tempestes is free from foule contagious mistes According to a vulgar saying three thinges in Spaine are for the rarety of them very memorable to wit A bridge ouer the which water runneth which vsually runneth vnder bridges entending thereby the aquaduct of Segouia A towne enuyroned with fyre meaning Madrid the walles whereof are of flint And a bridge whereon ten thowsand beastes are continualy pastured which is vnderstood by the riuer Guadiana which running into the earth hydeth it self the length of seauen leagues then coming foorth againe holdeth his course as before SPAINE PORTVGAL THis country of Portugal is enuyroned about with other countreys of Spaine except on the west syde for their it bordereth vpon the great westerne Ocean It is in Latin called Lusitania taking this name as is said from Lusus sonne vnto the nynteenth King of Spaine Sundry faire riuers do take their courses through this region of which the riuer Tagus now called Tâ—lo is the principal was of old tyme more famous for that his sandes along by the banck sydes were mingled with gold The whole country is wel inhabited and albeit Portugal hath litle or no wyne yet Algarbe which is ioyned reconed with it yeildeth very good wynes Mountanous it is not neither reported to haue mynes This kingdome began about the yeare of our Lord 1100 in this sorte Henry an Earle of Loraine coming into Spaine shewed himself very valiant had many victories against the Saracins for the which Alfonsus the sixt King of Castilia gaue him his base daughter Tyresia in mariage bestowed with her this country vpon him Of these twaine came Alfonsus the first King of Portugal the first that gat out of the handes of the Saracins the citie of Lisboa He also ouercame in one battaile fyue Kinges in memorie whereof he bore in his armes fyue shieldes as in the armes of Portugal do yet appere This kingdome albeit but litle yet hath it enlarged it self in glory fame euen to the farthest boundes of the world by the great trade of spices other pretious wares from the east Indies hath bin moste mightely enriched This trade began in the raigne of King Iohn he second and hath continued with exceeding comodite the augmentation of sundry tytles of other crownes kingdomes This realme of Portugal after the death of Henry first Cardinal lastly King who succeeded Sebastian that was slaine in Africa became with whatsoeuer belonged vnto it to bee vnder the obeysance of Philip the second King of Spaine so remaineth ioyned with the other kingdomes of Spaine in one entyre monarchie PORTVGAL ANDALVZIA THis countrie hath on the east syde Granada on the west Algarbe on the north the prouince called Magistratus S. Iacobi on the south the straight begining of the Mediteraneum sea comonly called the straight of Gibraltar On either syde this straight are two moste high mountaines to wit Gibraltar in Andaluzia whereof that straight taketh name and Abyla in Mauritania These two mountaines are of many called the columnes of Hercules yet there are that affirme the columnes of Hercules to haue bin two pillers of brasse in the temple of Hercules which was in the I le of Gades now called Cadiz or Cales in which they say was grauen the charges which the building of the said temple did coste howbeit the certainty is altogether vncertaine whether the two pillers of Hercules were these two mountaines or two artificial pillers of brasse This countrie of Andazulia is the moste fertil parte of all Spaine for aboundance of all sortes of fruits great plenty of other necessary thinges The inhabitants are courteous ciuil very opulent It is replenished with almoste 200 syne townes but the great ritch citie of Siuil is the Chiefest citie of all this prouince The name it hath of Andazulia is growne but by corruption for the right name is Vandazulia of the Vandules that heere made there habitation when by the Gothes they were chased out of other partes ANDALVZIA VALENCIA THe Kingdome of Valencia bordereth on the east syde vpon the Mediterraneum sea is on all other sydes enuyroned with other countries of Spaine The chief citie of this realme is also called Valencia of this citie the whole country taketh name Some authors do witnes it receaued the name of a Kingdome in the yeare of our Lord 162. There are two principal mountaines in this country the one called Mariola the other Penna Gâ—lofa which do produce many sortes of medicinal herbes for which cause diuers phisitions apothecaries repaire thether for simples There is in this country at a place called in the spanish tongue â—uriol a myne of siluer And in a place called Aioder there are stones found stryped with golden vaines At the promontorie of Finistrat are certaine mynes of Iron though of no aboundance About Segorbia is a quarry out of which marble in tymes past was taken sent to Rome In Piacent Alablaster is found in sundry places great store of Allum Red-Oker Lyme Chalk This country yeildeth fyne wool which as is said cometh of the race of cotsold sheepe transported out of England into Spaine by licence of King Edvvard the fowrth in the fift yeare of his raigne There is great comoditie made in this country by the making of certaine earthen vessels which the Spagniards call Procellana This country was long inhabited of the Moores vntil at last King Iames after a long siege constrayned them to leaue the citie of Valencia out of the which there departed at once more then fyfty thowsand in number who caried with them all their riches left the citie voyd both of people and welth There is not as is thought any corner of the world so replenished with goodly gardens abounding with such rare excellent flowres herbes as is this countrie of Valencia VALENCIA GADES THe Spagniards call at this present this Ile Cadiz corruptly it is called Caliz It is as deuyded into two partes so seemeth two Iles. In the lesser is now the Citie of Cales in the greater was Iulia Gaditana Augusta which as Strabo saith was called Naples The Citie of Cales is now a Bishops sea By moste auncient authors it appeereth that this I le was found out by the Phenitians others hold that after them the Geryons inhabited heere whose cattel was taken away by Hercules In this I le was a temple of this Hercules which for the founder for Antiquitie religion riches was very famous This Church saith Mela is become holy because the bones of Hercules are here buried In the Temple of Hercules Ceasar did behold the picture of Alexander the great as Sueton telleth vs. There was a well which at ful sea yeilded salt water and at the ebbe fresh Sundry temples the pagans buylded in this I le as a temple of Iupiter a temple of Iuno a temple of Saturne a temple of old age
England Scotland is the chiefest next vnto it haue ye Ireland then more northerly is Island Frisland lastly Groonland all in the Ocean sea In the Mediteraneum sea it hath Sicilia Sardinia Corsica Candie Maiorica Minorica Corphum Nigropont and others of lesse fame whose seueral names and situations do appeere in the Mappe This our Europe besides for the Romaine Empier honorable throughout all the world hath aboue 28 Christian Kingdoms yf you adde the 14 which some recon only in Spaine It is passing fertil naturally temperate and of a milde aier And inferior to no other parte in plentie of all kinde of fruit wyne and plants but to be compared with the most exellent beeing made pleasant with most faire Citties Villages and Throughfares And although it be in compas lesser then the other yet for the woorthinesse of the people it is preferred before all other partes of the world euer hath bin by all auncient writers hauing both for the Empier of the Macedonians and mightynesse of the Romaines bin moste renowmed EVROPA ASIA ASIA being the second parte of the world hath on the west syde to deuyde it from Europe the riuer Tanais from the head whereof the deuision is made as it vvere by a lyne extended vnto Sinus granduicus It is moreouer denyded by Mare Magiore a pece of the Mediteraneum sea On the south syde it hath the sea of India On the east the Ocean called Eous otherwise the east sea And on the north the icy sea of Sithia Asia by estimation seemeth as great as Europe and Affrica yet is it not taken to bee so populus as Europe having many wonderfull great