Aequinoctiall and it doth contain all the littorall part of Africk and beyond the Aequinoctiall even to the Straits of Arabia The Regions thereof are five first the Country of Ajana in which are the Kingdomes Del and Adea Magaduzzum Secondly the Countrie of Zanguibara the Kingdomes whereof are Melinda Mombazza Quiloa Mozambique Manoemuci Cephala Manomotapa Torra and Butua the Kingdome of Cafria and Manicong in which there are sixe Provinces Sunde Pango Songo Bamba Barra Pemba to which are added the Kingdomes of Angola Loangi Anzichi There are some very great Lakes in Africke which seeme rather to be Seas thē Lakes of which the chiefest is Zembre which is fifty miles in compasse out of it there flow the Rivers Nilus Zaire and Cuama Besides this part of the VVorld hath great Rivers as Nilus Niger Senaga Cambra Zaire Cuama the River called the River of the Holy Ghost all which by their overflowing do wonderfully water it make it fruitfull It hath many great mountains amongst which the chiefe is Atlas who rising out of the vast sands lifteth up his high head above the clouds so that the top thereof cannot be seene The inhabitants call it the Pillar of Heaven It beginneth from the VVest where it gives the name to the Atlanticke Sea and from thence by a continued winding ridge it extendeth it selfe towards the East towards the borders of Egypt it is round rugged steepe and unpassable by reason of steepe rockes also wooddy and watered with the breaking forth of springs The top of this Mountaine is covered even in the Summer with deepe snow yea sometime the backe thereof if the North wind be sharpe is covered with a snow deeper then the highest tree whereby both men and cattell do perish There is another very high mountaine called Sierra Liona whose top is alwaies hid with clouds from whence a terrible noise is heard at Sea so that it is called the Mountaine of Lions The Mountaines also of the Moone much renowned by the Ancients are here placed under the Tropicke of Capricorne they are very rugged of an incredible heigth and inhabited by wild people and neere them there are such low and deepe valleies that it may seeme that the Center of the Earth is there Lastly there are the Mountaines Cantaberes in the Kingdome of Angola verie rich in silver mines and other which wee will mention in our particular Descriptions The chiefe Islands about Africke are these In the Atlanticke Ocean there is the Isle called Portus Sancti or the Isle of the Holy Port Madera the Canarie Islands and Caput Viride or the Greene Cape The Isle of the Holy Port was so called from the discoverers who having failed thither with much danger and difficultie would have this place so called in memory thereof The compasse of it is about fifteene miles Madera tooke his name from the great plenty of trees that grew here The circuit of it is about an hundred and forty miles The Canaries were so called from the multitude of dogges that were found there they were called by the Ancients the Fortunate Islands Pliny doth mention sixe Ombrio Innonia the greater and lesser Capraria Navaria and Canaria Ptolomie calls them Aprosuum Hera or Autolala Pluitalia Casperias Canaria and Centuria and doth place them all almost in a right Line towards the North. Cadamustus maketh ten seaven tilled three desert the names of those that are manured are the Islands of Fracta Lancea Magna Sors Grand-Canarea Teneriffa Gomera Palma and Ferro Cape Verde or the greene Cape is planted with greene Trees and from hence it hath that name The Isles thereof toward the West doe lie in the midst of the Ocean as the Islands of S. Anthony S. Vincent S. Lucia S. Nicholas the Island of Salt Bonavista Maggio or May Saint Iames and the Island called Insula del fuego In the Aethiopian Ocean are the Islands called Insula Principis and Saint Thomas his Island Behinde the Promontory called Caput Bonae spei or the Cape of good Hope there are other Islands but none inhabited except the Island of Saint Laurence ASIA ASIA succeeds Africke in my division This name was allotted it from the Nymph Asia as Varro witnesseth of whom and Iapetus Prometheus was borne Others say it was so called either of Asius the sonne of Atys or from Asius the Philosopher who gave the Palladium of Troy to the custodie of the Citie for which that they might gratifie him his whole dominions which before was called Epirus they called Asia And from hence afterward as from the more noble part all the whole tract of Land began to bee called Asia Moreover as Lybia doth both signifie a third part of the World and a part of this part So it is observed that Asia doth signifie both the whole Continent and that part which is hem'd in with the Mountaine Taurus wherein doe dwell the Lydians the Carians the Lycaonians Paphlagonians Ionians Aeolians and others which part for distinction sake is commonly called Asia the Lesse the Turkes call it Natolia There is saith Varro Lib. 4. an Asia which is distinguisht from Europe in which is Syria and there is an Asia which is called the former part of Asia in which is Ionia and our Province But all Asia is called in the Holy Scriptures Semia It is almost wholly situated in the Northerne part of the World from the Aequinoctiall Circle to the 80 th degree of Northerne Latitude except some Ilands pertaining to Asia some whereof are stretched out beyond the Aequator Southward Hence arises a great difference through all Asia in the length of the artificiall dayes For in the last Parallel which is drawne not farre from the Aequinoctiall the longest day is almost twelve houres About the middle of Asia the longest day is fifteene houres and in the most Northerne Parallel their light continually endureth almost for foure whole Moneths in Summer According to the Longitude Asia is stretched forth from the Meridian of 52. degrees even to the Meridian of 196. according to some but if we follow the description of Mercator the most Westerne Meridian thereof passeth through the 57 th degree neare to the furthest Westerne part of Asia the Lesse and the most Easterne Meridian through the 178 th degree On the North it hath the Scythian Sea on the South the Indian on the East the Easterne Sea on the West the Bay of Arabia or the red Sea the Mediterranean and Euxine Seas And as in the higher part it cleaveth to Europe so in the Southerne part it is joyned to Africke by an Isthmus yet Pliny and Strabo with some others doe stretch out Asia even to Nilus and doe reckon all Egypt to Asia In Asia the face of the skie is both pleasant and wholesome the Aire milde and temperate Yet all Asia doth not feele this temperatenesse for the right hand and left hand parts thereof
Irish did often use to doe Kerri as it is now called at the mouth of the River Shennin was Anciently their Seat A countrie full of inaccessible and wooddy mountains betweene which there are many hollow vallies having thicke woods in them The Earles of Desmond were heretofore honoured with the dignitie of Counts Palatine hereof but by the wickednesse of men which would have libertie and yet knew not how to use it it was long since converted into a sinke of impietie and a refuge for seditious persons A ridiculous opinion hath invaded and persuaded the mindes of the Wild Irish that hee that doth not answer the great shouting or warlike crie which the rest make when they joyne battell should be suddenly taken up from the earth and as it were flying be carried into these desart vallies from any part of Ireland and there feed on grasse drinke water and yet know not what he is having reason but not speech and at last should be taken by hunters and brought home againe The middle of this Countrie is cut into two parts by a River which hath now no name but floweth by a small Towne called Trailes now almost ruinated where the Earles of Desmond had their mansion houses This River by the situation of it in Ptolemies tables doth seeme to be Dur and saith Camden I would avouch no lesse if Duris which at this day is reckoned among the Hauens of this Westerne Coast be at the mouth of it as I have understood by some Not farre from hence is the Haven Smerwick the word being contracted in stead of S. Mary Wick of which not many yeares agoe when Girald Earle of Desmond a man profound in trecherie towards his Prince and Countrie did daily by severall inrodes waste the Countrie of Momonia a mixt band or companie of Italians and Spaniards arrived being sent unto his aide from Pope Gregory and the Spaniards who having engarrison'd themselves in a place called Fort del Ore seemed not to feare Heaven it selfe But when that famous and warlike Deputie the Lord Arthur Gray came with his forces hee did soone decide the matter For forthwith they yeelded themselves and most part of them were put to death because it seemed most safe and fit so to doe the affaires of the Kingdome requiring it and the rebells being on every hand The Earle of Desmond himselfe fled to the woods and having hid himselfe in a Cottage was wounded by a Souldier or two who rushed in upon him and afterward being knowne he was beheaded for his trecherie and wasting of his Countrie All Desmonia toward the South is subject to the Gangans which the Irish call Dassown the English Desmond heretofore three sorts of people dwelt in it namely the Luceni the Velabri the Iherni which are conceived in some Maps to be the Vterini The Luceni seeme to have drawne both their name and originall from the Lucensii of Spaine which held the opposite Coast The Velabri were so called from Aber which is as much to say as Aestuarii because they were seated neare the armes of the Sea hence also the Artabri and Cantabri were so called Orosius places these at the Promontorie Notium which Mariners at this day doe call Biar-head under this Promontorie the River Iernus is received into the Ocean neare to which stands Dunck-eran a Bishops Seat this Dunck-eran which in the Scottish-Irish is as much as to say the Towne Eran doth not onely expresly shew it selfe to be that Citie Ivernis which Ptolemie mentions but the river to be that Iernus whereof hee speaketh which hath its appellation together with the whole Island from Hier an Irish word signifying the West For it is the farthest River of this Country toward the West as Ireland is the farthest Island Westward of all Europe The Iberni who are also called Vterni that is according to Camdens interpretation the High Irish did inhabit by this River on one side of the Promontorie where are the Havens Berebavim and Baltimore well knowne for the plentie of Herring taken therein neare to which dwelt Mac-Carti More an Irish Nobleman who in the yeare 1566. did deliver render his Lands and possessions into the hands of Elizabeth Queene of England and received thē againe from Her to hold thē by fealtie after the manner of England And at the same time he was created Earle at Glencar and baron of Valentia A man in this Countrie of great name and power and an enemy heretofore to the Giralds who deprived his Ancesters being heretofore as he contended the lawfull Kings of Desmond of their ancient right For these Giralds or Fitz-Giralds being descended from the house of Kildare and having conquered the Irish did here get themselves large possessions and of these Giralds Maurice Fitz-Thomas was created by Edward the third THE FIFT TABLE OF IRELAND Hiberniae v. Tabula the first Earle of Desmond in the yeare of Grace 1355 left so firme so established an inheritance that the aforesaid honour in a continued successiō did descend to this wretched rebel of which I have spoken before who was the tenth Earle after him Next to the Iberni dwelt the Vdiae who are also called Vodiae of which names there remaineth some tokens in the Country of Kilkenni for the greatest part is called Idou Idouth These did inhabit the Counties of Corke Triperarie Linrick Kilkenni and Waterford In the Countie of Triperarie there is nothing worthy of memorie but that there is a Palatinate in it and the little Towne called Holy Crosse that hath great immunities and freedomes granted as the Monkes have persuaded them in honour of a piece of our Saviours Crosse which was kept there The famous River Suirus which the inhabitants call Showr is carried out of this Countrie of Triperarie into Kilkenni This River running out of the Mountain Blada through Ossiria the Lower of which the Butlers are stiled Earles and afterward Thurles of which they are stiled Vicounts first passeth by the Citie Cassilia or Cassel adorned by Pope Eugenius with an Archbishop under whom are nine Suffragan Bishops And from thence growing bigger by the receipt of two other Rivers into it neere Waterford it dischargeth it selfe into the Ocean Hitherto I have runne over this part of Ireland with Camden now it remaines to unfold some things concerning the Cities and Townes in the same Among them the first that offers it selfe is Waterford which is the second Citie in Ireland and alwaies faithfull and obedient to the English governement For after Richard Earle of Pembroke conquered and tooke it it alwaies continued in peacable quietnesse and obedience to the English endeavouring to bring Ireland into subjection whence the Kings of England did grant them many and divers immunities and freedomes which Henry the seventh did encrease and confirme because the Cittizens did behave themselves valiantly and wisely against Perkin VVarbeck who with the wings of impudence thought to aspire to the royall Throne
