but did not touch at any of them but Master Candish taking as large a journey was in one or more of them where he found the people to be intelligent and subtill and the Kings of the Country to take upon them as great state as might be convenient for such petty Princes Some of these Islands the Spaniards in right of the Portugals have got into their own possession with the Kings of some other they have leagued and a third sort utterly detest them More Northward over against China lyeth a Country consisting of a great many Islands called Japona of Japan the people whereof are much of the same nature with the men of China This Country was first discovered by the â—…esuites who in a blind zeale have travelled into the farthest parts of the world to win men to their Religion This Island is thought to be very rich About the parts of Japan there are diâ—…ers people whose most ordinary habitation is at the Sea and do never come into the Land but only for their necessities or to furnish themselves with new vessels wherein they may abide but lying not farre from the Land they have ducks and other fowls swimming about them which sometimes they take into their Boats and Ships in such sort do breed them to the maintenance of them and their Children Into this Iapan of late daies have our English also sail'd as into other parts of the East Indies and there erected a Factory The rest that be either neer unto Asia or Africa because there is little written of them we passe over onely naming them as the Philipinâ—… Borneo Bandaâ—…a as also on the side of Africke the Island of Saint Laurence called by the inhabitants Madagasâ—…ar 〈◊〉 and others of lesse note And yet we do find in Solinus and Pliny but especially in Pomponius Mela that it was known in old time that there were many Islands neer unto the East-Indies which as it might be first discovered by the trafficking of the Islanders into the continent so no doubt that Navy which Alexander sent out to India to desâ—…ry and coast thorow the Eastern seas did give much light thereunto partly by that which themselves did see and partly by those things which they heard in such places and of such persons as they met with in their travell Of the Islands in the Atlantick Sea THere be many Islands which he Westward from Africa and from Europe as those which are called the Gorgades that lye in the same climate with Guinea which are four in number not inhabited by men but they are full of Goats Peter Martyr in his first Decade the sixth Book saith that the Admirall Colonus in the year of Christ 1498 sailing to Hispaniola with eight ships came to the Isle of Madera from whence sending directly the rest of his ships to the East Indies he in one ship with decks and two Carayels sailed to the Equinoctiall betweene which and the Isle Madera in the middest way lye 13. Islands of the Portugalls in old time called Hesperides now Cabonerde two daies sailing distant from the inner parts of Ethiope one whereof is called Bonavista Northward from thence in the same climate with the South part of Morocco lye those which are called Canariâ—… or the fortunate Islands which are seven in number being most fruitful and very pleasant and therefore called by that name Fortunate Insulae This is famous in them that it hath pleased all Cosmographers to make their Meridian to be their first point where they do begin to reckon the computation of their Longitude and unto them after three hundred and threescore Degrees to return again From these Islands it is that those strong and pleasant Sacks which are called Canary Wings are brought and from thence are fetched those that they call Canary Birds These Islands are under the Crowne of Spaine The heat of the Countrey is very great and therefore fitter for concoction but besides that the sayle of it self is accommodated thereunto and by reason of them both these Islands do bring forth a Grape which is sweeter in taste then any other Grape and hath that property with it that the Wine which is made thereof doth not â—…ume into the head like other Sack but doth help the stomacke and exercise the force of it there The slips of their Vines have been brought into Spaine and some other places of Europe but they have not sorted to the same purpose as they do in their native Countrey ... There do grow also in these Isles good store of Sugar-canes which yeeldeth plentifully that kinde of commodite unto Spaine either for Marmelets wherein they much delight or for other uses Peter Martyr in the beginning of his Decades which he hath written de Orbe novo doth particularly touch the names and some other things of these Islands On the backside of Africa also just under the Equinoctial is the Isle of Saint Thomas inhabited by the Portugals which Island was taken in the later time of Queen Elizabeth by the Dutch it is reported that in the midst of this Iland is an Hill and over that a continual cloud where with the whole Island is watered such a like thing as this is reported of the Isle of Cloves The aire of this Island is unwholsome and there is hardly seen any Portugal or stranger that comes to dwell there which lives till he be above forty years of age More Northward from Africke lye those Islands which are called Azores Insulae being six or seven in number of which Tercera is one of the chief of whom the rest by some are called Tercera's which are farre inferiour in fruitfulnesse unto the Canaries These were first under the Crown of Portugal and one of them was the last which was kept out from the King of Spaine by the Prior Don Antonio who afterward called himself King of Portugal but the Spaniard at last took this Terrera from him and doth possesse all these Islands together with the rest of the Dominion which did belong to the Portugall He who list to see the unadvised proceedings of Don Antonio both in parting with Lisbon and the rest of Portugall as also in losing these Islands which last of all held out for him let him read Conestagio of the union of Portugall to the Crown of Castile But these Azores have in times past yeelded much Oade which thereupon in England was called Island Oade but now they are the place where the Spaniards do commonly touch and take in fresh water both going and comming to and from America finding that to passe directly without turning on either hand towards America is very hard by reason of the strong current of the water from the gulph of Mexico and so forward to the East and therefore they are enforced either to go lower to the South and so to water in some part of Guinea or thereabout or else to keep
King entertained halfe his Forces that he then had in the Countrey which were an hundred and fifty Souldiers the like number being at Saint Helena all of them under the government of Petro Melendez Nephew to the admirall Melendez that fifteen or sixteen years before had been to bring with onr English in the Bâ—…y of Mexico this Fort our English â—…ook and not far from thence the Town also of Saint Augustine upon the same river where resolving to umdertake also the enterprize of Saint Helena when they came to the Havens mouth where they should enter they durst not for the dangerous shoals wherefore they sorsooke the place coasting along to Virginia where they took in Mr. Ralph Lane and his company and so came into England as you shall heare when we speak of Virginia In these Northerne parts of America but especially within the main Continent some have written but how truly I cannot tell that there is a sea which hath no enter course at all with the Ocean so that if there be any third place beside the Mare Caspium and the Mare Mortuum in Palestina which retained in it self great saltnesse and yet mingleth not with the other sea it is in these Countries There is also in new Spain a great salt Lake as big or bigger than the dead sea of Palestine in the midst of which stands the great City of Tenustitan or Mexico the