thou mayest better disarme their fiercenesse they must be base and low entreaties which must asswage the fury of their first assault For this torrent if it bee opposed by noe resistance will languish in a moment and become quiet This warinesse and timorous wisedome is onely to be vsed in Townes or publike fields where a concourse of people to side with them thâ—â— did first abuse thee is eytherâ— gathered already or presently to be expected But in priuâ—â—â— places and where thy 〈◊〉 would not prooue too 〈◊〉 vnequall then bee sure to expresse at least in shew a boâ—d spirit not brooking iniuries by which meanes thou wilt terrifie them which doe not insult out of true valour but are as ready to receiue as to offer wrong The Magistrates and Iudges are fauourable to the complaints of strangers and forward to punish the people which doe them wrong vnlesse it bee a multitude that doe offend whom it is easie to blame but hard and for the most part too much cruelty to punish And soe wondrously hospitable are the seaâ—es of Iustice in that Nation that if a stranger offend hee shall finde them fauourable or if it happen that a stranger and an Englishmen be both guilty of one fact which deserueth eyther the whip or the gallowes the stranger many times is no further punished but onely commanded to depart the Kingdome The gentlemen are naturally enclined to a kinde entertainment of all strangers and are worthily ambitious in such curtesies Soe that no man vnlesse of a froward and baâ—barous disposition and altogether vnworthy of Noble company can repent himselfe of trauelling into Englaâ—d Among those Noblemen whose carriage is graue and their speech and gesture fitâ—ed to their dignity you mâ—st comply with an answerable grauity and aemulation as it were of mâ—iesty least they perchance should vnderâ—alue you from their owne grauity and your speech which must not bee to them in a soothing manner like the Italian and French humility you will otherwise carry a lower estimation among those men who accustome not themselues vnto affected humanity and lying complement To the Northern parts of England Scotland adioyneth gouerned by a scepter of incredible antiquity compared with other Kingdomes for the crowne of Scotland aboue twenty ages hath endured in the possession of one Family An hundred and twenty Kings haue successiuely reigned from Fergâ—â—â—â— the First to Iames that now 〈◊〉 who to soe anciancient a pedigree adding the Royalty of England is the first that combined the Kingdomes and reigneth entirely ouer all Brittaine The Scots are of dispositions fitted for society of behauiour and gestures of the body excelling other Nations and like vnto the French in all things but the riches of their country For the country Northward 〈◊〉 in many places not fit for 〈◊〉 and full of barren mountaines neyther are those mountaines clothed with woods vnlesse some which are raysed into a sharper climate and giue a woody and barbarous name to the inhabitants Yet Nature hath bestowed vpon it those hardy people abundance of vâ—â—tuall in fowle and 〈…〉 besides their flocks and heards of cattell It is sight vsuall to see three hundred red Deere or more in one heard But the inhabitants can rowze farre greater heards when the Noblemen are pleased to hunt there Neither doe they want comodities in their country fit to exchange for forreyne merchandises which are transported thither of necessary vse But the scarcity of money by no art or industry can be redrâ—ssed foe that they which in their owne country doe liue in plenty and with great attendance are not able in â—orreine parts to maintaine their port But noe people are more mindefull of their pedigrees then they that they had rather sometimes disgrace their Family by their pouerty then conceale the vnseasonable expressing of their titles or not mention their kindred For it is necessary in a country more populous then fruitfull that some of Noble blood should bee borne to extreme pouerty Soe that the Scots dispersed into many countries to get their liuing and none are more faithfull and industrious then they being still eager in publishing their Nobility are often laughed at by the hearers then beleeued or pitted But the people couragious also against themselues are diuided by many and fierce enmities and cruell to each other beyond an lawes of humanity or hatred For being diuided by Families and Names they hold those as Princes of their factions which possesse the most ancient inheritance of the Family To those men they are wonderously obseruant with a loue as great â—â—most as to their country it selfe to them when they are wronged they 〈◊〉 for succour vsing the patronage and strength of their owne Family By this meanes it has heppened that small quarrells betwixt men of obscuâ—e condition haue beene the causes of great and horrible commotions For they that haue quarrelled complayning on both sides to the Princes of their Kindred haue turned their 〈◊〉 wrongs into the inâ—â—â—es of whole families Nor are these differences decided with little blood for sometimes gathered into troopes and almost into iust armuâ—â— they fight it out and these 〈◊〉 continue to their heires after