deserts huge mountaines spatious sandy regions the mount Taurus stretcheth it self very farr through the middest thereof Some haue deuyded this parte of the earth into fyue portions The first is that which ioy neth vnto Europe obeyeth vnto the great Duke of Muscouy The second that which is vnder the great Cham Emperor of the Tartars The third that which is occupied by the race of the Ottomans vnder the fowrth is comprehended the kingdome of Persia gouerned by the Sophie And the fift last parte is that which as of old so yet at this present it retayneth the name of India beeing denyded vnder the comaund of many pety Kinges whereof diuers are tributaries to the great Cham. And in this parte is also conteyned the great mighty kingdome of China This parte of the earth is not only famous among prophane authors for the first monarchies of the world as of the Assyrians Persians Babilonians Medes but it is more illustred aboue other partes in sacred scripture wherein not only appeereth that in the same mankynde was first created by Almighty God but our Lord sauiour Iesus Christ coming into this world for the redemption of man did choose to make herein his birth place It is also to bee considered that the most pretious thinges that the world doth yeild are fonnd in this noble parte thereof as besydes great varietie diuers kyndes of beastes birds excelent sortes of spices frutes medicinall herbes rootes other thinges As also the moste pretious metalles pretious stones and pearles ASIA AFRICA THis third parte of the vvorld the auncient writers haue diuersty deuided But as Ioannes Leo vvitnesseth it is now deuyded into fowre partes to vvitt Barbaria Numedia Libia and the country of the Negroes or moores The first of these beeing Barbarie is the best and moste frutefull enclosed with the Atlantike and Mediterraneum seas the mount Atlas and the region called Barcha which confyneth on Egipt Numedia which yeildeth dates is of the Arabies called the date countrie is otherwise called Biledulgerid this beeing the second parte bordereth on the Atlantike sea in the west and the mount Atlas in the north in the east it reatcheth vnto the citie Eloacat and southward vnto the sandie deserts of Libia Libia the third parte is in the Arabeck tongue called Saâ—ra which signifieth wildernesse it beginneth at the riuer Nilus and reatcheth to the Atlantyke sea having on the south the Negroes or Moores and on the north Numedia The fourth and last parte is that which is called the country of the Negroes or Moores for that they are black people it hath Libia on the north The AEthiopian sea towardes the south the Gualates towardes the west and on the east syde the kingdome of Goaga It is further to be considered that all Africa is enuyroned with the Mediteraneum Atlantyke and Aethiophian seas and the riuer Nilus Some haue accompted Aegipt and Aethivpia to bee of Asia but with more reason all moderne Cosmographers do recon them to belong to Africa The south parte or coaste of Africa was vndiscouered vnto the yeare of our Lord 1497 that Vasca de Gama passed the promontorie or cape de Bona speranza and sailing round about all the south coast of this parte of the world arryued at Calecut in the east Indies Africa hath great and dry deserts wherein many strange beastes and serpents are nowrished and in some partes there of as about the riuer Nilus sundry new creatures or monsters are often produced AFRICA AMERICA THis fowrth parte of the world for the exceeding largenesse thereof is called the new-world altogether vnknowne vnto all Consmographers vntil the yeare of our Lord 1492 in which it was discouered by Christopher Columba of Genua who for that discouery was employed by Ferdinand King of Castille Queene Isabel his wyf It seemeth moste strange that so great a parte of the world should so long remaine vnknowne considering the dilligent search of Geographers to describe the whole earthe the oportunitie to search out countries the insatiable desyre that man hath of gold siluer wherewith this America aboundeth yet could neuer before bee found out Some think it was decyphered by Plato vnder the name of Atlas others affirme a pece of coyne to bee found there having on it the Image of Augustus the Emperor about the which there are diuers opinions and disputes This parte of the world hath bene all sailed about except on the north syde which coast is yet vndiscouered It seemeth to forme it self into two peninsulaes whereof the one which is northerly conteyneth new Spaine the prouince of Mexico the landes of Florida Terra noua etc. That which is southward called Terra firma conteyneth the regions of Peru Bresilia and others America had not in tymes past either wheat or wyne kyne shepe gotes asses or dogges but it hath since the discouery there of bene enriched from Europe with all these and sundry other comodities AMERICA ENGLAND THe whole I le of Albion called also Britannie beeing the greatest Ile of this parte of the world is at this day by two seueral names called England and Scotland because it contayneth those two kingdomes The Meridional greatest best parte thereof is called England of Englishmen somtyme a people of
Germaine whose ofspring doth stil possesse the same vnder their owne King It contayneth together with the country of wales 52 Shyres 29 Cities and 25 Bishoprykes On the east syde it hath the Germaine Ocean On the west the Irish sea On the south the narrow seas which deuyde it from France And on the north it is seperated from Scotland by the riuer of Tvvede the Cheuiot hilles It aboundeth chiefly in cattel for which cause the inhabitants are more giuen to grafing then to tillage of the ground desyring rather pasture then corne land This region is very temperate and without great extremitie of cold The soile is exceeding frutefull howbeit it yeildeth not wyne There are many hilles which beeing without trees do yeild a kynde of shorte and sweete gras for the best nowrishing of sheepe which are heere in all aboundance and whose fyne fleeces do excel those of other countries which is caused either by the temperature of the ayre or the goodnes of the pasture This fyne english wooll may wel be calleth the Golden fleece for that thereby so great plenty of gold siluer from so many so remote regions of the world is brought into this Realme Here are also great store of mynes of Tinne Lead Iron as also of Copper neither are the mynes voyd of Gold and Siluer In brief England aboundeth with plenty of all sortes of victuals is furnished with all store of thinges necessary for the vse of man ENGLAND SCOTLAND THe realme of Scotland hath England on the south syde therof on all other sydes els it is enuyroned with the maine Ocean on the north syde it hath the Iles called the Orcades on the west the Hibrides all subiect vnto Scotland And albeit it bee not so frute full as England yet is the land aboundantly furnished with cattel the sea with fish in it are many thinges very strange wounderfull In Glasco is a lake one parte whereof frieseth in winter but the other parte doth neuer frise In Carik are Oxen whose far is neuer hard but alwayes soft oily In the prouince of Coyl or Kyle about ten myles from the towne of Aer here is a stone 12 foote in height 30 in length called the deaf stone for albeit neuer so great noise bee made on the one syde on the other syde it cannot bee heard vnlesse a man stand farr of for so may it bee descerned or els not In Lennox is a lake called Lowmond beeing about 24 myles in length 8 in bredth having in it thirty Iles in this lake are three thinges woorthy of note There are finlesse fishes of a good taste There are fleeting Iles that with thee wynde are moued driuen to fro And somtymes no wynde blowing the water becometh so rough that the passengers are in great danger to bee drowned yf they cannot speedely get to land In Argadia as is reported groweth a stone which beeing put to straw or stubble wil kindle set the same on fyre In Burquham is a cane wherein water falling it turneth into whyte stones in this prouince no rattes are found In the sea at the mouth of the riuer of Forth is a high rock out of the top whereof issueth a fountaine of fresh water About 10 myles from Edenbourgh is a fountaine on the water whereof