Mistris crâ—…imperiall City of those parts and on the Bankes or sides of that Lake many other Cities also beside which though they are but little in comparison of the greatnesse of Tenustitan yet of themselves are geeat This Tenustitan is supposed to consist of 60 thousand houses as you may read in the third Chap. of the fifth of the Decades and this City standing in the midst and center of this salt Lake go which way you will from the Continent to the â—…ity it is at least a League and an half or two Leagues on the Lake unto it some of the other Cities are said to be thirty some of forty thousand Houses the names of these are Mesiquailâ—…ingo Coluacana Wiohilabasco Iztapalapa and others the Lake though it be in the midst of the Land hath his fluxus and refluxus his ebbing and flowing like the Sea and yet seventy leagues distant from the Sea But certain it is that towards the South of these parts which is the Northern part of Hispania nova above Mexico there is a burning hill which often times breaketh out into flames as Vesuvius in Campania did in the daies of the elder Pliny and as Aetna hath done many ages since and before Peter Martyr his his fifth of his Decades saith that eight leagues from Tenustitan or Mexico as Ferdinando Cortes went thither from the Chiurute Calez where is a Hill called of the Inhabitants Popecatepeque as much as to say A smoakie mountaine at the top whereof there is a hole of a league and a halfe wide out of which are cast fire and stones with whitl-winds and that the thickness of the ashes lying about the Hill is very great It is reported also elsewhere of this hill that the flames and the ashes thereof oft times destroy the fields and Gardens thereabouts When Cortes went by it he sent ten Spaniards with Guides of the Countrey to see and make report thereof unto him two of which ten venturing further than the rest saw the mouth of this fiery gulph at the hils top and had they not happily soon returned towards their fellows and sheltered themselves under a rock on the side of the hill such a multitude of stones were cast out with the flame that by no meanes they could have escaped The English-men also desirous by Navigation to adde something unto their own Countrey as before time they had travelled toward the farthest North part of America so lately finding that part which lieth between Florida and Nova Francia was not inhabited by any Christians and was a Land fruitfull and fit to plant in they sent thither two severall times two severall companies as Colonies to inhabite that part which in remembrance of the Virginity of their Queen they called Virginia But this voyage being enterprized upon by private men and being not throughly followed by the State the possession of this Virginia for that time was discontinued and the Country left to the old inhabitants There were some English people who after they had understood the calmnesse of the Climate and goodnesse of the soyle did upon the instigation of some Gentlemen of England voluntarily offer themselves even with their Wives and Children to go into those parts to inhabite but when the most of them came there upon some occasions they returned home again the first time which caused that the second year there was a great company transported thither who were provided of many necessaries and continued there over a whole winter under the guiding of M. Lane but not finding any sustenance in the Country which could well brooke wiâ—…h their nature and being too meanely provided of Corn and Victuals from England they had like to have perished with famine and therefore thought themselves happy when Sir Francis Drake comming that way from the Westerne Indies would take them into his ships and bring them home into their native Country Yet some there were of those English which being left behind ranged up and down the Country and hovering about the sea-coast made means at last after their enduring much misery by some Christian ships to be brought back again into England While they were there inhabiting there were some children born and baptized in those parts and they might well have endured the Country if they might have had such strength as to keep off the inhabitants from troubling them in tilling the ground and reaping such corn as they would have sowed Again in the daies of our now raigning Soveraigne in the year of our Lord 1606. the English planted themselves in Virginia under the degrees 37 38 39. where they do to this day continue and have built three Towns and Forts as namely James-town and Henrico Fort Henricke Fort Charls with others which they hold inhabite sure retreats for them against the force of the natives and reasonable secured places against any power that may come against them by Sea In the same height but a good distance from the coast of Virginia lieth the Iland called by the Spaniards La Barmuda but by our English the Summer Ilands which of late is inhabited also by our Country men Northward from them on the coast lieth Nâ—…rumbega which is the south part of that which the French men did without disturbance of any Christian for a time possess For the French-men did discover a larg part of America towards the Circle Articke and did build there some Towns and named it of their own Country Nova Francia As our English men have adventured very far for the discovery of
of his Book De navigatione in Brasiliam doth tell that Sir Francis Drake of England when he passed through Magellane straights and so to the Molucco Ilands and then homeward from the East by Africk did in a device give the Globe of the earth with this word or Motto Primus mâ—…â—…ricumdedisti which is not simple to be understood that never any had gone round the world before him but that never any of fame for Magellane himself was slain as before is noted or else he did doubt of the truth of that narration that the Ship called Fictoria did return with safety into Spaine The Maps which were made at first concerning America and Peru did so describe the western part of Peru as if when a man had passed Magellane straits and did intend to come upward towards nova Hispania on the further side he must have born West by reason that the land did shoot out with a very great Promontory and bending that way But our English men which went with S. Francis Drake did by their own experience certainly find that the land from the uttermost end of the Straits on Peru side did go up towards the South directly without bending to the West and that is the cause whereof all the new Maps and Globes especially made by the English or by the Dutch who have taken their directions from our men are reformed according to this new observation When the Spaniards had once found an ordinary passage from the South Sea towards the Moluccoes they never ceased to travel that way and discovered more and more and by that means they had found out divers Islands not known in former ages as two for example sake a good distance from the Molucco's which because they be inhabited by men which do steal not only each from other but do pilfer away all things that they can from such strangers as do land there abouts they are called Insulae Latronum They have also descried some other neerer unto the East Indies which they now term Insulae Salomonis But the most renowned of all are those to whom the name is given Philippinae in remembrance of Philip the second King of Spaine at whose cost they were discovered These Philippinae are very rich and from thence is brought abundance of costly Spices and some other rich merchandize yea and Gold too There were also some other Islands descried by Magellanus himself which he called Insulas Infortunatas as being of quality contrary to the Canaries which are termed the Fortunate Islands For when he passing through the South sea and meaning to come to the Moluccoes where he was slain did land in these Islands thinking there to have furnished himself