and substitutes under him with the Bishop of Maeth and Deren Ardach or Apde Kilmore Clogher Doune Coner Klancknos Raboo or Ropo and Dromoore For the keeping of the Inhabitants of this Country and Province in order it was fortified with six and fiftie Castles there are also nine Market Townes in it And it is divided into the Hithermost and Furthermost The Hithermost hath three Counties Louth Downe and Antrimme The Farthermost hath seven Monahon Tiroen Armack Colrane Donergall Fermanagh and Cavon Connacia is the second part of Ireland some call it Connachtia the English call it Connagh and the Irish Connaghti it is bounded on the East with part of Lagenia on the North with part of Vltonia on the West it is beaten with the Westerne Ocean and on the South it is environed with part of Momonia or Munster which is inclosed with the River Sineo or Shennin and lyeth over against the Kingdome of Spaine The Figure of it is long and at either end both Northward and Southward it is very narrow but towards the middle it growes longer on either side It is an hundred and sixe and twentie miles long from the River Shennin in the South to Engi Kelling in the North the greatest breadth is about foure-score miles from Tromer the Easterne bound to Barrag-Bay the Westerne limit The whole circuit and compasse of it is about foure hundred miles The Aire in this Region is not so pure and cleare as in the other Provinces of Ireland by reason of some wet places bearing grasse which are called in regard of their softnesse Bogges being dangerous and sending out many thicke vapours The chiefe Citie of this Province being the third Citie of note in Ireland is Galway in Irish Gallive Built in the forme of a Towre having a Bishops See in it and being famous for the frequent resort of merchants thither and also profitable to the Inhabitants by the conveniencie of the Haven which is beneath it and by the easie exportation of Merchandise not far from hence on the Westerne sidely the Islands which are called Arran of which many things are fabled as if they were the Isles of the living in which no man could either die or be subject to death The Province of Connaught at this time is fortified with foureteen Castles it hath nine Market Towns it is divided into sixe Counties or Shires in this manner the Countie of Clare of Galway of Mago of Slego of Letrimme and of Roscomen Media is the third part of Ireland which in their Countrie speech they call Mijh the English Methe Giraldus Midia and Media perhaps because it is in the very middle of the Island For the Castle Killaire in these parts which Ptolemie seemes to call Laberus is in the middle of Ireland as the name Killair doth denote The Countrie reacheth from the Irish Sea even to the River Shennin which river parts it from Connacia It hath a wholsome and delightfull aire It is fruitfull in corne pasturage and flocks abounding with Flesh-meate Butter Cheese Milke and the like and in regard of the multitude of people the strength of faire Castles and Townes and the peace arising from thence it is commonly called the Chamber of Ireland Here is the Towne Pontana which is commonly called Drogheda a faire Town and having a convenient Haven for Ships to ride in But there are some who thinke that the middle part of this Towne on the other side the River is in Vltonia There are also these Townes in Media Molingar Four Delvyn Trimme Kelleâ— Navan Aboy Dulek and Scrin THE THIRD TABLE OF IRELAND IN WHICH ARE MOMONJA AND THE REMAINDER OF LAGENIA AND CONNACH CONNACIA is the second part of Ireland some call it Connachtia the English Connach and the Irish Connachty It lyeth toward the West and is bounded with the River Sen the River Banna and the Ocean This the Auteri and Nagnatae in the time of Ptolomie did inhabite But there is so neare an affinitie betweene these two wordes Nagnatae and Connaghty that they seeme one to bee derived from the other unlesse we suppose that the word Connaghty did arise from the Haven Nagnatae which Ptolomy mentions and from thence the Country got this name For a Haven is called in their native speech Cuon to which if you adde Nagnata it will not bee much different in sound from Connaghty The Country as it is in some places fruitfull and pleasant so in some wet places covered o're with grasse and by reason of their softnesse called Bogs it is very dangerous as other parts of the Island are and full of darke and thicke woods But the Coasts having many Bayes and navigable in-lets doth as it were invite and stirre up the inhabitants to imploy themselves in navigation yet sloath is so sweet unto them that they had rather begge from doore to doore then seeke to keepe themselves from Poverty by honest labour It is reported in the Irish Histories that Turlogus O-mor O-conor was sole Governour of this Country and that hee divided it betweene his two sonnes Cabelus and Brienus But when the English came into Ireland Rodericke did governe it and called himselfe King of Ireland but he being afraid of the English warres not trying the chance or fortune of the field put himselfe under obedience to Henry the Second