A Peninsula A Peninsula or Chersonese that is such a Tract of Land that is almost encompassed by the Sea except at one only narrow place where with a strait neck of Land called an Isthmus it is knit to the Main Land An Isthmus An Isthmus is that narrow or strait neck of Land that couples and joyns the Peninsula to the Continent or Main-land and that by which we pass out of one broad Land into another The Peninsula's Chersonesusses or Chersoneses that is running out Lands are these following to wit 1. Italy 2. Spain 3. Part of England Of Lands which are or may be termd Peninsula's 4. All Greece and Macedonia 5. Norway and Swedeland with Lapland 6. Asia minor 7. India 8. Camboia 9. New Guiney of the South-land 10. Beach a Country of the same Land 11. Part of Virginia and new-New-England 12. The Tongue of Africa c. Proposition X. Other Lands termed Peninsula's The Chersoneses of the Ancients We will number up further fourteen Peninsula's or Chersoneses and these we will divide into longish ones and somewhat round ones The longish ones are first the Golden Chersonese of the Ancients now called the Malaccan Chersonese and joyns to the Indies 2. The Cymbrick Chersonese now called Jutland adjoyning to Holsatia 3. California on the Western side of North America near the Sea Vermejo But late Observations report it to be an Island 4. New France on the Eastern side of North America 5. The Jucatan Chersonese in the Bay of Mexico 6. The Thracian Chersonese on the Hellespont 7. The Cassandrian Chersonese by the Bay of Thessalonica in the Grecian Sea There are also certain Peninsula's less celebrious of the lesser Asia to wit Ionia or the Smyrnensian Peninsule 2. The Cnidensian or the Countrey of Doris and 3. The Mindensian Peninsula's Concerning Corea it is doubtful whether it be a compleat Island or a Peninsula Some Maps joyn it to Tartary some again begirt it round with the Sea yet notwithstanding the latest Observations make it a Peninsule The somewhat round Peninsula's are 1. Africa her self a huge part of the Old World is such an one it is environed with the Mediterranean Sea the Atlantick Ocean the Aethiopick Indian and Red-sea It sticketh fast to Asia by a narrow Tract of Land at Egypt 2. Three parts of America to wit Mexican and Peru stick fast together at Panama by a narrow passage of the Earth 3. Peloponnesus now called the Morea being part of Greece 4. Taurick Chersonese or Peninsula in the Euxine Sea and the mouth of the Fen Maeotis now called the Precopensian Tartary 5. Cambaia in India Proposition XI Of the chief Peninsula's We reckon as many Isthmusses as Peninsula's the more famous are five in number 1. The Isthmus between Egypt and Asia whereby Africa joyneth to Asia 2. The Corinthian Isthmus between Peloponnesus and Greece 3. The Panamensian Isthmus between Mexico America and Peruvia 4. The Isthmus between the Chersonesus Aurea or Golden Chersonesus and the Indies 5. The Isthmus of the Taurick Chersonese CHAP. IX Of Mountains and Hills in General Of Mountains and Hills TOuching Mountains very many things worthy to be known in Geography will here occur and meet us partly because they seem to hinder the roundness of the Earth and partly because divers things amongst renowned Authors are here delivered concerning them Proposition I. But a Mountain or Hill is said to be a part of the Earth rising aloft which if it be lesser is called a Hillock or Clift Of Promontories and Rocks Also a Promontory is said to be a Hill or Mountain running out at length into the Sea Rocks are called parts jutting or appearing forth in the Sea or also arising up out of huge stony Bulks or Bodies But it must be generally known that the parts of the Earth which appear plain are not all of the same height but some are sunk lower especially at or near the Sea shores insomuch as the height encreaseth from Maritine places or such as abutt upon the Sea even to the Inland Regions This also is proved by the Fountains and flowing Streams of Rivers For seeing that that part of the Earth to which the water floweth is lower than that from which it floweth and that the Fountain-heads and Springs of Rivers are seldom in the Inland places and such as are far remote from the Sea It is clearly manifest thereby that the Inland places are more elevated than those adjoyning to the Sea Coasts Inland places higher than those near the Sea-coasts So Bohemia is higher then Holsatia which is perceived by the streaming course of the River Elbe which floweth from Bohemia to Holsatia In like manner we take apparent Signs and Arguments of the greater height of Inland places from the Rivers Danubius Visurgis Rhene Mosa c. The Swishers and Rhetians Countries are judged by some men to be the highest of all Europe because the Rivers Rhene Roan and the greater Danou do flow and stream down from thence Moreover look how great the declivity or bearing downwards of the Rivers are so great is the height of the Inland places above the Maritine places Proposition II. To finde out the height of a Mountain by Geodesie or Land-measuring commonly called Surveying This is performed in the same manner which we use in the searching out the height of Towers if so be the top of the Mountain or Hill is remarkable by some peculiar sign For the finding out the height of a Mountain by Geodesie Let A B be the Mountains height A the foot B the conspicuous head thereof We will take the line F C by a mean distance from it so that neither of the Angles A F C A C F may be made very acute but may in a manner be equal Then let the Angles A F C A C F be observed by a collimation or levelling with winking be made to B and these being subtracted to 180 degrees the remaining degrees shall shew forth the Angle C A F. After that the distance of the stations of F C is exquisitely to be measured See Scheme and let it be wrought As the sign of the Angle F A C to the sign of the Angle C F A or F C A if you would take F A so F C to A C the distance of the Mountain from C. Then the Instrument being hanged up or placed upright in C and levelling with the Eye to B let the Angle B C A be taken And because the Triangle C A B is strait angled to wit the Angle B A C is strait therefore also the Angle A B C of 90 degrees shall be given Let it therefore be wrought by the Triangle BAC As the whole sign 10000000 to the Tangent of the Angle B C A so the distance A C to the perpendicular height of the Mountain A B. The height of the Mountain Olympus measured by Xenagoras For Example Let us put it that
above Dalmatia the Dalmation Hills and they are stretched out through Macedonia to Thrace and Pontus But because there cometh in a little space between the Julian and Dalmatian Hills therefore some men determine and make the end of the Alpes to be in the Julian Mountains It sendeth out one Arm with continual chains and yokes of Hills and with a winding course like a crescent passing through all Italy and dividing it into two parts it runneth along even to the Sicilian Sea Neither doth it march forward in one form every where but in many parts it putteth forth collateral or side-Companions and fellow Branches as it also sendeth forth some Mountains styled with several Names as the Mountain Massicus the Hill Gaurus Monte di Capua or the Mountain of Capua and the burning Vesuvius c. The Hills of Peru. 2. The Hills of Peru or Peruviana the longest of all others for they pass through the whole South America even from the Equator to the Magellanick streigths and do separate the Kingdom of Peru from other Provinces insomuch that the whole tract of this Chain of Hills is about 800 German miles And the heads or cliffs of the Hills are so high that they are reported to weary Birds in their flight over them and there is but one only passage over these Hills which as yet is discovered and that very cumbersom Many of those are covered with perpetual Snows as well in Summer as Winter and many of them are also wrapt up and involved with the Clouds and some likewise are elevated beyond the middle Region of the Air. Truly it hath hapned the Spaniards sometimes passing out of Nicaragua into Peru that many of them These Mountains exceeding Cold. together with their Horses on the tops of those interposed Mountains have suddenly died and if they had become stiff with cold Frost they remained there immovable like standing Images The cause of which seemeth-to have been the want of Air such as our breath or Lungs require There are also found in these Mountains Sulphury and smoking Hills The Hills between Peru and Brasil 3. There are very many other Mountains between Peru and Brasil which also stretch themselves out through the Country of China to the Magellanick streights where the high tops of the Hills are perpetually hidden with Snows although they lie under the Latitude of 52 degrees The Hills of Canada and New England 4. Add to these Chains of Hills those of Canada and New England and very many others in North America covered with continual Snow although they are less famous The Mountain Taurus 5. The top of Taurus a Mountain in Asia This was amongst ancient Writers accounted the most noble and greatest Mountain of the World It riseth up in Asia Minor from the Pamphilian Sea nigh to the Chelidonian Islands and thence marcheth along through divers Countries and great Kingdoms under divers Names from the West into the East unto India and divideth all Asia into two parts one whereof which looketh to the North is called Asia within Taurus and the other which faceth the West is named Asia without Taurus It is fenced in on either side with many Companions amongst which the famous and most notable ones are the greater and the lesser Anti-Taurus which cut and divide the greater and lesser Armenia into two parts where Taurus it self passeth between Armenia and Mesopotamia it sendeth forth many Arms towards the North and South The Mountain Imaus 6. The Mountain Imaus marcheth forth in form of a Cross two ways as well towards the East and VVest as towards the North and South The Northern part is now called Alkai It is stretched out forward towards the South even to the very ends of the Indies and the fountain heads of the River Ganges in length about four hundred German Miles It divideth the Asian Scythia into two parts of which that which looketh on the west is called Scythia within the Mountain Imaus but that which beholdeth the East is named Scythia without the Mountain Imaus The Mountain Caucasus 7. The top of the Mountain Caucasus is stretched out from the North to the South towards Pontus Euxinus from the Caspian Sea to whom it is a neighbour at the breadth of fifty miles and to those that sail in the Caspian Sea it is an infallible mark to govern and steer their course by It reacheth to Mount Ararat in Armenia where Noah's Ark rested which the Turks and Persians believe to be there kept to this day But the Mountains of Ararat are neighbours to Taurus because all these Mountains are contiguous VVe will speak of the height of Caucasus in the Thirtieth Chapter The Hill of China 8. The Hill of China which embraceth and comprehends the Damasian Mountains so called by the Ancients towards the VVest and Ottoroâ—ora towards the North. This Clift or Chain of Hills consisteth of many Mountains not indeed continually yoked together but here and there affording a passage between them And the Mountains of Camboja seem to be a part of that gang of Hills The Mountains of Arabia 9. The Hills of Arabia which march forward in a triple rank of whom the Holy Mount Sinai is a part The Mount Atlas 10. The most famous Hill and which is celebrated with innumerable figments of the Greek Poets is Mount Atlas in Africa It riseth at the shore of the Western Ocean of Africa and extends it self through all Africa even to the borders of Egypt It hath the Fountains and Springs of almost all the Rivers of Africa in many places it is full of Snow and Cold although it lieth in the Torrid Zone The Mountains of the Moon 11. The Clift of Africa nigh to Monomotapa which is called the Mountains of the Moon It compasseth in almost all Monomotapa and the arms or branches thereof are many as the Hill Zeth and the Snowy Mountains There are found very many and in a manner innumerable other yoaks or chains of Mountains in Africa severed and disjoyned by a small space insomuch that they are almost all contiguous and seem to be parts of one Chain of Hills The Riphean Mountains of Europe 12. The Riphean Mountains of Europe which are also called the Obian Hills they march on forward from the White Sea or Muscovian Bay to the very mouth of the River Ob and the Muscovites call them Weliki Kameypoyas that is the great Stony Girdle because they think that the whole World is girted in with them There is here another yoak of Hills which the Russians call Joegoria It beginneth at the Southern boundary of Tartaria and extends it self unto the North Sea and very many Rivers rise and spring out of this viz. the Rivers Wissagda Neem Wissera and Petsora the greatest of all Besides a triple yoak of Hills runneth down betwen Siberia and Russia from the North towards the South One of them the Russians call Coosvinscoy Camen whose breadth or
