and in Armes the State being disarmed not looking for any such innovation So the Barbarians subdued the Empire of Rome The Arabians the Empire of the East of Aegypt and of Spaine Charles the eighth King of France gained Italy The Portugals India The Castilians the new world and Soliman the Kingdome of Hungary The division of the neighbouring States either into Common-wealths or into petty Seigniories and those of small power gave courage to the Romans to make themselves Lords of Italy and made an easie passage for the Venetians into Lumbardy This also made the attempt of Thusian light unto the Florentines and no lesse that of Barbary to the Castilians which they would have found very hard of either the one or the other had expected them with armed forces The variance and jarring of the adjoyning Princes did open the way to the Turks to enter so farre into Christendome and with little trouble to invest himselfe of many kingdomes therein So Amurath the third presuming upon the civill discords of the Princes of the bloud Royall of Persia made that attempt with great advantage So againe the Persian upon the difference of the Scrivano and the Bashawes of Syria hath resumed the advantage and accordingly prospered Neither doth the whole mischiefe arise out of these intestine jarres onely but in all factions one part will be sure to intreat the aid of some forren Prince against the other than which no man can have a better occasion because then he commeth armed into the owners house at his owne request So the Romans set foot in Sicil being cald in by the Mamertines In Greece by the Athenians In Numidia by the sonnes of Micipsa In Provence by the Marsilians In France by the Hedui and so from time to time by divers others So Amurath the first King of Turks got hold in Europe being requested in aid by the Emperour of the East being then in warre with the Princes of Greece So Soliman in Hungarie being intreated by Queene Isabel and afterwards by King Iohn So the Aragons in the kingdome of Naples being drawne thither by Queene Ioane the second and so Henry the second King of France made himselfe Lord of three great Cities of the Empire Often hath it beene seene that he that is now called in as a friend does after prove an enemie and if one party in a civill warre cals in a forren arbitrator both parties cannot get him out againe But another no lesse successefull opportunity hath also beene made use of and that by way of marriage By apprehending the opportunity of a marriage were the two houses of Yorke and Lancaster and the two kingdomes of England and Scotland united But no Prince hath made so great advantage of marriage as the Spaniard The match of Ferdinand and Elizabeth was the very foundation of their greatnesse By marriages were the severall Provinces of the Low Countries united all which fell to Spaines at a clap Finally for this advantage hath the house of Spaine three times purchased dispensations from Rome for incestuous marriages and more they intended too Charles the fifth Emperour was solemnly contracted to our Queene Mary and Philip the second King of Spaine sonne to the said Emperour both wedded and bedded her nay upon strong appearances suspected it then was that King Philips curtesies to Queene Elizabeth were for his owne ends that if Queene Mary should die without issue he might marrie her also which he afterwards attempted by the Count de Feria promising to obtaine a dispensation so should England have beene laid to Spaine and what should then have hindred his Monarchie Now besides those advantages of humane policie and strength before mentioned God himselfe hath reserved a power at his owne disposing in the giving away of victories and in the cutting short or inlargement of Empire And to this end hath ordained these naturall Agencies and Assistances of Seas Rivers Mountaines Marishes Wildernesses and the sandie Desarts By these helps he the weake to hedge and ditch out their incroaching neighbours and by granting the mastership over these to another Nation he can at pleasure scourge the rebellion or unthankfulnesse of those people whom before he defended by them And of these helps of nature something will we say and in their order And first for the benefit of the Sea Concerning the profits of Merchandize both for importing and exporting of commodities I will not here speake though even that tends so much to the inrichment and augmentation of the honour of the State that in all treaties of warre and peace I see that the articles concerning traffike are sometimes two thirds of the treatie for so were they I am sure in that politike and nice-driven negotiation of the peace betwixt England and Spaine in the beginning of the Reigne of King Iames the Lord Treasurer Cecil Northampton and the greatest Sages of the kingdome being Commissioners on our partie and the best pates of Spaine for theirs but here I will onely treat of the Sea as of a Soveraigne friend and bulwarke to that Nation that is neerliest situated unto it and a maine helpe towards the keeping or inlargement of dominion The Poets you know made a God of Neptune that obtained the soveraingty of the Sea as well as of him that had the government of the Land and truly to be Lord of the narrow Seas and to enjoy a royalty That the ships of all Nations shall strike faile to one of the Kings ships is none of the least honours and to bee master of the Sea is more of it selfe than a pettie Monarchie He that is so indeed may give the law as well as he that is master of the field The Sea-fight at Actium was it that made Augustus Caesar sole Emperour of the world and Pompey learned it of old Themistocles that he that had the best Navy would in the end prove the Conquerour The victory that the Christians got at Lepanto so arrested the inâ—â—â—aching of the Turkish greatnesse that they have done little upon Chirstendome never since I mention not 88. nor that the resistance that the Hollanders have beene able to make against the greatest Monarch of the world proceeds meerly from the advantage they have of him by their commodious situation upon the Sea and by having more havens and ships than he This certainly will prove true that if ever the Monarchie of Spaine be broken it must be by Sea even by the Fleets of England and Holland and that know the Counsellours of the Emperour and Spaine well enough who to make themselves masters of some good ports have supplied their defect of a Navy by a chargeable land army For what thinke you else should be the designe of Monsieur Tilly but to take the Sea by Land to make his master Lord of Stoad Hamborrough Luckstadt with other Hansee townes and the Sowndt of Denmarke and what makes the Emperour who yet had never greater vessel than a Punt or Yaugh upon the
and short that it cannot ripen the clusters of the vine It bringeth forth a race of excellent horse fit for journies in regard of their ambling paces but not commendable for indurance It breedeth the injurious Wolfe and the Fox as also all other creatures tame and gentle necessary for life but of lesser growth except the Grey-hound Almost all the woods are replenished with Deere and those so fat that they can frant runne for fatnesse with Bores Hares in great abundance Goats Fallow-Deere Hedg-Hogges and Moales are seldome seene but Mice infinite it aboundeth also with Falcons Merlins Eagles Cranes and in the Northerly parts with Swannes Storks are very rarely heard of thorow the whole Island but such as are there found are blacke Pies and Nightingales are altogether wanting By reason of the Sea their famous Rivers and spacious Lakes it is served with most excellent Fish and that peculiar to this Island onely For to let passe many other in Vlster the Ban being a most faire and cleare water and arising out of the Lake of Eaugh is the most plentifull River for Salmon that is to be found thorowout all Europe For plenty and varietie the like is to be reported of Sineus and Erno a Lake by Camdens report thirty miles long and fifteene broad Report saith that this was once a delicate plot of ground and well inhabited but for the bestiall abuse of the people it was suddenly swallowed in the waters And to prove this true men say that in faire seasons the Turrets and tops of houses are in the bottome to bee discerned The Island became subject to the Crowne of England about the yeare of our Lord 1175. Henry the second then reigning At what time Roderic King of Conaght intituling himselfe King of Ireland inforced the residue of those petty Roytelets to crave assistance of the King of England under whose protection they voluntarily yeelded their obeysance It hath fifty Bishopricks whereof Armach is a Primacy and Metropolitan of the whole Island Cassils is another Archbishopricke authorized by Pope Eugenius and hath under it nine suffragan Bishops Dublin is another and Toam another It is divided into foure Provinces viz. Leynster which Eastward respecteth EnglaÌ„d Mounster which lieth towards France Southward Conaght exposed to the West And Vlster situated in the Northerly part of the Island Some adde a fifth placed in the middest and terme it Meath Every one now is subdivided into Counties and each Countie into Baronies and hundreds and every Barony into Parishes consisting of Manors Townes and Villages after the manner of England â— That parcell of territorie which anciently was termed the Pale is about the quantity of Yorke-shire in England and is a Country at this day inhabited by Noblemen and Gentlemen descended of Engliâ—â— race being civill men and have continued their obediencâ— to the Crowne of England and retained their English language since the first conquest This people doe commonly marry within themselves and not with the meere Irish who could never in their sundry rebellions draw the said inhabitants to joyne with them by flattery or expell them by force The first Colonies planted therein were composed of worthy and noble Englishmen and especially seated in Dublin and other Cities and borough townes thorowout the Realme whose progeny having the mannagement of the affaires of the kingdome subdued by degrees the greatest part of the Irish and brought them under subjection to the Crowne of England And so long as they and their posterity were imployed as principall Officers in time of warre and peace being men throughly informed of all passages within the Kingdome and acquainted with the dispositions of the people the Realme was worthily governed and duly increased in civility and yeelded some profit to the crowne without charge Other English Colonies at sundry times have there beene since planted and especially by our late and moderne Soveraignes in the Provinces of Mounster and Vlster by the name of Vndertakers whereupon it groweth that the Realme is now inhabited with English and Irish descended of English race and with the meere and ancient Irishmen unto whose Nobilitie and Gentry the sir-names of Mac or O are commonly added Vpon the Conquest Henry the second established the lawes of England then being divided into kinds viz. the Common law as that the elder should inherit his fathers lands and Custome law that by the particular custome of Manors and Townes lands should be divided by the custome of Gavelkinde amongst all his sonnes or that the youngest sonne onely should inherit the same by the custome of Borough-English whereunto is to bee added a third viz. the Statute law He and his successors held the possession thereof with 〈◊〉 soveraigne royalty and kingly prerogatives by the nâ—me of Lords of Ireland untill the day of king Henry the eighth who by act of Parliament was acknowledged intituled and entred King of the said kingdome and so continueth it unto this day being governed as a distinct kingdome by a Lieutenant for Authority Traine Furniture Provision c. farre surpassing any Deputation thorowout Christendome wherein Courts of Parliament are have there beene held conâ—â—sting of the three Estates of the kingdome in the same forme as is used in England by commission from the King under the great seale of England authorizing the Viceroy or Deputie to summon a parliament there and to give the Royall assent unto such acts as are agreed upon in that Parliament wherein the King and his Councell of Estate of England are to bee informed by certificate under the great seale of Ireland by force of a Statute made in Ireland in the tenth yeare of Henry the seventh And after the kings allowance the bils to be enacted and propounded in the Parliament there So the Lord Deputy by force of the said Commission gives the Kings royall assent to such acts as are agreed upon in the said Parliament there So as I said before Ireland is not onely governed by the Common lawes of England by certaine ancient customes of that realme and this and by divers statutes here and there also upon occasion enacted but also the like Courts and formes of Iustice are there according to the said lawes used and administred And also the Iudiciall records are made in Latine and the Iudges and Lawyers doe plead in English as is accustomed in England For the studying of which Lawes the Irish Gentlemen doe send their sonnes to the Innes of Court in England being alwayes such as are descended of English race and not of meere Irish who are allowed to practise in England after they are called to the Barre as Englishmen are also allowed to practise in Ireland Neither the Nobility nor Commons of Ireland have any suffrage in the election of the Viceroy or blazing of Soveraigne Magistrates but all is done by the King and such as are especially authorized And the inhabitants of Cities and Borough-townes in Ireland by their charters which they have from the