King of England Who after revolting from his faith given Miles Cogane was the first English-man who did attempt but in vaine to get Connachtia Afterward William the sonne of Adelme whose posterity were called in Irish Bourki Gilbert de Clare Earle of Glocester and William de Bermingham chiefe men in England did subject this Country and brought it to civilitie But Bourke or de Burgo and his Posterity were a long time stiled and called Lords of Connach governing this Province together with Vltonia in great peace and tranquillitie and did receive great revenewes out of it untill the onely daughter of Richard de Burgo being sole inheretrix of Connachtia and Vltonia was married to Lionell Duke of Clarence the sonne of King Edward the third But he living for the most part in England and his successors the Mortimers did neglect their Patrimonie the Bourks being their kinsemen to whom they had committed the overseeing of those Lands making use of the absence of the Lords and the troublesome times in England contemned the authority of the Lawes entring into league with the Irish and making marriages with them and got all Connachtia to themselves and by degrees degenerating having left off the English habit they followed the Irish manners It is at this day divided into sixe Counties Clare Letrimme Galwey Resecomin Maio and Sligo There are in it the Baron of Atterith the Baron of Clare and others Here is also Galloway a Towne much frequented by forrain Merchants It is reported that an Outlandish Merchant who did traffique with the Townesmen did once aske an
of August 11. moneths after that cruell Battell fought against Philip the sixth King of France neere to Cressy in the yeere 1347. which Paulus Aemilius lib. 9. lively delineateth The English did possesse it 211. yeeres for Philippus Bonus a Burgundian did in vaine besiege it in the yeere 1431. his Flandrians forsaking him and did keepe it as the English were wont to say as the Key of France the Duke of Guises afterward tooke it and the Frenchmen regain'd it in the yeere 1558. in the moneth of February In the mid-way betweene Calis and Bononia towards the Mediterranean Sea is Teroane which still retaineth that name although Charles the fifth passed it and call it Terrennerbereâ— Antenâ—â—â—â— nameth it Tervanna or Tarvenna the Itinerary Tables Tervanna and Ptolemy Tarvanna Bovillus affirmeth that some doe call it Tarubaâ—um Tâ—â—themius in his History of France mentioneth the Terrabaniaâ—â— BOVLONGNE· BOLONIA Some call it Tervana as it were Terra-vana in regard of the meanenesse of the Territory In the Register of the Provinces where the Cities of Belgia are reckoned up it is called the City of the Morinneans that is l' Evesché de Teroane In the Inscription of an ancient Stone which in former time was found in Gilderland it is called the Morineans Colony The Territory of Oyana or Terre de Oye doth reach even to Dunkerk a Towne of Flanders There are also beside Oya some other smal Towns I returne now to Boulogne which is watered with stremes and Rivulets which running by the Towne Arque and S. Audomare doe come to Graveling Not farre from thence is the Bay of Scales flowing even to the Castle of Ardera There are also two other Rivulets namely one in Marquisia the other in Bolonia There is also the River Hantia or Hesdin which doth impart his name to the Towne Hesdin There is also in this Country the Moorish streames of the Pontinians and the River Cauchia Some of these Rivers doe make Lakes and Fish-pits which are full of Fish and are denominated from the neighbouring Townes as those which they call in French le Vivier d' Hames d' Andre d' Arbres All this Country toward the Sea is environd with sundry Hills and in the inner part thereof there are those Hills which they call in French les Mons de S. Ingelvert and les Mons de neuf Castel and Dannes All the Country is interlaced with many Woods as the Woods les Bois de Surene Celles c. The Inhabitants are accounted to be froward and too much conceited of themselves ANIOV THE DVKEDOME OF ANDEGAVIA The Dukedome of Anjou containeth Counties Baronnies and Seigniories as Câ—aon 1856. 4743 c. which I have not yet found out nor can distinguish these foure Counties Maine Vendosme Beaufort and La Val doe hold of it by Homage and Fealty THE IVRISDICTION The Praesidiall Seate of the whole Kingdome is Angiers under which are these particular Juridicall Seates Angiers Samur Bauge 1945. 4725. and Beaufort en Valleé 1940. 