fenced on the East-side with the bank or rampier of Tarquinius the Proud a wonderfull piece of worke as any other and as excellent as the best for he raised it full as high as the wals in that side where the aduenue to it was most open and plaine In other parts defended it was and fortified with exceeding high wals or else steepe and craggy hils but only whereas there are buildings lye out abroad and make as it were many petty cities In that first region of Italy there were besides first for Latium these faire townes of marke Satricum Pometia Scaptia Pitulum Politorium Tellene Tifata Caemina Ficana Crustumerium Ameriola Medullia Corniculum Saturnia where now Rome standeth Antipolis which now is Ianiculum in one part of Rome Antemnae Camerium Collatiae Amiternum Norbe Sulmo and with these the States that were wont to receiue a dole of flesh in mount Albane to wit Albenses Albani Aesolani Acienses Abolani Bubetani Bolani Casuetani Coriolani Fidenates Foretij Hortenses Latinenses Longulani Manates Marales Mutucumenses Munienses Numinienses Olliculani Octulani Pedani Pollustini Querquetulani Sicani Sisolenses Tolerienses Tu tienses Vimitellarij Velienses Venetulani Vicellenses Thus yee see how of the old Latium there be 53 States perished and cleane gone without any token left behinde Moreouer in the Campaine countrey the towne Stabiae continued vnto the time that Cn. Pompeius and L. Carbo were Consuls euen vntill the last day of Aprill vpon which day L. Silla a lieutenant in the-Allies war destroyed it vtterly which now at this day is turned into graunges and ferme-houses There is decaied also there and come to finall ruine Taurania There be also some little relikes left of Casilinum lying at the point of the last gaspe Moreouer Antias writes that Apiolaea towne of the Latines was woon by L. Tarquinius the King with the Pillage whereof he began to found the Capitoll From Surrentum to the riuer Silarus the Picentine countrey lay for the space of 30 miles reowmed for the Tuscanes goodly temple built by Iason in the honor of Iuno Argiva Within it stood the townes Salernum and Picentia At Silarus the third region of Italy
Attilius Regulus were Consuls vpon newes brought of a sudden rising and tumult of the Gauls alone by it selfe without any forrein aids and euen them without any nations beyond Padus armed 80000 horsemen and 700000 foot In plenty of all mettal mines it giueth place to no land whatsoeuer But forbidden it is to dig any by an old act of the Senat giuing expresse order to make spare of Italy CHAP. XXI ¶ Illyricum THe Nation of the Liburnians ioineth vnto Arsia euen as farre as the riuer Titius A part thereof were the Mentores Hymani Encheleae Dudini and those whom Callimachus nameth Pucetiae Now the whole in generall is called by one name Illyricum The names of the nations are few of them eitherworthy or easie to be spoken As for the iudiciall court of Assises at Scordona the Iapides and foureteene States besides of the Liburians resort vnto Of which it grieueth me not to name the Lacinians Stulpinians Burnistes and Albonenses And in that Court these Nations following haue the libertie of Italians to wit the Alutae and Flanates of whom the sea or gulfe beareth the name Lopsi Varubarini and the Assesiates that are exempt from all tributes also of Islands the Fulsinates and Curiolae Moreouer along the borders and maritime coasts beyond Nesactum these townes Aluona Flauona Tarsatica Senia Lopsica Ortopula Vegium Argyruntum Corinium the city Aenona the riuer Pausinus Tedanium at which Iapida doth end The islands lying in that gulfe together with the townes besides those towns aboue noted Absirtium Arba Tragurium Issa Pharos beforetime Paros Crexa Gissa Portunata Again within the continent the colony Iaderon which is from Pola 160 miles From thence 30 miles off the island Colentum and 18 the mouth of the riuer Titius CHAP. XXII ¶ Liburnia THe end of Liburnia and beginning of Dalmatia is Scordona which frontier towne is 12 miles from the sea scituate vpon the said riuer Titius Then followeth the antient countrie of the Tariotes and the castle Tariota the Promontory Diomedis or as some would haue it the demy island Hyllis taking in circuit a hundred miles also Tragurium inhabited by Roman citizens well knowne for the marble there Sicum into which place Claudius late Caesar sent the old souldiers the Colony Salona 222 miles from Iadera There repaire to it for law those that are described into Decuries or tithings 382 to wit Dalmatians 22 Decunum 239 Ditions 69 and Mezaei 52 Sardiates in this tract are Burnum Mandetrium and Tribulium castles of name for the battels of the Romanes There came also forth of the islands the Issaeans Collentines Separians and Epetines Besides them certaine castles Piguntiae and Rataneum and Narona a colonie pertaining to the third Countie-court 72 miles from Salona lying hard to a riuer of the same name and 20 miles from the sea M. Varro writeth that 89 States vsed to repaire thither for justice Now these only in a manner be knowne to wit Cerauni in 33 Tithings Daorizi in 17 Destitiates in 103 Docleates in 34 Deretines in 14 Deremistes in 30 Dindari in 33 Glinditiones in 44 Melcomani in 24 Naresij in 102 Scirtari in 72 Siculote in 24 and the Vardaei who sometime wasted and forraied Italy in 20 decuries and no more Besides these there held and possessed this tract Oenei Partheni Hemasini Arthitae Armistae From the riuer Naron a hundred miles is the colony Epidaurum Townes of Roman citizens be these Rhizinium Ascrinium Butua Olchinium which beforetime was called Colchinium built by the Colchi The riuer Drilo and the towne vpon it Scodra inhabited by Roman citizens eighteen miles from the sea Ouer and besides many other towns of Greece yea strong cities out of all remembrance For in that tract were the Labeates Enderudines Sassaei Grabaei and those who properly were called Illyrij the Taulantij and Pyraei The Promontorie Nymphaeum in the coast thereof keepeth still the name also Lyssum a towne of Romane citizens a hundred miles from Epidaurum C XXIII ¶ Macedonie FRom Lissum is the prouince of Macedonie the nations there be the Partheni and on their backe