reporteth that their battell seemed rather to consist of Giants than of ordinary Souldiers Neither hath any Nation ever dealt more at adventure or hath used more boldnesse and blinde fury than the Portugals whose voyages beyond the Cape of Good-Hope and the Straights of Sinca-Pura their conquests of Ormus of Goa of Malacca and the Moluccos the defence of Cochin of Diu of Chaul and of Goa are more true and commendable than in reason likely to have prospered Military valour now is usually increased by some such like means as these First by using them to the wars Secondly by treating them like free men not like slaves Thirdly by inuring them to Arts manly Fourthly by appointing military rewards and honours for the souldiery When people are inured to the warres it takes away the horrour and hideous feare of it and makes it but a kinde of trade to the followers who desire it to live by it One of our lusty ploughmen of mid England would at fifty-cuffes or cudgels soundly beclowt a Hollander but yet for that he never saw men with iron faces he durst as well take a sheet of an hedge as come within the cracke of a pistoll whereas t is usuall for the Bores of Holland some with firelocks some with Loapestaves to make out parties of foot to goe a-bootehaling and even to set upon the horse of the enemie And all this is because the Englishman is not used to it and the Hollander is For the same reason there is much difference betwixt the same people in time of warre and after a long and effeminating peace That felt Hannibals souldiers after their long and lazie quarter in Capua Before Da'lvaes comming into the Low-Countries to provoke the Hollanders there was not a more simple cullion in the world than a Dutchman and now no where a braver man and what hath effeminated our English but a long difuse of armes Finally though in a hard battell there would appeare a great deale of difference betwixt an old beaten souldier who had seene men die familiarly even the sight of bloud making men fierce and fearelesse and a man of our traine bands of London yet surely would the Londoner much sooner prove fit for a battell than the unexperienced country-man even for that little use which he hath had of his Armes in the Artillery garden and Military yard of such force is use and custome to the increase of military valour Most requisite it is that what people a Prince would make valiant he should use freely and not like slaves A Nation overlaid with taxes will never prove military In France therefore where the peasant is but the day-labourer for his Land-lord the Monsieur and never suffered to eat good bit to weare good ragge or scarce to lay up a quart-deseue at the years end the Prince does not much trust to the Enfantery which is made up of this slavish people Inforced impositions mightily abate peoples love and courages and the blessing of Iudah and Issachar will never meet That the same people should prove the Lions whelpe which is used like an Asse betweene two burthens But where the yeoman or husbandman may eat what he breeds spend what he earnes and have the benefit of the Law against the best gentleman of the Country there are they fit for an helmet And all this is in England in no Nation under heaven does the common man live so freely or dares spend so frankly no where so free minds or so able bodies Three other usages have we had in England which have kept our people in spirit and valour One was the tenure of Knights service by vertue of which when the Lord of the Mannor was called to serve the King he drew his Tenants after him who would not budge a foot but live and die with their Land-lord and Captaine for if they proved cowards to their Land-lord how should they looke his sonne in the face and how disgraced should they be at their returne into their owne Country Thus proved we victorious in France The second usage was perfected by King Henry the seventh which was to reduce the Farmes and houses of husbandry to a standard assigning such a proportion of land to each as might breed a subject to live in a convenient plenty neither with so much as should effeminate him into the ease of a gentleman nor with so little as should discourage him with beggery The third usage was the frequency of Serving-men and Retainers who before that the sinne of drunkennesse had overflowed their gals and courages were no whit for valour and service inferiour to the Yeomanrie All these being kept in freedome were maintained in courage able and willing to serve both their Prince and Country A third thing necessary to breed courage in a Nation is if other reasons of State will beare it that there be more addicted to arts manly than unto sedentary and within-doores occupations Such I mean as require the strength of the backe and brawne of the arme rather than the finenestle of the braine or finger Some have thought that the multitudes of Monkes and Friers would if need were be a great strengthening to the Papacie and fight hard for their Grandfire of Rome But most assuredly those cage-birds have no military minds at all When Rome was beleagred by the Duke of Burbon in Charles the fifth his time and taken too not a Frier came to the rescue The Kings of England have sometimes made bold with the treasure of the Monasteries but never thought their persons serviceable Had they beene martiall-minded such multitudes would never have suffered themselves to be turned out of their warme nests in King Henry the eighths time without stroke striking And surely the taking in of the Dutch and Waltons into our Cities of England was more out of charity than policie for they being all given to neat and delicate manufactures may seeme rather to bring riches than strength to the kingdome Nor have our Kings hitherto tryed any of them in their souldierie Studious delicate and sedentary arts are not fit for armes t is the whip the plough-stafte the slayle the hammer and the hatchet that breeds the lusty souldier that makes able bodies and couragious spirits Another great maintainer of courage is the invention and worthy bestowing of military honours and rewards after the service is done The Romanes had their Triumphs and Ovations their Garlands and their Donatives to inhearten their souldiers Orders of Knighthood were also invented for this purpose But what 's all this to the common Souldier who hath no reward assigned untill he be lame and that a little from the Treasurer As for releefe in an hospitall a serving-man can make better meanes to get into it than a poore souldier after twenty or thirty years service This is a discouragement But nothing so bad as the Spaniards whose practice hath beene for these many ages to reward most of his great Captaines
especially if they were not naturally Spaniards first with an empty title and lastly being not otherwise able to pay or recompence them with a Spanish sico. A great and a maine advancer of a cause and enlarger of Empire is Religion or the pretence of it Religion is well called the soule of the State and is ever the prime thing to be looked into most bitter dissentions and hinderances of all great actions still proceeding from discontentments in Religion Anima est actus corporis sayes the Philosopher T is the soule that gives action and motion to the body and if the affections and passions of the soule bee composed to a well ordered and contented tranquillity and serenity there followes health strength and growth in all the limbs and members of the body The conscience is an active sparke and can easily man up all the powers of soule and body either for the maintenance or enlargement of it's libertie Bonum est sui communicativum Religion contrary to counsell desires ever to be made publike the spirituall man as well as the naturall ever having a desire generare sibi simile to beget others in his owne likenesse to compasse Sea and Land to make a Proselyte As therefore Princes have still accounted it a dangerous thing to arme Religion against themselves so have they most willingly accepted of the countenance of Religion No such encouragement could come to the Israelites or disheartning to the Philistines as when the Arke of God was in the host of Israel who is able to stand against these mighty gods say they Most surely is the kingdome of the Pope founded whose ground is layed in the conscience The Turke pretending to propagate his Religion with fire and sword we see how that hath advanced his conquests and what advantage hath the Spaniard more made use of in these late warres than a specious pretence of rooting out the Protestants and the re-establishing of the Catholike Religion by which secret he hath not onely staved off the popish Princes and Erectors of Germany not onely from defending the common libertie of their country but to enter that which they call the holy league with him whereby for zeale of enlarging their Religion they in the meane time weaken themselves that he at last picking a slight quarrell with them may swallow them up one after another having long before designed them Papists as well as Protestants to a common destruction for though the Spaniard pretends Religion yet he intends Monarchie This plot beginning to be discovered we see most of the Princes of Christendome drawing to a leaguer war that is to a cōfederacy of all Protestant Princes against all Popish who sees not that if the Romish religion prevailes the King of Spaines Monarchie must needs prove as Catholike that is universall as his religion and then will he prove the Catholike King indeed Now that the pretence of Religion may take the better 't is necessary that there be an union in it among all the subjects of the grand pretender or at least that those of the adverse opinion be so few and weake that they be not able to put an Armie into the field tolerations of Religion are most dangerous and surely should the King of England much exhaust his land forces to make a potent invasion upon the Spanish dominions the Iesuites would presently stirre up our Papists to call him backe againe for the stinting of a domestike rebellion for to be feared it is that though all our Recusants be the King of Englands subjects yet too many of them be the King of Spaines servants No sooner on the otherside did the French King this present yeare lead his Army over the Alpes into Italy but the Duke de Rohan thought it a fit opportunity for the Protestants to struggle for their liberty And therefore plainly as of all good causes Religion is the chiefe so in Religion there must be unitie and that makes it irresistable Finally as naturall bodies are best nourished by things of that nature and kinde whereof they consist even so that Empire which is gained or inlarged by Religion must ever be maintained by it T was therefore the old rule amongst the Conquerours to bring in their owne language lawes and religion among their new subjects The Romanes did this every where and the Norman did it in England The Spaniard indeed hath not much stood upon lawes and language but hath ever beene diligent for his Religion and though in the Palatinate he suffered some Protestant Ministers awhile to make the conquest the sweeter yet those being either dead or wearied out he never suffered another Protestant to succeed The diligence and fury of the Emperour for rooting out those of the Augustane confession in Bohemia c. may well confirme the truth of this observation The qualities of weapons and the order of discipline are important instruments of this martiall greatnesse Advantage of weapons is like good casting and strict discipline like skilfull playing both which must needs winne the game The Macedonians by their Pikes and the Romans by their Pyles the Parthians and English by their long bowes have still beene victorious The same thing doth engine and fortification The gunne hath brought all weapons to an equality that onely domineeres now Nothing resists it but the spade T is a weapon of terrible execution serviceable both by Sea and Land yet are not the slaughters made by the gunne any way comparable for numbers to those bloudy battels wonne by the sword The charges of this disables Princes from levying Armies equall for multitudes to the Ancient which now adayes beginne to be incredible Infinite were it to speake of the new invented engines and fire-workes and of the severall provisions to prevent them and whether after-ages shall invent a more terrible weapon than the gun is to us uncertaine which if it proves the Inventor gets incredible advantage Treasure is an advantage of great importance forasmuch as there is nothing more necessary in warres or of more use in peace By meanes hereof the Florentines became Lords of a great part of Tuscany they bought many Cities they freed themselves from the incursions of divers enemies they maintained the warres many yeares against the Pisans and against the prowesse of those peoples and the power of those Princes which did aid them and at the last brought that warre to good end By meanes hereof the Venetians made themselves Lords of a good part of Lumbardy and endured the forces of the King of Hungary the Arch-duke of Austria and of divers other Princes Whereby it appeareth that money worketh two notable effects to the augmentation and continuance of the greatnesse of kingdomes and estates The one to provide and gather forces and those being gotten to uphold and maintaine with supplies of Souldiers victuals munition and armes The other that it doth offer us opportunity if not to weaken and vanquish the enemy having gotten the
