haue made their residences This citie of Auignion among other rareties hath seauen thinges of note seauen againe of each of them to wit seauen Pallaces seauen Parishes seauen Hospitales seauen Monasteries of women seauen Colleges seauen Couents seauen Gates PROVENCE THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDY THe countie of Burgundy the frenchmen call La franche Conté that is to say a free earldome the limits of this earldome northward are Lorraine Germany southward Sauoy westward the Duchy of Burgundy eastward Svvitserland Besançon Dole are the two chief cities of this country The former of these beeing very auncient is the principall of all It hath as good pleasant a situation as any citie els beeing enuyroned with ritch mountaines plentiful vineyards forests of goodly Oakes the riuer of Doux which passeth through the middest thereof doth yeild vnto it very good fish Dole standeth also vpon the same riuer and hath a flourishing vniuersitie in all faculties of learning In a parte of this country there are salt pittes which do yeild moste excellent pure whyte salt In that parte called Arbois groweth the excellent wyne called vin d'Arbois The whole country although but litle is both fruteful wel inhabited albeit it bee said of Orgelet a place where very industrious people dwel that liue by clothmaking that by reason of the rocks mountaynes the fields are without gras the riuers without fish the hilles without wood THE COVNTIE OF BVRGVNDY THE DVCHIE OF BVRGVNDIE THis second or lower Burgundie now a Dukedome was in former ages a kingdome the kinges where of did for the moste parte make their residences in the citie of Arles so as the boundes of this kingdome stretched much farther then this Duchie now doth the which paleth with Campaigne on the north syde with Niuernois Bourbonnoys on the west with the country of Lions on the south the countie of Burgundie on the east Of this Duchie Dijeon is the chief citie it lieth vpon the riuer of Ouche here is held the tribunall or courte of Parlament for Burgundie c. The riuer whereon this citie standeth is full of fish The country is very frutefuul yeildeth very good wyne The Dukes of Burgundie haue heretofore bene very famous of great power opulence and the people valiant The country taketh name as Saniulianus saith of a Burg or castle in the vally of Ogue therefore called Burgogue It hath besydes Dijeon diuers fair cities as Beaunle Chalon Mascon sundry others among which Autun sheweth it self to bee of great antiquitie where the ruynes of a great Theatre are yet to bee seene The cronicles of Aemylius do shew how about the yeare 1044 the whole country of Burgundie was deuyded into two partes to wit into a Dukedome and an Earldome THE DVCHIE of BVRGVNDIE LORRAINE THis Dukedome accompted to bee of Germanie hath on the east syde the country of Alsatia in the south the countie of Burgundy in the west Champaigne on the north the forest of Arden It was heretofore a kingdome and called Austrasia but then extending it self much farther then it now doth It tooke the name of Lorraine of Lotbarius nephew vnto Charles the great was annexed vnto the Empyre vnder Otho the first The country is hilly but wanteth nothing necessary for mannes vse It is furnished with cattel hath very good medowes pasture groundes it yeildeth corne wyne It hath mynes of Siluer Tin Copper Iron Lead Pearles are found in some waters in the valley of vaguy The pretious stone called the Calcedony with sundry other stones of woorth are here fomid as also azure More-ouer here is exceeding pure whyte salt which is said to yeild yearly vnto the Duke all charges borne 100000 Franckes There is a lake about 14 leagues in compas wherein amonge other sortes of fish are carpes of exceeding sweet taste comonly of three foote long one foote large this Lake beeing fished euery three yeares doth yeild somuch that it maketh in yearly value vnto the Duke 16000 Franks Lorraine hath many fyne riuers the holesome warm bath of Plombiers The chief citie is Nancy there the Duke moste comonly resydeth LORRAINE CALIS and BVLLEN OF all partes of the maine continent this only parte is in the view of England England thereof is viewed These two townes with their territories are paled on the east syde with west Flaunders on the west syde with the English or narrow seas northward with the Germaine Ocean southward with Artois Picardie The country aboute Bullen is good pleasant inward into the land are hilles some woods which are accompted portions or partes of the great forest of Arden which the french call Boys de morman The country about Calis is vnpleasant low warrish Calis of sundry authors is called Iccius Portus but others atribute that name vnto Bullen At Bullen is yet beheld a strong tower built by Iulius Ceasar of Englishmen called the old man The towne territory of Calis was subiect to the crowne of England from the yeare 1346 what tyme through force of armes it was by Edvvard the third taken from the french vnto the yeare 1557 