third Palatinate is the Minscensian wherein is the Citie Minsko and the Castle â—â—â—lanaw also Radoscowice Borissow Lawisko or Liwsko Swisloâ—z Bobreisko and Odruck The fourth Palatinate is the Novogrodian in which is Novogrodeck a large Citie and built of wood also Slonim Wolkowiâ—z and many other Townes The fift Palatinate is the Briestian so called from the Citie Briesti being large and built of wood and here is the Citie of Pinsko The sixt is the Palatinate of Volhinia in which is Luezko the Seate of a Bishop also Voladamire and Kerzemenesia The seventh Palatinate is Kiovia in which there was heretofore a large and ancient Citie of the same name seated by the River Boristhenes as the ruines which lie sixe miles in length doe easily demonstrate There are also the Townes Circasia or Kerkew Kamova and Moser The eighth is the Palatinate of Miceslow neare to the Rivers Sosa and Borysthenes in the borders of Moscovie wherein are the Townes of Miceslaw Dubrowna 〈◊〉 and Sklow beside Mohilow Byâ—how â—â—czycza and Strissin with their Castles The ninth Palatinate is the Witebscian in which is the Citie Witebsk situated by the River Duna and Orsa neare Borysthenes The tenth Palatinate is the Polocensian which is so called from Poloteska a Citie lying neare to the confluence of the River Polota and Duna betweene Witsbek and Livonia There are also the Townes Disna Drissa and Drâ—â—â—a with their Castles These things being explained let us speake something of the Rivers of Lithuania On the East side Lithuania is bounded with the Rivers Oscol Ingra and the lesser Tanais all which with many others doe runne into great Tanais There is also in Lithuania the River Borysthenes which arising out of a plaine marish ground and running through Russia doth vent it selfe at last into the Euxine Sea and the Rivers Wilia and Niemen the latter whereof runneth a great way with a very crooked winding streame and at last disburthens it selfe into the Prutenick or Finnish Sea also Duina and other Rivers beside Lakes and standing waters of which the Country is full and all these do afford great plenty of fish which are very delectable pleasant in taste Moreover the Country is covered with very great and spacious woods Sigismund that happie and auspicious King of Poland did unite the Palatines and Castellans of the Provinces of Lithuania into one body of a Common-wealth with the Polanders and did designe a certaine place and order in the Senate of the Kingdome to all the Noble men Bishops and Palatines of this Country so that out of the Kingdome of Poland and the Provinces united unto it there are in the Senate fifteene Bishops one and thirty Palatines thirty of the greater Castellans or governours of Castles and fiftie of the lesse beside those who are called the Officials of the Kingdome as the Marshalls the Chancellours the Vicechancellors and the Treasurers of which wee will speake more largely in the description of Poland Marriages amongst the Lithuanians are easily dissolved by mutuall consent and they marry againe and againe The wives have openly men-concubines by their husbands permission whom they call connubij adjutores i. helpers in marriage but on the contrary for men to follow whores is counted a reproach When any one is condemned to die he is commanded to punish himselfe and to hang himselfe with his owne hands which if he refuse to doe hee is threatned and beaten with stripes untill he kill himselfe Their flockes doe afford them great store of milke for their food The common bread which they use is very blacke being made of Rye or Barley together with the branne but the rich mens bread is very white being baked and made of pure Wheat They seldome use any wine for the common people drinke water and such as are of abilitie drinke Ale which they brew of divers sorts of corne as Wheat Rye Barley Oates and Millet but such as is unsavory They have abundance of thicke and thinne Mede boyled in divers manners and with it they make themselves merrie and oftentimes drunke Lithuania seemeth almost to be inaccessible as being almost all overflowne with waters but in Winter there is more convenient trafficking with the Inhabitants and the wayes are made passable for Merchants the Lakes and standing waters being frozen over with yee and spread over with snow Their chiefe wealth is the skins of beasts as of Weesills Foxes and those which are more precious as Martens and Scythian Weesills Of these they make a great profit as also of their Waxe Honey Ashes and Pitch The best Wainscot is cut here and brought into Germany through the Balthick and Germane Sea and out of this Country all woodden Architecture both publique and private through all Germany and the Low countries is made as also for the most part such woodden housholdstuffe as belongeth to houses but enough of Luthuania we will now adde something concerning the rest There followes in our Title Samogitia which in their language signifies the Lower land the Russians call it Samotzekasemla it is a Northerne Country and very large being next to Lithuania and environed with Woods and Rivers On the North it hath Livonia on the West it is washed with the Balthick or Germane Sea which is properly called the Balthick Bay and towards the Northwest Borussia joyneth unto it It aboundeth with the best whitest and purest Honey which is found in every hollow tree It hath no Towne nor Castle the Nobles live in Lodges the Country people in Cottages The people of this Country are of a great and large stature rude in behaviour living sparingly drinking water and seldome any drinke or Mede they knew not untill of late the use of Gold Brasse Iron or Wine It was lawfull with them for one man to have many wives and their father being dead to marrie their step-mother or the brother being dead to marrie his wife The Nation is much enclined to Fortune telling and Southsaying The God which they chiefly adored in Samogitia was the fire which they thought to be holy and everlasting and therefore on the top of some high mountaine the Priest did continually cherish and keepe it in by putting wood unto it In the third place is Russia by which name in this place wee understand the Southerne or Blacke-Russia whose chiefe Country is Leopolis or Lemburg built by Leo a Moscovite it is famous by reason of the Mart kept there and the Bishops Seat Beside the Country of Leopolis there are three other in this Russia to wit the Country of Halycz Belz and Praemislia In the fourth place is Volhinia which is situate betweene Lithuania Podolia and Russia it aboundeth with fruits in regard of the fertility of the soile The Inhabitants are strong and warlike and doe use the Ruthenian language This Country did pertaine once to the great Duke of Lithuania but now it is joyned to the Kingdome
of Polonia It hath three divisions the Lucensian Wolodomiriensian and Cremenecensian and there are three Provinciall Cities Lucko Wolodomiria and Kerzemenec which have many Townes and places of Defence under them Here are many Lakes and standing waters full of fish and woods full of wilde beasts There is also in this Table Podolia situated by the River Tyras It is a most fertile Country being sowed once and reaped thrice the meddowes are so proud and ranke that the Oxens hornes as they graze can scarce bee seene above the grasse The chiefe Cities are Camienies Bar Medziboz Brezania and Braslaw But let these things which have beene spoken hitherto suffice concerning this table we passe now to Transylvania TRANSYLVANIA OR SIEBENBVRGEN TRANSYLVANIA is the mediterranean part of ancient Dacia which the Romans called Dacia Ripensis and it taketh its name from the woods and mountaines wherewith it is encompassed as the Hercynian woods and the Carpathian hils It is called commonly Septem castra by a name borrowed from the German word Siebenburgen and the Hungarians call it Herdel On the West it is bounded with Pannonia on the North with Polonia on the South with Walachia and on the East with Moldavia Transylvania is very fruitfull hath great plenty of corne through the whole Countrie which besides daily experience that coyne of Trajans doth witnesse in which Ceres stood holding in her right hand the horne of the goate Amalthaea which signifieth plenty and in her left hand a Table with this inscription or motto Abundantia Daciae i. the abundance of Dacia It bringeth forth excellent wine about Alba Iulia Deva Egmedine Birthilbine and Fenuscine It hath also great store of fruite among which to omit the rest it hath most excellent Damaske Prunes Quinces sweet Cherries which may be compar'd with those that grow in Italie and Mellons Heere are also excellent choyse hearbs which grow in every place as Rhubarbe the greater Centory Gentiana with a yellow and purple flowre Sea-wormewood the herbe called Libanotis saffron and many others There are many famous Mynes of Mettall in this Country as Mynes of Gold at Sculattin which the Hungarians call Zalakna and at Rimili Dominurdz which signifies the River or Rivulet of Lords In these places great wedges or pieces of gold are cut forth which as soone as they are digged out they can presently make use of without any accurate refining The Roman pieces of golden coyne which are oft digged up in these places doe witnesse this plentie for they have on the one side the image of a man with a broade hat and with this inscription on it C. Cato and on the other side Dacia in the forme of a Goddesse holding a Booke in her right hand with this inscription AVR PVR. Moreover there are silver Mynes at Offera and Radna Copper is digged out of the same Mountaines out of which the gold and silver commeth Steele is digged and found at Cyk Iron at Thorosco and Vaidahuntada and lastly Sulphure and Antimonie are found in the Copper Mynes There is such great store of salt-pits in Transylvania that it sendeth abundance of salt to other Countries And there is such a great company of Oxen in it that the largest and fairest ones are often sold for a Floren. What shall I speake of the excellent metall'd horses which it breedeth which amble and pace naturally What should I mention the divers kindes of Birdes as Eagles Faulcones Pheasants Partridges Peacocks Woodcocks Snipes And what should I reckon the water-fowle as Swans Bustards and Bitternes c. I passe from these to the wilde beasts for this Countrie hath great Forrests and spacious woods in which are Beares Buffes or wilde Oxen Elkes Harts of a large stature Leopards Martins Does and white Hares Divers Nations heretofore inhabited this Countrie of whom there is yet a remnant in Hungaria as the â—azyges called by Pliny Metanastae beside the Getes Bastarnians Sarmatians Grecians Romans Scythians Saxons and Hungarians The Romans did conquer it when the Emperour Trajan overcame Decebalus King of Dacia and reduced it into the forme of a Province calling the Citie Zarmizegethusa after his owne name Vlpia Trajana but Galienus lost it two hundred yeares after and from that time the Inhabitants having laid aside the Roman humanitie speech and eloquence began to resume their former wildenesse and barbarisme calling themselves Walachians After the Romans the Scythians under the conduct of their Captaine Artilas seated themselves in this place and built seven free Townes The Saxons succeeded the Scythians in the time of Charles the great who forsaking their Countrie seated themselves likewise in these parts built themselves seven free Cities following the example of the Scythians The Hungarians came last who partly allured with the vicinity and neernesse of the place mingled themselves with the Dacians and afterward being provoked by injuries they conquered the whole countrey in the reigne of Stephen King of Pannonia whom they stiled the holy By them some Townes were also built The mountainous part of Transylvania was lately subdued by Matthias Huniades whose surname was Corvinus and afterward by Stephen King of Hungary This Matthias tooke alive one Dracula a Vaivode or Prince of the mountainous Transylvania a man of unheard of cruelty and after ten yeares imprisonment restored him to his former place Transylvania is now divided into three Nations differing both in manners and lawes and inhabiting severall parts of the Countrie namely into the Saxons the Ciculi and Hungarians The Saxon Transylvanians as all other German Nations have a peculiar dialect or language unto themselves they inhabite the strongest cities and castles and doe excell the other Nations They have seven Seates namely Zarwaria Zabesia Millenbach Rensmarke Segesburg or Sâ—hesburg Ollezna Schenkerstall and Reps all which have some villages under them The Ciculi neere to Moldavia being descended from the Scythians doe live after their owne lawes and customes and doe distribute their offices by lot They are divided into seven Regions which they call Seates the names whereof are Sepsi Orbai Kysdi Czyk Gyrgio Marcus Zeek and Aranyas Zeek The Hungarians and Transylvanian Nobles being mingled with the Saxons and the Ciculi doe for the most part agree with them both in speech habite and armour All Transylvania is able to set forth ninety thousand armed men and more There are seven chief Cities in Transylvania having a reasonable distance one from an other among which Cibinium is the Metropolis or Mother-citie is now called Hermanstat It is seated on a plaine not shut up with mountaines but spread into a great breadth It is not much lesse than Vienna in Austria but it is farre stronger both by Art and Nature for in regard of the many Fish-ponds and Lakes round about it no Armie TRANSYLVANIA OR SIEBENBVRGEN TRANS SYLVANIA can come unto it 2 Brasso or Corona which the Germans call Cronstat and
is somtimes called Stephanopolis being seated amongst pleasant mountaines and fortified with Wals Ditches and Rampiers Heere is a famous Universitie and Librarie 3 Bistricia or Noesenstat which is seated on the plaine of a large valley and hath on either side hils full of Vines 4 Segoswar oâ— Sâ—hespurg which is partly situated on a hill and partly at the foote thereof 5 Megies or Mâ—dwisch which is situated in the midst of Transylvania being fruitfull in wine and stored with all commodities that are either gainefull or necessary for food 6 Zabesium or Zaaz which lyeth in a plaine and deepe valley encompassed with waters full of fish They say that this was the first seate of the Saxons 7 Coloswar or Clausenburg which is likewise sweetly seated in a plaine and is beautified not onely with faire wals without but with stately buildings within Heere is also Alba Iulia or Weâ—senberg an ancient city a Bishops Seate it is situated on a steep hill which hath a large plaine spreading it selfe round about it It hath on the East the River Mâ—â—â— and on the other side the River called in the Hungarian language â—â—â—ay which descendeth from the Alpes Heeretofore it was called Tâ—â—â— and in Trajans time it was the Pallace of King Decebalus As touâ—ching the payments of taxes and tributes there are in Transylvania eight principall circles or divisions of ground called Chapters all which together they call the Universitie as first the Bistâ—â—ensian Chapter which hath in it Bistricia with 23 royall Townes 2 The Regneâ—sian Chapter which hath more than 30 Townes 3 The Barâ—ensian Chapter which hath the citie Corona with thirteene royall Townes 4 The Kisdeâ—sian Chapter which hath Segesburg and eight and fortie townes 5 The Chapter called the chapter of two Seates which doth containe the city of Mâ—â—ieâ— with sixe and thirtie townes There are two Chapters of the Cibinianâ— one of which containeth Cibinium and three and twenty townes and the other which they call Surrogative containe about 22 Villages Last of all the Zabesensian Chapter which hath Zabesium with seventeene Villages This Countrie hath many Lakes and standing waters which are full of excellent fish There are in it three navigable Rivers Aluta Morus called also Marus and Marisus and Samuâ— the two former arising out of the Scythian Mountaines the last of them falleth into Tibiscus the other runneth straight forward into Danubius Samus which the Germans and Hungarians call Thimes ariseth out of the Alpes called Colota and likewise slideth into Tibiscus There are also â—ther Rivers as Kockel the Greater and the Lesse Sabesus Chrysus Chryâ—â—â—â—os and Strygius c. the three last whereof have little graines or land of gold in them and doe somtimes bring downe pieces of gold of halfe a pound weight Divers kindes of excellent fish are found in them and the aforesaid Rivers as namely the greater and lesser Sturgeon three kindes of Carpes the Salmon the River and Lake-Lamprey the fish called Silurus the Mullet an other rare kind of Lamprey the white and black Trout the scaly Gudgeons and those that have no scales unknowne to other places besides Pikes Perches Tenches and the common Lamprey all which are found there and of a great size There are Mountaines neere unto Walachia Cisalpina and Moldavia which doe produce Agarick and Turpentine Trees There are many woods in Transylvania and amongst the rest Hercynia in which besides the wilde beasts above-mentioned there are wilde Oxen and Horses whose manes doe reach even to the ground There are also in this Countrie many Castles well fortified among which the