Which done they flie to the mountaines and in despight of any forces continue unsubjected howsoever unpunished And therefore since I have deciphered the persons let me in a word advise thee of their properties that is to take heed of the pride of Spaine the poyson of Italy the treason of France and the drinke of Flanders Beware of company and let not rash trust in friendship produce matter of fruitlesse repentance Remember that Damon and Pithias Pilades and Orestes are all dead or else it is but a dead story Nature alters like humours and complexions every minute of an houre And should I not speake too much to the worlds shame I would advise thee to thinke that there is no one man faithfull to another in the world And therefore in this dangerous age since every man is neerest and onely neere unto himselfe and hee is held the onely wise man who hath the world at most command let no man so presume of his owne sufficiency as to neglect the benefit of counsell Take a young man for thy companion rather than for thy friend The world affordeth but one Phenix and let not any man be so conceited as to thinke to finde him in his owne imagination Serve God with devotion and then care not for the devils illusion When thou returnest from these forren men and forren places resolve then also to leave their forren manners First come home to thy selfe and then fashion thy carriage thy apparell thy studies thy conscience and thy conversation to the best patterne of the place from whence at first with good intent thou began'st thy pilgrimage So shall the remembrance of thy travell be pleasant the profit infinite and thy returne an ornament to King and Country THE SECOND BOOKE Of Europe The Commendations Bounds Religions and Languages of it IT now remaineth that I beginne to tell you how according to our best and latest Cosmographers this great Globe for parts and parcels whereof so great and universall quarrels have from the beginning beene entertained amongst Princes Peoples and Nations hath beene divided into seven parts The first three whereof viz. Europe Africa and Asia were knowne to the Ancients The fourth is America Septentrionalis containing the Provinces of Estotilant Terra de Labrador Terra de Biccaleos Nova Francia Norimbega Florida Nova Hispania and others The fifth is America Meridionalis which is a peneinsula and disjoyned from the former by a small Isthmus or necke of Land containing the Regions of Brasil Tisnada Caribana Peguana and Peruvia The sixt is termed Terra Australis wherein lieth Psitaicorum regio Terra del feugo Beach Lucach and Maletur situate betweene Iava major and Iava minor The last being under the Northerne Pole is the least of the residue all almost unknowne and divided by Mercator upon a meere fabulous report of one that was never there into foure Islands lying in a manner under the very Pole This part hath not hitherto beene discovered the neerest approach that any man of Europe ever yet made to the North Pole was by one Marmaduke who in a ship of Hull arrived in 82. degrees that is no neerer than within 8. whole degrees of the Pole mountaines of Ice keeping him from discovering further Of all these seven parts because Europe is farrelesse than any of the rest and yet exceedeth them all in Noblenesse Magnificence multitude of people in might puissance and renowne we will first beginne with the description thereof It is bounded on the North with the North Ocean Sea on the South with the Mediterranean on the East with the floud Tanais and on the West with the West Ocean It containeth more than foure and twenty Christian Kingdomes at this day as farre excelling the residue of the Provinces in Religion Arts Valour and Civilitie as in elder age it did surpasse them in Prowesse and Reputation The principall Provinces are Spaine France Belgia Germany Italy Sclavonia Greece Hungary Poland Lituania Moscovia and that toward the North called Scandia wherein are Denmarke Norwey Swethland Iutland c. The Islands are Brittaine containing the Kingdomes of England and Scotland Ireland Island and Engroneland in the North Ocean In the Mediterranean are Sicilie Candia Corsica Sardinia Majorca Minorca Nigropont Malta Corsu Salamine Mitâ—lene Sciros with many other in the Archipelago The aire hereof is passing good wholesome temperate and soile exceeding fertile Therein are many goodly Cities famous Mart-Townes and learned Vniversities The people thereof have in all ages excelled all other Regions in Courage Arts sharpnesse of Wit and all other gifts of Nature In times past it commanded Asia and Afrike by the Armes of the Greeks and Romans and at this day it is of great force by the power of the Turks and Muscovites and of no lesse reputation by the Navigations of the English Dutch Spaniards and Portugals so as it seemeth that Nature hath given unto this people a precedency to rule and governe forren Provinces as men farre surpassing all other Nations in wisdome courage industry and invention This least and best part of the greater portions of the world was so named of Europa daughter of Agenor King of Phoenicia brought into these parts by Iupiter in honour of whom the Phoenicians being the first Navigators and discoverers of these countries might as well leave her name to all their new discoveries the habits manners and languages of these parts especially at those times being all one or not much different as the Turks Aethiopians and all those of the East call us by one name of Franks and the Kingdomes of France England Spaine Germanies c. are in the histories of the warres of the Holy Land all together called the Kingdome of the Franks our Languages the Franke tongue and our Religion the Franks Religion The figure of Europe is fancied to resemble a Queene and so is she indeed of all the world her Princes having some dominion or other in all parts of the world and they none in her The Crowne and Head of this Queene is Spaine her Necke must bee that part of France under the Pyrenaean mountaines her Brest France it selfe her Armes Italy and Brittaine her Belly Germany her Navell Bohemia the rest of her Body hidden under her lower garments are Denmarke Sweden Lituania Prussia Poland Hungaria Dalmatia Grecia Moldavia Tartary and Muscovia This Queene at this day commands 28 Kingdomes all gathered up by three Emperours the German Turke and Muscovite and eight Kings France England and Spaine hereditarie Bohemia Hungaria Poland Denmarke and Sweden elective Princes States and Common-wealths in Italy and the Germanies many and potent some one of them Venice or the Low Countries by name too hard a match for the most potent Prince of Asia or Africa could they but come at him For Riches we have the most usefull and substantiall for goodly Cities Italy alone hath more than Asia Africa and America all together if other parts have any fortified townes thye here saw
Kings of England doe elect their Magistrates and Officers as the Cities and townes of England doe In England the ancientest Earles of Ireland do give precedency to the Earleâ— of England for that they have no voice in the Parliament of England neither hath the Nobility of England any voyce or prerogative in the Parliaments of Ireland so Irishmen borne are denizens by birth in England and may beare Office and inherit lands in England as experience teacheth without charters of denization as Englishmen are and doe in Ireland And so Irishmen pay onely such customes and duties in England as Englishmen doe and ought The Wards of the Nobilitie are disposed of by the King and of inferiour persons by the Viceroy and certaine of the Councell there according to their Commission Even so titles of honours lands and offices are usually granted by the Kings of England under the great seale of England or Ireland according to pleasure The incivility wherewith this so goodly a kingdome hath beene much branded hath chiefly arisen from want of education and learning And secondly for that the Country aboundeth with idle men having no trade whereupon to live which onely abuse hath incouraged rebellion the Ring-leaders not doubting to bee followed by these swarmes of dissolute persons ready to take armes upon any occasion for desire of spoile But verily sithence that now of late the King of Peace and Pietic hath wiped away all distrust of former neglects by his continuall industry to plant Religion and Arts to re-people the wasted Provinces and to extirpate the innated idlenesse of the worst bred Irish there is no question under God to be made but that this beautifull Island being so neere a neighbour so fruitfull in soile so rich in pasture more than credible beset with so many woods inriched with so many Minerals watred with so many Rivers invironed with so many Havens lying fit and commodious for Navigation into most wealthy Countries will in time prove profitable to the Church advantagâ—ous to the Prince pleasing to the Inhabitants and comparable to any the best and civillest kingdomes of the Christian Common-weale Great Brittaine THe whole Island of Brittaine once divided now re-united under the name of the kingdome of Great Brittaine is an Island situated in the maine Ocean over against France and divided into foure great Provinces The first whereof the Englishmen doe inhabit the second the Scots the third the Welshmen and the last the Cornishmen Every one of those doe differ from other either in language in manners or in customes England so termed of the Englishmen the Inhabitants thereof is by much the greater and goodlier portion and divided into nine and twenty Provinces which they terme Shires Of the which ten doe make the prime part of the Kingdome and inclining towards the South have their existence betweene the Thames and the Sea Next as farre as the Trent which runneth thorow the middest of England are sixteene other Shires proportioned whereof the first six lie towards the East and the other ten lie more to the Inland other six border upon Wales and are bounded towards the West About the heart of the Kingdome lie Darbishire Yorkeshire Lancashire and Cumberland And upon the left hand inclining towards the West Westmerland Vpon the contrary side lie Durham and Northumberland Provinces opposed to the North and sometime appertaining to the Crowne of Scotland These Shires are two wayes divided first into six circuits parted among the Iudges who twice a yeare goe over them for the holding of Assises Secondly into two Archbishopricks Canterbury who hath two and twenty Bishoprickes under his Province and Yorke who hath three in his These are by the Grecians termed Dioceses and take their denominations from the Cities wherein the Bishops have their Seas the chiefe whereof is London and was once the seat of an Archbishop now translated unto Canterbury This prime part upon the East and the South is bounded with the Ocean upon the West with Wales and Cornwall upon the North with Tweed the bounder also of England and Scotland At this River of Tweed endeth the length thereof which being accounted to beginne at the Shore which lieth most Southerly is from thence reckoned to containe about three hundred and twenty miles On this side the Humber it is accounted the fertilest for corne beyond mountainous but excellent for herbage For albeit to one that beholdeth it afarre off it seemeth all champiâ—n notwithstanding it hath many hils and those for the most part destitute of wood as also most pleasant vallies wherein especially the Gentlemen have their mansions who according to their old customes dwell not in Townes but approach the Vallies and Rivers and inhabit the Villages as I thinke the better to avoid the furie of tempestuous winds whereunto the Island is sometime subject Wherby it commeth to passe that the Yeomen conversing with the Gentry doe in every place savour of some good fashion and the Vpland Cities are the lesse famoused The land generally is exceeding fertile and plentifull in beasts whereby it commeth to passe that the English people are more addicted unto Grazing than unto Tillage so that almost the third part of the soile is reserved rather for Cattell Deere Conies and Goats a for of this sort also there is great store in Wales And in every Shire you shall see Parkes impaled and Forrests replenished with these beasts in the hunting whereof the Nobility and Gentry doe much delight there being more Parks in England than in all Europe besides For provision of the Inhabitants neither is it lesse stored with corne wilde fowle and fish so that for plenty goodnesse and sweetnesse it needeth neither the helpe of France no nor of any neighbour-bordering Country Among other things the flesh especially of their Swine Oxen and Veales have the best rellish of any part of Christendome and of Fish their Pike and Oysters It bringeth not forth Mules nor Asses but of Horse for pace the best in the world and of those infinite proportions for service running and coursing The wealth hereof consisteth in the never-decaying Mines of Tinue and Lead of Copper Iron and Coales On the Downes groweth a small and tender kinde of grasse neither dunged nor watred with spring or river but in Winter nourished with the moisture of the aire and in Summer with the dew of Heaven which is so gratefull and pleasing to the Sheepe that it causeth them to beare fleeces of singular goodnesse and exceeding finenesse The Island breedeth no Wolves nor any other ravening beast and therefore these their flockes wander night and day by Hils Dales and Fields as well inclosed as common without feare or danger Most delicate Cloths are woven of this Wooll which from thence are transported in great abundance into Germany Poland Denmarke Sweveland Italy Turkie and the Indies where they are in high request There grow all sorts of pulse great store of Saffron yea infinite quantities of
undertakings or our Merchants adventures over the face of the universe of French or Spanish Victories releevement of neighbours or expatiating of honourable reputation amongst the Mâ—sâ—ovites in the North or the Mogores in the East but unpartially bid you looke upon the face of the kingdome as now it stands If the glory of a King consist in the multitude of subjects how honourable is the State of England at this day which most harmoniously and absolutely commandeth over the English Scotch Irish Welch the French of Gernsey and Iersey If you desire to behold Palaces goodly buildings where are so many so good belonging to any kingdome in the world If a Court I verily beleeve for State good order expences entertainment and continuall attendancie other places will be found to come farre short If shipping a Royall Navie I hope you may depart with satisfaction especially if you were instructed in the secrets of their service and strength But let late triall performed in the face of the world make due report of those vertues If you will mâ—â—ter us at land who can shew such companies of foot such sufficient troops of serviceable horse and so many worthy â—â—â—â—tors and so well appointed what subject living in a civill Common-wealth can shew me as I can doe many in England a Gentleman of his owne tenants able to bring such faire companies of men into the field If martiall spectables be distastefull then looke upon the Nobility and grave Counsellors but withall prepare a reverent respect and settle your esteeme so resolutely towards them for their orderly life their sweetnesse of manners integritie in deciding of controversies and affability in admitting of Sutors that although you come from the Grands of Spaine the Princes of France and the ostentous pompe of Cardinals yet be not too prejudicate nor transported with selfe-conceited wilfulnesse and you shall see as great bravery retinue and observation amongst us as any subject in the world dare challenge After them looke upon inferiours you shall see them generally so many and so well attended and appointed that I protest them farre exceeding other places both for gracefull shew and sufficiency of execution Will you be ravished indeed and transported with the love of the world Come and behold the beauty of our Ladies and their disposing at a night of solemnity to which if you adde the generall contentment which our English women afford without sophisticate and adulterate favours there is no man can hold his peace but proclaime our preheminence If you would see justice proud of her entertainment and how she presents