drops of oyle are found the which oile is medicinable In Clidisdale is a myne of Gold another of azure and in the muscles and shelfish on the shore of Scotland pearles are found SCOTLAND IRELAND IReland is a soile vneuen hilly and the highest hilles haue standing lakes on the tops It hath also many bogges and quagmyres is generally watry woodie moorish yet hath it notwithstanding in diuers places moste faire plaines which yet are but few in respect of the woodes It is a fat soile apt to bring foorth corne The hilles abound with cattel and the woodes with wyld beastes This I le is more plentiful of pasture then of corne of gras then of graine yea the wheat-corne is small withered and not easy to bee wynoed with a fan In tyme of haruest the raine scarsly permitteth the corne to bee gotten into the barne somuch is this I le subiect vnto raine It is plentifull of milk hony Solinus and Isidorus affirme it to haue no bees but they might more truly haue written the contrary No toade adder spider or venemous beast is nowrished in this countrie nor can liue therein beeing brought thether from any other place IRELAND TERCERA THis I le is called Tercera because that of the Iles called Acores it is the third as the ly in order to such as come out of Spaine to saile westward It is plentifull of corne and frute and not without wyne Madder which diers vse for the dying of cloth red doth yeild great comoditie to the inhabitants of this I le for that it groweth heere aboundantly The Oxen of this I le excede in fairnesse largenesse all others in Europe Ceder groweth here in such aboundance that it serueth for fuel The chief towne of this I le is called Angra which hath a promontorie whereon lieth a strong forte called Brazil The Spagniards do also call this Ile Isola del buen Iesu The ships coming from the west Indies are accustomed heere to take harbor in their retourne to Spaine Of these Iles of Acores there are seauen in number to wit Tercera S. Mighel S. Marie S. George Gratiosa Pico and Fayal but the chiefest of name is Tercera TERCERA SPAINE SPaine beeing greater then France lesser then Germanie is enuironed with the great Ocean and the Mediteraneum sea except on the north-east syde for there it is continent with France from the which it is deuyded by the mountaines called the Pirenes It is now one entire monarchie but in former tyme hath bene deuyded into fourteene Kingdomes By authors thus recounted vid. The old and new Castilia Leon Arragon Catalonia Nauarre Asturia Granada Valentia Toledo Galicia Murcia Cordoua Portugal Algarbe Spaine albeit it bee not in all places manured because of the stonynesse of sundry partes thereof yet is it far more fertil then Africa in very many places it yeildeth aboundantly whatsoeuer is necessary for the vse of man As very faire VVheat Rice VVyne Oyle Hony Saffran Suger Limons Capers Citrons Orenges Pomgranades other fruytes Rosmary groweth there in the fieldes in such plenty that it serueth for fuel It hath also great store of beastes both wild tame yeildeth horses of such swiftnes that it was said of them in old tyme as a prouerb that they were engendred of the wynde It hath also diuers mynes as of Gold Siluer Copper Tin Iron and Lead gold is not only found in mynes but euen in sand on the sydes of the riuer Tayo In sundry maritime places it yeildeth great store of Salt The ayre is pure and helthfull it is litle subiect vnto
come vp the riuer to Roan which maketh the citie of great trade trafique of marchandise NORMANDIE ANIOV THe Dukedome of Aniou lieth northward in the west parte of France ioyning vpon Britannie It is not great howbeit very good for that there is not any country in France that exceedeth it in fertillitie of soile It hath plenty of wyne store of corne and aboundeth in kyne sheepe hath great store of fish through the many fishpondes therein aboue 36 riuers whereof the Loyre and the Mayne are the principal It is beautified with pleasant medowes woods forests mountaines in the mountaines are quarries of freestone marble slate The principall towne of this Duchie is Angiers situate on either syde of the riuer of Mayne It is of great antiquitie which is witnessed by the ruynes of a Theatre not farr from it It hath a very faire bridge ouer the riuer of Mayne all buylt of free stone It hath also a famous vniuersitie which was founded in the yeare of our Lord 1387. ANIOV BERRY OR THE COVNTRY OF BOVRGES BErry otherwise called the country of Bourges so taking name of this the chief citie thereof lieth in the middest of the realme of France The inhabitants of this country were in tymes past a free people but in proces of tyme became with other lyke prouinces to bee vnder the Kinges of France Bourges as is aforesaid is here the chief citie in old tyme very famous and by Ceasar called Auaricum it is by few cities in France exceeded in greatnes In this citie is a famous vniuersitie wherein the liberal sciences are taught which vniuersitie was erected in tyme past by a Duke of this duchie who greatly fauoured good letters It hath in many places marrish ground chiefly about this citie by reason of the sundry riuers brookes that pas by about it neuerthelesse it is very frutefull aboundant in all thinges that are generally els where found in other partes of France BERRY LIMOVSIN LImousin called in Latin Lemouicū lieth in the west parte of France betwene Berry and Xanctoigne The chief citie of this Vicontie is called Limoges the inhabitantes are called Limosins or Limosians a very ancient people and there name having neuer bene changed they are of some authors called Aborigines The chief citie aforesaid of this prouince is of great antiquitie it was first spoyled by the Romaines after that by the Gothes then by the French afterward againe by Charles Martel and lastly by Englishmen The soile about this citie is fruteful the citie is not inferior to any in all Aquitaine in regard of trafike The country is woody hilly therefore lesse fruteful then other prouinces of France Chestunt trees are heere very plentifull their frute is a great sustinance for the comon people great store therof is sent from hence to other places and prouinces of France The riuers that pas through this country are exceedingly stored with fish LIMOVSIN ORANGE THis Prince-dome of Orange taketh name of the principal citie thereof whith is so called it is reconed of some to bee within the limittes of Prouence It is of great antiquitie of Ptolomey called the Colonie of the Aurasians It was in tymes past the heritage of the Princes familie of Chalon often allied with the how 's of Burgundie It is since falne vnto the how 's of Nasau throwgh aliance made with the how 's of Chalon There is seene at the Citie of Orange the ruynes of one of the moste faire Theaters in the world a wall of squared stone such as is scarsly found in any place and at one of the gates standeth a moste goodly Triumphal-arck All which doth argue the great antiquitie of the place ORANGE SAVOY THis Dukedome of Sauoy lieth at the southeast end of France betweene France and Italy In the tyme that Hannibal passed the Alpes it was called the kingdome of Allobroges so named of their King Allobrox whose kingdome stretching further then Sauoy now reatcheth comprehended also the prouince of Dauphine The chief citie of Sauoy is Chambery there is the residence of the courte of Parlament for the whole Duchie The nature of the soile is very different for in some places it is fertil of corne wyne in other places very barrain firre trees it hath very many many chestnut trees Here are to be seene those huge immeasurable mountaines called the Alpes rightly so called after the Latin woord Albus that betokeneth whyte for the higher tops of them beeing alwayes whyte of the snow where with they are couered it see meth there a continuall winter Many wyld beastes are harboured in these mountaines as beares wolues ce there is also a kynde of gote which clambring skipping vpon the rocks doth ofte help himself from falling by his hornes where with he catcheth hold they beeing croked bending forward lyke vnto hookes Here are also certaine beastes called the myce of the Alpes beeing ordinarily as great as conies but having long tailes lyke vnto rattes heie are hares that