chiefe is called the Red Castle being a strong defence and seated on the Alpes neere to a running streame where there is a straight passage betweene the Mountaines into the Countrie and it is as it were the fortresse thereof so that no one can enter into it on that side if the Governour of the castle barre up the way There is also an other fortified castle beneath the Towne Millenbach neere unto the Towne Bros where also neere unto the River there is a way leading into Transylvania betweene the vales and snowie Alpes Now it followeth that wee should adde somthing concerning their manners which are divers and various because as we said before it was formerly possessed by divers Nations and is still at this day The people of Walachia are rude and ignorant of good Arts and Disciplines they are of the Greeke Religion but their manners and customes savour of Paganisme in regard that they much esteeme of Oracles sweare by Iupiter and Venus whom they call Holy and in many other things come neere unto the customes of the Gentiles They have no Townes or brick-houses but doe live in the woods and forrests having no defence against the violence of the weather but a few reedes or cottages of reedes The other part of Transylvania in most places is of a more fruitfull soyle and the people are more civiliz'd and of a better behaviour The Scythians speech in Transylvania differs little from the Hungarian speech at this day though heretofore they differr'd much both in speech and writing for they like the Hebrewes did begin to write from the right hand to the left The Ciculi are a fierie and warlike kinde of people among whom there are no Nobles or Rusticks but all of them are of one ranke The Hungarians have great power and authoritie above all the rest And let so much suffice to have beene spoken briefly concerning Transylvania TAVRICA CHERSONESVS THis CHERSONESVS was so called by Ptolemie from the Tauri a certaine people of Scythia in Europe Strabo calls it the Scythian Chersonesus Pliny in his 2 Booke and 96 chapter calleth it after the Latines the Peninsula of the Taurians Appianus calleth it the Pontick Chersonesus and Paulus Diaconus calleth it Chersenesa At this day it is called Precopska and Gesara by Antonius Pinetiâ— It is a large Peninsula stretched out toward the East betweene the Euxine Sea and the Maeotick Lake even to the Cimmerian Bosporus which divides Europe from Asia It hath a gentle winter and most temperate Aire For at the end of December winter beginneth and is at the sharpest or coldest in the middle of February as having then most snow which yet lyeth not above three daies vvhen the cold and frost is most constant The Winter never lasteth longer than the beginning of March All the whole Countrie is very fruitfull and very fit for feeding flocks of cattell Yet albeit the Inhabitants have a fertile soile many of them do not till their fields nor Sow them They have abundance of Horses Camels Oxen Kine and Sheep on which they live There are also great store of daintie fowle which oftentimes the Christians and Turkes and sometimes the Polanders that come thither as strangers are wont to take There is much hunting of Harts Goates Boares and Hares both in the Tartarian and Turkish
Pretors sent into them C. Sempronius Tuditanus into the hither Spaine and M. Helvetius Blasio into the farther Two yeares being scarcely past so great a warre began in Spaine that it was necessarie that a Consul should be sent out with an Army Marcus Portius Cato Consul being allotted to goe into the hither part did so appease and quiet rebellion that the Proconsul in regard thereof triumphed This is that Cato who as Livie writeth and others by a wonderfull stratagem did throw downe the wals of many Spanish Cities in one day After Cato's victorie Spaine was diversly possessed and many times lost and regained againe so that there were above 30 triumphs for victories obtained heere They did not begin to pay any taxe before the time of Augustus Caesar who having by long continuance of warres tamed all Spaine and overthrowne the Cantabrians and Asturians that had longest of all made resistance divided the whole Countrie into three Provinces Baetica so called from the River Batis Lusitania and Tarraconensis so called from its citie Tarracon and every one of these have their Diocesses or Circles of jurisdiction In Baetica there are foure Diocesses Gaditana Cordubensis Astigitana and Hispalensis Lusitania hath three Diocesses Emeritensis Pacensis and Scalibitana Lastly Tarraconensis hath seven Carthaginensis Tarraconensis Caesar Augustana Cluniensis Astura Lucensis and Bracarensis See Pliny lib. 3. Strab. lib. 3. and others Thus things by degrees being changed the chiefest Provinces were under the Romans command even untill the Consulship of Honorius the third and Theodosius the third At which time the Vandals Suevi and Alani being called into France by Stilico when once having passed the Rhene they had set foote in France being in a barbarous manner spoyled by the Gothes and the Kings Adolphus and Vallia whom the Emperour Honorius had sent to ayde and set France at libertie they passed at last over the Pyrenaean Hils Afterward the Gothes inhabiting France for many yeares possessed Spaine having taken it from the Romans for being assailed by the Frankes they againe made warre upon the Vandals The Frankes drove the Gothes out of France and the Gothes drove the Vandals and Alani out of Spaine At which time the Vandals and Alani being called by Boniface into Africk which hee governed for the Emperour left Spaine to the possession of the Gothes When the Gothes having driven out the Roman Garrisons had made Spaine their owne and had a long time Kings of their owne who ruled in it at length they were overthrowne in a great battell by the Arabian Saracens and King Roderick being kill'd they lost almost all Spaine Those that survived after the battell when they had fortified themselves in the Mountaines of the Astures Cantabrians and Galicians by litle and litle they began to recover the Countries Cities and Castles which they had lost At last the Saracens partie growing weake in Baetica Hispania and the Gothes having recovered all Spaine they againe were overcome by Ferdinand Catholick King of Aragon and thrust out of Spaine so that the whole Countrie returned and came againe into the hands of the ancient Lords thereof But whereas in the times of the Moores five Kings namely of Castile of Aragon of Portugall of Granada Navarre did possesse Spaine at this day Philip the fourth sonne unto Philip the third who was Nephew unto the Emperour Charles the fifth is sole King thereof It was heretofore diversly divided The Romans first divided it into the Hither and Farther Spaine They called that the Hither part which was neerest unto the chiefe Citie and the principall Countries of the Empire being situated betweene the River Iberus and the Pyrenaean Mountaines they called that the Farther part which lay more remote being stretched out beyond Iberus even to the Ocean In following times wee reade that Spaine was divided into sixe parts Tarraconensis Carthaginensis Lusitania Galicia Baetica and Tingitana beyond the narrow Sea in Africk In the time of the Moores there were many Kingdomes in Spaine which were afterward divided into five as the Kingdome of Castile of Aragon of Portugall of Granada and Navarre But now by a new distribution the whole Empire is divided into three Kingdomes namely of Aragon Castile and Portugall Under the Kingdome of Aragon is contained besides Aragon Catalonia Valentia Majorica Under the Kingdome of Castile are comprehended Biscay Leon Asturia Galicia Estremadura Andalusia Granada Murcia and both the Castiles with the Canarie-Ilands Under the Kingdome of Portugall is comprehended besides Portugall Algarbia The Cities which are in the whole Kingdome are almost innumerable The chiefe of them are Hispalis Madrid Tarraco Lisbon Granada Pampilona Valentia Barcino commonly called Barzelona The seventh German Legion now called Leon S. Lucar Corduba Nebrissa Compostella Toledo Salamanca Complutum Pintia Caesar-Augusta now Saragossa Asturica Augusta and many others Heere are admirable Lakes neere the towne Beiara is a commodious and wonderfull Lake which breedeth Turtles being a black kinde of Fish but excellent in taste and as Marineus Siculus witnesseth prognosticating and foretelling of raine and stormes to come by the great noyse which they make so that the sound thereof is heard like the roaring of a Bull eighteene miles thence There is a certaine Lake on the very top of the Mountain Stella as Vasaeus writeth in which fragments and pieces of Ships are found when notwithstanding it is more than 12 leagues distant from the Sea and the same Author noteth that the Inhabitants doe affirme that it boyleth and is tempestuous as often as the Sea is rough or unquiet The most diligent Writer Suetonius saith in his Description of the life of Galba that thunder fell downe into the Lake of Cantabria and that afterward twelve axes were found therein There is also the pleasant Lake which Pliny mentioneth lib. 3. Natur. histor cap. 3. not farre from Valentia at this day it is called Albuâ—era The Rivers follow Spaine is watered every where with many Rivers there are some who reckon an hundred and fiftie and over them 700 Bridges the chiefe whereof is the Bridge of Segovia and Alcantara There is in this Kingdome the River which Ptolemie cals Iberus and now is called Ebro it breaketh forth in Cantabria out of the Mountaine Idubeda with two fountaines or spring-heads that on the right hand in the Aucensian wood called Monte d'Oca the other on the left hand neere a Towne which the Inhabitants call Fuentibre and so increasing with the receit of great Rivers being first entertained in the fields of Calaguris it runneth unto and visiteth Iuliobriga and Tudella two Townes of Navarre and then it watereth Iulia Bolsa and Caesar-Augusta Departing thence it glideth Southward and by and by Northeastward by the people of Laletania now called Galetani and the rich Citie Toriosa At last being enlarged with many Rivers flowing into it and having runne almost foure hundred miles forward in length it entreth so violently with two mouthes into the Mediterranean Sea
for Philosophers we shall meete with L. Anneius Seneca and his sonnes Seneca Nonatus and Mela Lucius Iunius Moderatus Columella C. Iulius Hyginus Sotion and Iohannes Vives Valentinus If wee search for Mathematicians behold Pomponius Mela Abrahamus Cacutius Alphonsus King of Castile Henricus the Infanta of Portugall Henricus Marquesse of Villena Arnoldus Villanovanus and his Scholler Raimundus Lullius If we enquire for Orators we shall finde beside Seneca Portius Latro and M. Fabius Quintilianus Lastly if we would reckon up some Poets borne here we may make account of Sextilius Hena L. Annaeus Seneca and Lucan who were Cosins M. Valerius Martialis Rufus Festus Avienus Aurelius Prudentius Pope Damasus Caelius Sedulius and many others I omit for brevities sake the later moderne Poets The Spaniards are by nature hot and drie swarthe-coloured to helpe which the women use a kinde of painting they are well limb'd and strong set They are the most superstitious of all people so that other people doe learne from them both ceremonies complements and large titles They have a great dexteritie in concealing their thoughts both by silence and dissimulation They have a kinde of an affected gravitie which maketh them incurre the hatred of all other Nations which as Marianus sheweth is an individuall concomitant or companion to great Kingdomes The women are not very fruitfull in bearing children they abstaine much from wine and are seldome seene abroade as imitating therein the Roman Matrons They use strangers discurteously and in forraine Countries they will reverence prayse and extoll one another They are great observers of Justice so that Justice is administred to all even from the highest to the lowest and so great is the painfull industrie of Magistrates that there are few or no robberies committed Beside they keepe their hands free from bloud and other wicked acts and whosoever offendeth the Lawes or doth trespasse against any one though never so meane is punished for it They are still attempting some greate matter for having supprest their enemies at home and overthrowne the Saracens they seeke for to discover and get for their King the most potent parts of the world When two or three meete together of what place or condition soever they alwayes discourse of the Common-wealth and serious affaires they seeke wayes how to weaken their enemies force they devise stratagems and invent a thousand engines which they open and make knowne to the Captaines In the field they can endure both hunger thirst and labour In battle and matters of warre they are more politick than stout they are of a light body and being lightly armed they not onely easily pursue their enemies but when they are put to it they can easily save themselves by flight alwayes meditating on some militarie or warlike designe In their feastes and banquets at home they are frugall sober and content with a little but abroade they have more delicate fare They use handsome convenient garments well made fashioned Spaine doth affoord to the neighbour Countries and also to remote Nations Silke-wooll Cloath of all kindes Salt Sugar Honey Orenges Pome-Granats Lemmons pickled Olives Capers Grapes Figges Pruines Almonds Chesnuts Anny-seed Cumming-seed Coriander-seed Rice Saffron Oyle Waxe Alume Vermilion Purple Saltfish Bay-berries preserv'd Fruits of all sorts Alablaster Corall Gold Silver Iron Steele Tinne Copper Leade Dying Oade Quick-silver Gotten pretious stones Aromatickes and sweet Spices which are brought from the Indies and other places And in exchange for these the Europaeans the Africans the Asiatians and the Americans doe give the Spaniards such commodities as their owne Country doth not affoord PORTVGALL AND ALGARBIA HItherto wee have described Spaine in generall now our Method requireth that wee should decipher it in particular and by parts Wee said in our generall Description that it was diversly divided But wee will make a faithfull Description of the parts of Spaine in such order as it is delineated by Hondius Hee describeth it in sixe Tables in this order In the first Portugall is described in the second Biscay Guipuscoa and Legio in the third the New and Old Castiles in the fourth Andalusia in which is the Countrey of Hispalis and Gades in the fifth is Valentia and in the sixth is Aragon and Catalonia Portugall which offers it selfe in the first place was anciently called Lusitania and M. Varro and Plinte doe affirme that it received this name from Lusus the Sonne of Liber and Lysa who was drunke with him for it was called Lusitania as it were the Countrey of Lusus Marcianus thinketh it was called Lusitania from a River which is now called Tagus Some suppose it was called Portugall à Portu Gallorum which is as much to say as the Frenchmens Haven But Andraeas Resendius whose opinion other learned men doe follow doth observe that the name of Portugall is derived â Portu Cale This Countrie if wee consider the breadth thereof from the South Northward is greater than Old Lusitania but if wee consider the length from the West Eastward it is lesser Portugall at this day runneth forth Northward beyond the meeting of the two Rivers Minius and Avia even to the Towne Ribadania seated on that banke of Avia which looketh toward Gallicia and a straight line being drawne from thence Eastward it reacheth even to Miranda seated upon the River Durius and from thence toward the South to the Mouth of the River Ana on that side where it bordereth on Castile Estremadura and Andaluzia on the Northwest it looketh toward the Atlantick Ocean so that the whole compasse thereof is thought to bee 879 miles This countrie hath an excellent sweete and temperate Ayre and a cleere and fruitfull Climate It aboundeth with Wine Oyle Oranges Pome-citernes Almonds Honey and Waxe The fruite of this Countrie doth excell that which growes in others neere unto it And though the Inhabitants have not out of their fields sufficient store of corne to sustaine them with foode yet there is much transported thither out of France and Germanie This Countrie doth breede many living creatures especially great store of Horses and those so swift of foote that they imagin'd them to bee begotten by the winde The Kingdome of Portugall began about the yeare 1100 for at that time it became a part of Spaine Chronicles doe mention that the first of the Line of the Kings of Portugall was Henry Duke of Lotharingia Earle of Limburg a man of a great courage and ready of hand who removing into Spaine married Tyresia the Daughter of Alphonsus the sixth King of Castile and Legio and tooke for a Dowrie that part of Gallicia and Lusitania which is now called Portugall and which not long before by his owne valour hee recovered and got from the Saracens and Moores Hee dying about the yeare 1112 there succeeded him his Sonne Alphonsus who calling himselfe Dake of Portugall was enstiled King thereof by his whole Armie in the yeare 1139 having obtained a victory against Ismarius and