grains fruits c. if its Inhabitants would give it tillage South of Canada are New England New York Maryland Virginia and Caroline of which in Order New England described NEW ENGLAND North of Maryland according to the report of Captain Smith hath seventy miles of Sea Coast where are found divers good Havens some of which are capable to harbour about five hundred sail of Ships from the fury of the Sea and winds by reason of the interposition of so great a quantity of small Isles which lie about the Coast to the number of about two hundred And although it be seated in the midst of the Temperate Zone yet the Climate is more uncertain as to heat and cold than those European Kingdoms which lie parallel to it Yet the Air is found very healthful and agreeable to the English which hath occasioned the settlement of divers Potent Colonies here who live very happily and drive a considerable Trade for their provisions to our American Plantations especially to the Barbados This Country is Inhabited by divers sorts of people the chief amongst which are the Bessabees about the River Renobscot and the Massachusetes a great Nation The Native Inhabitants and every one are governed by their particular Kings and do much differ in Customs and Manners from one another as they do in the other parts of America living generally at variance with each other Their chiefest riches is in their Furrs and Skins which they sell to the English in truck for Commodities they are for the most part ingenious well disposed and with little pains would be brought to Christianity This Country is for the generality of a fertil soil is well watered with Rivers hath plenty of Fish as Cod Thornback Sturgion Their Fish Porpuses Haddock Salmons Mullets Herrings Mackeril Plaice Oysters Lobsters Crab-fish Tortoise Cockles Muscles Clams Smelts Eels Lamprons Drums Alewives Basses Hollibuts Sharks Seals Grampus Whales c. Here are great variety of Fowl as Phesants Partridges Pigeons Heathcocks Fowls Oxeyes Geese Turkeys Ducks Teal Herns Cranes Cormorants Swans Brants Widgeans Sheldrakes Snipes Doppers Blackbirds Loon Humbird with divers others too tedious to name They have also great plenty of Beasts both tame and wild as Cows Sheep Goats Swine and Horses Beasts and for wild Lyons Bears Wolves Foxes Martins Rackoons Mooses Musquasus Otters Bevers Deer Hares Coneys c. Amongst the hurtful things the Rattlesnake is the most dangerous and here are several sorts of stinging Flies which are very troublesom to the Inhabitants Trees Here are sundry sorts of trees as the Oak Cyprus Pine Cedar Chesnut Walnut Firr Ash Elm Asp Alder Maple Birch Sassafras Sumach c. also several Fruit-trees as Pomgranates Maracocks Puchamins Olives Apples Pears Plumbs Cherries Grapes Fruits with those common in England And their ground also produceth Potatoes Carrots Turrips Parsnips Onyons Cabbages with most of the Roots and Herbs found in England The soil being very agreeable for them But the fruits are not found here so good as in Virginia nor in Virginia as in Caroline as lying more Southwards and having the greater influence of the Sun This Country affordeth several rich Furrs hath Iron Amber Pitch Tarr Masts Flax Linnen Cables Its Commodities and Grains in great plenty The English which now Inhabit this Country are very numerous and powerful having a great many Towns several of which are of considerable account and are governed by Laws appropriate to themselves and have their Courts of Judicature and assembling together each Town having two Burgesses for the looking after the affairs of the Colony Government And as to matters of Religion and Church Government they are very strickt and make a great show being much of the stamp of the ridged Presbyterians Amongst their Towns these are of chief note 1. Boston commodiously seated for Traffick on the Sea Shore It s chief Towns at present a very large and spacious Town or rather a City being composed of several well ordered streets and graced with fair and beautiful houses which are well inhabited by Merchants and Tradesmen who drive a very considerable Trade It is a place of great strength having two or three hills adjoyning on which are raised Fortifications with great Pieces mounted thereon which are well guarded 2. Charles Town seated on and between the Rivers Charles and Mistick it is beautified with a large and well built Church and near the River-side is the Market place from which runs two streets in which are divers well built houses 3. Dorchester an indifferent Town seated near the Sea 4. Cambridge commodiously seated on a River doth consist of several streets and is beautified with two Colledges and hath divers fair and well built houses 5. Reading commodiously seated about a great Pond and well Inhabited 6. St. Georges Fort seated on the mouth of the River Sagadebock 7. New Plymouth seated on the large Bay of Potuxed With divers other Towns of some account most of which bear the Names from those of England but amongst the Indians are known by other names New York described NEW-YORK formerly New Netherland is seated betwixt New England and Virginia It is now called New York from his Royal Highness the Duke of York the Proprietor thereof by grant from his Majesty It is a Country of a fertile soil is well watered with Rivers and is found to produce the same Beasts Birds Fowls Fish Fruits Trees Commodities c. and in as great plenty as New England so they need not be taken notice of here This Country is also possessed by sundry sorts of people not much unlike those of New England and are very expert at their Bow and Arrows which is their chief weapon of War are found to be of a ready wit and very apt to learn what is taught them in their Religious Rites divers ceremonies are observed amongst them It s Native Inhabitants and are said to worship the Devil whom they much fear their Priests being little better than Sorcerers who strangely bewitch those silly people When any woman findeth her self quick with child she keepeth her self chast from man until her delivery the like she observeth in the time of her giving suck a strange Custom which our European Dames would not well relish upon the least offence the man turneth away his wife and marrieth again and the Children begotten by her she keepeth Furnication is here permitted they are very dutiful to their Kings they believe the transmigration of the soul and concerning the Creation of the world have strange foolish opinions They are much addicted to sports recreations and dancings and observe Festival times Their habit is but mean as the rest of the Indians yet do they paint and besmear their faces with several colours which they hold Ornamental their dyet and habitations are also mean Here is one very considerable Town now called New York being well seated both for security trade and pleasure in a small
Isle called Mahatan regarding the Sea made so by Hudsons River which separates it from Long Island The Town is large containing about 500 well built houses and for Civil Government it hath a Major Aldermen Sheriff and Justices of the Peace for security of the Town here is raised a Fort called James Fort a place of considerable strength The Town is Inhabited by Dutch as well as English and hath a considerable Trade with the Indians and is like to be a place of considerable Account Province of Maryland described MARYLAND is South of Virginia from which it is severed by the River Patowmeck The Bay of Chesopeak giving entrance to Ships into Virginia and Maryland passeth through the heart of this Province and is Navigable for about 200 miles into which fall the Rivers of Patowmeck Patuxent Severn and Sasquesahanough which lie on the West side of the Bay and to the East those of Choptanke Nantecoke Pocomoke with some others to the great improvement of the soil The Country of late years since the felling the Woods and the people accustoming themselves to English dyet is very healthful and agreeable to their Constitutions few dying at their first coming of the Countreys disease or seasoning and as to temperature of the Air the Heats in Summer nor the Colds in winter are offensive to its Inhabitants It s soil The soyl is rich and fertil naturally producing all such Commodities as are found in New England and doth abound in the said several sorts of Beasts and Fowl both tame and wild hath also the same Fish Fruits Plants Roots Herbs Trees Gums Balsams c. but the Fruits are more excellent and in greater plenty here Mulberry trees grow wild and were the people industrious the Silk trade might be soon brought to perfection but their imployment is altogether taken up in planting and ordering their Tobacco Trade which is the only and Staple Commodity of the Countrey which they vend for such necessaries as they have occasion for They yearly freighing about one hundred sail of Ships there with People The Natives as to their Complexion Stature Costoms Laws Religions Dispositions Habit Dyet c. are much the same with the Indians in the other parts of America and are of divers Tribes or sorts of People and each governed by their particular King This Province of Maryland is by Patent granted to the Right Honourable the Lord Baltimore and to his Heirs and Assigns being absolute Lord and Proprietor of the same having Royal Jurisdictions and Prerogatives both Military and Civil as making of Laws pardoning of Offences conferring of Honours Coyning of Money c. and in acknowledgment thereof paying yearly to his Majesty and his Successors two Indian Arrows at Windsor Castle on Easter Tuesday This Province is severed into ten Counties viz. five Eastwards Division of the Province into Counties and five Westwards of Chesopeak Bay and in every County there is held an inferiour Court every two months for small matters from which there lyeth Appeals to the Provincial Court at St. Maryes and each County have their Sheriffs Government and Justice of the Peace The English which are reckoned about 16000 have begun of late to build some Towns which 't is hoped in few years will come to good perfection as Calverton Herrington and Harvy-Town all commodiously seated for the benefit of Trade and conveniency of Shipping but the principal Town is St. Maryes seated on St. Georges River beautified with several well built houses where