with victuals and fresh water he found the whole place to be Barren and not Inhabited Of the Countries that lie about the two Poles HAving laid down in some measure the description of the old known world Asia Africa and Europe with the Islands adjoyning unto them also of Americk which by some hath the title of New found World it shall not be amiss briefly to say some thing of a fift and sixt part of the Earth the one lying neer the South Pole and the other neer the North which are places that in former times were not known nor though of When Magellanus came down to the Southern end of Peru he found on the further side of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 main and hugh Land lying towards the South Pole which some have of his name called since Regio Magellanica and that so much the rather because he touched upon it again before he came to the Moluccoes Since his time the Portugals trading towards Calecâ—… and the East Indies there hath some of them been driven by tempest so far as to that which many now call the South Continent and so divers of sundery Nations have there by occasion touched upon it It is found therefore by experience for to go along all the degrees of longitude and as in some places it is certainly discovered to come up so high towards the North as to the Tropicke of Capricorn so it is conjectured that towards the South it goeth as far as to the Pole The ground whereof is that never any man did perceive the Sea did passe through any part thereof nay there is not any great river which hath yet been described to come out oâ—… iâ—… into the Ocean whereupon it is concluded that since somewhat must fill up the Globe of the Earth from the first appearing of this land unto the very Pole and that cannot be any Sea unless it should be such a one as hath no entercourse with the Ocean which to imagine is uncertain therefore it is supposed that it commeth whole out into the land to the Antartick Pole which if it should be granted it must needs be acknowledged withal that this space of earth is so huge as that it equalleth in greatness not only Asia Europe and Africa but almost America being joyned unto them Things memorable in this country are reported to be very few only in the East part of it over against the Moluccoes some have written that there be very waste Countries wildernesses but we find not so much as mention whether any do inhabite there or no. And over against the Promontory of Africk which is called Caput bonae spei there is a country which the Portugals called P sittacorum regio because of the abundant store of Parrets which they found there Neer to the Magellane straits in this south part of the world is that land the Spaniards call Terra delfuego those also which have toucht at it in other places have given to some parts of it these names Beach Lucath Maletur but we have no perfect description of it nor any knowledge how or by whom it is inhabited About this place the said Portugals did at one time saile along for the space of 2000. miles and yet found no end in the land And in this place they reported that they saw inhabitants which were very fair and fat people and did go naked which is the more to be observed because we scant read in any writer that there hath been seen any people at all upon the South coast More towards the East not far from the Muluccoes there is one part of this Country as some suppose although some doubt whether that be an Island or no which commeth up so high towards the North as the very Aequinoctial line and this is commonly called Nova Guinea because it lieth in the same Climate and is of no other temperature then Guinea in Africk is I have heard a great Mathematitian in England find fault both with Ortelius and Mercator and all our late makers of Maps because in describing this Continent they make no mention of any Cities Kingdoms or Common-wealth which are seated and placed there whereof he seemed in confidence of words to
defloured the Daughter of the said Julian which the Father took in such indignation that he procured those Saracens to come over into Spaine that so he might be revenged on his King but when those barbarous people had once set foot in there they could never be removed untill the time of Ferdinando and Elizabeth King and Queen of Spaine about a hundred years since The Author before named writeth that before the comming of those Moores into Spaine the King Rodericus would needs open a part of a Palace which had been shut long before and had by descent from hand to hand been forbidden to be entred by any yet the King supposing there had been great Treasure therein broke into it but found nothing there saving in a great Chest the Pictures of Men who resembled the proportion Attire and Armour of the Moores and a Prophecy joyned therewithall that at that time when the Palace should be entred such a people as was there resembled should invade and spoyle Spaine which fell out accordingly The Spaniards that now are be a very mixt people descended of the Goths which in former times possessed that Land and of those Sarazens and Jews which are the basest people of the World The Kingdome of Portugall dâ—…d containe under it Regnum Algarbiâ—…rum but both of them are now annexed unto Castile by the cunâ—…ing of the K ng of Spaine Philip he Second who took the advantage after the death of Sebastian who was slaine in Barbary in the year 1578. Then after him raigned Henry who sometimes was Cardinall and Uncle to Sebastian in whose time although shew was made that it should be lawfully debared unto whom the Crown of Portugal did belong yet Philip meaning to make sure worke did not so much respect the right as by maine force invaded and since to the great griefe of the Portugals hath kept it The chief City of Portugal is Lisbone called in Latine Olysippo from whence those Navigations were advanced by which the Portugals discovered so much of their South part of Africk and of the East-Indies possessed by them to this day The City from whence the Castilians do set forth their ships to the West-Indies is Sevill called in Latine Hispalis Another great City in Spain is Toledo where the Archbishoprick is the richest spirituall dignity of Christendome the Papacy only excepted In the time of Damianus à Goes there were reckoned to be in Spain foure Archbishopricks of great worth three other inferiour and forty Bishopricks as also in Portugal three Archbishopricks and eight Bishopricks He reckoneth up also in Spaine besides the great Officers of the Crown 17 Dukes 41. Marquesses 87. Earles or Counts and 9. Vicounts as also in Portugal besides the Officers of the Crown fix Dukes four Marquesses nineteen Earles and one Vicount In Spaine he saith are seven Universities The Country is but dry and so consequently barren in comparison of some other places What commodities it doth yeeld it may be seen in a Treatise of Damianus à Goes which he calleth his Hispania Not only this great and large Country heretofore divided into so many Kingdomes is now under one absolute King but that King also is Lord of many other Territories as namely of the Kingdome of Naples in Italy and the Dutchy of Millain of the Isles of Sicily Sardinia Majorque Minorque Evisa in the midland sea of the Islands of the Canaries in the Atlantique besides divers strong Towns and goodly Havens in Barbary within and without the Straits On the back side of Africk he commands much on the Frontiery besides the Islands adjoyning to the maine Land In the Westerne Indies he hath Mexico Brasil large Territories with the Islands of the South and the North Sea And Philip the second getting Portugall as a Dowry to that soâ—…ct Marriage got also all the dependances of that Crown in Africke the East-Indies and the Atlantique Sea the Towns of Barbary and the East-Indies willingly submitting themselves unto him but the Terceras he won by force at the first and second