homeward with his Wife he was drowned in a Tempest neer unto the Coasts of Radland 13 An. Dom. 1249. Raignald the Son of Olave and brother to Harold began his raign and on the thirtieth day thereof was slain by one Tvar a Knight in a Meadow neer unto the holy Trinity-Church and lieth buried in the Church of S. Mary of Russin 14 In the year 1252. Magnus the son of Olave came to Man and was made King The next year following he went to the King of Norway and stayed there a year 15 In the year 1265. Magnus Olaves son King of Man and of the Islands departed this life at the Castle of Russin and was buried in the Church of S. Mary of Russin 16 In the year 1266 the Kingdom of the Islands was translated by reason of Alexander King of Scots who had gotten into his hands the Western Islands and brought the Isle of Man under his dominion as one of that number 17 An. 1340. William Montacute Earl of Salisbury wrested it from the Scottish by strong hand and force of Arms and in year the 1393 as Thomas Walsingham saith he sold Man and the Crown thereof unto William Scroope for a great summe of money But he being beheaded for high Treason and his Goods confiscate it came into the hands of Henry the Fourth King of England who granted this Island unto Henry Piercy Earl of Northumberland But Henry Piercy entring into open Rebellion the fifth year following the King sent Sir Iohn Stanley and William Stanley to seize the Isle and Castle of Man the inheritance whereof he granted afterwards to Sir Iohn Stanley and his Heirs by Letters Patents â—with the Patronage of the Bishoprick c. So that his Heirs and Successors who were honoured with the Title of Earls of Darby were commonly called Kings of Man HOLY ISLAND GARNSEY FARNE IARSEY HOLY-ISLAND CHAPTER XLV THis Island is called Lindisfarne by the River Lied that is opposite unto it on the Coast of Northumberland Beda termed it a Demâ—-Island The Britains name it Iuis Medicante for that it twice every day suffereth an exordinary inundation and over-flowing of the Ocean in manner of an Island which twice likewise makes it continent to the Land and returning unto her watry habitation lays the Shore bare again as before It is called in English Holy-Island for that in ancient times many Monks have been accustomed to retired themselves thither and to make it their receptacle for solitude having on the West and South Northumberland and more South Eastward the Island Farne 2 The form of it is long and narrow the West-side narrower than the East and are both conjoyned by a very small spang of Land that is left unto Conies The South is much broader than the rest It is from East to West about two thousand two hundred and fifty paces and from North to South twelve hundred and fifty paces so that the circumference cannot be great 3 The Air is not very good either for health or delight as being seated on those parts that are subject to extremity of cold and greatly troubled with vapouâ—s and foggy mists that arise from the Seas 4 The Soil cannot be rich being rocky and full of Stones and unfit for Corn and Tillage It is neither commended for Hills to feed Sheep nor Pastures to fat Cattel neither hath it Vallies replenished with sweet Springs or running Rivolets only one excepted descending from a standing Pond The only thing this Island yieldeth is a fit and accommodate aptitude for Fishing and Fowling 5 Notwithstanding this is very worthy of note concerning the same which Alcun wrote in an Epistle to Egelred King of Northumberland namely that it was a place more venerable than all the places of Britain and that after the departure of S. Paulinus from York there Christian Religion began in their Nation though afterwards it there felt the first beginning of misery and calamity being left to the spoil of Pagans and Miscreants 6 It is also remembred of this Island that sometime there hath been in it an Episcopal See which Aidan the Scot instituted being called thither to Preach the Christian Faith to the People of Northumberland being thus delighted with the solitary situation thereof as a most fit place for retirement But afterwards when the Danes rifled all the Sea-Coasts the Episcopal See was translated to Durham 7 This Island so small in account either for compass or commodity and so unpeopled and unprofitable cannot be numerous in Towns and Villages It hath in it only one Town with a Church and a Castle under which there is a commodious Haven defended with a Block-house situate upon an Hill towards the South-East FARNE-ISLE THis Isle South-Eastward seven miles from Holy-Island sheweth it self distant almost two miles from Brambrough Castle On the West and South it beareth upon Northumberland and on the North-east-side it hath other smaller Islands adjoyning to it as Widopons and Staple-Island which lie two miles off Bronsinan and two lesser than these which are called the Wambes 2 The Form of this Iâ—le is round and no longer in compass than may easily be ridden in one half of a day The breadth of it is but five miles and the length no more The whole circumference extends it self no further than to fifteen miles 3 The Air is very unwholsom and subject both to many Dysenteries and other Diseases by reason of the miâ—ty Fogs and Exhalations that are thereunto drawn up from the Ocean It is many times troubled with unusual Tempests of Winds with boisterous â—ury of stormy Rains and with several and uncouth rages of the Sea 4 The Soil cannot be fertile being incircled about with craggy Clifts â—either hath it in it much matter either of pleasure or profit It can neither defend it self from Cold lacking Fuel as Wood Coal Turffs c. Nor from Famine wanting Food as Corn Pastures Cattel c. The best Commodity it yields is Fish and Fowl 5 This thing nevertheless is worthy to be remembred of it which Beda writing of the Life of Cuthbert Bishop of Lindisfarne that Tutelar Patron of the Northern Eâ—glishmen reporteth namely that in this Isle he built a City fitting his Government and erected certain Houses in the same the whole building standing almost round in compass and reaching the space of four or five Pearches The Wall about it he made higher than a Mans height to with-hold and keep in the wanton lasciviousness both of his thoughts and eyes and to elevate the whole intention of his mind up to heavenly desires that he might wholly give himself to the service of God But these are all made the ruins of time as sithence many other Monuments have been of worthy Antiquity 6 I cannot report that there are now many Houses standing in it much less Towns or Villages Only this that it hath a Tower or Place of Fortification belonging unto it placed well-neer in the middle part of the Isle GARNSEY THis Island
The second part occupied all the Land Northward from Humber to the Orkney-Sea called by the Latines Marâ— Caledonium or Dâ—ucâ—lâ—â—oâ—ium now famously known by the name of Scotland The third part was this lying betwixt the Irish-Seas the Rivers Sâ—verne and Dee and was called Câ—mbria which name doth yet continue with them though we the Eâ—glish call it Wales as the People Welshmen which is strange and strangers for so at this day the dwellers of Tyroll in the higher Germany whence our Saxons are said to have come do name the Italian their next neighbour a Welshman and his language Welsh 2 This opinion Verstegâ—n doth altogether contradict rather judging by the ancient Tâ—utâ—â—ick tongue which the Germans spake and wherein the G is pronounced for W that these Sâ—xoâ—s called them Gallish from the Gaules whence their original proceeded rather than Wallish from strangers which he thinketh could not be considering their habitations so neer unto them and that the like was in use he proveth by the words of Erench Gardian for Wardian Cornugalles for Câ—rwâ—lles yea and Galles for Walles calling our most famous Edward Prince of Galles not Prince of Wâ—lles insomuch that the County of Lombardy bordering along upon the Germans was of them called Gâ—lliâ—ciâ— cis-alphina and at this day Welsh-land So likewise do the Netherlands call the Inhabitants of Henalt and Artois Wallen or Walloâ—s and some part of Brabant and Flanders Welsh-Brabant and Welsh-Flaâ—ders and all because of the Language and Lineage of the Gauls Neither do the meer Natives of Wales know any other name of their Country than Cambria of themselves than Cambri or Cumri or of their Language than Cambraoc But leaving this opinion free to his affection we will proceed 3 Wales therefore being anciently bounded as before the Saxons did afterwards win by force from the Britains all the plain and Champion Country over the River Dee and especially Offa King of Mercia made their limits straighter by making a Ditch of great breadth and depth to be a Mear betwixt this Kingdom and Wales This Ditch is in many places to be seen at this day and bears the name of Clawh Offa that is Offaes Ditch The Country between it and England is commonly called the Marches and is for the most part inhabited by Welshmen especially in North-Wales even to the River Dee This admirable Trench began at Bassiâ—gwerke in Elintshire between Chester and Ruthland and ran along the Hills to the South-Sea a little from Bristow reaching above an hundred miles in length 4 Silvester Giraldus makes the River Wye to be the Mear between England and Wales on the South part called South-Wales whence he ascribeth the breadth of Wales unto Saint Davids in Menâ—viâ— to be an hundred miles and the length from Caerleon upon Vske in Gwentland to Holly-head in Anglesâ—y an hundred miles he might have said thirty more 5 About the year of Christ 870 our Alfred reigning in England Rodericus Magnus King of VVales did divide it into three Talaiths Regions or Territories which were called Kingdoms This Rodericus Magnus gave Venâ—dâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales to Anarawd his eldest son to Cadeth his second son Demeâ—ia Debeuâ—arth or South-VValls and to Mervin his third son Powys 6 North-VVales had upon the North-side the Irish-Sea from the River Dee to Bassingwerke to Aberdyvi upon the West and South-West the River Dyvi which divideth it from South-VVales and in some places from Powysland And on the South and East it is divided from Powys sometimes with high Hills and sometimes with Rivers till it come again to the River Dee It is generally full of high Mountains craggy Rocks great Woods and deep Vallies many strait dangerous places deep and swift Rivers 7 This Land was of old time divided into four parts Mon Arvon Meryonith and y Bervedhwlan or the middle Country and each of these were again divided into several Countries and they subdivided into their Cymeden or Commots wherein we follow that division which was in the time of Llewylyn ap Ruffin last Prince of VVales according to a Copy imparted to me by a worshipful Friend and learned Antiquary as seeming far more exact than that of Doctor Powels 8 Aâ—glâ—sey the chiefest is separated from the main Land with the River Moenai wherein at Aberfraw was the Princes Court now a mean Village In this Island is a fair Town called Beaumarish And common passage to Ireland at Caergybi in English Holly-head 9 Arvâ—n the second part of North-VVales is now called Carnarvanshire the strongest Country within that Principality giving place to none for fertility of the ground or for plenty of Wood Cattel Fish and Fowl c. Here are the Towns of Caernarvan in old time called Caer-Segoâ—t and Bangor the Bishops See with divers other ancient Castles and places of memory This portion hath on the North the Sea and Moeâ—ai upon the East and South-East the River Conwey which divideth it from Denâ—igh-shire and on the South-West is separated from Merionyth by Rivers Mountains and Mears 10 Merionyth was the third part of Gwyneth and keepeth the name till this day it is full of Hills and much noted for the resort of People that repair thither to take Herrâ—ngs Upon the North it hath Arvon and Denbigh land upon the South Caerdigan-Shire and upon the East Montgâ—mâ—ry-shire heretofore part of Powis In this County standeth the Town of Harlech and a great Lake called Llyn-Tegyd This Country is likewise full of Cattel Fowl and Fish and hath in it great store of red Deer and Roes but there is much scarcity of Corn. 11 Y Bervedhwland was the fourth part of Gwyneth and may be called in English The middle Country is inclosed with Hills on the East West and South-parts and with the Sea Northward It is plentiful of Cattel Fish and Fowl as also of Corn and is divided in the midst with the River Clwyd to which run a number of other Rivers from the Hills In this part is Dyffryn-Clwyd the fairest Valley within Wales containing eighteen miles in length and seven in breadth In which is the Town and Castle of Ruthlâ—n near unto the Sea and not far thence S. Assaph an Episcopal seat between the Rivers Clwyd and Elwy Herein stands the fair Town and goodly Castle of Denbigh situated upon a Rock the greatest Market-Town of North-Wales and from thence is seen the Town and Castle of Ruthyn fair for prospect and fruitful for fite This part of North-Wales hath the Sea upon the North d ee toward the East Arvon The River Conwey and Mâ—riâ—nyth upon the West and the Country then called Pâ—wys upon the South And these were the Mears and Bounds of the four Parts of Venedâ—tia Gwyneth or North-Wales 12 The second Talaith or Kingdom was Mathraval or Powys To this belonged the Country of Powys and the Land between Wye and Sevâ—rne It hath South-Wales upon the South and West with the Rivers Wye and Tywy and other Mears upon the North
the Receits of other Rivolets into her Stream and with many Wings doth sport her self thorow all the East-part of this Shire 3 That this River took her name from Abren the beautiful base daughter of Locrinus begotten out of Wedlock upon Estrildis the daughter of Humber the Scythian King that invaded this Land and both of them drowned in this River by Guendolena King Locrinus surviving Widow let Geoffrey relate and Poets enlarge whereof one among them in good account thus writeth In flumen praaecipitatur Abren Nomen Abren fluvio de Virgine nomen eidem Nomine corrupto deinde Sabrina datur Into this stream fair Abren headlong-cast Gave name of Abren to those waters vast Corruptly call'd Sabrina now at last 4 The River maketh the East part of this Shire for fruitfulness to be compared with most of the Land and to exceed any other Shire in Wales the West-side is more hilly and less inhabited yet surely those mountains breed innumerable of Cattel especially of Horses whose Portraiture for making and incomparable swiftness Giraldus Cambrensis Arch-Deacon of Brecknock doth greatly commend 5 The ancient Inhabitants that were seated in Gwineth and Powisland whereof this Shire was a part were to the Romans known by the name of ORDOVICES a puissant and couragious Nation whose Hearts and Hills held them the longest free from the Yoke of Subjection either of the Romans or English for unto the daies of Domitian they kept plea with the Romans and were not brought to the will of the English before the Reign of King Edward the first Those ORDOVICES inhabited the Counties of Mountgomery Merioneth Caernarvan Denbigh and Flint which are of us called now North-Wales a people generous and of affable conditions goodly for feature fair of complexion couragious of mind courteous to strangers and that which is most commendable most true and loyal to the English Crown Towns for Trades and Commerce in this County are six the chiefest thereof and Shire-Town is Mountgomery very wholsome for Air and pleasant for situation upon an easie ascent of an Hill and upon another far higher mounted stands a fair and well-repaired Castle from the East-Rock whereof the Town hath been walled as by some part yet standing and the Tract and Trench of the rest even unto the North-side of the said Castle may evidently be seen whose graduation for Latitude is placed in the degree 53 and for Longitude 17 the lines cutting each other in the site of this Town This Town hath lately received the Honour and Title of an Earldome whereof Philip Herbere the second Son of Henry Earl Pembroke was created the first in Anno 1605. And the Shire divided into seven Hundreds wherein are seated six Market-Towns and forty seven Parish-Churches MERIONETH-SHIRE CHAPTER X. MERIONETH-SHIRE which the Britains call Sire Verioneth and in Latine Mervia is bordered upon the North by Carâ—arvon and Denbigh-shires upon the East with Mountgomery upon the South by the River Dowy is parted from Cardigan-shire and the West side altogether washed with the Irish-Seas whose rage with such vehemency beateth against her Banks that it is thought and said some quantity of the Land hath been swallowed up by those Seas 2 In form this Shire somewhat resembleth a Welsh-Harp though small is the Musick that to her Inhabitants she makes being the roughest and most unpleasant to see to as Giraldus their own Historian writeth in all Wales The Air for great pleasure