them They thinke iâ— glorious to reuâ—â—ge â—urder with thunder and firewith fire Nor doe they alwayes deale by 〈◊〉 force but by sâ—â—res and treacheries Nothing can bee 〈◊〉 or ignoble to them 〈…〉 cure their eyes onely by the miseries of their enemies And this mischiefe has often beene the ouerthrow of Noblemen who haue eyther beene slaine in fight or else vndone in their estates by keeping such multitudes of seruants and tenants about them for soe it was necessary for feare of suddaine assaules from their enemies whilest their Lands 〈◊〉 lyenâ—ntilled and wast And some heue thought 〈…〉 of wood in the country has beene caused by these enmities whilest these cruell people on both sides haue burnt vp their enemies woods and 〈◊〉 their priuate iniuries with the deuastation of their country But these things 〈◊〉 were more to 〈…〉 when they were 〈◊〉 where riâ—â— now since wee see it other wise wee may cherish hereafter better hopes For although heretofore it lay not in the power of the Kings to remedy soe great a mischiefe when the Nobles by the faithfulnesse number of their clients were more fierce and strong yet the now reigning King Iames of Brittaine has at last bestowed this benefit vpon this country 〈…〉 haue encouraged others to the same audacity especially least they should seeme to haue borne a fearefull and degenerate anger Hee therefore thought it best at once and for euer to compound these deadly 〈◊〉 The King therefore tooke a diligent account of those whose Familyes were engaged in such quarrells and partly in his owne person partly by the me 〈…〉 any more named among them a great and admirable worke of a most wise and industrious King yet not performed without much time and wonderfull felicity Two yeares after hee had thus appealed Scotland hee
sword-play whither more accepted â—or the show or profit of it â—s the furtherance of skâ—â—l in â—ighting For who can deny that skillfull art of striking with the â—word or auoyding the blowes which were aimed at him â—s a thing appertaining to the military arâ— this the Graecians the Romanes and euery Nation hardâ— in armes haue sought afteâ— with great intention But now they fâ—ght not as eâ—clâ—sed and 〈◊〉 in the preâ—â—e of an army as warâ—s are madâ— but as it were in the freedomâ— of an open theater they trauâ—â—se their groâ—nd â—hey shift their bodies with all agâ—lity and by safe proffers of the hand and gâ—ances of the eye they deceiue 〈◊〉 her 〈◊〉 doe rather as euery man may see enable â—heir mâ—â—deâ—ous cruelty vpo◠〈◊〉 hatreds then instruâ—t themselues in a pious 〈…〉 of thâ—â—r country and â—ow their rage â—uen betweene friends and kindred â—ulâ—â—leth the height of madnesse and all impiety Kinsmen and most familiar acquaintance vpon noe heinous iniuries but vaine exceptions at idle wordes or almost for nothing are engaged in quarrels and embrued in each others blood and which you may iustly censuâ— the highest degree of madnesse they fight not onely â—pon their owne iniuries but wickedly enterpose themselues into the quarrels of others and engaged in hatâ—eds which belong not vnto them they sacâ—iâ—â—ce themselues and the dearest of their friends For they freely goe when by these men which are to fight and aâ—e loth to die alone they are 〈◊〉 to thâ—s mortail play as it â—ere to a suppâ—â— recreation and there doe 〈◊〉 doubt to 〈…〉 should be neere and deare to man out of a most foolish desire of fame that they may bee sayd with a great contempt of life to haue gon into the field that is to â—aue vndertaken a most horrid cruelty out of a barbarous ignorance of true valour But these euils and whatsoeuer else haue crept into the dispositions of the French may be well excused for the vertues of those men whom the maturity of age or weight of iudgement doth soe temper as that they are not carryed away with their country-vices There is in them a wonderfull cuâ—tesie not feigned nor trecherous to ensnare them whom they court with friendship they are free from decâ—it and secret hatreâ—s they are free to entertaine all who desire their acquaintance aâ—d society and respectiue of all men according to their degrees and rankes It is enough for a forreiner which is admitted into their company to preserue their friendship if he keepe himselfe from open villay and too absurd foâ—y soe that in other places thou had'st neede haue a care of other men disposâ—â—ons least they â—urt thee but among true and accomplished Freâ—chmen to keepe thy selfe from giuing offence Nor is theiâ— any thing more happy in humane society then the maâ—ly sweetâ—esse oâ— such compleat company The Fourth Chapter BRITTAINE THe greatnesse of Brittaine though it bee an Island of large extent and exposed to many and different seas may be rather esteemed by the seuerall and vnlike manners of her inhabitants then by the names and harbours of soe many shores As if in the Ocean Britâ—aâ—â—e alone were another world all kinde of dispositions are to bee found in her inhabitants There is not a fayrer Island 〈◊〉 the whole world Sicily Crete and Cyprus though they haue all carryed the state and names of Kingdomes if they were all ioyned into one 〈◊〉 were not able eyther in circuit or