when the Lord vventvvorth beeing gouernour thereof for Queene Marie it was taken againe by the French so that it remayned in the possession of the English 210 yeares and the towne of Calis became famous through the Staple of wool by them there holden In tymes past the towne of Calis belonged vnto Flaunders after vnto France then to England so to France agame as hath bin said in the yeare 1596 It was taken from the French through force by the Archduke then Cardinal Albertus of Austria gouernour of the Netherlands at that tyme for the King of Spaine in the yeare 1598 vpon a peace concluded betwene France Spaine it was rendred againe to the French CALIS and BVLLEN VERMANDOIS VErmandois is almost enuyroned with Picardy saue that on the one syde thereof it ioyneth vpon Artois and Cambresy It is a litle prouince but the name is of antiquitie the people thereof were of old called Veromandui The chief towne hereof is called S. Quintins which was long since called Augusta Veromanduorum howbeit one author saith that thesaid Augusta was two myles from the towne of S. Quintines and was since called the Abbey of Vermond This was wont to bee a Bishopryke but S. Medard the fourteenth Bishop of Vermandois translated that seat vnto Noyon in the yeare 524 when the Vandales came into France Phillip the second King of Spaine tooke this towne by force of armes in the yeare 1557 with great discomfiture losse of the French men In this country of Vermandois two notable riuers haue there begining the one not far from the other The one is the riuer of Somme which passing through Picardie falleth into the sea at S. Valeries The other is the riuer of Skeld which passing
bene often subiect to the spoile of enemyes many of the inhabitants haue abandoned it gon to liue in other countries Lutzembourg was wont to bee an earldome til Henry the seauenth Emperor Earle of Lutzemburg as saith Levvis Guicciardin erected it into a Duchie LVTZEMBOVRG HENALT THe earldome of Henalt hath on the north parte of Brabant parte of Flanders on the south it hath parte of Champagne parte of Picardie on the east it hath the earldome of Namure a pece of the country of Liege on the west it hath the riuer of Skeld a pece of walsh-Flanders This prouince is very fertil aboundant in corne cattel with great store of Orchardes many fish pondes It hath mynes of Iron and lead hilles wherein are quarreys of marble Stone-coles corruptly called in english seacole are here found though not so good as in the country of liege Mouns is the chief citie so ordayned to bee by Carolus Magnus The next vnto this is Valeneyne called rightly val de cignes that is the valey of Swannes for the situation of the place is low the riuers there about haue bin wont to nowrish many swannes About a league from Valencyne is the faire Abbey of Vicogne wherein is a library stored with all sortes of rare booke many other walled cities there are in this country among which is Cimay the birth place of Iohn Frosard that wrote a french cronicle About Barbançon glas for the glasing of windowes is made as also other glasses HENALT ARTOIS IN this prouince Ceasar placeth the Atrebates so called of their chief cittie Atrebatum at this present Arras which now vnto the whole prouince giueth the name of Artois It is almost circuited by Flanders Picardie having the first of these on the northeast sydes the later on the southwest It hath hereto fore belonged to Flanders but afterward vnto France by S. Levvis King of France it was made an earldome but in the agreement made in the yeare 1529 betwene the Emperor Charles the fift Francis King of France the first it came to be vnder the how 's of Austria The ayre is very temperate the earth frutefull yeilding principally great aboundance of corne Arras afore named is the chief citie next vnto lers S. Omer which according to the opinion of Ortelius was that Iccius Portus where Ceasar embarked himself when hee made his voyage to England then Britannie And that the sea hath of old tyme come vnto this towne is aparent by the often fynding of ankers in digging in the meddowes other places there abouts Not far from S. Omer is a lake wherein are certaine litle Iles that with acord or the wynde are made to pas vp downe from the one syde to the other ARTOIS NAMVRE THis earldome is enclosed betwene Brabant Henalt and the country of Liege It is but a litle countie very hillie but a fyne and pleasant region It aboundeth in mynes of Iron it yeildeth a black or browne marble as also a veyned marble of different colours and here are Stone coles also found as in the country of Liege There are in it fowre fortified or strongly walled townes The first is the citie of Namure which is principal a Hishops sea and situate where the riuer of Sambre runneth into the Mase The second is Boâ—inâ—s the third Charlemont the fowrth VValcourt The citie of Namur taketh name as some say of an Idol called Nanus which was placed on the top of the hil where now the castle standeth where to the demaunders of thinges