Expedition so if we consider the huge tract of ground that is under the Kings Dominion we will say that the Empery of the King of Spaine is in that respect the largest that now is or ever was in the World Of France THe next Country is France which is bounded on the west with the Pyrenay hils on the North with the English Seas on the East with Germany on the South-east with the Alpe-hils on the South-west with the Mediterranean Sea The Kingdome of France is for one entire thing one of the most rich and absolute Monarchies of the World having both on the North and South side the Sea standing very convenient for profit of Navigation and the Land it selfe being ordinarily very fruitful The consideration whereof caused Francis the first King of France to compare this Kingdome alone to all the Dominions and Seigniories of Charles the fifth Emperour for when the Herauld of the said Charls bidding Defiance to the King Francis did give his Majesty the title of Emperour of Germany King of Castaile Arragon Naples Sicily c. Francis commanded his Herauld to call him so often King of France as the others had Titles by all his Countries implying that France alone was of as much strength and worth as all the Countries which the other had Concerning this Argument see the warlike and politick Discourses of Monsieur de la Nove. He who writeth the Commentaries of Religion and state of France doth shew that when there had been of late in France in the daies of Francis the Second and Charles the Ninth three Civill Wars which had much ruinated the glory and beauty of that Kingdome when a little before the great Massacre in the yeare One thousand five hundred seventy two there had been peace in that Countrey scant full two yeares yet so great is the riches and happinesse of that Kingdome that in that short time all things were renewed and repaired again as if there had never been any such desolation The Revenue of the Crowne of France is exceeding great by reason of the Taxes and impositions which through the whole Kingdome are laid upon the Subjects for their Sizes and Toules do exceed all the Imposts and tributes of all the Princes of Christendome in as much as there are few things there used but the King hath a commodity issuing out of them and not only for matters of Luxury as in other states but from such things as be of necessity as Flesh Wood Salt c. It is supposed at this day that there be in the Kingdome thirty thousand men who are under-officers and make a good part of their living by gathering of the Kings tribute This is much increased no doubt in these latter times but yet of old it was in so great measure which caused that speech of Maximilian the Emperour as Iohannes Eventinus witnesseth
divers Rivers which run on both sides of it into the Adriaticke and Tyrrhene or Tuscane Seas As in other Countries so in Italy in times past there were divers severall people and severall Provinces like our Shires in England and so there be at this day but the main division of Italy is properly into four parts as in our age we doe account it The first Lombardy which lyeth to the North. The second Tuscane which boundeth toward the Mediterranean Sea which way Corsica the Iland lieth The third is the Land of the Church which is the Territory of the Bishop of Rome and containeth in it that which is called Romania The fourth is Naples and in this division now is all Italy comprehended The North part of this Italy is that which in ancient time was called Gallia Togata or Gallia Cisalpina inhabited then by French men It is now called Longobardia or Lombardia wherein stand many rich Governments as the Dukedome of Millain of Mantua of Florence others It is for the pleasantness thereof in respect of the soile aire waters and great variety of wines and fruits likened now by some to Paradice or the Garden of God In this Italy which was heretofore one entire Government in the flourishing estate of the Romans are now many absolute States and Princedomes by the great policy oâ—… the Bishop of Rome who thought it the best way to make himselfe great to weaken the Empire So he hath not only driven the Emperor out of all Italy into Germany but â—…ath diminished his Majesty in both by making so many petty Governments which hold themselves soveraigne Rulers without relation to any other As there are many States in Italy so one of the chiefest are the Venetians called Resp Venetorum or the State of Venice because they are not governed by any one but by their Senate and Gentlemen although whey have a Duke with those stampe their mony is coined and in whose name all their executions of Justice are done But this Duke is every way limited by the State This City of Venice which joineth to a corner of Lombardy standeth in Estuarium or shallow of Earth in the North part of the Adriaticke Sea so safely that it is held invincible There is in it but one street of firme Land into the other the Sea doth flow at every tide They have been a great and rich State not only possessing much in Italy as Paduâ—… their University and other things which still they do but a great part of Illyricum and many rich Ilands in the Mediterranean as Candy called commonly Creta Cyprus Zazinthus and others But Cyprus was taken from them a little before that fight at sea wherein Don John of Austria together with the Venetians had so renowned a victory against the Turke at the fight neer Lepanto The impoverishing of their State hath partly been by the incroaching of the Turk but especially by the decaying of that Traffick which they had to Alexandria in Egypt for their spices and other riches of Persia Arabia and the East Indies since the course of the Portugals to those Eastern Countries hath been by Sea by the backside of Africa These Venetians which in times past were great Warriours do now altogether decline enmity or hostility with all other Princes adjoyning and therefore by all meanes do take up quarrels and cease controversies by wisdome and patience temporising with the Turke the King of Spaine and the Emperour who are most like to offend them The manner of their Government and the excellent course which they have in chusing their Duke is written by Contarenus and some others of their Country-men When they do make any warres they seldome send forth any General of their own but entertaine some Prince of Italy who is renowned for the wars In Lombardy standeth also the Dukedome of Millain a most rich and pleasant thing which sometime had bin govern'd by a Duke of their own but of late hath been possessed by the Spaniard sometime by the French and is now in the Government possession of the K. of Spain In Tuscany the Chiefe City and Commander of all the rest is Florence where is supposed to be the best Language of Italy called the vulgar Italian and the most circumspect policy of all the Governments of Christendome which hath much bin increased since the time of Machiavel who was Secretary or Recorder to that State This was in times past â—… free City but of late by the policy of the Family of the Medices it is brought under the subjection of a Duke which raigâ—…eth as an absolute Prince and by little and little hath so incroched on his own Citizens and Neighbours round about him that he hath gotten to be called and that not unworthily Magnus Dux Hetruriae or the great Duke of Tuscany A great part of the rising of the Family of the Medices which are now Dukes of Florence may be ascribed to the cunning carriage of themselves but it hath been much advanced forward by their felicity in having two Popes together of that house which were Leo the Tenth and Clement the Seventh who by all means labored to stablish the Governments of their Country upon their Kindred and it made not the least accesse thereunto that affinity was contracted by them with the Kings of France when Kâ—…erine de Medicâ—…s Neece to Pope Clement the Seventh was married to the younger Sonne fo