4716. The State Ecclesiastick Angiers hath one Bishop of Andegauja who is subject to the Archbishop of Turone The Meridians are placed according to the Proportion of the 47. and 15. Parallels to the greatest Circle The Dukedome of ANIOU THE Dukedome of Anjou followes in our Method or la Ducké d' Anjou C. Caesar calleth the people of this Province Andes and Pliny nameth them Andegavi It beginneth at the Village Towne Chousay and endeth betweene Moncontour and Herrant where the Territory of the Picts beginneth lying South of it on the East the Turonians and Vindocinians doe border on it on the North the County commonly called Maine and lâ— Val and lastly on the West it joyneth to Brittaine The Country is more fruitfull and pleasant than large having every where Hills planted with Vines and Valleies crowned with greene Woods flourishing Meddowes excellent Pastures for Cattell Here are good white Wines commonly called Vins d' Aniou In briefe this Country doth afford all things necessary for life In some parts also of this Province they digge forth those blue kind of Stones with which being cleft in pieces they do slate their Churches and Houses to keep off the weather and in French they call them Ardoises King iâ—ecâ—â—us after the Earle Paul was slaine got the City of Indegâ—â—â—a and left it to his Posterity who were Kings of France among whom â—arolus Calvus gave the higher part of the Province to Iorquatus retaining still the Royalty thereof to himselfe and the lower part to Eudâ—â— Earle of Paris whose Nephew Hugo magnus by his Brother Rupert Earle of Andegavia and Duke of Celtica gave it to Fulco the Nephew of Iorquatuâ— After Fulco there succeeded in order Fulco the 2. and Gotefridus commonly called Grisgonella Fulco the 3. Gotâ—fridus the 2. Fulco the 4. Fulco the 5. who was King of Hierusalem after Baldwin whose Daughter he being a Widdower had married and lastly Godfridus Barvatus the 6. who was married to Machtildis the Daughter of Henry the first King of England His Sonnes were Henry who was the second King of England of that name and Gotefridus the sixth and William were Earles of Anjou whom when their Brother the King had overcome by warre and droven them out of their Country his eldest Sonnes did succeed him in the Kingdome of England and Gotefridus the 8. in the County of Anjou The Unckle â—ohn King of England did wage warre against the Earle Arthur the Sonne of Gotefrid and Duke of Bâ—ittaine by the Mothers side Arthur had now done Homage and Fealty to Philip Augustus King of France for his Principality which he had of him by whose instigation leaving to take away Picardy from his Unckle the King and having passed his Army over the River and Ligoris the King comming upon him on a sudden tooke him prisoner and brought him to â—otomagum where not long after he was put to death The Mother of Arthur Constantia by name the Daughter and Heire of Conan Prince of Brittaine did accuse King Iohn of Parricide before the King of France aforesaid who being summoned and not appearing the Peares of France did condemne him of parricide and those Provinces which he had in France they confiscated to the King which sentence the King exâ—cuting he tooke Anjou into his owne hands and left iâ— to his Sonne Ludovick the 8 King of France After whom succeeded his Son Ludovick the 9. surnamed the Holy who granted this Province to his Brother Charles by right After him followed Charles the 2. who marrying hâ—s Daughter Clemeâ—tia to Charles Valesius he gave this Province with her for her Dowry After whom succeeded Philip Valesius the Sonne and after him his Nephew Iohn who gave the greatest part of this Country which was honourd with the Title of a Dukedome in the yeere 1350. to his Sonne Ludovick After him there follow'd in a direct Line Ludovick the 2. and Ludovick the 3. who dying without an Heire the
Principality came to his Brother Renatus Hee having no issue living made Charles his Brothers Sonne his Heire and he made King Ludovick the 11. his Heire And thus it was annexed to the Crowne of France and continued so united untill Francis the first gave the revenue thereof to his Mother Aloisia â—abande King Charles the 9. gave it to his Brother Henry who was afterward King of Polonia and France The Metropolis or Mother City of the Dukedome is Andegavum Paulus Diacorus calleth it the City of Audegavia it is commonly called Angiers Ptolemy calls it Iuliomagus Andicavarum It is seated THE DVKEDOME OF JANIOV ANIOU on both the bankes of the River Maine which hath a Stone bridge over it It is well governed having a Bishop a Marshall and a Baily and a President It hath a famous University instituted by Ludovick the second Duke of Anjou in the yeere 1389. Francis Baldwine being called thither who professed the Law there This Dukedome hath many faire Townes some whereof are bigger than others I will reckon some Townes according as they are called in French as namely Samur neere Liguris with a Castle also Montrencau Bauge Beaufort Brissac Monstreul-Belay Maleuvrior Ghantoceau Viliers Duretail la Plesche Chasteau-Gontier Segre In this Province there are many Lakes and Rivolets and above 40. Rivers There are also great Fish-pits and an infinite number of Fountaines The chiefe Rivers are Lagures Loire Vigenna called la Vienne Viane and Vignane Meduana now called Mayne Sarta commonly called Sartra and Lorius Beyond the City of Andegavum there are some ancient ruines which are commonly called Grohan Here they say that the Romanes did heretofore build a Theater and some of the Walls doe yet remaine And great store of old coyne is digged forth Besides other Counties Baronnies and Signiories these foure Counties doe Homage and Fealty to this Dukedome Maine Vendosme Beaufort and