are whyte in the winter broune in somer This country is moste barreyn toward mount Senis where there are no medowes in the valey nor scarsly anything growing of woorth but passing ouer thesaid huge mountaine coming downe on the other syde it seemeth a new world for then beginneth the euen plaine pleasant country of Piemont so called for lying at the foot of these mountaines and though it bee not of Sauoy yet is it a Prince-dome belonging vnto the Duke of Sanoy SAVOY PROVENCE PRouence lieth on the furthest syde of France southward On the southsyde it hath the Mediteraneum sea On the eastsyde some parte of the Alpes on the other sydes it is confyned with sundry other prouinces of France This region beeing warmer then the other partes of that realme doth yeild frutes accordingly for besydes vvheat which it yeildeth in all aboundance it is full of Odoriferant trees as of Oranges Citrons Oliues Pomgranades Figges full of meruelous faire Vineyards the hedges are not of thorne or brambles but of Pomgranades other frut-bearing trees to the end the very hedges should yeild profit as wel as what is enclosed within them the vnlaboured waste groundes of this countrie do yeild meruelous plenty of Rosmarie Mirtle Gineper and Sage Palme-trees are also growing here which beare as good frutes as in Africa here groweth also Suger Saffron Rice And here the pure ayre yeildeth the gentle purgatiue called Manna Among the cities of name of this countrie Marseiles is not the least for hauing the best hauen of all France on the midland sea Here is also the citie of Arles heretofore much renowned as also the citie of Aix wherein the court of parlament for that parte of France is holden In this prouince lieth Auignion which belongeth vnto the Churche where sundry Popes for aboue 70 yeares together
the habitation of sundry sortes of wyld beastes And albeit no great store of corne groweth heere yet hath is barley rice the Indians by rice cheese milk flesh fish delicate frutes are nowrished besydes their store of frutebearing trees they haue great reedes or canes whereout whyte hony lyke vnto gum is pressed Silk is heer in great aboundance beastes both wyld tame are in infynit numbers greater then in other places of the world as Kyen Camels Lions Dogges Elephants there are also dragons serpents whyte apes camelions that liue by the ayre all sortes of the best kynde of foule The spyces of India are knowne to all the world Heben wood groweth heer the trees that yeild frankensence the shores or sydes of the riuers do deliuer gold the sea faire pearles Diamonds Rubies Saphires Amatistes Agates sundry other sortes of pretious stones are found in this noble country The inhabitants of India are of different languages different in apparel of different religions some beeing Christians some Mahometaines some Iewes some Pagans The people are generally talle of stature strong of a tawny or browne colour many do liue to 130 yeares or thereabouts INDIA PERSIA THe name of Persia is very ancient but the country was in tymes heretofore far lesse then it now is It hath on the eastsyde of it parte of Tartarie parte of East India on the south syde Sinus Persicus parte of the Indian sea on the west syde it confyneth with the dominions which the Turk now occupieth in Asia on the north it hath the Caspium sea c. The beginning of the greatnes of this kingdome was in the yeare 1269 when a noble persian of the cittie Ardenelim named Sophi being also a Mahometain reuolted from the Turk beganby war to conquer countries and his successors haue since both augmented their possessions continued the great quarrel about the right successor of Mahomet The Persians are a more humane people then the Turkes not beeing so rigorous against the Christians which liue among them hauing among them noble gentlemen which the Turkes haue not The countrie is very fruteful except in the mountanous desert partes It yeildeth aboundance of fyne silke the best Iron for armour steele for armes of the whole world is here found It hath also ritch mynes pretious stones pearles and the fertillitie thereof in many places may bee compared vnto that of the neighbouring India PERSIA TVRKIE THe Turkish Empyre conteyneth the foutheast parte of Europe the northeast of Africa the southwest of Asia so as it lieth where these 3 partes of the world do meet taketh a parte of each of them howbeit the fargreater parte is in Asia which far exceedeth the partes both in Africa Europe At Constantinople which is in Europe the great Turk keepeth his residence This cittie was taken by force of Mahomet the eight Turkish Emperor vpon the last day of May in the yeare 1453. after it had bene besieged 54 dayes after sundry other victories this Mahomet died on the first day of May in the yeare 481 was buried in the said cittie of Constantinople In Europe is subiect vnto the Turk the greater parte of Hungarie all Bulgarie Greece Macedonia Romania Morea sundry other prouinces In Africa Barcha Egipt besydes the kinges kingdomes there tributarie vnto him In Asia hee hath Natolia the two Arabiaes to the great grief of Christians the countrie of Palestyne where Christ our sauiour liued died many other prouinces to long heer to describe Both Christians jewes are suffred to liue in this Turkish Empyre vnder tribute albeit the Turkes do carry somwhat a better opinion of Christians then of jewes yet are the Christian inhabitants subiect to very great inconueniences The Turkes according to the law of their great reputed prophet Mahomet are circumsised they are forbidden to drink wyne to eat swynes flesh allowed to haue many wyues TVRKIE PALESTYNE THe old pagan authors called this country Palestyne the Iewes called it The land of prontis Christians haue termed it the Holyland It hath al along on the west syde the Mediteraneum sea on the east syde Arabia northward it hath Mount Libanus southward it reatcheth downe towards Egipt the Red sea This countrie was denyded among the 12 trybes of Israel but after the tyme of King Salomon it was denyded into a kingdomes In this moste noble country liued the holy prophets And the Sonne of God did heer receaue humaine flesh It was in former tymes so excellent aboue other countries that it was called the land that flowed with milk hony but it is now greatly altered the sinnes of the inhabitants hauing deserued no better Burcardus saith that it yet excelleth in yeilding aboundance of pure wheat that with litle laboring of the ground Roses Sage fenel other flowers herbes do without the industrie of man grow in the feilds The riuer of Iordan hauing his issue vnder Libanus runneth through the lake of Genazareth into the dead sea the country half a dayes iorney euery way from this sea is barren by reason of the euil vapors sauouis thereof It seemeth to haue the name of Mare Mortuum because there is in it no liuing thing The ancient famous cittie of Ierusalem is situate in a hilly place Mount Syon lieth on the southsyde Mount Gyon on the west By the encreased greatnes of this cittie the holy sepulchre wherein Christ was buried hauing a church built ouer it is now within the walles The mount of Caluarie whereon our Lord was crucified is 108 foot from the graue there is a pauement to pas from the Chruch to the place where the crosse did stand which riseth in height to 28 foote on the same rock the clifts rentings do yet appeere which hapened at the death of our deere lord and sauiour PALESTYNE NATOLIA NAtolia extendeth it self from Asia where vnto on the eastsyde it is aioyned and lieth in length westward towards Europe hauing on the northsyde Mare Maggiore and on the south the Midland sea and at the west end the sea called Archipelago The Turkes who now possesse it do call it Litle Asia It conteyneth Phrygia Galathia Bithinia Pontus Lydia Caria Paphlagonia Lycia Magnisia Capadocia and Comagena all goodly countries ancient renowmed prouinces some of them Kingdomes yea a perticular Empyre of Trehizonde whereof Nicomedia heretofore a moste noble cittie appeereth now but in the ruynes thereof Nyce is also here to bee seene where the famous great Councel heertofore was holden Amasia is the chief cittie of Capadocia was the birth-place of Strabo the wel-knowne Cosmographer And the renowmed martyr and Patron of England S. George was also of this country of Capadocia In Natolia are gotes which haue that fyne heare or rather wolle whereof the thamlets are made There are
