tradition among old writers that Britaine did breed no Wolves in it neither would they live here but the report was fabulous in as much as our Chronicles do write that there were here such store of them that the Kings were enforced to lay it as an imposition upon the Kings of Wales who were not able to pay much mony for tribute that they should yearly bring in certaine hundreds of Wolves by which meanes they were at the length quite rid from Wolves The Country of Wales had in times past a King of it self yea and sometimes two the one of North-Wales and the other of South-Wales between which people at this day there is no great good affection But the Kings of England did by little and little so gain upon them that they subdued the whole Country unto themselves and in the end King Henry the 8. intending thereby to benefit this Realme and them did divide the Country into Shires appointed there his Judices Itinerantes or Judges of the circuit to ride and by Act of Parliament made them capable of any preferment in England as well as other Subjects When the first newes was brought to Rome that Julius Caesar had attempted upon Britain Trully in the elegance of his wit as appeareth in one of his Epistles did make a flout at it saying That there was no gain to be gotten by it For gold here was none nor any other commodity to be had unlesse it were by slaves whom he thought that his friend to whom he wrote would not look to be brought up in learning or Musick But if Tully were alive at this day he would say that the case is much altered in as much as in our Nation is sweetness of behavior abundance of learning Musick all the liberal Acts goodly buildings sumptuous apparel rich fare and whatsoever else may be truly boasted to be in any Country near ad joining The Northern part of Britaine is Scotland which is a Kingdome of it self and hath been so from very ancient time without any such conquest or maine transmutation of State as hath been in other Countries It is compassed about with the sea on all sides saving where it joyneth upon England and it is generally divided into two parts the one whereof is called the Highland and the other the Low-land The Low-land is the most civill part of the Realm wherein religion is more orderly established and yieldeth reasonable subjection unto the King but the other part called the High-land which lyeth further 〈◊〉 the North or else bendeth towards Ireland is more rude and savage and whither the King hath not so good accesse by reason of Rocks and mountaines as to bring the Noblemen which inhabite there to such due conformity of Religion or otherwise as he would This Countrey generally is more poor then England or the most part of the Kingdomes of Europe but yet of late yeares the wealth thereof is much encreased by reason of their great traffick to al the parts of Christendome yea unto Spain it self which hath of late years been denied to the English and some other Nations and yet unto this day they have not any ships but for Merchandize neither hath the King in his whole Dominion any vessel called A man of war Some that have travelled into the Northerne parts of Scotland do report that in the Solstitium aestivele they have scant any night and that which is is not above two houres being rather a d mnesse then a darknesse The language of the Countrey is in the Lowland a kind of barbarous English But towards Ireland side they speak Irish which is the true reason whereof it is reported that in Britain there are four languages spoken that is Irish in part of Scotland English for the greatest part Welch in Wales Cornish in Cornwall In the confines between the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland which are commonly called the Borders there lye divers out-laws and unruly people which being subject to neither Prince by their good wits but so far as they list do exercise great robberies and stealing of cattell from them that dwell therabout and yet the Princes of both Realmes for the better preservation of Peace and Justice do appoint certain Warders on each side who have power even by Martiall Law to represse all enormities The Queen of England had on her side three whereof one is called the Lord Warden of the East Marches the other of the west Marches the third the Warden of the middle Marches who with all their power cannot so order things but that by reason of the outrages thereabouts committed the borders are much unpeopled whiles such as desire to be civill do not like to live in so dangerous a place It hath been wondred at by many that are wise how it could be that whereas so many Countries having in them divers Kingdomes and Regiments did all in the end come to the dominion of one as appeareth at this day in Spaine where were wont to be divers Kings and so in times past in England where the seven Kingdomes of the Saxons did grow all into one yet that England and Scotland being continuate within one Iland could never till now be reduced to one Monarchy whereof in reason the French may be thought to have been the greatest hindrance For they having felt so much smart by the Armes of England alone insomuch that sometimes all that whole Country almost hath been over run and possessed by the English have thought that it would be impossible that they should resist the force of them if both their Kingdoms were united joined into one The Custome theresore of the Kings of France in former times was that by their gold they did bird unto them the Kings and Nobility of Scotland and by that means the Kings of England were no sooner attempting any thing upon France but the Scots by and by would envade England Whereupon the Proverb amongst our people grew That he who will France win must with Scotland first begin And these French-men continuing their policy did with infinite rewards breake off the Marriage which was intended and agreed upon between King Edward the sixth and Mary the late unfortunate Queen of Scotland drawing her rather to be married with the Dolphin of France who was son to King Henry the second and afterward himself reigned by the name of King Francis the second But this was so ill taken by the English that they sought revenge upon Scotland and 〈◊〉 them a great overthrow in that 〈◊〉 which was called Musselborough field The people of this Country were in times past 〈◊〉 barbarous that they did not refuse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 flesh which as S. Hierom doth 〈◊〉 of them he himselâ—… saw some of 〈◊〉 to do in France and the 〈◊〉 hereof went so far that Chrysostome in one place doth allude to such a matter There be many little Islands adjoining unto the