his Lordship Charles Lord Baltimore hath his House and where the general Assemblies and Provincial Courts are held and publick Offices kept But his Lordship 's general Residence is at Mattapany about eight miles distant where he hath a fair and pleasant house Virginia by whom first descovered VIRGINIA is said to be first discovered by Sir Francis Drake as indeed all this tract of Sea Coast and was so named by Sir Walter Rawleigh in honour of Queen Elizabeth who then Reigned but before it was brought to any perfection much time was spent with no small expence and loss of mens lives And about the Reign of K. James a Patent was granted to certain persons as a Corporation and called the Company of Adventurers of Virginia but upon divers misdemeanours and miscarriages about the year 1623 the Patent was made void and hath been since free for all his Majesties Subjects to Trade unto It is scituate Southwards of Maryland Its Bounds and hath for its Eastern limits the Atlantick Ocean It is blest with a good Air and the Clime of late since the clearing of woods is found very agreeable to the English so that few die of the Country disease called seasoning It s Fertility The soil is so fertil that an Acre of ground commonly yields 200 bushels of Corn and is very apt to produce what is put therein as English Grains Roots Seeds Plants Fruits c. besides those appropriate to the Country and other adjacent parts of America and it is observed that their Fruits which are in great abundance and of various sorts for goodness may compare with those of Italy or Spain which are esteemed the best in Europe They have great abundance of Beasts Fowl and Fish It s Beast Fowl and Fish much the same as in New England which I have taken notice of in New England and their Turkeys are said to weigh about six stone amongst their small Birds is the Mock-Bird which counterfeiteth the notes of all Birds for which it is esteemed excellent Its Commodities The Commodities which this Country doth or may produce are Flase Hemp Woad Madder Pot-Ashes Hopps Honey Wax Rapeseed Anniceseed Silk if they would make it Mulberry Trees here growing in so great plenty several sweet Gums and excellent Balsomes Alome Iron Copper several sorts of Woods Plants c. used by Dyers Pitch Tarr Rosin Turpentine sundry sorts of rich Furrs Elk-skins and other Hides but above all Tobacco which is their principal Commodity and the standard by which all other Commodities are prized but it were to be wished the Inhabitants would imploy their time about other Commodities as well as Tobacco and they would soon find the profit and their Tobacco would not be such a drugg as now it is Its Rivers This Countrey is well watered with several great and strong Rivers which loose themselves in the Gulph or Bay of Chesopeak which gives entrance for Shipping into this Countrey as well as to Maryland and is a large and capacious Bay found very commodious for Shipping being said to run up into the Country Northwards above 200 miles amongst the Rivers those of most note are Pawhatan now James River found Navigable about 150 miles Pamaunke now York River also large and Navigable about 60 miles and Rapahanock which is long and Navigable about 120 miles And near or adjoyning to these Rivers for the conveniency of Shipping the English are seated
those under the seventh which is subject to the Moon passeth through Germany the Low Countries and England which said Planets have their Operations or Influences on the Inhabitants dwelling under each of the said Climes So that although the glorious and eternal Luminaries of Heaven have an efficacious operation yet notwithstanding the Disposition of the Earth hath a far greater prevalency seeing that through the various scituation of Hills and Vallies we experimentally find more great and different effects of the Celestial Rays which are also contemporated by the Rivers and Lakes This can be denied by no man that Nature is admirable in her Works sometimes as it were on set purpose deluding the curiosity of Humane wisdom by receding from the ordinary Laws of Causes Who can render a sufficient reason of that which is testified by Mariners concerning the Region of Maliapur in which is seated Calicut an exceeding high Mountains topping the Clouds dividing this Province throughout and ending in a Promontory which is now called Comorium which although it hath the same Altitude of the Pole yet when the Winter rageth and the Waters swell on the one side on the other side the Fields and Towns are schorched with excessive heat and the Sea calm Wherefore this diversity which is discovered in the Climates the scituation of Provinces Contemporation of the Air and Elements do variously discriminate the Constitutions of Men and those Constitutions their Natures for the manners of the Mind follow the temperament and disposition of the Body The Septentrional or Northern People being remote from the Sun and by consequence inhabiting in cold Countries are Sanguine Robust full of Valour and Animosity hence they have alwaies been Victorious and predominant over the Meridional or Southern Nations as the ASSYRIANS over the CHALDEANS the MEDES over the ASSYRIANS the PARTHIANS over the GRECIANS the TVRKS over the ARABIANS the GOTHS over the GERMANS the ROMANS over the AFRICANS and the ENGLISH over the FRENCH They love Freedom and Liberty as those also do which are Mountaineers as the Helvetians Grissons and Cantabrians The Nations proximate to the Sun have their Blood wholly exsiccated by immoderate Heat hence the Inhabitants of those Places are melancholy and profound in the penetrating of the secrets of Nature For all the Northern Nations receive the Mysteries of the Sciences from the AEGYPTIANS and ARABIANS The Provinces which are immediately between both Torrid Zones enjoy a a Benign Heaven so that they Florish in Religion Justice and Prudence The Mutations of Governments the Transmigration and Emission of Colonies Converse Matrimony War and Peace also the Motions of the Celestial Spheres which drive from the Poles and the Zodiack of the Primum Mobile the Heavenly Images on these Inferiour Bodies do change and alter the Habits Manners and also Nature it self If we have recourse unto History we shall find the GERMANS noted of old for lofty Minds and the ITALIANS on the contrary too abject and low which difference now cannot be discerned Nations have Swayed and been Predominate by turns and as long as the Monarchy hath had duration amongst them Vertue hath flourished Arts and Arms have gone hand in hand which afterwards with the Ruine of the Empire hath been smother'd in its Ashes and received Vivification in another place yet notwithstanding these Obstacles every Nation hath certain Propensions and fixed Affections appropriate to every one which will adhere to Forrainers if that they long remain amongst them The Intelligent Reader who desireth a Knowledge in these and other Particulars with a throughout Prospect of the Vtility of COSMOGRAPHY and GEOGRAPHY may consult the Work it self RICHARD BLOME The Contents of the SECTIONS and CHAPTERS GENERAL GEOGRAPHY which may be divided into III. Parts 1. The Absolute Part divided into Five Sections The first Section of things to be foreknown Chap. 1. Of the Precognita's Pag. 1 Ch. 2. Things necessary to Geometry and Trigonometry p. 6 The Second Section explaineth the Affections of the whole Earth Chap. 3. Of the Figure of the Earth p. 11 Chap. 4. Of the Dimension and Magnitude of the same 15 Chap. 5. Of the Motion of the same p. 23 Chap. 6. Of its Place in the System of the World p. 27 Chap. 7. Of its Substance and Constitution p. 30 The Third Section in which the Constitution and Parts of the Earth are explained Chap. 8. Of the division of the Earth by Waters p. 35 Chap. 9. Of Mountains in general p. 40 Chap. 10. Of the difference of Mountains p. 46 Chap. 11. Of Woods Deserts and Mines p. 54 The Fourth Section of Hydrography in which the Waters and their Properties are explained Chap. 12. Of the division of the Ocean throughout the Earth p. 57 Chap. 13. Of the Ocean and its Parts p. 65 Chap. 14. Of the Motions of the Sea especially of the flux and reflux p. 83 Chap. 15. Of Lakes Pools and Marishes p. 102 Chap. 16. Of Rivers p. 108 Chap. 17. Of Mineral Waters Baths Spaws c. p. 130 Chap. 18. Of the mutation of Dry places into Watery and the contrary p. 142 The fifth Section of the Atmosphere and Wind Chap. 19. Of the Atmosphere and Air p. 154 Chap. 20. Of the Winds in general p. 179 Chap. 21. Of the differences of Winds and of them in particular p. 187 2. The Respective Part â—xplaining the Celestial Affections Chap. 22. Of the Celestial Affections in general p. 2â—3 Ch. 23. Of the Latitude of a Place and the Elevation of the Pole p. 207 Chap. 24. Of the division of the Earth into Zones p. 213 Chap. 25. Of the Longitude of the Days and division of the Earth into Climates p. 220 Chap. 26. Of the Light Heat Cold Rains with other Properties of the Zones according to the Season of the Year p. 231 Chap. 27. Of Shadows and the division of the Inhabitants in respect of the Shadow p. 259 Chap. 28. Of the Comparation of the Celestial Affections in divers places where is treated concerning the Antoeci Perioeci and Antipodes p. 269 Chap. 29. Of the diversity of Time in divers Places p. 275 Chap. 30. Of the divers Rising of the Sun and Moon and of the other Appearances p. 280 3. The Comparative Part considering the Affections which do arise from the comparing of one place to another Chap. 31. Of the Longitude of Places p. 291 Chap. 32. Of the Scituation of Places one to another p. 309 Chap. 33. Of the mutual distances of Places p. 335 Chap. 34. Of the visible Horizon p. 342 Chap. 35. Of the Art of Navigation in general and of the Building of Ships p. 344 Chap. 36. Of the Lading or Ballacing of Ships p. 345 Chap. 37. Of the Directory of the Nautick Art in the first part the knowâ—edge of the Distance p. 347 Chap. 38. Thâ—â—â—â—ond part the knowledge of the Quarters p. 348 Chap. 39. The third part of Histiodromia or the Course of a Ship p. 353 Chap. 40. The fourth part of the