Francis the first whose Elder brother dying that younger came to be King of France by the name of Henry the 2d. for as in the time of her husband she laid the foundation of her aspiring so after the death of the said husband when she bare the name of the Queen Mother This Queen Mother swayed all at her pleasure in France during the successive reigne of her three Sons Francis the second Charls the ninth and Henry the third in all which time no doubt she promoted Florence and the Florentines to her uttermost A good part of Italy is under the Bishop of Rome which is commonly called The land of the Church where the Pope is a Prince absolute not onely Spiritual as elsewhere he claimeth but also Temporall making Lawes requiring Tribute raising Souldiers and executing Justice as a Monarch The Bishops of Rome do pretend that Constantine the Great did bestow upon them the City of Rome together with divers other Cities and Towns near adjoyning and the Demeans of them all to be as the Patrimony of Saint Peter as many times they do tearme it But Laurentius Valla in his set Treatise of this Argument hath displaied the falshood of that pretence and iâ—… truth the Greatness of the Popes hath risen first by Phocas who killing his Master the Emperour of Rome and being favoured by the Bishop of that Sea and so aspiring himself to the Empire did in recompence thereof suffer the Bishop of Rome to be preclaimed Universal Bishop
great Country called Cathaie the bounds whereof extend themselves on the North and East to the uttermost Seas and on the South to China The people are not much learned but more civill then the Tartars and have good and ordinary traffick with the Countries adjoining This Country hath in it many Kings which are tributaries and do owe obedience unto one whom they call the great Cham or Can of Cathaie who is the chief governor of all the Land and esteemed for multitude of people and largenesse of dominion to be one of the greatest Princes of the World but his name is the lesse famous for that he lyeth so far distant from the best Nations and the passage into this Country is so dangerous either for the perils of the sea or for the long space by Land His chief Imperiall City is called Cambalu On the South side of Cathaie and East part of Asia next to the Sea lyeth China and the people thereof Osorius describeth by the name of Sina and called their Countrey Synarum Regio This is a fruitfull Countrey and yieldeth as great store of rich commodities as almost any Country in the World It containeth in it very many severall Kingdomes which are absolute Princes in their Seats The chief City in this Countrey is called Quinsay and is described to be of incredible greatnesse as were wont to be the ancient Cities in the East as Babylon Ninive and others This Countrey was first discovered by the late Navigation of the Portugals into the East Indies The people of China are learned almost in all Arts very skilful workmen in curious fine Workes of all sorts so that no Country yieldeth more precious Merchandise then the workmanship of them They are great souldiers very politick and crafty and in respect thereof contemning the wits of others using a Proverbe That all other Nations do see but with one eye but they themselves have two Petrus Maffaeus Historiographer to the King of Spaine for the Eastern Indies doth report of them that they have had from very ancient time among them these two things which we hold to be the miracles of Christendome and but lately invented The one is the use of Guns for the wars and the other is Printing which they use not as we do writing from the left hand unto the right or as the Hebrewes and Syrians from the right hand unto the left but directly downward and so their lines at the top do begin again Of the East Indies ON the South side of China toward the Molucco llands and the Indian Sea lyeth the great Country of India extending it self from the South part of the Continent by the space of many thousand miles westward unto the River Indus which is the greatest Riverâ—… in all the Country except Ganges one of the greatest Rivers in the World which lyeth in the East part of the same Indies This is that Country so famous in ancient time for the great riches thereof for the multitude of people for the conquest of Bacchus over it for the passage thither for Alexander the Great throughout all the length of Asia for his adventuring to go into the South Ocean with so mighty a Navy which â—…ew or none had ever attempted before him And certainly thither it was that Solomon did send once in three yeares for his gold and other rich Merchandise for the Scripture saith that he sent his fleet from Ezion-geber which stood upon the mouth of the Red Sea and it was the directest passage which he had unto the Eastern Indies whereas if his purpose had been to send to Peru as some lately have imagined his course had been thorow the Mediterranean Sea and the Straits of Gâ—…lbraltar This Countrey had in ancient time many absolute Kingdomes and Provinces as in the time of Alexander Porus Taxiles and divers others In it were many Philosophers and men of great Learning whom they called Gymnosophistae of whom was Calanus who burnt himself before Alexander The men of the South part of India are black and therefore are called men of Inde The cattell of all sorts that are bred there are of incredible bignesse in respect of other Countries as their Elephants Apâ—…s Monkies Emets and others The riches hereof have been very great with abundance of gold insomuch that the Promontory who is now called Malacha was in times past named Aurea Chersonesus The commodity of spice is exceeding great that comes from thence The Portugals were the first which by their long Navigations beyond the Equinoctiall and the farthermost part of Africke have of late yeares discovered these Countries to Christendome as heretofore to the use of the King of Portugall so now of the King of Spaine who is reputed owner of them The Portugals did finde divers Kingdomes at their first arrivall in those parts as the Kingdome of Calâ—…cut the Kingdome of Cambaia the Kingdome of Cananor the Kingdome of Cochin and very many other with the Kings whereof they first entring League and Traffick and having leave given to build Castles for their defence they have since by policy incroached into their hands a great part of the Countrey which lieth neer unto the Sea-coast and are mighty now for the space of many thousand miles together The K. of Spain hath there a Vice-Roy whose residence is commonly in the Imperiall City called Goa They do every year send home great store of rich commodities into Spaine The people of the Country when the Portugals came first thither were for the most part Gentiles beleeving in no one God yea at this day there are divers of them who do adore the Sunne as their God and every morning at the rising thereof do use very superstitious Ceremonies which our Mer chants who do trade to Aleppo do oftentimes see for divers o these Indians do come thither witâ—… Merchandize But the Saracens whâ—… reverence the Prophet Mahomet from the Bayes or Gulphes of Persia and Arabia do traffick much thither so that Mahomet was known among them but in one Town called Granganor they found certain Christians dissenting in many things from the Church of Rome and rather agreeing with the Protestants which Christians had received by succession their Religion from the time of Thomas the Apostle by whom as it is recorded in the ancient Ecclesiasticall History part of India was converted In this Countrey of India are many great and Potent Kings and Kingdomes which had been alto gether unknown and unheard of in our part of the World but that we were beholding to the Portugals for their discovery and before their Navigation thither by the back side of Africkâ—… to some Relations that we had from the Venetians who traded and travelled thither by land out of Turkie The 〈◊〉 of these Kings and Kingdomes are these The King of Bâ—…arme the great Mogol the King of Narsing Pegu Siam the forenamed King of