to come he gaue answere vntil the coming of Christe by whose coming this fals God as all the others which the Pagans honored became dumme NAMVRE BRABANT THe Duchie of Brabant is limitted eastward with Geldres westward with Flanders northward with Holland and southward with the country of Liege In it is conteyned the Marquisat of the holy Empyre whereof Antvverp is the chief towne The country is very pleasant fruteful but moste towards the south It beareth all kynde of grayne about Louayn it hath vineyards but they yeild a small kynde of wyne Campinia or Kempenland is the most barren parte of all this country by reason of the sandy heathes howbeit it nowrisheth kyne sheep the soile is much bettered through the labor of the people It hath fiue woods whereof that of Sonien which beginneth neere vnto Bruxels conteyneth about 7 Brabant myles in circuit is the chief There are in it 26 walled townes whereof the moste fayre famous citie of Antvverp lying on the riuer of Skeld is the principal in trafike opulence not only of this country of Brabant but of all the netherlandprouinces inferior to no citie in Christendom In one day a man may pas from Antvverp to Macklyn which albeit it bee a prouince a parte yet lieth it within the limitts of Brabant from Macklyn to Bruxels from Bruxels to Louaine ryde an easy pace taking his repast by the way The first of these hath the trafike of marchandise the second the highest court of Law the third the court of the Prince the fourth the vniuersitie The people of Brabant haue many great strong priueleges graunted vnto them by their former Dukes Princes BRABANT FLANDERS FLanders the best fairest earldome in Europe hath lying next vnto it on the east syde Brabant on the west the Germaine Ocean on the north it hath Zealand but separated by some smal parts of the sea on the south it hath Artois VVhence this country took name it is diuersly reported the lykelyest is to bee of the lady Flandria for whose husband the earle of Harlebeke his great seruice to Charles the great the said Charles did of espetial fauor giue vnto the whole prouince her name In old tyme it was as a wildernisse therefore the gouernour was alwayes called Forestier de Flandres The whole earldome is deuyded into 3 partes to wit Flemish Flanders vvalsb Flanders Emperial Flandres Gant is the chief citie of all the country beeing 7 Italian myles in compas it is very ancient was before the tyme of Iulius Ceasar called Odueum Bruges is the next conteyneth in circuit 4 Italian myles Then followeth Ipers Lyle Tornay Dovvay sundry other In brief there are accompted in Flanders 35 cities or townes almoste all walled such as are vnwalled haue the priuileges of walled townes Of thorps or villages there are 1174 to wit such as haue their seueral parish churches The country is very fruteful easely cultiued faire horses are bred therein the yeowes do ordinarily bring 2 lambes at a tyme and very often 3. Twelue riuers take their passages through this prouince the principal whereof is the Skeld certaine Iles adiacent do belong vnto Flanders as Cadsant Osburg and Biervliet in the later of these lieth buried VVilliam Beuckelens who died in the yeare 1397 was the first
man that found out the manner of salting barrelling vp of hering FLANDERS GELDRES GEldres extendeth in the northwest vnto the Zuder-sea south west it confyneth with Brabant eastward it hath the Duchie of Cleue westward the Signory of Vtreck It is deuyded into 4. seueral quarters whereof the 4 principall cities are Nimmegen Ruremond Zutphen Arnhem The country is very frutefull hauing come wood but it moste exceedeth in medow pasture ground by reason of the riuers of Rhene VVale Mase which do all take their passage through this country Leane oxen are sent from other partes to bee here fatned in the yeare 1570 an Ox was brought from hence to Antvverp that weyed 3200 pound The people of all the inhabitants of the Netherland prouinces haue alwayes bene reputed the moste warlyke the country by warre hath bin moste wasted They were of old tyme called Sicambri as Henricus Aquilius in his compendious Cronicle plainly proueth who also sheweth how it afterward took the name of Geldres It was somtyme an Earldome but Reynold the second for his great valour whereby the made himself both feared honored being withal a great iusticer hauing don great faithful seruice to the Romaine Empyre was in an assembly or diet holden at Frankford in the yeare 1329 by Levvis the Emperor honored with the tytle of Duke in the presence as is said of the Kings of France England of all the Princes electors GELDRES ZELAND VNder the name of Zeland are comprised all the Iles lying betweene Flanders Brabant Holland and the sea VVhereof 7 are esteemed the principall to wit VValkere Southbeuerland Northbeuerland VVolferdyk Skovv Doueland and Tole These 7 with certaine other of lesse accompt do altogether make an earldome which hath in all 8 walled townes with some other that are vnwalled and 102 thorps or villages The chief