also sheep whose tailes are of incredible greatnes conteyne 5 or 6 yea 8 or 9 pound of flesh A certaine beast there is which is called Hyena which draweth dead bodies out of the graues vnto his den and their feedeth on them it is about the bignes of a wolf the people of the country are of opinion that these beastes do vnderstand their speech espetialy when they go about to catche them These people are generally held to be very crafty fals deceatful NATOLIA EGIPT THis ritch ancient kingdome hath on the north syde thereof the Midland sea on the east the desert of Sues the northerne end of the Red sea on the south the countrie of Nubia on the west the land of Barcha In this country of Egipt it raineth not but the riuer of Nyle ouerflowing it at sundry tymes doth make it of great fertilitie in the said riuer is a piller of marble whereon are made certaine markes of the height that the water doth arise vnto when the yeare wil prooue plentiful The riuer is deep great ships may pas on it the great serpent called the Crocodile liueth heere and eateth both men horse the fish of the riuer The greatest cittie is called Cairo or Alcaire it is meruelous great of great welth Not far from hence are the moste wonderful Pyramides vpon the greatest whereof as Plinie writerh 2060 men did continually woork for the space of 20 yeares they are buylded foure square from the foot vnto the top do stil grow sloping lesse lesse a man standing on the top for there is some space to stand or go shooting a bolt out of a crosbow the bolt in falling downe wil light on the same Pyramide which argueth the greatenes of the space it carieth beneath at the foot which greatnes also apeereth in that it neuer yeildeth any shadow from it These Pyramides haue bene buylt by the ancient kinges of Egipt to serue for their sepulchres these sepulchres the Egiptians vsed for the conseruation of their dead bodies which euen at this present are found vnrotten the flesh of them is called Mummia caried thence into other countries to bee vsed in medicyne The 2 principall sea-hauens of Egipt are Alexandria Damiata EGIPT THE porte of CARTHAGE THe countrie enuyroning the gulf of Golette otherwise called Sinus Cartha ginensis hauing at the south end thereof the cittie of Tunis is now after the name of that cittie called the kingdome of Tunis It lieth on the northsyde on the Midland sea almost directly ouer against Sardinia on the west it extendeth to Algiers eastward to Mesurata all along on the southsyde it hath the mountaines that seperate Barbarie from Biledulgerid This kingdome conteyneth 5 prouinces to wit Bugia Constantine the iurisdiction of the cittie of Tunis Tripoli and Ezzab On the west syde of thesaid Gulf are the ruynes of an aquaduct of the Ancient cittie of Carthage whereof but some sew ruynes els are left behynde to testify that once so famous a cittie hath flowrished in that place some number of howses village-lyke to that it hath bin about 25 shops of marchants are now there to bee found This cittie of Carthage is a true glasse wherein the incertitude of this vaine world may bee seene that no glorie on earth can haue euerlasting durance THE porte of CARTHAGE ABISSINE or the EMPYRE of PRESTER-IOHN THe great King comannder of all Aethiopia sundry other kingdomes countries is called of Christians Proster Iohn of the moores Arictabassi of his owne people Acegue that is Emperor His dominions are limited on the southsyde with the Mountaines Lamae on the west with the kingdome of Congo the riuer Nyger c. on the north with Nubia Bugia that confyne vpon Egipt on the east with the Red sea Synus Barbaricus The country generaly is very fruteful albeit there bee litle corne yet is there other grayne other good frutes not found in Europe vineyards they haue but no olyue trees yet make they oyle of an herbe called Gena Of hony and wax they haue meruelous great store They haue al sortes of great beastes as Elephants Lions Camels horses red-deere kyen gotes c. they are much endamaged by great multitudes of grashopers Good mynes of metals they haue but not theskil to make vse of them They haue 2 somers 2 winters which are not greatly denyded by heat or cold but by rainy faire wheather The people are of a kynde of tawny colour vnseene in notable scyences without knowlege of Phisick They haue no coyned mony but vse peces or wedges of gold by waight They are Christians but hold many grosse errors both men and women are circumsised they are Christened at 40 dayes old They haue a book which is deuyded in 8 partes which they beleeue the Apostles to haue written before their departure from Ierusalem Mōnasteries they haue many both of men women wherein they do liue stricktly but it is lawfull for lay men to haue 2 or 3 wyues at once deuorcements are also allowed The Emperor affirmeth him self to be descended from the lyne of King Dauid he hath no one setled place of residence but remoueth from one prouince to another dwelleth in tents It is said hee is not of the colour of his people but of a whyter fairer skin He may surely bee accompted one of the greatest princes of the world is esteemed able to bring to the feld a million of men 500 elephants a great nomber of horses camels ABISSINE or the EMPYRE of PRESTER-IOHN BARBARIE ON the northsyde of Africa all along by the Mediteraneum sea oueragainst the south partes of Spaine France Italy lieth this country of Barbarie al along on the southsyde thereof are certaine woodie mountaines that deuyde it from Biledulgerid in these hilles are great store of wyld beastes This country of Barbarie is held the best moste fruteful parte of Africa conteyneth 4. kingdomes or rather in deed prouinces to wit Maroco Fez Telesine and Tunis The inhabitants are of a duscish colour are called Barbarians of the woord Barbara which in the Arabee tongue signifieth grumbling because their speech soundeth in the eares of the Arabians as no perfect or cleere pronunced speech but as a kynde of grumbling they were first Idolaters afterward conuerted to the faith of Christ yet at the length they came to Mahometisme wherein they yet continew are for the most parte subiects or tributaries to the Turck except some few places which are in the possession of the King of Spaine BARBARIE FESSE and MAROCCO AT the west end of Barbarie are thease 2 kingdomes of Fesse Marocco that of fesse lieth of the twaine more toward the north the Mediteraneum sea that of Marrocco more inward toward the south The realme of Fesse taketh name of
through Cambressi Tournay into Flannders cometh vnto Antwerp so downe into Zealand is there receaued into the sea VERMANDOIS PICARDIE PIcardie accompted of old a parte of Galia Belgica hath on the east syde Vermandois on the west Normandie a parte of the narrow sea on the north it hath Artois and on the south Champagne The riuer of Somme which of Ptolomey seemeth to bee called Phrudis watreth this country maketh it frutefull and the townes to bee furnished with all necessary prouision The soile yeildeth great aboundance of corne albeit it hath no wyne it is rather thought to procede of the negligence of the inhabitants in not planting vineyards then through the vnfitnes of the soile to nourish them The principall citie of this country is Amiens which is a Bishops sea ancient very famous and aswel fortified as any citie in France Next vnto this is Abbeuile then haue ye Peronne as also the towne of Guyse whereof the how 's family of Guyse taketh name From whence the name of Picardie is deryued there are diuers opinions Some think that the Begardi should be changed into Picardos which Caenalis wil not affirme of certainty Others do say that these people haue the name of Picardes consequently their country the name of Picardie for hauing in warr first taken vp the vse of pykes PICARDIE GERMANIA THis great spatious country hath on the northsyde thereof the Germaine Baltish sea southward it confyneth with Italy westward it reatcheth vnto France eastward northerly it ioyneth on Polonia southerly vpon Hungaria within it lieth the Kingdome of Bohemia It is a country mightely