Cohort of Spaniards and Haugustald of Beda a Bishops see vnder the SaxoÌ„s Corebridge Curia of Ptolemy a city of the Otadeni Prudhow castle probably Procolitia of the Notitia the station of the 1 Cohort of the Batavi Newcastle not vnprobably Gabrosentum of the Notitia the station of the 2 Cohort of the Thracians the chiefe towne a rich empory and a noted Port whose best trade is vpon Coale distributed from hence ouer all the Seacoasts of the kingdome and into forreine and remote countreyes seated vpon the Picts wall and the side of a steepe hill vnder which runneth the Tine Walls-end Vindomara of Antoninus and Vindobala of the Notitia the station of the 1 Cohort of the Frixagori Here at the Tine endeth the Picts wall Tinmouth-Castle Tunnocellum of the Notitia the station of the 1 Cohort named Aelia Classica At the Sheales vpon both sides of the Tine betwixt this New-castle plenty of salt is boiled with coale made of Sea-waters Along the Picts wall without the Tine Thirlewall betwixt the South-Tine and the head of the river Irthing Here the Scots Picts are said to haue broke thorough into the Province in the raigne of the Emperour Valentinian the third after the departure of the Roman Legions occasioning the aides and invasion of the Saxons Beyond neere to Caer Vorran a part of the wall standeth almost entire containing 15 foote in height some 9 in breadth Short of Busye-gap Chester on the Wall Magnae of the Notitia the station of the 2 Cohort of the Dalmatians Seauenshale Hunnum of the Notitia the station of a Wing of Horse named Saviniana by my Authour Walwick conjecturally Gallana of Antoninus Beyond the North-Tine crosseth the Wall arising from mountaines in the Scottish borders and naming the large village of Tindale Stilicester not vnprobably Cilurnum of the Notitia the station of the 2 wing of the Asturians Pont-Eland vpon theriver Pont Pons-Aelii of the Notitia the station of the 1 Cohort of the Cornavij Borwick Borcovicus of the Notitia the Station of the 1 Cohort of the Tungri Winchester in the Wall Vindolana of the Notitia the station of the 4 Cohort of the Lergi Bamborrow Castle short of the Holy Iland Bebba of Beda Morpit vpon the Wents-beck Anwick vpon the â—iver Alne Vpon the Tweede and Borders of Scotland Werke-castle Norham Berwick vpon the lest banke mouth of the river a strong towne of warre opposed sometimes against the Scots the farthest boundes of the English Empire Vpon the Till a riuer falling into the Tweed aboue Norham Ford Castle To the West beyond the riuer riseth Floddon hill made famous by the death of Iames the fourth king of Scotland slaine in a memorable battle by Thomas Howard Earle of Surrey generall of the English in the raigne of Henry the Eight The ancient inhabitants were the Otadeni of Ptolemie part of the Meatae of Xiphilinus afterwards the Bernicij of Beda part of the Northumbrian English The Earledome of Northumberland after the expulsion of the Danes extended betwixt the rivers Tweed and Humber containing the whole ancient kingdome of Northumberland In the raigne of king Edgar it was parted into two Earledomes or goverments for such then were the Earledomes the Earledome of Northumberland beyond the riuer Tine and on this side revnited not long after and againe divided in the Earles Morcar and Osulfus about the raigne of the Conquerour The part or Earledome on this side of the Tine taking afterwards the name of Yorkshire from the chiefe citty the Earledome and name of Northumberland was left only to the part beyond the Tine continued here vnto our times the beginning and occasion of the present These six shires seeme more anciently to haue contained the consulary Roman Province named Maxima Caesariensis by Rufus Festus and the Notitia with part of the Province Valentia of Ammianus Marcellinus and the same Authors inhabited by the great and populous nation of the Brigantes of Ptolemie with the Otadeni or Maeatae Vnder the Saxons they comprehended the Deiri of Beda with part of the Bernicij divided asunder with the river Tees or the greatest part of the kingdome of Northumberland They make now the fourth or last division of the kingdome bounded vpon the East and West with the German Irish Ocean vpon the North with the rivers Tweed and Eske or the Sark with Solway Frith from Scotland vpon the South with Humber and the Mersee from the rest of England OF THE STATE OF EVROPE The IIII Booke COntaining the Relation and Description of Scotland and of Ireland with other the Ilands of Great Brittaine SCOTLAND THE bounds hereof are the Ocean vpon the East West and North and vpon the South the Mountaine Cheviot the Frith of Solway and the rivers Eske or Sarke Tweed from England It lyeth betwixt the 55â…“ and 60½ degrees of Northerne Latitude subject to the 11 and 12 with part of the 10 and 13 Climates The longest day at Solway Frith containeth about 17 houres and 15 minutes At Straithy head the most Northerly point it containeth 18 houres and 3 quarters The length after this computation is 310 Italian miles The greatest breadth is accompted at 190 English miles The soile is different the West and North craggy and mountainous the East and South lesse hilly and more fruitfull full of rivers and faire lakes and cut into by sundry long and spacious Creekes of the Ocean plentifull in fish and affording good harbours for shipping The Hills abound with Mineralls sea-coale marble copper Iron and lead with some silver Nothing is wanting for the necessary vse of the inhabitants frugall plaine and temperate in their diet not accoustomed to that luxurie excesse vsuall to more rich and fertill countries The ancient inhabitants were the Britons divided by Ptolemie into many lesser names by Dion and Xiphilinus into two only generall of the Caledonij and Maeatae and lastly called the Picts towards the waine of the Roman Empire from their paintings and for their better distinction from the civill and cloathed Britons distinguished by Amm Marcellinus into the The Lawes whereby the whole is gouerned are the Parliamental Municipal or Common and when these are wanting the Ciuill or Roman yet where conscience and equity doe ouer-rule both besides the Session or Supreame Court residing at Edenburg whereunto appeale may be made from the rest c. here administred in 25 Prefectureshipps or Iuridicall Resorts 1. the Countries or Sheriffdomes of Edenburg Linlithquo Selkirck Roxburgh Peblis Lanark Renfrew Dunfreis Wighton Aire Bute Argile and Tarbar Dunbriton Perth Clackmannan Kinros Fife Kincardin Forfair Aberdone Bamff Elgin Forres Narn Innernesse Cromarty and Orkney and Schetland 2. the Seneschaussees or Stewarties of Mentieth Strath-ern Kircudbricht and Annandale 3. the Bailywicks of Kile Carick and Cunningham 4. and the Constableship of Haddington whose Iudges in both causes Ciuill and Criminall are the Sheriffs Stewards or Bailiffs of each
Iohn-Fredericke taken prisoner by the Emperour Charles the Fift The country for the most part is subiect to the Dukes of Saxony The first and more ancient inhabitants according to Montanus were the Chasuari of Tacitus afterwardes the Thuringians MEISSEN BOunded vpon the West with the riuer Saltza and Duringen vpon the South with Voytlandt Bohemia vpon the East with Lausnitz vpon the North with the Dukedome of Saxony the Marquisate of BraÌ„denburg The land is hilly full of woods remainders of the old Hercynian wherewith sometimes in a manner the country hath beene wholy ouerspred In regard hereof and of continuall vapours ascending from such wet vndreyned grounds the ayre here in times past hath beene very close and illfavoured darkned for a great part of the yeare with continuall fogges and mists especially in Ioachims-tal and the more mountainous part neighbouring to Bohemia Through long civilitie and better plantation the woods in part cut downe and the bogs let out the ayre since is become more cleere and the country more rich and healthie yeelding plenty of corne and of all manner of fruits Amongst other mettals it affordeth very much siluer in the Mines of Ioachims-tal Freiberg Anneberg Schneberg and other parts of the hills Sudetae Chiefer townes are Mersburg Naumburg Bishops seas both seated vpon the riuer Saltza Hal vpon the riuer Saltza Here great store of salt is made from the salt-springs the occasion of the towne and of that great warre betwixt the Hermunduri and the Catti wherevnto they both then bordered mentioned with some mistake by Tacitus Leipzig at the confluence of the riuers Pleiss Pard and Elster the Parliament and chiefe towne of the country The towne is not very large but wealthie and populous and beautified with faire buildings made all of stone and standing in an equall heigth and iust order a rich Emporie and a noted Vniversitie founded in the yeare 1409. Meissen a Bishops sea the most ancient and first seat of the Marqueses of Meissen occasioning the name of the country and built by the Emperour Henry the first to affront the Sclaues situated vpon the West and left shore of the Elb in a hilly vneuen ground beautified chiefly with three eminent and faire castles or palaces of the Bishops the Burgraues and of the Dukes of Saxonie the Lords of the towne mounted close together vpon a high hill with a faire prospect overlooking the citty Torgaw vpon the Elb. Dresen situated in a fruitfull and pleasant part of the country divided by the riuer Elb into the old and the new townes whereof the old lieth in Lausnitz and ioyned with a faire bridge of 800 paces in length the seat of the Duke Electours of Saxonie residing here in a strong and magnificent castle Here the Dukes haue a rich armory stored with all sorts of munition and warlike provision sufficient to furnish a great army Friberg vnder the Bohemian mountaines rich in siluer mines The country is subject to the Dukes of Saxonie The ancient inhabitants were the Hermunduri of Tacitus afterwards the Sorabi part of the Sclaves Winithi OBER SACHSEN THis only now retaineth the name of Saxonie It is extended along the Elb betwixt Meissen and the Diocese of Meydburg hauing on the other sides the Earledome of Mansfeild the Marquisate of Brandenburg The aire is sharp but healthfull the soile fruitfull The chiefe towne is Wittenberg standing in an open plaine vpon the Elb and strongly fenced with bulwarks rampires walls and wide and deepe ditches the seat sometimes of the Electours of Saxony now a noted Vniversitie chiefly for Lutheran Divines founded in the yeare 1052 by Fredericke the third Duke Electour The country is subject to the Dukes of Saxonie THE EARLEDOME OF MANSFELDT LYing betwixt the rivers Saltza and Wieper and bounded in with the Higher Saxonie Meissen Hessen Duringen and Brunswijck The country is hilly and vneuen especially towards the South-West or towards Duringen and Hessen where riseth the woody forrest of Hartz The soile is chiefly rich in mineralls in the mountainous parts before mentioned Chiefer townes are Mansfeldt vpon the riuer Wieper naming the country Eisleben the country of Luther Querâ—furt Rotenburg Alstad It belongeth to the Earles of Mansfeldt THE COVNTRIE OF BRANDENBVRG BOunded vpon the West with the Dukedomes of Mecklenburg and Lunenburg vpon the South with Meissen Lausnitz and Schlesi vpon the East with the