are under the 52 degree of South Latitude yet they have no very hot Summer So that the Hollanders in the month of January when there should be an hot Summer found a great glade of Ice in the Creek of one of their Seas In the Mountains of the adjacent Coasts Snow is discovered all the Summer long and it is observed that in almost all the Regions of the South Temperate Zone they have a Cold far more intense in Winter and a violency of Rain and a less heat in Summer than the parts of our Northern Temperate Zone Whether this be the cause that the Sun makes a longer stay and the slower progress in the Semicircle of the Northern Zodiac than in the Southern is to be questioned In the Neighbouring Province of Peru which they call La Valla Imperial in the Province of Potosi they find so great a Cold that for four miles circumference there groweth nothing The season of Chili In the Kingdom of Chili which extendeth it self from 30 degrees of South Latitude to 50 degrees the Spring beginneth in the months of August sooner than the Celestial Account admitteth and endeth in the middle of November And from the middle of November Summer beginneth even to the middle of February from whence Autumn leadeth on to the middle of May which the Winter succedeth which is very violent and dispoileth the Trees of their Blossoms and scattereth a deep Snow with a vehement Frost which yet is discovered by the Sun except which is very seldom that the Sun appeareth not but the Snow rarely falleth in the Vallies for although it falls in great abundance and is heaped up so high that it ascends the tops of Mountains and is heaped together in the vacuity of the Mountains as in so many wells and indure almost the whole year yet being there dissolved they flow into the Rivers and Torrents which run through the Vallies with a great force even to the Sea to the great enrichment of the Grounds But although here it Snow not except rarely in the Plains yet it maketh so excessive a Frost that the like is scarcely felt in many parts of Europe which happeneth partly from the Altitude of the Pole partly from the propinquity of the Mountains from which descend so subtile and penetrating Winds that sometimes they are unsufferable whence it cometh to pass that the Maritim parts are more temperate He that is Studious may collect other differences of Region under the same Climate or in the vicine Climates from Writers for example that in England the Air is not so cold as in Holland so that they pen not up their Heards in the Winter Betwen Siberia and Tartaria in a place seated not far from the Frigid Zone in the end of our Temperate are said to be plesant Fields and rich Pastures almost no cold seeing that they scarce feel Winter where by the command of the Duke of Moscovia the City Tooru is built which is at this day so much encreased that it is able to repell the Assaults of the Tartars The Island of Japan In Japan the Winter is Cold Snowy Ruiny when yet other Regions of Europe and Asia lying under the same Climate have far lesser Winter the cause is because that Japan consists of many Islands disjoyned by a small Euripus and that it also lyeth in the middle of the Ocean America very hot in the Summer In Armenia and the adjoyning places there is great heat in Summer because it lieth amongst Mountains here and there mixed with Fields hence the more rich in some places in Summer remove to the tops of the Mountains and remain there for some months but the meaner sort in the day time defend themselves in the Mountains from the near and about eventide do descend to the lower ground Proposition XIII To declare how in places in the Frigid Zone the four Seasons of the year have themselves with the light Of the places in the Frigid Zone The cause of those Seasons with the light proposed in the entrance of this Chapter thus stands in the Frigid Zone 1. The Center of the Sun for some days or months as the place is either nearer or remote from the Pole doth not arise above the Horizon and for so many days setteth not 2. In those days when he is above the Horizon he only illustrateth those places with his oblique raies because he is not much elevated above the Horizon but moveth round it because those places are over much removed from the way of the Sun 3. The Sun is not deeply depressed beneath the Horizon yea in places near the Polary Circle or Artick Pole although the Center of the Sun doth not arise yet part of his Skirt ariseth and is beheld for some days above the Horizon before the Center it self ariseth by reason that the half Sun possesseth 15 minutes in the Heaven For example let us take those places whose distance is from the Aequator 67 degrees towards the Pole Artick let the Pole be elevated according to this Latitude and in the Meridian Crena of the Horizon you shall see that the degrees of the Ecliptick do not arise from the 19th degree of Sagittarius to the 11 of Capricorn that is the Center of the Sun being in that Arch doth not arise for 24 days viz. from the 10th of December to the 4th of January and yet part of the Skirt of the Sun for that whole time shall be above the Horizon to wit on the 21 of December the Limbus glittereth the Horizon but on the 10 of December as also on the first of January half the Sun shall be above the Horizon and half beneath because the Center is then in the Horizon But the whole Sun shall be elevated above the Horizon when the Center of the Sun shall hold the 14 degree of Capricorn that is about the 4 day of January also the whole shall afterwards appear when his Center shall possess the 16 degree of Sagittarius that is about the 7 of December But in places where the elevation of the Pole is 70 or 75 degrees there this difference between the Oriental Limbus and the Oriental Center is very little so that the Limbus or Skirt scarcely anticipateth the rise of the Center of the Sun one day or half a day From this smallest of depression it followeth also that they enjoy the light of the Crepusculum many hours before the rising and after the setting of the Sun and although the Sun ariseth not yet in all or many of the hours of the day they have light in the Air. There is also another cause See Chap. 19. which maketh the Sun first to be seen before that he is elevated above the Horizon For thence it cometh to pass that not only the Sun is seen before he is elevated above the Horizon and before the Raies can directly come from him to the Eye but also that the light of the Twilight sooner illustrateth
FRANCE viz. In the Estates of the CATHO LICK KING to wit In SPAIN as The County of Rousillon where are Perpignan Elne Collioure Salces c. The County of Cerdagne Puy Cerda c. The Principality of Catalogne and County of Barcelone where are Barcelona Girona Vich Solsona Urgel Manressa Cardona Cadegues c. In the LOW COUNTRY as Part of the County of Flanders Gravelines Wasten Part of the County of Artois Arras Hesdin Bappaumes Part of the County of Haynaut Landrochy Part of the Dutchy of Luxenbourg Thionville Damvillers In the FRENCH COUNTY as Part of the Balliages of Gray Vesoul Lure c. Part of the Balliages of Salins Arbois Poligny Bletterans St. Amour Joux c. In divers Lands and Principalities the most part of which are esteemed in the Empire of GERMANY to wit In the Estate of LORRAIN as The Dutchy of Barrois Barle Duc Ligny St. Michael Pont a Moosson The Dutchy of Lorrain Nancy Mirecourt Newchasted on the Meuse Dieuze Sirke c. The Bishoprick of Metz Vic Moyen-Vic Marsal St. Avold Alberstrof Espernay About LORRAIN as The Principality of Sedan The Principality of Arches or Charleville Clermont Stenay Jametz The County of Biche In and about the PALATINATE of the RHINE as Part of the Palatinate of the Rhine Bacharach Creutznach Altzheim Oppenheim Neustat Landau Cermosheim c. Part of the Archbishoprick of Mayence Mayence Bingen c. Part of the Bishoprick of Wormes Wormes Part of the Bishoprick of Spire Spire Udenheim or Philipsbourâ— Part of the Estate of Bade Baden Durlach Pfortzheim c. In ALSACE or ALSATIA as Low Alsace Haguenau Saverne c. Higher Alsace Colmar Schlestat Brisach Newbourg c. County of Pfirt or Ferrette and Country of Sungou Ferrette Tannes Befo rt Blome Landseror c. About ALSACE as The County of Monbeliard c. The Bishoprick of Basle Porentru St. Uâ—sand Dalsperg or Delmont c. The County of Reinfield Reinfield Lanffenbourg Waldshout In the Dutchy of Wirtenberg Hohen-Wiel In Piedmont Pignerol c. In ITALY In the Estates of the Duke of SAVOY to wit In the Principality of Piedmont Turin Suze Avigliane Chivas Santja Ast Quierascq Coni Caours c. In the Marquisate of Saluces Carmagnole Demont In the Estates of MONFERRAT viz. In the Dukedom of Savoy Trin c. In the Dukedom of Mantoua Casal Aqui. On the River of GENES The Principality of Monaco or Morgues Rt. Worshipfull Sr. Iustinian 〈◊〉 of Lamport in Northamptoâ—shire Baronet 〈◊〉 Mapp is Humbly DD. by R. Blome GENERALL MAPP of the KINGDOM of FRANCE Designed by Monsieur Sanson Geographer to the French King FRANCE FRANCE is esteemed the most fertil and powerful Kingdom in Europe and the best next to England that can subsist without the help of others It is seated about the 45th degrees of Latitude It s Scituation which is in the midst of the Temperate Zone It is washed on the East with the Rhine together with an imaginary line drawn from Strasburgh to Calais on the South by the Mediterranean Seas and opens a passage to the Northern Ocean on the West by the Aquitain Sea and on the North by the British Ocean Its Bounds It extends it self from the 42 degrees of Latitude unto the 51 and from the 15th of Longitude to the 29th which makes its length and breadth to be above 200 French Leagues It is contiguous to the Low Countries on the North to Germany and Italy on the East and to Spain on the South It s Soil and Commodities It is of an extraordinary fertil Soil affording three excellent and useful Commodities in great plenty viz. Corn Wine and Salt also Oil Almonds Paper Canvass Linnen both fine and course Oade Corral Skins Nuts Stuffs and several Manufactures Toies and Curiosities It is very plentiful in all Provisions It s People It is exceeding populous and crouded with Towns and Cities once numbring 100000 Parishes which are now reduced to a less number The People are well proportionate and indifferent handsom especially the Men they are of a ready and Mercurial wit of a courteous Behaviour of a hot Brain and soon moved to Broils they are very active and given to Exercises in weighty Affairs both Civil and Martial they are not over subtle their first attempt being like thunder and their end like smoak In matters of Religion they generally follow the Church of Rome in which they are not over strict It would be too tedious to observe all the different Orders and Governments in this Kingdom we will content our selves to say that in the Assemblies of the General Estates where the Nobility Clergy and third Estate have their Seats it is divided into twelve several Government of which four are on this side or if you please Northwards of the Loire four upon and about the Loire and four beyond the South of the Loire The four on this side are Picardy Normandy the Isle of France and Champaigne the four about the Loire are Bretaigne Orleance or Orlenois Bourgogne or Burgundy and Lionois and the four beyond the Loire are Guienne and Gascoigne Languedoc Dauphin and Provence In each Government are several Parts or Countries which are taken notice of in the Geographical Tables of the Kingdom of which in order Goverment of Picardy PICARDY is divided into the Higher and Lower in both of which are divers good Towns in the Lower are 1. Calais called by Coesar Portus Iccius held by the English near 200 years and was then esteemed the Key of the Kingdom it is esteemed one of the best Ports in Picardy seated opposite to Dover in England from which it is distant about eight Leagues once a place of great Trade as being the Staple of English Wools now only of note for its being the receipt of Passengers from this Kingdom to England to and fro 2. Bulloigne a strong Frontier Town towards the Sea 3. Abbeville also a strong Frontier Town In the higher Picardy are 1. Amiens a Frontier City towards Flanaers well fortified and famous for the sudden loss and as sudden and brave regaining it by Henry the Fourth 2. St. Quintin a strong Frontier Town Dukedom of Normandy NORMANDY well watered with Rivers amongst which are the Seine Anon and Orne It is well garnished with Cities and Towns many of which are commodiously seated for Trade by reason of their vicinity to the British Ocean the chief of which are 1. Roan its Metropolis seated in the higher Normandy on the banks of the Seine over which there is a famous Bridge of Boats Here is held one of the Parliaments of France and it is a place of as great Trade as any in France being one of the three principal Towns where Exchanges are used Here the English have a publick Hall allowed them for the sale of English Woolen cloth to which place at certain days they are constrained to expose them to sale 2. Havre de Grace or Now Haven the strongest