others call Asta Antoninus with an asperation calleth it Hasta Moralis writeth that it doth still retaine the name of Asta and thinketh it to be that place neare the river Guadalet which is commonly called Masa de Asta But Ortelius supposeth that it was drowned with the Island Tartessus in the mouth of Baetis An hundred furlongs from the mouth of Baetis standeth the Towne Chipiona which Strabo lib. 3. calleth Capionis Turris At the mouth of the River Lethes which is now called Guadelet or in the Arabian language Bedalac there is a Towne which is called Portus S. Mariae and commonly El puerto de S. Maria. Having passed over Lethes the next towne you shall meet withall is Medina Sidonia and somewhat more Southward toward the Sea-shoare is Conilium a famous towne of Spaine sixe leagues distant from the Citie Gadiz and subject to the Duke of S. Lucar and Medina Sidonia There is also Carteja called commonly Tariffa and not far from thence is the Towne Vegelium commonly called Vegel It is indeed a litle Towne but yet famous for the situation and beautie of it for it is seated on a hill which is environed round about with a large plaine so that it hath a faire prospect as farre as the eye can reach not onely upon the plaines and greene medowes toward the East as also the Mountaines of Africke and the Southerne coast but likewise upon the great troublesome Ocean toward the North and West Lastly from hence toward the Northwest lyeth the towne Munda for so Pliny nameth this towne which now is called Monda though some do thinke that to be old Munda which now is called Ronda veja There are in the Diocese of Hispalis an innumerable company of Monasteries and Nunneries It would be a tedious thing to reckon up the Hospitalls for strangers that are in this country seing there are in Hispalis it selfe an hundred and twenty which are richly endowed some of them having eight thousand Crownes and some fifteene thousand Crownes yearely revenue Hispalis is the most beautifull of all the Cities of Spaine in regard of the Religious houses and Churches which are therein among many Churches the chiefest is the Church dedicated to Saint Mary than which the Christian world cannot shew a better if you consider either the greatnesse and majestie of the worke which carrieth with it an excellent beauty or if you behold the heigth of the Towre wrought with admirable workmanship from whence there is a pleasant prospect over all the City and the fields that lye round about it What shall I describe the royall furniture of the Kings Castle in this Citie than which the Kings of Spaine have none more fairely or curiously built What should I mention the Pallaces here belonging to Dukes Earles and other Nobles Or why should I speake of the Citizens houses adorned with pleasant Fountaines and Gardens I passe by the ancient Aquaeducts by which water is convey'd into severall parts of the Citie and those later which were brought with great cost and labour to the Pillars commonly called Hercules Pillars and dedicated to publick delight besides many other ornaments of this Citie since I feare lest I be tedious VALENTIA AND MVRCIA VALENTIA taketh its name from the Metropolis thereof being a faire Mart-Towne and of great antiquitie On the South it looketh toward Murcia on the West toward both the Castiles on the North toward Aragon and on the East the Sea beateth on it It hath a more temperate Ayre and a more pleasant Climate than any other part of Spaine yea the Kingdome of Valentia hath such a gentle Climate the warme Westerne windes breathing upon it that at any time even at Christmas and in the Moneth of Ianuarie the Inhabitants may carrie Posies of flowres in their hands as they doe in other places in April and May. It is an excellent Country having plenty of all things as Sugar Wine Oyle Corne and divers other fruites It hath Mynes of Silver in a place which they call Buriel betweene Valentia and Dertosa And there are stones found which have as it were golden veines and lines running through them in a place which is called Aioder At the Promontorie Finistratum there are Iron Mynes and neere to Segorbia there are some signes remaining of a Quarrie out of which Marble was heretofore digged and carried to Rome In some places Alablaster is digged up but Alume Tinne Marking-stone and Chalke is found every where The Moores by a long succession of Dukes held the Citie of Valentia for a long time though it had beene often besieged by the Kings of Aragon untill Iames the first King of Aragon by a long siege obtained it and enforced their Captaine Zaen Maure together with fiftie thousand Moores to depart the Citie and to flie unto Denia carrying with them their Gold Silver Armour and Houshold-stuffe Valentia being thus forsaken King Iames sent a Colonie to replenish it againe The Colony consisted of Catalonians and Aragonians their Captaine being Berengarius Palatiol Bishop of Barcelona Vidalus Cavelia Bishop of Ossa Peter Ferdinandes d' Acagra and Simon de Vrrea Knights they distributed the whole Citie among the new Inhabitants which were 384 families according to their severall dignities and adorn'd the Common-wealth with new Lawes This Countrie obtained the title of a Kingdome in the yeare of Christ 788 as Ortelius writeth out of Petrus Metinensis Petrus Antoninus Beuterus The Historie hath it thus Hisen King of Corduba being dead there succeeded him in the yeare of Christ 788 his sonne Alca whose uncle Aodala Lord of Valentia called to him his Brother whose name was Culema and had beene disinherited out of Taviar these two Brethren uniting their forces came to Corduba and endeavouring to expell their Nephew out of his Kingdome were overcome in battell so that Aodala fled for his safety and returned to Valentia VALENTIA AND MVRCIA REGNI VALENTIAE TYPUS But the chiefe of the Moores interposing themselves betweene the Uncles and the Nephew they brought them to that agreement that Aodala should write himselfe King of Valentia and that Culema should receive every moneth out of the revenues of Valentia a thousand of Moradines which was a kinde of money for the maintenance of his table and five thousand Moradines more for the provision of other necessaries To which agreement when Aodala had consented hee first stiled himselfe the King of Valentia The ancient Inhabitants of Valentia were the Hedetani which as Ptolemie thinketh were the same with the Sedentani Secondly the Biscargitani whose Metropolis was Biscargis whereof there is some mention made in the Inscription of Caesars coyne as Hub. Goltzius witnesseth and these seeme to have beene of the Heditanians seeing Ptolemie names Biscargis to be amongst them Thirdly the Leonicenses whose Metropolis Ptolemie cals Leonica and placeth it also among the Heditanians Fourthly the Coâ—â—stani from whom Pliny nameth the Countrie of Contestania in Tarraconia
doe now call Virdunum and Verdunum Antonius calleth it Verodunum And in the Register Booke of the Provinces it is called Civitas â—erduneâ—sium or l' Eueschâ— de Verdun And the three Cities aforesaid have Counties belonging to them THE DVKEDOME OF LOTARINGIA The Southerne part OUR order and Method doth now require that we should reckon up the chiefe Rivers of Lotaringia but first wee will speake concerning the Lakes It hath many Pooles and Lakes which are full of fish Among which there is one that is 14. Miles in compasse in which there are great Carpes of three foote long which are so pleasant in taste that they farre exceede the Carpes in other Countries for sweetnesse The Duke of Lotaringia receaveth 16000. Franks every third yeare for fish taken in this Lake It is watered with these famous Rivers Mosa Mosella Saravo Voloia Mortana Muâ—ta Sella Hidia and others Concerning Mosa it appertaineth to lower Germanie The other Rivers doe properly belong to this Dukedome the better part of Mosella and Saravus the rest wholy Mosella riseth in the Mountaine Vogâ—sus not farre from the Springhead of Araris a little above the Towne which is commonly called Bussan and so gliding downe from Vulturnum to the West having view'd those Townes which are call'd in French l' Estrate Remiremont Espinal Charmes Baton it bendeth his course from the East westward and runneth straite forward to Tullum an Episcopall Citie whence running againe Eastward it bendeth Northward even to Fruardum and having visited the Mediomatricians the Treverians and other people it runneth into the River of Rhene That which the Germanes call Mosel the French call Moselle It is thought that Rhenanus Ptolemie Lib. 11. Cap. 9. and others did call it Obriâ—gos But Iohn Herold noteth that Obringen so called by Ptolemie is not a River but a part of Land neere the River Rhâ—me which is now called Ober Rhingham also Clemens Trolaeus Mosellanus witnesseth as Abraham Ortelius writeth that a certaine Country of â—and neere Mosella is yet called Obrincum Ausonius Eidyll 3. doth celebrate the praise of Mosella in learned verses both for the clearenesse of the water and easy sayling thereon and for the Townes and Pallaces which beautified the bankes thereof and also for the fish therein as the Mullet the Trout the Barbell the Salmon the â—amprey the Perch the Tench the Bleake and the Gudgeon of which iâ— hath great store and lastly for the Rivers which runne into it as Pronaea Nemesa â—ura Gelbi Erubro Lesura Drahona Salmona Saranus and Alisontia L. Vetus in the Raigne of Domitius Nero the Emperour attempted to joyne Mosella and Araris by making a channell beâ—weene them that the armies being convey'd out of Italie by Sea and afterward on the Rivers Rhodanus and Arar by that channell and so passing by the River Mosella into the Rhene might at last be brought againe to the Ocean that so the jouney might bee more easie and the westerne and northerne shoares betweene them might be made navigable as Cornelius Tacitus writeth Lib. 18. Of which Ausonius Te foutes vivique lacus te caerula noscent Flumina te veteres pagorum gloria luci Te Druna te sparsis incerta Druentia ripis Alpinique colent Fluvij dupitemque per Vrbem Qui meat dextrae Rhodanus dat nomina ripa Te stagnis ego caruleis magnumque sonoris Amnibus aquorea te commendabo Garumnae The Fountaines Lakes and blew streames shal know thee And woods which of Villages the glorie be Thee Druna thee Druentia that doth glide With winding course betweene his bancks so wide And all the Rivers on the Alpine hill Shall thee adore and reverence thee still And Rhodanus that doth through the Citie flow Naming the right hand banck as it doth goe With the blew Lakes and streames that greatest are And Sea-like Garumne I will thee compare Saravus rising not farre from the Salmensians is the greatest of all those Rivers which runne into Mosella it is navigable and famous for the receipt of other Rivers and after it hath view'd the Cities and Townes which are commonly called Sar-Burg Fenestrange Sar-Vberden Sar-Abben Guemund Sar-Pruck Walderfing Sar-Brug and others at length it meeteth with Mosella neere the walls of Augusta of the Treverians not farre from Kontherbruck Ausonius mentioneth it in praysing Mosella It retaineth that name still For the Inhabitants call it Sar. And the ancients did call it Sarta as appeareth by an inscription which was brought to Trevers from a Towne seated by that River which is now called Sarpruck that is Sarrae Pons or Sarra Brigde CAES RO. EXER IMP. P. P. S.C. Au. TREVE INGR. ESSUM H. CASTRA SARRAE FLU PRO. MIL. CUSTODIA BIENN POTITUS EST. THE DVKEDOME OF LOTHORINGIA Lotharingia Meridiona THE DVKEDOME OF BVRGVNDIE· LET so much according to our Method suffice concerning Lotharingia The Dukedome of Burgundie followes or lower Burgundie The name of Burgundie commeth from the Burgundians who being a people of Germanie descended of the Vandalls and so called from the word Burgis that is from the Townes of Garrison being disturbed by the Almaines who violently seated themselves in their Countrie which is now cal'd the Palatinate under the conduct of Theodisius the sonne of Arcadius the younger they drove out the Sequeans and Aedians and possest themselves of this part of ancient France with the Nuithons whom Tacitus mentioneth Peter Sancto-Iulianus deriveth the Etymologie of Burgundie from a certaine place commonly call'd Burg-ogne in the Countrie of Langrenia It was heretofore a Kingdome about the yeare 1034. and afterward it was divided into a Dukedome and Countie the former toward the East called the lower and royall Burgundie the latter toward the East called the higher and Imperiall Burgundie Wee will entreate of the Dukedome in this Description and of the Countie in the next The Dukedome is encompas'd on the East side with the Counties of Sabaudia and Burgundie having the River Rhodanus flowing betweene them on the South is the Territorie of Lions on the West the faire fields of the Nevernians and Borbonians on the North lies Campania It is a Champion Countrie and inferiour unto none for fertilitie and fruitfullnesse for here is plenteous stoare of Wine and Corne so that Bacchus and Ceres seeme to contend who should exceede the other in bestowing their guifts most liberally upon this Country Richard Earle of Augustodunum a stoute man and well experienced in warlike matters was created Duke of all Burgundie beyond Araris by Odon King of France who was afterward Duke of Burgundie 32. yeeres Hee left Burgundy to his Sonne Rudolphus who was afterward chosen King of France and Hugo Niger his Brother succeeded him in his Dukedome After him succeeded Odo his Brother or his Sonne for I finde Authors of both opinions After whom followed Henry his Brother who dying without Issue Robert King of France got the Dukedome of Burgundy Henry having left it him as they say by his last