kingdome of Poland and vpon the North with Pomeren The country is large containing in length from East to West 60 Dutch or 240 Italian miles It affordeth plenty of corne as doe generally all those more Northerne parts but otherwise is vast and ill inhabited It is diuided into Altemarck or the Old Marches lying betwixt the riuer Elb and Lunenburg Mittel-marck and Vber-marck betwixt the Elb and the Odera and Neu-marck contained betwixt the Odera and Poland Chiefer towns in Altemarck are Bueck vpon the Elb. Tangermondt at the confluence of the riuers Elb and Anger Steindal Osterburg Sehausen vpon the riuer Veht Bismarck Gardeleben Kalb Soltwedel Betwixt the Odera and the Elb Havelburg a Bishops sea vpon the riuer Havel Ratenaw vpon the same riuer Brandenburg vpon the same riuer a Bishops sea and the first seat of the Marqueses naming the country Spandaw Berlin vpon the river Spree the chiefe seat of the present Marqueses of Brandenburg Francfurt enioying a pleasant situation amongst vinie downes vpon the left shore of the Odera Here flourisheth a noted Vniversitie founded in the yeare 1506 by Ioachim the first Electour and Albert his brother Marqueses of Brandenburg In the new Marches Kustrin vpon the riuers Warte Odera Sunnerbergh vpon the Warte Landsperg vpon the Warte Berwald Konigsbergk Berlinichen Bernstein Arnswald The Lords hereof are the Electours and Marqueses of the house of Brandenburg wherevnto besides this country and other straggling possessions appertaine the Dukedome of Crossen in Schlesi the Dukedome of Prussen with the towne of Cottbuss and part of Lausnitz and with the Dukes of Nuburg the right of the Earledome of Marck Bergen Cleve and Gulick Princes of very ample and large possessions The more ancient inhabitants were the Varini and Nuithones of Tacitus parts of the Suevi as afterwards the Helveldi Leubuzi Wilini Stoderani and Brizani parts of the Sclaves Winithi POMEREN EXtended for the space of 200 English miles along the coast of the sea Balticke lying vpon the North thereof from the riuer Bartze and the Dukedome of Mecklenburg vpon the West vnto the riuer Weissel and the Land of Prussen vpon the East confining vpon the South with the Marquisate of Brandenburg It is divided into the Vpper Pomeren bordering vpon Mecklenburg and contained betwixt the Bartze and the Odera and the Lower Pomeren lying betwixt the Odera and the Weissel and adioining vpon Prussen The aire is sharpe and piercing the country plaine populous and abundantly fruitfull
of was S. Willehade an Englishman the Apostle of those more Northerne parts of Saxonie The country is subiect to the Lay Bishops or Administratours of Bremen The more ancient inhabitants were the Chauci Maiores of Ptolemie afterwards part of the Saxons Ostphalians THE COVNTRY OF LVNENBVRG LYing betwixt the riuers Elb and Alre and bounded vpon the West with the Diocese of Bremen vpon the North with the Elb and the Dukedome of Lawenburg vpon the East with the Olde Marches of Brandenbrg and vpon the South with the Dukedome of Brunswijck The country is plaine the aire sharpe and healthfull and the soile fruitfull the part adjoyning to the Old Marches of Brandenburg excepted The chiefe towne is Lunenburg standing in a square forme vpon the riuer Elmenow one of the six prime Hanse-townes large populous and adorned with faire buildings containing six Parishes a mile and a halfe in length and about a mile in breadth whose chiefest truck and commoditie is falt made here in great abundance from the Salt-springs bought vp by the Hamburgers and Lubecers and from thence transported abroad The country belongeth to the Dukes of Lunenburg being of the same house with Brunswijck desended from Henry surnamed the Lion and the more ancient Dukes of Saxonie The more ancient inhabitants were parts of the Cherusci and Chauci of Tacitus THE COVNTRY OF BRVNSWIICK COntained betwixt the riuers Alre and the Weser It hath the Dukedome of Lunenburg vpon the North vpon the East the Diocese of Meydburg and the Earledome of Mansfeldt vpon the South Duringen and Hessen and vpon the West and Weser and Westphalen The South and East parts towards Hessen Duringen and Mansfeldt swell with woodie Mountaines and hills parts of the ancient Hercynian called now Hundsrucke Hartzwald Hainsette and by other names The Northern and more proper Brunswijck is more plaine exceedingly fruitfull for corne and all other commodities which the colder clime is well capable of Chiefer townes are Grubenhagen From hence the Dukes of Brunswijck of Grubenhagen were stiled Goslar a towne Imperiall vpon the riuer Gose. Halberstat Hildesheim Bishops seas Quedelburg occasioned by the rich Nunnery thus called whose Abbatesse was sometimes Princesse of the Empire The towne now is subiect to the house of Saxonie Brunswijck vpon the river Onacter the chiefe of the country and one of the six chiefe Hanse-townes The towne is large containing about seauen miles in compasse faire populous and strongly fortified encompassed with a double wall peopled with industrious and stout inhabitants iealous of their liberty and gouerned in manner of a free estate held vnder the right of the Princes The greatest part of the country is subiect to the Dukes of Brunswijck The more ancient inhabitants were the Dulgibini of Tacitus with part of the Chauci Maiores of Ptolemie afterwards part of the Saxons Ostphalians THE DIOCESE OF MEYDENBVRG EXtended vpon both sides of the riuer Elb betwixt the Marquisate of Brādenburg and the proper Saxonie The chiefe towne is Meydenburg an Archbishops sea and naming the country seated vpon the left shore of the Elb built or rather reedified by Edith wife vnto the Emperour Henry the first and daughter to Edmund King of England and named thus in honour of her sexe The Towne is of great State large faire and strongly fortified famous in the Protestants warres for a whole yeares siege which it sustained against the Emperour Charles the Fift amongst the Protestant states remaining onely vnconquerable the rest being subdued to the will of that mighty Prince The country is subject to the Lay Bishops or Administratours of Meydenburg of the house now of Brandenburg The more ancient inhabitants were the Lacobardi of Tacitus part afterwards of the Saxons Ostphalians The countries hitherto from Mecklenburg are accompted the parts of the Lower Saxony and containe the ninth circle of the Empire FREISLANDT THe name is at this day enlarged along the shore of the Germane Ocean from the Zuyder Zee parting the same from Hollandt vnto the riuer Weser It containeth the West and the East-Freislandts OOST-FREISLANDT COntinued betwixt the riuer Eems and the Weser and bounded vpon the other sides with the Ocean and the land of West-phalen The country is plaine and exceedingly populous the soile fat rich in corne and pasturages Chiefer townes are Aurich a rich and pleasant inland towne much frequented by the Frison nobility in regard of the commodity of hunting in the adioyning woods and forrests Embden vpon the Dollaert or the mouth of the Eems a noted port and Empory the chiefe towne and the seat of the prince residing here in a magnificent and strong castle seated at the entrance of the hauen environed with sea-waters Here not long since was the staple for Germany of the English Merchant-adventurers removed since to Stadt and Hamburg The country belongeth to the Earles of Oost-Freistandt The ancient inhabitants were the Chauci Minores of Ptolemy of later times through the neighbourhood of that nation lying vpon the farther side of the Eems falsely named Frisons WEST-FREISLANDT THis belongeth to the description of the Netherlandts accompted now amongst the 17 provinces thereof WESTPHALEN COntaining the parts of the ancient Saxony which were included betwixt the riuers Weser and Rhijn the two Freislandts Over-ysel and the parts hereof in Hollandt and Gelderlandt excepted It is bounded vpon the North with Oost-Freislandt and the Diocese of Bremen vpon the East with the Weser and the Dukedome of Brunswijck vpon the South with the Land of Hessen and vpon the West with the Rhijn from the Diocese of Colen and with Clevelandt Over-ysel and West-Freislandt The aire is sharpe and colde The soile generally is fruitfull rather in pasturages and in commodities seruing for the fatting of beasts then for the nourishment of man apples nuts akomes and sundry sorts of wilde fruits wherewith amongst other kindes infinite heards of Swine are fed whose bacon is much commended and desired in forraine parts The most firtill parts for corne are about the Lippe Paderborn and Soest The most desert and barren those adioining to the Weser Surlandt and the Dukedome of Bergen are hilly and full of woods The Diocese of Munster yeeldeth the best pasturages Chiefer townes are Duseldorp vpon the right shore of the Rhijn in the Dukedome of Bergen In the country of Marck Vnna Dortmund and Soest Paderborn a Bishops sea Munster a Bishops sea seated in a plaine vpon the riuer Eems The towne hath beene made very strong since the surprisall thereof by the Anabaptists It belongeth to the Bishops thus stiled Mynden a Bishops sea vpon the Weser Osenburg a Bishops sea Of these the Dukedome of Bergen and the Earledome of Marck appertaine to the Marques of Brandenburg and the Duke of Nuburg the heires generall of the house of Cleue Engern and Surland belong vnto the Bishops of Colen who are titulary Dukes of Westphalen The rest is divided amongst
inhabited by an industrious people the chiefe towne of the country Valenciennes vpon the Scheldt where it beginneth to be nauigable The towne is also large strong and well traded the next vnto Bergen Conde vpon the Scheldt Bauais The auncient inhabitants were part of the Nervij the most valiant people of the Gaules ARTOIS BOunded vpon the East with Cambresy and Flanders Gallicant vpon the South and West with Picardy in France and vpon the North with Flanders Teutonant and the riuer Lys. The aire is temperate and pleasant the soile fruitfull in come especially for wheat the common granarie and storehouse for Mechlin Antwerpe and other parts of Brabant and Flanders Chiefer townes are Bappaulme frontiring vpon France Arras Rigiacum of Ptolemy and Civitas Atrauatum of Antoninus a Bishops sea and the chiefe towne The citty is very strongly fenced with rampires and bulwarks large populous and replenished with industrious inhabitants diuided into two distinct townes seuerally walled the lesser called la Cite subiect to the Bishop beautified amongst other ornaments with a magnificent Cathedrall Church dedicated to the blessed Virgin a library containing many excellent manuscripts and la Ville appertaining to the Prince hauing faire streets and a rich monastery of 20 thousand crownes yearely revenue Bethune Ayre vpon the riuer Lys. Further vp the Lys about two Dutch miles from Ayre sometimes stoode the strong towne of Teroane Tervanna of Ptolemie and civitas Morinûm of Antoninus in the raigne of Henrie the Eight besieged and won by the English afterwards in the warres betwixt the Emperour Charles the Fift and the French againe surprised and destroyed by the Imperialists Hesdin a strong frontire place opposed against the French built by the Imperialists in the raigne of the Emperour