together extend from about the 48th degree of Latitude unto the 57th which are about 225 French Leagues and from the 38th of Longitude unto the 61 and have near as much Continent again as France They are bounded on the East for the most part by Moscovy Bounds and part of the Petit Tartars on the South the Mountains oâ— Caprack and the River Neister divide them from Hungaria Transilvania and Moldavia on the West by Germany and toucht in part on the Balticâ— Sea and on the North they are bounded part by Livonia and Moscovy Ancient Inhabitants The Ancient name of Poland was Sauromatia from its Inhabitants the Sauromatae afterwards by Lechius the first Duke hereof in Anno 550 it was called Poland which signifies a plain Country as generally it is It was made a Kingdom by the Emperour Otho the Third Anno 1000 Boleslaus being Duke and hath ever had its Dukes and Kings elected by the States who by reason of their vicinity to the Turks generally chuse a Warriour Fertility Commodities c. The Country is plain well clothed with Firs and other Timber-Trees the Air is so cold that they have neither Wine nor Grapes instead of which having store of Barly they make use of the Old drink of England viz. Ale The Country is well furnished with Grains and Fruits but they are but lean their chief Commodities are rich Furs Horses Hony Wax Bow-staves Buff-hides Ambergreese Flax Linnen-cloth Masts Cordage Boards Wainscot Timber Rozin Tar and Pith of both kinds Match Iron Stock-fish Salt digged out of the Earth Pot-ashes Rye in great plenty for which it hath made Dantzick famous It is well furnished with Flesh Fowl and Fish and to waâ—ds the Carpatian Mountains of Hungaria are found Mines of Gold and Silver as also Iron and Brimstone To the R t Worship Full Sr Robert Clayton of the Citty of London Kt and Alderman and Lord Mayr thee of Anno 1680 This Mapp is D D by R B P of the ESTATES of the CROWNE of POLAND where are the KINGDOM of POLAND withits Palatinates the DUTCHES of RUSSIA-NOIRE CUJAVIA MOZOVIA PRUSSIA â—IA VOLHYNIA PODOLIA c Designed by Monsieur Sanson Geographer to the French King The Revenue of the King The Revenue of the King is not great for so large a Country and that which is he receiveth from them quarterly the Kingdom being divided into four Parts every one of which keepeth the King and Court a quarter which Revenue is not certain but more or less according to his occasions by War Marriage of his Daughters or the like Poland with its parts and chief places The Kingdom is divided throughout into Palatinates and Castlewicks Poland taken particularly is divided into the Higher and Lower in the Higher are the Palatinates of Cracou Sandomirz and Lublin Places of most note in these parts are 1. Cracou or Cracovia seated in a Plain and on the Banks of the Vistula dignified with the residence of the King It is in form round the Houses fair and lofty and built of Freestone in the midst of the City is a large Quadrangle Market-house where is seated the Cathedral Church and the Senate-house for the Citizens about which are several Shops for Merchants The City is encompassed with two strong Stone Walls and a dry Ditch on the East-side of the City is the Kings Castle being fair well built and pleasantly seated on a Hill as also the Kings and Queens Lodgings on the West is a Chappel where the Kings are interr'd and on the North-side Lodgings for Entertainment and Feasting the South-side being without Buildings but as to matters of Trade this City is of small account Also Sandomirz and Lublin both chief Cities of their Palatinates are in the higher Polonia or Poland Lower Poland In the Lower Poland are the Palatinates of Posna Kalisch Sirad Lencinâ— Dobrzin Ploczk and Rava whose chief Cities or places bear the same name and are the residence of their Palatines Besides which there are several other Towns of good note which are taken notice of in the Geographical Table of the Kingdom and in chief Posna and Gnesna dignified with the See of an Archbishop who during the Interregnum of the King holdeth the Supream Authority in the Kingdom and summoneth the Diets To Poland doth also belong the Dutchies of Russia Noire Cujavia Mazovia Prussia and Polaquie Russia Noire RVSSIA NOIRE hath for its chief places Loewenberg and Belz both chief of their Palatinates OVJAVIA hath for its principal places Brzesti and Vladislau Cujavia both chief of their Castelwicks Mazovia with its places MAZOVIA hath only one Palatinate viz. Czersk under which is comprised several Cities and Castlewicks the chief of which is Warzaw one of the fairest in the Kingdom it oft-times being the residence of the Kings of Poland a place noted for its excellent Metheglin here made PRVSSIA is considered in two parts Prussia which are called Royale and Ducale Prussia Royale is immediately subject to the Crown of Poland and hath its Palatinates in the Cities of 1. Dantzick seated on the Vistula at its influx into the Baltick Sea and at the foot of a great Mountain which hangs over it it is the fairest best and of the greatest Trade of any in Prussia Through this City runs a River very commodious to the Inhabitants whereon are many Mills for the grinding of Corn which is here found in great plenty as also a Water-Mill for the conveyance of water in Pipes to their Houses and by reason of its great Trade for Corn with England and other parts they have a great many Granaries or Store-houses for the same which is hither brought them from Poland 2. Elbin though but small yet a fair City and indifferently well frequented by the English Merchants 3. Marienburg the Seat of the Masters of the Dutch Knights 4. Culne and 5. Thorn which though it hath no Palatinate is esteemed by many next to Dantzick Prussia Ducale belongs to the Marquess of Brandenbourg who holds it from the Crown of Poland It hath only one Palatinate at Koningsberg seated on an Inlet of the Baltick Sea and washed with the River Pegel it is a fair City a famous Mart and a good University and before its Coast is gathered great quantity of Ambergriece This Ambergriece is the juyce of a Stone growing like Coral on a Rock in the North-Sea continually covered with Water and in the Months of September and December by the violence of the Sea is rent from the Rocks and cast into the Havens of the Neighbouring Countries POLAQVIE is a small Province between the Estates of Poland and Lithuania Polaquie and seems to have belonged to Mozavia Bielsk is the Seat of its Palatinate And hitherto we have treated of the Estates of Poland almost all on the Vistula or the Rivers that fall into it on which are seated the three fairest Cities of these Quarters viz. Cracow towards its Spring
and its Markets on Wednesdays and Saturdays are very great and well provided with Corn Flesh Fish and Fowl It was formerly a Major Town but at present a Bailiwick Bridgwater seated on a navigable River Bridgwater over which it hath a fine Stone-bridge It is a large well frequented and inhabited Borough Town hath the election of Parliament men is governed by a Major and other sub-Officers was formerly a place of good account having a Castle and an Abby It s Market is on Thursdays which is well served with Corn and Provisions and in the Summer season with Cattle Mynehead seated on the Sea-shoar a Borough Town Mynehead electing Parliament men hath a very good harbour for Ships of a considerable burthen to ride in and is a place of some Trade especially into Ireland yet its Market is but small County of Stafford The County of STAFFORD seated much about the midst of England of a healthful Air and different Soil the Southern parts being generally barren as sandy gravelly or heathy except on the banks of the Rivers yet by the Husbandmans pains in manuring it it beareth good Corn and the Northern parts are hilly and full of grat Heaths and Moors and is made use of for seeding of Cattle And although an Inland County yet by reason of the many Rivers and Brooks it is plentifully furnished with excellent Fish To speak of the Country in general there are more Heaths Moors and wast Ground than in any County in England as to its bigness insomuch that you may go the whole length of the County and see little but Heaths and Moors but these are not without profit as breeding store of Sheep Conies and Deer as well as pleasure for the Gentleman both for the Hawk Gun and Hound and for Parks and Warrens few Counties doth exceed it The Commodities that this Shire affordeth to others are Cattle Sheep Horses Butter Cheese Wool Bacon Iron Iron-ware chiefly Nails Alablaster c. The number of Parishes are 130 and hath 18 Market Towns many of which are of considerable account Litchfield Litchfield a City and County of it self seated in a pleasant Champain Country divided from the Cathedral and Close but joyned together by two Bridges and Cawseys It is a City of great antiquity formerly called Licidfeld that is the Field of dead Bodies which name it had from the great number of Christians there slain in the Dioclesian Persecution and here Oswin King of the Northumbers having vanquished the Pagan Mercians erected a Church and made it the Episcopal See of Duina the Bishop which afterwards was made an Archiepiscopal Pale by Pope Hadrian in the Reign of King Offa which dignity expired with his life This City is well built is indifferent large containing 3 Parish Churches besides its Cathedral a beautiful and curious Structure adjoyning to which is the Bishops Palace and the Prebends-houses the Streets are payed and well ordered and is a place much frequented by Gentry It is governed by 2 Bailiffs a Sheriff which are elected out of 24 Burgesses a Recorder Town Clerk with sub-Officers and amongst its Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament Its Markets are on Tuesdays and Fridays which are plentifully served with Corn and Provisions Stafford Stafford well seated on the River Sowe amongst rich Meadows a fair Town indifferent large containing 2 Parish Churches hath a Free School and a fine square Market-place in which the Shire-Hall is kept for the Assigâ—â— and Sessions of the County the Streets are paved and well ordered and its Houses well built it is governed by a Major and Burgesses hath a Recorder Town Clerk and 2 Serjeants at Mace The Town enjoys large Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament is well inhabited and frequented and its Markets which is on Saturdays is well served with Corn Flesh and other Provisions New-Castle under Line New-Castle seated on a little Rivulet a large Town Corporate governed by a Major Bailiffs and Burgesses hath a Court of Record to hold plea in all Personal Actions under 40 l. and amongst its Immunities sends Burgesses to Parliament It hath a great Market on Mondays for Cattle some Horses and Sheep with plenty of Provisions and after Low-Monday a Market or rather a Fair every Fortnight for some time Vttoxater uttoxater pleasantly seated near the Banks of the Dove amongst excellent Pasturage The Town is not very well built but pretty large hath a well built Market-place and its Market which is on Wednesdays is said to be one of the greatest in these parts of England for Cattle Sheep Swine Butter Cheese Corn and all Provisions Tamworth Tamworth seated on the Banks of the Tame which divides the Town one part being in this County and the other in Warwickshire The Town at present is of good account though not of that splendor as in former times being incorporated governed by Bailiffs a high Steward under-Steward Recorder and other sub-Officers sends Burgesses to Parliament and hath a Market on Saturdays which is indifferent good for Corn and Provisions and in the Spring time for Cattle and Sheep Walsall Walsall seated on the top of a Hill a well-built Town Corporate governed by a Major and other sub-Officers hath a Court of Record enjoyeth a good Trade for divers Manufactures made of Iron as Nails Bridle-bits Stirrups Spurs and also Bellows here made in great plenty yet its Market which is on Tuesdays is not very great Wolverhampton pleasantly seated on a Hill Wolverhampton beautified with reasonable well built Houses and its Streets handsomly paved is much frequented by Gentry hath a neat Collegiate Church and its Market which is on Wednesdays is very considerable for Corn Cattle and Provisions being esteemed the second Market Town in the County County of Suffolk described SVFFOLK a County of a various Soil and consequently hath sundry growths and Manufactures the Eastern parts all along the Coasts and for 5 or 6 miles Inland are generally very bleak but healthy sandy full of small Hills and Springs and employed in Tillage for Rye Peas Brank Hemp and for Sheep-walks The more Inland part commonly called High-Suffolk or the Wood-lands is pretty level close and dirty and is made use of chiefly for Dayries driving a great trade for their Butter and Cheese and the parts about Bury are Champain and affordeth great store of grain of all sorts It is a County of a large extent is well stored with Parks watered with fresh Streams and blest with a most healthful and sweet Air which makes it to be so well inhabited by Gentry and is traded unto by 27 Market Towns and numbreth 575 Parish Churches Ipswich seated by the Banks of the Orwell Ipswich near the place where its fresh Water and salt meet which with the Tide gives it the conveniency of a Key 'T is a place of great antiquity and was once fenced about with a Wall or Rampier which was thrown down by the