called the foure Heads of the City But thus much shall suffice He that desireth to know more let him have recourse to Iosias Simler who discourseth copiously and learnedly concerning these matters out of whom we have taken that which we have written here VVIFLISPVRGERGOVV THERE followes in our Author the Aventian Cantonâ— commonly called Wiflispurgergow It is so named from the Towne Wiflispurg which heretofore in â—ulius Caesars time was the head Citie of Helvetia and was called Aventiâ—um The Countrie is contained within the bounds of abaudia although it be subject to the Bernatians and Friburgensians as also the Countrie seated over against it and beyond the Lake of Bâ—el or Neoburg It is sufficiently stored with Wine and Corne. But in this Table the whole Cantons of Berne and Friburg are contained In the former the chiefe Citie is Berna It is not verie ancient but if you consider the excellent Situation the manners and civilitie the Lawes and Statuâ—es and the power and vertue thereof it is not inferiour unto any Citie Concerning the building whereof we reade thus Berchtaldus Duke of Zertâ—gia the 4. of that name built in his time 2. Friburgis that is free Castells namely one in Brisgoiâ— and the other in Vchtlandia And to the end that his subjects might dwell more safely in Vchtland he purposed to build another Citie neere his Castle which was called Nideâ—k in a Peninsula which was called Saccus which was at that time a Wood of Oakes And upon a certaine time when the same Berchtoldus was Hunting he said to his fellowes we will call this Citie which we purpose to build in this convenient place after the name of that beast which we shall first meete and after take And so it happened that they tooke a Beare which the Germaines call Bern. And where as we said there grew many Oakes in that place in which the Citie was to be builded yet all the trees were cut downe to build houses whence the workemen would commonly say when they cut downe the trees Holtz lassdich hauwen gern die stat muss heâ—ssen Bern i. e Arbores sinite ut secemini libenter Quonâ—â—m Cevitas ista vocabitur Bern that is yee Trees suffer your selves to be cut downe willingly Because this Citie shall be called Bern. This Citie is situated as it were in a Peninsula which the navigable River Arola maketh For on the South side of the Citie this River floweth in a low place from the West Eastward and then winding back againe it runneth Westward as far a as Cannon can shoote which is the whole length of the Citie so that the River is to the Citie as it were a ditch flowing with fresh water but that on the West for the length of a Crosse-Bow shot the foundation of the Citie joyneth to the Continent which Isthmus if it were digged through the Citie Bern would be an Iland On the South and North it hath the water running beneath it for a prospect on the East there is a gentle ascent unto the highest part of the Citie The adjacent soile lying round about it â—â—â—â—ry fruitfull but hath no Wine yet not farre of the Bernatians doe make very good Wine out of their owne Vineyards There doe grow also Vines on one side of the Citie but they are of no account and doe yeeld but little Wine But Berchtoldus the 4. the builder of this Citie yed before he had finish'd it leaving the perfecting of this worke to his sonne Berchtoldus the 5. and the last Duke of Zeringia He had by his wife the daughter of the Earle of Kiburg two sonnes whom the Nobles of the Country made away by poison for this cause chiefely because they supposed that Berchtoldus out of hatred and emulation towards them had finished the building of the City that so he might keep them under the yoke of servitude Berna hath under it both Germane and French Prefectureships among which is Lausanna an Episcopall City It hath a strange situation being seated on two opposite Hills and a Vale lying betweene them The Cathedrall Church and the Canons houses doe stand on the North Hill and from the Southerne Hil over against it there is a great descent even to the Lake The Court of Judgement is in the Vale. After the death of â—harles Duke of Burgundie Lausanna being redeemed by the Princes of S. â—audia the Citizens of Lausanna in the meane time did enter into great familiarity with the Bernatians even to the yere one thousand five hundred 36 at what time Lausanna came to be under the Dominion of the Bernatians But yet the Citizens do enjoy all their former Rights and Priviledges There are 31. Germane Townes 4. whereof belong to the City which as many Standard-bearers of the City doe governe and under their Colours all the Prefectureships doe march to Battell in the warres Namely Haselis Vallis Hasâ—i the Towne Ondersâ—a or Vinderseuâ—en Simmia Vallis superior Simia vallis inferior â—rutingen Sana Aelen Thun Louppen Signow Drachselwald the Vale of the River Emm Siconâ—swald Burgdorff Bâ—ereneck Landshuâ—t Arberg Nidow Eâ—lach Bippium Wangen Arwargen Arburg Biberstein Schenâ—kenbergh Lentzburg Also three free Townes in the Verbigenian Canton are subject to the Bermans Zof fingen Araw and Bruâ—k Also there are 9. Monasterieâ— endowed with Lands 6. whereof are under a civill Jurisdiction There are also 8. French Cantons and Townes as Aventicum Wâ—flispurg Minnidunum Mouilden Yuerden Morges Novidunum Nyâ—â— Oron Zilia with Vibiscum or Vivâ—y also Mercator reckoneth up three Monasteries belonging to the Bernatians which are Mâ—rten Schwartzenburg Granson Chalan or Cherlin over which the Bernatians and Friburgians in their severall courses doe appoint and constitute Governours for 5. yeere so that if the Governour be chosen out of one City they may appeale to the other which may examine and take account of their government Friburg is a Towne of the Nicetonians situate in Vchtland by the River Sana it was built by Berchtoldus the fourth Duke of Zeringia some yeeres before Berne For in the raigne of Lotharius in the yeere 1527. William Earle of Vchtland dyed as Nauclerus writeth at what time the Emperour gave Vchtland to the Prince of Zeringia who dying in the yeere 1552. his Sonne Berchtoldus Duke of Zeringia the fifth of that name succeeded after him He founded and built both the Friburgs Brisgoia and Vchtland as we said before in the yeere after Christs birth 1252. and endowed them VVIFLISPVRGERGOVV DAS WIFLISPURGERGOU with large Priviledges As also the succeeding Emperours did shew no lesse favour to both those Townes than if they had beene Parts and Members of their Empire Afterward in the yeere of our Lord 1218. Berchtoldus Duke of Zeringia dying Friburg in Vchtland with all the priviledges thereof came into the hands of the Earles of Kibuâ—g in the yeere of Christ 1260. Eburhardus Earle of Hasburg governed this City He in the yeere 1270. sold his right to this City for a great summe of money to
Flandrians were very desirous to beseige this Cittie which they attempted on the 5 of Iuly the yere 1601. The beginning of the seige was very terrible and continued so to the end thereof as it is well knowne yea it was such a long and grievous seige as there was never the like in the memory of man so that during the time of this seige there were slaine on both sides about 110000 men There was a Table book found about a certaine commissary of Spaine being dead in which the number of men that were slaine were set downe and the number of women and children by themselves of which this was the totall summe Tribunes or Praefects of the Souldiers commonly called Marshalls of the field 9. of Colonells 15. of Sergeants 29. Captaines 165. Ancients 322. Lieutenants 200 and 1 masters of the Horse 101. Common-souldier 54663. Mariners 611 children and Women 119. The totall summe of all was â—2126 It would be tedious to mention all their trenches and Fortresses all their engines and warlike Instruments and other matters Moreover there was a battaile fought betweene Ostend and Newport on the second of Iuly in the yeere 1600 between the Archduke Albert and Grave Maurice in which there were slaine on both sides seaven thousand foote and horsemen The battell continued doubtfull for three houres together But at length Grave Maurice got the victory and overthrew the Spaniard The Archduke Albert lost in that fight 6000 men there were taken besides a great number of common Souldiers the Admirall of Arragon and with him many of the Nobles and there were 105 Banners taken from the enemies foote troopes and foure from his horse troupes Yet it was a bloody victory to Grave Maurice for there were a thousand slaine on his side A mile distant from Ostend is Aldenburg It hath onely one gate being an auncient Cittie and heretofore a famous Mart towne The other matters which are contained in this table are unfolded in the next description And therefore I passe to Brabant THE DVKEDOME OF BRABANT BRabant for the most part doth containe the Countrie of the Advatians Ambivaritians and Tungrians but it is uncertaine at what time this Country was called Brabant some deriving it from Brennus a Frenchman some from a Cittie of that name of which there is no mention neither in the Country nor in histories some derive it from Bratuspandium a towne of the Bellovacians which Caesar mentioneth Lib. 2. Some doe mention a Captaine called Salvius Brabon an Arcadian who came with Caesar into the Low Countries whose wife Suana was Caesars Nephew Some also thinke that it was called Barbantia from Gotefridus Barbatus Earle of Lovaine and afterward Brabant I had this name of late which is manifest but the originall thereof is unknowne The length of Brabant from Gemblours even to the holy Mountaine of S. Gertrud is about 22 miles The breadth from Helmontium to Bergae is 20 Miles And the compasse of it is 80 miles It hath on the North the River Mosa which parteth Gelderland from Holland On the South Hannonia the Countie of Namurcum and the Leodiensian Bishopricke which confineth on it on the East On the West is the River Scaldis with the countrie Alost It hath a wholesome ayre and a fertile soyle abounding with all sorts of fruites but yet the countrie of Kempen is barren by reason of the sands which part yet is not altogether unfruitfull There are 26 Citties in this Dukedome As Lovanium or Loven which is an auncient Cittie and the first seate of the Grudians in which the Duke doth binde himselfe by taking the Sacrament It is a pleasant Cittie and now somewhat enlarged the compasse of it within the walls is foure miles It is watered with the River Dela Brussells is a faire great Cittie fortified with a double wall and situate in a fertile soile abounding with all things It is a wonderfull thing that this Citty could yeeld plentie of provision to serve the Dukes Court the strangers and forreine Princes which lay there with their whole trayne There is also Antwerpe which they commonly call Antwerpen the French call it Anvers the Italians Anversa the Germaines Antorff Peter Appian thinketh that it is the same with that which Ptolemie and Caesar doe call Atuacutum It is supposed that this Cittie was so called from the casting forth of hands For a certaine Giant called Druo who dwelt in these parts before C. Caesars comming when any travellers came by if they did not pay him the halfe of their commodities he caus'd their right hands to be cut off and to be cast into the River which appeareth by the armes of this Cittie and certaine great bones of this Giant Druo which are kept untill this day some say he was called Antigonus But these things are fabulous But it is more likely that the inhabitants called it so from the heape or rifing of Earth neere Scaldis which the Lowcountrimen doe call Antwerpen for by making banckes on both sides they straitned the River and made the channell deeper It is situate by the deepest part of the River under the 26 degrees of Longitude and 42 minuts And 51 of Latitude and fiftie eight minutes It is 4 miles distant from the Sea and as many from Mechlin 7 miles from Lovaine 10 miles from Gandavum 15 miles from Bruges 8 miles from Brussells threescore miles from London 29 from the Agrippine Colonie 60 miles from Franckford It was thrice walled First with a narrower wall Anno 1221 afterward with a larger wall Anno 1314 which yeare there was a great famine and the next a great pestilence Lastly the suburbs were enlarged toward the North Anno 1543. The compasse of it without the walls is 4 miles and eight hundred and twelve paces There are eight ditches which are brought into the Cittie out of the River and are able to receive many great shippes It is a great Cittie for traffique Guicciardine giveth an estimate that the yeerely trading in this Cittie doth amount to above twelve thousand Crownes which was lesse than it came to when the Cittie of Antwerpe flourished And therefore Iulius Scaliger doth worthily praise it thus Oppida quot spectant oculo me torvasinistro Tot nos invidiae pallida tela petunt Lugdunum omnigenum est operosa Lutetia Roma Ingens roâ— Venetum vasta Tolosa potens Omnimodae merces artes priscaeque novaeque Quorum insunt alijs singula cuncta mihi Looke how many Townes doe lye on our left side Even by so many Townes we are envide Leyden and Paris painefull are Rome great Venice is rich Tolouse in power compleate All wares and strange inventions that there be In severall Citties are all found in me There are two and forty religious houses in Antwerp also Churches Monasteries and Hospitalls The chiefe Cathedrall Church is dedicated to the blessed Virgin Marie It is a faire and sumptuous worke and hath a famous Tower steeple which is all built of