De Bello Turcico who said that the Emperour of Germany was Rex Regum meaning that his Princes were so great men The King of Spaine was Rex Hominum because his People would obey their Prince in any reasonable moderation The King of England was Rex diabolorum because the subjects had there divers times deprived their Kings of their Crowns and Dignity But the King of France was Râ—…x asinorum in as much as his people did beare very heavy Bâ—…thens of Taxes and Impositions In this Kingdome of France is one great Misery to the Subjects that the places and Officers of Justice are ordinarily bought and sold the beginning whereof was this Lewis the twelfth who was called a Father of the Country began to pay the debts of his Predecessor Charls the seventh which were very great and intending to recover unto France the Dukedome of Millain and minding not to burden his people further than was need thought it a good course to set at sale all the Offices of the Crown but with the places of Justice he did not meddle But his successors after him took occasion also to make great profit of them witness the Author contra Machiavel l. 1. c. 1. By the customes of that Country the King of France hath not that absolute power to muster and presse out Souldiers as in England and some other places of Christendome the Princes have But the manner is when the King will set forward any Military Service he sendeth abroad his Edicts or causeth in Cities and good Towns the Drum to be strucken up and whosoever will voluntarily follow he is enrolled Notwithstanding he wanted few Souldiers because the Noble and Gentlemen of France do hold it their duty and highest honour both to attend the King unto the wars and to beare their own charges yearely for many months The person of the King of France hath in former times been reputed so sacred that Guicciardine saith of them that their people have regarded them in that respect of devotion as if they had been demi-gods And Machiavel in his Questions upon Livie saith that they doted so much upon their Kings that they thought every thing did become them which they did and that nothing could be more disgracefull than to give any intimation that such or such a thing was not well done by their King But this opinion is much now decayed the Princes of the bloud are in the next ranke under the King himself There be many and very rich goodly Cities in France but the chiefest of all is Paris called Lutetia quasi Luto sita as some have merrily spoken which place is especially honoured first by the presence of the King most commonly keeping Court and Residence there Secondly by the great store of goodly houses whereof part belong to Noblemen and part are houses of Religion Thirdly by the University which is incomparably the greatest most ancient and best filled of alâ—… France Fourthly in that it is the chiefe Parliament City of that Kingdome without the Ratification of which Parliament at Paris Edicts and Proclamations coming from the King are not held authenticall Fifthly by the great Traffique of all kind of Merchandize which is used in that place The Parliament Cities in France are places where their Termes are kept and in severall Provinces are seven unto which the causes of inferiour Courts within their distinct Provinces may be brought by appeale but the Parliament of Paris hath that Prerogative that appeales from all Courts of the Kingdome do lie there That which we call our Parliament in England is amongst them tearmed Conventus Ordinum or the States France in ancient time as Caesar reporteth in the first of his Commentaries was divided into three parts Aquitania which was towards the West Celtica towards the North and West and Belgica which is towards the North. Belgium is sometime called Gallia inferior and sometime Germania inforior but we commonly call it the Low-Countries the Government whereof at this day is not at all under France but Gallia Celtica and Aquitania are under the French King The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were the Gaules who possessed not only all that we now call France being the greatest part of that the Romans called Gallia Transalpina but also a good part of Italy which they call Gallia Cisalpina a people whose beginnings are unknown this of them is certaine that they were a Nation of valourâ—… for they not only sackt Rome buâ—… also carried their conquering armeâ—… into Greece where they sate downâ—… and were called by the Name oâ—… Gallogrecians or Galathians Some report also that they enâ—… tred into Spaine and subdued anâ—… inhabited that part which was calâ—… led Lusitania now Portugallia buâ—… howsoever their former victoriâ—… and greatnesse they were by Iuliâ—… Caesar subdued and made a Provinâ—… of the people of Rome and so coâ—… tinued under the Romane Empiâ—… till about four hundred yeares afâ—… ter Christ when in the ruine an dismembring of the Roman Empirâ—… the French invaded Gaule and erâ—… cted a Monarchy which hath coâ—… tinued to this day in the successioâ—… of sixty four Kings of three sevâ—… ral races that is to say the Merâ—… vingians Carolovingians and Capâ—… vingians about twelve hundre