replenished with goodly cities townes and villages exceeding populus hauing therein many goodly riuers whereof the Rhene the Danubie the Elbe are the chief It is deuyded into sundry Dukdomes Earldomes other gouernments yet all in some sorte depending on the Empyre for here in Germany the Emperor hath his seat residence for whose election Pope Gregory the fyft beeing of the how 's of Saxony ordayned seauen Princes electors to wit three spiritual 4 temporal the spiritual are the Bishops of Magunce Cullin Treuers The 4 temporal are the Dukes of Saxon and Bohemia for Bohemia now a kingdome was then a dukdome The Palsgraue of the Rhene the Marquis of Brandenbourg The earth ayre as also the people of Germanie seeme much altered since the tyme of C. Tacitus who described the soyle to be barren the ayre not very good the country woodie watrish the people very rude vnciuil for now wee fynde the ayre to be helthsome good the country fruteful the inhabitants courteous ciuil It hath now good wyne growing in it such aboundance of corne in the east partes thereof that it sustayneth sundry other countryes neither is it vnfurnished of all other necessaries It hath also mynes of Gold Siluer Copper Iron other metalles The people are warlyke very industrious many rare inuentions haue bene by them found out GERMANIA INFERIOR GERMANIE INferior Germany conteyning the seauenteene prouinces which the Emperor Charles the fift left vnto his sonne King Philip the second of Spaine Is corruptly of some strangers called Flaunders the inhabitants Flemings whereas Flaunders is but one of these prouinces the inhabitants thereof properly Flemings The names of the prouinces are these The Dukedomes of Brabant Geldres Limbourg and Lutzembourg The Earldomes of Flanders Artois Henalt Holland Zeland Namure and Zutphen The Marquesat of the holy Empire The Signories of Friseland Macklin Vtreck Ouerysel and Grooning The prouinces are generally by the inhabitants called by the name of Nederlant which in English is Netherland and the people generally call themselues Netherlanders There are in it as Levvis Guicciardyne affirmeth the number of 226 walled townes diched about and more then 6300 villages each village hauing a parish Church then are there Castles fortresses noble mennes howses a great number Some parte of this country is very euen flat lyke vnto Lombardy other partes are more high hilly It is very frutefull having plenty of corne of flesh and fish some of which comodities are in some prouinces more or lesse abounding then the others according to the nature situation of the place The people are maruelous industrious and do excell in all artes and sciences whereby as also by their great trade of marchandise this country may wel bee said to bee one of the moste pecuniary countryes of the world INFERIOR GERMANIE LIEGE THis Bishopryk ioyneth on the north west syde unto Brabant on the east on the duchie of Limbourg southward it extendeth vnto Lutzembourg partly vnto France The ayre is sweet the country exceding frutefull in corne and other graine it hath wyne albeit but smalle it hath store of beastes both wyld tame It hath exceeding good Iron it hath lead also gold Alablaster very faire marble is digged out of the hilles with great labor and arte of vndermyning Stone-coles are digged out of deepe pittes which kynde of cole was first discouered to be there in the yeare 1198 whereof besydes those there spent there is transported yearely to other prouinces to the value of more then 100000 ducates Sr Iohn Mandeuill knight doctor of phisick beeing borne in England having trauailed so farr through somany countries kingdomes did not fynde a place that for the sweetnes of the ayre the frutefulnes of the earth accompagned with a very great freedome that better pleased him then did this country of Liege where he chose to end the rest of his dayes there died in the yeare 1272. The citie of Liege is the chief of all the townes in this country wherein are 8 collegiat Churches with ritch Canonries Tungres for the antiquitie thereof is reconed next vnto Liege the ruynes without and within the towne do aswel as old bookes declare the oldnes of this citie there apeereth yet the paued high way that reatched from thence vnto Paris Some thinke the fountaines to bee about Tungres whose vertues Pliny somuch comendeth but experience sheweth them to bee at the Spaw LIEGE LVTZEMBOVRG THis Duchie is bordered on the northsyde with the Bishopryk of Liege the Earldome of Namure on the south Lorraine on the east the Mosel the Bishopryk of Treuers westward partly with the Mose partly with the forest of Arden The country is altogether hilly woody much of the wood of late yeares is turned to corne land The chief cirie is of the same name that the whole Duchie beareth but was by Ptolomey called Augusta Romanduorum It lieth parte on a hil parte on low ground The inhabitants do speake the high duitsch for the more parte except those which dwel on the syde towards France for they vse the french tongue By reason of the situation of this country beeing frontyred with so many seueral iurisdictions it hath
ruled this cittie the rule thereof is stil continued in that famile The territories of Siena Perugia are in this epitome perticularly described The cittie of Luca albeit within the boundes of Tuscane is a free cittie state by it self Viterbo lieth not farr from monte Fiascone which yeildeth the moste excellent wyne of all Italy Pisa is situated somwhat neere the sea not far from the hauen of Linorno TVSCANE THE KINGDOME of NAPLES AT the farthest southeast end of Italy lieth this kingdome of Naples the limits whereof are in the west the riuer Trâ—ntâ— in the north the Adritatyk sea the sea of Sicilia in the south and the Ionish sea in the east And herein are enclosed besydes a parte of Latium 8 of the goodliest regions of Italy as namely Terra di Lauora Basilicata Calabria inferiore Calabria superiore Terra d Otranto Terra de Barri Puglia Piana and Abrazzo The country generally is mountanous yet are there also plaine euen fieldes faire riuers it is very fruteful yeilding aboundance of all necessaries it hath also faire hauens as Gaeta Taranto Naples and Brindiso If we look into the histories of former ages wee shal not see any knowne kingdome in the world that hath seemed more vnforunate then this hauing bene as it were the very butte whereat fortune hath shot her sharpest-hedded arrowes heer haue the Romanes the Gothes the Lougebards the Greekes the Saracius the Normannes the Frenchmen Spagniards at seuerall tymes had their seueral dominations It is at this present vnder the comaund of Philip the 3. King of Spaine who hath there his vice-roy for the gouerning thereof The noble cittie of Naples which lendeth that name to the whole kingdome is situate on the sea syde at the foote of pleasant hilles it is great spatious inhabited with the nobilitie of the whole realme who haue herein their goodly palaces gardens so pleasant it is without the cittie by reason of the fyne walkes odoriferous trees that it seemeth an imitation of Paradise Eight miles from this cittie lieth the mount Somma of old called Veseuium accompted though now it hath left burning among the burning mountaines of the world heere Plinie the curious searcher of natural causes shewed himself too curius when of the fyre he was consumed THE KINGDOME of NAPLES ABRVZZO THis territorie lieth on the north east syde vpon the gulf of Venice other wise the Adriatyk sea and the other sydes are limitted with the riuers Tronto Salino the Apenyne hilles From whence the name Abruzzo cometh is vncertaine through the difference of opinions thereof This prouince is somwhat colder then the others of Italy it yeildeth much saffron though not so good as that of England nowrisheth great store of cattel It hath sundry high steepe mountaines that which is called Mounte Maiella is alwayes couered with snow Monte de la Virgine is very famous for the faire Church of the B. Virgin which is builded vpon the highest parte thereof The chief cittie is Aquila but of no antiquitie Beneuento is very old was first called Malenentum as both Plinie Liuius do witnes because the wynd was there so forceible that a man fitting on horseback was thereby throwne