la Val of which we will entreate in order The County of Maine commonly called Conté de Maine is the first In Ptolemies time the Cenomanians did inhabit this Country And the Province of the Cenomanians was inhabited as soone as any other part of France The bounds thereof were heretofore longer than they are now which may be gathered by that which Livie Polybius and Iustine have deliverd concerning the irruption of the Cemonians into Italy One part of the Country is fruitfull the other barren and the Inhabitants live more by hunted flesh than by bread or wine which yet they doe not altogether want for some parts of this Province are so fruitfull that neither Andegavia nor Tutonia can excell it for good wine or fruits The Soyle is full of Herbage and fit for Pasturing of Cattell But we reade that this Province being comprehended under Aquitania was sometime subject to the Dukes of Aquitania untill the King of France Ludoviâ—k the 9. and Henryâ—he â—he 3. King of England did agree that that which belonged to the King of England in Aquitania which was bounded on the North with the River Caranton and on the South with the Pyrenaean Mountaines should for ever belong to Normandy and to the Countries of the Cenomanians and Andegavians in consideration wherof 1500. Crownes were to be paid unto him Iohn King of France gave Andium and the County of the Cenomanians to his second Sonne Ludovick The Letters Patents of this Donation or Guift dated 1360. may bee seene in the Kings Rolles After Ludovick there succeeded Ludovick the second his Sonne and Ludovick the third his Nephew These three were Kings of Naples Ludovick the third dying without issue his Brother Renatus succeeded after him whom Ieane Queene of Naples the second of that name did make her Heire both of the Kingdome of Naples and of the County of Province Renatus had by Isabeâ—l the daughter of Charles the Bold his Sonne Iohn Duke of Calabria who dyed before his Father Renatus This Iohn had by Mary the Daughter of Chaâ—â—â— Duke of Purbor Nicolas Duke of Calabria and Marquesse of Ponâ—unâ— who dyed wâ—thout issue his Grandfather Renatus yet living Renâ—â—â— would not resigne his righâ— to the Kingdome of Naples and the County of Proâ—â—râ—t to his Nephew Renatus but left it to his Brother Charles Earle of the Cenomanians who dying a little after did instituâ—e and make Ludovick the 11. his Heire In former times the whole Country was devided into two parts The City of the Cenomanians belongeth to the King of France but the City Maena or Maine with the Marquiship being now made a Dukedome acknowledgeth the Guises to be Lords thereof The chiefe Towne is by the River Sartra commonly called le Mens At the first it was a Bayliwick and after Henry the second time it had a President and divers Townes did bring their appeales and suites hither The Dukedome of Vendâ—sme or the Putâ—he de Vendâ—sme beginneth at Baugenciaâ—um which is the bounds betweene the two Belsia which are called Solâ—nia and Vindocina which stretcheth out farre and wide even to the Saâ—tones It is so called from the Towne Vindocinum commonly called Vendosme That which Ptolemy calls Ovindikon for so it is read is a City of the Aulercian Cenomanians in Gallia Lugdunensis We doe affirme nothing For that Ovinatken is perhaps the Towne which is now called le Maâ—s which is Scaligâ—rs opinion also The Earles of Vendâ—sme are descended from from the Stock of the Burbons We reade that the first Earle hereof was Ludovick Barbonius the Sonne of Iohn Earle of Marc and Clermont after whom there succeeded Lineally Iohn his Sonne and Franciâ— and Charles his Nephews whom Francis the first King of France did create the first Duke of Vendosme Charles was succeeded by his Sonne Antony who was Duke of Vendosme a Peere of France and in the right of his wife Ieane Albreta King of Navarre of whom came Henry Buâ—bon the fourth King of France of that name and the most potent King of Navarre Prince of Bearne Duke of Vendosme c. There are also Beaufort and la Val. THE DVKEDOME OF BITVRICVM THE Dukedome of Bituricum or le Duché de Berry which followeth in our Method on the North looketh toward Solonia the lower part of Belsia from which it is parted by the flowing streames of Caru on the East it looketh toward the Hurepensians Nivernensians and Borbontans being bounderd here with a little Rivalet called la Fay on the South is Lemovicum where the River Croure floweth on the West are the Picts and Turonians from whom it is parted by a little River commonly calld Clery It is fruitfull in Corne Wine and other things necessary for mans life It chiefely aboundeth with Cattell which the Inhabitants doe disperse through all France Here the Biturigians were seated formerly who as Strabo Ptolemie and others doe write were called Cubi For the Biturigians a people of France were heretofore twofold distinguished by their surnames as the Bituâ—iges Cubi whose Metropolis was Avaricum in the first