side the Dassaretes Two mountaines of Candauia 79 miles from Dyrrhachium but in the borders thereof Denda a towne of Roman citizens also the Colonie Epidamnum which for that vnluckie names sake was by the Romans called Dyrrhachium The riuer Aous named of some Aeas Apollonia sometime a Colonie of the Corinthians scituate within the countrey seuen miles from the sea in the marches wherof is the famous Nymphaeum The borderers inhabiting thereby are the Amantes and Buliones But in the very edge therof the town Oricum built by the Colchi Then beginneth Epirus the mountaines Acroceraunia at which we haue bounded this sea of Europe as for Oricum it is from Salentinum a promontorie of Italy 85 miles CHAP. XXIIII ¶ Noricum BEhind the Carni and Iapides whereas the great riuer Ister runneth the Norici ioine to the Rhaeti Their towns be Virunum Celeia Teurnia Aguntum Viana Aemona Claudia Flavium Tolvense Vpon the Norici there lie fast the Lake Peiso the deserts of the Boij Howbeit now by the colonie of the late Emperor Claudius of famous memorie Salaria and the towne Scarabantia Iulia they be inhabited and peopled CHAP. XXV ¶ Pannonia THence beginneth Pannonia so fruitfull in Mast wheras the hils of the Alps waxing more mild and ciuil turning through the midst of Illyricum from the North to the South settle lower by an easie descent both on the right hand and the left That part which regardeth the Adriatick sea is called Dalmatia and Illyricum aboue-named Pannonia bendeth toward the North and is bounded by the riuer Danubius In it are these Colonies Aemonia Siscia And these riuers of speciall name and nauigable run into Danubius Draus with more violence out of the Noricke Alps and Saus out of the Carnicke Alpes more gently 115 miles between As for Draus it passeth through the Serretes Serrapilles Iasians Sandrozetes but Saus through the Colapians and Bruci And these be the chiefe States of that country Moreouer the Ariuates Azali Amantes Belgites Catari Corneates Aravisci Hercuniates Latovici Oseriates and Varciani The mount Claudius in the front whereof are the Scordisci and vpon the back the Taurisci The island in Saus Metubarris the biggest of all the riuer islands Besids notable good riuers Calapis running into Saus neere Siscia where with a double channell it maketh the island called Segestica another riuer Bacuntius running likewise into Saus at the towne Sirmium where is the State of the Sirmians and Amantines Fiue forty miles from thence Taurunum where Saus is intermingled with Danubius Higher aboue there run into it Valdanus and Vrpanus and they ywis be no base and obscure riuers CHAP. XXVI ¶ Moesia VNto Pannonia ioineth the Prouince called Moesia which extendeth along Danubius vnto Pontus It beginneth at the confluent aboue-named in it are the Dardanians Celegeri Triballi Trimachi Moesi Thranes and the Scythians
albeit a man made triall thereof in the winter season furthermore that the pesants who dwelt in the next forests were pestred with Elephants wilde beasts and serpents of all sorts and those people were called Canarij for that they and dogs feed together one with another and part among them the bowels of wild beasts For certaine it is knowne that a nation of the Aethyopians whom they cal Peroesi ioineth vpon them Iuba the father of Ptolomaeus who before-time ruled ouer both Mauritanes a man more memorable and renowned for his study and loue of good letters than for his kingdome and royall port hath written the like concerning Atlas and he saith moreouer that there is an herb growing there called Euphorbia of his Physitions name that first found it the milkie iuice whereof he praiseth wondrous much for to cleare the eies and to be a preseruatiue against all serpents and poisons whatsoeuer and thereof hath he written a treatise and made a book by it selfe thus much may suffice if it be not too much as touching Atlas CHAP. II. ¶ The prouince Tingitania THe length of the Prouince Tingitania taketh 170 miles The nations therin be these the Mauri which in times past was the principall and of whom the prouince took name and those most writers haue called Marusij Being by war weakened and diminished they came in the end to a few families only Next to them were the Massaesuli but in like manner were they consumed Now is the prouince inhabited by the Getulians Bannurri and the Autololes the most valiant and puissant of all the rest A member of these were somtime the Vesuni but being diuided from them they became a nation by themselues and bounded vpon the Aethiopians The prouince naturally full of mountains Eastward breedeth Elephants In the hill also Abila and in those which for their euen and equal height they cal The 7 brethren and these butt vpon Abila which looketh ouer into the sea From these beginneth the coast of the Inward sea The riuer Timuda nauigable and a town somtime of that name The riuer Land which also receiueth vessels The town Rusardie and the hauen The riuer Malvana nauigable The towne Siga iust against Malacha scituate in Spaine the Royall seat of Syphax and now the other Mauritania For a long time they kept the names of KK so as the vtmost was called Bogadiana and likewise Bocchi which now is Caesarienses Next vnto it is the hauen for the largenesse thereof called Magnus with a towne of Roman citizens The Riuer Muluca which is the limit of Bocchi and the Massaesuli Quiza Xenitana a towne of strangers Atsennaria a towne of Latines three miles from the Sea Carcenna a Colonie of Augustus erected for the second Legion likewise another Colonie of his planted with the Pretorian band Gunugi and the promontorie of Apollo And a most famous towne there Caesarea vsually before-time called Iol the Royall Seat of King Iuba endowed by Claudius the Emperour of happie memorie with the franchises and right of a Colonie at whose appointment the old souldiers were there bestowed A new towne Tipasa with the grant of the liberties of Latium Likewise Icosium endowed by Vespasian the Emperour with the same donations The colonie of Augustus Rusconiae and Ruscurium by Claudius honoured with the free burgeoisie of the citie Rusoezus a colonie of Augustus Salde a Colonie of the same man