Charles the fift S. Omar a faire and populous towne the second of the country situated vpon the Aha some 8. Dutch miles from the Ocean named thus from S. Omar about the yeare 670 Bishop of the Morini and a monastery by him here erected the occasion and beginning of the towne Here some put the hauen named Portus Iccius by Caesar coniectured from the high shores encompassing the towne and some olde fragments of anchers and of ships found vnder the ground the Ocean as it seemeth hauing since withdrawne it selfe further back and the chanell filled vp It containeth 10 walled townes and 754 burroughs or villages The auncient inhabitants were the Atrebates with part of the Morini FLANDERS BOunded vpon the South with Hainault Artois and Picardie extending this way as farre as Calais vpon the East with Hainault Brabant vpō North-West with the German Ocean vpon the North with the seas of Zealandt and the Honte or the left branch of the Scheldt diuiding it from those Ilands It containeth three diuisions or names of Flanders Gallicant Dutch Flanders and Flanders Imperiall FLANDERS GALLICANT Surnamed thus from its Wallon or French language The bounds are vpon the East Hainault and the Scheldt vpon the South Cambresy vpon the West the riuer Lys and Artois and vpon the North Dutch Flanders The soile is very fruifull in corne and pasturages the aire is healthfull temperate and pleasant Chiefer townes are L'isle named thus from its situation seated sometimes Iland-like amongst fens and mariches The citty is populous rich and well traded Douay vpon the riuer Scarpe where is an vniuersity erected by Philip the second king of Spaine a late seminary of English fugitiues Taurnay vpon the Scheldt Baganum of Ptolemy and Ciuitas Turnacensium of Antoninus beseiged and taken in by Henry the eight and the English in their warrs against Lewis the Twelfth French King Orchies The more ancient inhabitants seeme part of the Nervij of Caesar before mentioned DVTCH FLANDERS SIrnamed thus from its Dutch language The bounds are vpon the South the river Lys and Flanders Gallitant the New Fosse and Artois with part of Picardy vpon the North-west the German Ocean vpon the North the sea of Zealandt and vpon the East the Scheldt and Flanders Imperial The country is marishie sandie leane and lesse fruitfull Chiefer townes are first vpon the sea-coast Greveling Duyenkerck famous for pyracies Oostend for a memorable three yeares siege sustained against the Archdukes Albert and Isabella and the whole power of the house of Burgundy and Spaine in the yeares 1602 1603 and 1604. Neuport for the victory of Count Maurice of Nassau and of the English and Netherlands obtained against the same enimie in the yeare 1600. Sluys vpon a spacious creeke or inlet of the Ocean The hauen is the fairest vpon those Flemmish sea-coasts capeable at once of 500 vessels Within the land Brugge seated about 3 Dutch miles from the sea vpon two navigable fosses drawne from the Sluys The citty is rich faire and of great state containing 4 Italian miles an halfe in circuit about the wals and some 60 parishes The inhabitants hereof were the first discouerers of the Açores from hence now otherwise called the Flemmish Ilands Gendt the chiefe citty of the province and the largest through all the Netherlands containing 7 Italian miles about the wals situated at the confluence of the rivers Scheldt and the Lys and the Dikes called the Lieue and the Moere The towne is at this day nothing so wealthy and potent as in times past occasioned through the iniurie of their princes offended with their often rebellions tumults the miseries of the present late warres their want of trade and forraine negotiation shut in debarred by the Hollanders the condeferate states more powerfull at sea a common calamitie at this day of all the Netherlands subject to the Arch-duchesse Yperen a Bishops sea vpon a rivulet thus named FLANDERS IMPERIALL NAmed thus for that it was anciently held vnder the fies and soueraignty of the German Emperours It is the most Easterly part of the country lying on both sides of the Scheldt and confining vpon Brabant Townes here of better note are Hulst the chiefe towne in the land of Waes Axel likewise lying in Tlant van Waes Rupelmonde at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Rupel the country of Gerardus Mercator Dendermonde at the meetings of the Scheldt and the Dender Beyond the Scheldt Aeist vpon the riuer Dender The towne is large and strongly fortified There moreouer belongeth to the continent hereof the Iland of Cadsandt neighbouring to Sluys and called thus from a towne of this name and that of Biervliet named also from a fort thus called and lying in the Dollaert betwixt Sluys and Axel In the whole country are accompted thirtie walled townes and 1154 boroughs and villages so thick thronging together that to the Spaniards at their first comming hither vnder Philip the second they seemed like one continuate citty None of the townes are very ancient Tournay excepted by an industrious inhabitant being all built since the conquest and dominion of the French vnder the
Forresters and Earles hereof the country before their times being nothing else but a perpetuall wast of Forrests and woods The ancient inhabitants were parts of the Morini and Nervij of Caesar. BRABANT BOunded vpon the West with the riuer Scheldt and Flanders Imperiall vpon the South with Haynault and Namur vpon the East with the Bishopprick of Luick and vpon the North with the riuer Mase diuiding it from Hollandt and Gelderlandt It containeth 80 Dutch miles in circuit in length betwixt Gemblours and S. Gertruden-berg 22 and in breadth betwixt Helmont and Bergen op Zoom 20 of the same miles The country is plaine healthie and pleasant The more Southern parts lying beyond the river Demer are extraordinarily fruitfull especially for corne The more Northern part especially Kempen-landt is sandie lesse firtill and worse inhabited Chiefer townes are Nivelle frontiring vpon Hainault Bruxelles pleasantly seated amongst springs and rivulets in a rich and firtill soile the seat of the Prince Loeuen vpon the riuer Dyle of some 4 English miles in compasse containing within the large circumference of the walls vineyards corne-fields and pasture grounds a sweet seiour of the Muses and a noted Vniversitie founded in the yeare 1416 by Iohn the fourth of that name Duke of Brabant Antverpen vpon the right shore of the Scheldt a Bishops sea and of late yeares through the commodity of the riuer and situation the most rich and famous Empory of Christendome resorted vnto by marchants from all parts At this day through the iniurie of the neighbouring confederate states by their strength of shipping stopping the navigation and passage of the Scheldt it hath quite lost the trade and negotiation it had with forraine nations diverted since from hence to Amsterdam and the townes of Hollandt and Zealandt now onely frequented by some few Lawyers and the receiuers of the princes revenue who doe a little support the estate hereof The citadel or castle hereof is accompted amongst the strongest pieces of Europe raised to bridle and keepe in the towne by Fernando Alvares de Toledo Duke of Alva governour of the Low countries for Philip the second king of Spaine These foure townes make vp the particular province called the Marquisate of the sacred Empire named thus from their situation lying in the Marches or farthest bounds this way of the Germane Empire frontiring vpon Flanders belonging ancientlie to the fief of the kings of France Malines vpon the riuer Demer a soveraigne citty and siegneurie with the little country subject vnto it consisting of about 9 boroughes or villages and making one of the 17 provinces of the Low countries Here is held the Parliament or supreame court of iustice for the parts remaining yet subject to the princes of the house of Burgundy and Austria where are heard the appeales of the seuerall provinces Gemblours Tienen vpon the riuer Geete Lier Herentals Grave vpon the Mase the chiefe towne of the Land of Cuyck Shertogen-bosch a Bishops sea a strong towne of warre accompted amongst the 4 principall cities of the province seated vpon a little rivulet called Dise about a Dutch mile from the meeting thereof and the Mase and the confines of Gelderland S. Gertruden-berg vpon the riuer Douge neere vnto the confluence thereof and the Mase Breda a strong towne of warre vpon the river Mercke some 2 Dutch miles from S. Gertruden-berg The towne belongeth to the family of Nassau more lately after a stout resolute and long siege taken in by the Arch-dutchesse Isabella Steenbergen Bergen op Zoom named thus from the river or water wherevpon it standeth neere vnto the Scheldt a strong frontire towne against the Iland of Tolen in Zealandt Vnto this province belongeth the Iland of Willenstat lying betwixt the townes of Steenbergen and Dort in Holland There are contained in the whole country besides Malines 26 walled townes and 700 burroughs or villages The more ancient inhabitants were the Advatici with part of the Tongri These 9 provinces lie in the part belonging sometimes to Gaule Belgique coÌ„taine some two thirds of the whole Low Countries In pleasure health firtilitie of soile they much surpasse those other commanded by the confederate states but in riches populousnes and trade of marchandise are farre exceeded by the other shut vp by them within their ports commaunders of the sea and hindred from their wonted traficke they had with forraine nations They continue yet subject to the house of Burgundy and Spaine their ancient Lords the townes of Axel Teurnheuse Ardenburg and Sluys with the neighbouring forts and Ilands of Cadsandt and Biervliet in Flanders excepted and in Brabant Bergen op Zoom Steenbergen S. Gertrudenberg and Grave with the Iland of Willenstat held now by the garrisons of the vnited provinces The lawes whereby they are governed are the customes and priviledges and those municipall of each province togither with the civill vnited vnder one prince but not into one order and common-wealth attempted long since as hathbin related by Duke Charles sirnamed the Warriour but not hitherto effected Their religion which onely is allowed is the pretended Romish Catholicke Their languages are the French or Wallon spoken in Flanders Gallicant the South part of Brabant Artois Haynault Luxemburg and Namur whose inhabitants are for this cause now commonly called the Wallons and the Dutch spoken in the rest of the country THE FREE CONFEDERATE PROVINCES THey are bounded vpon the South with Flanders and Brabant and the riuers Mase and Scheldt vpon the East with Cleveland and Westphalen vpon the North-East with Oâ—st-Freislandt divided by the Eems and vpon the North-west with the Germane Ocean They comprehend 8 provinces of the 17 containing in quantity about a third part of the whole Netherlandt the Dukedome of Gelders the Earledomes of Zutphen Holland and Zealandt the Lordships of West-Freislandt Groeningen Vtreicht Over-ysel ZEALANDT COnsisting of sundry lesser Ilands and contained betwixt the Scheldt the Mase They haue vpon the South the Honte or left chanell of the Scheldt dividing them from Flanders vpon the East Brabant vpon the West the German Ocean and vpon the North the Ilands of Hollandt The country is low flat and marishie rich in corne and pasturage but in regard of the moist and foggie aire thereof vnhealthfull and much subject to invndations kept in and defended from the sea by bankes It is divided by the Scheldt into the parts named by the Dutch Be-oester-scheldt and Be-wester-scheldt BE-WESTERS CHELDT IT lyeth betwixt the right chanell of the Scheldt and the Honte or Flanders It containeth the Ilands of Walcheren Zuyt-beverlandt Nort-beverlant and Wolfersdijck WALCHEREN LYing towards the South-west against Sluys in Flanders the most rich populous and best traded of the Ilands containing about 10 Dutch miles in Compasse Townes here are Vlissingen Armuyde populous and well traded ports vpon the Ocean Vere Middleburg more within the land vpon a navigable arme or creeke of