wealth to equall Brittaine Being in former times a valiant Nation they gaue occasion of many fabulous stories which by forreyne wits and languages were commonly written and read as if nothing could be fained soe strange but might be atchieued by the people of Brittaine it was once diuided into nine Kingdomes But afterward by continuall warrs and frequent leagues those Monarchies and their bounds were often changed vntill at the last the whole Island became subiect to three Princes The colonyes of Saxony whom we call English are gathered together vnder the felicity of one sâ—epter the reliques of the old Brittaines which constantly cleare to the Cambrian Mountaines and are cal'ed 〈◊〉 Thirdly the Scots inhabiting the North part of the Island to whom a remnaut of the Picts who were almost â—ooted out haue ioyned themsâ—lues But Wales in a shoâ—t time vnable in warre to resist the strength of all England was ioyned to that scepter The Scots though despairing euer to bee able to conquer England yet disdaining to yeeld vnto it as an argument of lasting aemulation contended with the English not more stiffely by warre then by a different and auerse Nature from them vntill the fates condemning at last this peâ—nicious â—mulation conioyned them both vnder one King by whose spirit as it were the whole Island is now vnited in one body England abounding in rich pastures and ground fruitfull in procreation of diuerse and different trees doth euery where delight the eyes of the beholders with a most beautifull verdancy the easie and free encrease of fruite doth nourish the sloth of the common people The fertile and fat grounds doe euery where yeild such abundance of pasture for horses and bullocks as sufficeth the perpetuall greedinesse of those beasts in other places where the ground is dryer and clothed with short grasse it feedeth innumerable flockes of sheepe excusing the barrennesse of the soile with an incredible profit which is made of wooll not the sharpnes of winter vnlesse perchance it prooue harder then vsuall doth driue their cattell which are euer accustomed to the open ayre into stalls or houses They are vsually contented with open sleepes in the cold fields and such pasture as the moderate warmth of the winter doth nourish For the winters are not there so sharpe as the climate and neerenesse of the North would make vs imagine when in France where it is neerely opposite to the coast of Brittaine the winters are extreme and much more rigid in the ayre of Holland In so great an indulgence and fauour of the ayre the grounds of Brittaine doe with great ease receiue and foster the seedes of all fruite They haue tall Baytrees and Rosemary which is precious in many countries by reason of the care in planting and preseâ—uing of it is there common and growing oftentimes in hedges as a fence for gardens The country is able to foster vines and bring grapes to full ripenesse For the pleasant fruitfull mountaines oâ— Kent and Hampsâ—ire with other places situated to the South or East had heretofore vinâ—yards which afterwards they omitted to cherish by reason of the commodity of 〈◊〉 there and the cheapnesse of wine transported from Aquitance Wolues also are rooted out of that part of the country and doe not vexe the flocks of Sheepe which freely graâ—e and often times without the guard of a dogge For the diligence of their forefathers when the rage of wolues was exceeding fierce and deceiued or wearied the care of the shepheards rooted out by great
was called to the succession of the crowne of England a great happynesse for the strengthening of this amity among the Scots who now with a fitting 〈…〉 inconsiderate bounty and loue the fame more then the possession of riches or else deceiued by the quality of their owne country when they haue attained to such a summe of money as would make them rich for euer in Scotland they grow too secure of future pouerty and doe not vnderstand 〈◊〉 in euery Land the expences and prices of things are answerable to the plenty of gold and siluer soe that a great quantity of money can hardly bee 〈◊〉 in any place but such as is vsed to great expences What studies soeuer they encline to they prosper in them with wonderfull successe None are mâ—re 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 duties 〈◊〉 none more vallant in fight then they nor 〈◊〉 the Muses euer appeare more beautifull then when they inspire the breâ—sts of Scots They are capable also of city-businesse and can fit their industry to any kinde eyther of life or fortune But those that trauell or 〈…〉 and rely vpon no other meanes then going to the houses of their countrymen which are growne rich in other Lands and demand as it were the tribute of their country are most intollerable in their proud beggerâ— Ireland by the ancient Latines called Ierna and now Hybernia is an Island not far from Brittaine and subiect to the crowne of England a great and 〈◊〉 Island commodious for shipping by reason of many hauens nor is it to bee censured by the barbarisme and sordid liuing of many of the habitants for the fruitfullinsse of it inuiteth many 〈…〉 of England and Scotland to 〈…〉 mortall to any venomous creatures