aedifices and houses in it which yet the warres have somewhat defac'd and also a Church consecrate to S. Nicolas and a Monastery to S. Francis in which Iohn of Lutzenburg King of Bohemia the sonne of the Emperour Henry the seaventh and father of Charles the fourth was buryed This Citty hath beene often defaced by the fury of Mars who hath no agreement with the Muses who love peace and tranquility yet it hath bred many famous learned men And among many others Nicolas Navis a man so learned and skilfull in the civill law that he was Praesident of the Court at Lutzenburg untill he dyed but he left a sonne of his owne name who being equall to his father in vertue was in such savour with the Emperour Charles the fifth that he made him Vicechancellour of the whole Empire in which office he continued untill his death Arlunum which is called in their language is situate on the top of a hill being a very neate town where the Moone was worshipped after the manner of the heathens and from thence it is supposed to have beene so named Heere many Monuments of antiquitie are found which the Earle Peter Ernest caused to be brought home to his owne house which is in the suburbs of the Cittie of Lutzenburg Bartholmew Latemus a very learned man was borne in this country Which is watered with many rivers the chiefest of which is Mosella of which I have spoke in Lotaringia the others are Chier Mosa Bâ—moy Hâ—ul Lech Alsatus Atardus Sourus Prumâ—us Mâ—neus Ghomeus Orto Albis and besides many little Rivuletts The Country is raised on every side with Mountaines and interlaced with thicke woods But all of them are but boughes in respect of the Forrest of Arden in France The politicke state as in the other Countries doth consist of three members first the Clergie secondly the Nobles in which are the Counts of Vâ—anden of la Roch en Ardenne Salme Durby Marche S. Vit. S. Iansberg There are also many Baronies and Lordships The third member is the principall Citties as Lutzenburg Arlunum Theonis villa otherwise called Dietenhove and Rodemacherâ— The Court for the whole Province is kept in the Cittie of Lutzenburg and the pleadings are in French or Dutch according as the Plantiffes are of severall Countries For Lutzenburg Arlunum Theonis Villa and Rodemachera doe speake Dutch but Ivoys Mammedy Marville and Danvilliers doe speake French in regard whereof it is necessary that the Iudges and Advocates and the officers of the Court should understand both languages From this Court appeales may be brought to Mechlin where those things which are written in Dutch are faithfully translated into French This Dukedome hath two Marquiships under it seaven Counties many Baronies and Lordships and great store of Noble men so that no Province doth produce so many All of them doe live magnificently and are curteous vertuous constant and faithfull to their Prince Their exercise is Armes and hunting They live civilly and courteously together visiting one another in mutuall kindnesses They contract marriages with their neighbours and in their matches they doe more respect honour and dignity than portion If any one doe commit an enormity he loseth his credit and is not admittted to converse with the Nobles and is thought to be unworthy of any publicke office and his oath is not esteemed in publicke trialls If any controversie doe arise amongst them they referre it to certaine Arbitrators who are to compound and end the matter so that they have no great use of Lawyers and Proctors yet they are too much given to wine And the Country people doe complaine very much of their hard usage and servitude so that if a Country-man intend to put forth his children he cannot doe it without his Lords leave which is farre different from the libertie of the Low Countries Arlunum which we mentioned before is situate on the top of a Mountaine and is foure miles distant from Lutzenburg and sixe from Mommedy It was sometime a faire Towne but somewhat defaced by the violence of warres Rodemachera is three miles distant from Lutzenburg which though it be no great towne yet is very beautifull and fortified with a strong Castell Theodonis-villa which in Dutch is called Dietenhoue is very conveniently situated on the left hand bancke of the River Mosella it is foure miles from Lutzenburg having a faire bridge it is a pleasant strong Towne and well fortified against the invasions of enemies Regino affirmeth that Charles the Great was used to hunt very much neere unto this Cittie Gravemakerum and Koninckmakerum are small little Townes neere Mosella being a mile distant one from another and 5 miles from Lutzenburg Dieterichum is seated neere the little River Sure and is five miles distant from Lutzenburg Viretonum and Echternatum are little small townes and are both five miles distant from Lutzenburg Vianda standeth by the side of a little Riuâ—let seaven miles from Lutzenburg it hath a Countie belonging to it and is subject to the Prince of Orange Bastonaâ—um is neere unto the Forrest of Arden being three miles from the new Castell and 17 from Lutzenburg It is a little Towne but so famous heretofore that it was called Paris en Ardenne in regard of the markets for Cattell and Corne which were usually kept there whither the Countrie round about did bring all sorts of commodities to the great enriching of the Towne Betweene this Cittie and Arlunum and S. Huberts Church there are some Villages in the middle of the wood in which the women after the Spanish fashion when their husbands are carryed forth to be buried and interred doe runne crying and weeping through the streetes tearing their hayre and scratching their faces with their nayles in a mad and furious manner which custome doth rather favour of Heatheanisme than Christianity Mâ—mmedium is conveniently situated on a high mountaine at the foote whereof the River Chirsus glideth along it is nine miles distant from Lutzenburg and foure from Danvillieres being a faire fortified towne New-Castell is in Ardenne it is 5 Miles distant from Ivosium and nine from Lutzenburg it is now a small Towne and much decayed Danvillieres is twelve miles distant from Lutzenburg and foure from Verdunum being in Lotharingia Marville is divided into two parts the one whereof is subject to the Duke of Lutzenburg and the other to the Duke of Lotharingia and therefore it is called the common Towne it standeth by the River Chirsus and is 12 miles distant from Lutzenburg Roche en Ardenne or the Rocke in Ardenne and Durbium are twelve miles distant from Lutzenburg being both pleasantly seated S. Viti is a very pleasant small towne and is 12 miles distant from the Metropolis and belongeth to the Prince of Orange Salma is a rich and populous Cittie having a Countie appendant unto it Marcha is a very auncient Towne and is 14 miles from Lutzenburg We will not mention for brevitie sake the Castells
Lichtenavius doe call them Wormbser-Bâ—sâ—â—â—umbs But Pâ— on the contrary affirmeth that the Vangionians are those of Spâ—res and the Nemetians those of Wormes and Irenicus addeth this reason namely because Ptolemie who in description of Rhene did usually proceede from the South Northward doth first mention the Vangians and afterward the Numetians But Sig. Gemblacensis who writ about five hundred yeares agoe calleth Wormes the Cittie of the Vangionians Also Iohn Herald doth gather out of an inscription that the Cittie Wormes was heretofore called the Watch Tower of the Vangionians There are 48 Citties in the Palatinate the chiefe whereof is Heidelberg where the Prince Palatine keepeth his residence It was so called either from the people whom the Germaines call Heyden or from the Mirâ—le-tree which they call Heydelbeer and heereupon the most learned Melissus doth call this Citty Myrtilletum Tâ—aâ— which Pyramius calleth Durlacum others more rightly doe call Durlach Iohn Herald doth call it Capellatium others doe call Capâ—llatium the Palatinate as we sayd before Munster calleth it Bergstras which standeth in the way from Frinckford to Heydelburg Some doe suppose that the Cittie which Ptolemie calls Beudoris was scared here but this is but conjecturall For Ptolemie placed Beudoris in the 51 degres of Latitude when as Heidelberg is in the 49 degree and 35 minutes of Latitude Some suppose that it should be read and written Edelberg which signifies the noble Mountaine and others Eidleberg which signifies the neere Mountaine It is situate by the River Nicrus or Nâ—icarus in the entrance of the Mountaines it hath beene a famous Vniversity for learning and Arts from the yeare 1356 being then instituted by Rupert the elder Prince Palatine who sent for one Marsilus from Paris to be governour thereof And from that time it was well replenished with learned men and students The most famous Doctors were Rodolphus Agricola Iohn Dalburgius Iohn Virdungus William Xilander Thomas Erastus Zachary Vrsin and many others Moreover the whole Palatinate is divided into foure Praefectureships as Heydlebergensian the Alzaeensâ—â—â— the Neostadiensian and the Mosbachensian which are so called from the Citties of Hedelberg Alzea Neostadium and Mosbacum There is also Bretta which is a small Towne neere the River Salza in which Philip Melanchton was borne who writ much concerning the liberall Arts also Ladeburg so called from the Romaine Tents halfe of which was pawned to Duke Rupert the elder the other part came to the Bishop of Wormes Sifrid of Stralnberg sold unto the aforesayd Prince in the yeare 13â—7 the Towne Schriessâ—n and the Castle of Stralnberg And in the yeare 1344 the Towne Wâ—inheim was given to the Prince by awardment of Arbitrators which heretofore the Bishop oâ— Moguntinum did possesse There are also the Townes Cauba Gâ—lâ—usen Sintzon Luden by the River Tuberus Oppenheim Caesarâ—a â—â—tra Ingeâ—heim Lowenstein and in Brureinia there is Bruxells and others as may be seene in the Table and also many Castles and Villages The chiefe Rivers are Rhene and Neccarus The latter doth water and cut thâ—ough the middle of the Palatinate and doth discharge it selfe into the Rhene neere Ladeburg the auncients did call it Nicer it hath great store of Mullets which are commonly called Barbells Also there continually commeth downe this River great pieces of timber from the wood Otto which the River Necarus bringeth into the Rhene The lesser Rivers are Tuberus Lutherus Iaxtus and others The Country is both Mountainous and field ground It hath high Mountaines which doe beare excellent Vines of which the Rhenish Wine is made And there are Woods which yeeld stoare of game for hunting The chiefest whereof is the Wood Otto which is a part of the Hercynian Wood the breadth thereof is from the River Necarus even to Manus and the length from the Mountainous way called Bergstras even to the River Tuberus But so much hitherto There were many Churches in the Palatinate and many Monasteries as the Monastery of Lorsch which was built by Charles the Great or as some suppose by Pepin Concerning the Library thereof Munster writeth thus There is not a place in all Germanie where there is a more ancient Library than in this Monasterie I saw there a Manuscript written with Virgills owne hand and in it Ammianus Marcellinus his last booke was found which is now published being written before in great capitall letters Iohn Dalberg Bishop of Wormes a learned man did take the best bookes from thence and put them in the Librarie at Lâ—denâ—uâ—â— There are foure Electors in Germanie the Palatine of Rhene the Archâ—ishops of Mentz of Triers and Colen The free Citties are Menâ—z Colen Tâ—â—r and Gelenhausen The Princes and Lords are the Count Palatine Count Nassaw and Beilslaine H. Reifferscheâ—de and Rheineck Tâ—utscb Ordens Hern in Coblentz the Abby of S. Maximinus neere Triers the Provost Seltz H. Nider Eisenburg But so much hitherto I come to the Dukedome of Wirtemberg THE DVKEDOME OF VVIRTEMBERG THe Dukedome of Wirtemberg commonly called Wurtembergerlant was so called from the auncient Castle Wirtemberg which standeth in the middle thereof on a high hill not farre from the Emperiall Cittie Essing This Country of Wirtemberg doth lye by the River Nicrus It hath on the East the Swevians Vindelicians and Noricians on the West the Palatinate and the Marquiship of Baden on the South it hath the Mountaines of Arbon and the Swevian Alpes for so the Inhabitaâ—ants doe call the higher Mountaines of this Countrie on the North Franconia and not farre off the wood Otto The ayre of this Country is very wholsome and temperate both in Winter and Summer It is as fruitfull also as any part of Germanie both for Wheate Pulse Wine and other fruites But yet all the Country is not of one soyle for that part where the River Neccarus ariseth and confineth on Hercynia and that which lyeth by the Swevian Alpes betweene Danubius and Nicrus is rugged and unfit for tillage or planting of Vines On the Alpes it is a stony soyle but very fruitefull and also by the blacke Wood it hath a sandy red coloured earth which yeeldeth great store of Corne. But there where the River Neccarus floweth through the Champion ground it is very fertile and fruitfull for it hath every where hills crowned with Vines greene Meddowes fruitefull fields and great store of Wine Corne and Apples This Dukedome also hath Mines of Silver not farre from Wiltberg and it is sayd that the Towne Pâ—â—lathium is built on Mines of Brasse it hath also Iron and Brasse There are divers coloured stones found which for the most part are enameld and streakt with blew So that it seemes that Nature did endeavor to enrich this place with pretious stones There are divers kindâ—s of living Câ—eatures and in the Woods there are an inumerable sort to bee seene It was made a Dukedome in the yeere 1495 by the Emperour Maximilian in a meeting or Parliament held at Wormes and he made
to bring them up and the lesse hopefull they put forth to Country people in Bursia and Caramania All these are called Azamogla or Iamogla that is innocent Infants that know nothing and when they are 8. yeeres old 50. of the handsomest and hopefullest of them are placed in the Emperours Palace at Constantinople which is called Saray and there they are instructed in learning and rudiments of warre untill they have attained to 20. yeeres of age Out of these beside other Officers of the Court the Janitzaries are chosen of whom there are 12000. who are the Turkes Garde Out of the Janitzaries 3000. Spachoglani are chosen who goe on the Princes right hand and doe every one keepe 4. or 5. Horses for service Hemus is a very high wood so that from the top thereof you may behold the Euxine and Adrian Sea The Inhabitants of this Country are yellow of complexion long hayrd couragious fierce and cruell they are great drinkers and doe love Wine GREECE VVHICH CONTAINETH THESE CHIEFE COVNTRIES ALBANIA MACEDON EPIRE ACHAIA and MOREA GREECE followes which is a famous Country of Europe and the Fountaine and mother of learning The Inhabitants did call it Hellas But these that doe now inhabite it doe call it Romechi and the Turkes Haromeli Leunclavius calleth it Rumelia and the 70. Interpreters Ihobel and Iava But Greece hath severall bounds assignd it It reacheth properly from Epâ—e by the River Achelous On the East it hath the Aegean Sea and thus Greece is properly bounderd Which Pliny doth intimate who saith that Greece beginneth from the Istmus and againe he saith that Greâ—ce is joyned to Peloponesus with a short neck of ground Sometimes also Pelâ—ponesus and Thessalia are comprehended in Greece So L. Aemilius Paulus when he travaild thorow Greece he went to Delphos thorow Thessaly from thence to Lebadia then to Chalcides afterward to Aulides and from thence to Athens then to Corinth Sicyon Argos Epidaurus Lacedemon Megalopolis Olympia and so having travelled thorow Greece he returned to Amphipolis Homer calleth the Phtiotae onely Graecians Herodotus maketh a difference betweene the Thracians and Pelasgans But now we call Greece all the Country which lyeth Westward and is washed with the Jonian Sea on the South with the Libian Sea on the East with the Aegean on the North it is parted from Thrace Mysia and Dalmatia This Country did heretofore excell other parts of Europe both for the temper of the climate and fertility and Heards of Cattell This is that Country which flourished along time and was a famous Empire for Learning Arts and warlike Discipline It was first free but while it affected Soveâ—â—â—nty over others it was it selfe brought into servitude for now it is under the Turkes Dominion And heretofore Cyrus afterward Xerxes and other Kings of Persia did vexe it Afterward the Macedons governd it and then the Romanes after the division of their Empire it was subject to Constantinople untill the Gothes the Bulgarians and Sarazens did waste and destroy it and now last of all the Turke hath brought it all into miserable servitude except some Ilands which are subject to the Venetian