inheritance of this Countrie and gave it to Gaspar his Unkle and Earle of Bedford but hee dying without issue the King tooke it againe into his owne hands Caermardenshire is bounded on the East with Glamorganshire and Brecknock-shire on the West with Penbrockshire on the North with the River Tay separating it from Cardiganshire on the South with the Ocean It is sufficiently fruitfull abounding with flocks of cattle and in some places with pit-coales The chiefe towne of the Shire is Caermarden which Ptolemie calls Maridunum Antoninus Muridunum having pleasant Meadows and woods about it it is very ancient and as Giraldus saith it was encompassed with a stone wall part whereof yet standeth There is also the auncient towne of Kidwilly which now is almost ruinated for the Inhabitants passing over the River Vendraeth Vehan did build a new Kidwilly being drawne thither with the conveniencie of the Haven which yet is of no note The Rivers are Vendraeth Vehan Towy or Tobius and Taff. Penbrokshire is on every side encompassed with the Sea except on the East where part of Caermardenshire and on the North where part of Flintshire lyeth against it The countrie beeing neare Ireland hath a temperate and wholesome aire and is plentifull in all kinde of graine The chiefe towne hereof is Penbro now called Penbroke and seated on a craggie long rocke The other Townes of note in this Countrie are Tenby Hulphord now called HarfordWest and Menevia or Tuy Dewi which the English at this day do call S. Davids I finde but two Rivers in this Shire but here is a Port called Milford-Haven which is the fairest and safest in all Europe Gilbert Strongbow was the first Earle of this Countie on whom King Stephen did first conferre the title of Earle of Penbroke and hee left it to his sonne Richard Strongbow who subdued Ireland from whom with his daughter Isabel William Lord of Hempsted and Marshall of England a man flourishing both in times of peace and warre received it as her dowry Concerning the other Earles read Camden Brecnockshire is called so from the Prince Brechanius as the Welchmen suppose This is bounded on the East with Hereford on the South with Monmouthshire and Glamorganshire on the West with Caermardenshire on the North with Radnorshire The countrie is very full of Mountaines yet it hath every where fruitfull vallies The chiefe towne in it is Brecnock stiled in the Brittish tongue Aber-hodney and placed in the midst thereof There are also the townes of Blueth or Bealt Hay or Trekethle The River Vaga called by the Brittaines Gowy and by the English Wye watereth the Northerne part of the countrie and Vsk runneth through the middle thereof Herefordshire called in the Brittish tongue Ereinuc is as it were of a circular forme it is environed on the East with Glocester-shire on the South with Monmouthshire on the West with Radnor and Brecnock shire and on the North with Shropshire It is a pleasant countrie full of fruit and cattle Hereford or Hareford is the chiefe citie of this countrie having round about it faire medowes and fruitfull fields it is encompassed with Rivers almost round about on the North West with a namelesse river on the South with Vaga which hasteneth its course hither out of Wales There are also the townes of Lemster called anciently Leonis monasterium and by the Brittaines Lhanlieni Webley Ledburie and Rosse and there are in it 157 Parishes The chiefe Rivers here are Vaga Lug Munow and Dor. THE FIFTH TABLE OF ENGLAND Containing these Shires Yorkeshire Lincolnshire Darbyshire Staffordshire Nottinghamshire Leicestershire Rutlandshire and Northfolke THE fifth Table of England comes to be unfolded in the which the first that wee meete withall is Yorkeshire the greatest Shire in all England and called by the Saxons Ebona-yâ—yne On the East it is bounded with the German Ocean on the West with Lancashire and Westmoreland on the North with the Bishoprick of Durham and on the South with Cheshire Darbyshire Nottinghamshire and Lincolneshire It is held to be temperate and fruitfull If in one place it bee sandie stony and barren in an other place it hath fruitfull fields if heere it be voide of woods there it is shadowed with thick trees Nature being so provident that the Countrie is more pleasant by this variety Here is Eboracum called by Nennius Caer Ebrauc and by the Brittaines Caer Effroc but commonly stiled Yorke It is the second Citie of all England and the fairest in all this Country which is a great strength and ornament to all the North parts It is pleasant large strong beautified both with private and publick Buildings and full of wealthy Citizens The River Ouse doth as it were part it and divide it into two Cities which are joyned together by a great stone Bridge There are also the Townes of Kingston upon Hull Dancaster called by the Scots Doncastle and by Antoninus Danum Halifax anciently Horton Pontfreit Shirborne Wetherby Kingston Patrington called anciently Praetorium and many others for there are in this Shire 39 great Townes and 459 Parishes besides many private Chappels of ease which great Parishes are faine to provide in regard of the multitude of the Inhabitants The chiefest Rivers are Don or Dune Calder Arc Wherfe Nid and Ouse which arising out of the Mountaines doe runne through