Kings in whose Dominion it stood which may be gathered hereby that when once the Grecians had wonne it Durius Histaspis or Xerxes who were Kings of Persia did give charge that every day at dinner one speaking aloud should remember him that the Grecians had taken Sardis which intended that he never was in quiet till it might bee recovered again There stood also in the In-land Philadelphia Thyatina Laodicea and most of all to the North Pergamus which were the other foure Cities unto which St John the Evangelist did direct his Epistle Going upward from Ionium to the North there lyeth on the Sea-coast a little Country called Eolis and beyond that although not upon the Sea the two Provinces called Mysia Major and Mysia Minor which in times past were so base and contemptible that the people thereof were used in speech as a proverb that if a man would describe one meaner then the meanest it was said he was Mysiorum postremus On the West part of Mysia major did lye the Countrey called Troas wherein stood Ilium and the City of Troy against which as both Virgil and Homer have written the Grecians did continue their siege for the space of tenne yeares by reason that Paris had stollen away Helena the wife of Menelaus who was King of Sparta Eastward both from Troas and Mysia major a good space within the land was the Countrey called Phrygia where the Goddesse which was called Bona Dea or Pessinuntia or Cybele the mother of the old gods had her first abiding and from thence as Herodiaâ—… wrteth was brought to Rome as implying that good fortune should follow her thither In this Countrey lived that Gondius who knit the â—…ot called for the intricatenesse thereof Nodus Gordianus and when it could not be untied was cut in sunder by Alexander the Greâ—…t supposing that it should bee his fortune for the loosing of it so to be the Conquerour and King of Asia as by a prophecy of the same Gordius had been before spoken Yet North-ward from Phrygia lyeth the Countrey of Bythinia which was sometimes a Kingdome where Perusias raigned that had so much to do with the Romanes In this Countrey standeth the City Nicea where the first General Councill was held against Arius the Hereticke by Constantine the Great thereof called the Nicene Councilâ—… Here standeth also Chalcedon where the fourth Generall Councill was held by the Emperour Marcianus against the Heretick Nestorius From Bythinia Eastward on the North side of Asia the lesse standeth the Countrey of Paphlagonia where was the City built by Pompey the Great called by his name Pompeiopolis On the South of Paphlagonia toward the Iland of Asiâ—… minor diâ—… stand the Countrey of Galatia whereunto Saint Paul wrote his Epistle to the Galathians And this also was one of those Countries where the Iewes were dispersed unto which Saint Peter wrote his first Epistle as also unto them which were in Pontus Cappadocia and Bythinia from whence Southward lyeth the Province termed Lyeaoni And from thence yet more South bordering upon Pamphylia which touches the Mediterranean sea lyeth Pisidia concerning which Countries we find oftentimes mention made in such stories as do touch Asia the lâ—…sse From these Sourthern parts if we returne back againe unto the North and East of Asia major lieth the Kingdome of Pontus confining upon that which is named Pontus Euxinus In this Pontus did reigne Mithridates who in his younger daies had travelled over the greatest part of Asia and is reported to have been so skilfull that he could well speak more then twenty Languages His hatred was ever great towards the Romans against whom when he meant first to put his malice in practise he so combined with the Naturals of those parts that in one night they slew more than threescore and ten thousand of the Romans carrying their intendment so close that it was revealed by none till the execution was done Pompey the Great was the man who distressed this Mithridates and brought him to that extremity that he would gladly have poisoned himselfe but could not in as much as his stomack had been used so before unto that kind of Treacle which by reason of his inventing of unto this day is called Mithridate which is made of a kinde of poyson allaied that no venome would easily work upon him Southward from this Pontus standeth the old Kingdome of Cappadocia which in times past was observed to have many men in it but little money Whence Horace saith Mancipiis locuples eget aris Cappadocum Rex Eastward from this Cappadocia as also from Pontus is Armenia minor whereof the things memorable are described in the other Armenia And thus much touching Asia the lesse Of Syria and Palestina or the Holy Land SOuthward from Cilicia and Asâ—…a the lesse lyeth Syria a part whereof was called Palestina having on the East Mesopotamia on the South Arabia on the west Tyre and Sidon and the end of the Mediterranean Sea The people of this Syria were in times past called the Ardmites In their language is the translâ—…ion of the New Testament called Syriacke In this Countrey standed Anâ—… which was sometimes one of the ancient 〈◊〉 See and is a City of reckoning unto this day Here also standeth now the City of Aleppo which is a famous Mâ—…rt Towne for the Merchandizing oâ—… the Persians and others of the Eâ—…st and for the Turks and such Countries as be adjoining Here standeth â—…th also Tripolis The South part of Syria lying downe toward Egypt and Arabia was the place where the Children of Israel did dwell being a Country of small quantity not 200. Italian miles in length it was so fruitfull flowing with Milke and Honey as the Scripture calleth it that it did maintaine above thirty Kings and their people before the comming of the children of Israel out of Egypt and was sufficient afterwards to relieve the incredible number of the twelve Tribes of Israel It is noted of this Countrey that whereas by the goodnesse of the Climate wherein it stood and the fertility of the soyle but especially by the blessing of God it was the most fruitfull Lâ—…nd that was in the World Now ouâ—… Travellers by experience do finde the Countrey in respect of the fruitfulnesse to be changed Gâ—…d cursing the Land together with the Iewes the Inhabitants of it It is observed also for all the Easterne parts that they are not so fertile as they have been in former Ages the Earth as it were growing old which is an Argument of the Dessolution to come by the day of Judgement Through this Countrey doth run the River Jordan which hath heretofore been famous for the fruitfulnesse of the trees standing thereupon and for the mildnesse of the Aire so that as Josephus writeth when snow hath been in other places of the