namely Corâ—yra Cephalenia Zacynthus Crete and other little Ilands Greece had heretofore many flourishing Citties as Athens Laâ—â—demon Delphos Argis Mycenis Corinth and many others the most of which are ruinate and decayd Here are 32. great Rivers as Strymon Chabrius Echedâ—us Aâ—â—â—s â—rigoâ— Lydius Aliaâ—mâ—n GREECE· GRAECIA Phaâ—ybus Feneus Speâ—chius Paâ—yassus Apsus Lous Celidnus Thyamus Aâ—hâ—râ—n â—â—aâ—hâ—hus Aâ—hâ—lous Evâ—â—us Ilissas Asâ—pus Ismâ—nus Cephisus â—oagâ—â—us â—â—â—us Sus Peneus Alphejus Selas Paâ—ysius Eurotas and â—nachus The Seaâ— are called the Jonian Sea from Ionia who was a Queene in the farthest parts of Italy as Soliâ—us affirmeth or as Archidamus thinketh from Iâ—nius a King of the Illyrians or from the Jonians who were drownd in passing that Sea It was called before the Cronian and Rhaean Bay and the Cretian from the I le Creete as ancient Writers doe witnâ—â—se it is now called Mar di Candia or the Gandian Sea There is also the Carpathiam Sea so called from the Iland Carpathus which lyeth by the Easterne Promontory of Creete The Aegaean Sea as Festâ—â— and others doe write was so called from Aegeus the Father of Thelâ—us who cast himselfe into it I omit other opinions Valerius Flaceus calleth it Aegoâ— and Aegeon Thuâ—ydides calleth it the Greeke Sea and the â—ropeans doe call it by a Greeke name Archipelagus The Turkes call it the white Sea The Romanes did heretofore call this Sea by two names as Pliny witnesseth namely all that which touched Macedâ—n and 〈◊〉 the Macedonian Sea and that which touched Greece the Graecian Sea Ptolemy calls it Myrtoum or the Myrtoan Sea being a pâ—â—â— of the Aegean which beareth on Caria a Country of Asia the lessâ— Câ—staldus calleth it Mar dâ— Mandria Strabo Pliny and others doe place it betweene Pelâ—ponesus and Attica It was so called from Myrthus the Sonne of Mercury who as Solinus and Isodorus report was cast into this Sea by Oâ—nâ—maus or as Pliny thinketh from a small Iland situate not farre from the Towne Carystum The most doe call it the Icarian Sea from the fable of Icarus It is now called Mar di Nicaria as Castâ—ldus writeth It hath also divers Mountaines as Bertiscus Athos Olympus Ossa Pelion Citerius Othris Oeta Pindus Aroceraunij Stimphe Calidromus Carax Paâ—nassus Helâ—â—on Cithaeron Himettus Stimphâ—lus Pholoe Crâ—â—us Zarex Minthe Taigetus and others Moreover Athens famous for Arts and Disciplines was in Greece So that Diodorus Siculus calleth it the common Schoole Cicero Lib. 4. Epist Famil calleth it the famousest University of Europe whether Romanes and other Nations did repaire to study Philosophy and the Greeke tongue Cicero doth often commend Greece for Arts Eloquence good wits and plentifull speech so that the Romanes got the knowledge of Philosophy and other Arts and Sciences from them And Flaccus singeth thus Graijs ingenium Graijs dedit ore rotundo Musa loqui The Muses gave the Graecians wit And eloquence of speech to it GREECE hath yeelded these famous Schollers Nusâ—us the Poet Solon Socrates the Prince of Philosophers Xenophon Plato Isocrates Demosthenes Thucidides and many others Concerning the Graecians religion Idolatry raigned amongst them so that they had an infinite number of Gods and Goddesses Augustine Lib. 3. of the Citty of God affirmeth according to Varros opinion that the Romans and Graecians together had above 3000. gods of which there were 300. Iupiters Every one had his Lar or Houshold god And they had Tutelary gods for every affection of the minde and for defence and protection from danger and every god had distinct and peculiar Ceremonies Prayers Priests Sacrifices and Offerings The common people doe not now keepe their ancient fashions For they let their haire grow long and doe onely cut the forepart of their haire and doe weare a double thicke Hat They use but little houshold stuffe as the Turkes neither doe they
that Priviledge THE HOLY LAND· THis famous Province of Syria was heretofore called the Land of Chanaan the Sonne of Cham who possessed it It was called also the Land of Promise or the promised Land because God promised it to our Fathers Abraham Isaac and Iacob This Country when the ancient Inhabitants were beaten out and the Israelites came in their place began to be called Israel and Iudaea Ptolemy and others doe call it Palaestina from the Palaestines a people of great note who in the sacred Scriptures are called Philistins the Christians doe call it the Holy Land This Country is situate in the middle of the world betweene the Mediterranean Sea and Arabia on which side beyond the River Iordan it is encompassed with a continued ridge of Mountaines and so it reacheth from Aegypt as Herodotus will have it or as others from the Lake Sirbon even to Phaenitia The bounds thereof are these it hath on the East Syria and Arabia on the South the Desert of Pharan and Aegypt on the West the Mediterranean Sea on the North the Mountaine libanon The length of it reacheth on the North to the Citty of Dan seated at the foot of the Mountaine Libanon which was afterward called Caesarea Philippi and Paneas so on the South to the Citty Bearsebach situate in the Tribe of Simeon over against the great Desert which is about 67. miles every mile being an houres journey But the breadth which is to be taken from the Mediterranean Sea on the West to Iordan on the East side doth containe in some places 16. and in other places 18. miles Of all Countries it is chiefly commended for the wholesomnesse of the Ayre and temperature of the Climate for the Winter is not too cold nor the Summer too hot And all Writers both sacred and prophane doe praise it for the fruitfulnesse of the Soyle the abundance of all kindes of fruits and the plenty of all things necessary for the sustentation and delectation of mans life Moyses concerning this Country prophesi'd thus to the Israelites Deut. Cap. 8. Vers 7. For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good Land a Land of Brookes of Water of Fountaines and depths that spring out of Valleys and Hills a Land of Wheate and Barley and Vines and Fig-trees and Pomegranates a Land of Oyle Olive and Hony a Land wherein thou shalt eate Bread without scarcenesse thou shalt not lack any thing in it a Land whose Stones are Iron and out of whose Hills thou mayest digge Brasse a Land flowing with Milke and Honey Iosephus also and Pliny doe praise the fertility of this Country But of all those things which serve either for delight or medicinable use the Balsame is especially commended which God heretofore gave to this part of the World but now it wanteth it also the Aromatick sweet Spices and Mastix and two kindes of Nuts the one called Almonds and the other Pistack Nuts In the Mountaines also there is Iron and Brasse It hath abundance of sweet Springs and pleasant Meddowes which are cloathed with Flocks and Heards of Cattell which doe yeeld great store of Milke And here is good hunting of Boares Goates Hares and Hawking after Partridges Stares and other Birds Moreover the Land of Chanaan had 31. Kings which were Philistins but after Israelites entred into this Country the most part of the Philistins and ancient Kings were slaine and droven out And the Children of Israel were governd by Captaines about 450. yeeres untill the Prophet Samuel Neither did they rule by Succession or Election but it was a kinde of Aristocracy where the Seniors in every Tribe did governe but afterward at the request of the people God changed this forme of government into a Kingdome and this government continued many yeeres For in processe of time the Israelites suffered many calamities untill at length they lost their Kingdome For both sacred and prophane Histories doe witnesse that this Nation had beene subject to divers changes and had beene vexed continually with warres either through the disposition of the people who could neither endure their own nor others government or through their sinnes which provoked Gods anger toward them or through the felicity and happinesse of this Country which tempted Strangers to invade them Sometimes they were overcome sometime carried away into captivity so that they were unfit to live either in prosperity or adversity Sometimes they were under the yoke of servitude and in bondage to their neighbours and sometimes to remote people farre off as the Aegyptians Chaldaeans Medes Persians Macedons and Romanes and they never ceased to tread downe and overthrow themselves and their Common-wealth by their evill counsell untill at length they fastned and nayled the Sonne of God and the Saviour of mankinde with their wicked hands to the Crosse than which there could bee no greater sinne or impiety After that there ensued new calamities and miseries For Titus Vespasian having conquerd Iudaea tooke Ierusalem and carried away many thousand Jewes into Captivity and many of them being slaine by famine pestilence fire and sword he wasted and destroyed the Temple and all the sacred and prophane buildings in the yeere from the birth of Christ 73. which Christ himselfe while hee lived here on Earth had foretold Aelius Adrianus did re-edifie the Citty but hee changed the Situation thereof And the old Temple of Salomon lay ruinate and wasted even untill the yeere 363. when Iulian the Apostata gave the Jewes leave to re-edifie it who being dismaid by a miracle desisted from their enterprise and left it off againe In the yeere 615. Chosrâ—es King of Persia tooke the Citty and put 90000. men to the sword but he being overcome and taken by Heraclius was punisht for his cruelty In the yeere 636. Haumer Prince of the Sarazens subdued all Iudaea THE HOLY LAND· PEREGRINATIO ISRAELITARUÌ„ IN DESERTO and it continued 450. yeeres under the power and dominion of the Sarazens But in the yeere 1097. when it was decreed in the Counsell of Clarimont in the time of Pope Vrban the second that a Voyage should be made to recover the Holy Land Godfrâ—y of Boloyne having raised a great Army of Christians which consisted of 300000. Foote and 100000. Horse did beat out the Sarazens In the yeere 1185. Saladine King of Persia did restore the Sarazens to their first estate But not long after the Christians invaded them againe And the Sarazens invaded them againe in the yeere 1217. untill at length after divers muâ—ations and changes the Turkes got possession of it in the yeere 1517. This Country containeth Idumaea Iudaea Samaria and Galiley Idumaea beginneth from the Mountaine Cassius or according to others from the Lake Sirbon and stretcheâ—h Eastward even to Iudaea There are these Citties in it Maresa Rhinocorurâ— Raphia Anthedon Ascalon Asotus and Gaza Iudaea is the most famous part of Palestine being situate betweene the Mediterranean Seas and the Lake Asphaltites and betweene Samaria and
in the Citty Ciandu And there is another in the same Citty and another in the Citty Cambalu built very curiously and it is about 4. miles in compasse every Quadrangle containing a mile It hath a very thick wall which is 10. paces high The outward superficies of it is white and red In the foure corners of the wall there is a faire great Palace which is in stead of a Castle And so likewise in the middle of the fore walls there is a faire Palace built so that there are 8. Palaces in all In these they keepe their Armour their warlike Furniture their Ordnance their Bowes Arrowes Quivers Spurres Bridles Launces Bowstrings and other things necessary in warre and every severall kinde of Armour is laid up and kept in severall Palaces But in the middle of them or the innermost Court is the Kings Palace in which the King dwelleth This Palace hath no Chambers but the lower Pavement thereof is raised 10. hand breadths from the ground The roofe is very high and adorned with Pictures the walls of the Court yards and dining-roomes doe glister with Gold and Silver At the first entrance there are faire Pictures to entertaine the eye and warlike Histories drawne foorth with gold and lively colours The great Cham hath twelve Barons in his Court who are Governours of his 34. Provinces and it is their Office to appoint two Rectors or Governours in every Province and they are to provide things necessary for the Kings Army wheresoever it be and they acquaint the King with their purposes who by his authority confirmeth their determinations Malefactors are punisht in Tartary after this manner If any one hath stolne some small matter which doth not deserve death he is beaten 7. times with a Staffe or Cudgell and hath 17. blowes or strokes given him at a time or 27. blowes or 47. according to the quality of his offence untill at last they come to an hundred and 10. stripes or strokes And some doe die upon this beating But if any one have stolne a Horse or any other thing that deserveth death hee hath a Sword thrust thorow him But hee that will buy out his life hee must restore nine times as much as that which he stole was worth If any man or woman be taken in adultery they are put to death by the Law The Tartarians are devided into Hordes which words signifies amongst them a Tribe or Company And as they live in severall Provinces farre distant one from another so they are as farre distant and different one from another in their manners and kinde of life The men are of a strong square set stature having broad fat faces darke hollow eyes having great rough Beards but the rest of their haire is shaven they are strong of body and bold in courage and can endure want and labour when they are on Horseback if they chance to bee hungry or thirsty they cut their Horses veines and so drinke his blood It is a prophane ard barbarous Nation who make warre their right and strength and power their law Many of them have no houses but doe live in Carts And because they wander from place to place they doe usually direct their course by the Starres and especially by the North Pole They doe not tarry long in one place for they thinke it a great unhappinesse to continue long in the same place They have on use of money and therefore they exchange one thing for another They say that they are Ismaelites and received the law of Mahomet in the yeere 1246. The Tartars doe feed on grosse meat and especially on flesh and that raw or halfe sod and on Milke and Cheese but they abstaine from Hogs-flesh They drinke Mares Milke which they doe so temper that it is like white wine and is a savory well-tasted drinke They feed very sluttishly for they neither use Table-clothes or Napkins neither doe they wash their hands bodies or Garments They drinke also Water and Milke and a kinde of Beere made of Millet THE KINGDOME OF CHINA· CHINA is a large and potent Kingdome The Inhabitants doe call it Tame and themselves Tangis Ptolomy calleth them Sinas which Ortelius liketh of whom the most doe follow or their neighbours the Cathajans which Mercator doth more approve of All this Country is situate by the Easterne Ocean and it is thought to bee the farthest Country Eastward The bounds thereof on the East are the Easterne Sea on the South the Province of Cauchinchina on the West Brachmana on the North the Tartarians a warlike Nation from whom they are devided by the Mountaines and a long Wall which doe reach 500. miles The Historians of China doe report that this Wall was built long since by a King whose name was Tzinzous after that by his wisedome he had freed the Inhabitants of this Country from the Tyranny of the Tartars which they had endured 93. yeeres This Country by reason of the goodnesse of the ayre and soyle and the industry of the people is very fruitfull For the men are not slothfull but laborious so that they scorne to live idlely Whence it comes to passe that every corner of this Country doth produce and bring forth something They sow the dry ground with Wheate and Barley The plaine wet moorish places with Rice which they sow foure times every yeere The Hills and Mountaines have abundance of Pine-trees betweene which they sow Millet and Pulse So that every place and field beareth some fruit and there are every where Gardens full of Roses and divers kindes of flowers and fruits They have great store of Hempe and Flaxe and Woods of Mulberry Trees for keeping of Silke-wormes Moreover there is great store of Gold Silver Brasse Iron and other Mettals also Pretious Stones Pearles Muske Sugar and Rheubarb and that is thought to bee the best which is brought from thence thorow Persia by Land for some think that the Sea doth take away much vertue from it This Kingdome also doth produce and yeeld a medicinable kinde of wood which the people of China doe call Lampala and we Radix Chinae or the China Roote and it is commonly us'd thorow all the Indies against Impostumes the Palsie and the French disease The Roote of it is hard and heavy and of a white colour There are infinite store of Cattell on the Mountaines and in the Medowes The Woods are full of Boares Foxes Hares Cunnies Sables Martines and other beasts of the same kinde whose skins are much used for lining of Garments So that it is both pleasant and profitable hunting of them There are also great plenty of Birds especially water Fowle and such great store of Ducks that in Canton which is one of the least Citties of this Kingdome 10. or 12. thousand Duckes are spent in one day And though this Country have great store of Fowle yet they make them increase by this meanes In the Spring time they lay two or three thousand Egges in the Sand by