the fruitfullest parts of the Country There are also other Rivers as Cokar Fosse Derwent Foulnesse Hull Teyse Dow Rhie Recal and Wisck Lincolneshire is a great Country being almost three score miles long and in some places more than thirty miles broad On the East it is beaten with the German Ocean on the North it toucheth the Aestuarie of Abus or Humber in the West it looketh toward Nottinghamshire and on the South it is parted from Northamptonshire with the River Welland It is a Country that produceth much fruit and breadeth up abundance of cattell The chiefe Citie of this Shire is Lincolne which Ptolemie and Antoninus call Lindum The Citie it selfe is large and faire being seated on the side of a Hill where the River Witham bendeth toward the East There are also the Townes of Stanford Grantham Ancaster anciently called Crococalana Crowland Spalding Boston rightly called Botolps towne and others And there are in this Shire about 630 Parishes This Countrie is watered with many Rivers as Witham which is full of Pikes Lud Trent Welland Idle Pan c. The next Countrie that followeth is Darbyshire which on the South is enclosed with Leicestershire on the West with Staffordshire on the North with Yorkeshire on the East with Nottinghamshire It is of a triangular forme but not equilaterall or having equall sides It is divided into two parts by the River Derwent The Easterne and Southerne parts are tillable and fruitfull the Westerne part is all rockie and full of craggie barren Mountaines
the Dolphin for the Duke of Orleance with whom he alwayes lived in continual enmitie and hostilitie He left these children Philip Margaret Isabell and Catharine Philip surnamed the good or godly succeeded his Father in the three and twentyeth yeere of his age in the Dukedome of Burgundie the County of Flanders Burgundie Artesia in the Marquiship of the Empire of Salina and Mechlin He at Atrebatum made a league with Charles the 7 and with the Duke of Orleance and freed him out of prison having beene five and twenty yeares prisoner in England and payd his ransome and gave him his sister Mary to wife He after the death of Theodericke Earle of Murcium was made heyre of this Countie and after the death of Philip he had the Dukedome of Brabant Lotaringia and Limburg and after the death of Iacoba he had the Counties of Hannonia Holland Zeland and Friesland And also the Dukedome of Lutzenburg came to him by his wife Elizabeth the widdow of his Vncle Antonius so that it came to passe that the large and rich Provinces of both Burgundies of Brabant of Limburg of Lutzenburg of Flanders of Artesia of Hannonia of Holland of Zeland of Namurcium of Friesland of Mechlin and the Marquiship of the Empire were all subject to Phillip the good Hee had to wife Isabell daughter to the King of Portugall he lived seaventy two yeares and dyed in the yeare 1457 leaving one sonne called Charles the Bold to be heyre unto so many Provinces who did not onely keepe his fathers Empire but also enlarged it by joyning unto it Gelderland Zutphania and the Iuliacensian Dukedome And this is that Charles who was the Grandfather of Charles the fifth who was borne in the yeare 1500 of Ioane the daughter of Ferdinand King of Arragon the wife of Philip of Austria which Phillip was the sonne of Maximilian of Austria by his mother Mary the daughter of Charles the bold under whom these Provinces which before had many Lords being united grew to be one body and now they are commonly called the Low Countries Long since the Low Countrimen were accounted brave souldiers And Caesar Lib. 1. Commentaries concerning the French warre doth call them the valiantest of all the Gaulls For he writeth thus The valiantest of all the Gauls are the Low Countriemen because they care not for trimnesse of attire and merchants have not frequent recourse unto them and therefore those commodities are not brought to them which doe effeminate the minde and they are neere to the Germaines who live beyond the Rhene with whom they wage continuall warre by which reason also the Helvetians doe exceede the other French-men for valour because they have dayly skirmishes and fights with the Germaines when either they drive them forth out of their borders or they doe make inroades into their Territories And hence wee may collect their strength and courage in defending their liberties that in the time of C. Caesar they endeavoured to shake off the Romaine yoke of subjection And so they mustred joyned armies to contend with them The Bellovacians set forth 6000 souldiers the Suessones 5000 the Nervians who were then so wilde and uncivill that they would not suffer Merchants at that time to bring them wine or other commodities did set forth 5000. The Atrebatians and Ambianians did set forth 10000 the Morineans five and twentie thousand The Menapians 60 thousand The Caletians 10 thousand the Velocassians and Veromanduans did set forth 10 thousand a piece the Advaticians 18 thousand the Condrusians Eburonians and Caemanians 40 thousand So that the whole summe of choyse Souldiers was 273 thousand as Orosius witnesseth or as Caesar