held with this title vnder the soueraignty and right of the kings of Denmarke The line masculine of the Dukes extinguished it returned againe to the crowne giuen not long after by Queen Margaret vnto Gerard Count of Holstein whose male succession in the yeare 1459 failing in Adolph the last Earle it was lastly incorporated with the kingdome by Christierne the first as it now continueth Chiefer townes are Sleswijck before mentioned a Bishops sea named thus from the river Slea vpon which it is situated Close by standeth the faire Castle of Gottorp the seat of the Dukes of Sleswijck where tol is paid of the many droues of Oxen passing yearely this way out of the Chersonese into Germany From hence in imitation of the Picts wall in England hath beene drawne westward ouer land a long trench or wall called now by the inhabitants Dennewerck raised after Aymonius for the better defence of the Chersonese against the neighbouring Saxons by Godfrey king of the Danes in the raigne of the Emperour Charles the Great Husem vpon the German or westerne Ocean not far froÌ„ the mouth of the riuer Eydore Flensborch a noted empory seated amongst hills vpon a nauigable creeke or inlet of the Sundt Hadersleue a Bishops sea vpon a nauigable inlet of the sea Baltick where with it is round encompassed against the Iland Funen graced with the beautiful castle of Hansburg begun by Iohn duke of Holstein but finished by Frederick the 2 d K. of Denmarcke These lye in Suder-Iutland or the dukedome of Sleswijck Beda seemeth to place here the famous Angli the founders of the moderne English nation during the raigne of the Emperour Valentinian the 3 d departing froÌ„ hence into the Iland of Great Bretaine In Nort-Iutland Kolding vpon a creeke of the sea Balticke Arhusen a Bishops sea and a noted port vpon the Sundt Against this and the great promontory Hellenis lie the Ilands Samsoe Hielm Hilgenes with others belonging to the continent hereof Wiborch within the land a Bishops sea and the chiefe place of iudicature of the Chersonese Alborch vpon the baye Limfort which is a long creeke of the sea Baltick extending through the maine land westwards almost as farre as the German Ocean The part of the Chersonese lying vpon the North of this bay is named by the inhabitants Wendsyssel West hereof the country is called Hanhaeret where is the high rock Skarringklint a noted sea marck The German Ocean coasting Iutland especially the part neighbouring to this rock is full of sholes and quicksands for this cause carefully avoided by marriners sayling towards Norwey and the Ilands of the Sundt Tysted Nicoping Ripen a Bishops sea vpon the German Ocean The length of both the Iutlands with the neighbouring dukedome of Holstein or from the riuer Elb vnto the towne of Schagen the most Northerly point of the Chersonese Cellarius accompteth at 80 German miles the breadth at twenty of the same miles THE ILANDS OF THE SVNDT THese lye in the mouth of the Sundt betwixt Iutlandt and Schonen The more remarqueable and greater Ilands are Funen and Zelandt FVNEN LYing against the townes of Kolding and Hadersleue in Iutland containing 12 Dutch miles in length and 4 in breadth The chiefe towne is Odensee a Bishops sea ZELANDT SEated betwixt Funen and the maine land of Schonen the greatest of the Ilands and the seat of the Prince Chiefer townes here are Rotschilt a Bishops sea The Bishops hereof haue the honour to annoint the kings at the time of their inauguration Helschenor or Elsenor at the entrance of the Sundt The narrow sea betwixt this and Schonen containeth only a Dutch mile in breadth commaunded by two castles lying vpon each side of the straight that of Helsenburg in Schonen and of Cronenburg in Zealandt Here all the ships which in great numbers passe continually towards Swethen Prussen and the East-lands stop and pay custome the best part of the princes revenues In the strong and magnificent castle of Cronenburg founded by Fredericke the second the king more commonly resideth Koppen hagen farther downe vpon the Sundt a noted port the chiefe towne of the kingdome where flourisheth an Vniversity of the Danes and Norvegians begun by Eric the ninth but perfected by Christian the first and the succeeding princes endowed with liberall revenues Vpon the East hereof lyeth the Iland Amagger making a safe road for ships which ride at ancher betwixt it and the towne Other Danish Ilands are Alsen against Flensborch and Suder-Iutland vnto the which it appertaineth containing 4 Dutch miles in length and two in breadth Aar having three parishes and seated betwixt Alsen and Zelandt Langeland betwixt Aar and Zelandt in length 7 Dutch miles Falstre in length 8 Dutch miles vpon the South of Zelandt Lawland vpon the West of Falstre from the which it is divided by a narrow creeke of the sea besides almost infinite others whose names wee know not or which are not worth relating These Ilands are togither called by Meâ—a the Hemodes Zealandt he nameth the Iland Codanonia the greatest of the Hemodes HALLANDT LYing in the maine land of Scandia against North-Iutlandt The onely place of note is the strong castle of Warsberg SCHONEN COntaining the part of the same continent against the Iland of Zelandt Places of better note are Helsenburg a towne and castle opposite to Elsenor Lunden an Arch-bishops sea Malmuyen or Ellebogen a noted Empory vpon the Sundt against Koppen-hagen BLEKING PArt of the same continent and having vpon the West Schonen The chiefe place is Vsted THE KINGDOME OF NORWEY BOunded vpon the South with Denmarck vpon the West and North with the Ocean and vpon the East with the kingdome of Swethen from the which it is divided by a perpetuall ridge of asperous and high mountaines The sea here is exceeding deepe and affordeth plenty of good fishing The land is very large and spacious but rockie mountainous and barren full of thicke wild and vast woods cold and ill inhabited It yeeldeth but little corne and in the parts more neere to Lapland and the Pole Articke not any at all in regard of which want the inhabitants eat bread made of Stockfish It chiefly venteth abroad fish furres and skinnes of wild beasts masts raft pitch tarre and the like commodities issuing from wood The people are plaine honest louers of strangers hospitall for their ability haters of pilfering theeuing They are not suffered by the Danes to vse shipping or to export their owne merchandise out of the kingdome which profit these solely engrosse vnto themselues Their religion is the Lutheran or Protestant the same with the Danes belonging in matters Ecclesiasticall vnto the Archbishop of Trundtheim and the Bishops of Bergen Anslo Staffanger and Hammar They were sometimes commanded by Princes of their owne now by the kings of Denmarck diuided into 5 Prefectures or juridicall resorts of Bahuys Aggerhuys Bergerhuys Trundtheim
the bishopricke of Durham falling into the Ocean below Yarum The Were Vedra of Ptolemy accruing from two little rivulets named Kell-hop and Burn-hop in the Westerne part of the bishopricke tooke in at Monkwermouth below Durham The Tine Tina of Ptolemy distinguished into the South Tine arising in Cumberland nere Alstenmore and the North Tine from Mountaines in the Scottish borders through Tindale and the Picts wall after the receipt of the Riuer Rheade from Rheadesquire-hill in the same borders naming the valley of Rheadesdale aboue Hexham meeting with the South-Tine and together betwixt the bishopricke of Durham and Northumberland disburdened into the Ocean at Tinmouth below New-castle The Alne Alaunus of Ptolemy in Northumberland tooke in below Anwicke The Tweede from Mountaines in Scotland thorough Tweedale afterwards betwixt the two kingdomes tooke in at Berwicke Into the Sea of Seuerne and in Devonshire the Taw and Towridge arising neere to Herty-point Promontorium Herculis of Ptolemy meeting together and in one channell tooke in below Barstaple The Parret in Sommersetshire below Bridgewater and Huntspill falling into the Baye named Vexalla or Vzella by Ptolemy The Vske out of the blacke Mountaine in Brecknockeshire thorough this country and Monmouth-shire tooke in below Newport The Taffe Ratostabius and Ratostibius of Ptolemy thorough Glamorganshire tooke in below Cardiffe The Tovy Tobius of Ptolemy thorough Caermardenshire tooke in below the towne of Caermarden Beyond in Penbrokeshire lyeth Saint Davids head or S. Davids land the Promontorie of the Octopitae of Ptolemy Into the Irish Ocean the Tivy Tuerobis or Tuerobius of Ptolemy out of Lhin-Tivy betwixt Cardiganshire and Penbrokeshire tooke in below Cardigan The Ystwith Stuccia of Ptolemy tooke in at Aber-Ystwith in Cardiganshire Beyond in Caernarvonshire lyeth the great Promontory named Lhein by the Welsh and Canganum or Langanum by Ptolemy The Conwey Tisobis or Toisovius of Ptolemy betwixt Caernarvonshire and Denbighshire tooke in at Aber-conwey The Dee Seteia of Ptolemy arising with two heades from the Mountaines beyond Lhin-tegid or Pimble-meere in Merioneth-shire thorough Denbighshire afterwards betwixt Wales and Cheshire tooke in below Chester The Mersey betwixt Cheshire and Lancashire tooke in below Lirpoole The Ribble Belisamum and Bellisama of Ptolemy out of Craven in Yorkeshire neere the Mountaine Ingleborough thorough Lancashire tooke in below Preston The Lune from the hills of Westmoreland tooke in below Lancaster Beyond betwixt Fournesse and Westmoreland is the great Lake Winander-mere not vnprobably Setantiorum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Lake of the Setantij of Ptolemy The Eden Ituna of Ptolemy out of Richmondshire through Westmoreland and Cumberland by Kirkby-Steven Appleby and Carlile tooke into the Frith of Solway The Leven Eske Sark bounders here of the English and Scottish kingdomes emptyed into the Solway The great Bay by Holme Cultrain on this side of the Frith seemeth to be Moricambe of Ptolemy In Scotland the Annan by Annandale tooke into the Solway below the towne of Annand The Nid Novius or Nobius of Ptolemy out of Logh-Cure tooke into the Solway neere to Dunfreys In Galloway the Dee Deva and Dea of Ptolemy The Ken Iena of Ptolemy The Rian Auravannus and Abravanus of Ptolemy out of Logh-Rian Betwixt the two last lyeth the Mul of Galloway the Chersonese or Promontoric of the Novantes of Ptolemy Beyond quart of Carict lyeth the Bay Rherigonius of the same authour The Cluid at the castle of Dunbriton falling into Dunbriton