of the Dutchy of Lancaster and hath a Market on Saturdays Doncaster seated on the Done and on the great Road to London Doncaster an ancient Town of good Antiquity once defended by a Castle now reduced to ruins and in Anno 759 this Town suffered much great part with its Cittadel being consumed with Fire but was rebuilt with a fair Church erected in the place where the Cittadel stood It is a large well-built and inhabited Town Corporate governed by a Major and Aldermen enjoyeth a good Trade especially for Stockings Knit-Waistcoats Petticoats and Gloves and hath a very good Market for Corn Cattle and Provisions on Saturdays Selby honoured in giving birth to King Henry the First seated on the Owse Selby which gives passage for small Vessels to York which doth occasion it to be a Town of some Trade and hath a good Market for Provisions and Merchandize on Mondays Ponfract very delightfully seated in a dry tract of ground Pontfract a neat Town Corporate beautified with good Buildings was once strengthned with a strong and stately Castle which was demolished in the late Wars It is governed by a Major and Aldermen sends Burgesses to Parliament and hath a very great Market for Corn Cattle Provisions and divers Country-commodities on Saturdays Wakefield seated in a large Lordship so called having its Steward Wakefield It is a large Town of good antiquity beautified with well built Stone-houses it is a place well known for its Clothing here made and hath a great Market on Thursdays and Fridays for Cloth Corn Provisions and divers Country-commodities Leeds seated on the Are an ancient Town Leeds where the Kings had formerly their Royal Palace and here Oswy King of the Northumbers put to flight Penda the Mercian It is a large and well built Town Corporate governed by a Major and Aldermen with sub-Officers electeth Parliament men is very well inhabited especially by wealthy Clothiers who drive a great Trade for their Cloth and hath two considerable Markets on Tuesdays and Saturdays which are well traded unto for Corn Provisions Woollen-Cloth and divers good Commodities Knaresbrough Knaresbrough delightfully seated on the Nid and on a ragged rough Rock on which is seated a Castle It is a well-built Town Corporate electing Parliament men and hath a good Market for Corn and Provisions on Wednesdays Nigh unto this place in a Moorish boggy-ground ariseth a Spring of Vitrioline tast and odour and not far off is also a Sulphur-Well which is good for several Diseases here is also a droping petrefying-Well which turns Wood Moss c. into Stone Rippon Rippon feated between the Yore and a Branch thereof over which are two Bridges It is a place of good antiquity and of much same for its Religious Houses but especially for its stately Monastery built by Wilfrid Archbishop of York It is at present a large and well-built Town Corporate governed by a Major and Aldermen hath the election of Parliament men the Town is well inhabited by Gentry and its Market which is on Thursdays is very great for Cattle Corn Provisions and chiefly for Wool which is much bought up by the Cloathiers of Leeds This Town is beautified with a very fine Cathedral Church with a lofty Spire-Steeple and in this Church was St. Winfrids Needle a place famous in our Fore-fathers days being a narrow Hole in the close Vaulted-room under ground in which place as 't is reported but not Recorded for Truth Womens Honesty was used to be tried for according to the story those that were Chast could easily pass through but the kind-hearted Souls were by an unknown means held fast and could not pass through WALES THE Island of great Britain in ancient time was severed into three Parts the first fairest and greatest contained all within the French Seas the Rivers of Severn Dee and Humber and was called Lhoyger which name in Welsh it still retaineth and in English England The second took up all the Land Northwards from the Humber to the Orkney Isles and was called Mare Caledonium or Deucaledonium and now Scotland And the third lying between the Irish Seas the Rivers of Severn and Dee was anciently called Cambria and now Wales to which the Britains being outed of their Country were forced to retire and there fortified themselves The Bounds This Country of Wales is bounded on all sides by the Sea except towards England from which it is severed by the River Dee and a Line drawn to the River Wye but anciently it was extended to the River Severn Eastward for Offa King of the Mercians forced them to quit the Plain Countries beyond that River which now is called the Marches of Wales and to betake themselves to the Mountains which he caused to be separated from England by a great Ditch called Offa's Dike in Welsh Claudh Offa in many places yet to be seen which Dike beginneth at the influx of the Wye into the Severn and reacheth unto Chester which is about 84 miles where the Dee disburthens it self into the Sea And over this Dike by a Law made by Harald no Welshman was permitted to pass with a Weapon upon pain of losing his Right hand Very Mountainous and Barren The whole Country is Mountainous and Barren yet affordeth several good Commodities and is not without many fertil Valleys which bear good Corn and breed great abundance of small Cattle with which they furnish England as also with Butter Cheese Woollen-Cloths called Welsh-Frizes Cottons Bays Herrings both White and Red Calve-skins Hides Hony Wax c. and the Country is well stored with Quarries of Free-stone for building and Mill-stones as also hath Mines of Lead Lead-Oar Coals and some of Silver and Tin And these Commodities are generally brought to Shrewsbury Oswestre Bristol Worcester and other adjacent parts and thence dispersed into England It s Ancient division About the year of Christ 870 Rodericus Magnus King of Wales divided this Country into three Regions Territories or Talaiths which were so many Kingdoms to wit Gwineth Venedotia or North-Wales and this part he gave to Anarawd his eldest Son Deheubarth or South-Wales which he gave to Cadelh his second Son and Powis or Powis-Land which he gave to Mervin his third Son and in each of these three Kingdoms he appointed a Royal Palace as at Aberffraw in the Isle of Anglesey for North-Wales at Dynefar or Dynevowr-Castle not far from Carmarthen for South-Wales and at Matravan in Montgomery-shire for Powis-Land Present division But at present according to Act of Parliament made in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth it is severed into two Parts to wit North-Wales and South-Wales both which have as it were devoured all Powis-Land and in each of these parts there are 6 Counties in the North those of Anglesey Caernarvon Denbigh Flint Merioneth and Montgomery and in the South those of Brecknock Cardigan Carmarden Glamorgan Pembroke and Radnor Again Wales like unto
its Buildings especially in its Suburbs which is severed from the City by a Wall which gives entrance by six Gates As touching the Trade of this Kingdom I shall include it under this City as being the chief place of Traffick The Commodities exported are the product of the Country already treated of and those imported are all sorts of English Commodities especially Apparel Silks Stuffs c. also Wines Oils and several other Commodities Their Coins as being under the Jurisdiction of England have correspondency therewith and are here currant as also those of Spain and an Irish Pound which consisteth of 20 s. is but 15 s. sterling which makes their Shilling but 9 d. sterling And as to their Weights and Measures they are the same with those of England where see further Wickle seated on the Sea Wickle where over the narrow Haven there standeth a Rock enclosed with a strong Wall instead of a Castle and serveth for a place of defence New-Castle a Town which regardeth the Sea Newcastle where there are Shelves of Sand which they call the Grounds reaching a great length between which and the Shoar is said to be about seven Fathom water Houth seated on the River Liffy at its fall into the Sea Houth which almost encloseth it Malcheal also seated on the Sea Malcheal nigh unto which is a small Isle called Lambey County of East-Meath described EAST-MEATH a County watered with the noble River Boyn which cutteth the Country into two parts and after it hath received the Waters of Lough-Ranmore dischargeth it self into the Sea It is severed into twelve Baronies viz. Moyfenragh Dunboyne Ratoth Duleeke Kells Morgallon Skreen Navan Lune Slane Foore and Decce And hath for its chief place Trim seated on the River Boyne a Town of good account and Trade Trim. Aboy a well inhabited and frequented Town Aboy Navan Drodagh Slane Navan Drodagh and Slane which also hath a Barony County of West-Meath described WEST-MEATH so called as lying Westwards as the other is for lying Eastwards It is divided into twelve Baronies viz. Farbill Moyeashell Clunlonan Brawney Moygoish Delvin Corkery Demyfoore Maheredernon Rathconrath Kilkenny-west and Fartullagh And hath for its chief places Molingar the chief Shire-Town Molingar as being commodiously seated in the midst of the County Delvin seated on the Summit of a Hill a Town dignified with a Barony Delvin and Kelskery Kelskery County of Longford described LONGFORD a County almost encompassed with Lakes and Rivers amongst which is the Shannon the noblest River in the Kingdom It is severed into six Baronies viz. Ardagh Granard Moydow Longford Rathline and Abbyshrewle And hath for its chief places Longford which gives name to the County seated on the Lake Eske Longford or rather on the Shannon Ardragh another good Town Ardragh County of Kildare described KILDARE a rich and fertil County severed into ten Baronies viz. Salt Nass Ikeathy or Oughtereney Claine Connel Magna Carbury Ophaly Noragh and Rabane Kilkullen half Kilcah and Moon Whose chief places are Kildare a fair Inland Town being well frequented defended by a Castle Kildare and dignified with the See of a Bishop A place much celebrated in the Infancy of the Irish Church for its St. Brigid an holy Virgin who was the Disciple of St. Patrick Mainoth defended by a Castle and is a place of good account Mainoth and well frequented Naas Athie Naas and Athie seated on the River Barrow both Towns of some account Kings County described