years and now flourisheth undeâ—… Lewis the 13. the now raigning Kâ—… of France Although the French have done many things worthily out of their own Countrey in the East against the Saracens although they have â—…or a while held Sicily the Kingdome of Naples and the Dutchy of Millaine yet it hath been observed of them that they could never make good their footing beyond the Alpes or in other for reign Regions Howbeit in it self France is one of the strongest Kingdomes in all Europe at this day That which we commonly call the Low-Countries containeth seventeen several Provinces whereof the most part have several titles and Governours as the Dukedome of Brabant the Earledome of Flanders c. Of which the inheritance at several times did fall on Daughters who being married unto the Heire of some of the other Provinces did in the end bring the whole Country into one entire Government which was commonly called by the name of the Dukedome of Burgundy and yet so that in the uniting of them together it was by composition agreed that the severall Provinces should retaine their severall ancient Laws and Liberties which is the reason yielded why some of those Provinces in our age thinke themselves freed from obedience unto the King of Spain unto whom by inheritance they did descend because he hath violated their liberties to the keeping whereof aâ—… the first composition he was bound When this whole Country did be long unto the Crown of France the Dukedome of Burgundy was bestowed by Philip de Valois K. of France unto John de Valois a younger Soâ—… of his from whom by descent iâ—… came at last to Charles the Bold otherwise Proud Duke of Burgundy who left one
only Daughter and she was married to Maximilian the Emperour of the house of Austria from whom the inheritance descended unto Charles the fifth Emperour who yeelding it over to his Son Philip the second did charge him to intreat that people well which he forgetting to do under pretence of rooting out the profession of Religion did intangle himselfe and all that Countrey with a very long bloudy and wearisome warre There is no part of Europe which for the quantity of the ground doth yeeld so much riches and commodities as the Low-Countries do besides their infinite store of shipping wherein they exceed any Prince of Christendome They were in time past accounted a very heavy dull people and unfit for the Wars but their continual combating with the Spaniards hath made them now very ingenious ful of action and managers of great causes appertaining to fights either by sea or land The 17 Provinces are these Brabāt Gelderlād Artois Valencois Luxenburg Flanders Henault Lile Namurce Holland Zeland Tornabū Tornacetium Mechlin Utrecht and the East and West Freezeland France hath many petty Governments that do border upon it as the Dukedome of Savoy the State of the Switzers the Dukedome of Lorraine the Burgundians or Walloons against all which the King is forced to keep his frontier Towns There is nothing more famous in this Kingdome then the Salique law whereby it is provided that no woman nor the heire of her as in her right shall injoy the Crown of France but it goeth alwaies to the Heire Male. The Author of the Commentaries against Machiavel reputeth it a great blessing of GOD that they have the Salique Law in France and that not so much saith he because Woman by the infirmity of their Sex are unfit to govern for therein many men who have enjoyed Kingdomes have been and are very defective but because by that meanes the Crowne of France is never endangered by Marriage of a forraigner to come under the subjection of a stranger And this is the opinion of Philip de Comines in the 8 Booke of his Commentaries This Law is very ancient among them so that it cannot certainly be defined when it was Enacted but by vertue thereof Edward the 3. King of England and his Heires were cut off from inheriting the Crowne of France whereunto by marriage of a Daughter he was Heire in generall And by reason of this Law Henry the fourth late King of France rather injoyed that Dominion than the Sonne of the Duke of Lorraigne who-was neerer of blood by descending from the Elder Daughter of King Henry the second The Switzers are a People called in old time Helvetii who have no Noblemen or Gentlemen among them but only the Citizens of their Townes the yearely Officers whereof and their Council do govern their State There are in Switzerland 23 Cities or Towns which they call their Cantons although some rather think that name properly doth signifie the Rulers of those Towns and of them some do retain to this day the Romish Religion but some others have embraced the Gospel The Country where they live is not very fertile and being farre from any Seas they have no vent for their people but by sending them forth as hired souldiers which for their pay do fight oftentimes in Italy and France and sometimes in Germany Neare unto one part of them standeth Geneva which is challenged by the Duke of Savoy to have heretofore belonged to his Dominion but they pretend themselves to be a free City and by the help of Protestant Princes but especially by some of the Helvetians do so maintain it In this place there is a rare Law that if any Malefactor who hath fled out of his own Country be convinced of any grievous crime he suffereth there as if he were in his own Country Which they are forced to do because their Cities would be full of all sorts of Runnagates in as much as they stand on the confines of divers Princes and States Of Germany THE next Countrey unto France on the East side is Germany which is bounded on the West with France and the Low-Countries on the North with Denmark and the Danish Seas on the East with Prussia Polonia and Hungary on the South-East with Istria and Illyricum on the South with the Alpe-hils and with Italy The Governour General of this Country is called the Emperour of Germany