Frith the Glota of Tacitus and Clota of Ptolemy The Levin Lelaannonius and Lelanonius of Ptolemy out of the Lake Lomond falling into the Cluid at Dunbriton Beyond the Frith is Cantire a long and narrow Chersonese the Promontory Epidium or of the Epidij of Ptolemy In Rosse Lough Longas Longus of Ptolemy Into the German or Easterne sea the Banoc emptyed in the Forth or Frith of Edenborough the Bodotria of Tacitus and Boderia of Ptolemy with the Glota or the Frith of Dunbriton the furthest limits Northwards of the Roman conquests in Britaine The Dee Diva of Ptolemy out of Marre tooke in neere to Aberdon In Murray the Spey In the same country the Losse the Loxa of Ptolemy In Rosse the Cillian the Celnius of Ptolemy Betwixt this and Murray lyeth the Bay named Vara and Vararis by Ptolemy In Catnesse the Wifle probably Ila of Ptolemy Beyond in Strath-Navern are the Promontories Dunsby Viruedrum of Ptolemy Vrde-head Veruvium of Ptolemy And Howburne-head Orcas and Tarvedrum or Tarvisium of the same Authour the extreame parts of the Iland to the North. Many of the riues haue the same names How this hapned wee knowe not THE ANCIENT NAMES OF ENGLAND THe more ancient names hereof in approued Authours were onely those of Albion and Britannia Vnder the common name of the Brittish Ilands Aristotle in his booke de mundo and 3 Chapter comprehendeth both the Ilands of Albion and Ierna or Ibernia The like doth Ptolemy in the 8 booke of his Geographie and 3 chapter Pliny in his 4 booke and 16 chapter observeth all those Ilands situated in the Ocean betwixt Germany and Spaine before this times to haue beene all called by the generall name of Britaine The common name then of the Countrie and of all the neighbouring Iles first and more aunciently was Britaine or the Brittish Ilands The particular name hereof was Albion devised first by the Graecians sayling towards those parts for the discoveries of the Latines or Romans at what time that we first heare of the name reached not so farre being then a meane and obscure state and confined onely within Italy either as some coniecture from Albion a supposed sonne of their Sea-god Neptune an Etymologie not altogether absurd the situation hereof being considered and the vsuall vanity of the Greekes in giuing names to Countryes from their profane gods or which is more probable from the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after Festus signifying White in the Greekish language imposed in regard of the white chalky cliffs of the high sea-coast hereof seene by the Mariners a farre of trading in those Seas Afterwards as in Pliny the name of Albion left of it tooke the proper name of Britannia or Britaine The first of Greeke Authours who expressely nameth it Britannia was Athenaeus in his fift booke The first of the Latines were Lucretius and Caesar followed by Strabo Pliny and all other succeeding Historians Geographers Ptolemy excepted who in his second and eight bookes reviueth againe the long forgotten name of Albion The word Britannia or Britaine learned Camden deriueth from the word Brith signifying Painted with the ancient Britons the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying a Countrey expressing together a Countrey of painted men giuen by the Greekes the first discouerers from the manner of the inhabitants who after Herodian and others
wherein his father with the Normans had conquered the English annexing Normandy to his English Crowne his borther Robert being surprised in battaile and detayned prisoner during life He deceased in the yeare 1135 the first English-Norman king Stephen Earle of Mortaigne yonger son to Stephen Earle of Blois and Champaigne by Adcla daughter to the Conquerour king of England by the power of his faction the advantage of his sexe and the pretended will of king Henry vpon his death-bed opposed by Maude the onely legitimate daughter surviuing issue of Henry formerly wife to Henry the fourth Emperour of the Romans After long trouble warres betwixt the two sides a peace at length is concluded Stephen is continued in the possession of the Crowne to returne after his decease vpon Henry Fitz-Empresse son to Mande and to the heires of the first Henry Henry the second son to Geffrey Plantaginet Earle of Aniou in France Maude the Empresse daughter to Henry the first and Maude daughter to Malcolme king of Scotland and S t Margaret descended from king Edmund surnamed the Iron-side In this prince the surname of Plantaginet was first deriued vpon the house of England continued vnto Edward sonne to George Duke of Clarence the last Plantaginet or of the male issue hereof the rest extinguished during the ciuill warres betwixt the houses of Yorke and Lancaster put to death by king Henry the seaventh He marryed vnto Eleanor daughter and sole heire to William Duke of Aquitaine Guienne and by armes voluntary submission made first subiect the factious and devided Irish king of England Duke of Normandy Aquitaine Guienne Earle of Aniou The dominion title of Ireland he had given vnto his yongest son Iohn Maude his eldest daughter was married vnto Henrie surnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxony and Bavaria from whom are descended the present Dukes of Brunswyck and Lunenburg in Germany bearing the same armes with the more auncient kings of England Richard the first king of England Duke of Normandy Aquitaine Guienne Earle of Aniou son to Henrie the second He accompanied Philip surnamed Augusts king of France with other Latine princes towards the East for the recoverie of the Holy Land renowned for his victories against Saladine Sultan of Aegypt and the Infidels Not the least in that journey amongst his other conquest was that of the Cyprioâ—s whom occasioned by some hostile and churlish carriages of Cursar their king against his distressed and weather-beaten Fleete he in few daies subdued exchanging that Iland with Guy of Lusignan for the kingdome or title of Hierusalem remaining in the house of Guy for many descents vntill the vsurpation thereof by the Venetians He deceased without issue Iohn king of England Duke of Normandie Aquitaine and Guienne Earle of Aniou and Lord of Ireland which last title he first added yongest son to Henry the second opposed by Arthur Duke of Britaine son to Geffrey his elder brother and Constance inheretresse of that house He lost Normandy Aniou Touraine and Maine with Poictou part of the Dukedome of Aquitaine to Philip the second surnamed Augustus French king pretending their forfeiture holding of the French kings in fee vpon the decease of Arthur whom he surmised to haue beene murthered by Iohn forsaken in those troubles by his disloyall Nobility refusing their aydes and betrayed by the natiues of those countries better effected to the French Ingaged at once in three dangerous warres against the Pope Cleargie the French king and his rebellious subjects to make his peace with the Pope his more potent adversary and the chiefe authour of those evils Innocentius the third then succeeding in the Papacy he enthralled his Crowne to the tribute and vassallage of the sea of Rome Henry the third son to Iohn succeeding in the left dominions of his father and in his warres against the French and his traiterous English Barons Edward the first son to Henry the third He subdued the Scots and annexed the Welsh to his English kingdome Edward the second son to Edward the first He marryed vnto Isabel daughter to Philip the fourth French king deposed by a joint conspiracy of his disloyall Queene subjects pretending his bad government and vices Edward the third son to Edward the second Isabel of France The male issue of Philip the fourth extinguished in Charles surnamed the Faire in right from his mother daughter to Philip the next heire generall he made claime to the rich kingdome of France assuming the title hereof and quartering his English armoryes with the French Lillies continued still in his successours Hauing vanquished the French in two memorable battailes at Crecy and Poictiers taken Iohn their king prisoner he in the end nothwithstanding fortune changing lost to that enimy all Aquitaine and Guienne the remainder of the English possessions in that Continent Calais excepted yeelded vp by the treacherous inhabitants ill affecting the English government and coveting a revnion with France He deceased in the yeare 1378. Richard the second king of England France and Lord of Ireland son to Edward prince of Wales eldest son to Edward the third deposed by Henry the fourth without issue Henry the fourth king of England France Lord of Ireland son to Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster fourth son to Edward the third the first prince of the Lancastrian family whose vsurpation and vniust title gaue occasion afterwards to those long and miserable warres betwixt his house Yorke Henry the fift king of England France and Lord of Ireland eldest son to Henrie the fourth The field of Azincourt won and the vnfortunate French vnder a lunatike and weake king being devided into two great factions of Burgundie and Orleans by the aide of Burgundie hauing married Catharine the French kings daughter he is made Regent of France during the malady and indisposition hereof and declared his next successour to the Crowne Charles the Dolphin his son disinherited Henrie the sixt king of England France and Lord of Ireland son to Henry the fift Catherine of France Crowned French king at Paris in the yeare 1431. In the raigne hereof Richard Duke of Yorke layd claime to the Crowne of England in the right of the house of Clarence elder brother to Iohn of Gaunt father to king Henry the fourth ayded by Richard Nevile Earle of Warwick and other potent nobility the effect whereof was a bloody civill warre continued with variable fortune for the space of 25 yeares betwixt the two houses of Lancaster and Yorke the slaughter of the greatest part of the blood royall of both factions the deposing murder of this holy and just prince the irrecoverable losse of France by these tumults the establishing of the kingdome in Edward the fourth his succession the house of Yorke Edward the fourth son to Richard Plantaginet Duke of Yorke which Richard was son to Richard Earle of Cambridge sonne to Edmund Duke of Yorke fift son