to the ground Ortano is a place exceeding ancient and there the ships out of Epirus Dalmatia do arryue with comodities for the faire or mart of Lanciano which lieth 4 myles from the sea is a towne of trafike Sulmo is wel knowne through the famous poet Ouid who heere was borne as himself doth tel vs. Ascoli is by Leander accompted among the chief townes of Abruzzo was the birth-place of Ventidius Bassus who of poore yea contemptible race himself beeing but a mule-keeper was by the Romaines made Consul a comaunder of the world of whose rising from so low estate to such greatnes the poet Iuuenal maketh memorie Aquino where S. Thomas the great diuine philosopher was borne is also in this territorie sundry other townes citties of name ABRVZZO SICILIA THis Iland kingdome lieth in the Mediteraneum sea at the northeast end thereof it is neere vnto the southeast end of Italy It is of diuers authors holden to haue bin continent with Italy that the force of the sea hath broken through deuyded it It is a fertile country but moste of all abounding incorne where with sundry partes of Italy from thence are serued The whole I le is deuyded in 3 partes the first is called Valle di Demona herein is the cittie of Catania more famous heretofore then at this present In this valley lieth Mount Aetna knowne through the world for the flaming syte thereof it was in opinion confirmed that the stuf or matter where through this fyre was caused was wholy consumed that therefore the fyre was ceassed but in the yeare 1536 the flame againe burst foorth to the great terror and annoyance of the inhabitants there abouts The cittie of Messino is also in this parte hauing a comodibus hauen neere thereunto is the dangerous Caribdis as much feared by sea as Aetna by land but the danger is now farr lesse then of old by reason that the hollow places on the land syde beeing stopped the sea yeildeth not such violence smalle botes may pas ouer there as ouer a calme riuer The second parte of the I le is Valle di Mazzara and in it is the cittie of Palermo therein the vice-Roy for the King of Spaine with moste of the Nobilitie resideth there is a plaine or spatious place where Constanza Normanna was deliuered of Frederyk the second vnder a pauilion vvould so bee deliuered not in any hovvs because it should not so be said that her chyld-bearing vvas vncertaine or by stelth this she did for that she vvas past the ordinary yeares of conception The third parte is Valle di Noto heerin lieth the ancient cittie of Syracusa famous heretofore through the infamous tyrants thereof It is at this present much decayed SICILIA SARDINIA THis I le lieth in the Midland or Mediterraneum sea hauing Tunes in Africa ouer against it on the south syde the I le of Corsica on the north The ayre of this country is not held very pleasing espetialy in somer That syde which lieth towards Corsica is hilly but that which is towards Africa is more plaine euen It yeildeth much corne good wyne Oliue trees it hath great store but no oyle is there made Many horses are there bred there are also wyld horses which are lesse then the other of lesse accompt Heer moreouer is bred a certaine heast called Musions which in other places is not found the skin heare thereof is lyke vnto that of the hert the hornes wreathing turned lyke vnto the hornes of a ram it is lesse in bignes then a hert it feedeth liueth vpon high mountaines and the
flesh of it is very good meat In this I le groweth the herb which in latin is called Ranunculus the qualitie whereof is such that whoso eateth of it dieth laughing Among the townes or citties of name of this I le is Calaris now called Caglire situate vpon a hil vpon the seasyde towards Africa hauing a very good hauen in this citie the Vice Roy hath his residence SARDINIA CORSICA THis Iland lieth in the Mediteraneum sea hauing Sardinia ouer-against it on the south syde the state of Genna ouer-against it on the north It is nor easy to bee manured by reason of the stonynesse of the soyle by reason of the hilles that are in it as wryteth Strabo who addeth withall that the inhabitants in his tyme were of rude behauior Howbeit they haue long since receaued the ciuilitie of Italy they are esteemed good soldiers It now bringeth foorth very good wyne there are bred in it faire horses houndes of extraordinary greatnes which serue for the chase of wyld beastes The Signorie or domination hath somtyme belonged to the Tirbenes after that to those of Carthage and lastly to the Romanes as Titus Liuius reporteth and vnder the Romanes it remained vntil such tyme as the Saracins stretched ouer it their powre-ful hands but these beeing ouercome by those of Genua to Genua was then the rule of this place transferred who kept thereof the gouernment vntil such tyme as those of Pisa gat it from the Geneuoises from whome the Geneuoyses did in fyne recouer it againe It hath moreouer bene belonging vnto the Churche but vnder those of Genua it now remaineth CORSICA ISCHIA DIuers authors are of opinion this I le now called Ischia situate in the Mediteraneum sea hath heretofore bin firme land with Italy the lykelyhood hereof appeereth by the rockes on the sea syde towards Italy where through the hollownes of them it is seene how the sea hath in length of tyme eaten out the earth from among them also that the very soile kynd of earth is euen the same that is in Italy on the syde that is neerest vnto this I le It is so circuyted with stony rocks that there is hard coming to it it also hath a very strong fortresse wherein Fernandino the sonne of Alphonso the second King of Arragon retyred himself at such tyme as Charles the 8 King of France was receaued into Naples It the yeare 1301 in the tyme of Charles the second King of Sicilia certaine vaynes of sulphure whereof this I le is ful beeing kindled the fyre extended diuers wayes and burnt a great parte of the cittie of Ischia now called Geronda through this fyre which continued the space of 2 moneths much people cattel were destroyed numbers of the inhabitants forced to flee into the kingdome of Naples This I le conteyneth 18 myles in compasse it yeildeth good wyne in it are diuers bathes of hot water ISCHIA MALTA SOuth from Cicilia lieth this I le of Malta in the Mediteraneum sea it was of old called Melita It is afaire Ile wel inhabited on the sea towards the southsyde thereof are highrocks but towards the east the north it is very euen fruteful It hath a good hauen where the knightes of S. Iohnes otherwise called the knightes of Malta haue builded a very strong towne They of this order were called the knights of the Rhodes but since the losse of the Rhodes their residence hath bin here There is mention made in the scriptures of this I le by the name of Melita to wit how S. Paule in his iorney from Ierusalem to Roome hauing suffred shipwrack came here on shore beeing bitten on the hand by a viper was not hurt thereby since which tyme as diuers authors do reporte no viper or venemous thing doth liue heere The fame of this I le hath in our age bene reuyued through the valour of those woorthy knights who to their vndying glorie haue so wel defended it against the attempts of the Turck MALTA CORFV THis Iland of Corfu was heretofore called Coreyra It lieth at the mouth of the gulf of Venice or Adriatyke sea where the said sea conioyneth with the Midland or Mediteraneum sea It is vnder the Venetians who haue in it a very strong fortified towne called by the name of the I le This place by the forces of Soliman the Turck was besieged at which tyme two venetian gouernours for the Signorie of Venice were within it and were of necessitie constrayned to put the vnnecessarie people foorth of it sin the night season who remaining close without the walles betwene their mortal enemyes their vnhelpful freindes their arose so great a tempest such continuall raine that almoste all the yong children died vpon the laps of their mothers In fyne Soliman beeing aduertised by his Captaines Barbarossa and Aiax that the place was inuincible that they were in despaire euer to obtayne it fynding it to bee so in truthe hee leuyed his siege retyred away his forces During the beeing in this I le of these miscreants they sent caried away with them into bondage and slauery