both praemium and poenam to the severall attendants at the barre looke into our Courts and view the same in most perspicuous eminence without so much as the least cloudy respect of persons If you will enter our Gentlemens houses I hope there are no such cupboords of plate beds of velvet or imbroidery hangings of tapestrie variety of roomes duty of servants order of house-keeping store of pastime and all in grosse that man can desire in any Country in the World If you will search our Cities and Townes what they want in outward deceit of formality it is supplied in sweetnesse and delicacie within doores surpassing the best of them in wealth and furniture As for expences I am sure some Citizens of London are at more annuall charge of diet than the Dukes of Venice Florence or Genoa If you will examine our Merchants however some great Fowker or Agent for a whole Kingdome for Genoa Antwerp Brussels or other Cities may surpasse us for usury and supposition of wealth there died not two such in one yeare and out of one Towne in the world as Sir Iohn Spencer and Master Sutton Generally all the rest surpasse for curious fare statelinesse education and orderly contributions Besides they live at home in case purchase Land with security bring up their children daintily and decently maintaine their families in obedience and cannot be matched by any forren opposition Finally if you would bee acquainted with the tradesman artizan and other of manual occupations looke how he lives looke how he fares looke where he dwels looke what he weares looke where he goes to buy his meat to such markets and shambles that the very sight astonisheth all strangers being once made acquainted with their rarity and goodnesse But indeed if you would have cause of wonder then looke upon the husbandman and compare him to men of like ranke in other places and I beleeve upon mature consideration our adversaries will repine at their felicities and our friends embrace our noble freedomes with desire of limitation In Turkie with the rest hee is a poore and unfortunate slave and whether Muscelman or Christian he dare not manure his ground to the best profit and therefore liveth poorely and sluttishly In Hungary and those parts they resemble carrion for living under the Turke nothing is his owne and in the Christian government all is taken from him either to furnish the warres or to maintaine the souldier In Italy they are a little better as long as they be able to pay their rents and husband their grounds Yet doe they seldome live of their owne or lead a life beseeming the freedome of conversation Besides in many places they are so terrified with the wretched troopes of the Bariditie who make prey of their labours that they know the robbers yet dare they neither detect them nor deny to entertaine them After the fashion of Italy they will be a little gawdie especially the women in apparell and are very industrious as having in one selfe-same field if the soile will yeeld it though it consist but of an acre both Corne Vines and Fruit-trees Honey Roots Sallets Bees and Silk-wormes He is now called a Villano and serveth to no other use than to inrich his Lord feeding himselfe upon Garlike and Onions and is acquainted with no good thing but superstition a few gawdy cloaths and the incontinent life of Curtizans In Spaine it is farre worse the Contadini are numbred amongst the reproaches of their government and esteemed almost as the Asses that bring their Cabages Melons and such like trash to the markets For he dare not attempt to cheapen any thing appropriate to the use of the Gentleman As flesh fish wheat or excellent fruits Nor must he if he have of his owne but furnish the market with the best feeding himselfe on the worst and vilest stuffe Besides the errour of Italy if the mother have a comely daughter or worse she is contented for money to yeeld to prostitution c. In France the peasant is not onely beastly within doores but churlish savoring nothing but his labour with base and servile behaviour with poore and miserable expences with obscene and filthy lodging with jealous and malicious entertainment with illiberall and ill-becomming freedome of speech against both Court and
througing discontentments turne to a flame of furious disconsolation amongst us Neither is this the full scope of their continued envies Religion is the pretence but malice and private respects procure these bad effects Saevit post funera virus At Venice the English have no buriall allowed them but the Sea neither at Zante are they better used but faine to be carried up into Morea amongst the Turks At Lygorne and other places of Italy an Englishman dying without confession is throwne into some ditch to be devoured of beasts and birds And in Spaine he is interred in the strond the field or a Garden How farre more charitable was Alexander to Darius Hannibal to Marcellus Caesar to Pompey Turks to Christians and Man to Man if not a Romanist But now leaving these premonitions to your better considerations as I have made you acquainted with those blessings which in truth doe make a Kingdome really happy So again for the strength of situation I hope to make you as perfect beholders of the two properties which Aristotle wished above all projects what ever to be regarded in the building of a Citie The one is that it be difficult to besiege the other that it be easie for conveying in and transporting out of things necessary These two commodities hath England by the Sea which to the Inhabitants is a deep trench against all hostile invasions an easie passage to take in and send out all commodities whatsoever being situated in the bosome of the maine Ocean which even by naturall courses fortifieth the Iland more than any Sea doth any other Kingdome For on the West lieth the Irish Ocean a Sea so turbulent and so full of rocks and flats that it is very dangerous for great Ships and on the East South and North the flowing and ebbing of the Brittish Ocean is so accidentall the removing of the sands and shelves so uncertaine and the rising and falling of the water betweene twelve and fifteene fathome a thing wonderfull to be spoken of so ordinary every twelve houres that without an English Pilot no stranger shall bee able to bring in a vessell in safety And he likewise must bring his Tide justly with him or otherwise it is impossible to land without perill The Sea coast on every side is cliffie and inaccessible except in some certaine places which are strongly fortified as Barwicke Dover Dartmouth Plimmouth Portsmouth c. so that the whole Iland may well be reputed for one impregnable fortresse To this strength of situation sithence of late a worthy Gentleman and that truly hath not doubted to averre that ten such Merchants ships well provided of munition and men as in these dayes trade into the East-Indies would not much feare the Navy royall of some Kings in Christendome why should we feare to rejoyce in the flourishing estate of that Kingdome in whose Havens besides the Navie Royall two thousand vessels are reported to traffike yearely And be it as it may to prove what we speake and to passe over the much famoused passages of Edward the third to Callis and Henry the eighth to Bulloigne we will flie no further for examples than the fourth yeare of Queene Elizabeth when in her journey to New-haven the Navie lately neglected was now againe so well furnished as both the Spaniard and Frenchman envied her Abilities But 88. was the yeare which gave both terrour and admiration unto all our neighbours A yeare by the Germans foretold to be the worlds climactericall by Regiomontanus Admirable And so indeed it proved full of rumours anxieties and menaces The King of Spaine having of late dayes added unto his Seigniories of Spaine the kingdome of Portugal and boyling in revenge against this kingdome suggesting unto his imaginations that if his destinies would vouchsafe as facile a victory against England as elsewhere upon like suppositions they had bestowed upon him at the Terceras and Portugal then even then at once had the life of the Low-Countries lien a bleeding his navigation to the Indies warranted and his hopes finished To the accomplishment whereof he presseth forceth hireth and borroweth from sundry Nations the strongest vessels and therein imployeth his utmost meanes to have tamed the English and confounded the Netherlands But that ever memorable Lady wary and provident summoneth her subjects relieth on their loves and to the Westward opposeth a Navie consisting of 100. saile there to wait the approach of this Invincible Armada And because from Flanders the Duke of Parma threatned no lesse danger upon that coast also she laid twenty other good ships to attend his attempts besides those of the Low-Countries From the West the enemy was discerned and fight with present courage entertained but precisely ordered that none of the English ships should voluntarily if otherwise it might be avoided lay any Spaniard aboard but alwayes fight at best advantage endevouring by all meanes to keepe into the weather whereby at all times soundly to have interrupted them if they had offered to land So to leave and take as occasions presented they comming to invade and the English ends being onely to keepe them from landing The which directions were so punctually observed as that this invincible fleet for all their force and appearance without either gaining or sinking one of our vessels was faine to flie away by the backe doore I meane by the North Seas wherein they found a miserable and tedious flight lost an hundred and odde of their best ships and in recompence never got so much as one dishfull of fresh water not ever landed one man prisoners except upon the English coast Whereat neither let the Papist mutter nor the ignorant detract by saying That is was the onely stormy winds and tempestuous Seas that afflicted our enemies and drave them from our coast These excuses argue bad spirits for it could not be avoided but that the English ships should also bee ingaged to like violent accidents of wind and waves as were the Spaniards The English had no determination to leave them no not to looke into any of their owne ports or those of their friends for succour And surely foule weather and high growne Seas did more hinder us than them For then could not we carry out our lower ports being our best tyres which the Spaniards might doe their ordnance lying nothing so neere the water as the English did Notwithstanding we alwayes affronted them and galled them with our great ordnance as our best opportunities served our ships being more proper for these Seas than their huge Lee-ward Carts Alwayes in spight of their hearts we kept into the weather of them to our great advantage which in truth was no small meanes of victory and of their disgrace that made so great preparations to so small purpose If they longed to be fought withall and were not why did they never offer to dispatch the businesse whereabout they made the world beleeve they came so resolutely determined why did they not make a
triall for landing or adventure the surprisall of some famous port for want whereof in former ages Xerxes suffered that terrible defeature at Thermipola Before this was done why ranne they away of what were they so fearefull who came like souldiers and resolute men under the title of assurance to conquer such a Nation Did the terrour of a storme onely drive them from hence in such haste were they not resolved to endure such weather as should happen in so great an enterprise Did they thinke to winne England with bigge lookes or to have tamed the people by tricks and dalliance as they had done the surly Portugues and fine Italians their neighbours Surely it seemed the Southerne winds had only inflated their minds as it is reported it doth their mares in the Asturies Where let us leave them and wish that some of those Worthies who yet live and were eye-witnesses of those great and fortunate expeditions undertaken and effected within the 44. yeares space of Her Royall government would take the paines to commit the Relation thereof to everlasting record Which done I make no doubt but that it would appeare beyond all objection That although the English Nation had long breathed under the milde aspect of so gracious a Lady yet 〈◊〉 it no lesse exercised in militarie discipline abroad than in peaceable pleasures at home Yea that the politike Regiment and heroicall actions of a maiden Queen have hardly since the conquest been exceeded by any her Majesties most famous progenitors For be it either in the wise reformation or wonderfull re-establishment of Christian Religion wherein she shewed no lesse constancie than true sincerity or otherwise in continuall comfort or liberall assistance of her distressed neighbours and allies whereof she had a royall and Christian-like regard or else in resolute repelling and fortunate invading her most mighty enemies wherein she was alwayes blest from above with happy and victorious successe her enterprises evermore were crowned with happinesse and in regard thereof throughout all nations her Counsellors were reputed grave and prudent the Realme flourishing and powerfull and herselfe magnanimous and renowned the fruits whereof I doubt not but we enjoy at this day The force at land is nothing inferiour to that at Sea for the kingdome is divided into 52 Shires in one only whereof commonly called Yorkeshire it is thought seventy thousand foot-men may be levied Every shire hath a Lieutenant who seeth to the election and training of souldiers when necessity requireth In chusing of souldiers they take the names of all the inhabitants In the Country from above sixteene yeares of age to sixtie and out of these they chuse the likeliest and ablest for service The taller and stronger are chosen for footmen and these divided into foure kinds The first are Archers by whose dexterity they conquered the greatest part of France tooke King Iohn captive and held Paris sixteene yeares in subjection The Arrowes of the Parthians were never more dreadfull to the Romans than the Bowes of the English to Frenchmen The second sort used browne Bils well headed with Iron with which they would strike and also plucke a man from his horse This was the ancient weapon of the Britons The other two use and experience of latter times hath taught them the one is the Harquebuze the other the Pike a fit weapon for their constitution by reason of their tall strong and man-like stature For their service on Horsebacke they chuse men of