himselfe delivers their number was 368 thousand whereby it appeareth that the Low Countrie men were alwayes noble Souldiers And Caesar in the second of his Commentaries saith that it was they alone who in our fathers time did vexe all France and did keepe out the Teutomanes and Cimbrians out of their Territories whereby it came to passe that the memorie of their atchiuements did make them valiant and full of courage in Militarie affaires And forreine armies have found it in our age who being fresh souldiers and joyning battell with the old souldiers they found that the Citizens Countrymen and Sea-men were al stout of courage There are 17 Provinces in the low Countries all of which the Emperour Charles the fifth did possesse in which there are 4 Dukedomes the Dukedome of Brabant and Limburg which together with the Countie of Dale and the Lordships of Valckenburg and Rode le Duc is joyned to Brabant and it dependeth on the Chancerie of Brabant also the Dukedomes of Lutzenburg and Gelderland There are 7 Counties Flanders Artesia Hannonia Holland Zeland Namurcium and Zutphania also the Marquiship of the holy empire which hath foure principall Citties Nivella Lovanium Bruxelis and the Metropolis Antwerpe it is now a part of Brabant There are five Lordships or Signiories of West-Friesland of Mechlin of Vltrajectum of Trans-Isaliana and Groneland There are many Citties in the Low Countries which are well fortified the number whereof as also of the Townes and villages you may finde in Mercator But the chiefe Citties are Lovaine Bruxells Antuerpe Silva Ducis Gandavum Bruges Hipra Mechlinia Cameracum Atrebatum Tornacum Valencena Insulae Dort Harlem Amsterdam Lugdunum Battavorum Namurcum Neomagum Trajectum and others There is a great company of Lakes Pooles and Marshies in the Low Countries which doe not onely hold great store of fish but doe also fortifie those Countries against the invasion of enemies Few Rivers doe rise in this Country but many Rivers which have their spring head farther off doe glide through it and doe much enrich it The chiefest are Rhene Mosa Scaldis Amisis the lesser are Mosella Lisa Aa Sambra Dela and many others Wee will speake of Rhene and Amasis in Germany and wee have spoken of Mosella in Germanie now we will describe the rest Mosa doth flow out of the Mountaine Vogesus which is situate on the borders of the Lingonians not farre from the Fountaines of Araris and Matrona and so running Northward it glideth by the Church of Saint Theobald or Saint Tibaut where it beginnes to be navigable from thence it slideth to Virdunum and from thence bending towards Caecia it runnes straite forward to Mosa and Maseriacum From thence turning Northward it visiteth Carolomont Boviniacum Dinantum and Namurcum and there growing wider by the receipt of the River Sabis it turneth it selfe Westward and so having viewed Hoium and Leodium and glided by Trajectum and Stochemum it passeth by Ruremunda and Venloium where turning West-ward it warreth Cuicka Ravestienum and Megena afterward being received into the Rhene neere the Towne of Herwerd and so afterward mingleth it selfe with Vahalus and straiteway they part againe yet still keeping their owne names and so they fall in two divided streames into the River Lovesteâ—num where they doe encircle the Bomelian Island and so joyne together againe and
Vistula to Visurgis and from Odera to Holsatia did obey he had his Pallace at Meckelburg But his two sonnes Mizilaus and Mislevus degenerating from their fathers piety and goodnesse began to persecute the Christians But concerning these and other Princes of Meckelburg you may reade Munster The first inhabitants of this Country Authors doe call Herulians or Obotritians and by a generall word Vandalians It is a Country well replenished with citties townes castles and villages In this Dukedome there is the auncient cittie Surinum which was built before Lubecke Sundius and Wismaria The figure thereof is fouresquare and so as if it were foure citties it hath foure names The first is called Senerinus the second Neapolis the third is named from the Cataract the fourth from the Marshes The Village Fichela which standeth by the Lake Suerinus is but 5 miles distant from the Balticke Sea the vicinitie whereof made them bestow much labour in vaine to make a ditch out of the Lake into the Balticke sea as in like manner there was an attempt made to cut through the Peloponnesian Isthmus Rostochium commonly called Rostocke and heretofore Lacinium and corruptly Rhodopholis and Laciburg is a sea cittie it was first a castle after Godscall the sonne of Endo did change it into a cittie and afterward it was enlarged by Primislaus the second the sonne of Nicolottus It hath now a flourishing Vniversitie which the Princes of Meckelburg did erect and constitute in the yeere 1415. The ayre here is wholesome and there is great plenty of provision for food and very cheape There is also Wismaria which some imagine was so called from Wismarus King of the Vandalls in the flourishing reigne of Constantine the Great some doe affirme that a Colonie of the Gothes was brought