Igelgili also and Turca a towne seated vpon the sea and the riuer Amsaga Within the land the Colonie Augusta the same that Succubar and likewise Tubrisuptus Cities Timici Tigauae Riuers Sardabala and Nabar The people Macurebi the riuer Vsar and the nation of the Nabades The riuer Ampsaga is from Caesarea 233 miles The length of Mauritania both the one and the other together is 839 miles the breadth 467. CHAP. III. ¶ Numidia NExt to Ampsaga is Numidia renowned for the name of Masanissa called of the Greekes the land Metagonitis The Numidian Nomades so named of changing their pasture who carry their cottages or sheds and those are all their dwelling houses about with them vpon waines Their townes be Cullu and Rusicade from which 48 miles off within the Midland parts is the colonie Cirta surnamed of the Cirtanes another also within and a free borough town named Bulla Regia But in the vtmost coast Tacatua Hippo Regius and the riuer Armua The towne Trabacha of Roman citizens the riuer Tusca which boundeth Numidia and besides the Numidian marble and great breed of wilde beasts nothing is there else worth the noting CHAP. IV. ¶ Africa FRom Tusca forward you haue the region Zeugitana and the countrey properly called Africa Three promontories first the White then anon that of Apollo ouer-against Sardinia and a third of Mercurie opposite to Sicilie which running into the sea make two creekes the one Hipponensis next to the towne which they call Hippo rased the Greeks name it Diarrhyton for the little brooks and rils that water the grounds vpon this there bordereth Theudalis an exempt towne from tribute but somewhat farther from the sea side then the promontory of Apollo And in the other creek Vtica a towne of Roman citizens ennobled for the death of Cato and the riuer Bagrada A place called Castra Cornelia and the colony Carthago among the reliques and ruines of great Carthage and the colony Maxulla towns Carpi Misna and the free borough Clupea vpon the promontorie of Mercurie Item free townes Curubis and Neapolis Soone after ye shall meet with another distinction of Africke indeed Libyphoenices are rhey called who inhabit Byzacium for so is that region named containing in circuit 250 miles exceeding fertile and plenteous where the ground sowne yeeldeth again to the husband-man 100 fold increase In it are free townes Leptis Adrumetum Ruspina and Thapsus then Thenae Macomades Tacape Sabrata reaching to the lesse Syâ—…is to which the length of Numidia and Africa from Amphaga is 580 miles the breadth 〈◊〉 â—…ch there of as is knowne 200. Now this part which wee haue called Africke is diuided into prouinces twaine the old and the new separated one from the other by a fosse or ditch brought as farre as to Thenae within the Africane gulfe which towne is 217 miles from Carthage and that trench Scipio Africanus the second caused to be made bare halfe the charges together with the KK The third gulfe is parted into twaine cursed and horrible places both for the ebbing and flowing of the sea and the shelues betweene the two Syrtes From Carthage to the nearer of them which is the lesse is 300 miles by the account of Polybius who saith also that the said Syrte is for 100 miles forward dangerous and 300 about By land also thither the way is passeable by obseruation of the Stars at one time of the yeare onely and that lyeth through desert sands and places full of serpents And then you meet with Forrests replenished with numbers of wilde beasts And within-forth Wildernesses of
caput Saxi besides the rocks head The frontier towne of Cyrenaica is called Catabathmos which is a towne and a vaile all on a sudden falling with a steepe descent To this bound from the lesse Syrtis Cyrenaica Africa lieth in length 1060 miles and in bredth for so much as is knowne 800. CHAP. VI. ¶ Lybya Maroeotis THe countrey following is named Mareotis Libya and boundeth vpon Aegypt inhabited by the Marmaridae Adyrmachidae and so forward with the Mareotae The measure of it from Catabathmos to Paretoninm is 86 miles In that tract there lyeth in the way betweene the village Apis a place renowned for the religious rites of Aegypt From it to Paraetonium are 12 miles From thence to Alexandria 200 miles the bredth thereof is 169 miles Eratosthenes hath deliuered in writing that from Cyrenae to Alexandria by land is 525 miles Agrippa saith that the length of all Africk from the Atlanticke sea together with the inferiour part of Aegypt containeth 3040 miles Polybius and Eratosthenes reputed to haue bin most exact and curious in this kinde set downe from the Ocean to great Carthage 1600 miles From thence to Canopicum the neerest mouth of Nilus they make 1630 miles Isidore reckoneth from Tingi to Canopus 3599 miles And Artemidorus forty lesse than Isiodorus CHAP. VII ¶ Islands about Africke and oueragainst Africke THese seas haue not very many Islands within them The fairest of them all is Meninx 35 miles long and 25 broad called by Eratosthenes Lotophagitis Two towns it hath Meninx on Africke side and Thoar on the other it selfe is scituate from the right hand promontorie of the lesse Syrtis 200 paces A hundred miles from it against the left hand is Cercina with a free towne of the same name in length it is 25 miles and halfe as much in bredth where it is most but toward the end not aboue fiue miles ouer To it there lieth a pretty little one toward Carthage called Cercinitis ioineth by a bridge vnto it from these almost â—…o miles lies Lopadusa six miles long Then Gaulos and Galata the earth where of killeth the Scorpion a fell creature and noisome to Africke Men say also that they wil die in Clupea ouer against which lieth Corsyra with a towne But against the gulfe of Carthage be the two Aeginori rocks more like than Islands lying most between Sicily and Sardinia There be that write how these somtime were inhabited but afterwards sunke downe and were couered CHAP. VIII ¶ The Aethyopians BVt within the inner compassc and hollow of Africke toward the South aboue the Gaetulians where the desarts come between the first people that inhabit those parts be the Libij Aegyptij and then the Leucaethiopes Aboue them are the Aethyopian nations to wit the