citie of Zeland is Midlebourg situate in the I le of VValkere where the staple of wyne is kept in this I le is Flushing Campheere Armuy And Midlebourg lying in the middest taketh there of that name VVel may this country be called Zealand or Sealand beeing so low that the sea is at euery high water higher then the land men standing in the meddowes may see in looking vpward the very keeles of the ships as they saile along were it not for the sand-bancks or downes on the one syde the banckes of earth fagots made on the othersyde the sea would soone ouer-runne it It is said for a prouerb that none of the 4. elements are good in Zealand or Holland the ayre is strong the earth vnfirme by reason of the marishnes the fyre stincking because it is made of turf the vvater salt brackish Zeland notwithstanding bringeth foorth faire corne the meddowes do nowrish cattel ZELAND HOLLAND THe earldome of Holland lieth al along on the west syde vpon the Germaine Ocean with the creeks whereof it is almost enuyroned hauing a great number of waters riuers euery way passing through it It is said to haue the name of Holland by reason that the earth through the vnfirmnes thereof seemeth hollow others affirme it to haue taken the name of Holland of the Danes or Normans that inuaded it in Anno 837 hauing before bene called Batauia for that they called it Oland after an I le so named in their northern region The country of Holland is lyke vnto Zealand very low the earth soft weak much of it beeing by the waters ouerflowen All along the maine Ocean it hath through the mercie of nature the downes or sand-hilles that defend it from the inundation of the sea in these downes are woonderful store of conies The medow groundes for the feeding of cattel are so exceeding good as the great aboundance of butter and cheefe transported from Holland into so many countryes doth declare The inhabitants do also reap great comoditie by their wyld ducks waterfoule but espetially by their sea-fishing principally by there hering-fang Litle or no corne groweth in Holland but they haue it from the east countries of Germany VVood they haue not their fuel for the moste parte is turf their wood beth for howsing shipping is brought from Norvvay other places The chief citie is Amsterdam the howses whereof are built vpon pyles of wood which are driuen into the watrish ground The court of Holand is kept at the Hage which is no walled towne howbeit the fairest village in all Europe situate in the moste pleasant parte of all the countrie The people are exceeding industrious the country ful of townes cities HOLLAND FRIESLAND BOth east west Friesland hath all along on the northsyde the Germaine Ocean on the southsyde VVestphalia ce Tacitus in his description of the manners of the old Germaines parteth Friesland in Maiores and Minores that is the greater the lesser freslanders according to their power and habitation The country is now deuyded into east and west Friesland Generally it is very low the Somer beeing past it is not to bee vsed it hath litle corne ground but very notable meddowes yeildeth very fat oxen as also faire great horses The chief citie in VVest friesland is Grooning and in East-friesland Embden Groening with the territory thereof is accompted one of the seauenteene Netherland prouinces but Embden belongeth vnto the earle of the same place The Frizons or Frieslanders are an ancient and warlyk people beeing in old tyme gouerned by a king of their owne Plinie saith that an herb groweth in this country which he calleth Herba Britannica which herb is good for the fastning of loose teeth for the weaknes of the legges knees espetial good for the disease called the Scorruie which disease is scarsly knowne but in these low-landes the remedy in lyk forte espetialy here to bee found FRIESLAND VVESTPHALIA THat VVestphalia should take that name of the Goddesse Vesta is very fabulous for the name is aptly significant in the self countrie language It ioyneth on the northwest syde with Friesland on the northeast with the dioces of Breme on the southeast syde it hath the country of Padelborne on the southwest the dioces of Cullen parte of the duchie of Cleue It was according to the opinion of Sebastian Munster the ancient habitation of the Saxons It hath in it diuers earldomes Signories The people of this country are strong faire good soldiers the country is moste woody pasture ground very good for the nowrishing of cattel Dainty meates delicacies are not he ere found with bacon beef browne bread the people do liue very long helthfully and here is the best Bacon the greatest store The chief citie of westphalia is Munster which in Anno 1535. the Anabaptists hauing gotten into possession erected there a new comon welth vnder their king Iohn of Leyden who before had