who is chosen by three spiritual Princes the Archbishop of Collen called Coloniensis the Archbishop of Ments called Moguxtinus and the Archbishop of Trevers called Treverensis and three temporall Princes the Duke of Saxony the Marquesse of Brandenburgh and the Count Palatine of Rhene which if they cannot agree as to make a major part in their election then the King of Bohemia hath also a voice whereof it commeth to be said that there be seven Princes Electors of the Empire The manner of the choice of the Emperor was established by a Decree which is commonly called Bulla Aurea which was made by Charles the 4 Emperor of Germany and King of Bohemia wherein he doth set down all the circumstances of the Election of the Emperor and appointeth the King of Bohemia to be Sacri Imperii Archipincerna which is the Cup-bearer The 3 Bishops of Colen Ments and Trevers to be the Arch-Chancellours of the three several parts of the Empire the Count Palatine of the Rhene to be Sacri Imperii Archidapifer which should have the setting on of the first dish the Duke of Saxony to be Sacri Imperii Archimariscallus whose office is to beare the sword and the Marquesse of Brandenburgh to be Sacri Imperii Archi-Camerarius or great Chamberlaine all which Offices they supply on the day of the Emperours Coronation It appears by all the Romane Stories that in times past the Empire went sometimes by succession as unto the Sons of Constantine and Theodosius sometimes by Election and that either of the Senate or of the Souldiers who oftentimes also in mutiny did elect men unworthy yet such as fitted their purpose But now of late the Electors do choose some Prince of Christendome who hath otherwise a Dominion of his own which may helpe to back out the Empire and therein of late hath appeared the great cunning of that which we call the house of Austria whose greatest title within this 300 yeares was to be a mean Count of a mean place namely the County of Haspurg But since that time they have so planted and strengthened themselves that there have been 7 or 8 Emperours lately of that family but the Empire is not tied unto them as may appeare by the possibility which the Duke of Saxony and Francis the great King of France had to ascend to that Dignity When Charls the fifth was chosen Emperour one of the meanes whereby the possession hath been continued to that house hath been the electing of some one to be Rex Romanorum whilest
world is Albion or Britania which hath heretofore contained in it many severall Kingdomes but especially in the time of the Saxons It hath now in it two Kingdomes England and Scotland wherin are four several languages that is the English which the civill Scots do barbarously speake the Welch tongue which is the language of the old Britains the Cornish which is the proper speech of Cornewall and the Irish which is spoken by those Scots which live on the West part of Scotland neer unto Ireland The commodities and pleasures of England are well known unto us and many of them are expressed in this verse Anglia Mons Pons Fons Ecclesia Foemina Lana England is stor'd with Bridges Hils and Wooll With Churches Wels and Women beautifull The ancient inhabitants of this land were the Britaines which were afterward driven into a corner of the Countrey now called Wales and it is not to be doubted but at first this Countrey was peopled from the continent of France or thereabout when the sons of Noah had spread themselves from the East to the West part of the world It is not strange to see why the people of that Nation do labour to fetch their pedigree from one Brutus whom they report to come from Troy because the original of that truth began by Galfridus Monumentensis above 500. yeares agone and his book containeth great shew of truth but was noted by Nubringensis or some author of his time to be meerly fabulous Besides that many of our English Nation have taxed the saying of them who would attribute the name of Brittannia unto Brutus and Cornubia to Corynaeus Aeneas Sylvius Epist. 1. 3. hath thought good to confirm it saying The English people saith he do report that after Troy was overthrown one Brutus came unto them from whom their Kings do fetch their pedigrees Which matter there are no more Historians that deliver besides a certaine English man which had some learning in him who willing to aequall the blood of those Iflanders unto the Roman stock and generosity did affirm and say that concerning Brutus which Livy and Salust being both deceived did report of Aeneas We do find in ancient Records and Stories of this Island that since the first possessions which the Britains had here it was over-run and conquered five several times The Romans were the first that did attempt upon it under the conduct of Julius Caesar who did onely discover it and frighted the inhabitants with the name of the Romans but was not able to sarre to prevaile upon it as any way to possesse it yet his successours afterwards did by little and little so gain on the Country that they had almost all of it which is now called England and did make a great ditch or trench from the East to the West sea between their dominion here and Scotland Divers of the Emperours were here in person as Alexander Severus who is reputed to be buried at York Here also was Constantius father unto Constantine the Great who from hence married Helena a woman of this Land who was afterward mother to the renowned Constantine But when the Romans had their Empire much weakned partly by their owne discords and partly by that decay which the irruptions of the Gothes and Vandals and such like invaders did bring upon them they were forced to retire their legions from thence and so leaving the Countrey naked the Scots and certaine people called the Pictes did breake in who most miserably wasted and spoiled the Country Then were the Inhabitants as some of our Authors write put to that