small stature but well set active and nimble These horsemen are of two sorts some heavie armed those for the most part are Gentlemen other lighter armed and some riding after the manner of the Albannesses some after the fashion of Italie using a Scull a Iacke a Sword and long light Speares And although they are able to bring to the field 2000. men at Armes and infinite troopes of light Horsemen yet their Horsemen never carried reputation to their Footmen For Edward the third and Henry the fifth which made so many journeyes into France and obtained so many famous victories to shew what confidence they reposed in their Infantely ever left their horse and put themselves into the battell of their footmen wheras the French Kings not daring to inure the Commons to warfare left leaving their manuall occupations and trades they should grow insolent in the warres to which humour they are greatly addicted alwayes put themselves their hopes upon the fortune of their Cavalry being all almost Gentlemen But forasmuch as the French maintaine no good races of horse and to purchase them from other places is a matter of great charge and good cannot alwayes be gotten for money for these reasons and for that Horsemen are nothing so serviceable in the field as footmen I thinke the French have often beene so defeated by the English To shew what force the Kings of England are able to bring into the field let these examples stand for many Henry the eighth passed to Bullvigne with an Army divided into three Battalions In the Vantguard passed twelve thousand footmen and five hundred light-Horsemen cloathed in blew Iackets with red guards The middle ward wherein the King was and passed last over consisted of twentie thousand footmen and two thousand horse cloathed with red Iackets and yellow guards In the rereward was the Duke of Norfolke with him an Army like in number and apparell to the first saving that therein served one thousand Irishmen all naked save their maneles and their thicke gathered skirts Their Armes were three Darts a Sword and a Skeane They drew after them one hundred great peeces besides small an Army by the censure of Guicciardini not more notable by the multitudes of souldiers and consideration of their valour than most glorious by the presence and Majesty of their King in whose person appeared at that instant being in an age disposed and active all those tokens of honour and magnanimity which rising after to their full ripenesse and perfection by degrees of time study experience made him the most renowned and mighty Prince that lived in his age in all this part or circuit of the earth which we call Christendome Their carriages were so many that therewith they intrenched their Campe like a wall And for the conveyance of their Ordnance their baggage and their provision they transported into the Continent above five and twenty thousand horse beside all other kinde of cattell In the aforesaid yeare of 88. after that Queene Elizabeth had provided fully and sufficiently to prevent her enemies at Sea then ceased she not to be as carefull at Land over her owne and her peoples safeties And therfore to be ready against any sinister accident which it might have pleased the Almighty to have given her at Sea at land she appointed five and twenty thousand souldiers to attend the enemy all along the Southerne coast At Tilbury lay the Earle of Leicester with one thousand horse and two and twenty thousand foot
Inhabitants saith Camden are warlike the soile gratefull to the Ploughman and well replenished with pastures It hath in it six and thirty Villages Hamlets and Castles in Beda's time twelve hundred families Iarsey lying over against Constans an ancient Citie of Normandy containeth about thirty miles in circuit and is environed with Rocks and dangerous Shallowes It is very fruitfull in fruit and cattell in plenty of fish and by reason of their many Orchards abounding with that kinde of wine which the English call Sider In stead of wood which the Iland wanteth they make their fewell of Sea-weed dried in the Sunne and growing so thicke upon the Rocks that a farre off a Sea-man would judge them to be whole Acres of Copice With the ashes hereof they manure their grounds It containeth twelve Parishes Garnsey is twenty miles distant from Iâ—rsey somewhat lesse and nothing so fruitfull It nourisheth no venomous creature as doth the former It is better fortified by nature and from the tops of the broken Rocks wherewith it is incircled doe the Lapidaries and Glasiers fetch that most hard stone where with they cut their Iewels and Glasse The Haven likewise is more secure and safe for shipping and Merchants especially at the harbour of S. Peter where by ancient privileges of the Kings of England saith Camden is continuall truce be the warre never so open and furious betweene the French and the English For in these times may the Merchants of either Nation resort without wrong or danger They want wood likewise and therefore either use the foresaid weed for fewell or Sea-coles brought out of England France FRance hath beene much larger than now it is as of old containing Switzerland Piedmont and Lumbardy beyond the Alps and on this side extending to the banks of Rhine yea the Wallon Countries were then reckoned unto France and some others which later Geographers have laid unto Germany France as now it is is on the North bounded with Lou-Germany a strait imaginary line in stead of a better bounder being drawne from Calais all along beyond Lorraigne within a league of Zaverne in Alsatia three or foure leagues short of Strasburg on the left and North side of which line lie Flanders the Wallons of Hannow and Luxemburg and on the right side Picardy part of Champaigne and Lorraine on the North-west it is washed with the Brittish Ocean on the West with the Sea of Aquitaine on the South it is thwarted by the Pyrenean Mountaines which part it from Spaine being toward the East lickt with the Mediterranean Sea On the fuâ—l East doe the Alps divide 〈◊〉 from Italie being on this side trenched upon by that part of Germany which lies betweene it and the Rhine which was the old bounder of this kingdome And this is the accuratest limitation It lies under the Northerne temperate Zone within the 13. and 19. Parallels The latitude beginning about the middle of the fifth Climate where the longest day is fifteene houres and extending to the middle of the eighth where the longest day is sixteene houres and an halfe In longitude it taketh up all those Meridians which are betwixt the fifteenth and the nineteenth There is no Country in the world better situate than that of France for it participateth of the Climate both hot and cold It is in length from Bologne to Marseilles two hundred leagues after the rate of three English miles a league and in breadth from Mount S. Bernard to S. Iohn de Luze as much for it is holden by some Authors to be of figure quadrate which notwithstanding Bodin denieth avowing it to be in forme of a Lozenge with whom La Nove consenteth measuring it thus From Calais to Narbone North and South it is two hundred leagues from Rochel to Lions West and East it is 120. leagues from Mets to Bayon North-East and South-West it is two hundred leagues and from Morley in Bretagny to Antibe in Province North-West and South-East it is as much True it is that many places within this compasse are not holden of the King as Avignon and what else the Pope hath Toul Verdun and Mets are holden of the Empire and Cambray of the house of Austrich in like case of protection as Constance in Swisserland Virich in the Low-Countries and Vienna in Austria and as Lucca and Genoua in Italy are protected by the King of Spaine so doe Lorraine also and Savoy hold of the Empire As contrarily there be places out of this circuit which notwithstanding hold of this Crowne in right and owe him fealty and homage as the Spaniard for the Counties of Flanders and Arâ—oâ—s which he hath ever since the time of Francis the first denied to render The divers Provinces of the Country are very many the chiefe are these Picardy Normandy I le of France Beauois Bretaigne Anjou Maine Poictou Lymosin Zantonge Champaigne Berry Salogne Auvergne Nivernois Lyonnois Charrolois Bourbonois Dolphein Provence Languedocke Tourraine and Burgundy The thing of best note in each of these is their singular Commodities and fruits where with they are blessed for the sustenance of the Inhabiter Insomuch that as they say of Lombardy that it is the Garden of Italy so may we truly say of France that it is the Garden of Europe Picardy Normandâ— and Languedocke are goodly Countries of Corne as any in Christendome All the Inland Countries are full of Wine Fruits and Graine in some great store of Wood in others of Flax in others of Mines of Salt in others of Iron Insomuch as one saith All things necessary for mans life overâ—low there in such abundance that in counterchange onely of the Corne Wine Salt and Wood transported into forren Countries there is yearely brought into France twelve hundred thousand pounds sterling And another no lesse approved and as well practised in the state of France saith The springs of Salt Wine and Corne are not to be drawne drie In which place he complaineth that the Kings of France were wont in times past to helpe their need with sales of wood which are now of late yeares so spoiled as France shall shortly be forced to have their Lard from other Countries as also wood to build and burne a complaint which I have often heard in England Other Provinces have also their especiall commodities wherin they excell their neighbours as in â—â—â—nosin the best Beeves about Orleans the best Wines in Auvâ—rgne the best Swine in Berry the best Muttons where there is such store as thereof they have a Proverbe when they would tax a fellow for his notable lying that tels of a greater number than the truth they say â—ie there be not so many Sheepe in Berrie They partake also in Sea Commodities as upon the coast of Picardy where the share is sandy they have store of flat fish upon the coast of Normandy and Guyen where it is Rockie Fish of the Rocke as the French call them and upon the coast of Bretaigne where it is muddy store
people Besides these publike Receptacles we have private and goodly Colleges for Lawyers fitted for their private and publike uses receit of their Clients conveniently appropriated to their Offices All workes rather of oftentation amongst our selves than of imitation in others In stead of obscure Churches we have first the goodliest heape of stones namely Pauls next the most curious viz. Westminster Abby in the world and generally all out Churches exceed for beauty and handsomnesse In stead of Gentlemen riding on durty foot-cloaths and women footing it in the mierie streets the one with an idle Lackey the other with no company at all we have fashionable attendance handsome comely passage either in Carosse Coach or on horsebacke and our Ladies and Gentlewomen are never seene abroad without an honourable retinue In stead of confused intermixtures of all sorts as Citizens Lawyers Schollers Gentlemen Tradesmen and Religious persons so that you can scarcely know the one from the other nor the master from the man in London the Citizen lives in the best order with very few houses of Gentlemen interposed But in our suburbs the Nobility and Gentry have so many and such stately buildings that one side of the River may compare with the gran Canale at Venice but if you examine their receit and capacity Venice and all the Cities of Europe must submit to truth for in London and the places adjoyning five hundred severall houses may beare the attribute of Palaces wherein five thousand persons may conveniently be lodged In stead of a poore Provost and a disorderly company of Merchants and Tradesmen we have a Podesta or Maior that keepeth a Prince-like house accompanied and attended with grave and respective Senators and comely Citizens having severall Hals where every craft and mystery is governed by ancient persons of the same society and profession At time of yeare producing such solemne and rich triumphs that strangers have admired the brave spirits of Mechanicall men To conclude if you looke on and in our London truly as it is composed of men following trades and occupations there is not such a Citie such a Government such a method of conversation such an unity of society and good neighbourhood such a glasse to see lovelinesse and beauty in such a chamber of wealth and such a store-house of terrestriall blessings under the Sunne againe Or if you please to view it without at all times and yet consider the keeping of our Country houses you may boldly say There are not so many Gentlemen to be seene in any place nor to so good purpose generally for speaking somewhat liberally like an Orator of Contentation I aske if the pleasures of Paris can bring you into walkes of such variety with so little charge and expence as London can Surely no. And with us our riding of horses musicke learning of all Arts and Sciences dancing fencing seeing of comedies or enterludes banquets maskes mummeries lotteries feasts ordinary meetings and all the singularities of mans inventions to satisfie delight are easie expences and a little judgement with experience will manage a very meane estate to wade through the current of pleasure yea although it should runne unto voluptuousnesse But shall I dare to speake of our Court the map of Majesty in respect whereof Biron compared all others to confusion If I doe for stately attendance dutifull service plentifull fare orderly tables resort of Nobles beauty of Ladies bravery of Gentry concourse of civill people princely pastimes and all things befitting the Majesty of a King or glory of a Nation I may say for England as the King of France once answered the Emperours tedious Title France France France and nothing but France So England England England and nothing but England to their proudest comparisons Affirming that if ever Countrey Kingdome or Prince came neere Salomons royalty plenty peace and beatitude England and in England London hath the preheminence Besides the Cities and Ports of France well fortified there be also infinite numbers of Castles Cittadels which the people call The nests of Tyrants and the Prince Chastivillains Of the Castles the number is therefore most great and as uncertaine by reason that every Noblemans house of any age is built in defensible manner An example of one for many hundreds you may take that of Roch-fort belonging to the