Nigritae of whom the riuer tooke name the Gymetes Pharusi and those which now reach to the Ocean whom we spake of in the marches of Mauritania namely the Perorsi From all these it is nothing but a wildernesse Eastward till you come to the Garamantes Augylae and Troglodites according to the most true opinion of them who place 2 Aethyopiaes aboue the desarts of Africk and especially of Homer who saith that the Aethyopians are diuided 2 waies namely East and West The riuer Nyger is of the same nature that Nilus It bringeth forth Reed and Papyr breedeth the same liuing creatures and riseth or swelleth at the same seasons It springeth betweene the Tareleia Aethyopians and the Oecalicae The towne Mavin belonging to this people some haue set vpon the wildernesse as also neere vnto them the Atlantes the Aegipanes halfe wilde beasts the Blemmyi the Gamphasants Satyres Himantopodes Those Atlantes if we will beleeue it degenerate from the rites and manners of all other men For neither call they one another by any name and they look wistly vpon the Sun rising setting with most dreadful curses as being pernicious to them their fields neither dream they in their sleep as other men The Troglodites dig hollow caues and these serue them for dwelling houses they feed vpon the flesh of serpents They make a gnashing noise rather than vtter any voice so little vse haue they of speech one to another The Garamants liue out of wedlock and conuerse with their women in common The Augylae do no worship to any but to the diuels beneath The Gamphasantes bee all naked and know no Wars and sort themselues with no forrainer The Blemmyi by report haue no heads but mouth and eies both in their brest the Satyres besides their shape only haue no properties nor fashions of men The Aegipanes are shaped as you see them commonly painted The Himantopodes be some of them limber legged and tender who naturally go creeping on the ground The Pharusi sometime Persae are said to haue bin the companions of Hercules as he went to the Hesperides More of Africke worth the noting I haue not to say CHAP. IX ¶ Of Asia VNto it ioineth Asia which from the mouth of Canopus vnto the mouth of Pontus after Timosthenes 2639 miles From the coast of Pontus to that of Maeotis Eratosthenes saith is 1545 miles The whole together with Egypt vnto Tanais by Artemidorus and Isidorus taketh 8800 miles Many seas there be in it taking their names of the borderers and therefore they shall be declared together with them The next country to Africk inhabited is Aegypt lying far within-forth to the South so far as the Aethyopians who border vpon their backs The nether part thereof the riuer Nilus diuided on the right hand and the left by his clasping doth bound and limit with the mouth of Canopus from Africke with the Pelusiake from Asia and carrieth a space between of 170 miles Whereupon considering that Nilus doth so part it self some haue reckoned Aegypt among the Islands so as it maketh a triangular figure of the land And here it is that many haue called Aegypt by the name of the Greeke letter Delta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The measure of it from the channell where it is but one and from whence it beginneth first to part into skirts and sides vnto the mouth of Canopus is 146 miles and to the Pelusiak 256 the vpmost part therof bounding on Aethyopia is called Thebais Diuided it is into towneships with seueral iurisdictions which they cal Nomos to wit Ombites Phatuites Apollopolites Hermonhites Thinites Phanturites Captites Tentyrites Diospalites Antaeopolites Aphroditolites and Lycopolites The country about Pelusium these town-ships with their seueral iurisdictions Pharboetites Bubastites Sethroites Tanites The rest haue these following the Arabicke the Hammoniacke which extendeth to the Oracle of Iupiter Hammon Oxyrinchites Leontopolites Atarrabites Cynopolytes Hermopolites Xoites Mendesins Sebennites Capastites Latapolites Heliopolites Prosopites Panopolites Busirites Onuphites Sorites Ptenethu Pthemphu Naucratites Nitrites Gynaecopolites Menelaites in the country of Alexandria In like manner of Libya Mareotis Heracleopolites is in the Island of Nilus fiftie miles long wherein also is that which
Wherein all men obserue not the same nor make like account howbeit most men speake of Damascus and Opotos watered with the riuer Chrysorrhora Also Philadelphia renowned for the fruitfull territory about it Moreouer of Scythopolis taking name of the Scythians there planted and before-time Mysa so named of Prince or Father Bacchus by reason that his nource there was buried Also Gadara scituate on the riuer Hieromiax running euen before it Besides the aboue-named Hippos Dios. Likewise Pella enriched with the good fountains and last of all Galaza and Canatha There lie betweene and about these cities certaine Royalties called Triarchies containing euery one of them as much as an whole countrey and reduced they be as it were into seuerall countries namely Trachonitis Panias wherein standeth Caesarea with the fountain aboue-said Abiâ—a Arca Ampeloessa and Gabe CHAP. XIX ¶ Tyre and Sidon REturne now we must to the sea-coast of Phoenice A riuer runneth there called Crocodilon whereupon stood a towne in times past bearing the name Also there remain in those parts the bare reliques still of cities to wit Dorum Sycaminum the cape or promontory Carmelum and a towne vpon the hill so named but in old time called Ecbatana Neere therto Getta and Iebba the riuer Pagida or Pelus carrying chrystall glasse with his sands vpon the shore This riuer commeth out of the meere Ceudeuia from the foot of mount Carmel Neere vnto it is the city Ptolemais erected in forme of a colony by Claudius Caesar in ancient time called Are. The towne Ecdippa and the cape Album Then followes the noble citie Tyrus in old time an Island lying almost 3 quarters of a mile within the deepe sea but now by the great trauell and deuises wrought by Alexander the Great at the siege thereof ioyned to the firme ground renowmed for that out of it haue beene three other cities of ancient name to wit Leptis Vtica and that great Carthage which so long stroue with the Empire of Rome for the