Newets and Toades if they bee brought thither will not liue The wood transported from thence noe age nor neglect will make worme-eaten noâ—â—hung with spiders 〈◊〉 although the Irish haue their spiders but harmelesse and free from venome The beames rafters and boordings of Westminster hall where the Courts of Iustice sit are made of that wood and there a wonderfull thingâ— the walls round about are filled with spiders but none of those sordid nets are spread vpon 〈◊〉 wood The Irish which liue not in Townes or ciuill places are wonderfull hardy in enduring any ayre or diet by reason of long and accustomed pouerty They can satisfie their hunger with any victuals gotten on the sudaine as venison or beefe halfe-raw They temper their meate with milke They build brittle and weake houses about the height of a man where themselues and their cattell liue together But this in those people is a thing to be wondred at the four of 〈◊〉 and ease doth soften the courages of other Nations but maketh the Irâ—â— valfant in warre For by reason of their sloth though their fields are fertile yet tilling and sowing are things almost vnknowne to them They are content with that grafte which the ground yeeldeth of her owne accord for pasture for their cattell They exercise noe 〈◊〉 dycrafts for feare of disparaging that Nobility which they soe highly boast of Soe in a sordid and filthy idlenesse they lead their liues and had rather cure by patience then industry the discommodities which are daily companions of their barbarous liuing and soe farre are they from knowing delight as they feele not want and misery In one single garment they endure both wet and cold by often hunting they grow wonderfull swift in running equalling almost the wildbeasts when they are weary or benighted the ground serues them for a lodging and couered with snow or wet with showres yet they are sooner raised by satiety of sleeping 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 of the weather excellent rudimeats of warre and valour if they did not proceede from such filthy sloth This beastlynesse in time of peace also nâ—yther the fellowship of the English nor the â—mulation of the Spanish fashions can make them to shake off but they loue this life soe full of sordid discommodities as free from cares assured by a wicked shadow of liberty which in different kindes has fouly deceiued diuerse 〈◊〉 They are obstinate in their 〈◊〉 viees haters of labour and foe of all profit but very industrious in theeuing and 〈◊〉 or any 〈◊〉 which is like to hunting And these are the slothfull miseries of the common people The Noblemen are many of them very faithfull of braue mindes nuâ—tured in 〈◊〉 vertues that befit their dignities Those alsoe that liue in Citties or the pleasantest parts of the Kingdome are adorned with great humanity and declare by this that those wilde Irish are barbarous by their owne willfullnesse and not borne to that vice by the fare of the Island The Fift Chapter GERMANY THe Riuer Rhene arising from the foote of the Alpeâ— and flowing along the borders of the Low-countries doth there fall into the Ocean It was once the bound of Germany but now by the changes of 〈◊〉 and Empires the limits of Germany being encreased it may bee sayd to run through it Germany is a spacious country reaching from the Alpeâ— and France as farre as Sarmaâ—â— and Pannonia diuided into many principalities and comâ—â—â—â—ealths It was once full of â—oods and wild inhabitants but now beautified euery where with faire Townes the woods which were once great and orespread the country are now reduced to vse and Ornament It nourisheth vines in that part where it bordereth vpon Italy and where it declineth towards Pannonia as likewise vpon those hils which ouershadow the Rhene and some few places besides where the ground by fauour of some hils and warmth of the riuers is fitted for that purpose The cold grounds in their mountaines 〈◊〉 with firre trees and other woods Ister the Prince of riuers in Europe doth cut almost through the midst of Germany and rises in a sea-like channell to the yearely ruine of bridges there whose bankes are beautiful with famous cities but toâ— few for the greatnesse of foâ— noble a riuer Rhene Albâ— and many riuers famous in old times doe flow through all the breadth of Germany The country is full of good â—â—nes on the side where the Alpes bound it and all along the course of Ister in those places 〈◊〉 where Rhene runnes and Mâ—nis with the Mazâ— encreâ—â— of soe great a riuer but the side of the country which lyâ— toward the Ocean and the â—â—ner Land remooued from the famous and publike rodes foâ— nasty Innes and sordid 〈◊〉 of liuing in generall 〈◊〉 much of that Geâ—â—â—us which Ancient Writers haue ascribed to it Yet there are cities not vnworthy of some the market-places and streets especially craftly handsome the houses of lofty and euen structure the frailer parts of the building couered with printings The inner parts of their houses are not with like skill fitted for vse their beds are placed in the remote and for the most part obscure places of the house They doe not vse lightly any chimneyes at all They had rather vse certaine little