Seigneur de la Tremouville which in the civill warres endured a siege and five thousand Cannon shot and yet was not taken It is judged by the wisest that in great Kingdomes such as France no places should bee fortified but the frontiers after the example of Nature who armeth the heads and heeles of beasts but never the bowels nor middle part as in England where except frontier places none but his Majestie have fortified places You must understand that here in France all Inhabitants of Cities are liable to the common charges of the fortification of their Cities reparations of Bridges Fountaines High-waies such like And because the richer sort should not levie the money and then keepe it to themselves or imploy it as they list they must give information to the Chancellor of the necessity of the Levie and procure Letters Patents for the same by authority whereof they gather the money and use it yeelding after to the Kings Procurer their account And for their Watch and Ward it goes by course as in the City of Embden and divers other in those low countries As for Castles the Seigneur or Captaine may not force Vassall faire le guet to watch and ward except in frontier places upon forfeiting of their estates After this generall Survey of the Country it selfe wee must observe something of the government wherein I will not trouble you with fetching their first Pedigree from beyond the Moone as many of theâ—r Histories labour nor by disputing the matter whether it bee true or no that they came from Troy into the marishes of Maeotis whence after some small abode they were chased by the Roman Emperour into Bavaria and after into Frankeland in Germany It shall suffice that from hence this people came into France wherein all Writers agree For after the declination of the Roman Empire when the Ostrogothes conquered Italy the Visigothes Spaine and the Vandals Affrike then did the Burgundians and Franconians divide this Country betweene them conquering it upon the old Inquilines the Gaules who from Caesars time till then had not tasted the force of a forren power The Government was under Dukes till the yeare 420. when as Pharamond caused himselfe to bee intituled King In this race it remained till 751. when Pepin suppressed his M. Chilpericke and usurped His line lasted till 988. when Hugh Capet gave the checke to the succession of Charlemaignes line who was Pepins sonne and invested himselfe with the Diadem From him it hath lineally descended by heires males to the house of Valois and for want of issue malâ— in them is now come to
as it were the Dowre which the State brings to the King her Husband for her tuition defence and maintenance And therefore one saith It belongs not to the King but to the Crowne There are two sorts of Domaines first the Rent which the King holds in his hands of the Feifs given for service Secondly that which is united and incorporate to the Crowne The rights of the Domaine are these Rents Feifs Payments at alienations Tributes Penages Toll of whatsoever enters or comes out of Cities Woods Forests and divers other That is Domaine which belongeth to the Crowne First either by Possession time out of minde Or secondly by Re-union for want of heires males as the Apennages when they returne or by Confusion for want to such as can make just claime much like our concealed Lands in England Or lastly by Confiscation of offenders inheritances Of this last sort we reade that in the time of Saint Lewis there were confisked to the Domaine the Countries of Dreux Bray Fortyonne and Monstrevil Languedocke Guyenne Anjow Maine Turraine Auvergne And after in the time of Philip the Dutchy of Alencon the Countries of Perche Perigort Poutieu La Marche Angoulesme and the Marquisat of Saluzzes But Bodin saith most of this came to the Crowne by force La siur 〈◊〉 Serre saith it came by way of Exchange or purchase But the Author of the Commentaries of the estate of the Religion and policie of France is of the first opinion Thus great was the Domaine in former times that of it selfe without oppressing the people with impositions it was sufficient to maintaine the State and greatnesse of the Kings of France but it is now utterly wasted It is well knowne that the Domaine which alone maintained heretofore the beautie and lustre of the Royall Estate is not now such as it was in the reignes of King Lewis the eleventh Charles the eighth and Lewis the twelfth The continuance of our warres hath caused it to be engaged in many hands in such sort that there is need of more than 15. or 16. thousand pounds sterling to redeeme that which is worth above five millions of pounds And Bodin saith that almost all the Countries Baronies and Seigneuries of the Domaine are aliened for the ninth or tenth part of that they be worth Yee must observe that the lands of the Domaine are not alienable but in two cases 1. For the Apennage of the Kings brother 2. For the warres And these must be confirmed by the Arrest of the Parliament For all other cases all Lawyers and Historians of France agree That it is inalienable and many Arrests have beene made of late yeares to confirme it I have read that the Charta Magna of England saith the Kings when they are crowned take an oath not to alien ti so doe they here in France And there is no prescription of time to make such sales or alienations good but that they may be recovered and repurchased whensoever the Crowne is able To this purpose Plutarch saith well Men cannot prescribe against God nor particulars against the Respublique 2 Concerning the second meanes of raising Money by conquests the present State of France can yeeld no example it hath beene long but on the saving hand 3 For the third meanes it is now out of season it was used in that good old world when men wiped their nose on their sleeve as the French man sayes for now Princes are so farre from giving as they hardly pay that they owe. 4 The fourth meanes also of Pension which Princes have upon some consideration of their Allies helpeth the French Kings coffers nothing at all for they rather give than take As for example to divers Cantons of the Swisses to whom at first they payed not above one hundred and twentie thousand Livres yearely but for these sixtie yeares they never pay lesse the yeare than two Millions For saith Commines Lewis the eleventh entered league with the Swisses and they into his Pension to whom he yearely gave forty thousand Florins whereof 20. went to the Cities and 20. to particular men upon condition to have a certaine proportion of their forces to serve in his warres upon all occasions An advantagious alliance for the Swisse in my opinion who by this meanes enrich themselves cleare their Countrey of many idle and bad members and lastly breed good souldiers to serve themselves upon need at another mans cost The Turke hath also a Pension of the Emperour of Germany for certaine Lands hee holdeth in Hungary which hee notwithstanding vaunteth to be a Tribute Many examples might bee alleaged of this kinde as of Philip of Macedon that by Pensions got all Greece partiall on his side and the Kings of Persia by Pension got ever the forces of Asia diverted 5 The fifth which is of Trafficke availeth nothing the French Kings for they hold it here a base and sordid kinde of profession for a Gentleman much more for a King to trade by Merchandize And by the Lawes of England France and Germanie he loseth the quality of a Nobleman that doth Trafficke Notwithstanding these Lawes and the disparagement that it brings to Nobility yet so sweet is the savour of gaine that many have used this as no small meanes to increase their Finances The great Duke of Tuscane present gaines infinitely this way and the more by his most unlawfull and tyrannous Monopolies for he commonly buyeth up all the Graine of his owne Countrey at his owne price yea and that which commeth from other places also and then sendeth out a Bando or Proclamation that no man shall sell any corne thorowout his State till his owne be sold forcing also all Bakers and other people to buy thereof This manner of ingrossing Alphonsus of Arragon also used by the testimony of Bodin The Kings of Portugal also and the Seignory of Venice have beene great Traders by Merchandize but it hath beene in an honester fashion at sea and not to the grinding of their poore subjects The Nobilitie also of Italy in all Cities except Naples hold it no dishonour to Trafficke in grosse 6 The sixth meanes of raising money upon all Wares and Merchandize that come in and goe out of the Countrey is the most ancient and best agreeing with reason and used by all Princes in the World The particulars comprised under this branch are these Customes inward and outward By these the Prince is to have Impost five in the hundred So much just had the Romans as Cicero witnesseth in his Praetorship of Sicilia The Turke takes Ten in the hundred of the stranger and five of the subject the French quite contrarie You must observe that which here I call the Domaine forraine is generally called the Aides first granted by the Estates to Charles Duke of Normandie when Iohn his father was prisoner in England which was the payment of twelve Deniers upon all Merchandizes and Wares which should bee sold in this Kingdome except upon
that of the Sunne is the best and the halfe Crowne Those of silver are the Livres or Franc which is two shillings sterling The quart d'escu which is one shilling six pence The Teston which is halfe a sous lesse The peece of ten sous which is one shilling sterling the halfe quart d'escu the halfe Teston and the peece of five sous that is six pence sterling Those of Brasse is the price of six Blanks which is three pence that of three blanks three halfe pence The sous of twelve deniers the liard of foure deniers the double of two and lastly the denier it selfe whereof ten make one penny sterling This baser and smaller kind of money hath not beene used in France but since the beginning of the civill warres The Teston is the best silver It remaineth I speake of the Administration and Execution of Iustice and of those places and persons where and by whom it is done I will therefore beginne with their assemblies as the highest and greatest Court of all which well resembleth the Parliament of England the Dyet of the Empire or the Councell of â—â—e Amphythrions in Greece There are three especiall causes of calling these Assemblies The first when the succession of the Crowne was doubtfull and in controversie or when it was to take order for the Regency during the Kings Captivity or Minority or when they had not the right use of their wits Hereof yee have examples Anno 1327. Saint Lewis an Infant and Charles the sixth An. Dom. 1380. a Lunaticke and 1484. Iohn a prisoner For all which occasions Assemblies were called to determine who should have the Regency of the Realme in the meane while The second cause is when there is question of reforming the Kingdome correcting the abuses of Officers and Magistrates or appeasing troubles and seditions The third cause is the want and necessitie of the King or Kingdome in which case the Estates are exhorted to give subsidies subventions aids and gratuities For in former times the Kings contenting themselves with their Domaine and impost of such wares as came in or went out of the land the two most ancient and most just grounds of Finances were not accustomed to levie and impose upon their Subjects any tax whatsoever without the consent of the three States thus assembled The next Soveraigne Court for so the French call it is the Court of Parliament The true Temple of French Iustice Seat of the King and his Peeres And as Haillan cals it the Buttresse of Equity This Court very much resembleth the Star-Chamber of England the Arcopage of Athens the Senate of Rome the Consiglio de' dieci of Venice There are no Lawes saith Haillan by which this Court is directed it judgeth according to equity and conscience and mitigateth the rigour of the Law Of these Courts of Parliament ye have eight in France That of Paris the most ancient and highest in preheminence which at first was ambulatory as they call it and ever followed the Kings Court whithersoever it went but since Philip le Bel it hath beene sedentary in this Citie That of Grenoble was erected Anno 1453. That of Tholouse Anno 1302. That of Bourdeaux Anno 1443. That of Dijon in the yeare 1476. That of Roven in the yeare 1501. That of Aix the same yeare And lastly that of Bretaigne at the yeare 1553. Anciently all Arch-Bishops and Bishops might sit and give voices in this Parliament of Paris but in Anno 1463. it was decreed that none but the Bishop of Paris and Abbot of Saint Denis might sit there except he be of the Bloud for all these are privileged The Presidents and Counsellors of the Court of Parliament of Paris may not depart the Towne without leave of the Court by the ordinance of Lewis the twelfth in the yeare 1499. The Senators ought alwayes to bee present because things are carried with more Majesty when the Court is full To this Parliament they appeale from all other subalterne Courts throughout the Realme as they doe in Venice to the Consiglio grande Neither can the King conclude any warre or peace without the advice and consent hereof or at least as Haillan saith he demandeth it for fashion sake sometime when the matters are already concluded The Parliament of Paris consisteth of seven Chambers the Grande câ—ambre and five others of Enquests and the Tournelles which is the chamber for the criminall causes as the other six bee for the civill It is called the Tournelles because the Iudges of the other Chambers sit there by turnes every three moneths the reason whereof Bodin giveth that it might not alter the naturall inclination of the Iudges and make them more cruell by being alwayes exercised in matter of condemnations and executions There be of this Court of Presidents Counsellors Chevalliers of honour Procureurs Advocates Clerks Sergeants and other Officers of all sorts not so few as two hundred Besides this Court there are also other Courts for the administration of Iustice in this Citie as the Chatellet of Paris with a Lieutenant civill and another criminall and the Hostel de Paris with a Prevost and other inferiour Officers which is as ye would say the Guild-Hall of the Citie So have ye throughout the Realme certaine places as all Cities in generall where there be Chatellets like our places of Assise and in them a Lieutenant civill and criminall to judge and determine all causes reall and personall and here many Lawyers and Procurers as our Counsellors at Law and Atturnies who plead before those Lieutenants and Prevosts and certaine Counsellors which are the Iudges in these Courts whereof the number is incredible in France Insomuch as you may well say of them as is said of Sienna There be more Readers than Auditors so here be more Pleaders than Clients This Chiquanery Petti-fogging multiplicitie of Pleaders came first from the Popes Court when his seat was at Avignon as my Author saith who in the same place cals these Advocates The Mice of the Palace The processes and suits in these Courts throughout France are innumerable wherein wee come nothing neere them and yet there is no want of these in England For I have heard of 340. Nisiprius between parties tried at one Assize in Norfolke as many I thinke as in halfe England besides But these are onely twice in the yeare that causes are tried at Assises in our Country whereas here they are tried every day in the yeare that is not festivall So that it is not much unlikely that here are as many Processes in seven yeares as have beene in England since the conquest There are besides these Courts of Chatellets in Cities the Courts also of Bailywicks and Sheriffalties who as Haillan saith keepe Courts in each Province and judge in all matters civill and criminall Here is also the Privie Councell or Councell of affaires of the Counsellors among which are his foure Secretaries he calleth certaine every morning at his rising to whom he