Land about the River it hath been so calme that men did go in single thin linnen garments In this Countrey standeth the Lake called Lacus Asphaltites because of a kinde of slime called Bitumen or Asphaltum which daily it doth cast up being of force to joine stones exceeding fast in building And into this Lake doth the River Jordan runne This Lake is it which is called Mare Mortuum a Sea because it is salt and Mortuum or Dead for that no living thing is therein The water thereof is so thicke that few things will sinke therein in so much that Josephus faith that an Oxe having all his legges bound will not sinke into that water The nature of this Lake as it was supposed was turned into this quality when God did destroy Sodome and Gomorrah and the Cities adjoining with fire and brimstone from Heaven for Sodome and the other Cities did stand near unto Jordan and to this Mare Mortuum for the destruction of whom all that Coast to this day is a witnesse the Earth smelling of brimstone being desolate and yielding no fruit saving apples which grow with a faire shew to the eye like other fruit but as soon as they are touched do turn presently to soot or ashes as besides Josephus Solinus doth witnesse in his 48 Chapter The Land of Palestina had for iâ—…s Inhabitants all the Twelve Tribes of Israel which were under one Kingdome till the time Rehoboam the Sonne of Solomon But then were they divided into two Kingdomes ten Tribes being called Israel and two Iudah whose chiefe City was called Ierusalem The ten Tribes after much Idolatry were carried prisoners unto Assyria and the Kingdome dissolved other people being placed in their roome in Samaria and the Country adjoining The other two Tribes were properly called the Iewes and their Land Iudea which continued long after in Ierusalem aâ—…d thereabout till the Captivity of Babylon where they lâ—…ved for seventy-yeâ—…es They were afterward restored but lived without glory till the comming of Christ But since that time for a curse upon them and their children for putting Christ to death they are scattered upon the face of the earth as Runnagates without certaine Country King Priest or Prophet In their chiefe City Ierusalem was the Temple of God first most gloriously built by Solomon and afterward destroied by Nebuchadnezzar By the commandement of Cyrus King of Persia was a second Temple built much more base than the former For besides the poverty and smalnesse of it theâ—…e wanted five things which were is the former as the Jewes write First the Arke of the Covenant Secondly the pot of Manna Thirdly the Rod of Aaron Fourthly the two Tables of the Law written by the finger of God And fifthly the fire of the Sacrifice which came down from Heaven Herod the Great an Edomite stranger having gotten the Kingdome contrary to the Law of Moses and knowing the people to be offended therewithall to procure their favour he built a third Temple wherein our Saviour Jesus Christ and his Apostles did teach The City of Jerusalem was twice taken and utterly laid desolate first by Nebuchadnezzar at the Captivity of Babylon and secondly after the death of Christ by Vespasian the Roman who first began the Warres and by his sonne Titus who was afterward Emperour of Rome who brought such horrible desolation on that City and the people thereof by fire sword and famine that the like hath not been read in any History He did afterwards put thousands of them on one some day to be devoured of the Beasts which was a cruel custome of the Romans Magnificence Although Numbers and Times be not superstitiously to be observed as many foolish imagine yet it is a matter in this place not unworthy the noting which Josephus reporteth in his seventh booke and tenth Chapter de bello Judaico that the very same day whereon the Temple was set on fire by the Babylonians was the day whereon the second Temple was set on fire by the Romanes and that was upon the tenth day of August After this destruction the Land of Iudea and the ruines of Jerusalem were possessed by some of the people adjoining till that about six hundred yeares since the Saracens did invade it for expelling of whom from thence divers French men and other Christians under the leading of Godfrey of Bullen did assemble themselves thinking it a great shame that the Holy Land as they called it the City of Jerusalem and the place of the Sepulchre of Christ should be in the hands of Infidels This Godfrey ruled in Jerusalem by the name of a Duke but his successours after him for the space of 87. yeares called themselves Kings of Jerusalem About which time Saladine who called himself King of Egypt and Asia the lesse did winne it from the Christians For the recovery whereof Richard the first King of England together with the French King and the King of Sicilia did go in person with their Armies to Ierusalem but although they wonne many things from the Infidels yet the end was that the Saracens did retaine the HOLY LAND Roger Hoveden in the Life of Henry the second King of England doth give this memorable note that at that time when the City of Ierusalem and Antioch were taken out of the hands of the Pagans by the meanes of Godfrey of Bullen and others of his Company the Pope of Rome that then was was called Urbanus the Patriach of Ierusalem Heraclius and the Roman Emperour Fredericke and at the same time when the said Ierusalem was recovered again by Saladine the Popes name was Urbanus the Patriarke Ierusalem Heraclius and the Roman Emperour Fredericke The whole Countrey and City of Jerusalem are now in the dominion of the Turke who notwithstanding for a great tribute doth suffer many Christians to abide there There are now therefore two or more Monasteries and Religious houses where Fryars do abide and make a good commodity of shewing the Sepulchre of Christ and other Monuments unto such Christian Pilgrims as do use superstitiously to go in pilgrimage to the Holy Land The King of Spaine was wont to call himselfe King of Jerusalem Of Arabia NExt unto the Holy Land lieth the great Country of Arabia having on the North part Palestina and Mesopotamia on the East side the Gulph of Persia on the South the maine Ocean of India or Ethiopia on the West Egypt and the great Bay called Sinus Arabicus or the Red Sea This Countrey is divided into three parts North part whereof is called Arabia Deserta the South part which is the greatest is named Arabia Foelix and the middle betweene both that which for the abundance of Rocks and stones is called Arabia Petrea or Petrosa The Desart of Arabia is that place in the which God after the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt by passing thorow the Red Sea did keep his people under Moses for
but in Latin some terme him Prestiosus Johannes but the most part Presbyter Johannes writing of him As he is a Prince absolute so he hath also a Priest-like or Patriarchall function and jurisdiction among them This is a very mighty Prâ—…nce and reputed to be one of the greatest Emperors in the world What was known of this Countrey in former time was knowne under the name of Ethiâ—…pia but the voyages of the Portugals in these late daies have best described it The people therefore are Christians as is also the Prince but differing in many things from the West Church and in no sort acknowledging any supreme Prerogative of the Bishop of Rome It is thought that they have retained Christianity even from the time of our Saviour being supposed to be converted by the Chamberlaine of Candace the Queen of Ethiopia who was instructed concerning Christ by Philip the Evangelist in the Acts of the Apostles Eusebius 〈◊〉 his Ecclesiasticall story doth make mention of this But they do to this daâ—… retaine Circumcision whereof the reason may be that the 〈◊〉 their Converter not having any fuâ—…ther conference with the Apostle nor any else with him did receive the ceremonies of the Church imperfectly retaining Circumcision which among the Jewes was not aboli shed when he had conference with Philip. Within the dominion of Prester John are the mountaines commonly called Lunae montes where is the first well-spring and rising of the river Nilus yet there are that fetch the head of this River out of a certaine great Lake toward the South called Zembre out of which toward the West runnes the River of Zaire into the Kingdome of Mani-congo The Râ—…ver of Zuama or Cuama towards the South to the Kingdome of Monomoâ—…apa or Benomotapa as the River Nilus towards the North through the Kingdome of the Abissines to Egypt which River running violently along this Countrey and sometimes hastily increasing by the melting of much snow from the Mountaines would over-runne and drown a great part of Egypt but that it is slaked by many ponds dammes and sluces which are within the Dominion of Prester John And in respect hereof for the maintenance of these the Princes of Egypt have paid upto the Governour of the Abissines a great Tribute time out of mind which of late the great Turke supposing it to be a custome needlesse did deny till