it was vnited with the kingdome of Aragon extended ouer the whole countrey of Catalonia The first Earle was Bernard a Frenchman Earle or Governour of Barcelona for the Emperours Charles the Great and Lewis the Godly After him succeeded in the Earledome Wifredus the first Governour for the Emperour Lewis the Godly These two Earles were onely such magistrates thus named commaunding for the French during life or for a set number of yeares Wifredus the second son to Wifredus the first In this Earle the estate became first proprietary hereditary by the liberality gift of the Emperour Charles surnamed the Fat to bee held vnder the fief of the Roman Emperours not long after freed from forreine iurisdiction the house of that Emperour expiring and the power of the factious devided French declining Miron Earle of Barcelona son to Wifredus the second Godefridus or Wifredus son to Miron Borellus sonne to Wifredus brother to Miron Raimund the first son to Borellus Berengarius Borellus son to Raimund the first Raimund the second son to Borellus Raimund the third son to Raimund the second Raimund the fourth son to Raimund the third Raimund the fift sonne to Raimund the fourth He married vnto Petronilla daughter to Ramir the second King of Aragon by which meanes these two estates became vnited continued in the Kings of Aragon THE KINGDOME OF PORTVGALL THe name hereof some haue derived from the towne of Porto standing vpon the river of Duero and the Galli or Frenchmen the founders of the nation of the Portugalls Others from the port or haven-towne named Cale now Caia lying at the mouth of that riuer sometimes a rich and flourishing emporie whereof the first princes should be entitl'd The estate was begun long after the rest by the Frenchmen in the yeare 1090 and in the person of Henry a Lorrainer or after others a Burgundian borne in the city of Besançon and descended from the auncient Earles of the Free county who comming hither to the holy warres and hauing married Therasia base daughter to Alfonsus the sixt king of Castille Leon had given vnto him by way of dowry the towne and countrey thus called to bee held with the title of Earle vnder the right tribute of the Kings of Castille The Earledome at the time that it was first instituted was extended only over the part hereof which is contayned now betwixt the riuers of Duero Minio part then of the dominions of King Alfonsus the sixt and by this meanes seperated Earle Henry the first prince added to the accompt and name hereof the part contayned betwixt the Duero and the towne of Coimbre won from the Moores Alfonsus the first his victorious son the first king the townes of Lisbona Leira Santaren Sintra in a manner the rest of the kingdome Algarve excepted taken from the same enemy Sanctius the first the towne of Silvis Alfonsus the second Alcaçar Alfonsus the third the rest of Algarve by conquest from the Infidell and by his marriage with Beatrix base daughter to Alfonsus the tenth K. of Castille the whole extent of the kingdome of Portugall Afterwards Spaine being cleered from the Moores the princes hereof wanting other honourable just wars and meanes of further enlarging their dominions discovering towards the South East made themselues Lords the Canary Ilands excepted belonging to the Crowne of Castille of the whole sea-coasts of Afrique Brasil and Asia extended betwixt the Straights of Gibraltar Magellan the Promontories of Good Hope Malaca planted with their colonies people Henry Cardinall Arch-bishop of Evora the last king deceasing without heires the country was subdued by Philip the second K. of Castille and vnited with the rest of Spaine pretending right herevnto from his mother Isabel daughter to K. Emanuel The Princes follow Henry son to Guy Earle of Vernol son to Reginald Earle of Burgundy created first Earle of Portugall in the yeare 1090 by Alfonsus the first K. of Castille Leon. He added the townes of Lamego Viseo and Coimbre beyond the riuer of Duero Alfonsus the first son to Henry Therasia Having vanquished the Moores in a great battaill fought at Ourique in the yeare 1139 hee tooke vpon him the title of king confirmed afterwards vnto him for a certaine tribute by Pope Alexander the fourth continued in his successours He subdued the great city of Lisbona with the rest of the country vnto Algarve Hauing raigned about 72 yeares he deceased in the yeare 1184. Sanctius the first king of Portugal son to Alfonsus the first Alfonsus the second son to Sanctius the first Sanctius the second son to Alfonsus the second He deceased without heires Alfonsus the third brother to Sanctius the second Casting of his former wife Maude Countesse of Boloigne notwithstanding that he had issue by her marrying vnto Beatrix base daughter to Alfonsus the tenth king of Castille and Leon he had giuen vnto him by way of dowry the kingdome of Algarve to be held vnder the fief of Castille which right was remitted afterwards by Alfonsus of Castille in favour of his Nephew Dionysius He won from the Moores the towne of Faro all other places they held in Algarve extending by this meanes the accompt of Portugall Southwards vnto the Ocean Since this Prince the kings of Portugal alwaies haue bin stiled kings of the Algarves Dionysiê° king of Portugal of the Algarves son to Alfonsus the third Beatrix He fouÌ„ded the Vniversity of Coimbre instituted the military order of Christ. Alfonsus the fourth son to Dionysius Peter son to Alfonsus the fourth At this time raigned three Peters in Spaine all noted for their tyranny and cruelty who were this Prince Peter King of Castille and Peter the fourth King of Aragon Ferdinand son to Peter He died without heires male Iohn the first naturall son to Peter by Therasia Gallega his concubine after the decease of Ferdinand elected King of the Portugals in the yeare 1383. Edward son to Iohn the first and Philippa daughter to Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster Alfonsus the fift son to Edward Warring vpon the Moores in Afrique he tooke from them the towns of Tangier Arzilla and Alcaçar Iohn the second son to Alfonsus the fift Vnder this Prince to the great honour of the Nation begun first the happy discoueries of the Portugals in the Atlantique and Aethiopique Oceans the Westerne shore of Afrique coasted a supposed inhabitable Torride Zone found inhabited populous nations to dwell in the Southerne Hemispheare not beleeued by the Auncients and the vnknowne Continent of the World and Afrique to end to the South in a promontory or wedge of land shewing a passage to the Indies the East for this cause named by the Portugals the Cape of Good Hope He deceased in the yeare 1495. Emmanuel king of Portugal and the Algarves son to Ferdinand Duke of Viseo son to king Edward In the Golden dayes of this Prince the discoueries
Castillia la Nueva vpon the East Murcia and vpon the South the Mediterranean Sea reaching from the river Guadalantin vnto the towne of Vera. It contayneth in length accompting from Ronda to Huescar 200 miles and in breadth from Cabili vnto Almugnecar vpon the Mediterranean 100 miles The circuite of the whole after Marinaeus Siculus is 700 miles The North part is plaine the South ouer-spread with the steepe and inaccessible mountaines of the Alpuxarras and other names of the Orospeda swelling along the sea-coasts hereof The soile is generally very fat aswell the hils as the plaine countrey yeelding plenty of corne wine and other sorts of delicate fruites Granado is the chiefe city seated in the heart of the countrey vpon two greater hils besides others which are lesser betwixt which runneth the litle riuer Darrien arising out of the mountaines 17 miles vpon the East hereof devided into foure parts or quarters Al-hambre El-Alvesin El-Granado Antiquerula the two former being situated vpon the hils the other two in the valley below contayning together at the time that the towne was won by King Ferdinand the fift some 200000 inhabitants now not so many In El-Granado is the Cathedrall Church of a round figure having sometimes been a Mahumetane temple where in a sumptuous Chappell built since by the Christians Ferdinand the fift and Isabella Kings of Spaine lie enterred In Al-hambre stand two magnificent palaces the one more lately erected by the Christian princes the other the seate of the auncient Kings of the Moores severally encompassed with a wall and enjoying a most pleasant prospect towards the West and South ouer-looking a flourishing greene plaine garnished with meadowes corne fields vineyards and woods of oliues and to the South the cloudy tops of Sierra Nevada distant some 9 miles from thence being part of Orospeda The private buildings are for the most part of bricke after the custome of the Moores rather many then costly the streetes then standing thicke and close together now many houses being pulled downe and partly for want of inhabitants made more wide and enjoying a more free aire Heere by meanes of the plenty of Mulbery trees great store of silke is made wouen Vpon the hill Elvire neere herevnto stood sometimes the towne Illiberis of Ptolemy Other townes of better note are Loxa vpon the river Darrien enjoying a most fruitfull and pleasant situation Guadix a Bishops See Alhama Artigis of Ptolemy Artigi surnamed Iulienses of Pliny and Artigi of Antoninus seated in a fruitfull soile amongst steepe and picked rocks wherewith it is environed a towne now much frequented by the Spanish nobility by meanes of the hot medicinable bathes thereof Antiquera Singilia of Pliny Ronda The neighbouring part of the mountaine Orospeda is now called from hence Sierra de Ronda Neerer vnto the sea Mediterranean Munda Munda of Strabo Pliny Here the great battaill was fought betwixt Iulius Caesar Cn and Sextus Pompeij the sons of Pompey the great Cartima Malaga Malaca of Strabo Ptolemy Mela Antoninus seated vpon the Mediterranean at the mouth of the river Guadalquivireio a Bishops See a strong towne of warre and a noted port well knowen vnto the English and Dutch Merchants trading there for sacks rasins almonds and the like fruites Velez Malaga Sex of Ptolemy Sexitanum of Antoninus and Sexi-Firmum surnamed Iulium of Pliny From the huge neighbouring tops of the Aspuxarras the farre remote shores of Afrique with the Straights of Gibraltar and townes of Seuta and Tangier may plainely be discerned covered vntill of late yeares with an incredible multitude of villages of the Moriscos banished into Afrique by the edict of king Philip the third with the rest of that of-sprâ—ng Almeria vpon the Mediterranean Abdara of Ptolemy and Abdera of Mela after Strabo founded by the Tyrians or after Pliny by the Carthaginians It is now a Bishops See Muxacra vpon the same shore of the Mediterranean beyond Cabo de Gatas thought to bee Murgis of Ptolemy Pliny and Antoninus the furthest towne of Baetica Vera vpon the same sea-coast the furthest town towards France and the East of the countrey of Granado thought to be Virgao of Pliny naming the neighbouring bay or crooke of the Mediterranean Sinum Virgitanum in Mela. Porcunna within the land Obulcum of Ptolemy and Obulco of Strabo Pliny The auncient inhabitants hereof were parts of the Bastuli Turduli of Strabo and Ptolemie MVRCIA BOunded vpon the West with the kingdome of Granado vpon the North with Castillia la Nueva vpon the East with Valentia and vpon the South with the Mediterranean intercepted betwixt the towne of Vera and the river Segura The countrey is for the greatest part dry barren and ill inhabited Townes of better note are Murcia the chiefe towne naming the countrey Menralia of Ptolemy seated in a fresh and pleasant plaine planted with pomegranates and other excellent fruite trees a Bishops See and seate of the Inquisition Carthagena Carthago of Ptolemy and Pliny founded by Hasdrubal Carthaginian Successour in the government of Spaine vnto Hamilcar father of the great Hannibal taken during the second Punique warre by Publius Scipio the African and afterwards made a Roman Colony and one of the 7 iuridicall resorts of Tarraconensis and by the Emperour Constantine the great the principall city of the Province named from hence in Rufus Festus Carthaginesis Twice sacked and rased to the ground by the barbarous Vandals Gothes in a long time lay buryed in its ruines reedified and strongly fortified of late yeares by King Philip the second fearing a surprisall thereof by the Turkish Pyrats invited by the opportunity of the faire and spacious hauen thereof The towne is yet but meane contayning 600 housholds or families The auncient inhabitants hereof were part of the Contestani of Ptolemy The forreine Conquests which the Kings of Spaine enjoy now in right of the Crowne of Castille are the townes of Oran and Melilla with the hauen Musalquivir and rocke of Velez in the Continent of Barbary the Canary Ilands and the New-found-world of America Brasil excepted ARAGON BOunded vpon the South with the Sea Mediterranean extended from the mouth of the riuer Segura vnto the castle of Salsas and frontire of Languedoc vpon the East with the Pyrenaean mountaines from the sea Mediterranean vntill towards the head of the riuer Agra or Aragon from France vpon the North with that riuer from Navarra then with a winding line continued from the Ebro by the townes of Taradona Hariza Daroca Xativa and Orihuela vnto the Mediterranean and mouth of the riuer Segura dividing it from the rest of the kingdome of Castille It containeth the three Provinces of Valentia Aragonia and Catalonia with the Land of Russillon VALENTIA HAving the Sea Mediterranean vpon the East intercepted betwixt the riuers Segura and Cinia the Segura and Country of Murcia vpon the South Catalonia and the riuer Cinia vpon the North and vpon the West