choise that either they must stand it out and be slaine or give ground till they came to the sea and so be drowned Of these Pictes who were the second over-runners of this Land some do write that they did use to cut and pounse their flesh and lay on colours which did make them the more terrible to be seen with the cuts of their flesh But certaine it is that they had their name for painting themselves which was a common thing in Brittaine in Caesars time as he reporteth in his Commentaries the men colouring their faces with Glastone or Ode that they might seem the more dreadfull when they were to joyn battell To meet with the cruelty and oppression of these Barbars the Saxons were in the third place by some of the Land called in who finding the sweetnesse of the soile and commodiousnesse of the Countrey every way did repaire hither by great troops and so seated themselves here that there were at once of them seven several Kingdomes and Kings within the Compasse of England These Saxons did beare themselves with much more temperance and placability towards those few of the Countrey that remained then the Pictes had done but yet growing to contention one of their Kings with another partly about the bounds of their territories and partly about other quarrels they had many great battels each with other In the time of these Religion and Devotion was much embraced and divers Monasteries and rich Religious houses were founded by them partly for pennance which they would do and partly otherwise because they thought it too meritorious insomuch that King Edgar alone is recorded to have built above foure severall Monasteries And some other of their Kings were in their ignorance so devoted that they gave over their Crownes and in superstition did goe to Rome there to lead the lives of private men These seven Kingdomes in the end did grow all into one and then the fourth and most grievous scourge and conquest of this Kingdome came in the Danes who Lording it here divers yeares were at last expelled and then William Duke of Normandy pretending that he had right thereunto by the promise of adoption or some other conveiance from Harald did with his Normans passe over into this Land and obtained a great victory in Sussex at a place which he caused in remembrance thereof to be called Battell and built an Abby there by the name of Battell Abby He took on him to winne the whole by conquest and did beare himselfe indeed like a Conquerour For he seised all into his hands gave out Barons Lordships and Mannors from himself reversed the former Lawes and Customes and instituted here the manners and orders of his own Country which have proceeded on and been by little and little bettered so that the honourable government is established which we now see at this day It is supposed that the faith of Christ was first brought into this land in the days of the Apostles by Joseph of Arimathea Simon Zelotes and some other of that time but without doubt not long after it was found here which appeareth by the testimony of Tertullian who lived within lesse then 200. yeares after Christ And there are records to shew that in the daies of Eleutherius one of the ancient B shops of Rome King Lucius received here both Baptisme and
great Island Bri tain as at the very North point of Scotland the Orcades which are in number above thirty the chiefe whereof is named Orkney whereof the people are barbarous On the West side of Scotland towards Ireland lie the Islands called Hebrides in number 4. where inhabite the people ordinarily called the Red-shankes Not farre from thence is the Isle Mona commonly is called the Isle of Man the peculiar jurisdiction of the Earls of Darby with homage notwithstanding reserved to the Crowne of England On the North part of Wales is the Island of Anglisey which is reputed a distinct Shire Towards France side on the South part of England is the Isle of Wight in Latine called Victis which is a good hold in the narrow seas against the French More neer France are the Isles of Gernsey and Jernsey where they speak French and are under the Crown of England There are also many other but of small account As the Isles of Thanet and Sheppy on the side of Kent the Sorlings or Sullâ—…y at the end of Cornwall in number as it is said 145. Caldey Lunday and the Flatholns with others in the mouth of Severn Holy-farn Cocket Ilands on the side of Northumberland And thus much of Great Britaine and the Islands thereunto adjoining Of the Ilands in the Mediterranean Sea THere be many Ilands in the Mediterranean renowned in all the old Writers but the chiefe of them onely shall be touched From the Pillars of Hercules going East-ward are two Islands not faâ—…re from Spaine which in times past were called Insulae Baleares for that the people of them did use both for their delight and armor sâ—…ings which they continually almost carried about with them and whereunto as Pliny writeth they did traine up their Children from their youngest years not giving them any meat till they had from some post or beam cast it down with a sâ—…ing Of these were those Fonditors or Sling-casters which the Carthaginians and Spaniards did use in their wars against the Romans The lesser of these which lyeth most West was called in the old time Minorica The bigger which lyeth more East was called Majorica and now Minorica and Majorica are both under the domiâ—…ion of the King of Spaine More Eastward in the Sea called Mare inferum or Tyrrhenum â—…ieth the Iland of Corsica over against Genua and direct Southward from thence lieth the great â—…sland Sardinia for the quiet possession of which two the warres were oftentimes revived between the old Carthaginians and the Romans for these two Islands lie in the middle very fitly The Island of Corsica is subject to the state of Genua whither the Genoes do transport things out of the Maine and are ruled by their Governours as