thither out of Visbina the Metropolis of Gothland But Crantzius Antiquities and Charters of the commonwealth dated after the yeare 1250 doe shew that it was built before the yeare 1240 out of the ruines of the great auncient Cittie Mecklenburg which gave the name to the whole Countrie by Gunzelinus Earle of Suerinus But in a short time this Cittie did wonderfully encrease by the traffike and trading of other Nations having a convenient Haven on the Balticke shore to receive shippes of great burden where they may lye safely without letting fall any anchors whence it is likely that the Cittie was named from the safety and conveiance of the Haven It is compassed round about with small townes who doe bring plentie of provision thither and doe furnish themselves againe from thence Moreover this ninth circle of the Empire called Nider Saxon doth consist of three orders the first whereof is the Clergie the second are the Princes and Secular Lords the third are the free Citties In the first there are the Archbishops of Bremes and Magdeburg the Bishops of Hildesheim of Lubeck of Suerinus of Ratzenburg and Schleswick the second containeth the Princes and saecular Lords as the Dukes of Lauwenburg of Brunswicke of Luneburg of Mecklenburg and of Holstein the Earles of Roffain and Delmenhorst In the third there are the free Citties as Lubeck Hamburg Mulhausen in Duringen and Northhausen Goslaria and Gottinga THE DVKEDOME OF BRVNSWICK THe Dukedome of Brunswick was so called from the chièfe Cittie Brunswick And the Cittie it selfe was denominated from Bruno the Sonne of Ludolphus Duke of Saxonie For he left his name to the Towne which he had begun and so from him it was called Brunons Towne which in the Saxon Language they call Wyc but now it is called Brunsvicum or Brunsweich The Country of Brunswicke is very large for it reaches from the boarders of the Dioeceses of Magdeburg and Halberstad and from the wood Hercynia even to the River Albis But about the yeare of Christ 1230 the Emperour Frederick did change the Earldome of Brunswick into a Dukedome and made Otto Duke of Brunswicke and Luneburg who succeeded Henry Leon who was Lord of all Saxonie Frederick the second made Otto Nephew to Leon Duke of Brunswick and Luneburg and gave him those Armes which his Vncle had brought out of England namely two Lions Or for the Country of Brunswick and another Lion Azure with Ermines for the Countie of Luneburg which armes did heretofore belong to Duke Herman and his posteritie with the Dukedome of Saxonie Concerning the other Dukes see Munster Lib. 3. of his Cosmographie Brunswick is now not onely the Metropolis and mother Cittie of this Dukedome but also of all Saxonie which heeretofore from the builder thereof was called Brunopolis Ptolomie calls it Tubisurgium according to the opinion of Francis Irenicus It is a large Cittie being foure square and adorned with many faire and beatifull buildings very populous and well fortified with double rampires and ditches by which there are divers sorts of trees planted it hath fiue Praetorian Halls and as many Magistrates It was built by two brothers Bruno and Theodore otherwise called Theomar the sonnes of Ludolphus Duke of Saxonie in the yeare 961 as Hermann their owne Historian doth witnesse The River Onacra glideth by this cittie which rising in the Hartonican wood doth divide the Cittie into two parts and carrieth away all the filth of the Cittie with it having many bridges built over it and at last it joyneth with Visurgis This Cittie hath no good water to drinke and therefore they have a kind of made drinke but they have little or no wine This Cittie rising from small beginnings yet in processe of time encreased very much both in strength and wealth so that the Princes thereof were stiled Dukes of Brunswick I will heere briefely make mention of those words which are praefixt and written upon the Court of this Cittie in regard of the frequent suites in law which are commenc'd in this contentious age In controversijs causarum capitales inimicitiae oriuntur fit amissio expensarum corpus THE DVKEDOME OF BRVNSWICKE Braūswik et Meydburg cum 〈◊〉 quotidie defatigatur labor animi exercetur Multa inhonesta crimina consequuntur Bona utilia opera post ponuntur qui saepè credunt obtinere frequenter succumbunt Et si obtinent computatis laboribus expensis nihil acquirunt That is sutes in Law are the occasion of much enmitie they put men to much charges they weary the body and trouble the minde they learne craft by following them they neglect their owne callings and more profitable employments and those who are confident that they shall have the better are oftentimes overthrowne by oppression And if they get the better yet labour and charges being reckoned they get nothing Among other Citties of this Dukedome Gostaria is not the last being an Emperiall Cittie which Henry the first the father of Otto the great did build and found in the yeare 1051 and the Emperour Henry the third did wonderfully adorne this Cittie which the aforesaid Henrie did build and augment untill of a Keepers lodge it became a great Cittie as it