a temple of death In these temples alters were erected to the Gods of the yeare to monethly Gods to Arte pouertie The inhabitants of this prouince did in tymes past excel in nauigation they do not now degenerate from their anceters Their chief comodities rise of salt fish This was the last I le knowne in the world as antiquitie belieued And there they said the Sunne beeing weeried with running his dayly race descended into the Ocean sea tooke rest therefore this I le is of Statius called the Sunnes bed GADES FRANCE THe realme of France as now it is limitted hath on the north syde the narrow seas that deuyde it from England westward it hath the west Ocean in the southwest it ioyneth to Spaine directly south it bordereth vpon the Mediterraneum sea On the Eastsyde to begin from the south downward vnto the north it bordereth first vpon Sauoy then on the Countie of Burgundie otherwise called La Franche Countè so along by Lorraine vpon Luxembourg Heualt Ã…rtois This goodly kingdome is aboundant in corne and wyne al sortes of frutes hauing plenty of cattel and foule wanteth not all other necessarie thinges mynes it is not renowmed to haue yet is it moste ritch opulent beeing situate in the middest of the chief countries of Europe hauing trafike on all sydes It shal not be needful to shew the three parts wherein Ceasar recounteth it to haue bene deuyded of oldtyme seeing both the limitts and inhabitants are since altered At this present it is deuyded into eight prouinces which are vnder eight continual courtes of Parlament The first is the prouince of France otherwise called the I le of France wherein the citie of Paris is situate In which citie the first courte of parlament resideth The second prouince is Languedoc the parlament whereof is in Tholouse The third Guienne whose parlament is in Bourdeaux The fowrth is Normandie whose parlament is in Roan The fist is Burgundie whose parlament is Dijeon The sixt is Dauphinè whose parlament is in Grenoble The seauenth is Prouence whose parlament is in Aix The eight is Britannie whose parlament is in Renes and vnder these eight prouinces all France is conteyned limitted for recours of iustice vnto these parlaments FRANCE GASCONIE THis prouince of Gasconie is situate on the southwest syde of France reatching on thesaid syde vnto the Pireney mountaines by the which France Spaine are deuyded On the east syde it hath Languedoc and on the north Guienne and Arminac The people are valiant warlyk The country is very plentiful of all thinges but it chiefly aboundeth in wyne where with it not only serueth it self but sundry other countryes in Europe besydes In the tyme of Carolus Magnus it was called the kingdome of Gascony In this country thesaid Charles the great marching against the Saracins of Spaine did lose in a battaile forty thowsand men in which battaile his noble nephew the Earle Roland was slaine This country was first subdued vnto France by Dagobert the first of that name In the yeare of our lord 1155 both it and all Aquitaine came to bee subiect vnto the crowne of England through the mariage of King Henry the second of that name with Elinor daughter and heyr vnto VVilliam Duke of Aquitaine And it was lost in the yeare of our lord 1453. in the 31 yeare of the raigne of King Henry the sixt so as it remayned vnder the obeisanâ—e of England about 300 yeares GASCONIE POICTOV THis prouince of Poitou called in Latin Pictauia is detryded into two partes to wit the Superior Inferior The vpper Poitou is that which stretcheth east-ward towards the countries of Towrs Berry the nether Poitou is that parte which westward extendeth it self to the Ocean sea It is a country frutefull in Corne Cattel rich in wynes furnished with great store of fish And the great aboundance of wyld beastes fowle doth cause the delightfull sportes of hunting hauking to bee here much vsed The chief citie of this prouince is called Poitiers having a notable vniuersitie chiefly for study of the Ciuil law this citie is of great antiquitie as appeereth by the Theatre Aquaduct monuments which are there yet remaining POICTOV BRITANNIE BRitannie called in tyme past Armorica bordereth eastward vpon the country of Maine and a parte of Aniou towards the north it hath the narrow sea a parte of the country of Constantin towards the west the maine Ocean towards the south the country of Poitou It is reconed in two partes to wit the higher the lower Britany There are in it nyne Bishoprykes which are deuided into three distinckt quarters Three of these which are Cornuaille S. Paul Treguiers do speake the British tongue the inhabitants are called Cornubians Other three to wit those of Dol Renes S. Malo do speake the French tongue The third beeing those of Nantes Vannes and S. Brieu do speak both French and British The principall townes in Britannie are Nantes and Renes but in Renes resydeth the courte of Parlament for the whole prouince The chief hauen of all Britany is that of Brest It is not to bee omitted that the hauen of S. Malo is garded with mastiues which beeing thereto trayned do there kepe diligent night watch It is generally a pleasant fertile country the earable land beeing as good as can be desyred hauing also plenty of wood pasture exceeding