monarchy and dominion of al the whole world yea and Gades diuided as it were from the rest of the earth were peopled from hence But now at this day all the reputation and glory thereof stands vpon the die of purple crimson colors The compasse of it is 19 miles so ye comprise Palaetyrus within it The very towne it selfe alone taketh vp 22 stadia Neere vnto it are these townes Luhydra Sarepta and Ornython also Sydon where the faire and cleer glasses be made and which is the mother of the great citie Thebes in Boeotia CHAP. XX. ¶ The mount Libanon BEhind it beginneth the mount Libanus and for 1500 stadia reacheth as farre as to Smyrna whereas Coele-Syria takes the name Another promontory there is as big ouer-against it called Antilibanus with a vallie lying betweene which in old time ioyned to the other Libanus with a wall Being past this hill the region Decapolis sheweth it selfe to you within-forth called Decapolis and the aboue-named Tetrachies or Realmes with it and the whole largenesse that Palestine hath But in that coast and tract still along the foot of the mount Libanus there is the riuer Magoras also the colonie Berytus called Foelix Iulia. The towne Leontos the riuer Lycos also Palaebyblos i. Byblos the old Then ye come vpon the riuer Adonis and so to these townes Byblos the new Botrys Gigarta Trieris Calamos and Tripolis vnder the Tyrians Sydonians and Aradians Then meet you with Orthosia and the riuer Eleutheros Also these townes Simyra Marathos and ouer-against Aradus a towne of seuen stadia and an Island lesse than a quarter of a mile from the Continent When you are once past the countrie where the said mountaines doe end and the plaines lying betweene then beginneth the mount Bargylis and there as Phoenice endeth so begins Syria againe In which countrie are Carne Balanea Paltos and Gabale also the Promontorie whereupon standeth the free city Laodicea together with Diospolis Heraclea Charadrus and Posidium CHAP. XXI ¶ Syria Antiochena GO forward in this tract and you shall come to the cape of Syria Atiochena within-forth is seated the noble and free citie it selfe Antiochena surnamed Epidaphne through the mids whereof runneth the riuer Orontes But vpon the very cape is the free citie Seleucia named also Pieria CHAP. XXII ¶ The mount Casius ABoue the citie Seleucia there is another mountaine named Casius as well as that other which confronterh Arabia This hill is of that heigth that if a man be vpon the top of it in the darke night season at the reliefe of the fourth watch he may behold the Sunne arising So that with a little turning of his face and body hee may at one time see both day and night To get vp by the ordinary high-way to the very pitch of it a man might fetch a compas of 19 miles but climbe directly vpright it is but 4 miles In the borders of this country runs the riuer Orontes which ariseth between Libanus and Antilibanus neere to Heliopolis Then the towne Rhosos appeares and behind it the streight passages and gullets betwixt the mountaines Rhotij and Taurus which are called Portae Syriae In this tract or coast stands the town Myriandros the hill Avanus where is the towne Bomilae which separateth Cilicia from the Syrians CHAP. XXIII ¶ Coele-Syria or high Syria IT remaineth now to speake of the townes and cities in the midland parts within the firme land and to begin with Coele Syria it hath in it Apamia separated from the Nazerines tetrarchy by the riuer Marsia likewise Bambyce otherwise called Hierapolis but of the Syrians Magog There is honored the monstrous idoll of the Meermaid Atargatis called of the Greeks Decreto Also Chalcis with this addition Vpon Belus from which the region Chalcidene most fertile of all Syria taketh name Then haue you the quarter Cyrrhistica with Cirrhus Gazatae Gindarenes and Gabenes Moreouer two Tetrarchies called Granucomatae Moreouer the Hemisenes Hylates the Ituraeans country and principally those of them who are named Betarrani and the Mariammitanes The Tetrarchie or Principalitie named Mammisea the city Paradisus Pagrae Pinarites and two Seleuciae besides the aboue named one called Vpon Euphrates and the other Vpon Belus and last of all the Carditenses The rest of Syria hath these States besides those which shall be spoken of with the riuer Euphrates the Arethusians Beraeenses and Epiphanenses and Eastward the Laodicenes namely those who are entituled Vpon Libanus the Leucadians and Larissaeans besides 17 Tetrarchies reduced into the forme of realmes but their names are barbarous CHAP. XXIV ¶ Euphrates ANd here me-thinks is the fittest and meetest place to speake of Euphrates The source of it by report of them that saw it last and neerest is in Caranitis a state vnder the gouernment of Armenia the greater and those are Domitius and Corbulo who say that it springeth in the mountaine Aba But Licinius Mutianus affirmeth that it issueth from vnder the foot of the mountaine
which parteth Bithynia from Galatia Beyond Chalcedon stood Chrysopolis then Nicopolis of which the gulfe still retaines the name wherein is the hauen of Amycus the cape Naulocum Estia wherein is the temple of Neptune and the Bosphorus a streight halfe a mile ouer which now once again parteth Asia and Europe From Chalcedon it is 12 miles and an halfe There beginneth the sea to open wider where it is 8 miles a quarter ouer in that place where stood once the towne Philopolis All the maritime coasts are inhabited by the Thyni but the inland parts by the Bithynians Lo here an end of Asia and of 282 nations which are reckoned from the limits and gulf of Lycia vnto the streights of Constantinople The space of the streights of Hellespont and Propontis together vntill you come to Bosphorus in Thracia containeth in length 188 miles as we haue before said From Chalcedon to Sigeum by the computation of Isidor are 372 miles and a halfe Islands lying in Propontis before Cyzicum are these Elaphonnesus from whence commeth the Cyzicen marble and the same Isle was called Neuris and Proconnesus Then follow Ophyusa Acanthus Phoebe Scopelos Porphyrione and Halone with a towne Moreouer Delphacia and Polydora also Artacaeon with the towne Furthermore ouer against Nicomedia is