nor Soil for great profit I cannot greatly commend unless it be for the many and mighty great winds that for the most part therein do rage and the spired Hills clustred together so near and so high as the same Author affirmeth that Shepherds upon their tops falling at odds in the morning and challenging the Field for fight before they can come together to try out the quarrel the day will be spent and the heat of their fury shut up with their sleep 3 These mountains formerly did abound with Wolves for whose avoidance Edgar the peaceable did impose as Malmesbury writeth a yearly Tribute of three hundred Wolves upon Ludwall Prince of that Country whereby in three years space they were quite destroyed and now their faces are covered with fruitful Flocks of Sheep besides Neat and other Cattel that therein abundantly do grase wâ—erein the only riches of this Shire doth consist for by reason of this unevenness of the Soil and Rocks so near the face of the Earth the Plough cannot be drawn nor the Corn prosper which some have imputed to the idleness of the Inhabitants wherein they have been greatly wronged 4 These People are a part of the Ordovices of whom we have spoken who by the advantage of these Mountains held out with the longest against the Romans and their Necks not brought under the yoke of Bondage before the daies of King Edward the first since when they have attempted to cast off their subjection to the English upon those stirs raised by Owen Glendover who having been a Favorite of King Richard the second and discontented by King Henry the fourth in a quarrel with the Lord Grey of Rutâ—in that intruded upon his demains quarrelled with the King and entred into open Rebellion and Confederacy with all other his Rebels drawing the Welsh-men wholly to his side in hope to have had Princes restored of their own blood and he maintained the same with wonderful pride policy and obstinacy for a long time until his Confederates Followers and Favorites and his own courage credit and maintenance were brought so low by that powerful King that in the end he perished for very want of Food 5 Their Towns are not many neither those that they have of any stately Buildings whereof Bala Dolgelhe and Harlech are the Markets By Bala in the north-North-East of this County in the Welsh Lâ—integid in English Pimble-mear a great Pool of Water doth drown at least threescore Acres of ground whose nature is as the report doth pass that the high-High-land Floods though never so great cannot make her swell bigger by their receits but if the Air be troubled with over great blasts and tempests of Winds she in as great a rage riseth and passeth her Banks as if she would encounter that enemy in fight Into the South whereof the two headed Dee with a pretty sharp stream entreth and through the same glideth without any mixture of the same water as the Inhabitants believe more strongly conceited in their opinion for that the Salmon usually taken in Dee is never found in that Pool and the Fish called Guiniad bread in that Mear never is seen in the River Dâ—â— South thence near Dolgelhe in a lower Hill a great Rampire of Stone and compass is seen and hath been some fortification or defence in War which whilst we were curious to find out some instructions thereof by report this only we learned that it was called Caddoryrita Drâ—n according to the name of her neighbour and far higher Hill 6 Upon the West
length The compass is reckoned by us to be 1890 English miles It is begirt on every side with Seas unless on the Eastern and there it is joyned to France by a kind of Isthmus when the Pyrenaean Mountains cross from one Sea to the other and set the limits to both Kingdoms On the West it is bounded with the Atlantick Ocean on the North with the Cantabrick and on the South with the Fretum Herculeum South East with the Mediterraneum Till within this 800 years it continued mangled and broken by many turns of Fortune Since it hath felt variety enough now it is wholly subject to one Monarch though it yet carry the name of three Kingdoms Aragou Castile and Portugal The Land yields all sorts of Wines Sugar Fruits Grain Oyls Metals especially Gold and Silver It is fertile enough for the Inhabitants For indeed they are not many nor have they so great Cities as there are in other Regions in Europe Besides the conditions of those for the most part are base The meanest proud the best superstitious and hypocrites most of them lascivious Give them their own they are good Souldiers not so much for their valour in performing as patience to endure labours hunger thirst and by this means oft-times weary out an enemy rather than Conquer him 10 France the second Region of Europe beginneth from the West at the Pyrenean Mountains and is bounded on the East with Germany on the North with our English Seas and South-ward with the Mediterraneum South East with the Alpes which divide it from Italy It was once tributary to Rome as most of these parts besides and had its division into Provinces as they pleased Now the chief are Loraign Burgundy Savoy and these have their free Princes the rest are Norway Brittany Berry Aquitane Picardy Poictou Languedock Anjow Gascoin Province Compagne and many more The Country is very fruitful and calls her neighbouring Nations to her for Traffique Their special Commodities are Wine Corn and Salt Well peopled and hath very many illustrious Cities But the Inhabitants are naturally light in their carriage almost Counter-point to the Spaniard yet of great â—ame both in learning and wars Commended by all strangers for compleat Courtship 11 Belgia hath France on the South on the North Denmark on the East Germany and the main Ocean on the West It is known best with us by the Name of Low Countreys or Netherlands The compass of it is about a thousand miles It is divided into 17 Provinces And of these four are Dukedoms seven Earldoms five Baronies and one Marqueship The Dukedoms are 1 Brabant and in this is Antwerp 2 Luick 3 Lutzenburg here stands the vast Forrest of Ardeuna 4 Gelderland The Earldomâ— 1 Flanders 2 Artois 3 Hainalt 4 Holland 5 Zealand 6 Zutphen 7 and Hamme The Baronies 1 Friezland 2 Vtreck 3 Mechlin 4 Overissell 5 Groueling The Marqueship is that of the holy Empire The Land is good and affordeth great store of Butter Cheese and breeds Oxen of incredible bigness and weight The people too are very industrious and excellent Mechanicks The men commonly are of a goodly Porrtaiture yet of more fame for their wars than their volour but are forced to maintain their liberty by the Sword good Sea-men indeed and in that they bear some sway Their Governours are called the States of the Low Conntries The General of their Forces is the Prince of Orange 12 Germany lyeth East-ward from Belgia and on her own East is bounded with Hungary and Polonia and the River Vistula and the North with the Germane Ocean and on the South with the Alpes that divide her from Italy In the middle is situated the Kingdome of Bohemia compassed with the Sylva Hircinia and in this stands Prague where the Emperour commonly keeps his Court. And comprehends many Provinces of note Saxony Brandenberge Pomerania Bavaria Silesia Franconia Austria Helvetia East-Friezland Westphalia Cleveland Alsatia Brunswick and Hassia It hath now the name of the Empire as once Rome had but it comes far short of her in glory The right to it descends not by succession but by choice of six Electors Arch-Bishops of Triers Mentes and Cullen Count Palatine of Rhene Duke of Saxony and Marquess Brandenbâ—â—g In case of equality the King of Bohemia hath a suffrage which carries it It is a rich Country in Corn Wine Fruits Mines and hath in it healthfull Bathes The people warlike and ingenious for the invention of many useful implements 13 Italy hath Germany on the North divided by the Alpes on the South the Mediterraneum on the East the Adriatique Sea and on the West Mare Tyrrhenum In length it is 1010 miles and in the broadest place 420. It was once intirely one Now it is divided into many States and Provinces The chief are the Kingdom of Naples the Territory of Rome Lumbardy Tuscain the Seignory of Vâ—nice Verona and others of great fame For indeed the whole Country is of admirable fertility and called by good Authors The Paradise of the earth The Inhabitants grave and frugal yet hot and lascivious 14 Denmark is joyned to Germany on the South and on the West hath the Mare Germanicum and so almost is invironed with Sea and is a Peninsula In the Continent are two Provinces of note Irglant and Holsten The other are petty Islands for the most part The chief Zealand and Loiland The Country breedeth goodly Horses and store of Cattel The people are good Souldiers and subject to one King 15 Hungaria hath part of Germany on the West on the East the River Tibiscus and Walachia on the North with Poland and on the South with the River Saure South West with Sclavonia The great Danubius cuts her in the middle and names her parts Citerior and Vlterior The chief Provinces are 1 The Country of Soliense where the earth sends forth such a ftench that it poysoneth the very Birds which fly over it 2 An Island in Danubius exceeding fertile And so indeed is the whole Country The people are generally strong but shew the Ancientry to be of the Scythians by their barbarous manner and neglect of learning Their daughters portion are only a new attire and their Sons equally inherit without priviledge of birth-right The Emperour of Germany and the Turk share it betwixt them 16 Polonia and Silesia a Province of Germany on the West on the East the River Boristhenes or Neiper on the North the Baltick Sea and Hungary on the South It is in compass 2600 miles The chief Provinces which belong at least to Poland are Livâ—nia Lituania Volinia Samogiiia Podolia â—ussianigra Mazoria Prussia Podlassia The Dukedomes of Optwittes and Zotor Polonia propria The Land abounds with Honey Wax Mines of Copper and Iron It breeds store of Horses fit for service Their Religion is promiscuous of all kinds from the true worship to the very Atheist which acknowledgeth no God yet they are governed by one King which doth not succeed but is chosen by
glory in this age For that Nation directs not their travellers into these parts to see hear and partake of their excellent learning though they compass it with great expence and venture through dangerous hazzards by reason of their treacherous dispositions and cruel barbarous usage of such as shall in any light circumstance seem to be averse from their idolatrous suspition But their Universities are many and very famous Rome Ferrara Naples Salernum Venice Padua Verona Florence Millain Mantua c. 17 I must omit those many divisions of Italy made first by Cato in Appenninam Cisappenninam Transappenninam By Pliny in Liguriam Latium c. By Strabo in Venetiam Lucaniam Apaliam Romam c. By Ptolomy into 45 several Nations We will rest in the latest which best â—its the present state and numbers ten Provinces 1 The Kingdom of Naples 2 The Land of the Church 3 The Commonwealth of Venice 4 The Dukedom of Florence 5 The Dukedom of Millain 6 The Dukedom of Mantua 7 The Dukedom of Vrbin 8 The Principality of Parma 9 The State of Genoa 10 The State of Luca. 18 The first is the Kingdom of Naples in the South part of Italy and is the most fertile it is bounded with the Seas unless on that side towards the Papacy It is of large compass and comprehends many Provinces 1 Campania faelix or terra laboris and in this stands Naples the Metropopolis and Cuma where the Sybyls Cave was by which Aeneas went down to Hell And not far off is the lake Avernus 2 Abrazzo her chief Towns of note are Sulmo and Aquine the birth-place of our great School-man Thomas Aquinas 3 Calabria inferior The chief City Salernum an Academy famous for Physick 4 Calabria superior called Magna Grecia from a multitude of Greek Colonies which there built Cities and possest a great part of the Countries The principal of note was Tarentum 5 Terra Di Otranto for her Metropolis Otranto once Hydruntun And here stands Brundusiâ—m famous for one of the best Havens in Christendom 6 Puglia and her chief City was Arpinum Tully's birth-place 19 The Land of the Church lieth on the West of Naples and South-East of the Common-wealth of Venice North and South she crosseth from the Adriatique to the Tuscau Sea Her under-Provinces are 1 Romandiola and her chief Cities Bononia and Ferrara and Ravenna 2 Marchia Anchonitana in which stands Loretta the place where so many miracles are performed by our Lady as they deliver among the rest of their Legends 3 Ducato Spoletano and in this Asis where Saint Francis was born 4 Saint Peters Patrimony a large portion and I believe more than ever he enjoyed or could leave to his heirs Her ancient Towns well known and oft mentioned in the Roman Stories were Alba the seat of the Sylvian Kings and Ostia built by Ancus Martius and Tybur Preneste the Gaâ—ii the Veii and that which bustles for the place above any other in Christendome Rome her self we will not repeat her beginning she was then but two miles in compass but after she grew far she burnished to 50 miles about upon the walls 740 Turrets and the Inhabitants innumerable For those memorable actions which were performed in her under the Antique Empire we will refer the Reader to a particular Description derived wholly to that purpose As it is now it stands somewhat lower on the banks of Tiber in the Campus Maetins she retains yet 11 miles round and 200000 Inhabitants a great part Friars and such odd idle fellows which pretend to Religion for want of other means to live cloyster themselves up to a single life only to avoid the charge and incumbrances of marriage not to separate themselves from the world or desires of the flesh for among them they maintain commonly 40000 Curtizans in good custome and so rich that they are able to pay 30000 Duckets yearly to the Pope The buildings in which they most glory in are the Church of Saint Peter the Castle of Saint Angelo the Vatican Library and the Popes Palace The truth is there is pride enough to attire the Whore of Babylon as there can hardly be any other meant than Rome she sits upon the Beast with seven heads for she was built upon seven Hills Palatinus Capitolinus Viminalis Aventinus Esquilinus Caelius Quirinalis was ruled first by seven Kings and hath been since subject to seven several forms of Government if you joyn the Popedom to those former which I have now mentioned 20 The Common-wealth of Venice on the North of the Papacy is a large Territory and is now as famous for State-policy as it hath been heretofore glorious for warlike atchievements The Inhabitants were first a people of lesser Asia and assisted their neighbour Trojans in their ten years quarrel with the Greeks So long since they were known by the name of Heneti and that differs not much from Veneti as they are now called Though they have a Duke yet it is a free State and governed by an Aâ—istarchy for he is ordered to the very cloaths on his back by a certain number of the chief Citizens of Venice for that is their Gentry and hath his allowance out of their treasury little enough to keep him from the thought of tyranny about 40000 Duckets by the year The City it self is eight miles round built upon 72 Islands five miles from the firm land but for convenience of passage is alwayes furnisht with Boats and hath 4000 Bridges Their Arsnal keeps in continual readiness 200 Gallies In their Magazin of War there is ever furniture for 100000 men at Arms. The younger brothers of the Gentry may not marry to increase the number beyond maintenance yet to make up their liberty they allow them stews Her Provinces are 1 Marca Trarigniana and her chief Cities are Truisco and Padua the University best frequented by Physicians by reason of her rare garden of Simples and Verona with many others 2 Frinby 3 Histria 4 Part of Dalmatia 5 The Islands Candie Corsica Ithaca Zant Leucadia Cythera c. 21 The Dukedome of Florence betwixt the Appennine Mountains on the North and the Tyrrhene Sea on the South hath on the West Romagna and Pissâ—o on the East A great part of it was Tuscany and gives yet to their Prince the title of great Duke of Tusâ—any Her chief Cities are Florence where the most â—legant Italian is spoke familiarly and Pisa which the Florentines besieged and conquered by the valour of our English Sir Iohn Haukewood who raised himself by his brave carriage in the wars haâ—ing been before but a very poor Taylor in Essex the third is Pistoya where first began the quarrel of the Gueâ—fes and Gabellines 22 The Dukedome of Millain in Lombardy on the South of Traginana North of Liguria West of Mantua and East of Piedmont A pleasant and rich Province Her chief City Millain of seven miles compass the seat of St. Ambrose his Bishoprick 23 The Dukedom of Mantua on the East