Voyage made Westward wee have spoken other wheres He on the 24. of August when the winde stood faire weighed Anchor out of S. Iulians Bay where he had laine a long time being not vexed so much with windes and high Seas as the civell dissentions of the Castellanians and Portugals After hee sayled some dayes Southward hee came to the Promontory of the holy Crosse Here one of his Ships runne a shore but the Men Ordnance and fraight was saved Afterward when he observed that the shore did bend a little from the South Eastward hee began to bee in hope of reaching the Straites And on the 26. of November this narrow passage was discover'd into which Magellan with foure other Ships entred Here they thought good to stay in a certaine Bay and to send 3. Ships before to â—ound the passage and to make discovery One of the Ships in which was Alvarus Meschita having past thorow stood out to Sea againe and so directing their course Northward it was brought first to Aethiopia and afterward to Spaine and 8. moneths after they had left their company Alvarus was brought before Charles King of Castile as a Captive The third Ship made report that it was a straite narrow Sea by observing the flowing and ebbing of the Sea It was the Moneth of November and the night was five houres long the shore on the right hand and the left or the Starbord and Larbord shore was very solitary and no creature to be seene but that on the left side they saw a great fire And this was the cause why they called that Country Terra del Fuego and they supposed that the Inhabitants had discoverd them Magellan having left 2. Ships in this manner he furnished the other according as was fitt for the present occasion and discovering all as he went two and twenty dayes after he entred the Bay or Straite he was brought into another Sea which for the quiet peaceablenesse thereof he called Mar del Zur or Mare Pâ—cificum that is the peaceable Sea But this Straite being environd on every side with high Rocks is 120. miles long or according to others 76. miles the breadth of it is not equall and very different for sometimes it is 2. or 3. miles broad and sometimes 10. or 5. and where it is narrowest it is a mile broad The Northerne Sea on the East side is carried betweene the Straites of either land 70. miles and more where it mingleth with the Southerne Sea on the West side winding thorow those Promontories it meeteth with the Northerne Sea where their Waves meete very violently and with a great noise so that all the Sea is coverd with froth The Southerne Sea doth flow and ebbe more gently for the Westerne part of the Bay being very deepe and broaderâ— affordeth a quieter passage to the Sea when it floweth But the Easterne part of the Straites is full of Flats and Sands and many Ilands which causeth the raging and troublesomenesse of the Seas on either Shore there are high trees Moreover when Magellan had layne halfe a yeere in these Southerne parts hee viewed and discoverd nothing but the shoares but the innermost parts of the Country remained unknowne but yet it is manifest that that part which lyeth Southward is most of it a Mountainous Woodly Country and hath Snow continuall upon it Some say blue Snow hath beene found here which I leave to others judgement Magellan called this Southerne Land del Fugo from the fire or fires for when he discoverd these Straites he saw no mortall creature but he often beheld in the night time many great fires as we said before on the left hand But the Southerne Land on the West side doth looke toward both the Iavas Summatra and the Molucco's on the East it hath Affrick and the Aethiopian Ocean on the North it hath the Straites of the Magellan Bay and the Land of the Patagons The Country on either shore is barren and unfruitful but yet it hath great strange unknowne Trees Here are at all times great store of Pinguines Cormorants and Sea-calfes For the Pinguines come hither in the moneth of September and doe hatch their young ones in October In the Moneth of Aprill they flie to the Sea and after they are gone there commeth great store of Cormorants They are called Pinguines apirguedine from their fatnesse the old one doe weigh 13.14 or 16. pounds the younger 8. or 12. pound They are black on the backe and white on the belly and they have a Milke white circle round about their neck Their backs are like the Sea Calves and as thicke as a Hogge which you cannot pierce with a Speare Their Bill is bigger than a Crowes bill but not crooked Their necke is thicke and short Their bodies are as bigge as a fat Goose but not so broad They have no wings in stead whereof they have two pinnions coverd with feathers which hang downe like wings which doe make them swim wonderfull fast They live by Fish for they are Water-Fowle They goe straite upright with those pinnions hanging downe They have black feete like Geese but not so broad If any pursue them they will cry with a voyce like a man Mergus or the Cormorant is so called by Varro Lib. 4. concerning the Latine tongue because mergendo se in aquam captat escam he getteth his food by diving into the water unto whom Ovid in his Metamor Lib. 11. concerning Aesacus the sonne of Priam doth assent where he singeth thus THE STRAITES OF MAGELLAN· FRETUM Magellani Aequor amaâ— nomenque manet quia mergitur illi Hee loves the Sea and keepes that name Because he dives into the same And though divers kindes of Water-fowle doe the same yet the ancient Latines did call this kinde of Bird onely Mergus or a Cormorant which the Greekes doe call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Italians Corvo Marino the Germanes Tuâ—her and the English doe call a Cormorant Turner an Englishman saith that this Bird is as bigge as a Goose of a browne colour having a long Bill and crooked in the end flat footed heavie bodyed the shape of her body when she standeth upright is like a Bird sitting Pliny writeth that she buildeth her Nest in Trees but Aristotle saith upon the Sea Rocks Ovid calleth that Bird which hath long legges and a great throat a Cormorant for he saith Longa internodia crurum Longa manet cervix caput est a corpore longe His Thighs and Neck both long are His Head is from his body farre The Cormorants contrary to all other Birds have their feete under their tayle so that when they stand on the ground they beare their breasts strait upright as men doe as the Author of the Booke of naturall matters writeth Pliny calleth Phoca Phooke and the Sea-calfe Albertus also calleth it the Sea Wolfe and otherwhiles the Sea Dog the Germanes call Ein meer Kalb and the English call it a Seale It doth Bay
are exceeding hot and cold The pleasantnesse of this Country is so great that it became a Proverbe All the Land is so renowned both for the fertilitie of the fields the varietie of fruits and large pasturing of cattell and for the abundant plenty of those things ASIA ASIA which are exported that it doth easily excell all other Countries Here is wonderfull plenty of Fruits Spices and Mettalls Hence we receive Balsam sweet Canes Frankincense Myrrhe Cassia Cinnamon Gariophylus Pepper Saffron sweet Woods Rozine Muske and all kinde of precious stones Here we may behold many different sorts of living Creatures For it bringeth forth a number of Elephants Camells and many other living Creatures both tame and wilde we may here also admire the wits riches and power of the Inhabitants Here Man was first created by God here was the first Seat of the Church of God here Artes were first invented here were Lawes first made here the Doctrine of the Gospell first granted to miserable mortall men with the hope of Salvation through Jesus Christ the Sonne of God Here the confusion of Languages was sent downe amongst men in the destruction of the Tower of Babel Here first Dominion over inferiours began Here Nimrod began to raigne of whom we reade in Genesis But the first Monarchs of the whole Country of Asia were the Assyrians the last whereof was Sardanapalus a man given to wantonnesse and effeminate softnesse who being found by Arbactus amongst a crew of whores and not long after being overcome by him in battaile hee made a great fire and cast himselfe and his riches thereinto Afterward the Empire came to the Persians Among whom Xerxes the sonne of Darius did maintaine a warre begun by his father five yeares against Greece and he brought out of Asia into Europe an army of ten hundred thousand men and passed them over a bridge which he built over Hellespont he came also accompanied with ten hundred thousand ships but with a vaine endeavour for he that durst threaten God insult over the Sea put fetters upon Neptune darken the Heavens levell Mountains and shake the whole World was faine his army being put to flight to passe over the narrow Sea in a fisher-boate the Bridge being broken by the tempests of Winter Darius was the last Persian Emperour whose being conquered overcome by Alexander made way to the Monarchie of the Macedonians for Alexander did first translate it out of Asia into Europe All Asia according to the severall government thereof may thus be divided The first part is under the Turkes command the originall whereof is from Mahomet and is a large Territory The Duke of Moscovia doth possesse a second part enclosed with the frozen Sea the River Oby the Lake Kitaia and a Line drawne thence to the Caspian Sea and to the Isthmus which is betweene this Sea and Pontus The Great Cham Emperour of Tartarie doth possesse the third part whose borders on the South are the Caspian Sea the River Iaxartes and the Mountaine Imaus on the East and North the Ocean on the West the Kingdome of Moscovia The King of Persia called the Sophie hath the fourth This hath on the West side the Turke on the North the Tartarian on the South it is washed with the Red Sea but on the East with the River Indus The fift part doth containe India both on this side and beyond Ganges which is not governed by one alone but by many Rulers for every Country thereof hath almost a severall Prince some whereof are tributarie to the great Cham. The sixt part contayneth the large Kingdome of China The seaventh containeth all the Islands scattered up and downe in the Indian and Easterne Sea Among which are Tabrobana and Zetlan the two Iava found out not long since by the Portugalls Borneo Celebes Palohan Mindanao Gilolo with the spice bearing Moluccoes also Iapan with Nova Guinea lastly found out concerning which it is not yet known whether it be an Island or joyned to the Southern Continent But the Ancients as Strabo and Arrianus have made many divisions of it Ptolomie doth divide it into 47. Countries and Provinces the description whereof hee delivers in his fift sixt and seaventh Bookes of Geographic and doth set them forth in twelve Tables It hath three Cities famous through the whole World Babylon Ninivie and Ierusalem It hath great Lakes full of fish and the Caspian Sea in manner of a Lake which never commeth to the Ocean Also many Rivers among which the chiefest are Tigris Euphrates which Moses mentioneth in Genesis Iordane Indus Ganges c. Here are also great and wonderfull Mountaines among which is the Mountaine Taurus which comming from the Easterne shoare divides all Asia on the right hand where it first riseth from the Indian Sea it beareth Northwards on the left hand it is Southerne and bending toward the West untill the Seas meet with it as here the Phaenician the Ponticke There the Caspian and Hyrcanian Seas together with the Meoticke Lake as if Nature on purpose had opposed it But though this Mountaine bee shut as it were betweene these bounds yet with many windings it runneth forth even as far as the neighbouring Cliffs of the Rhiphaean Mountains being famous wheresoever it goeth and knowne by many new names At first it is called Imaus and by and by Emodus Paropanisius Circius Chambades Pharphariades Croates Oreges Oroandes Niphates and Taurus where it doth as it were exceed it selfe Caucasus where it spreadeth its armes as if it would embrace the Sea Sarpedon Coracesius and Cragus and againe Taurus But where it openeth it selfe it taketh its name from the Havens which are sometimes called the Armenian elsewhere the Caspian and Cilician The bredth of it in most places is three thousand furlongs which is 5625. Italian miles that is from the Coast of Rhodes even to the farthest bounds of China and Tartaria But of these things enough I passe now to the publicke workes which have beene heretofore very stately and magnificent and worthy to bee numbred among the seaven Miracles of the World Amongst them the first were the walls of Babylon which Semiramis built or at least did repaire being ruinate with brickes joyned and laid in a pitchy kind of mortar they were two hundred foot high and fiftie broade so that Chariots might meet thereon they had three hundred Towers and should have had more but that in some parts the Marshes were insteed of walls It is reported that for this so great a worke three hundred thousand workemen were employed Herodotus reporteth that the walls of Babylon were fiftie royall cubits thicke and two hundred high and round about there were placed in them a hundred brazen Gates The second was the Temple of Diana of Ephesus which was built by all Asia in two hundred and twenty yeares as Histories doe testifie And it was seated in a Moorish place least