Demonnesos likewise beyond Heraclea iust against Bithynia is Thynias which the Barbarians call Bithynia Ouer and besides Antiochia and against the fosse or riuer Rhyndacus Besbicos 18 miles about Last of all Elaea two Rhodussae Erebinthus Magale Chalcitis and Pityodes THE SIXTH BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF NATVRE WRITTEN BY C. PLINIVS SECVNDVS CHAP. 1. ¶ Pontus Euxinus THe sea called Pontus Euxinus and named by the Greeks in old time Axenos for the hard vsage that passengers found at the hands of those sauage Nations vpon the coasts thereof is spred also betwixt Europ and Asia vpon a very spite and speciall enuy of Nature as it seems to the earth and a wilfull desire to maintaine the sea still in his greatnesse and to fulfill his greedy and endlesse appetite For shee was not contented to haue inuironed the whole earth with the main Ocean yea and taken from it a great part thereof with exceeding rage ouerflowing the same and laying all empty and naked it sufficed not I say to haue broken through the mountaines and so to rush in and after the sea had dismembred * Caspe from Affricke to haue swallowed vp much more by far than is left behind to be seen no nor to haue let Propontis gush through Hellespont and so to encroach again vpon the earth and gaine more ground vnlesse from the streights of Bosphorus also he enlarge himselfe into another huge and vast sea and yet is neuer content vntill the lake Moeotis also with his streight meet with him as he thus spreadeth abroad and floweth at liberty and so ioine together and part as it were their stolne good betweene them And verily that all this is happened maugre the earth and that it made all resistance that it could appeareth euidently by so many streights and narrow passages lying between these two elements of so contrary nature considering that in Hellespont the space is not aboue 875 paces from land to land and at the two Bosphori the sea is so passeable that oxen or kine may swim at ease from the one side to the other and hereupon they both tooke their name the which vicinitie serueth very wel to entertaine and nourish amity among nations separated by nature one from another and in this disunion as it were appeareth yet a brothely fellowship and vnitie For the cocks may be heard to crow and the dogs to bark from the one side to the other yea and men out of these two worlds may parly one to another with audible voice and haue commerce of speech together if the weather be calme and that the windes doe not carry away the sound thereof Well the measure some haue taken of the sea from Bosphorus Thracius to the lake of Moeotis and haue accounted it to be 1438 miles and a halfe But Eratosthenes reckoneth it lesse by one hundred Agrippa saith that from Chalcedon to Phacis is a thousand miles and so to Bosphorus Cimmerius 360 miles As for vs we will set downe summarily and in generall the distances of places according to the moderne knowledge of our nation in these daies forasmuch as our armies haue warred in the very streight and mouth of this Cimmerian streight Being passed then from the streight of Bosphorus Thracius we meet with the riuer Rhebas which some haue called Rhoesus and beyond it Psillis another riuer then come we to the port of Calpas and Sangarius one of the principall riuers of Asia it ariseth in Phrygia it receiueth other huge riuers into it and among the rest Tembrogius and Gallus The same Sangarius was called also Coralius After this riuer begin the gulfes Mariandini vpon which is to be seen the towne Heraclea scituate vpon the riuer Lycus It is from the mouth of Pontus 200 miles Beyond it is the port Acone cursed for the venomous herbe and poisonous Aconitum which taketh name thereof Also the hole or caue Acherusia Riuers also there be Pedopiles Callichorum and Sonantes One towne Tium eight and thirty miles from Heraclea and last of all the riuer Bilis CHAP. II. ¶ The nation of the Paphlagonians and Cappadocians BEyond this riuer Bilis is the countrey Paphlagonia which some haue named Pylemerina and it is inclosed with Galatia behinde it The first towne ye meet in it is Mastya built by the Milesians and next to it is Cromna In this quarter the Heneti inhabit as Cornelius Nepos saith Moreouer from thence the Venetians in Italy who beare their name are descended as he would haue vs beleeue Neere to the said towne Cromna is another called Sesamum in times past and now Amastris Also the mountaine Cytorus 64 miles from Tium When you are gone past this mountain you shall come to Cimolus and Stephane two townes and likewise to the riuer Parthenius and so forward to the cape and promontory Corambis which reacheth forth a mighty way into the sea and it is from the mouth of the sea Pontus 315 miles or as others rather thinke 350. As far also it is from the streight Cimmerius or as some would rather haue it 312 miles and a halfe A towne there was also in times past of that name and another likewise beyond it called Arminum but now there is to be seen the colony Sinope 164 miles from Citorum Being past it you fall vpon the riuer Varetum the people of Cappadocia the townes Gazima and Gazelum and the riuer Halyto which issuing out of the foot of the hill Taurus passeth through Cataonia and Cappadocia Then meet you with these towns following Gangre Carissa and the free city Amisum which is from Sinope 130 miles As you 〈◊〉 farther you shall see a gulfe carrying the name of the said towne