Austria on the East with the River Tibiâ—cus on the North with Poland and Russia and on the South with the River Savus 8 The Land thus limited it is hard to believe what most Geographers report of her fertility That she yields Corn thrice in one year almost without any tillage or care of the husbandman Fruit of all kinds in great abundance and Grapes which make an excellent wholsome and rich Wine It breeds Cattel in such plenty that this one Countrey besides store for her own Inhabitants sends Sheep and Oxen into for eign Nations which lye about her and might say they suffice to feed all Europe with flesh Venison is not here any Dainty Does Hares Goats Boars are every mans meat and the game common as well to the Boors as Gentry And so for Phesant Partridge Black-birds Pigeons most Fowl wild and tame 9 The earth is enricht with variety of Mines which yields her plenty of Iron Steel Copper Silver and Gold Lead she hath not and scarce at all any Tin Her Rivers are equally commodious as well for their own wealth as fit conveyance of foreign Merchandise by shipping into their quarters The chief and only one indeed which belongs properly to this Region is Tibiâ—cus or Teissa and this imparts not her streams to any other Countrey but fully and freely pays her tribute to the Hungarian more Fish than can be spent yearly within their own limits It passeth proverbially upon this River that two parts of it are water and a third Fish The rest which are common to this with other Countries are Danubius here Ister and Savus and Darvus all of them well stored with water provision and in some places cast up a sand mixt with very good Gold Here are besides many waters of excellent vertues whereof some turn wood into Iron others Iron into Brass some very medicinal for sundry diseases others again so pestiferous that they kill the creature which doth but taste them The like is reported of an Hiatus in the ground unaccessible by any but the â—owls of the air and those fall suddenly dead with the stench which ascends from it 10 The people for the most part are strong fierce revengeful harsh to strangers briefly ill-mannered and worse learned For they affect not either liberal Arts or mechanick Trades Yet it affords one of the most reverend Fathers of our Church good Saint Hierome Their greatest pride is their name of a warlike Nation and the basest infamy to put up the tearm of Coward Yet the person charged may not acquit himself upon his upbraider but must make good his honour in single combate with a Turk when he hath overcome him and not till then he may by order of the Country wear a Feather as a note of his true Gentry The sons only are inheriters If it chance that the males fail the estate descends not to the Daughters but is forfeit to the common treasury They have no portions with their wives but a wedding garment and till they are married neither one nor th' other are accustomed to lye in beds Their language is the Scythian and their Religion divers some Papists more Protestants They received Christianity above six hundred years since 11 Hungary hath been heretofore divided in citeriorem ulteriorem The former circa and the other ultra Danubium And both again had their division into fifty Counties as Maginus calls them Her most illustrioâ— Cities are 1 Buda the Metropolis and seat of their Kings before it was taken by the Turk For pleasant situation wholsome air fertile fields about her stately buildings and whatsoever else may commend her Quadus sets her equal with any other in Europe Vadianus mentions here a stature of Hercules which himself saw made of brass so artificially that the very veins were lively expressed besides the ruines of other rich work a goodly Library furnisht by Matthias Corvinus King of Hungaria But at his being there it was not in the glory that it had been and not long after was for the most part utterly wasted by the inhumane Turks it is commonly called Osâ—en and is thought by some to be the same with Câ—rta in Ptolomies descriptions 12 2 Southward from Buda stands Albanum an ancient Town which of late they have called Alba now Alba Regalis for it was the place where their Kings were both Crowned and buried 3 Strigonium Grau an Arch-bishops seat and Metropolitan of Hungary It hath had the several chance of war was won by the Tark in the year one thousand five hundred forty three and recovered one thousand five hundred ninety five In which last action our noble Sir Thomas Arundel took with his own hand the Turkish Banner and was honoured by the Emperour Rodulphus with the title of a Count there and here by his own Sovereign Lord Arundel of Wardour 4 Quinque Ecclesiae a Bishops See taken by the Turk one thousand five hundred forty three 5 Comara in a small Island which takes her name from the Town And herâ— it is reported that the grass exceeds in length the height of a man 6 â—avarium not far from Comaâ—â— and is called Rab. 7 Neuhensel where â—â—ucquoy was slain in the year one thousand six hundred twenty one having adventured too far upon the Hungarians Ambush with iâ—tent onâ—y to have received the order of their Forces and fittest place for access to bid them battel And thus of the Kingdom of Hungary as it is strictly bounded with its own proper limits 13 Dacia is on the East of Hâ—ngary and is divided on the North from Sarmatia by the Carpathian Mountains on the South from Greece with Haemus and on the East reâ—â—heth the Pontus Euxinus The first Inhabitants were the Maesti of Asia Afterward the Daci or as Strabo calls them the Dari a Nation of so slavish a disposition that the Athenians brought them into a Proverb and in their Comedies presented their Sycophants under no other name than Dâ—â—ri The Country is fruitful and enricht with Mines their Horses are very comely aâ—d their manes so long that they touch the ground Their last King before it was made a Province to the Romans was Decebalus who as Dion delivers it affrighted the Emperour from an assault which he intended with an incredible number of stakes stuck up in battel array and attired in his Souldiers old habits A wooden shift it was but served him for the present yet after he was vanquished by Trajan and being sunk by the fortune of war below the hope of recovering his Kingdom fell upon his own sword It is now divided into 1 Transylvania 2 Moldavia 3 Walachia 4 Servia 5 Rascia 6 Bulgaria 7 Bosnia 14 Transylvania is the Province of Dacia and was it self called Dacia Mediterranea and Ripensis Dacia Since Transylvania because it was compassed with Woods and septem Castra from her seven Castles of defence upon the Frontiers built by the Saxons who questionless gave her the German name
Cambaia a spacious Land it is and contains from East to West 38 degrees and about 20 from the North to South 11 This variety of distance in respect of the Heavens must needs cause as much difference in the qualities of her several Regions In some places there is that fertility which makes her equal to any part of Asia in others again she is so barren unfruitful and unprofitable that the Land is left waste as being not able to nourish an Inhabitant Ora maritima saith Quadus aestuosa est ac ventosa fructuum inops praeterquam palmarum mediterranea regio Campestris est omnium ferax pecorumque optima nutrix stuminibus lacubus plena Maxime autem suppeditat Araxes plurimas commoditates It abounds much with metals and stones of great price 12 The ancient Persians were warlike and ambitious of rule for not content with their own which they freely posses in Asia they attempted the nearest parts of Africa and Europe which cost them the first fall from their Monarchy Nec enim petituri Macedones Persidem vide bantur in priores Persae Graeciam provocassent faith Vadianus Their customes are most of them superstitious but they held nothing almost in so great reverence as water it might not lawfully be soyled so much as with a soul hand but to piss or cast rubbish or a dead carcass into the Rivers was a kind of Sacriledge They had many Wives and more Concubines for they were exceeding desirous of increase and great rewards were appointed by their King himself for him that could most augment the number of his subjects in one year They seldome entred into any consultation of State till they had well armed themselves with drink for then they thought they should be more free to speak what they most thought To spit or laugh before their Prince was a crime well nigh unpardonable some say that they bury not their dead but cast them forth to be devoured by wild beasts and thought him most happy which was soonest torn to mammock the rest their friends bewailed as such who had lived impurely and were therefore by this sign declared worthy of hell only without any redemption 13 Their Philosophers were called Magi and studied principally the art of fore-telling things to come from whence we have our tearm of Magick and usurp the word only in the worse sense whereas questionless it was no other with them than the Greeks Philosophy Philosophi or Sapientes with the Latines for it is by most thought that such were those good Magi which came from the East to worship Christ and Saint Chrysostome directly names Persia to be that East from whence they were led by the Star 14 They have now put off most of their antique barbarism and are become good Politicians excellent Warriour sgreat Scholars especially in Astrology Physick and Poetry Those which apply themselves to Mechanick trades are not inferiour to any almost in our quarter they deal most in making of Silks which they send into all the Eastern Countries in great abundance They are mild and courteous to Strangers yet jealous of their Wives which for the most part are very fair and richly attired not withstanding their affection to them usque ad insanam Zelotypiam yet are they much addicted to that beastly sin of the Turks and have their Stews on purpose whither they resort without controul or shame Their language is elegant and in use in most of those Eastern Countries The Christian Religion was once planted here both by Saint Thomas and Saint Andrew yet are they now fallen to Mahametism and differ but as Schismaticks from the Turks which occasioneth much hatred and perpetual war betwixt them 15 The Regions which belong to the Empire of Perfia are 1 Persii 2 Media 3 Assyria 4 Susâ—ina 5 Mesopotamia 6 Parthia 7 Hyrcania 8 Bactriana 9 Parapomissus 10 Aria 11 Drangiana 12 Gedrosia 13 Carmania and 14 Ormus 16 Persis had her name from Perseus which came hither out of Greece and this gives it to the whole Empire It is now called Faâ—st or Farsâ—stâ—n and was heretofore Panchaia It lieth betwixt Media on the North and the Sinus Persicus on her South on her West Susiana and East Carmania Her Metropolis is Siras once Persepolâ—s and is built toward the mid land near the River Araxis it was surprized by Alexander and many thousand talents of gold sent into Greece with other rich spoâ—l and trophies of Victories which the Persians had before gotten from most parts of the then known world Upon the Sea-coast stands Cyrus a City which was built by their first absolute Monarch and called by the Inhabitants Grechaia It was the Bishop seat of the learned Theodoret who lived here about the year 450 and in this Region is Laodicea built by Antiochus and Passagarda where Cyrus had his Sepulchre 17 2 Media now Servania on the North of Persis and South of the Caspian Sea hath Armenia major and Assyria on her West and on her East Parthia and Hyrcania It was before Cyrus the seat of the Empire and mother to a warlike potent Nation Their Kings had many wives seldome fewer than seven and their women thought it a great calamity to have less than five husbands In this stands the Territory of Tauris which was called by our ancients Erbathana and doth stand some eight dayes journey from the Hyrcinian Sea it is rich and populous and was the seat of the Sophies till it was removed to Casbin which lieth somewhat more South Betwixt both stands the City Turcoman and elsewhere in this Province are many others dispersed of good note especially Suliana Symmachia Nassinum Ardovil Marant and Saucazan c. 18 3 Assyria now Arzeram on the West of Media South of Armenia North of Susiania and East of Mesopotamia it was the seat of Ninus his Kingdome lost by Sardanapalus and here stands the most famous City Nineveh near the River Tigris larger than Babylon containing full threescore miles in compass for the community which the Babylonians had with them in course of government they were oft times promiscuously used by Historians both had this custome to sell their Virgins which were fair and most desired and tender the price into the common treasury The homelier sort were placed in marriage with that money to those which would accept of them for gain at least if not for beauty They were much addicted to Astrology and were questionless led to it by the opportunity of their situation which gives them a more perfect view of the Heavens and several course of the Planets than any other part of the world besides 19 4 Susiana now Cuceston seems to have her name from Cus upon the South of Assyria West of Persia East of Babylonia and North of the Persick bay It is severed by Pliny from Elemauss the great by the River Euleus of whose waters only the Persian Kings were wont to drink as being more sweet and pure than any other
it hath been formerly accounted they should differ much from those of Virginia Yet there is a sort of fruit called a Persimon mentioned as most especially belonging to Mary-Land and among Birds one named the Mock-bird from its imitation of all other Singing-birds which differing among themselves in the mixture of their colours that which is black and yellow is called Baltemore-bird from the colour of his Lordships Coat of Arms which are Or and Sable excelling in beauty all the other sorts The same is to be said of the complections customs dispositions government c. of the Natives of this Province as of those of Virginiâ— and other adjacent parts that is in brief thaâ— they are somewhat tawny their hair long black and uncurl'd but cut into fantastical forms more ingenious and docile than industrious each Town a distinct Nation and govern'd by iâ—s several Weroance or King only the Sesquaâ—anocks are a Republick As the Province is now inhabited by the English it is divided into ten Districts or Counties five on the Eastern-shore of the Bay of Chespeack namely Dorchester Somerset Kent Caecil and Talbot and five on the West side of the Bay St. Maries where the Provincial Court or chief Court of Iudicature consisting of Governor and Consiliar Iudges is held every quarter of a year Anne Arundel Baltemore Charles and Calvert The chief Rivers of this Country are Patowmec Patuxent Ann Arundel alias Severn Sasquesahanough Choptank Nantecoke Pocomoke besides others of less note of those mentioned the first four on the West side the other three to the East fall into Cheâ—apeack Bay which is navigable for 200 miles and which between two Capes Cape Charles to the North and Cape Henry to the South being seven or eight leagues distant receives all the Ships that come for Virginia or mary-Mary-Land and passeth Northernly through the midst of Mary-Land On the Eastern shore of this Bay are divers convenient Harbours Creeks and Islands and Northward thereof is the entrance of Delaware Bay The original Seat and Principal City of this Province where the Provincial Courts the general Assembly the Secretaries office and other publick offices are held and where the seat of Trade is fixt is St. Maries situate in St. Maries County on the East-side of St. Georges River Here formerly at the Palace of St. Iohns the Governor Mr. Charles Calvert used to reside but he hath now a very pleasant and commodious habitation at a place called Mattapany upon the River Patuxent about eight miles from St. Maries here is also another fair house where the Chancellor usually resides There were also some years since in all the rest of the Counties the foundations of Towns laid which no doubt by this time are very near if not altogether compleated particularly in Calvert County near the River Patuxent 1. Calverton in Battle-creek 2. Harvy Town over against Point Patience 3. Herington upon the Cliffs As for the present Government of Mary-Land by the English the Lord Proprietor in the first place is invested as hath been mentioned with an absolute power and dominion by whose sole command all things relating to peace or War are ordered and in whose name issue forth all publick Instruments Patents Warrants Writs c. In the enacting of Laws he hath the consent and advice of the general Assembly which is made up of two Estates the first consisting of his Lorships Privy Council of which the Chancellor and Secretary alwaies are and such Lords of Manors as are called by his special Writ the other of the Deputies of each Province elected by the free voice of the Free-holders of the respective Province for which each Deputy is chosen The names of the present Governor the prime Officers of State and the rest of his Lordships Privy Council are as followeth the