KINGS COVNTY so called in honour to Philip King of Spain Husband to Mary Queen of England It is divided into ten Baronies viz. Cooles-Town Philips-Town Marrius-Town Ballicowen Kilcoursey Balliboy Clonliske Garricastle Ballibritt and Fercale And hath for its chief places Philips-Town or Kings-Town Philips-Town Queens-Town described QVEENS COVNTY full of Boggs and Woods is divided into eight Baronies viz. Balliadams Vpper-Ossery Portnehinch Tenehinch Cullinagh Mary-burrough Slewmargigh and Stradbally And hath for its chief places Queens-Town a place of good account and is the chief in the County Queens-Town Rheban once a City but at present of small note Rheban County of Caterlough described CATERLOVGH a fertil County and well clothed with Wood. It is severed into five Baronies viz. Ravilly Caterlough Forth Idronye and St. Mullin in part And hath for its chief places Caterlough Caterlough seated on the River Barrow of good account and strength Leighlin Leighlin also seated on the Barrow once dignified with an Episcopal See Tullo Tullo seated on the River Slane Carickbrak Areklo Carickbrak and Areklo which two last are seated on the Sea County of Wexford described WEXFORD or WEISFORD washed by the Sea a County in former time according to Ptolomy possessed by the Menapians a sort of People which came out of Low-Germany It is divided into eight Baronies viz. Gory Scarwalsh Ballagheene Bantry Shellmaleere Forth Bargy and Sheelburne And hath for its chief places Wexford Wexford supposed to be the ancient City Menapa scituate at the Mouth of the River Slane where it hath a good Haven a fair Town and of note for being the first Town that imbraced a Colony of English as also for its Herring-fishing which makes it to be well inhabited and frequented Ross Ross seated on the River Barrow which after a small course falleth into a Bay or Arm of the Sea Ternes Ternes scituate on the Slane dignified with the See of a Bishop and was in former time fortified with a Castle Eniscort Eniscort a Borough and Town Corporate County of Kilkenny described KILKENNY a very fertil County well graced with Towns is divided into ten Baronies viz. Gowran Fassaghdining Kilkenny Cranagh Galmey Callen Iverke Sheelelogher Kells Knocktopher Ida-Igrin and Ibercon And hath for its chief places Kilkenny Kilkenny seated on the River Nur which traverseth the County a fair and wealthy Borough-Town far exceeding all other Mid-land Borough-Towns in the Kingdom It is divided into the English and the Irish Town that part belonging to the English being fenced on the West-side by a Wall and defended by a Castle and that part which belongeth to the Irish being as it were the Suburbs is of the greatest Antiquity having in it the Canicks Church and is honoured with the See of the Bishop of Ossery Thomas Town Thomas Town seated beneath the River Nur a small walled Town Callan Callan seated on a River so called a Borough and Town Corporate Religious Houses Amongst the places in this Province set apart for Divine Worship these following were of great note viz. the stately Abbey called Thomas Court at Dublin built by King Henry the Second in expiation of the Murther of Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury the Monasteries of St. Maries of Oustmanby and Tintern and the Abbey founded by William Marshall Earl
the Castle of St. Elmo doth merit fame not only for its buildings which are curious but for the entertainment there given to those that fall sick where the Knights themselves lodge when sick or wounded to receive cure where they are exceeding well attended have excellent good dyet served by the Junior Knights in silver and every friday visited by the Grand Master accompanied with the great Crosses a service which was from the first institution commanded and thereupon called Knights Hospitallers Here are as Sandys saith three Nunneries one for Virgins another for Bastards and the third for penitent Whores Castle of St. Elmo The Castle of St. Elmo is at the end of the City of Valetta towards the Sea and at the opening of two Ports During the siege of Malta it was taken and sackt by the Turks after having wasted 18000 Cannonshot given divers assaults and lost 4000 men of their best Militia among others Dragut one of their most famous Coursaiers The Christians lost 1300 men among whom many Knights But this Fort was restored to a far better Estate than before and is separated from the City only by a ditch cut likewise in the Rock on the other side and on the point of the Borgo is the Fort of St. Angelo and likewise above the Borgo and the Isle of Sengle have been made new works to hinder the Turks from lodging there Besides these three Cities and the Forts about them the ancient City of Malta Medina is in the middle of the Island on an easie ascending hill and in an advantagious scituation The Turks assaulted it in 1551 but soon retired The Bishop of the Isle hath here his residence and near the City is yet the Grotte and Chapel of St. Paul where they believe he preached and where he lay when he suffered shipwrack and this place is of great account among them All these Cities and Forts have 250 or 300 pieces of Cannon on their Rampart The Isle very strong and well provided for War and their Magazins are so well provided with Powder Shot Wood Bisket Salt-meats and all Provisions and Ammunition that they call it Malta Flor del Mondo Malta the Flower of the World being provided alwaies with Ammunitions and Provisions for a three years siege yet this is to be understood not only because of its Fortifications and Ammunitions but likewise because of its force and the resolution of its Knights The Order of Knighthood first instituted This order of Knighthood according to Sandys received their denomination from John the charitable Patriarch of Alexandria though vowed to St. John Baptist as their Patron Their first seat was the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem built by one Gerrard at the same time when the Europeans had something to do in the Holy-Land where they received such good success and became so famous that they drew divers worthy persons into this society which by Pope Gelasius the second was much approved of He saith that one Raymond was the first Master of this Order who did amplifie their Canons and entituled himself The poor servant of Christ and Guardian of the Hospital in Jerusalem and at the allowance of one Honorius the second were apparelled in black garments signed with a White-Cross this Order we have said began at Jerusalem and at first meddled not but with the Government of the Hospital of St. John and were called Fryers Hospitallers or simply Hospitallers as those of the Temple Templers but when these Hospitallers were constrained to make profession both of Hospitality and Arms they were called Knights Hospitallers or Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem These Knights oft forced to remove their habitations after the loss of Jerusalem they held their Convent in the City and Fortress of Margatt then in Aicre or Ptolomaido and all the Latine Christians being driven from the Holy Land and from Souria they retired into Cyprus But during their stay in Cyprus they gained Rhodes and established themselves there so powerfully that they were called Knights of Rhodes Margaret was taken from them in 1285. Aicre in 1291 little less than 200 years after Godfrey of Bulloin had Conquered the Holy Land and this order began before after the loss of Aicre they lived in Cyprus from 1291 to 1309. in which year they took and settled in Rhodes and maintained it more than 100 years sustaining four sieges till in 1522 Sultan Solyman became Master of Rhodes they then retired into Europe now into one place and then into another and in fine to Malta which Charles the fifth gave them in 1530. with some little neighbouring Isles as likewise the City of Tripoly in Barbary which they could keep no longer then 1551. that place being too far engaged in the Enemies Country These Knights are of divers Nations and are divided into eight Tongues to wit of Province of Auvergne of France of Italy of Arragon of England of Germany and of Castile so that the three first are in France and the last in Castile each Tongue contains many Priories and each Priory many Commanderies these three Tongues which are in France have near 300 Commanderies The other five Tongues which are in Italy Arragon England Germany and Castile made near 400. but there are no more in England England the Kings of England when they confiscated the goods of the Church having likewise seized the goods and Commanderies of the Knights of Malta and in Germany a part of these Commanderies being fallen into the hands of Lutherans and Calvinists serve no longer so that at present France alone furnishes little less than half the Commanderies of Malta And it hath been observed that from the first establishment of this Order unto this very present of 57 great Masters there hath been 37 French only 4 or 5 Italians 7 or 8 Spaniards and 11 whose Nation and Tongue the History could not observe but apparently the most part were French since this Order began by the French of these 34 known 12 were in the Holy-Land and in Souria 13 in Rhodes and 〈◊〉 in Malta unto Father Paul of Lascaris of every one there is a Grand Prior who lives in great reputation in his Country who orders the affairs of their Order and for England St. Johns by Clarken-well in times past was a mansion of the Grand-Prior There are several Councels among these Knights Their Government as that for deciding of differences which may happen among them the Councel of War the General Chapter which may augment or moderate the Authority of the great Master renew the Ordinances and Government of the Religion or their Order and which is held every five years The Ceremonies performed in making these Knights The Ceremonies used in Knighting are these which follow first being cloathed in a long loose garment he goeth to the Altar with a Taper in his hand of White Wax where he kneeleth down and desires the Order of the Ordinary then