Dionysius sent thither of purpose from Philadelphus haue made relation of the forces which those nations are able to raise and maintain And yet further diligence is to be imploied stil in this behalfe considering they wrote of things there so diuers one from another and incredible withall They that accompanied Alexander the great in his Indian voiage haue testified in their writings that in one quarter of India which he conquered there were of towns 500 in number and not one lesse than the city Cos of seuerall nations nine Also that India was a third part of the whole earth the same so wel inhabited that the people in it were innumerable And this they said beleeue mee not without good apparance of reason for the Indians were in manner the onely men of all others that neuer went out of their own country Moreouer it is said That from the time of Bacchus vnto Alexander the Great there reigned ouer them sucessiuely 154 kings for the space of 5402 yeres between and 3 moneths ouer As for the riuers in that country they be of a wonderfull bignes And reported it is that Alexander sailed euery day at the least 600 stadia vpon the riuer Indus and yet in lesse than fiue moneths and some few daies ouer he could not come vnto the end of that riuer and lesse it is than Ganges by the confession of all men Furthermore Seneca a Latine writer assaied to write certain commentaries of India wherein he hath made report of 60 Riuers therein and of nations 120 lacking twaine As great a labour it were to reckon vp number the mountains that be in it As for the hils Imaus Emodisus Paropamisus as parts all and members of Caucasus but one vpon another and conioine together And being past them yee go downe into a mighty large plain country like to Aegypt It remaineth now to shew the continent and firm land of this great country and for the more euident demonstration let vs follow the steps of Alexander the great and his Historiographers Diogneus and Beton who set down all the geasts and iournies of that prince haue left in writing That from the Caspian ports vnto the city Hecatompylos which is in Parthia there are as many miles as we haue set down already From thence to Alexandria in the Ariane country which city the same king founded 562 miles from whence to Prophthasia in the Dranganes land 199 miles so forward to the capitoll towne of the Arachosians 515 miles From thence to Orthospanum 250 miles last of all from it to the city of Alexandria in Opianum 50 miles In some copies these numbers are found to vary and differ But to return to this foresaid city scituat it is at the very foot of Caucasus From which to the riuer Chepta and Pencolaitis a town of the Indians are counted 227 miles From thence to the riuer Indus the towne Tapila 60 miles and so onward to the noble and famous riuer Hidaspes 120 miles from which to Hypasis a riuer of no lesse account than the other 4900 or 3900. And there an end of Alexanders voiage howbeit he passed ouer the riuer and on the other side of the bank he erected certaine altars and pillers and there dedicated them The letters also of the king himselfe sent back into Greece do cary the like certificate of his iournies and agree iust herewith The other parts of the country were discouered surueied by Seleucus Nicator namely from thence to Hesudrus 168 miles to the riuer Ioames as much some copies adde 5 miles more therto from thence to Ganges 112 miles to Rhodapha 119 some say that between them two it is no lesse than 325 miles From it to Calinipaxa a great town 167 miles an half others say 265. And so the confluent of the riuers Iomanes Ganges where both meet together 225 miles many put therto 13 miles more from thence to the town Palibotta 425 miles so to the mouth of Ganges where he falleth into the sea 638 miles As for the nations which it pains me not to name from the mountains Emodi the principal cape of them Imaus which signifies in that country language ful of snow they be these the Isari Cosyri Izgi and vpon the very mountains the Ghisiotosagi also the Brachmanae a name common to many nations among whom are the Maccocalingae Of riuers besides there are Pinnas Cainas the later of which twain runneth into Ganges both are nauigable The people called Calingae coast hard vpon the sea But the Mandei Malli among whom is the mountain Mallus are aboue them higher in the country And to conclude then you come to Ganges the farthest bound and point of all that tract India CHAP. XVIII ¶ The riuer Ganges MAny haue bin of opinion so haue written that the spring of Ganges is vncertain like as that also of Nilus and that he swelleth ouerfloweth and watereth all the countries whereby he passeth in the same sort that Nilus doth Others again haue said that it issueth out of the mountains of Scythia how into it there run 19 other great riuers of which ouer and aboue those beforenamed certain are nauigable namely Canucha Vama Erranoboa Cosaogus and Sonus There be also that report that Ganges presently ariseth to a great bignesse of his owne sources and springs and so breaketh forth with great noise and violence as running downe with a fal ouer craggy and stony rocks and when he is once come into the flat plains and euen country that he taketh vp his lodging in a certain lake and then out of it carrieth a mild and gentle stream 8 miles broad where it is narrowest and 100 stadia ouer for the most part but 160 where he is largest but in no place vnder 20 paces deep i. a 100 foot CHAP. XIX ¶ The nation of India beyond the riuer Nilus WHen ye are ouer Ganges the first region vpon the coast that you set foot into is that of the Gandaridae and the Calingae called Parthalis The king of this countrey hath in ordinance for his wars 80000 foot 1000 horse and 700 Elephants ready vpon an houres warning to march As for the other nations of the Indians that liue in the champion plaine countries there be diuers states of them of more ciuility than the mountainers Some apply themselues to tillage and husbandry others set their minds vpon martiall feats one sort of them practise merchants trade transporting their owne commodities into other countries and bringing in forrein merchandise into their own As for the nobility and gentry those also that are the richest and mightiest among them they manage the affaires of State and Commonweale and sit in place of justice or els follow the court and sit in counsell with the king A fit estate there is besides in great request namely of Philosophers Religions giuen wholly to the study of wisdom learning and these make