Governor Mr. Charles Calvert his Lordships Son and Heir the Chancellor Mr. Philip Calvert his Lordships Brother the Secretary Sr. William Talbot the Muster-Master General Mr. William Calvert Mr. Baker Brook all three his Lordships Nephews the Surveyor General Mr. Ierome White Mr. Edw. Lloyd Mr. Henry Coursy Mr. Thomas Trueman Major Edward Fitz-Herbert Mr. Samuel Chew Vast quantities of Tobacco the grand Trade of this Province of Mary-Land are yearly vended from hence not only in England but likewise in several of the other English Plantations besides the importation also of some other commodities to the great improvement of his Majesties Revenue by Custom and Excise The common way of traffick here is by barter or trucking of commodities one for anotherr though money is not altogether wanting as well of the coin of England and other parts as of his Lordships own Coin being stampt on the one side with his Lordships Coat of Arms with this circumscription Crescite Multiplicamini and on the other side with his Effigies and this circumscription Caecilius Dominus Terrae Mariae c. The Description of New-England WHat hath been said in General of the discovery of Virginia largely so called may in consequence be applyed to this Country of New-England being as above mentioned one of the three principal Colonies comprehended therein but in the year 1602 it began to be more particularly known a part from the rest from the discovery as some think of Captain Gosnold and in the year 1606 it was granted by Patent by King Iames to divers Lords and Gentlemen under the denomination of the Plymouth Company yet after that several that set out for this Plantation successively either miscarried or returned re infecta as first Captain Henry Chaloung who meeting with the Spanish Fleet that came from the Havana was with all his Company carried Prisoner into Spain Not long after Thomas â— Haman sent to the succour of Chaloung by Sr. Iohn Popham Lord cheif Iustice of England Next Captain Prinne set out by the Bristol Company whose Voyage though it had not its wisht success yet he returned with a farther discovery of the Coast than had been made before Not long after George Popham and Raleigh Gilbert were fitted out at the charge of Sir Iohn Popham with one hundred men who though they had seated themselves not uncommodiously in a Peninsula at the mouth of the River Sagadahoc and were upon making farther discoveries yet in the year 1608 upon the death of George Popham their Commander and soon after of the Lord Chief Iustice they returned into England notwithstanding supplies had but lately been sent them to the very great distaste of the chief promoters of the design and whereupon the French had taken occasion to plant themselves in these parts had they not been timely expelled by Sr. Samuel Argal from Virginia The next that attempted a settlement here was Captain Hobson who by reason of the opposition raised against him by two Natives whom having been detained some while in England he took back along with him upon an affront offered them by some of the English was forc't to return without effecting of any thing
seperated from Norfolk by the Rivers of the lesser Ouse and Waveney whose heads meet almost in the midst of her Verge and that very neer together the one taking course East and the other full West upon which part Cambridge-shire doth wholly confront The Soâ—th side is severed by Stoure from Essex and the East together washed with the German Seas 2 The Air is good sweet and delectable and in some parts of some of our best Phyâ—icians held to be the best in the Land the soyl is rich fruitful and with all things well replenished in a word nothing wanting for pleasure or profit 3 The Form thereof is somewhat Cressant shooting up narrower in the North and spreading wider towards the South whose broadest part is about twenty miles but from East to West much more for from Easton point the furthest of this Shire yea of all Britain into the Sea unto great Ouse River her Western bounder are forty five miles and the whole in Circumference about one hundred and forty six miles 4 Antiâ—ntly this part of the Island was possessed by the Iceni who as it seemeth by Tacitus joyned in Amity with the Romans a mighty people saith he and never shaken with wars before the reign of Claudius but then by Ostorius very vanquished though not without great slaughter of the Romans and in a battle against them M. Ostorius the son of the General won great honour in saâ—ing of a Roman Citizens life so ready were they to give and receive Honours to themselves but sleightly to pass over and to smother far greater exploits of the Britains which notwithstanding long in these parts they could not do for the wrongs of the Icenians growing intollerable who by the Roman Souldiers were put out of their rightful possessions their Princes accounted no better than Slaves and their Queen whipped in most ignominious manner under Bodâ—a they wrought their revenge as in the History Christ assisting shall be further related Next to these Icenians were the Saxons that got their footing into these parts and of them this with Norfolk Cambridge-shire and the Isle of Ely was made their East-Angles Kingdom though as it seemeth ever in subjection either to the Mercians or to the Kings of Kent whose off-spring ending in S. Edmund the Martyr after the Danes had laid it most desolate Edward the Elder subdued it unto his West-Saxons Monarchy and that likewise ending in King Edward the Confessor many Noble Normans got their possessions in these parts whose off-spring are plenteously replenished in this Shire to this day 5 The Commodities of this Shire are many and great Whereof the chiefest consisteth in Corn Cattle Cloth Pasturage Woods Sea-fish and Fowl and as Abba Floriensis hath depainted this County is of a green and passing fresh hue pleasantly replenished with Orchards Gardens and Groves thus he described it above six hundred years since and now we find as he hath said to which we may add their gain from the Pail whose Cheeses are traded not only throughout England but into Germany France and Spain and are highly commended by Pantaleon the Physitian both for colour and taste 6 And had Ipswiâ—h the onely eye of this Shire been as fortunate in her Sirname as she is blessed with commerce and buildings she might worthily have born the title of a City neither ranked in the lowest row whose trade circuit and seat doth equal most places of the Land besides It seemeth this Town hath been walled about both by a Rampire of Earth mounted along her North and West parts and places of entrance where Gates have stood which no doubt by the Danes were cast down in the year of Iesus Christ â—991 when they sacked with spoyl all these Sea coasts and again in the year one thousand laid the streets desolate and the houses on heaps yet afterwards recovering both breath and beauty her buildings from Stoke-Church in the South to Saint Margarets in the North now contain 1900 paces and from S. Helens in the East to S. Matthews Church in the West are no less than 2120 full of streets plenteously inhabited wherein are twelve Parish-Churches seated besides them suppressed such were Christ-Church S. Georges S. Iames the White the Black and Gray-Fryers The Site of this Town is removed from the Equator unto the degree 52 25 minutes and by Mercators observation from the first West-points 22 degrees 9 minutes and is yearly governed by two Bayliffs and ten Port-men all wearing Scarlet with twenty four of tâ—eir Common-Councel in Purple a Recorder a Town-Clerk five Serjeants whereof one is for the Admiralty a Beadle and Common Cryer all in blew with the Towns Arms on their sleeves The other eye of this Shire is S. Edmundsbury By Abbo the Royal-Town wherein at the day-break of the Saxons conversion Sigebert King of the East-Angles sounded a Christian Church and upon the occasion of King Edmunds burial who at Hoxon was shot to death hath been ever since called S. Edmundsbury where was built to his honour one of the fairest Monasteries in the world begun by King Canute much affrighted with the seeming appearance of that Martyrs Ghost who to expiate the sacrilegious impiety of his Father Suenus enriched the place with many endowments and offered up his own Crown upon the Holy Martyrs Tomb. For the beauty and buildings of this Abby and Town let Leyland for me declare The Sun saith he hath not seen a City more finely seated so delicately upon the easie ascent of an hill with a River running on the East side nor a more stately Abby either for revenues or incomperable magnificence in whose prospect appeareth rather a City than a Monastery so many Gates for entrance and some of them brass so many Towers and a most glorious Church upon which attend three others standing all in the same Church-yard all of them passing fine and of a curious workmanship Whose ruines lie in the dust lamenting their fall moving the beholders to pity their case Near unto this Town a great battle was fought by Robert Bossu Earl of Leicester against his Soveraign King Henry the second but was worthily overcome by Richard Lucy the Kings high Iustice himself and wife taken with many Flemings and Englishmen slain 7 Other places worthy of remembrance this County affords such is Exning in the West formerly famous for the birth of S. Audrâ—y daughter to King Anna one of the three names of the Shires division Renlisham in the East where Redwald the First Christian in this Kingdom held his Court and Hadley in her South where Guthrum the Dane whom Elfred baptized was buried And things of stranger note are the limits of the East-Angles Territories running along New-market-Heath vulgarly called the Devils-ditch the like fable is formerly told by Nubrigensis that at Wulpes in the heart of this Shire two green boyes of Satyres kind arose out of the ground from the Antipodes believe it if you will and Ralfe Coggeshall in the Monuments of
sâ—ored with Votaries and revenues for life were in this Shire no less than fourteen most stately seated in the places as followeth at both the Herefords Barroâ— Ewayot Câ—â—fford Mâ—nemue Acornbury Lemster Linbroke Peterchurch Kilpeck Dâ—râ— and VViggermore and suspected of hypocrisie were called in question by King Henry the Eighth and so strictly pursued that some faulâ—s were apparent whereby they were laid open to the general Deluge of the Time whose streams bare down the walls of all those Foundations carrying away the Shrines of the dead and defacing the Libraries of their ancient Records 9 This County before the Conquest being accounted in VVales was then strengthened with Forts against the English and being once made a Proâ—ince to England was fortified with Castles against the VVelsh wherein we find no less than twenty eight though many of them now are ruinated to nothing Such were Alban at both the Ewyats Godridg Grosmond Herdly Hereford Old Castle Dorston Brampton Bredwarden Saint Brivels Ledbury Lenals Snowdâ—â— Harlewois Huntington VVilion VVigmore Richards Monemue Corâ—t Kilbeck Clifford Skensfred VVâ—teney Radenwer and Kâ—nevenleis and is traded with eight Market-Towns being diuided into eleven Hundreds and in them seated one hundred seventy and six Parish-Churches containing in compass an hundred and two miles Worcestershir VVORCESTER-SHIRE CHAPTER XXV WORCESTER-SHIRE is a County both rich and populous and lyeth circulated upon the North with Staffordâ—shire upon the East with Warwick and Oxford-shires upon the South with â—locesterâ—shire and the West by Malverne Hills is parted from Herefordâ—shire the rest lyeth confronted upon and in part divided from Shrop-shire by the River Dowles 2 The form thereof is triangle but not of equal proportion for from North to South are thirty two miles from South to North-West twenty two and from thence to her north-North-East point are twenty eight the whole in circumference is one hundred and twenty miles 3 The Air of this Shire is of a favourable temperature that gives an appetite for labour diet and rest The Soyl is fertile and to me seemed inferiour to none other in this Land for besides the abundance of Corn in every place spread the Woods and Pasturage in her hills and Plains sweet Rivers that water the Vallies below the Cattle that cover the tops of higher ground the Fields Hedge-rows and High-ways are beset with fruitful Peaâ—-trees that yield great pleasure to sight and commodious use for with their juyce they make a bastard kind of Wine called Perry which is both pleasant and good in taste Many Salt Springs also this County affordeth yea and more than are commonly in use such with the Germans our ancient Predecessors were esteemed most sacred and holy so that as Tacitus writeth to such they wontedly resorted to sâ—pplicate their Gods with their devout praâ—ers as to places neerest the Heavens and therefore the sooner to be heard And Poets in their feignings will have the Nymphs residence in shady green groves and banks of sweet Springs if so then as Helicon this County affords both such are the Forrests of Wire and Feckeâ—â—am the great Woods of Norton and most fair Chase of Malvern And for waters to witness what I say is the Severn that cuts this Shire in the midst Teme Salwarp and Avon all of them making fruitâ—ul their passage and stored with Fish of most delicious taste 4 The ancient people possâ—ssors of this Shire were the CORNAVII inhabitants of Cheâ—shire Shrop-shire Stafford and Warwick-shires subdued by the Romans in Claudius Caesars time and after their departure made a portion of the Merciâ—nâ—Saxons Kingdom and in Beda's time were called the VVicii whereof it may be this Shire had the name unless you will have it from the Salt-Pits which in old English are named Witches or from the famous Forrest of Wyre Howsoever true it is that the County doth hold the name from the Chief City VVorcester 5 Which is most pleasantly seated passing well frequented and very richly inhabited This was the Branonium mentioned by Antonine and Ptolomy called by the Britains Câ—er-VVrangon by Ninius Câ—er-Guorcon and by the Latines Vigornia This City is seated upon the East bank of Severâ—e and from the same is walled in triangle-wise about extending in circuit one thousand six hundred and fifty paces thorow which seven Gates enter with five other Watch-Towers for defence It is thought the Roâ—ans built this to restrain the Britains that held all beyond Sâ—verne This City by Hardy Canute in the year of Christ 1041 was soâ—ely endangered and set on â—â—re and the Citizens slain almost every one for that they had killed his Collector of the Danish Tribute yet it way presently repaired and peopled with many Burgesses and for fifteen Hides discharged it self to the Conquerour as in his Doomesdays is to be seen But in the year 1113 a sudden fire happened no man knew how which burnt the Castle and Cathedral Church Likewise in the civil â—royles of King Sâ—ephen it was twice lighted into a flame and the latter laid it hopeless of recovery Notwithstanding from those dead Ashes a new Phenix arose and her building raised in a more stately proportion especially the Cathedral dedicated to S. Mary first laid by Bishop Sexwolfe in Anno 680 â—ince when it hath been augmented almost to the River In the midst of whose Quiâ—e from his many turmoiles resteth the body of King Ioâ—n the great withstandeâ— of the Popes proceedings under a monument of white Marble in Princely Vestures with his portraiture thereon according to life And in the South-â—ide of the same Quire lyeth entombed Prince Aâ—thur the eldest Son to King Henry the seventh his Monument is all black Iett without remembrance of him by Picture This City is governed by two Bayliffs two Aldermen two Chamberlains and two Constables yearly elected out oâ— twenty four Burgesses clothed in Scarlet assisted with forty eight other Citizenâ— whom they call their Common Councellâ—rs clad in Purple a Recorder Town-Clerk and five Sergeants with Mace their Attendants Whose Geographical Position is distant in Longitude from the West Meridian 18 degrees 10 scruples â—aving the North-Pole elevated in Latitude 52 degrees and 32 scruples 6 Places of further note for memorable antiquity is Vpton of great account in the Roman time where some of their Legions kept as witness their Moneys there often found the admirable Ditch upon Malvern Hâ—lls drawn by Gilbert Clare Earl of Glocester to divide his Lands from the Church of Worcester the Saxons or Augustines Oke where he the English Apostle met with the British Bishops for the uniform celebration of Easter from whence both parts departed with discontented minds after many hot words and thwaâ—ting disputes 7 Neither is it wiâ—hout admâ—ration to me that many places of this Shire lye far within the Precincts of other Provinces as Aulston Washborâ—es Cuttesden Paxford Hanging-Easton Northwickâ— Blockley Eurlode in Glocester-shire and Goldcote Aldermeâ—ston Newâ—old Steddenton Armiscote Blackwell Darlings-cote Shipton Tydminâ—on Olbarrow in Warwick