as wryteth Paulus Ionius about 16000 christian soules CORFV CANDIE THis Iland of Candie of old called Creta lieth in the Mediteraneum sea is of great ancient fame the name it now hath of Candia is of the chief cittie thereof so called The country is ful of hilles valleys many woods there bee moste of them of Cypres trees which ouer the whole I le do yeild a sweet sauor Sirabo Plinie do write that in Creta in english Creet there are no damageable beastes nor serpents gotes there are great store but no deere except about Cydon The aboundant vineyards of this I le do yeild excellent malmesey which is thence transported into far countries here also groweth sugar Heere only as Plinie faith groweth the herb Dictamum where with the gotes by instinct of nature know to cure themselues beeing wounded by the arrowes of the hunter The 100 faire townes or citties that were of old reconed to bee in this countrie are now come vnto three to wit Candia Canea and Rhetimo but in Candia the Potestate that there administreth iustice in behalf of the venetians hath his residence The first inhabitants were rude vnciuil til Rhadamantus the sonne of Iupiter did first bring them to oder and ciuilitie after him came King Minos who amended amplyfied their lawes Pordoneus saith that on the northsyde of the I le is a certaine caue in the earth made by the handes of men beeing 40 cubits in length 4 in bredth which to this day is called the graue of Iupiter there is his epitaph yet to bee seene CANDIE CYPRVS THis Iland of Cyprus is one of the greatest of the Mediteraneum sea betwene Sicilia Syria and it is the farthest Ile eastward of all the Midland sea some think
Sigismond the first so annexed vnto Polonia OZVVICZIN and ZATOR TRANSSILVANIA THis country called in latin Transsiluania is of the Germaines called Seuenbergher-Lant that is the Seuen-hily country of seauen principall hilles where with among other that bee lesser this country is enuyroned It confyneth on the west syde with Hungary hath Moldauia VValachia ioyning to it on the northeast southeast The country albeit mountainous is very good yeilding both corne wyne cattel very aboundantly There are in it wyld oxen which haue beardes vnder their chinnes and wyld horses whose manes do hang downe to the ground Mynes there are also both of gold siluer The chief cittie is called Hermenstat but Alba-Iulia is the oldest The people are very valiant haue bene very victorious against their cruel easterne neighbours the Turcks from whose inuasions they are much defended through the mountaines that enuiron the whole countrie euen as a cittie is enuyroned with a walle The Ceculiernes are esteemed moste valiant these haue among them no difference betwene gentlemen boores but liue all in an ordinary state Parte of the Transsiluanians do speak the Germaine tongue but these the Hungarian The Prince of this country is called the Vayuode these vayuodes were wont to bee placed there by the kinges of Hungara TRANSSILVANIA PRVSSIA THis country bordereth eastward on Lituania southward with Polonia northward with Liuonia westward with Pomerania The Knights of the Teutonic or Duitsche order haue here borne great anthoritie the which at last by the King of Polonia was abridged Albert Marck-graue of Brandenbeurg was the last great-master who by an agreement with k. Sigismond of Polonia left his habit held this country in see of the King and so became duke thereof It is now denyded into 2 partes the one belonging vnto the King of Polonia the other vnto the duke of Prusia who keepeth his residence in the cittie of Coningsperg The sea shore of this country doth yeild the fairest sorte of amber the which is aswel drawne vp out of the sea with nets as gathered on the sea syde The country is maruelous aboundant in corne cattel wel furnished with fish it hath great store of woods wildernesses There are many Beares stagges wyld swyne wyld horses a greater kynd of buffulaes then are in Italy or other partes the wyld horses are neuer tamed beeing found not seruiceable through their weaknes of back The beast Alces is heerfound who resembleth the horse in proportion the hert in hornes sauing that the hornes bee more broder are yearly cast new grow againe In the woodes wildernesses are great store of bees which yeild aboundance of hony wax PRVSSIA POLONIA VVestward is this kingdome aioyning vnto Germany northward vnto the Baltish sea Prusia eastward vnto Lituania southward vnto Hungarie It is deuyded into 2 partes the greater the lesser the greater lieth toward the north the lesser towardes the south Cracouia is the chief citie there the King keepeth his court it is also an vniuersitie Danske which lieth on the Baltish sea is a cittieof great trafike of marchandise espetialy of corne the other citties are but meanly builded of no great same The whole country is plaine vnhilly therefore of the inhabitants called Pole which in their tongue signifieth plat or plaine The people of Polania Lituania Samogithia Masouia Volhini Podolia Russia Moldauia are those which of old authors were called Sarmates Lituania is great but not greatly inhabited a beast is there found called Rosomacka of the ordinarie bignes of a dog hauing a face lyk a cat a taile lyk a fox it feedeth on carren beeing ful it forceth it felf to pas betwene the narrownes of 2 trees thereby voydeth all that it hath eaten then goeth to eat againe returneth to voyd it as before continueth so long as the carren that it feedes vpon lasteth Samogithia ioyneth to Lituania the country is cold the people are strong helthful do fare hard Massonia yeildeth much hony the inhabitants mak their drinck therewith Volhinia is very fertile full of townes vilages Podolia is of corne gras so aboundant that the lyk is not knowne Russia aboundeth in horses oxen sheep In this countrie in somer are certaine woormes called Ephimere which beeing newly bred do in the morning run vpon the water at none they haue winges fly aboue the water they die before the Son setting of these woormes Aristotle speaketh in his first book of beastes Moldauia is a parte of walachia the chief cittie is Sotschen the people are good soldiers is it said that the regents of this country do cause their yong children to be marcked with hot irons that thereby their descent may the more certainly bee knowne POLONIA LIVONIA LIuonia called in the Germaine tongue Lysland lieth on the eastsyde on Russia on the westsyde on the Baltish sea northward an arme of the sea seperateth it from Eniland southward it bordereth vpon Prussia The chief cittie of this country is Riga which is a place of great trafike as are the other principall places of Reuel Narua The country is somwhat sandie not mountanous Great woods there are store of wyld beastes as foxes Martres Sables Ermynes hares It yeildeth wax hony wheat rie and furres The people are not greatly industrious nor wholy ciuil The faith of Christ was preached vnto them about the yeare 1270 diuers of the rude people are yet heathenish nor letting to pray vnto the Sun to the Moone or to some great tree or to one thing or other according as their blynd folly leades them VVhen one of them is dead they put with him into his graue an ax bread wyne meat some peece of mony bid him go his wayes into the other woorld where he shall raigne ouer the Duitschmen as they haue raigned ouer him in this They are subiect vnto a certaine order of Germane knights that do rule gouerne them The great master of which order keepeth his court residence at VVenden a towne situate in the middest of the country LIVONIA THE NORTHERNE REGIONS THe Septentrional regions of Europe that hetherto are knowne are first that which is called the I le of Scandia which conteyneth the kingdomes of Sweden Norwey a parte of Denmarck then the famous I le of Albion conteyning England Scotland VVales then are there the Iles of Ireland Friesland Island Groeneland Grecland c. the rest yet vndiscouered Of all which regions the realme of England is the principal best parte by reason of the goodnes of the soile and myldnes of the ayre in that it lieth more to the south then any of the other Sweden is a country very mountanous ful of lakes riuers aboundant in cattel fish hauing also mynes of siluer copper lead Iron The chief