the Venetians do Candy This Island is but barren either in respect of some other that lye neere unto it or of the Country of Italy but yet yeeldeth profit ease and honour unto the States of Gâ—… nua which hath little land besidâ—… it The Island of Sardinia also is nâ—… way so fruitful as Sicily but it is under the government of the King of Spain and was the same which was promised to Anthony the King of Navarre father to Henry the fourth King of France in recompence of 〈◊〉 and the rest of the Kingdome of Navar then and now detained from him and his heires by the Spaniard But this was the device onely of the Cardinall of Lorain who intending to draw him to Papistry and to order his politick purposes did make shew of this which was no way meant by the Spaniard Further to the East at the very point of the South pâ—…rt of Italy lyeth the great Iland Sicilia which some have supposed to have been heretosore a part of the continent but by an earth-quake and inundation of water to have been rent off and so made an Iland The figure of this Country is Triquetra triangle or three square Justin in his 4 Book doth seem to suspect that Sicily was in times past fastned unto Italy But Seneca in consolatione ad Martian cap 97. doth say plainly that it was sometimes a piece of the continent There was also a great contention for this Countrey between the Carthaginians and the Romans but the Romans obtained it and had from thence exceeding store of Corn yearly whereupon Sicily was called Horreum Pope Rome Here stood the goodly City called Siracusa which was destroyed and sacâ—…ed by Marcellus the Roman When as Livy writeth of him he being resolved to set on fire that City which was then one of the goodliest places of the world could not choose but breake forth into teares to see how vain and transitory the glory of worldly things is here At that time lived Archimedes who was a most admirable ingenious Engine-maker for all kind of fortifications of whom it is said that by burning glasses which he made he did set on fire divers ships which the Romans had lying in the Haven When the City was taken he was making plots and drawing figures on the ground for to prevent the assaults of the Romans and being unknown he was slaine by some of the Souldiers which did break in upon him Some think that it was he and not Architas which made the dove of which it is written that it was so equally poised that being thrown up into the aire it would hover or flutter there and in a good space not fall down This was in times past a Kingdome where the two Tyrants the elder and the younger Dyonisius did reigne where Gelo also that great friend to the Romans did remain It was afterward made a province and goverâ—…ed by a Praetor or Deputy of the Romans whereof Verres was one who was so inveighed against by Tully It grew afterward to be a Kingdome again in so much that Tancredus was King of Sicily which entertain'd our Richard the first when with Philip the King of France he went to the conquest of the Holy Land Here was likewise Phalaris the Tyrant so famous King of Agragentum The tyrannies which were used in Sicily were in times past so famous that they grew into a Proverb as Invidi â Siculinon invenêre Tyranni tormentum majus but they who were the causes of all did oftentimes speed very ill themselves as appeareth by the elder Dionysius who being driven out of his Dominion did flee into Italy and was glad there to teach children that so he might supply his necessity His son grew more tyrannous then the father and stood so farre in fear of his own people that many times he caused himself to be shut up in a Tower and his guard to keep the door that nobody might come at him He durst not trust his barber to shave or clip him for fear of cutting of his throat but that which was done he caused his Daughters to do who with the
Pliny the fire did breake forth there and so strongly as that the elder Pliny who spent all his time in discovering the secrets of Nature pressing neer to behold it was stifled with the flame smoak ashes or that he died in the place as is most excellently described in the Book of his Epistle 〈◊〉 his Nephew the yonger Pliny Not farre from Sicily on the â—…outh lieth the little Isle called in old â—…ime Melita whence those dogs come which are so much desired under the names of Canes Melitenses This was the place where S. Paul was cast up after his ship-wrack in his journy to Rome where the Viper hanged on his hand and did not hurt him This Country is now called Malta and is one of the places most renowned in the world for repelling of the Turks When Soliman the Emperour of them did send against it a most mighty arm it was then defended by them who are called the Knights of Malta which by sea do great spoile to the Gallies of the Turk that passe that way There were in times past diverâ—… Orders of Knights and men that â—…ad vowed themselves to adventure their lives and whole state for the maintenance of Christs Religion and some places of the earth against the Infidels and Sarazens The most ancient of all those were called the Templers who were a great corporation or society consisting of divers Gentlemen yonger brothers for the most part out of all the Realms of Christendome Their chiese charge was to defeâ—…d the City of Jerusalem and the Reliques or remainder of the Temple there and Sepulchre of Christ for the preservation of which places together with the rest of the Holy Land they had given unto them and purchased for their mony very rich and ample possessions in England France Spaine Italy and other places of Europe insomuch that in the daies of Matthew Paris he reporteth that they had under them many thousands of Mannors They had also in every Kingdome where their Order was permitted a great and ample house where some chief of their company did lye who received the Rents within that Kingdome and caused the money to