half Plough-land And the Bovata or Oxgang presumed in Law for Land in Granary was suited in number of Acres to that Yard-land of which it was a Moity Thus except in the Fens laid out per Leucas quarentenas miles and furlongs stands all ameasurement of Land in this Shire which containeth in Knights Fees 53 one half 2 fifts and a twentieth part And in full estimation of rent and worth rose in the time of the Conquerour to 912 l. 4 s. and now payeth in Fifteen to the King 871 l. 9 s. 7 d. ob and in tenth from the Clergy 142 l. 6 s. q. 4 This County in discision of Titles and administration of Iustice did at the first as the Germans our Ancestors Iura per pagos vicos reddere Every Township by their Friburgâ— or Tenemental as Triers and the Baron Thain or Head Lord there or the Decanus a good Freeholder his Deputy as Iudge determining all Civil causes a representation of this remaineth still in our Court-Leet Aboue this and held twelve times a year was our Hundred or Wapentake Quae super decem Decanos centem Friburgos judicabat Here the Iudges were the Aldermen and Barons or Freeholders of that Hundred Aegelwinus Aldermannuâ— tenuit placitum cum â—oto Hundredâ— saith the Book of Ely This Court had Cognoscence of Causes Ecclesiastical as Temporal therefore the Iudge or Alderman ought to be such as Dei leges hominum jura studebat promovere thus it went although the Conquerour commanded Ne aliquis de legibus Episcopalibus amplius in Hundredo placita teneret The next and highest in this Shire was Generale placitum Comitatus the County or Sheriffs Court to which were proper Placita Civilia ubi Curia Dominorum probantur desecisse Et si placitum exurgat inter Vavasores duorum Dominorum tractetur in Comitatu The Iudge was the Earl or Sheriff The Tryers Barones Comitatus Freeholders Qui liberas in eo terras habent not Civil onely but Probats of Wills Questions of Tithes Et debâ—â—a vera Christianitatis Iura were heard and first heard in this Court. Therefore Episcopus Presbyter Ecclesiae Quatuor de melioribus villae were adjuncts to the Sheriff Qui dei leges seculi negoâ—ia justa consideratione definirent The Lay part of this liveth in a sort in the County and Sheriff Turn the Spiritual about the Reign of King Stephen by Soveraign connivence suffered for the most into the quarterly Synode of the Clergy from whence in imitation of the Hundred Court part was remitted to the Rural Deaneries of which this Shire had four And these again have been since swallowed up by a more frequent and superiour jurisdiction as some of our civil Courts have been There being now left in use for the most of this Shire for Causes Criminal View of Frankpleg by grant or prescription A Session of the Peace quarterly and two Goal deliveries by the Soveraigns Commission and for Civil Causes Couâ—ts of Mannours or of the County monthly and twice by the Iudges of Assise yearly The Office of Execution and custody of this County is the Sheralfey of old inheritable untill Eustachius who by force and favour of the Conquerour disseised Aluric and his heires forfeited it to the Crown but since it hath passed by annual election and hath united to it the County of Cambridge 5 Having thus far spoken of the Shire in general next in observation falleth the Shire-Town Huntington Hundandun or the Hunters Downe North seated upon a rising bank over the rich meadowing river Ouse interpreted by some Authors the Down of Hunters to which their now common Seal a Hunter seemeth to allude Great and populous was this in the foregoing age the following having here buried of fifteen all but three besides the Mother-Church S. Maries in their own graves At the reign of the Conquerour it was ranged into four Ferlings or Wardes and in them 256 Burgenses or Housholds It answered at all assessments for 50 Hides the fourth part of Hurâ—tington Hundred in which it standeth The annual rent was then 30 l. of which as of three Minters there kept the King had two parts the Earl the third the power of coyâ—age then and before not being so privatley in the King but Borows Bishops and Earls enjoyed it on the one side stamping the face and stile of their Soveraign in acknowledgement of subordinacy in that part of absolute power and on the reverse their own name to warrant their integrity in that infinite trust 6 The Castle supposed by some the work of the elder Edward but seemingly by the Book of Doomesday to be built by the Conquerour is now known but by the ruines It was the seat of Woltheof the great Saxon Earl as of his succeeding heirs until to end the question of right between Sentlice and the King of Scots Henry the second laid it as you see yet doth it remain the head of that honour on which in other Shires many Knights Fees and sixteen in this attended Here David Earl of this and Arguise Father of Isabel de Brus founded the Hospital of S. Iohn Baptist And Loveâ—ote here upon the Fee of Eustace the Vicount built to the honour of the blessed Virgin the Priory of Black Cannons valued at the Suppression 232 l. 7 s. ob Here at the North end was a house of Fryers and without the Town at Hinchingbrook a Cloister of Nuns valued at 19 l. 9 s. 2 d. founded by the first William in place of S. Pandonia at Eltesly by him suppressed where near the end of the last Henry the Family of the Cromwells began their Seat To this Shire-Town and benefit of the neighbour Countries this River was Navigable until the power of Grâ—y a minion of the time stopt that passage and with it all redress either by Law or Parliament By Charter of King Iohn this Town hath a peculiar Coroner profit by Toll and Custom Recorder Town-Clerks and two Bayliffs elected annually for government as at Parliament two burgesses for advice and asâ—ent and is the Lord of it self in Fee-farm 7 The rest of the Hundred wherein this Shire Town lieth is the East part of the County and of Hurst a Parish in the center of it named HURSTINGSTON it was the Fee-farm of â—amsey Abbey which on a point of Fertile Land thrust out into the Fens is therein siâ—uate founded in the year 969 to God our Lady and S. Benedict by Earl Aylwin of the Royal bloud replenished with Monks from Westbury by Oswald of York and dedicated by Dunstan of Canterbury Archbishops By Abbot Reginald 1114 this Church was re-edified by Magnavill Earl of Essex not long after spoiled and by Henry the third first of all the Norman Princes visited when wasted with the Sicilian wars Regalis mensae Hospitalitas ita abbreviata fuit ut cum Abbatibus Clericis viris satis â—umilibus Hospitia quaesivit prandia This Monastery the shrine of two
martyred Kings Ethelbright and Ethelred and of Saint Ive the Persian Bishop by humble piety at first and pious charity ascended such a pitch of worldly fortune that it transformed their Founder religious povertâ— into their ruine the attribute of Ramsey the rich for having made themselves Lords of 387 Hides of Land whereof 200 in this Shire so much as at an eaâ—ie and under rent was at the Suppression valued at 1983 l. 15 s. 3 d. q. but by account of this time annually amounts to 7000 l. they then begin to affect popular command and first enclosing that large circuit of Land and Water for in it lyeth the Mile-square Meere of Ramsey as a peculiar Seigniory to them called the Baleuâ— or Bandy bounded as the Shire from Ely and from Norman-Crosse with the hundred Meere by Soveraign Grant they enjoyed regal liberty And then aspiring a step further to place in Parliament made Broâ—ghton the head of their Barony annexing to it in this Shire four Knights Fees Thus in great glory it stood above 400 years until Henry the Eight amongst many other once bright Lamps of Learning and Religion in this State though then obscured with those blemishes to wealth and ease concomitant dissolved the house although Iohn Warboys then Abbot and his 60 black Monks there maintained were of the first that under their hands and conventual Seal protesâ—ed Quod Romanus Pontifex non habet majorem aliquam Iurisdictionem collatam sibi à Deo in Regno Angâ—iae quam quiuis alius externus Episcopus A Cell to this rich Monastery was S. Ivâ—s Priory built in that place of Slep by Earl Adâ—lmus in the reign of the last Edmund where the incorrupted body of S. Ive there once an Hermit in a Viâ—ion revealed was by Edâ—othus taken up in his Robes Episcopal and dedicated in the presence of Siward Earl of this County and that Lady of renowned piety Ethelâ—leda to the sacred memory of this Persian Bishop Not far from this is Somersham the gift of the Saxon Earl Brithnothus to the Church of Ely before his own fatal expedition against the Danes It is the head of those five Towns of which the Soke is composed and was an house to the See of Ely well beautified by Iohn Stanley their Bishop but now by exchange is annexed to the Crown As these so all the rest of this hundred was the Churches land except Rippon Regis ancient Demaine To which Saple reserved Forrest adjoyned and the greater Stivecley given by the last David Earl of Huntington in Fee to his three Servants Sentlice Lakervile and Camoys 8 NORMANSCROS the next Hundred taketh name of a Cross above Stilion the place where in former ages this Division mustered their people whence Wapentake is derived it had in it two Religious houses the eldest in the confines of Newton and Chesterton neer the River of Avon now Nene founded by the first Abbesse Keneburga the Daughter of Penda and Wife of Elfred King of Northumber land West side a Trench where Ermin-street-way crossed over the River by a Stone-bridge whose ruines are now drowned whence the Roman Town there seated on both sides took the name Durobrivae as Trajectus Fluminis But this Nunnery as raised was also ruined by the Danes before the Conquest The other a Monastery of Cistercian black Monks erected in hoâ—â—uâ— of the Virgin Mary by the second Simon Earl of Huntington at Soltry Iudeth the Land of a Lady of that name wife of Earl Waltheof daughter of Lambert Earl of Leins Neece to the Conquerour by hiâ— sister her Mother and Grand-mother to this Founder Malcome and William Kings of Scots Earls of Huntington and Heirs of this Lady strengthened by several Charters this pious work Many chief of that Line as the last Earl David brother to King William as Isabel the wife of Robert de Brus his daughters Heir and most of the second branch her progeny making here their Burials This house now level with the ground maintained besides the Abbot six Monks and 22 Hindes and was at the Suppression valued at 199 l. 11 s. 8 d. The Founders and Patrons of this Monastery were the Lords of the next place Conniâ—gton first the seat of Turkillus Earl of the East Angles that invited Swayne from Denmarke to invade this Land and who first squared out the unbounded marishes of this part to the bordering Towns his rule of proportion allowing to euery parish tantum de Marisco quantum de â—iccâ— terra in breadth in which none â—ine licentia Domini might vel fodere vel falcare but leaving most to inter-common by vicinage This Dane exiled when the rest of his Countreymen were by Edward Confessor his land here was given to Earl waltheof by whose eldest heir Matildâ— married to David King of Scots it went along in that Male Line until by death issuless of Iohn Earl of Chester and Huntington it fell in partage to his sister Isabel de Brus one of his Heirs from whose second Son Bernard the Family of Cotton by Lineal succession holdeth this Land whereto Glatton the adjoyning Parish is now by bounty of a second branch annexed It was in this Shire the head of the honour of Bolleine on which Connington Walimsford Sibson Stibington and Vescyes Mannor in Chesterton attended part of it is the fresh Sea Wittlemere four mile in breadth over which when Emma and her Children the issue of Canutus sayled with some peril her Husband in prevention of the like from Bottesey in a straight course to the opposite firme land lined with his Attendant Swords that passage which since hath born the name of Swordâ— Delph Kings or Canutus dyke This Seignory was granted by the Conquerour to Eustace Earl of Bolleiâ— Brother to Lambert Earl of Leins and Father to Godfrey King of Ierusalem reverting it was given to Richard Earl of Cornwall who granted out of it the two Meeres Vbbe Meere and Brich Meere in Fee-Farme to the Church of Ramsey Then after sundry changes it came to Iohn of Gaunt in exchange of the Earldom of richmond and so by descent fell again to the Crown VVashingley not far off from the ancient Lord of that name by Drwâ— and Otter came to the Princes that now posâ—esseth it In Chesterton from VVadsheafe by Denâ—yes there is to the Sevils an ancient name in this Shire a Mannor descended The rest from Aegidius de Merk who gave there much to Royston Priory passed by Amundevil to Gloucester and so to Vescey by exchange In Elton the house rich in a beauteous Chappel from Denham to Sapcotes and Satlâ—re Beaumes from that sirname near the time of the Conquest by â—outh to Cornwallis descended as Bottle-bridge by Gimels Drayton Lovet unto Sherley the now Lord. 9 LETUNESTANHUNDRED have that name from Leighton a Town in the midst of it given by Earl VViltheof to the Church of Lincolne which after shared it into two Prebendaries One the Parsonage impropriate which still remaineth the other the Lordships
Gwyâ—eth and upon the East the Marches of England from Chester to Wye a little above Hereford This part was divided into Powis Vadoc Powis between Wye and Severne and Powis-Weâ—wynwyn In Powis-Vadoc is the Castle of Holt in Bromefield and the Castle of Chirke in chirkâ—Chirkâ—land the Castle likewise of Whittington and Lordship of Oswestrie with others 13 The second part of Powiâ— or the Territory belonging to Mathrâ—vâ—l is Poâ—is between 〈◊〉 and Severne or Guy and Hauren whereof some is at this day in Montgoâ—ery-shirâ— some in Radnor-shire and some in Brecknock-shire and among sundry other hath these Towns and Castles following Montgomery The Castle of Clyâ— The Town of Knightâ—n The Castle of Cyâ—aron Presteyn The Town and the Castle of Radâ—or called in Welch Maesyvet which is at this day the Shire-Town The Town of Kinton and the Castle of Huntington 14 The third part belonging to Mathraval the chief seat of Powis after the Welsh were driven from Peâ—gwern or Shrewsbury was Powis Wenwynwyâ— a County full of Woods Hills and Rivers having in it among others the Towns of Welsh-Pool New-Town Machinâ—aâ—th Arustly was anciently in this part but afterward it came to them of Gwyneth This may suffice for the description of that which in old time was called Gwyneth and Powis 15 It now remaineth that we describe the last Kingdom of Wales called Demetia-Deheubarth or the Talaith of Dinevowr which although it was the greatest yet was it not the best because it was much molested with Flemings and Normans and for that also divers parts thereof would not obey their Prince as in Gwent and in Morganwe 16 This was divided into six parts of which Cardigaâ— was the first and is a Champion Country without much Wood. It hath Merionyth-shire on the North part of Powys upon the East Carmarden-shire and Pembroke-shire with the River Tivi upon the South and upon the West the Irish-Sea In this part is the Town of Cardigaâ— upon Tivi not far from the Sea as also the Town of Aberstwyth upon the River Istwyth and Lâ—aâ—badâ—râ—evowr which in times past waâ— a great Sanctuary there were also many Castles as of Strâ—tneyrie of Walter of Lâ—anâ—ysted of Dyvâ—rth and of Aâ—er-Roydâ—ll c. 17 The second part was called Dyvet and at this day Pembroke-shire It hath upon the North and West the Irish-Sea upon the East Carmarden-shire and upon the South Severne There are in it sundry Towns and Havens among others these Pembroke Tenby Hereford-West with the goodly and many Branched Haven of Milford called in Welsh Aberdangledhett S. Davids or Menevia which is the chiefest See in Wales Fiscard called Aberwayn and Newport named Tresdreth 18 The third part was Carmarden-shire which is a Country accounted the strongest part of all South-Wales as that which is full of high Mountains great Woods and fair Rivers 19 The fourth called Morganwe now Glamorgan-shire hath on the South the Severne-Sea which divideth it self from Devon-shire and Cornwall upon the West and North-West Carmardenshire upon the North-East Brecknock-shire and upon the East Monmouth-shire 20 The fifth now called Gwent and in Monmouth-shire hath in it the ancient City of Caerlheâ—n upon Vske There are also divers Towns and Castles Chepstow Glynstrygul Ros Tynterne upon the River Wye c. This is a fair and fertile Country It hath on the West Glamorgan and Brecknock-shirâ—s upon the North Hereford-shire upon the East Glocester-shire with the River Wye and the River Severne upon the South and South-East 21 The last is Brecknock-shire for the most part full of Mountains Woods and Rivers This Country is both great and large being full of fair Plains and Valley for Corn it hath plenty of thick