distresses and labours of warre but by night they never goe upon any service By it selfe alone this Nation hath done nothing of reckoning but accompanied with others it hath made good assaies of its owne valour alwayes boasting of the taking of the French King of the victories of Germany of the enterprise of the Tercers and of the happy fight at the Curzolary without once remembring their contrary successes of Goletta Algiers and England Of ordinary revenues from Italy it receiveth foure millions of gold Much of that of Naples is pawned the which the Kingdome of Sicilie doth yearly supply by sending thither ordinarily foure thousand crownes and the Councell of Spaine taking order for the rest These States in Italy are defended from the forces of bordering Princes partly by nature of site and partly by the aid of strong Forts ordinarily maintaining in the presidiarie places ten thousand Spanish foot-men 1200. men at Armes three hundred light-horse and thirty six Gallies for guard of the Sea-coasts Of sixteene are of Genoa twentie five of Naples twelve of Sicilie and three of Savoy This is the appointed number but you shall seldome see it so strong For notwithstanding this Armada the coasts are badly secured as it appeared by the late yeares example in the dammages done by the Turkish Navie upon Puglia and Calabria amounting as it is reported to the summe of more than a million and a halfe of gold He serveth himselfe also when occasion requireth with the Gallies of Malta with the Popes which are eighteene and sometimes also with those of the great Duke of Tuscan And all these charges are nothing neere defrayed by the foure millions of revenue so that Italy stands the Spaniard in much more than hee gets by it The witty Boccalini brings in Lorenzo Medices weighing the Estates of Europe and when the Spaniards saw the revenue of Spaine alone to weigh within a few millions as much as France with great chearefulnesse they gate on their spectacles and would needs cast their dominions of Italie into the scale but perceiving the beame to turne contrary to their expectation all ashamed they tooke them out againe and durst not put in their dominions in Africa and the Low-Countries The mindes of these his Italian subjects are exceedingly exasperated through the insolencie of their government their intolerable charges and the burthen of infinite taxations which are continually imposed upon them finding out daily one meanes or other to raise new summes of money The Neapolitans are most doubted for revolt by reason of the instability of that people alwayes desirous of change and novelties Millaine is also suspected by reason of the dammage which they undergoe by lodging of souldiers at discretion being growne to a custome with the small desolation of divers families The Indies are divided into Orientall and Occidentall the King pretending to be sole Lord both of the one and the other The Orientall not only are indangered by the English Navies which in time of warre doe continually trouble them but in hazard also if not to be lost yet to be forced to share quiet and peaceable Trafficke both to the English and Netherland Merchants The King maintaineth there for custodie of those Countries many ships of Warre having also distributed eight thousand foot-men for the ordinary safegard of the Forts The West-Indies exceeding rich and abounding with gold and silver are divided into two parts Peru and New Spaine These Countries are full of Mines in which is found great store of gold keeping therein the Indians continually at worke living very barely and undergoing the punishment of their ignorance and pusilanimity in suffering themselves to be easily overcome and so basely subjected The King hath the fifth part of all extracted from the Mines These Indies in the time of Charles the fifth yeâ—â—ded no more than five hundred thousand crownes of gold by yeare but they now yeeld an exceeding commodity to this King for in some yeares past comprehending the Buls of the Crosse and other confiscations in those parts he hath received from thence ten millions of gold yea fifteene and seventeene millions many yeares since that His Highnesse Ministers doe still procure some new gaine in those parts and the people still continue their Navigation thither with more gaine upon their returne than one hundred for another The Merchants carry thither Wines Woollen-cloth and other merchandize of these parts and bring from thence in lieu thereof over and besides divers sorts of Spices a great quantitie of Goldiâ— by extraction of which the fruitfulnesse of the Mines is no whit diminished but it seemeth that they doe rather daily more and more increase and multiply in such sort that the Countrey-men in tilling the ground doe finde great-store thereof together with the clods of earth when they dig it up and in my time there was discovered a Mine of Quicksilver which will yeeld exceeding profit and incredible gaine True it is that all these profits have their interest but they arise not to above twenty in the hundred laid out by reason of Convoyes for security of the Fleet. For there is alwayes maintained strong guards in the Isle of Iava apt by reason of the situation to give the Empire of all these parts to him that can make himselfe once Master thereof The souldiers which hee sent into these parts have for their pay two crownes a moneth in such sort that the Land-souldiers the guarders of the Forts and the Gallies which he maintaineth for this purpose is a speciall cause that his Majestie expendeth in interests and charges amongst the Indies more by a great deale than a million and a halfe of gold Which maketh me nothing to wonder that although this King by reason of his abundance of Treasure and many other infinite riches brought yearely from the Indies should seeme to be richer than other Princes and his state much more wealthy and aboundant yet in truth the great Turke not having any mines of gold is more mightier and farre wealthier And so in true interpretation is France England and Netherland as late experience the touch-stone of ambiguities hath fully discovered Whereupon it must needs follow that this Crowne is either much hindred by ingagement in war want of home-bred necessities or by uncertaine returnes of its Fleets subject every yeare to the casualties of Seas currents and surprisals If these be not the causes of so many crosses as our eyes have lately discovered then surely his neighbouring Princes must be thought to be Lords of a valianter people than are his Spanish For say they it appeareth by record from time to time kept in the Citie of Sivil that in threescore and fourteene yeares space there have come into Spaine two hundred and threescore millions of gold Of all which summe there remaineth now in Spaine by conjecture in ready money and plate wherewith this Nation is much delighted about six and fifty millions Five and twenty the
to treason His Land-forces consist in Cavalrie and Infanterie the best footmen of all the German Nations is the Wallon and it is well knowne that in all ages the Spanish have beene accounted one of the most valourous Nations of the world The French in nine yeares were subdued to the Roman yoke the Spaniards held out two hundred The power and person of Augustus Caesar were requisite to the subduing of the Cantabrians whereas they not onely delivered their owne Country from subjection of the Moores but invaded Africke and therein tooke many strong places So the Portugals invaded Barbarie tamed the coast of Guinea Aethiopia and Cafraria they conquered India Malaca and the Moluccas The Castilians sailing through the Atlanticke sea subdued the New-world with all the Kingdomes Provinces and people therein and finally drove the French from Naples Sicil and Millaine This people is much inclined to melancholy which maketh them solemne in their conversation slow and advised in action they love complement and stand much upon appearance presuming greatly of themselves and exceedingly boasting of their owne doings and to maintaine their reputation they will imploy all they have in furniture and apparelâ— in suffering of hunger thirst heat cold labour and extremities they will lay up any Nation in Europe By these vertues they have atchieved the glory of so many victories and although somtime they have beene overcome notwithstanding they vanquished their vanquishers as it fell out at Ravenna They never suffered any famous defeature but in the journeys of Algier and England the one by the casualty of Tempest the other by the skilfull prowesse and Sea-faring dexterity of the English Three or foure thousand of them turned topsie-turvie the better part of Germanie and made way with their Swords thorow the thickest of their enemies In the journey of Carven in Barbarie being foure thousand foot souldiers of great valour they made a brave retreit the space of foure or five miles beset and charged with twenty thousand horse by the King of the Moores at least five or six times with the losse onely of eighty men and the slaughter of eight hundred of the enemie They serve better on foot than on horsebacke although they have horses of excellent courage and better with the Harquebuze than with any other kind of weapon With great care they will cover their losses and weaknesse As concerning their Cavalrie it cannot be gain-said but that the Spanish Genet is the noblest horse of Christendome farre excelling the Courser of Naples or the horse of Burgundie so much esteemed of the French of the Freeslander and in so great request with the Germans It should seeme that nature herselfe hath armed this people in giving them the Iron Mines of Biskay Guipuscoa and Medina with the temperature of Baion Bilbo Toledo and Calataiut the Armories of Millan Naples and Boscoducis the corne and provision of the inexhaustible Garners of Apulia Sicil Sardinia Artesia Castile and Andaluzia with the plentifull vintages of Soma Calabria San Martin Aymont and sundry other places To conclude this Prince is so mighty in gold and silver that there with to spare his owne people ingaged in the defence of so many Territories Provinces and Frontiers from undoubted destruction he is able to wage what numbers of horsemen and footmen of the German and Italian Nations it pleaseth him The Princes whose dominions are bordering and in regard of their forces are any way able to endanger his dominions are the Venetians the Kings of France and England and the Turke The Venetians long since the Duchie of Millan came to the possession of this Crowne have set them downe with great quietnesse rather looking to the strengthning and keeping of their owne Townes and peeces than-to the winning of others from their neighbours And good reason it is sithence peace is the surest anchor-hold of their Common-wealth Concerning France sithence the French Nation hath put an end to their civill discontents what Trophee or Triumph can the Spaniard boast to have carried from them Indeed it cannot be denied but in elder dayes the warinesse of the one hath turned the furious attempts of the other to matter of too late repentance For the great Captaine surprizing Barletta and then encamping upon the banks of Gariglano first tooke from them the possession of the Kingdome of Naples and afterwards all hope of regaining it againe By the same temporizing Anthony Leva wearied King Francis at Ticinum and Prosper Collonna cleared the Duchie of Millan In assaulting of Townes and Fortresses I confesse fury to be of great moment I confesse likewise that by this vertue the French prevailed at Ioious Momedium and Caleis but in set battels as at Graveling Saint Quintins and Siena most commonly they have had the foile for in the field good order skilfull conduct doth more prevaile than valour and furious resolution In all assaults fury and resolution more than counsell or temporizing In the East Indies he confineth with the King of Persia betwixt whom there is not any evill intelligence but contrariwise rather great tokens of much love and amitie as by whose helpe that King hopeth to finde meanes to overthrow the Turke Howbeit hee hath very oftentimes denied him assistance and aid in those warres which hee made against the house and family of Ottoman being very much urged and sought unto by the Persian to send unto him some of his people men expert and skilfull in casting of great Ordnance as also in building of Forts and other the like matters of defence and assistance Excusing himselfe with the perill of his Religion which doth not permit Christian Princes to lend aid unto Infidels though indeed the true cause was because he would not thereby give an occasion of future trouble molestation to himselfe by communicating these two advantages so important in war in his navigation to the Indies which are adjoyning to the Persian Sea But the Persians taking Ormuz from the Portugal shews that they do not at this day much regard the Spaniard With the King of Fesse and Morocco his Catholike Majestie is in league upon interest of those States which hee possesseth in Africa His Catholike Majestie would very willingly that the great Duke of Tuscanie should wholly depend upon him but he is so farre from that that he doth not onely depend but in many occasions hath still shewed himselfe opposite unto this Crowne and hath lately discovered himselfe to be a welwiller to the Crowne of France by joyning alliance with the most Christian King and therefore it is not likely that any good intelligence can bee betwixt them In like manner the Ambassadour of Tuscanie is but of indifferent regard in that Court but since the Emperour and the Duke are allied by marriage there is greater respect The Duke of Parma is not onely a devout servant and a neere kinsman but also a subject to this Crowne by the