where lie the Bishoprickes of Munster Paderborn Breme and Hildesheim with Engern and the Earledome of Ravensperg The Laccobardi Dulingâ— Teâ—tonari Avarpi The Longi-mani and Longi-Didâ—ni where now 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 The Calucones The Banochaemae inhabiting after Pirckhermerus about Cottowitz and Dresen The Batini Corconti Luti-Buri The Sidones now the Dukedome of Oppolen The Cogni The Visburgij after Pirckhermerus the part of Morauia about Olmuntz The Nertereanes after Pirckhermerus with the Casuari and Danduti coÌ„taining now the Earledome of Henneberg the countries Puchen and Ron the townes of Smalcald Koberg Egra and others The Danduti The Tubanti after Pirckhermerus now the country Essfeld and the wood Hartz The Turiochâ—mae The Curiones containing after Pirckhermerus with the Chaetuori Parmae Campi now the Lower Austria where lie the townes of Krems Znaem and Niclaspurg The Chaetuori Parmae Campi Teracatriae and Racatae The Baemi encompassed with the wood Hercynian containing then the Marcomanni and inhabiting now the countrie of Bohemia In these parts dwelt sometimes a remainder of the vanquished Boij of the Gaules Cisalpine of Italy after some abode here expulsed hence before the time of my author by the Marcomanni leaving notwithstanding here their name and memoriall of their dwelling the people being called here Bâ—mi by Ptolemy as was their country Boiemum by Tacitus by Paterculus Boiohâ—mium and now after sundry changes of inhabitants Bohemia Pliny addeth the Vindili the Vâ—ndalij of Tacitus the Vandâ—li of Cassiodorus Ingaevones Istaevones and Hermiones with the Peâ—cini being the fiue generall all parts or nations whereinto he distributeth the whole country containing sundry lesser people The Burgundiones part of the Vindili after Ph. M. adioining to the sea Baltique and containing the parts of the Dukedomâ—s of Mecklembarg and Pomeren where stand the townes of Rostoch and Sâ—nd In the raigne of the Emperour Valentiâ—ian the first these leaving that their ancient habitation to the number of fowresoare thousand fighting men descended to the Rhijn and borders of Gaule received shortly afterwards into Gaule by Stilico in the raigne of the Emperour Honorius giving there the name vnto the people and country of Burgundy Strabo addeth the 〈…〉 whose interpretations we finde not The Ilands belonging to this continent were after Ptolemy those of the Saxones distant 750 sladia from the moâ—â—th of the river Albis three named Alociae lying about the 〈◊〉 Chersonesâ—â— and fower called the Standiae situated towards the East of the Chersonese of which the three lying next vnto the Chersonese were lesser Ilands The fourth standing more Easterly more properly named Sâ—andia was of very large extent seated thwart of the riuer Vistula Solinus nameth this last the Ilâ—nd Scandinavia the biggest after his accompt of the German Ilands It containeth now the kingdomes of Sweathlandt and Norwaie with Schonen and Hallandâ— belonging vnto Denmarke by later and more exact discoueries found to ioyne vnto the continent Besides these Mela maketh mention of the seauen Hemodes situated then in the bay Codanus coÌ„taining now the ilands of DeÌ„marke lying in the mouth of the Sundt The greatest and the most fruitfull hereof he nameth the iland Codanonia most probably now Zealandt the royall seat and residence of the kings of Denmarke from whence most probably and the Baye Codanus in succeeding times begun first and was occasioned the name of the Danes A chiefe cause of so great differences and defects wee haue found here in the interpretations of the many German Nations hath beene the auncient rudenes of the country being without citty or ciuill habitation by which as with more certaine landmarkes remaining to posterity they might afterwards be distinguished and knowne We adde the sauagenes of the people not safely to be trauailed amongst and conuersed withall by strangers in danger still of their cruelty and vnnaturall sacrifices We may adde againe their often flittings as each nation had power and will to kill to driue out an other and to remoue into their voide places These during the Roman greatnes had onely the fortune not to be enthralled to the bondage hereof endangered once by Drusus in the raigne of Caesar Augustus but freed by the victory of Arminius and the death of Varus and his Legions neglected afterwards as a people for their valour vnconquerable or not worth the conquest in regard of their pouerty or through a satiety of that Empire state ouerburdened with prouinces solicitous to keepe what they had gotten and not ouer-greedy of more for this cause in regard of their restles and vndaunted 〈◊〉 pâ—un'd in with most powerfull garrisons armies hereof consisting in the raigne of the Emperour Tiberiuâ— of twelue Legions with their wings and aides whereof eight attended the shore of the Rhijn and fower that of the Danow by meanes of their continuall alarums and schirmishes herewith accompted the most warlicke and best experienced souldiers that common-wealth had Towards the waine of the Romanâ—Empire as after the same was expired those auncient names of inhabitants before mentioned and set downe being by little and little worne out and quite extinguished through their fights and butcheries amongst themselues their transmigrations into forraine countries their affection and vnions into new names and the flittings and invasions of the Sarmatiâ—ns and more Eastâ—rne people the country including Pannonia Rhaetia and Noricum shortly after confounded in the name and accompt hereof became peopled with 13 for the most part different names of the Saxons Almans French Thâ—ringians Boioarians Hunnes Lombards Avâ—res Hungarianâ— Daâ—â—s Norâ—egians Sâ—ethidi and Solaeves whose originall and whole fortunes and of the moderne kingdomes and states issuing from them wee are in the next place to relate beginning with the Saxons The SAXONS Amongst other more vnlikely Etymologies some deriue the name hereof from a short kinde of weapon they vsed called in their language Saxa Others from the Saci a people of Asia remembred by Herodotus Xenophon and Pliny and with the Getae Daci and other Barbarous nations remouing into these Westerne parts Others from the Sassones a people in the North part of Asia mentioned by Ptolâ—mie which name of all the rest suiteth best with the present now called in their language Sasses and their country Sassen or Sachsâ—n I rather thinke that the name is first and ancient without any knowne derivation as were those other names of the Dutch people before mentioned Their first mention we finde in Ptolemie who liued about the raigne of the Emperour Antoninus Pius placed as is before set downe In Histories we first read of them in the raigne of the Emperour Diocleâ—â—â—â— with the French infesting then the Sea-coast of Gaule Belgicke and Armorique Afterwards wee againe heare of them in the raigne of Constantius and Iulianus by Zosimus in his third booke where hee giueth them the chiefe place for strength hardinesse and valour aboue the rest of the Barbarians of those parts
auncient passage here over the middle chanell of the Rhijn wherevpon it was situated It was sometimes the royall seat of Radbod king of the Frisons afterwards made a Bishops sea begun first by S. Willibrord an Englishman the Apostle of the Frisons in the regencie of Pepin the Fat Maiour of the Palace in France The Bishops hereof vntill of late yeares were Lords both spirituall and temporall of this Country and Over-ysel The ancient inhabitants were parts of the Batavi and Frisij Minores lying in both Provinces of Gaule and Germany divided asunder by the middle Chanell of the Rhijn GELDERLANDT BOunded vpon the West with Hollandt and the district of Vtreicht vpon the South with the Maes Brabant and the Land of Gulick vpon the East with Clevelandt and the Earledome of Zutphen and vpon the North with the Zuyder Zee and Over-ysel The parts betwixt the Middle Chanell of the Rhijn and the Maes especially Betuwe included betwixt the middle Rhijn and the Wael are extraordinarily fruitfull yeelding plentie of corne and pasturage Veluwe or the part contained within the Rhijn the Ysel and the Zuyder-Zee is more leane sandie and worse inhabited yet affording a more pure aire and much more pleasant dwelling full of downes woods forrests replenished with game Chiefer townes here are Bommel a strong frontire place vpon the left shore of the Wael Not farre from hence the Wael and Maes come so neere together that communicating their waters they almost ioyne streames Afterwards againe dividing they meet not vntill the Castle of Lovestain neere Worcum where the Wael looseth its name in the Maes The flat country extended betwixt these two meetings is named from hence Bommeler-Weert or the Iland of Bommel Betwixt the Wael and the Maes where the riuers first meet standeth the strong fort of S. Andrew raised by the Arch-duke Albert to command the navigations of the Maes and Wael in the yeare 1600 tooke in by Maurice Count of Nassau held now by the garrisons of the vnited Provinces Tiel further vp the Wael Nimminghen mounted vpon a steepe hill vpon the left shore of the Wael the chiefe towne of the parts on this side the Rhijn In Betuwe opposite herevnto vpon the further shore of the Wael is the strong fort of Knodsenburg Venlo vpon the Maes Ruremonde at the meetings of the Maes and the Roer Gelre giving the name to the Province Arnheim Arenacum of Tacitus the wint'ring campe of the 10 Roman Legion It is now the chiefe towne of Gelderland situated vpon the right shore of the Rhijn About a mile further vp the river the Ysel divideth it selfe from this greater streame called by Tacitus Fossa Drusiana by Suetonius