Woods Forrests and Parks It is full also of clear and deep Rivers of which Severne is the chiefest although there be other fair Rivers as Vske and the like 22 Thus far concerning the ancient Welsh division by Talaiths but the present division distributeth them more compendiously into two Countries and twelve Shires enacted so by Parliament under King Henry the Eighth The Countries are North-Wales and South-Wales which have shared and as it were devoured between them all Powysland each of which Countries contains 〈◊〉 Shires North-Wales Aâ—glesâ—y Câ—ernarvan Merionyth Denbigh Flint Montgomery South-Wales Cardigan Pembroke Carmarden Glamorgan Brecknock Radâ—â—r But whereas Monmouth-shire and Radnor were anciently parts the first of South-Wales the other of Powys-land Monmouth-shire by Act of Parliament also under the same King was pluckt away wholly from Wales and laid to England one of whose Counties and Shires it was from that time forward and is at this present reckoned and Radnor-Shire as it were in lieu thereof is comprehended in South-Wales Humphry Hluyd a Welsh Gentleman in his Epistle and Map of old Wales maketh mention of a West-Wales which he calleth Demeâ—ia and Dyfer the one the Latine and the other the British name there but because it is wholly swallowed up by this last division we will not perplex the Reader with superfluous and impertinent recitals PEMBROK Shire PEMBROKE-SHIRE CHAPTER II. PEMBROKE-SHIRE the furthest Promontoâ—y of all West-Wales liâ—th parted on the North from Cardigan-shire with the Rivers Tivy and Keach and on the East is Confronted by Caermarden-shire the South and West shooting far into the Irish-Seas is with the same altogether washed 2 The form thereof is longer than it is broad for from S. Govens South-point to Cardigan-bridge in the North are twenty six miles the Eastern Landenie to S. Davids-point in the West are twenty miles the whole circumference is ninety three miles 3 The Air is passing temperate by the report of Giraldus who 〈◊〉 his reason from the sitâ— of Ireland against which it butteth and is so nearly adjoyned that 〈◊〉 Rufâ— thought it possible to make a Bridge of his Ships over the Sea whereby he might pass to 〈◊〉 on foot 4 Anciently it was poâ—â—essed by the Demetia further branched into Cardigan and Caermarden-shires as in that County hath been said and in the Saxons Conquest and Hâ—ptarchy by the Britaiâ—s forced into those parts for refuge whither Hâ—â—ry the First and third of the Normans Kings sent certain Flemings whose Country was over-whelmed with the breaking in of the Seas to inhabit the Maritime Tract called Rosse lying West upon the River Dougledye These Dutchmen saith Giraldus were a strong and stout Nation inured to Wars and accustomed to seek gain by Cloathiâ—g Traffique and Tillage and ever ready for the Field to fight it out adding withal that they were most loyal â—o the English and most faithful to the Englishmen Whereupon Malmesbury writeth thus Many a timâ— did King William Rufus aâ—â—aile the Welsh but â—ver in vain which is to be wondred aâ— â—nsidâ—ring his other fortunate success But saith he it may be the unevenness of the ground and sharpness of the air that maintained their courage and impeached his valour which to redress King Henry his Brother found means for those Flemings who in regard
in the East or North of the Land For besides that great and high Hill called Plinillimon a continual range of lesser doth shoot along yielding in their Vallies both goodly rich Pastures and very large Pools which being assisted with Springs from the Rocks do branch themselves as Veins in the Body and make fruitful their passages unto the Sea In Tyuy one of these as Giraldus hath written the Beaver hath been found a Creature living both by Land and Water whose Stones the Physicians hold in great price His foreâ—eet are like unto a Dog but the hinder whole skinned as is the Goose the Dog-like serve him on shore for to run and the Goose-like as Oars give him swift motion in swimming his Tail broad and gristly he useth as a Stern wherewith on the sudden he can divert his swiâ—t floating course But this creature in these parts a long time hath not been seen whose room we may well say the Salmon hath possessed who still coveting fresh-water-Rivers at their down-right falls useth this policy He bendeth himself backward and taketh his Tail in his Mouth and with all his strength unloosing his circle on the sudden as a Lath let go mounteth up before the fall of the Stream whereupon such water-falls are called the Salmons-leap and in these Rivers many such Salmons are caught 4 The Commodities of this Shire chiefly consist in Cattel Sea-Fowl and Fish Corn sufficient but of Woods some scarcity and at the Head of Istwyd are certain Veins of Lead a Merchandize of no mean regard or wealth 5 The ancient People that possessed this Province were the Dimâ—tae by Ptolomy branched thorow the Tract of Caermarden Pembroke and this Shire who in their struglings against the Romans did not a little rely upon Caractacus their most warlike King from whose name though unlikely some will have the Shire called Cardigan yet lastly felt the fortune of subjection with the rest when Iulius Frontinus warred with these Mountains Scarce had the Normans setled their Kingdom in Britain but that they aâ—â—ailed this County as well to enjoy so fair a Possession as to secure those Seas from any Invasion against them so that Rufuâ— first wrested from the Welshmen the Maritime Coasts and Henry the first gave the whole County to Gilbert de Clare 6 This Gilbert fortified Cardigâ—n and Shire-Town with a Wall and strong Castle whose aged Lineaments do to this day shew the industry both of Nature and Art for the Town is seated upon a steep bank her South side guarded with the deep River Tyvy and passable no way but by a bridge under the Castle The Walls take the advantage of the rising Rocks and circulate the Town even round about The Castle is higher built upon a Rock both spacious and fair had not Storms impaired her beauty and time left her carkass a very Anatomy The Walls range as thou feest and are indifferent for repair having three ways for entrance and contain in compass six hundred and fourscore paces whose position for Latitude is in the degree 52 33 minutes from the North-pole and for Longitude from the first West point by Mâ—rcâ—tor in the degree 15 and 10 minutes 7 This Shire as it is little in circuit so accordingly is besprinkled with Townships whereof four only have the Trade of Markets neither find I other remembrance of religious Foundations but at Cardigan Istradfleet and at Llan Bâ—dern Vaur where sometimes was seated an Episcopal See which as Hoveden writeth was decayed many years since when the people had wickedly stain their Pastor And yet Llan-Devi-brevi built and so called in memory of the most famous David Bishop of Menevia was in great esteem where in a frequent Synod there holden he refuted the Pelagian-Heresie sprung up again in Britain both by the authority of holy Scriptures and also by miracle as is reported while the earth whereon he stood and preached rose up unto a certain height under his Feet 8 The Shires Division for businesses belonging either to the Crown or Common-wealth is into five Hundreds wherein are seated four Market-Towns and sixty four Parish-Churches for Gods Divine and daily Service CAERMARDEN-SHIRE CHAPTER VI. CAERMARDEN-SHIRE so called from the chief Town Caermarden lyeth bordered upon the South with Cardigan-shire upon her East by Brecknock and Glamorgan-shires upon the South with a Bay of the British-Seas and upon the West with Pembroke-shire 2 The form of this County is long and shooteth it self from the South-West into the North and by East betwixt whose further bounds are thirty five English miles and in her broadest part twenty miles the whole in circumference about one hundred and two miles 3 This Shire is not altogether so pestred with Hills as her bordering Neighbors are and those that she hath neither so high nor so thick and therefore is better for Corn and Pasturage yea and in Woods also so that for Victuals this County is very well stored which the Stomach doth as well digest the Air being wholsome temperate and pleasing 4 Anciently these parts were possessed by the Dimetree as Ptolomy Gildas and Ninius do name them though Pliny holds opinion that they were part of the Silures with whom no doubt they were subdued to the Romans yoke by Iulius Frontinus when he struggled with the Rocky Hills in those Southern parts And this County is accounted by Writers to be the very strength of South-Wales In the West thereof at Kilmanlloid as it should seem their Legions were kept where lately an earthen Pot hoarded with store of Roman-Coyns was by the Spade digged up being stamped upon imbased Silver from the time of Commodus unto the first Tribuneship of Gordian the third which fell in the year of Christ two hundred forty three and amongst these were the Coyns of Helvius Pertinax Marcus Opellius Antonius Diadumenianus Iulius Veruâ— Maximuâ— the Son of Maximus of Coelius Balbinus of Clodius Pupienus of Aquilla Severa the wife of Heliogabalus and of Soll. Barbia Orbianaâ— pieces rarely found 5 The Commodities of this Shire chiefly consist in Cattel Pit-coal Fowl and Sea-Fish whereof the Salmon is common among them and that of such greatness and plenty as no place is better furnished therewith than the Shire-Town Caermarden is 6 Which Town by Ptolomy is called Maridunum by Antoninâ— the Emperour Muridunum by the Britains Caerfridhin and by us Caermarden It is pleasantly seated upon the South-West side of the River Tovy that runneth through the midst of this Shire and falleth South from hence into the British Sea where before-times was a convenient Haven for Ships arrivage but now is sore pestred with Sands and Shelves notwithstanding some small Vessels ascend up the River even unto the Bridge of this Town which is fairly built of Free-stone And over the same upon a hanging Rock standeth a very large Castle from whose Stone-wall another intermingled with Brick rangeth about the Town being in circuit one thousand and four hundred paces The Inhabitants of this place do
fashion the rest which are under the Venetian observe them in their apparel for they are slaves to both in their whole course 9 Yet they retain still a shew of the Christian Religion which was here setled by Timâ—thy to whom Saint Paul wrote two Epistles and was after in the Primitive time professed by divers learned and reverend Divines of their own Nation which are with us received as Authenick Fathers of the Church S. Chrysostom Basil the Gregories Nysene and Nazianzen were all Grecians The government Ecclesiastical is in the power of four Patriarchs 1 of Constantinople and his extends over all Greece Muscovie Sclavonia Dacia part of Poland and all the Islands of the Adriatick and Aegean Seas 2 Of Alexandria and his over Aeâ—â—pt and Arabia 3 of Hierusalem and his over the Greeks in Palestine 4 Of Antioch and his over Syria Armenia and Cilicia 10 The people of this Country were heretofore distinguished by their principal dialects And those were the Attike Ionike Dorike and Aeolike A fift there was which was called a mixt or common dialect Each differed from other no more than we do from our selves in several parts of our Kingdom But this division will hardly reach the limits which bounds Greece according to our description we will adhere rather to that of our modern Geographers whith reckon to Greece six Provinces 1 Thrace 2 Macedonia 3 Albania 4 Epirus 5 Achaia 6 Pelâ—ponnesus and 7 The Islands 11 Thrace is the most Northern tract of all Greece and lyeth on the South of the mountain Hemus on the North of the Aegean Sea on the West of the Pontus Euxinus and East of Macedonia It hath the name from the sharpness of the air and indeed it is very unpleasant for the most part and too unnatural to its own fruit that it scarce ever ripens what it brings forth The people are many and those very strong â—ierce and heady and most impatient of government or discipline and by this means they have seldom had success in their battles whereas if they could have been brought to a joynt force it is said they would have been invincible 12 Part of this Nation was heretofore perswaded that their ancestors did not at all die neither should they but pass only out of this world into another to their supposed god Zaâ—mâ—xis once a scholar of Pythagoras who when he had perswaded them into this Religion seemed wonderfully to vanish out of their sight and appeared not any more but left them fully possest that he was the deity which must after a time entertain them And this they expected with that great joy that as oft as one died in stead of mourning they set forth games and feasts to congratulate his freedom from the troubles of this earthly condition and the wife only whom he loved best for they had many was thought worthy to be killed by her best friends at her husbands grave that she might bare him company in the other world the rest bewailed their neglect and the residue of their life was to them as a disgrace When a child was born neighbours were called to bemoan his entrance into a multitude of calamities and in course they reckoned up what he was to pass before he could go to their goâ— Zalmoxis for they acknowledged no other but blasphemed and shot arrows against the Heavens as oft as they heard it thunder 13 Their Kings saith Quadus are chose by suffrage and those especially which are best known to be most mild not young nor yet a Father of any children for they will not by any means admit that their government should become hereditary If the Prince himself offend he shall not escape their Laws even to death yet no man may set a hand to his execution but by a common desertion he is allowed no necessaries to live and therefore must needs die Here once reigned Polymnestor which murdered Priam's younâ— est son Polydorus And Tereus and Diomedes c. 14 This Province is now called Romenia and takes that name from her chief City Constantinopolis or Roma nova heretofore Bizantium of great fame from her first building and that was six hundred threescore and three â—ears before the Incarnation her founder Pousanias a Lacedemonian She stands so commodiously and commands the Euxine Sea the Propontis and Hellespont that there can hardly be any passage to or fro betwixt Europe and Asia in those parts without her leave And likely enough that for this cause Constantine the great when he divided the Empire chose this for his Eastern feat and in the year three hundred fifteen enlarged it with magnificient buildings and deckt her in the appaâ—el of old Româ— from whence he translated hither many ancient and costly monuments and fain would have removed her name but that his Subjects out of their endeared affâ—ction to their Prince would hear no other than Constantinopolis the City of Câ—nstantine It is in compass eighteen miles contains commonly seventy thousand Inhabitants though almost every third year she be visited with a great Pestilence The other eminent Cities of Thrace are Abdera Nicopolis Philopolis Hadrianopolis Trajanopolis Phinopolis Pemithus c. The Chersonesus over against Troas in Asia is called Saint George his Arm and in it stands Sestos where the love passed betwixt Leander and Here 15 Macâ—donia is on the West of Thrace East of Albania North of Epirus and Achaia and Soâ—th of Mysia superior It had this name from Macedo grand-child to Deucalion as Solinus gives him The Land is fertile and pleasant rich with Miâ—â—â— of gold and silver and the quality of the Inhabitants were heretofore answerable Their disposition noble and free Their Laws good and those their own their attempts great and their Kings valiant and victorious The most renowned were Philip and the greatest one that ever the world knew Alexander his son which conquered the world and set here the Throne of the third Empire 16 There are many under-Provinces in Macedonia The principal is Thessalia and here stands Triaeca the Bishops See of Heliodorus author of that excellent fiction of Theagines and Cariclea though he were too much wedded to a youthful fable when he chose rather to forgo his charge than disavow his work And here likewise is the Pharsalis famous for the great battel betwixt Caesar and Pompey The other Provinces are Aemathia Biâ—â—ia Pelasgia Eshotis and Phthiotis which yield matter for many of their stories and are famous for divers Hills and Rivers often mentioned in our ancient Poets The chief are Olympus Pelion and Ossa with their delicious valley Tempe Piâ—dus Nymphaus Atâ—â—s c. The Rivers Axius and Erigonius The chief City in the whole Region was in Augustus his time Thessalonica now Salonike comparable they sâ—y in state and merchandise to Naples in Iâ—aly 17 Albania is on the West of Macedonia and East of the Adriatick Sea North of Eâ—irus and South of Sclavonia Her chief Cities Albanopoâ—is and Duractinum heâ—etofore