be transported into the Holy Land and other Ordinances to be made and executed belonging unto their Order of which Houses the Temple that is now in London was a chiefe one which had in former times belonged to the Jewes but was afterwards translated to that use when the Holy Land was quite taken by Saladine and could never be recovered into the hands of the Christians since the society of these Templers ceased the Pope and the King of France conspiring their ruines and their Land were dispersed into divers mens hands In the same time when the Timplers were in their strength there was another sort called the Hospitallers whose condition and im ployment was very like unto the other both of them fighting for the preservation of Palestina We read that sometimes these two companies had great jarrs between themselves whereby grew much hinderance to the wars against the Infidels All these were accounted as Orders of Religion and therefore it was forbidden them at any time to marry without dispensation from the Pope because not being entangled to Wife and Children they might be more resolute to adventure their lives After them grew up the Order of the Knights of Rhodes who since they could not live in the Holy Land yet would abide as near unto it as possibly they might and therefore partly to preserve Pilgrims which should go to visit the Sepulcher of Chirst and partly to infest the Turke and Saracens but especially to keep the enemies of Christs faith from encroaching further upon Christendome which most earnestly they did and do desire they placed themselves in the Island of Rhodes where daily doing grea fâ—…th to the Turk Soliman the great Warriour could not endure them but with a mighty Army so ove lâ—…id them that he won the Island from them After the losse of Rhodes the Iland of Malta was given unto these Knights by Charles the 5. Emperour whereupon they are now called the Knights of Malta for the great Master after he came from Rhodes went into Candy and from thence into Sicily and so into Italy from thence he made a voyage into England and then into France and hastly inâ—…o Savoy from whence he departed with the Religion into this Island and there they continue and behave themselves as in the former Iland and offering no violence unto Christians they much hinder the courses of the Turkes from Graecia and Asia and of the other Sarazens from Fez and Morocco They are very valiant men fit to do great service either by Land or Sea as appeared when Soliman did think to have surprised them and their Iland the description of which war is dilipently laid down by Caelius sâ—…undus Curio in a Treatise dedicated to Elizabeth Queen of England There have been divers other Orders of Knights yea and some of them reputed to be a kinde of Religion in Portugal France England Burgundy and some other places of Christendome but because their service hath not been emploi'd purposely as these which are before mentioned we do not touch them in this place Neer unto Graecia and Peloponnsus on the West side towards Italy is the Isle of Corcyra now termed Corfu and not far South from that is Cophalenia from thence South is Zon called by Virgil Nemerosa Zacynthus all which Ilands are at this day under the Venetians The greatest commodity which that Countrey doth yield are Corans which are gathered of a kind of small Grapes and for the making whereof they commonly one time every summer for the space of three weekes have a continuall drought day and night in which time the Currans are laid abroad in the open aire and may not be taken in insomuch that if the season do continue hot and dry their merchandize is very good but if there fall any raine untill the time be expired of their full drying the Currans are not good but do mould and change their colour to be somewhat white like meale The State of Venice under whom this Iland is doth make a great commodity of the impost or taxation which is laid upon this Merchandize calling the Tribute which is paid for them the Revenue of Saint Mark for unto that Saint is the City of Venice dedicated and they hold him for their Patron In this Iland besides the Merchants who repaire thither are divers Italians who be there in Garison for the Venetians in one special Castle which commandeth the whole Iland There are also divers Fryars of that Nation who perform nnto their Country men such exercises of Religion as are convenient They will not fuffer any of our Merchants to have Christian buriall among them unlesse at his death he be confessed after the Romish fashion whereupon some have been forced to convey over some of their
erected it a Kingdome They were utterly expelled by Philip the Tâ—…ird Spaine in â—…ormer time twelve several Kingdomes Granada 700. yeares Possessed by the Moores Sarazens 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 A strange and unexpected prophesie Portugal added to the Kingdome of Spaine Lisbone the chiefe City of Portugal Sevill Toledo The Magnificent greatness of Spaine and Portugal The Empery of the Kingdome of Spain the greatest in theâ—…â—…an world France how bounded France one of the most absolute Kingdoms of the world Civill wars in France Revenue of the Crown of France exceeding great In France the Offices of Justice bought and sold. The Custom of France for mustering and pressing Souldiers Paris the chief City France The Kingdome of France divided into three parts Gaules the ancient inhabitants of France Note The riches of the states in General The names of the 17 Provinces By this Law Ed. the 3 K of England was put by the Crown France The Switzers Government 23 Cities or Cantons in Switzerland Geneva A rare and excellent Law Germany how bounded The Emperor Governor of Germany Who be the seven Electors His manner of Election The Empire went sometimes by succession and sometimes by election Ferdin Emâ—…eror Caesar or Romani Imperii Imperator The