great store of medow ground There are in it mynes of Iron lead in some places siluer fyne salt is there boyled through the heat of the Sun And the country through the many comodities thereof the sea trafike is very welthy BRITANNIE NORMANDIE NOrmandie hath on the north syde thereof the narrow seas that seperate England France on all sydes els ir is enuyrond with seuerall countries prouinces of France From whence this Duchie taketh name the name it self of Normandie doth declare to wit North-mandie that is the dwelling or region of the men of the North for from Norvvay othewise North-vvay came Rolo afterward called Robert with his Northmen and of Charles the simple King of France hee and his people obtayned heere there habitation about the yeare of our Lord. 9 12. This prouince of Normandie is a moste pleasant fertil soile so wel furnished of all necessaries as sildome any place better It hath great store of flesh and fish of corne and vvood much wyne it hath not there growing but is furnished with great store by the riuer of Scine which coming through Paris passeth by Roan the chief citie of this prouince All the corne feilds as also the high wayes passages are set planted about with frute-trees espitially aples peares which yeildeth great aboundance of tider perry The riuer of Seine as a foresaid passing by Roan falleth into the sea at Haure de grace or nevvhauen where ships arryuing do
AN EPITOME OF ORTELIVS HIS THEATRE OF THE VVORLD VVHEREIN the principal regions of the earth are described in smalle Mappes VVith a brief declaration annexed to ech Mappe And donne in more exact manner then tâ—e lyke declarations in Latin French or other languages It is also amplyfied with new Mappes wanting in the Latin editions CONTEMNO ET ORNO MENTE MANV Α ☧ Ω AT LONDON PRINTED BY IOHN NORTON DE GOVERNOVR E VENT GRACE TO THE NOBLY-DESCENDED AND VERTVOVSLY-ACCOMPLISHED Mr. RICHARD GARGRAVE MOST vvoorthy sir no sooner did this stranger my friend set foot on English shore but being desirous to trauail North I could not devise vvhere he should finde more condigne respectiue intertainment then vnder your most fauourable roof It appears by his many languages namely Latin Italian French Spanish high lovv Dutch and novv lastly English that he hath sometimes bin a traueler And so indeed if you examin him throughly you shall finde he hath asvvell by sea as by land In his discourses he is vnlike the greatest part of our trauellers vvho vvith their tedious fabulous narrations vvill bring either deafnes to your eares or slumber to your eyes But this man speakes nothing but matter and that so succinctly as by his conference you may reap delight yet not hinder your affaires of importance or recreation Giue him incouragement in the North and ere long you shall see him come ouer in another habit to try vvhat acceptance the south vvill affourd him Thus doing you shall not onely grace him benefit your country but in all dutifull seruices you shall make mee his poore vvel-vviller Yours Most truly deuoted A brief description of the 2 half globes or spheres asvvel Celestial as Terestrial BEcause the true proper description of the earth the partes thereof cannot wel bee made without the knowlege of Cosmographie Geographie It is not amisse that the circular composition both of heauen earth bee briefly explicated Cosmographie doth describe the world that is to say the heauen what els is conteyned within the circuit thereof For the world is deuyded into heauenly elementarie regions The celestial or heauenly doth conteyne 8 distinct Orbes of starres of which the seauen former and neerest to the earth are atributed to the seauen planets and the greater of these doth alwayes conteyne circularly the lesser euery one of these doth carry about one only star or planet but the eigth otherwise named the firmament conteyneth in it all the other starres which are called fixed The starry heauen or firmament conteyneth within his circumference all the foresaid Orbes with their planets and thesame againe vvith all the other inferior Orbes is embraced of the nynth heauen which is called the first moueable by vvhose continuall reuolution all these 8 Orbes of starres are caryed about vpon the pole of the vvorld from the east to the west in the space of 24 howres but the 8 inferiors on the other parte are euer caried continually about from the west vnto the east vpon other poles called those of the Zodiak But because mariners do vse only the constitutions of certaine principal fixed starres which are found about the 2 poles of the world the ambiguous moueinges of the planets are here omitted as to them not necessarie here are only aioyned two celestial figures by which the two half spheres of the whole firmament or starred heauen are demonstrated Of the which the first conteyneth the septentrional or northerne starres the second those vvhich belong to the southâ—â—â—â— THE CELESTIAL GLOBE THe elementarie region is compassed and conteyned within the later Orbe of the planets in the