are Breselare and Neisse 32 Moravia on the East of Bohemia and South of Silesia Her chief Cities are Almusium Olmutz and Brin 33 Pomerania It is bounded on the East with Iâ—tula on the North with the Baltick Ocean Her Metropolis is Stetin Oâ—hers châ—ef are Wolâ—â—st Wallin c. On the West of this Region stands 34 Mecklingburg or Mâ—galopâ—lis a place Provincial of it self and hath Towns of note Malâ—hawe Rostock c. 22 35 Aâ—stria an Arch-Dukedome it lieth upon Hungary and is esteemed by the Germans the Easteâ—n bâ—â—nd of the Empire It was formerly called Pannonia superior It is a rich Country Her chief Cities are Viâ—nna famous for beauty wealth and learning Emps St. Leopald c. There are reckoned to this Region the Provinces of Styria Carinthia Carinola and by some Tirolum BOHEMIA Petrus Kaerius Caelavit The Description of the Kingdome of BOHEMIA IN our Description of Germany we reckoned Bohemia but as a Province among the rest and therefore she was mentioned there with no more solemnity than the other parts were We purpose here to declare it an intire Kingdom of it self which besides her own compass as she is most commonly limited by Geographers hath under-subjects Dukedoms and Marquisates such as do her homage and make her well worthy of a more particular History than we had before room for 2 The ancient Inhabitant of these parts was the Bemorum magna gens as Ptolomy calls it and placeth it somewhat South toward Danubius under Suna sylva After them the Boii a people of Gallia Lugdunensis which had been before conquered by Caesar saith Quadus and packt over the Alpes to seek them a new seat in Italy But when they found the Romans too hot for their abode there they were forced to trudge farther and to pass the River Rhene into Germany as Strabo witnesseth where they found them a fit place to lurk in compassed with a large Wood called the Sylva Hircinia and like enough they joyned in with the Bemi to make up the name of Bohemia But neither here did they enjoy their peace long for they were in time nestled out by a potent people of Swevia called Marcomanni and they again had the like measure from the Sclavonians a barbarous crue which came in upon them under the conduct of an exiled murderer of Croatia one Zechius about the year five hundred and fifty 3 From that time there hath been no general expulsion but the present Bohemians are the progeny of those Sclavonians whose very language and customs are in use among them at this day Doubtless it was at first a rude Common-wealth that had no other Governours but so ungoverned a multitude for so they continued above an hundred years after Zechius But when they had for a time endured the misery of such a confusion they were content to agree upon some one for their Prince that might rule them and the first which they elected was Croâ—us a man of grâ—at esteem among them for his wisdom and goodness 4 Till the time of Vratislaus it had the title of a Dukedome only He was the fiâ—st King and was created by Henry the fourth of Germany Anno one thousand eighty six Yet after that again for the succession of six Princes it was governed by Dukes For the second King was Vladislaus the third crowned by Frederick the Emperour in the year one thâ—usand one hundred fifty nine and the third Primaslaus crowned by the Emperour Phillip one thousand one hundred nienty nine after six other Dukes from his Predecessor Vlaâ—islaus the third It hath been now long since fully setled into a Kingdom and is the title of the right noble Frederick Count Elector Palatine of the Rhene and husband to the illustrious Elizabeth daughter to our late Soveraign King Iames. They were both crowned at Prague in the year one thousand six hundred and nineteen but have been enforced ever since to maintain their right by continual wars against Fâ—rdinand the second who by vertue of an adoption which declared him successor to Matthias laies claim to the Crown of Boâ—â—mia But the â—asâ— was before deâ—ided in their third Vladislaus who though as deeply 〈◊〉 to tâ—e Kingdom as 〈◊〉 coâ—ld be yet for that he had past no lâ—gall â—lâ—ctâ—on accâ—â—ding to â—â—â—ir Custâ—mes and Priviledgâ—s he was deposed by the States and Vladislâ—us chose in his room 5 There remains no great difficulty concerning the naâ—e It appears suffâ—cienâ—ly to proceâ—d either from her first people or first Prince who as some report was one Boemus And it is worth observinâ— that though this Land hath in sundry ages being so oftâ—n ranâ—aâ—kt and poâ—â—st by sâ—rangers and Tyrants yet in her name she constantly preserves the memory only of her fâ—â—st Natives and hath not suffered that change as we have done from Albion to Britain from Britain to Eâ—gland Aâ—d so indeed it is with almost all which have been equally subject to the like Invaâ—â—ons 6 The situation of this Kingdom is almost in the midst of Germany and is easily desâ—ried in ouâ— common Maps by the Hircinian Forest held in the Romans time to be nine dayes journey in breadth and in length at lâ—ast forty So Caeser in his sixth Com. It â—oseth Boâ—emia on every side insomuch that to shâ—w they are not unlike an Aâ—phitâ—eater it is Mâ—ginus his comparison The several parts of thâ—s Wood are known by divers names which they take from the Country adjacent The portion North west is by Sâ—rabo called Gaâ—reta Sylva that South toward Danubius Luâ—a Sylva by Ptolomy non Sâ—lva Passarica and so the rest Without this Wall of Bohemia as Qâ—adus calls it her limits are on the West Franconia on the North Lâ—satia and Misâ—ia on the South â—avaria and Austria on the East â—oravia and Silesia The figure of it is in a manner circular and the Diameter is esteemed three daâ—es journey to a quick traveller The circuit contains five hundred and fifty miles of good ground fertile and pleasant enricht as well by her Rivers as Land commodities 7 Her principal are 1 Albis Elve which hath hâ—s rising in the Hircinian Wood and the name from eleven Fountains which meet in oâ—e at the head of the River For Elve or Elbe in the German Tongue signiâ—ies eleven It runs through a great part of the Country and by the chief City Prague and at last vents it selfe into the German Ocean Of this Lucan thus Fundat ab extremo flavos Aquilene Suevos Albis indomitum Rheni caput 2 Multaria Mulda 3 Egra which gives a name to a Town 4 Sassâ—va 5 Gisera 6 Missa 7 Vatto They are received all into the River Albis yield excellent Salmon and plenty And if we will believe report there is oft times found in the sands lumps of pure gold which need no other refining and very precious shels of great value 8 It seems the water supplies that only defect which is to be found in their Land For it is
hath oftentimes done The rest are not many and those but weakly peopled For the often incursions of the Tartars their speedy Horse to ride a great compass in a little time their 〈◊〉 of Faith upon terms of composition and their cruelty when they have got a victory causeth the Inhabitants of those parts to fly them at a great distance and leave their Land waste since they dare not trust their peace nor are able to withstand their war PERSIA P. Karius Caelavit The Description of the Kingdom of PERSIA THis Empire was one of the first and most potent in the Eastern world and though since in several ages she hath felt the variety of fortunes to which all Kingdomes are subject and been forced to deliver up her glory to the succeeding Monarchies of the Macedonians Parthians Turks and Sarazens yet now at last is she recovered to her own heighth and greatness and the name of Persia reacheth farther than ever if we take in as most Geographers do the Regions of Media Assyria and the rest which were heretofore the seat of several illustrious Kingdomes 2 Surely the first which inhabited any part of this compass were the Medes a people of great antiquity who reach both their original and name from Madai the son of Iapheth for it was not long after the floud that they were subdued by Ninus King of the Assyrians one and t'other Media I mean and Assyria though then they had apart their peculiar governments yet both were but a parcel of this Countrey which is now known by the name of Persia. 3 To Ninus and his successors they continued faithful for many years till the effeminate weakness of Sardanapalus gave opportunity to the ambition of Belochus governour of Babylon and Arbaces of Media to divide his Empire betwixt them which they did in the year of the world three thousand one hundred forty six and then began the Monarchy of the Medes which spread it self through the the greatest part of Asia and for above two hundred years gathered strength till the time of Astiages who dreamed himself out of his Empire as Iustine relates the story 4 Persia propriè dicta from whence this whole Country at last took name was at this time but an obscure Kingdom in respect of what now it is and tributary to the Medes Her Prince was Cambyses the Father of the great Cyrus by Mandanes daughter to Astiages when she was great and expected the time of her deliverance her Father touched with a perplexed dream that she made so much water as would drown all Asia interpreted it that her issue should be the overthrow of his state and therefore delivered the child which was born to her into Harpagus his charge to be destroyed and he to the Kings Herdsman who unawares to Both preserved the guiltless infant so that at last he took revenge upon his cruel Grand-father and laid a foundation for the Persian Monarchy 5 In this attempt his anger wrought him no farther than his enemy for he left the government of Media still to Cyaxares the son of Astyages and afterward married his daughter joyned with him in his conquests and till his death gave him preheminence of title They were both engaged in the taking of Babylon slaughter of Baltazar and destruction of the Chaldâ—ans The Scripture gives this victory to Darius Medus who as most hold was no other than Cyaxares and he only named as the principal of the two while he yet lived though Cyrus had his part in the action after his Uncles death enjoyed it as his own and made perfect the Monarchy of the Persians in the year of the world 3046. 6 About thrity seven years after the succession was broke for want of lawful heirs to Cambyses their second King and therefore their Princes consulted to salute him whose Horse first neighed at a set meeting upon the Court green before the Sun-rising Darius Histaspes was one and by the subtiliy of his Horse-keeper carried the Crown for the night before in the same ground he had coupled a Mare with the Horse that his Master should ride which when the lustful Steed missed the next morning being full of spirit no sooner had he set footing upon the place but with much eagerness he snuffed and neighed after his Mare and gave the quue to the other Princes to proclaim Darius King of the Persians This was he whom the Scripture calls Ahasuerus he was Hâ—sters husband 7 Thus is the Empire now setled and entailed by descent after him to that famous Xerxes who made war upon Greece with an incredible Army joyned Asia to Europe with a bridge and dammed up Hellespont with his Navy yet was at last vanquished by four thousand at Thermopyle and after by Themistocles forced to make his flight in a small boat towards his own Countrey contemned of his subjects and within a few years slain in his Palace by Artabanus His immediate successour was Artaxerxes Lengimanus who sent the Prophet Esdras to re-edifie the Temple and so on to Darius the last Persian of that course who was ost vanquished by Alexander the Great and left the Monarchy of the world to the Macedonians After the death of their victorious Captain it was divided among many of the most potent Princes of Greece 8 But when the Persians saw the force of their enemy thus severed they began to conceive a hope of recovering their liberty and so they did indeed under the conduct and command of the Parthian Arsaces but. found themselves little bettered in their condition as being now become new slaves to a more harsh tyrant and therefore in the year two hundred twenty eight after the Incarnation they made a second attempt to quit themselves from the Parthians they took their time when their Masters were sore afficted with a strong enemy from Rome which had broke their Forces to their hands so that by the admirable prowess of another Artaxerxes they made good their Conquest upon the Parthians and adventured so far with the Romans themselves that their name began to grow terrible and the Emperour Constantine forced to fortifie his Provinces which lay towards the East and his might be some cause too why he removed his seat to Constantinopolis 9 After this fell into the hands of the Saracenical Caliphs in the year six hundred thirty four and to the Turks in the year one hundred and thirty next to the Tartars and so again to the Parthians by the help of Gempsas who redeemed both his own and this from the Tartarian and briefly after many turns it became the possession of Ismaâ—l Sophy of Persia whose race continues it to this day 10 The bounds of this Empire on the North are the Caspian Sea and the River Oxus on the South the Sinus Persicus and the Maâ—e Indicum heretofore called Rubrum on the West the Turkish confines as far as the River Tigris and the lake Giocho on the East the River Indus and the Kingdom of
this name whether from Vignina an ancient King thereof or from our Virgin Queen Elizabeth the other parts being since distinguished by the names of New-England New-York and Mary-Land After the more perfect discovery of these parts which is said to have been first encouraged and promoted by Sir Walter Raleigh by several worthy Adventurers as first Captain Philip Amidas and Captain Arthur Barlow Anno 1584. Sir Richard Greenvil 1585. Mr. Iohn White 1587 and 1589. Captain Gosnol 1602 Captain Martin Pring 1603 set out by the City of Bristol Captain George Weymouth 1605 set out by the Lord Arundel of Warder at last iâ— the year 1606 some footing being got for all the forementioned voyages had prov'd succesless those that went over with Captain Newport carrying with them a commission from King Iames for the establishing a Counsel to direct those new discoveries landed on the 19th of December at a place afterwards called Cape Henry at the mouth of Chesapeac-Bay and immediately opened their Orders by which eight of the Counsel were declared with power to choose a President to govern for a year together with the Counsel The next year Letters Patents bearing date April the 10th were granted by the King to Sir Thomas Gates Sir George Summers and the rest of the Undertakers who were divers Knights Gentlemen and Merchants of London Bristol Exeter Plymouth anâ— other parts to make a double Colony for the more speedy Planting of the place the first Colony to be undertaken by those of London the other by those of Bristol Exeter Plymouth c. However it was not till in some years after that this Plantation came to be considerably peopled and that principally by the great care industry and activity in this affair of the Valiant Capt. Iohn Smith who in the year 1615 in the 12th of King Iames his Reign procured by his interest at Court his Majesties recommendatory Letters for the encouragement of a standing Lottery for the benefit of the Plantation which accordingly succeeded and in two or three years time turn'd to no bad account And perhaps the cancelling and making void of the Patent granted to the Corporation of the first Colony of Virginia and all other Patents by which the said Corporation or Company of Adventurers of Virginia held any interest there which was done in Trinity Term 1623 by reason of several misdemeanors and miscarriages objected against the said Corporation was an inlet of a far greater conflux into these parts than otherwise would have been by reason that this Corporation been dissolved and the Plantation governed be persons immediately appointed by commission from the King a greater freedom of Trade was opened to all his Majesties Subjects that would adventure into those parts The greatest disturbance the English received from the Natives was in the year 1622 when by a general insurrection of the Barbarians 300 of our men were massacred In the year 1631 being the 7th of the Reign of King Charles the First the most Nothernly part of this Countrey was parcell'd out into a particular Province and by Patent granted to the Lord Baltâ—more by the name of Maryland And in like manner in the 15th year of his present Majesty being the year of our Lord 1663 that part of Florida which lies South of Virginia to Edw. Earl of Clarendon then Lord High Chancellor of England George Duke of Albermarl William Earl of Craven Iohn Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashly now Earl of Shaftsbury Sir George Carteret Sir William Berkley and Sir Iohn Colleton by the name of Carolina as is specified more at large in the particular discourses of these two Countreys So that Virginia