his heeles and biting withall that he made an end of the conquerour champion There was another great horse hoodwinked because he should couer a mare but perceiuing after that he was vnhooded that he serued as a stalion to his own dam that foled him ran vp to a steep rock with a downfall and there for griefe cast himselfe down and died We find also in record That in the territorie of Reate there was a mare killed all to rent an horsekeeper vpon the same occasion For surely these beasts know their parentage those that are next to them in bloud And therefore we see that the colts will in the flocke more willingly keep company and sort with their sisters of the former yere than with the mare their mother Horses are so docile and apt to learne what we find in histories how in the army of Sibaritanes the whole troup of horsemen had their horses vnder them and vsed to leap and daunce to certaine musicke that they were wonted and accustomed vnto They haue a fore-knowledge when battell is toward they will mourne for the losse of their maisters yea and other whiles shed teares and weep pitiously for loue of them When king Nicomedes was slaine the horse for his owne saddle would neuer eat meat after but for very anguish died with famine Philarchus reporteth That king Antiochus hauing in battaile slaine one Centaretus a brave horsman of the Gallogreeks or Galatians became maister of his horse and mounted vpon him in triumphant wise But the horse of him that lay dead in the place and vpon whom Antiochus was mounted for very anger and indignation at this indignitie passed neither for bit nor bridle so as he could not be ruled and so ran furiously among the cragges and rocks where both horse and man came downe head long and perished both together Philistus writeth That Dyonisius was forced to leaue his horse sticking fast in a quaue-mire and got away but the horse after he had recouered himselfe and was gotten forth followed the tracts of his master with a swarm or cast of bees setling in his mane and this was the first presage of good fortune that induced Denis to vsurp the kingdome of Sicilie Of what perceiuance and vnderstanding they be it cannot be exprest that know those light horsmen full well that vse to launce darts and iauelines from horseback by the hard seruice that they put their horses to which they doe with great dexteritie resolution in straining winding and turning their bodies nimbly euery way Nay ye shall haue of them togather vp darts and iauelines from the ground and reach them againe to the horsman And commonly we see it to be an ordinary matter with them in the great race or shew place when they are set in their geirs to draw the chariots how they ioy when they are encouraged and praised giuing no doubt a great proofe and confessing that they are desirous of glorie At the secular solemnities exhibited by Claudius Caesar in the Circensian games the horses with the white liuery notwithstanding their driuer and gouernour the charioter was cast and flung to the ground euen within the bars wan the best prize went away with the honour of that day For of themselues they brake and bare down whatsoeuer might impeach them of running the race thoroughout they did all that euer was to be done against their concurrents and aduersaries of the contrarie side as well as if a most expert chariot-man had been ouer their backes to direct and instruct them At the sight wherof men were ashamed ta see their skill art to be ouermatched surmounted by horses And to conclude when they had performed their race as much as by law of the game was required they stood stil at the very goale and would no farther A greater wonder and presage was this in old time that in the Circensian games exhibited by the people the horses after they had flung and cast their gouernour ran directly vp to the Capitol as well as if he had stood still in his place and conducted them and there fetcht three turnes round about the temple of Iupiter But the greatest of all was this which I shall now tell That the horses of Ratumenus who had woon the price in the horse-running at Veij threw their Mr. down and came from thence euen out of Tuscane as far as to the foresaid Capitoll carrying thither the Palme branch and chaplet of Victory woon by Ratumenas their Mr. of whom the gate Ratumena took afterwards the name at Rome The Sarmatians minding to take a great iournie prepare their horses two daies before and giue them no meat at all only a little drinke they allow them and thus they will ride them gallop 150 miles an end and neuer draw bridle Horses liue many of them 50 yeres but the mares not so long In fiue yeres they come to their full growth whereas stone horses grow one yere longer The making of good horses indeed and their beautie such as a man will chuse for the best hath bin most elegantly and absolutely described by the Poet Virgill And somewhat also haue I written of that argument in my booke which I lately put forth as touching Tournois and shooting from horsebacke and in those points required and there set downe I see all writers in manner to agree But for horses that must be trained to run the race some considerations are to be had and obserued different from horses of other vse and seruice For whereas to other affaires and imploiments they may be brought when they are two yeeres old colts and not vpward to the Lists they must not be brought to enter into any mastries there before they be full fiue yeres of age The female in this kind go eleuen months compleat with young and in the twelfth they fole commonly the stalion and the mare are put together when both of of them are full two yeeres old and that about the Spring Equinoctiall that is to say in mid-March but if they be kept asunder vntill they are full 3 yeeres of age they breed stronger colts The Stalion is able to get colts vntil he be three and thirtie yers old for commonly when they haue serued in the race and run ful twenty yeres they are discharged from thence let go abroad for to serue mares And men say that they will hold to 40 yeeres with a little helpe put to the forepart of his body that he may be lifted vp handsomly to couer the mare Few beasts besides are lesse able to ingender and leape the female often nor sooner haue enough of them For which cause they be allowed some space between euery time that they do their kind And in one yeere the most that the Stallion is able to do that way is to couer 15 mares and that is somewhat with the oftenest If ye would coole the courage quench the lust of a mare share and clipher mane