Fossae Drusinae and by Ptolemie the third branch of the Rhijn drawne forth to empty the fuller chanell hereof by Drusus Germanicus Leiftenant here for the Emperour Augustus and through the maine land of Germany continued vnto the bay or creeke of the Ocean named Flevus by Plinie now the Zuyder Zee Wageningen vpon the Rhijn Vada of Tacitus Harderwijck vpon the Zuyder Zee The ancient inhabitants were parts of the Batavi whereof the part called Betuwe retaineth yet the name and of the Menapij Beyond the middle branch of the Rhijn where is Amheim and Veluwe inhabited the Sicambri part afterwards of the victorious Frenchmen THE EARLEDOME OF ZVTPHEN THis is accompted part of Gelderlandt hauing continued for a long time vnder the same Princes It lyeth beyond the Ysel hauing vpon the West Veluwe and bounded vpon the other sides with the land of Cleue Westphalen and Overysel Townes here are Zutphen the chiefe towne seated vpon the right shore of the Ysel named thus from its low and moorish situation Dotechem vpon the Ysel which is a riuer arising in Westphalen and at Doesborch received into the Fosse of Drusus or the more Easterne branch of the Rhijn imparting its name of Ysel thereunto Isaacius Pontanus would haue this to haue beene the riuer Sala of Strabo in his 7. booke occasioning afterwards the name of the Salij of Ammianus Marcellinus part of the Frenchmen Doesborch at the confluence of the Old Ysel and the New Lochem Grol There are contained here and in Gelderlandt 22 walled townes and about 300 villages OVER-YSEL NAmed thus from its situation beyond the riuer Ysel It is bounded vpon the South with the river Ysel and Gelderlandt vpon the East with Westphalen vpon the West with the Zuyder Zee and vpon the North with West-Freislandt distinguished into three parts or divisions Iselant or Zallandt lying next to the Ysel Drent beyond the river Vecht and Twent confining vpon Westphalen The country is plaine flat and moorish the soile is fruitfull in corne and pasturage Townes here of better note are Deventer a Hanse towne and the chiefe hereof situated vpon the right shore of the Ysel Campen amongst inaccessible marishes vpon the left shore and fall of the Ysel into the Zuyder Zee Swol Steenwijck vpon the river Blockzyel neere vnto the Zuyder Zee at the passage or entrance into West-Freisland Coeverden In the whole are accompted 11 walled townes and 101 villages The ancient inhabitants seeme to haue been part of the Bructeri of Tacitus Pontanus placeth here the Salij of Ammianus Marcellinus part of the Franci of the same authour conjectured from the name here of Zallandt WEST-FREISLANDT COntinued along the Germane Ocean betwixt the Zuyder Zee and the riuer of Eems It hath vpon the South Over-ysel and the Zuyder Zee vpon the North-west the Germane Ocean vpon the East Westphalen and vpon the north-North-East the Eems and Oost-Freislandt The aire like vnto Hollandt is moist and foggy the land low flat fennie and moorish abounding in grasse and pasturage milke butter cheese kine and horses of large stature but vnapt for corne brought hither for the most part by sea from Dantzijck and the Easterne countries It generally wanteth wood as in like manner doth Hollandt vnlesse in the part called Seven-wolden in regard whereof they vse turfe and in some places the dryed dung of beasts It containeth two distinct provinces Ommelanden or the territorie of Groningen and West-Freislandt more properly thus named THE PROPER WEST-FREISLANDT LYing betwixt the Zuyder-Zee and Groninger-landt and divided into the parts of Ooster-goe Wester-goe and Zeven-wolden called thus from their qualitie or situation WESTER-GOE COntaining the sea-coast towardes the West and Hollandt Chiefer townes are Harlingen a populous and well traded port vpon the Ocean defended with a strong Castle Vpon the same sea-coast Hindeloppen Staveren a Hanse towne thwart of Enchusen The towne is old and decayed commended onely for a strong castle commaunding the haven begunne in the yeare 1522 by George Schenck gouernour of West-Freislandt Within the land Sloten Ylst. Sneck in a low and watrish situation The towne for largenesse neatenesse of building and for streight and well contrived streets chalengeth the next place to Leewarden amongst the townes of
West-Freislandt The wet and moorish ground about it affordeth rich pasturages but is altogither vnfit for corne Franicker a schoole or petty Vniversity Bolswaerdt OOSTER-GOE COntaining the Sea-coast betwixt Wester-goe and the country of Groningen Townes here are Lieward or Leewarden the court presidial chancerie and chiefe towne of the proper West-Freislant rich faire and strongly fortified Doccum neere vnto Groninger-landt ZEVEN-WOLDEN COntaining the woodland part towards the South-East and Ouer-ysel It hath not any towne of note THE TERRITORY OF GRONINGEN THis is the most Easterne part of West-Freislandt contained betwixt Ooster-goe and the river Eems or Oost-Freislandt Townes here are Dam neere vnto the Eems and Oost-Frislandt Groeningen the chiefe towne giving the name to the province The towne is of great state large rich and strongly fortified There are contained in the whole West-Freislandt 12. walled townes and some 490 Villages The more auncient inhabitants were the Frisij Maiores of Ptolemy Of these 8 provinces South-Holland Vtrecht on the hither side of the Rhijn with Bommeler-Weert Maes-Wael and Betuwe in Gelderlandt appertaine vnto Gaule Belgick North-Hollandt Veluwe of Gelderlandt Zutphen Over-ysel West-Freislandt and Groningerlandt belong vnto Germany the midle chanell of the Rhijn aunciently parting those two mighty prouinces In bignes pleasure and goodnes of soile they are inferiour to those of the Princes but in trade populousnes wealth strength and number of shipping they much surpasse the other In a manner all their townes stand vpon the Ocean vpon great nauigable riuers creeks or inlets of the sea or amongst deepe vnpassable marishes waters wherby through their strength of shipping never being able sully to be besieged and victualls munition and men being hereby easily conueyed vnto them they are become invincible against the most potent enimies not easily to be mastered vnlesse by their disvnion and the dominion of the sea taken from them Their gouerment since that they shoake of the Spanish yoake hath beene vnder the particular states of each prouince a third part of Gelderlandt and Zutphen excepted where stand the townes of Ruremond Guelders Venlo Watchtendonc Strale and Grol remaining yet subiect to the Arch-dutchesse not vnited into any one entire body of common-wealth and but onely for their better defence confederate together in a more strict league whose delegates resident for the most part at the Hage in Hollandt are called the States Generall Their lawes are their severall municipall lawes customes and priuiledges together with the ciuill or Roman law Their religion which onely publikely is allowed is the reformed following or allowing the doctrine of Caluin Their language is the Dutch DENMARCK THE bounds hereof are vpon the South the river Eydore parting it from Holstein the kingdome of the Germans vpon the West the German Ocean vpon the East the Sea Balticke or the Ooster-sche and vpon the North the kingdomes of Norwey and Swethen It lyeth betwixt the 55 45 60 and 59 5 60 degrees of Northerne Latitude The length betwixt North and South is 265 Italian miles the breadth some 200 of the same miles The more ancient inhabitants were the Sigulones Subalingij Cobandi Chali Phundusij Charudes and Cimbri of Ptolemie and Tacitus inhabiting the necke of land named by Ptolemy from that more famous nation the Cimbrian Chersonese now the 2 Iutlandts the Teutoni of Mela inhabiting the Iland Codanonia now Zeland and the Sitones or Sueones of Tacitus for we cannot out of his description certainely distinguish whether inhabiting the parts hereof lying in the Continent of Scandia now Hallandt Schonen and Bleking These ancient names towards the waine of the Roman Empire worne out and extinguished we read in Beda of the Angli and Vitae inhabiting the Cimbrian Chersonese whereof these later possessed the more Northern parts the former after the same author were seated betwixt the Vitae and the Saxons From the Vitae the Cimbrian Chersonese now beareth the name of Iutlandt The name of the Angli is yet preserved here in the Dukedome of Scleswijck in the towne or name of Angelen In the raigne of the Emperour Valentinian the third these two nations remouing with the Saxons into the Iland of Great Brittaine not long after in the raignes of Theodoric French King of Austrasia and of Anastasius Emperour of the East we lastly finde here the Danes more certainely named thus as hath beene related from the bay Codanus whose Ilands and neighbouring Continent they inhabited Iornandes who liued in the raigne of the Emperour Iustinian the first placeth these in the Continent of Scanzia or Scandia Vnder their Prince Godfrey in the raigne of the Emperour Charles the Great we finde them enlarged Southwards vnto the river Eydore dividing from them the Saxons or Dutch as they remaine at this present From this nation the country hath since beene called Denmarck famous a long time for armes and their great and many victories atchieved abroad themselues never conquered by foraine power Lords sometimes of England and Swethen and at this day of the large kingdome of Norwey and of all the navigations and Ilands situated towards the Pole Arcticke and the North. The religion hereof which is publikely allowed is only the Protestant or Confession of Augspurg first converted to Christianity by S. Ansgarius Bishop of Bremen the generall Apostle of these Northerne parts in the raignes of king Eric the second and of Lewis the Godly Emperour of the West and reformed to the Orthodox tenent by the authority of king Fredericke the first The Ecclesiasticall affaires are directed by the Arch-bishop of Lunden and six other Bishops of Rotschilt Odensee Ripen Wiborch Arhusen and Sleswijck The state is monarchicall the eldest sonne most commonly succeeding vnto the father yet where the states doe chalenge a right of chusing None of the nobility exceede the dignitie of Knights conferred by the free grace of the Prince The titles of Dukes Marqueses Earles Vicounts and Barons are not heard of vnlesse amongst the issue royall The kingdome for the better distribution of iustice containeth 184 Prefectures or juridicall resorts which they call Herets It lyeth partly in the continent of Germany and partly in the maine land of Scandia and in the Ilands of the Sundt betwixt these containing fiue more generall parts or names of Iutlandt the Ilands of the Sundt Halland Schonen and Bleking IVTLANDT COntaining the neck of land in the continent of Germany called by Ptolemie the Cimbrian Chersonese It hath vpon the West and North the German Ocean vpon the East the Sundt and vpon the South the riuer Eydore parting it from Holstein and the German Empire It is diuided into the North and the South Iutlands South Iutland hath beene otherwise named the Dukedome of Iutlandt likewise the Dukedome of Sleswijck from the towne of Sleswijck about the yeare 1280 in the person of Waldemar severed from the kingdome by Eric to be