as it now stands with these two Provinces lopt from it for in Carolina also is included some part of the Land which belonged formerly to the dissolved Company of Virgina extends it self only between 36 and 37 degrees and 50 minutes of Northern latitude being bounded to the East by the Ocean to the North by mary-Mary-land to the West by the South-Seas and to the South by Carolina The Air of Virginia is accounted of a temperature very wholsome and agreeable to English constitutions especially since by the cutâ—ng down of the Woods and the regulation of diet the seasonings have been abated only within the present limits of Virginia it is somewhat hotter in Summer than that part called Mary-Land and the seasoning was formerly more violent and dangerous here to the English at their first landing The Soil which is generally plain but sometimes diversified with variety of hill and dale is capable being very fertile of producing all things that naturally grow in these parts besides which there are of the proper growth of this Countrey a sort of Plant called Silk-grass of which is made a very fine Stuff of a silky gloss and cordage more strong and lasting than any of hemp or flax For fruits the Mettaquâ—sunanks something resembling the Indian Fig the Chechinquamins which come nearest to the Chesnut the Putchcamines a fruit somewhat like a Damsin Messamines a sort of Grape in shew Rawcomens the resemblance of a Gooseberry Morocoks not much unlike a Strawberry Macoquer a kind of Apple Ocoughtanamnis a berry much like Câ—pers For Roots Musquaspen with the juice whereof being a rich sort of paint they colour their Mars and Targets Wichsacan yielding a most excellent healing jâ—ice for wounds Pocones an emulgent of much efficacy for swellings and aches Tockawaugh frequently â—aten there is also a Plant called Matonna of which they make bread and Assament a sort of Pulse a great delicacy among the natives The Beasts peculiar to this Countrey are the Opassum a certain beast which carrieth and suckleth her young in a bag which she hath under her belly the Assapanic or flying Squirrel the Mussascus a musk-sented beast having the shape of a Water-rat the Aroughena a sort of Badger the Utchuâ—quâ—is somewhat like a wild Cat also a sort of beast called Roscones Of Fish the most peculiar is the Sâ—ringraise which is also common to this Countrey with New-England So many several Towns as were anciently among the natives so many distinct Nations there were all Monarchical except that of the Sesquahanocks all something differing in disposition customs and religious Ceremonies and most of all in language but all of them in general valiant well-set of a tawny complexion with black flaggy and long hair crafty and treacherous sufficiently laborious in the art of War which they used frequently to exercise among each other and wonderful lovers of hunting in other things most scandalously lazy and indulgent to their ease mean in their apparel homely in their diet and sluttish in their houses All Ships that come to Virginia and Mary-Land enter through the Bay of Chesapeac at whose opening to the South Virginia begins between those famous Capes Cape Henry and Cape Charles Into this Bay which runs up 75 Leagues Northward into the Coâ—ntrey and is in some places seven leagues broad there fall
continuance for upon the expectation of a new Governor they fell back into their first principles and made no scruple to usurp the whole Soveraignty and to denominate it their own called it by the name of Novum Belgium or the New Neatherlands and moreover they fell to building of Towns and Forts the Town they erected they called New Amsterdam their first Fort Fort-Orange after which they raised another by the name of Fort-Amsâ—el However these proceedings upon complaints made to his late Majesty and by him represented to the States of Holland were absolutely disowned by them and wholly laid upon the East-India Company of Amsterdam upon which the most Northernly part toward New-England was by his Majesty granted by Patent to Sir Edmund Loiden by the name of Nova Albion the most Southernly toward Virginia to Sir George Calvert now Lord Baltimore by the name of Mary-Land and the Dutch upon some consideration agreed on were forthwith to have quitted the place yet for all this as the custom of this people is never to let go any opportunity that serves their turn whether by right or wrong taking advantage of the unhappy dissentions and civil wars that soon after hapned in this Nation they not only stood upon higher demands than were at first agreed on but also endeavoured to stir up the Natives against the English that they might have the better opportunity to fix themselves In this state things remained till his present Majesty after his restauration resolving to make a full determination of his right to these parts sent three Men of War by whom New Amsterdam being easily reduc'd the Countrey came thenceforth into the sole possession of the English and was immediately together with Long Island conferr'd by his Majesty upon the Duke of York by the tâ—tle of York-shire which hath now quite swallowed up that of New Neatherland the name of New Amsterdam being chang'd into that of New York of Fort-Orange into Fort-Albany of Fort-Amscel into Fort-Iames Moreover the Patent of Mary-Land hath been by his present Majesty renewed and confirmed to Cecil Lord Baltemore by whose extraordinary care and promotion it hath been of late advanc'd to a very populous well regulated and thriving Pianâ—ation as is observed more at large in the description of the Province of Mary-Land This Countrey of New York-shire contains all that tract of Land lying between New England which bounds it to the north-North-east and Virginia or rather mary-Mary-Land which bounds it to the South-west extending from the 38 th degree and an half of Northern latitude to the 41 st and 15 min. The bredth of it about 200 miles Within this tract of Land are three Island Muâ—â— hatans Island in which stands the Town of New-York Long Island and Staten Island The temperature of the Climate fertility of the Soil and productions of the Earth differ not materially from New England and other adjacent parts The principal Rivers are three Hudson's River formerly nam'd Manhattes by the Dutch Nassorius or Noordt River one branch whereof called Hell-gate empties it self over against the Isle of Manhetâ—n or Isle of Nuts near New-York another at May-Port or the Port of Cornelius May. 2. Zuid River the same as I take it which is also by some term'd Raritan 3. Delaware-Bay River 4. Afterskull The only noted Town of New York-shire was built by the Dutch by the title of New Amsterdam though now wholly changed into that of New-York in the neck of the Island of Manhatans with very fair Streets and well-built Houses For the security of this Town on one side thereof is a Fort which was at first term'd Fort-Amscel now Iames Fort. This Town is govern'd by a Mayor Aldermen a Sheriff and Iustices of the Peace The nature and complexion of the native Inhabitants differ not much from those of the Flâ—ridans but their customs habits and ceremonies in Religion are not altogether the same They observe no set-meals but eat as oft as their appetite serves their Sappaen which is Indian Wheat stampt and boyled to pap is a great dish with them Men turn away their Wives upon the least occasion imaginable and marry again nor scruples any one to marry a woman that hath been lain wâ—th befoâ—e when a single woman Both men and women wear a girdle of Whale-sins and Sea-shells the men putting half an ell of cloath three quarters broad between their legs so as that a square piece hangs before over his belly another below behind his back The women wear a coat that reaches half way down their legs curiously wrought with Sea-shells and for an upper garment they have a large Dear-skin the lappets whereof hang full of points button'd on the right shoulder and tied about the middle The men go bare-headed the women tying their hair behind in a tuft wear over it a square-cap wrought with Sea-shells of which they also wear chains and bracelets about their middle neck and arms the men paint their faces with several colours the women use only here and there a black spot their usual painting colours are either the Iuices prest out of several Plants or the fine ground powders of certain curious coloured Stones the chief of these plants hath a great resemblance to a myrtle especially in its leaves out of the red berry of this plant a juice is squeezed and dried in the Sun and preserved for ordinary use in bags when they have occasion to use it they temper it with water producing the richest purple colour that can be imagined they use pleated hair which being coloured red hath a fine gloss in stead of feathers It is observable in their religious worship that in the midst of their sorceries and diabolical ceremonies the Devil whom alone they worship as the regent of mischief and sitting president in every bodily pain and therefore most proper to be sought and oblig'd is said to appear in the shape of a wild or tame beast informing them obscurely of things to come and portending if the first bad if the last good fortune Yet they acknowledge a God who living in profound bliss not troubling himself with humane affairs solaceth himself with a Goddess of most surpassing beauty and the Mother of all terrestrial creatures Moreover they believe that the souls of those that have lived well here are translated after their decease to some Southern Clime where they live in utmost pleasure and delight whereas the souls of the wicked are hurried up and down in a miserable vagrancy Remarkable also is the manner of their proceeding against Criminals condemned to death which is to hunt them like wild beasts into the woods whither in stead of being committed to Prison they are forced or rather suffered to fly as soon as he is discovered the King having first shot if he miss the rest follow and happy is he who hath the fortune to give the Malefactor his deaths-shot for he is sure to be made a Captain or some eminent Commander in the Wars
of Snake and the Alligator which seems to be a kind of American Crocodile The most noted River of Iamaica runs by Los Angelos and St. Iago and falls into Cagway-Bay The Bays Roads and Harbours of this Island are both many and very convenient of which the most considerable are 1 Cagway now chiefly known by the name of Port-Royal abundantly commodious for Shipping as being in most places two or three leagues over and so deep that a Ship of 1000 Tun may load and unload close to the shore secured by a Castle one of the strongest and best provided of any in his Majesties American Domâ—nions and land-lock'd by a point of land which runs 12 miles Souâ—h-east from the main land by reason of which advantages and conveniences it is become the chief place of â—rade in the whole Isle and much frequented both with Men of War and Merchant-men there being built upon the said point no less than 800 houses for Merchants Warehouse keepers Vinâ—ners and other Trades yet in other respects it is ill enough provided having neither accommodation of wood or fresh-water It is seated about 12 miles from St. Iago de la Vâ—ga the chief Town of the Island 2 Port-Morant a capacious Harbour sufficiently convenient for wooding and watering and where Ships may ride secure from the winds it lies on the Eastern Point where the English have a good substantial Colony 3 Port Antonio a very secure land-lock'd Harbour in the North-part of the Isle not otherwise incommodious except in the entrance which is somewhat impeded by a small Island that lies before it this place belongs to the Earl of Carlâ—sle 4 Point-Negril a good Harbour for the secure riding of Sâ—ips North-east of which lies the old Town of Melilla this Bay lies on the utmost Western-point of the Island 5 Old Harbour a commodious Bay lying Westward from St. Iago Besides these which are the most noted there lie along the Coast of this Island many other not inconvenient Bays viz. in the North-part Porto-Maria Ora-Cabessa Cold-Harbour Rio-Novo Montego-Bay Orange-Bay in the South-part Cabarita's Bay Blewfields Bay Lewana Bay Pallate Bay Point Pedro Allegator Point Micary Bay Michaels Hole This Island is divided into 14 Precincts or Parishes those on the North-side are St. Georges St. Maries St. Annes St. Iames's and St. Elizabeths besides two more unnam'd those on the South-side Port-Royal St. Katharines St. Iohns St. Thomas St. Andrews St. Davids and Clarendon The Towns are only these following 1 Sevilla the first Town of any note built by the Spaniards situate in the North-part of the Island and formerly grac'd with a stately both Monastery and Collegiate Church in one whereof Peter Martyâ— the fam'd Author of the Historical Decads of the West-Indies had been Abbot invested with Episcopal Iurisdiction 2 Melilla the first place of settlement of the Spaniards in this Island in the North-west part whereof it lies landing under the condu of Columbus who in his return from Veraguâ— where he had like to have been Shipwrack'd put in here to mend his Ships 3 Orista a Town lying upon the South-Sea whither the Spaniards disliking the situation of Melilla removed Before this place lie several little Rocks and Islands as Serrana so called from Augustin Pedro Serrana who saving himself with much ado from Shipwrack lived here a solitary life for some years Quitosvâ—na and Servavilla 4 St. Iago de la Vega lying six miles from the Sea-side North-west the fixt Seat of the Spaniards upon their abandoning of Oristam also as a place unhealthfully and incommodiously situated and at last accounted the Metropolis or principal Town of the Island having two Churches two Chappels an Abby and about 2000 Houses When the English made themselves Master of the Countrey by whom although at their first arrival it was very much demolished and defac'd yet since their settlement here it hath begun to grow up to its former splendor and continues still the predominant Town and the principal place of Iudicaâ—ure and all affairs relating to the Government and where the Governor keeps his most constant residence 5 Port-â—oyal a Port-Town about 12 miles distant from St. Iago next to which it is at this time the most important place and for Trade rather exceeding it as being the principal of all the Ports among which it hath been already more particularly mentioned 6 Passage a small Town in the mid-way between St. Iago and Port-Royal whence it hath its denomination being just six miles from each and built chiefly for the conveniency of travelling from one to the other It lies upon the mouth of the River and hath a Fort raised for its security The present Governor of this Island for his Majesty of Great-Britain is Sir Thomas Linch BARBADOS The Description of Barbadoes AMong those Islands generally called the Caribes by others less properly the Antilles which name Sanson attributes to those greater Islands of Hispaniola Cuba c. Barbadoes is certainly the most flourishing and best peopled of all of them that are possest by the English if not all the Caribes in general first discovered by Christopher Columbus The first Colony planted in this Island was in the year 1627 and that by the English who have all along kept continual and undisturb'd possession This Island being of an oval form about eight leagues in length and five in bredth is seated in the latitude of 13 degrees and 20 seconds on the North-east of St. Vincent very strong both by Nature and Art as being guarded with Rocks and Shoals and a well-grown wood which invirons the whole Island and also fortified with Rampiers Trenches Palisadoes and Counterscarfs three Forts and a standing Militia consisting of two Regiments of Horse and five of Foot well disciplin'd and ready at a short warning The weather here is so hot for eight months that it would be very intollerable to travellers but for the cool breezes which rising and mounting with the Sun blow generally from the North-east and by East except in the time of the Tornado when for a few hours they change into the South Yet notwithstanding this great heat of the Air it is also so moist that all iron-tools without continual use are wonderfully apt to contract rust This heat and moisture of â—he Air besides the natural fertility of the Soil causeth here no less increase than delight insomuch that the fields and woods are continually green and bring forth their Crops all the year long However the two most proper times of the year for planting are May and November The Sun riseth and sets here at six all the year long and makes the days and nights of an equal length except in October and then the difference is but small The principal productions of this Island are Logwood Fustick Indico Cotton Ginger and Sugars with which four last Commodities it drives a very vast Trade and supplies not only England and Ireland but also several of his Majesties other Dominions in