which the moone holdeth her place This region doth consist of fowre elements of which the highest is called by the naturall philosophers fyre the next after is called ayre the third vvater and the fowrth earth of which the two later do make together one round body And as to the view of the courteous reader hath bene set downe in two half spheres the whole constitution order of all the fixed starres so in lyke manner is here pourtraited in other two half spheres the constitutions of the whole earth aswel the partes habitable as the inhabitable The former of which conteyneth the new discouered world which is called America the later the world longest knowne by our ancerers inhabited the which is deuyded into three partes Europa Asia Africa And because there is mention made in the descriptions folowing of the different countries places with their proprieties such particular descriptions are therefore heere omitted To declare also the reasons how the conioyned superfices of the whole earth are to be designed in platforme would bee ouerlong wherefore such as desyre to vnderstand it may haue recours vnto the writings of Ptolomey Alexandrinus as also of Neoteryk but espetialy to the comentaries of the moste learned Gerardus Mercator vpon Ptolomey his book of Geographie to such learned authors as thereof haue treated THE TERRESTRIAL GLOBE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VVHOLE VVORLD As a preface to the reader IT is agreed on by all Cosmographers that the whole world is round it is coÌ„pact in that perfect figure by the Almighty maker author of all perfectioÌ„ It is surely a mirrour of moste great admyration wherein the vnsearchable scyence of the all-surpasling Artizan is to bee seene as also the greatnesse of himself in so great omnipotencie And rather might it seeme a point of faith and belief to hold that the earth depending on nothing should bee so immoueable beeing round the oposite inhabitaÌ„ts vnder different horisons to bee antipodes the one vnto the other but that experience and proof and not belief and faith hath taught it vnto vs. How at the begining the earth was deuided from the sea is altogether vnknowne but by the deluge the limits of sea land haue doubtlesse bene much altered sundry regions through the extraordinary violence of the moste forceible elements haue since that tyme bene also greatly changed As they are at this present the heer-presented mappe in general those that ensue in particular wil demonstrate to the which I refer the courteous reader thus leauing thesame to his best comoditie with desyre to be excused for such breuitie as in the descriptions I haue bene constrayned to vse I humbly take my leaue R. V. M. Tullius Cicero The horse is created to beare to dravv the ox to til to labor the earth the dog to hunt and to gard the hovvs But man to consider contemplate vvith the eyes of his vnderstanding the disposition of the vvhole vvorld THE DESCRIPTION OF THE EARTH TYPVS ORBIS TERRARVM EVROPA THe countries of Europe as we now call them are Spaine France Germanie Italie Slauonia Graece Hungarie Polonia Lituauia Moscouie or more significatly the countrie of Sarmatia and the Peninsula in which is Norwey Swethen and Gothland Among the Iles Albion conteyning
England Scotland is the chiefest next vnto it haue ye Ireland then more northerly is Island Frisland lastly Groonland all in the Ocean sea In the Mediteraneum sea it hath Sicilia Sardinia Corsica Candie Maiorica Minorica Corphum Nigropont and others of lesse fame whose seueral names and situations do appeere in the Mappe This our Europe besides for the Romaine Empier honorable throughout all the world hath aboue 28 Christian Kingdoms yf you adde the 14 which some recon only in Spaine It is passing fertil naturally temperate and of a milde aier And inferior to no other parte in plentie of all kinde of fruit wyne and plants but to be compared with the most exellent beeing made pleasant with most faire Citties Villages and Throughfares And although it be in compas lesser then the other yet for the woorthinesse of the people it is preferred before all other partes of the world euer hath bin by all auncient writers hauing both for the Empier of the Macedonians and mightynesse of the Romaines bin moste renowmed EVROPA ASIA ASIA being the second parte of the world hath on the west syde to deuyde it from Europe the riuer Tanais from the head whereof the deuision is made as it vvere by a lyne extended vnto Sinus granduicus It is moreouer denyded by Mare Magiore a pece of the Mediteraneum sea On the south syde it hath the sea of India On the east the Ocean called Eous otherwise the east sea And on the north the icy sea of Sithia Asia by estimation seemeth as great as Europe and Affrica yet is it not taken to bee so populus as Europe having many wonderfull great deserts huge mountaines spatious sandy regions the mount Taurus stretcheth it self very farr through the middest thereof Some haue deuyded this parte of the earth into fyue portions The