of Ships in like manner are they found in the Gulph or Bay of St. Laurence Besides the Cod-fish here are other sorts of Fish in great plenty as Thornback Ling Salmons Oysters c. The greatest of these Isles and which commonly takes the name of New-found-land is 4 or 5 Leagues circuit It is scituate betwixt the degrees of 46 and 53 of Northern Latitude and is severed from the Continent of America by an Arm of the Sea and is distant from England about 600 Leagues A Country ill-inhabited towards the East and South the Inhabitants being retired farther within Land but the English have of late settled some Colonies to maintain their Fishing-Trade Its Inhabitants The Natives are of a reasonable good Stature and well proportioned but full-ey'd broad-faced beardless and of an Oker complexion not over ingenious their Houses are very mean and their Apparel and Furniture worse The Country being for the generality reputed fertil if well cultivated and would yield good Grains is enriched by Nature with plenty of Fish Fowl and wild Beasts and is blest with a wholsom Air though the rigour of the Winter season and the excess of Heats in Summer do something detract from its due praise East of New-found-land is a great Bank a thing as remarkable as any in all Canada This Bank is much different from those which are covered with Water when the Sea is high uncovered and dry on an Ebb Saylors must shun such Banks like death This which we now speak of is like a Country overflown always covered with the Sea and having at least 20 30 or 40 Fathom water for the depth is unequal Off from this Bank on all sides the Sea is no less than 200 Fathom deep and yet this Bank is 200 Leagues long 20 25 and sometimes 50 broad It is on this Bank that the New-found-landers that is those Ships that go to fish for Cods of New-found-land do for the most part stop and make their freight About this great Bank and more towards the Main Land than the Ocean there are some others much less but of the same nature It is almost incredible how many Nations and of each how many Sail of Ships go yearly to fish for these Cods with the prodigious quantity they take a Man being able to take 100 of them in the space of an hour The manner of Fishing They fish with Hooks which are no sooner thrown into the Sea but the greedy Fish snapping the Bait is taken by the Hook and drawn on Ship-board they lay him presently on a Plank one cuts off his head another guts it and takes out its biggest bones another salts and barrels it c. Which being thus ordered is hence transported by the English and other European Nations into all parts of Europe as also into the other three parts of the World They Fish only in the day time the Cod as they say not biting in the night nor doth this Fishing last all Seasons but begins a little before Summer and ends with September In Winter the Fish retires to the bottom of the deep Sea where Storms and Tempests have no power Another kind of Fishing Near New-found-land there is another kind of fishing for the same Fish which they call dried Fish as the other green Fish The Ships retire into some Port and every Morning send forth their Shallops one two or three Leagues into the Sea which fail not to have their load by Noon or a little after They bring them to Land lay them on Tables or Planks and order it as the other but after the Fish hath been some days in salt they take it forth exposing it to the Air and Wind lay it again in heaps and return it from time to time to the open Air till it be dry That this Fish may be good it must be dried in a good and temperate Air Mists moisten it and make it rot the Sun hardens it and makes it yellow At the same time they fish for Cods green or dry the Fishers have the pleasure of taking Fowl without going forth of their Vessels They take them with a Line as they do fish baiting the Hook with the Cods Liver these Fowl being so greedy that they come by flocks and fight who shall get the Bait first which soon proves its death and one taken the Hook is no sooner thrown out again but another is catch'd in the like nature But enough of these and of Cod-fishing In the year 1623 Sir George Calvert Knight the Principal Secretary of State and afterwards Lord Baltimore obtained a Patent of part of New-found-land which was erected into the Province of Avalon where he settled a Plantation and erected a stately House and Fort at Ferry-land where he dwelt some time And after his death it fell to his Son the Right Honourable Caecilius late Lord Baltimore also Proprietor of Mary-land CANADA taken particularly is on the Right hand and towards the lower part of the great River The River Canada and its name is communicated both to the River and Neighbouring Country This River is the largest of America Septentrionalis and one of the fairest in the World It is about 200 Fathom deep and at its Mouth 30 Leagues broad It s course according to the report of those of the Country is already known for 4 or 500 Leagues and there is some likelyhood that we may in the end discover that the Lake which seems to be its head-Spring disburthens it self into the Sea by two or three different courses one towards us which is that of Canada another towards the West and above California the third towards the North and into the Christian Sea and that the Mouth of this may shew us the way we have so long sought to go to the East-Indies by the West People with whom the French Trade Their Colonies The People with whom the French trade here are the Canadans the Hurons the Algonquins the Attiquameques Nipisiriniens Montagnets those of Saguenay Acadia c. And to this purpose they have divers Colonies on the great River at Tadousac at Quebeck at Three-Rivers at Sillery at Richelieu at Montreal and without the Bay of Chaleur at Miscou at Port-Royal c. This Trade is only managed by Exchange they give the Skins of Bevers Otters Martles Sea-Wolfes c. for Bread Pease Beans Plumbs Kettles Cauldrons Hatchets Arrow-heads Pinchers Coverlids c. But to instruct them in Christianity many Ecclesiasticks of Religious Orders have had divers disbursements and residences likewise an Hospital and Seminary of Vrsilines The Jesuits have the chief care of these Houses North of Canada is ESTOTTILAND Estottiland or TERRADE LABRADOR near Hudsons Streight it is called sometimes the Land of Cortereal and sometimes new Britany however I esteem it a part of new France the Country is Mountainous Woody full of wild Beasts well furnished with Rivers rich in Metals of a fertil Soil in most places and would produce
and have some Towns It s chief places the chief of which is James Town commodiously seated on James River a neat Town and beautified with well built Brick Houses and here are kept the Courts of Judicature and Offices of publick concern for the Countrey Next to James Town may be reckoned Elizabeth a well built Town seated on the mouth of a River so called Also Dales-gift Wicocomoco Bermuda and others The Governour of this Country is sent over by his Majesty and the Country is governed by Laws agreeable with those of England and for the better observing the same the Country possessed by the English is divided into the Counties of Caroluck Charles Glocester Hartford Henrico James New Kent It s division into Counties Lancaster Middlesex Nansemund Lower Norfolk Northampton Northumberland Rapalianock Surrey Warwick Westmorland the Isle of Wight and York and in each of these Counties are held petty Courts every Month from which there may be Appeals to the Quarter Court at James Town As to the Natives which here Inhabite they are much of the nature of those already treated of so I shall omit them here Only say that it is the Habitation of divers sorts of Indians which have no dependance upon each other being of particular Tribes and having their peculiar King to govern them every Indian Town being the habitation of a King and these people do rather live at enmity than amity together It s scituation bounds CAROLINA a Colony not long since established by the English and is that part of Florida adjoyning to Virginia in the Latitude of 36 degrees and extendeth it self to that of 29 which makes it extream Southern bounds on the East it is washed with the Atlantick Ocean and on the West it hath that large tract of Land which runneth into the Pacifick Ocean It is a Country blest with a wholsom and temperate Air the heat in Summer nor the cold in Winter which is so much as to check the growth of Plants Trees c. the several fruits and plants having their distinct seasons being no waies troublesome to its Inhabitants but very agreeable to the English and being found thus healthful hath occasioned several persons to remove from the Bermudes to settle here who dwelling in so pure an Air durst not venture in any other Country Nor do those from the Bermudes only remove hither but from most of the American Plantations as well as from England it being esteemed by all one of the best Colonies that ever the English were Masters of for here is altogether Health Pleasure and Profit centered together which cannot be met with in so large a measure in any other part of the Indies This Country has first Inhabited by the English about the year 1660 and became a Proprietorship which his present Majesty King Charles the Second The Proprietors granted by Patent to the Right Noble George Duke of Albemarle the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Clarendon William Earl of Craven Anthony Earl of Shaftsbury John Lord Berkley Sir George Cartwright Sir Jo. Colleton and Sir William Berkley and to their Heirs and Successors and the said Lords Proprietors having by their Patent power to Establish a Government and make Laws for the better regulation thereof and the inviting of Inhabitants have formed a Model so well framed for the good and welfare of the Inhabitants that it is esteemed by all judicious persons without compare The Natives of Carolina according to the observation of one Ledener who made three several journeys from Virginia to Carolina about the Year 1670 for a discovery of those parts The Native Inhabitants and the nature and disposition of the Inhabitants are said to be of a ready wit and good understanding they instruct their Children in such things as relate to their Families and Country which is so preserved from Generation to Generation They worship one God as Creator of all things to whom their High Priest offers Sacrifice but believes he hath something else to do than to regard Humane affairs committing them to lesser Deities viz. to good and evil Spirits to whom their inferiour Priests make their devotion and Sacrifice They believe the transmigration of the soul and when any one dieth they interr with them provisions and Housholdstuff for the next World which they fancy to be beyond the Mountains and Indian Ocean In their Marriages they are very Superstitious for the generality they are of a good and honest meaning much addicted to mirth and dancing and above all are much prone to Honour and Valour which they place above all other vertues They are great favourers of the English living together in love and friendship and upon all occasions ready to contribute their assistance unto them The Country is by them divided into several Kingdoms and the people in the one keep no correspondence with those that border upon them often waging War against one another The Soil is rich and fertile and produceth excellent Fruits as Apricocks Peaches Grapes of which the English have made good Wine Olives of which good Oyl is made Wallnuts Apples Pears Plumbs Its Fruits Cherries Figgs Mulberries Strawberries Water-Mellons Marachocks Quinces and other Fruits known to us in Europe which for goodness are no wales inferiour to them and in the Southern part Oranges Limes Pomegranates and Pomecitrons and the earth is generally very apt to produce and bring to maturity Corn all sorts of Garden Herbs Roots c. Commodities The Commodities which this Country doth and may produce are Wines Oyls Silk Mulberry-trees growing wildly Cotton Indico Ginger Tobacco Masts for Shipping which for length streightness and bigness are the best in the World c. And it is believed that here may be made more Wines Oyls and Silk than England will vent Besides the Mulberry-trees here are Cedar Oak both white and red Its Trees Poplar Bay Ash Pine with divers others whose names are not yet known The Woods are well stored with Pheasants large Turkeys Partridges Fowls Turtle-Doves Pigeons great variety and plenty of small Birds also Deer Hares Conies c. The Country is well watered with Rivers which with the Sea sufficiently furnish the Inhabitants with excellent Fish and such common in Virginia here are great plenty of wild Fowl as Geese Cranes Herons Swans Curlews Heath Cocks Oxeys Brants Dotterels Widgeons Teal Duck and Mallard in an undestroyable quantity Here are at present two considerable Settlements viz. at Albemarle River in the North and at Ashley River in the middle of the Country which is likely to be the scale of Trade for the whole Country as being very commodiously seated for Shipping and in a healthful place In all these parts which we have passed under the name of CANADA the the people are very barbarous having neither Religion nor Learning Divers people have diversity of Languages they count their years by the course of the Sun their months by that of the Moon their