Citie of Placentia and therefore wholly depends thereupon having taken a secret oath to obey him in all commands Proceeding with all possible respect not to give the least occasion of offence by reason that the investiture of Placentia was not granted absolutely to the house of Farnesi but only to the fourth descendencie after which it returnes againe to the King of Spaine as Duke of Millan And therefore his Excellencie that hee may not separate himselfe from his Majesties good liking did lately refuse to linke himselfe in alliance with the great Duke lest hee should displease the King whose minde he saw was bent against 〈◊〉 The Duke of Vrbine being a Prince of small power wholly relies upon his Majestie as receiving his greatest benefit from him to whom he hath committed the charge of all his Italian Cavalrie The Common-wealth of Genoa is like a ship beaten at Sea and tost with contrary winds tempestuous stormes placed as it were betwixt two anchors which are Prince Doria a true borne Citizen and the Ambassadour of the Catholike King who hath the protection thereof in his Masters name to his great benefit If ever he chance to become Sole-Lord thereof it will adde a greater Dominion to his greatnesse for the nature and quality of the situation of that Citie whereof the Spaniards were wont to say That if the King their Master were but once Lord of Marsettes in Provence and of Genoa in Italy by the benefit of these two famous ports hee might easily arrive to the Monarchie of the whole World But howbeit the King of Spaine be not Lord thereof nor yet hath so great a part therein that he can assuredly say that it wholly rests at his command yet by favouring and upholding the greatnesse of the Prince Doria he maketh him the Instrument to serve his turne and by his meanes obtaineth what hee will or can in reason desire of that people deeply interessed in regard that his Majestie hath taken up great summes of money upon interest of them and therefore will take heed how they breake with him lest they be hindred of their gaines peradventure of their principall It hath beene thought that some Kings have beene behinde hand with them for more than a million and a halfe of gold How much Genoa depends upon him was seene in these late warres in which they were wholly protected by him Of the Religion of Malta the said King taketh a particular protection as that in like sort depends wholly upon his pleasure and doth readily execute his royall commandements serving his turne oftentimes in keeping the Coasts of Spaine and the Kingdomes of Naples and Sicily from the incursions of Pyrates and that without any one penie cost or charges to the said King whereof in proper place The Seigniory of Lucca hath placed both it selfe and all that it hath fearing the potencie of the great Duke under the protection of his Majesty In generall the Spanish Nation beareth little love to the Venetian Common-wealth as suspecting it to favour the French and for the strict friendship which it holds with the most Christian King and the most renowned State of England of late his apparant and professed Enemies Againe there is also little inclination of love towards this State because they thinke that it maketh profession to ballance the States and Forces of the Princes of Italy and though they esteeme well enough of it yet they love it not a jot Notwithstanding the Spaniards know that in those warres which may happen betwixt the Turks and this people they cannot out of their particular interests but aid and assist them and that on the contrary from them they have no hope of retribution unlesse in like occasion But withall they assuredly beleeve that the aids which they shall afford it shall be but feeble and slowly subministred in such sort that they shall not give it any great re-enforcement but only such as may be sufficient to save it from ruine yea scarce that Finally for a perfect review of this tedious discourse I wil recite unto you these weighty secret and last instructions given by Philip the second King of Spaine to his son Philip the third father of this present King teaching him how to governe himselfe and his Kingdomes after the decease of his said father brought to light by a servant of Don Christophero di Mora called Roderigo and translated out of Spanish and Dutch into English that the world may see how judiciously this manuscript of the Kings owne hand agreeth with the purport of these Relations SOnne I have often troubled my mind and entered into most deepe and serious considerations how to leave a quiet and setled estate unto you after my decease Howbâ—â—â— neither the long time of my life nor the opportunity of Princes affected to my service would afford me sufficient assistance in this behalfe I confesse that I have spent more than 594. millions of Duckets in lieu whereof I have enjoyed nothing the space of three and thirty yeares but heart-sorrow and vexation of spirit True it is that I recovered Portugal but as lightly as France is escaped from me so likewise may Portugal slide backe Would to God I had followed the counsell of Charles the Emperour my Lord Father of famous memory for then could I much more quietly brooke those my sorrowes and die with a more willing minde leaving to you the succession of this mortall life This then besides so many stately Kingdomes and Seigniories as a perpetuall testament I leave behinde unto you as a mirrour and Looking-glasse wherein you may see how to frame your actions and to carry your selfe in your government after my death Alwayes looke well to the charges and alterations of other States and Countries to the end you make use and reap good profit thereby as occasion shall serve and withall have a cautelous and circumspect eye over them that be in Counsell with you Two meanes you have whereby to maintaine your Spanish Kingdomes the one is Government the other the Trade of the Indies Touching your Government you must draw unto you and relie either upon the Nobilitie or the Spiritualtie of your Dominions If you leane unto the Spiritualtie you must seeke to briâ—ile and curbe the other as I have done but if you meane to strengthen your selfe with the Nobility cut short the Livings and Revenues of the Spiritualtie as much as is possible For holding them both in equall favour they will consume you and besides you shall set your Realmes out of quiet and never come to resolution the ballance being over-weighed sometimes by the one and sometimes by the other My Counsell is that you hold in league with the Provinces of the Netherlands especially if you meane to helpe your selfe with the Nobilitie for they be friends to France England the German Princes And neither Italy Poland Sweden nor Denmarke can stand you much in stead As for the King of Denmarke
you please one of the seven exceeding the ancient two viz. Europe and Africke in largenesse and circuit especially in these our dayes being wholly discovered to the East and North the habitations of the Chinois and Tartars without accounting the Islands thereunto belonging which if they were adjoyned would make a Continent farre fairer than Europe Vpon three parts it is bounded with the vast Ocean sirnamed the Orient on the South with the Indian upon the North with the Scythian upon the West it is somewhere disâ—oyned from Europe and Africk with the Red-sea somewhere with the Mediterranean somewhere with the Euxine and somewhere with the River Tanais The Regions which of old it contained were Ponâ—us Bithynia Phrygia the Great Lycia Galatia Paphlagonia Pamphylia Cappadocia Armenia the Lesse Cilicia Sarmatia Asiatica Colchis Iberia Albania Armenia the Great Cyprus Syria cava Phoenicia Palestina Arabia petrea Mosopotamia Arabia deserta Babylonia Assyria Susiana Media Persis Parthia Carmania deserta Carmania altera Arabia Felix Hyrcania Margiana Bractriana Sogdiana Sacarum Regio Scythia within Imaus Scythia without Imaus Serica Aria Paramisus Drangâ—â—no Arachosia Gâ—drosia India on this side Ganges India beyond Ganges Sinatum Regio and Taproban Generally it enjoyeth a most excellent temperature of ayre and is so rich fertile and barefull for variety of fruits and feeding and so abounding therewith that in all these good gifts it excelleth all Countries whatsoever For here are to be found divers sorts of living Creatures and Plants the like whereof the whole world againe affordeth not As Balme Sugar canes Frankincense Myrrh Cassia Cinamon Nutmegs Pepper Saffron sweet Woods Muske and divers other sorts of Drugs and Odors excellent Gold all sorts of Minerals and precious stones Of beasts it affordeth the Elephant and Camell with divers strange sorts both wilde and tame The people are of excellent wits exceeding rich and happie in all good things This Region hath beene the Parent of many rare spirits and the Seat of most mightie and flourishing Empires As wherein raigned the Monarchs of the Assyrians Persians Babylonians Parthians and Medes No lesse regardfull at this day are the Empires of the Turkes Tartars Persians Mogors Indians and Chinois but indeed most celebrated in Holy Writ for our Creation Fall and Redemption as the Region wherein in a manner all the Histories and Acts mentioned in the Old Testament and a great part of those of the New were wrought and accomplished The Ancients divided it into divers parts but at this present it is best divided into five according to the chiefe and principall Empires therein the first whereof confining with Europe is governed by the Great Duke of Moscovie the second belongeth to the Great Cham the third is commanded by the Turke the fourth is the Kingdome of Persia the fifth comprehendeth that which hath alwayes beene called India and governed by divers Princes for the most part vassals feodaries or tributaries to other Potentates The principall Islands are Iapan Luconia Mindanao Burneo Sumatra Zeiland and Cyprus Russia alias Sarmatia now Moscovia THe Great Duke of Moscovia is Lord of a most large Dominion and within the limits of his jurisdiction are contained many Regions It is bouÌ„ded on the North with Lappia and the North Ocean On the South by the Chrim Tartars On the East by the Nagarans possessing all the Countrey on the East side of Volga towards the Caspian sea On the West and Southwest lye Lituania Livonia and Polonia The naturall Shires pertaining to Russia and whereof perticularly the Great Duke will not without offence but be stiled King are sixteene but farre greater and larger than the Shires of England though not so well peopled The other Provinces being nine with a great part of Siberia being not naturall Russes the Emperours of late yeares have purchased by their swords and subjected them to their Lawes Customes and Taxes Casan and Astrachan by them termed Kingdomes have devolved unto them by like providence As for all his interest in Lituania to the number of thirtie great Townes and more with Narve and Dorp in Livonia they are quite gone surprised of late times by the Kings of Poland and Sweden From North to South measuring from Cola to Astrachan it containeth in length foure thousand two hundred and sixtie Versts a verst is three quarters of a mile English Beyond Cola hee hath more Territory Northward viz. to Tromschna running foure thousand versts welnie beyond Pechinga neere Wardhuis but not clearely possessed by reason that the Kings of Sweden and Denmarke have divers Townes therein aswell as the Russe every one of them claiming the lawfull possession of these Northerne Provinces as in his owne right The breadth taken farthest Westward on the Narve side to the bounds of Siberia Eastward where the Emperour hath some garrisons is foure and forty hundred veâ—sts or thereabouts If these Dominions were all habitable and peopled the Russe Emperour were either very unlikely to hold them or holding them with good government would prove too mighty for his bordering Neighbours And although by the spaciousnesse of these Territories it should seeme that he hath ingrossed many Countries and for brevities sake hath also assumed the titles into the credit and majestie of one Monarchie yet it may well be compared to the fortune of the five Kings that tooke Lot prisoner whom Abraham with his three hundred and eighteene menial-servants released and set at libertie witnesse the proofe which a few resolute and well ordered English souldiers made of late amongst them even in the fields of Novograd where they contracted their owne conditions in despight of that whole Armie which both Poles and Moscovites rallied against them It is situated partly in Europe and partly in Asia which separation is caused by the River of Tanais bounder of Asia and running thorow the middle of the Countrey By which as the Rasse reporteth a man may passe from Mosco to Constantinople and so into all those parts of the world by water only drawing his Boat as their custome is over a little Isthmus of land This passage was proved not long since by a Russe Ambassadour sent to Constantinople who passing the Moscua entred into Ockâ— and from thence as aforesaid drawing his Boat over land fell into Tanais then into Meotis and so to his journeyes end The Pole at Moscua is 55. degrees and ten minutes At Saint Nicholas 63. and 50. minutes The people were once subject to the Tartars whose Prince Roydo in the yeare 1140. conquered Moscovie but Iohn the first incouraged by their civill dissentions denied them tribute In processe of time when Ametes the last successour of Roydo who died at Vilua had overcome the Tartars Precopenses the great Duke adjoyned to his Empire Permia Vestia and Iugria Provinces subject to Ametes From this time the forces of the great Duke increasing Basilius Casan and Iohn the second conquered the Provinces of Citrahan which at this day are called Kingdomes To