first is that which ioy neth vnto Europe obeyeth vnto the great Duke of Muscouy The second that which is vnder the great Cham Emperor of the Tartars The third that which is occupied by the race of the Ottomans vnder the fowrth is comprehended the kingdome of Persia gouerned by the Sophie And the fift last parte is that which as of old so yet at this present it retayneth the name of India beeing denyded vnder the comaund of many pety Kinges whereof diuers are tributaries to the great Cham. And in this parte is also conteyned the great mighty kingdome of China This parte of the earth is not only famous among prophane authors for the first monarchies of the world as of the Assyrians Persians Babilonians Medes but it is more illustred aboue other partes in sacred scripture wherein not only appeereth that in the same mankynde was first created by Almighty God but our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ coming into this world for the redemption of man did choose to make herein his birth place It is also to bee considered that the most pretious thinges that the world doth yeild are fonnd in this noble parte thereof as besydes great varietie diuers kyndes of beastes birds excelent sortes of spices frutes medicinall herbes rootes other thinges As also the moste pretious metalles pretious stones and pearles ASIA AFRICA THis third parte of the vvorld the auncient writers haue diuersty deuided But as Ioannes Leo vvitnesseth it is now deuyded into fowre partes to vvitt Barbaria Numedia Libia and the country of the Negroes or moores The first of these beeing Barbarie is the best and moste frutefull enclosed with the Atlantike and Mediterraneum seas the mount Atlas and the region called Barcha which confyneth on Egipt Numedia which yeildeth dates is of the Arabies called the date countrie is otherwise called Biledulgerid this beeing the second parte bordereth on the Atlantike sea in the west and the mount Atlas in the north in the east it reatcheth vnto the citie Eloacat and southward vnto the sandie deserts of Libia Libia the third parte is in the Arabeck tongue called Saâ—ra which signifieth wildernesse it beginneth at the riuer Nilus and reatcheth to the Atlantyke sea having on the south the Negroes or Moores and on the north Numedia The fourth and last parte is that which is called the country of the Negroes or Moores for that they are black people it hath Libia on the north The AEthiopian sea towardes the south the Gualates towardes the west and on the east syde the kingdome of Goaga It is further to be considered that all Africa is enuyroned with the Mediteraneum Atlantyke and Aethiophian seas and the riuer Nilus Some haue accompted Aegipt and Aethivpia to bee of Asia but with more reason all moderne Cosmographers do recon them to belong to Africa The south parte or coaste of Africa was vndiscouered vnto the yeare of our Lord 1497 that Vasca de Gama passed the promontorie or cape de Bona speranza and sailing round about all the south coast of this parte of the world arryued at Calecut in the east Indies Africa hath great and dry deserts wherein many strange beastes and serpents are nowrished and in some partes there of as about the riuer Nilus sundry new creatures or monsters are often produced AFRICA AMERICA THis fowrth parte of the world for the exceeding largenesse thereof is called the new-world altogether vnknowne vnto all Consmographers vntil the yeare of our Lord 1492 in which it was discouered by Christopher Columba of Genua who for that discouery was employed by Ferdinand King of Castille Queene Isabel his wyf It seemeth moste strange that so great a parte of the world should so long remaine vnknowne considering the dilligent search of Geographers to describe the whole earthe the oportunitie to search out countries the insatiable desyre that man hath of gold siluer wherewith this America aboundeth yet could neuer before bee found out Some think it was decyphered by Plato vnder the name of Atlas others affirme a pece of coyne to bee found there having on it the Image of Augustus the Emperor about the which there are diuers opinions and disputes This parte of the world hath bene all sailed about except on the north syde which coast is yet vndiscouered It seemeth to forme it self into two peninsulaes whereof the one which is northerly conteyneth new Spaine the prouince of Mexico the landes of Florida Terra noua etc. That which is southward called Terra firma conteyneth the regions of Peru Bresilia and others America had not in tymes past either wheat or wyne kyne shepe gotes asses or dogges but it hath since the discouery there of bene enriched from Europe with all these and sundry other comodities AMERICA ENGLAND THe whole I le of Albion called also Britannie beeing the greatest Ile of this parte of the world is at this day by two seueral names called England and Scotland because it contayneth those two kingdomes The Meridional greatest best parte thereof is called England of Englishmen somtyme a people of