Empire divided by Theodosius A great policy in the Bishops of Rome Munsters complaint Most of the Princes of Germany take onthem as absolute Governours How they came by a great strength The strengh of the Princes of Germany The titles of their Nobility Free States and Cities A Note worthy of observation Scituation of Italy Italy divided into four parts Lombardy the Garden of God The policy of the Bishop of Rome The States of Venice The Venetians impoverished The ex â—…llency of their Government Tuscany Florence The great Duke of Tuscany A great part of Italy under the Bishop of Rome The manner of the rising of the Popes greatnesse Denmarkes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Riches of Denmarke Their Religion Russia sâ—…tuate Emperor of Russia Possevin a Iesuit sent by the Pope to the Emperor A fine excuse for the Popes pride â—…he Emperours rage 〈◊〉 the Pâ—…pe Possevinus fear of the Emperor Difference between the Greek and Latine Church The people of Lapland very heathenish The passage by sea into this Country The first attempt Sir Hugh Willobies Land This Empire one of the greatest in the world Prussia hew scituated Spruce Leather Pâ—…lands sci tuâ—… ion Their ii ves Reti gons They hate the Iesuites Thâ—…ir chief City Cracovia Hungary 〈◊〉 Bunda Austria Vienna Arch Duks of Austria The River of 〈◊〉 Scituâ—…tion of Dacia Transylvania Walachia Moldavia Servia The mountain Hamus Grecia bounded Moreah Sparts Corinth Achaia Euboea Beotia Athens Pernassus Helicou Epirus Illyricum Macedonia Many famâ—…us things from Greece Famcus Laws Famous Captaines The firstPoets The great Oratours Thracia Constantinople Northerne parts were not discovered in times past Meotis Palus Iustine Ovid. Bosphorus Cimmerius Pontus Euxinus Thracius Bosphorus A strange custome among the Turks Hellespon â—…us Xâ—…rxes bâ—…idge Mare Aegeum Tartary bâ—…unded Their Religion Their manner of wars Tamberlain the Great â—… Tartarian Scituation of Cathaie The great Can of Cathaie Cambalu the chiefe City of China A very rich Country Quinsay the â—…hiefe City The people skilfull in Arâ—…s Their Proverbe Two rare wonders invented in Chinai guns and printing The situâ—…tion of the Indies In India are many Kingdomes Their Cattle vâ—…ry big Their Richs The Portugals first discovered the Indies Four Kingdoms by the Portugals discovered The City of Goa The Indians Religion Six Kingdomes 〈◊〉 of Persia. The great and famous Kings of Persia. Persians great Souldiers Sophy of Persia. Their Religion Scituation of Parthâ—…a Their manner of fight Great wars of the Perthians against the Romanes A famous Nation Situation of Armenia Divided into three parts A memorable Note Bathing of thâ—…ir children Assyria bounded Kings of Assyria The swift River Tygris The City Ninive Situation of Chaldea Babylon be chief City of Chaldea The admirabâ—… power of God in preseâ—…ving the peâ—…ple Note Here were the fiâ—…st A strologians Cilicia The City Tarsus Alexanders overthrow of Darius The City of Alexandria Pamphylia â—…he City of Seleuchus Lycia Caria Halicarnassus Ionia Lydia Croesus overthrowne by Cyrus Ephesus The Temple of Diana City of Smyrna Polycarpus Scholar to St John the Evangel st City of Sardis Four Cities of â—…ote Eolis Mysia major Mysia minor The City of Troy Phrygia Gordianus knot Bythinia Ciâ—…y of Nice Chalcedon Paphlagonia Pompciopolis Galatia Lyeaonia Pisidia The Kingdome of Pontus Mithridates Pompey brought Mithridates to distresse Cappadocia Armenia minor Syâ—…ia bounded Their â—…ient â—…ames Ciâ—…y of 〈◊〉 Alâ—…ppo Tripolis Thirty Kings Note The River Iordan Asphaltites Mare mornum Twelve Tribes of Israel Ierusalem Twelve Tribes divided The Iews Ierusalem destroied Note Jerusalem twice destroied 1 By Nebuchadnezzar 2. By Vespasian Jerusalem in the Turks dominion Arabia bounded Arabia divided into three parts Of the Desart of Arabia Mahomet born in Arabia The Turks Alcaron The Turks Religion The City Mecha The blasphemous prophecy of Mahomet Mahomet a lascivious person The red sea Mount Horeb. Situation of Africke The Country of Egypt In fertility The flowing of Nilus Learning very ancient in Egypt Their Pyramides one of the wonders of the world The City Memphis Good Laws made by the King of Egypt The Country of Cyrene Carthage a famous City The Kingdome of Bocchus Atlas minor Atlas major The Kingdome of Morocco A brutish customâ—…uled in this counâ—… Their Religion The Portu gals have there setled themselves The Country of Guinea Their Commodities for Trade The Kingdome of Congo Their Religion The Kingdom of Monomotapa Their Religion The Kingdome of Adel c. The Situation of the Empire of Prester John One of the greatest in the world Lunae Montes The Abissines drowned Egypt The River Nigar Their commodities Their Religion Frizeland Zealand in it standeth Flushen Middleburge Ireland * A rare admirable Note Of Britain Four languages there spoken Their originall The Briâ—…taines five times conquered First by tâ—…e Romans Secondly the Pictes who used to paint or pounse their faces Thirdly the Saxons Their religion and devotion Fourthly the Danes King Lucius the first that here received Baptism the Gospel Note No Country like England The riches of the countrey The rich commodity of wooll Bridges Rivers Faire and large Churches 2. Archbishopricks and 24. other Bishopricks Note Of Scotland Scotland very poor in formertimes The reason why it is said that in Britain are foure languages Borderers great robbers and stealers Lord Warden of the Marches Note A Proverb The policy of the French Musselborough field The barbarousnesse of the Scots in former times The Orcades the people barbarous The Redshankes The Isle of Man The Isle of Anglisey The Isle of Wight The Isles of Gernsey Jernsey Divers other Ilands Insulae Baleares The Iland of Corsica The Iland of Sardinia Note The Iland of Siâ—…lia The City Siracusa Note Arthimides the famous