the people of the Abissines by commandement of their Prince did breake downe their dams and drowning Egypt did enforce the Turke to continue his pay and to give much money for the making of them very earnestly to his great charge desiring a peace In this Countrey also of Prester John is the rising of the famous River Nigar supposed to have in it the most and the best precious stones of any River in the World which rising likewise out of a great Lâ—…ke out of that Mount after it hath runne a good space hideth it self for the space of 60. miles under ground then appearing again after it hath runne somewhat further makes a great Lake and again after a great tract another and at last after a long course fals at Cape Verde into the Atlantick sea Ortelius in his larger Maps describes it falling into the Sea like Nilus in Egypt with seven streames or Ostia but those that travell these parts say that there are only some Bayes but there is no River in those parts running into the Sea but 〈◊〉 There be other Countries in Africke as Agâ—…simba Libia interior Nubia and others of whom nothing is famous but this may be said of Africke in generall that it bringeth forth store of all sorts of wild Beasts as Elephants Lyons Panthers Tygers and the like yea according to the Proverbe Africa semper aliquid oportet novi Oftentimes new and strange shapes of wild Beasts are brought forth there the reason whereof is that the Countrey being very hot a d full of Wildernesses which have in them little water the Beasts of all sorts being enforced to meet at those few watering places that be where oftentimes contrary kindes have conjunction the one with the other so that there arifeth a new kind of Species which taketh part of bo h. Such a one is the Leopard begotten of the Lyon and the Beast called Pardus and somewhat resembling ei her of them A d thus farre of Africke Of the Northern Ilands THE Ilands that do lye in the North aâ—…e in number almost infinite the chiefe of them only shall be briefly touched Very farre to the North in the same Climate also with Sweden that is under the circle Articke lyeth an Iland called in old time Thule which was then supposed to be the farthest part of the world North ward and therefore is called by Virgil Utima Thule The Countrey is cold the people barbarous and yielde hâ—… liâ—…tle commodity saving Hawkes in some part of the yeare there is no night at all Unto this land divers of our English Nation do yearely travel and do bring from thence good store of fish but especially our deepest and thickest Ling which are therefore called Isl nd â—…ings It hath pleased God that in these latter times the Gospell is there preached and the people are instracted in Christianity having also the knowledge of good Learning which is brought about by the meanes of the King of Sweden unto whom that Iland is now subject There is lately written by one of that Nation a pretty Treatise in Latine which describeth the manner of that Countrey and it is to be seen in the first Tome of Master Hackluits Voyage Southward from thence lyeth Frizeland called in Latine Frizlandia whereas the Frizeland joyning to Germany is in Latine called Frizia On the coast of Germany one of the seventeene Provinces is called Zealand which continueth in it divers Ilands in whom little is famous saving that in one of them is Flishen oâ—… Flushen a Town of war and Middleburge is another a place â—…f good Mart. Livinus Limnius and some of the low Germans be of opinion â—…hat this City was fiâ—…t built by Metellus the Roman and that which now is called Middlâ—…burge was at the first termed Metolli Burgum The States of the Low-Countries do hold this Province against the King of Spain These Ilands have been much troubled of late with inundation of water The Iland that lyeth most West of any Fame is Ireland which had in it heretofore many Kings of their own but the whole land is now annexed to the Crowne of England The people naturally are rude and superstitious the Country good and fruitfull but that for want of tillage in divers places they suffer it to grow into boggs and deserts It is true of this Countrey which Solinus writeth of some other that Serpents and Adders do not breed there and in the Irish timber of certaine experience no Spiders web is ever found The most renowned Island in the
great Island Bri tain as at the very North point of Scotland the Orcades which are in number above thirty the chiefe whereof is named Orkney whereof the people are barbarous On the West side of Scotland towards Ireland lie the Islands called Hebrides in number 4. where inhabite the people ordinarily called the Red-shankes Not farre from thence is the Isle Mona commonly is called the Isle of Man the peculiar jurisdiction of the Earls of Darby with homage notwithstanding reserved to the Crowne of England On the North part of Wales is the Island of Anglisey which is reputed a distinct Shire Towards France side on the South part of England is the Isle of Wight in Latine called Victis which is a good hold in the narrow seas against the French More neer France are the Isles of Gernsey and Jernsey where they speak French and are under the Crown of England There are also many other but of small account As the Isles of Thanet and Sheppy on the side of Kent the Sorlings or Sullâ—…y at the end of Cornwall in number as it is said 145. Caldey Lunday and the Flatholns with others in the mouth of Severn Holy-farn Cocket Ilands on the side of Northumberland And thus much of Great Britaine and the Islands thereunto adjoining Of the Ilands in the Mediterranean Sea THere be many Ilands in the Mediterranean renowned in all the old Writers but the chiefe of them onely shall be touched From the Pillars of Hercules going East-ward are two Islands not faâ—…re from Spaine which in times past were called Insulae Baleares for that the people of them did use both for their delight and armor sâ—…ings which they continually almost carried about with them and whereunto as Pliny writeth they did traine up their Children from their youngest years not giving them any meat till they had from some post or beam cast it down with a sâ—…ing Of these were those Fonditors or Sling-casters which the Carthaginians and Spaniards did use in their wars against the Romans The lesser of these which lyeth most West was called in the old time Minorica The bigger which lyeth more East was called Majorica and now Minorica and Majorica are both under the domiâ—…ion of the King of Spaine More Eastward in the Sea called Mare inferum or Tyrrhenum â—…ieth the Iland of Corsica over against Genua and direct Southward from thence lieth the great â—…sland Sardinia for the quiet possession of which two the warres were oftentimes revived between the old Carthaginians and the Romans for these two Islands lie in the middle very fitly The Island of Corsica is subject to the state of Genua whither the Genoes do transport things out of the Maine and are ruled by their Governours as the Venetians do Candy This Island is but barren either in respect of some other that lye neere unto it or of the Country of Italy but yet yeeldeth profit ease and honour unto the States of Gâ—… nua which hath little land besidâ—… it The Island of Sardinia also is nâ—… way so fruitful as Sicily but it is under the government of the King of Spain and was the same which was promised to Anthony the King of Navarre father to Henry the fourth King of France in recompence of 〈◊〉 and the rest of the Kingdome of Navar then and now detained from him and his heires by the Spaniard But this was the device onely of the Cardinall of Lorain who intending to draw him to Papistry and to order his politick purposes did make shew of this which was no way meant by the Spaniard Further to the East at the very point of the South pâ—…rt of Italy lyeth the great Iland Sicilia which some have supposed to have been heretosore a part of the continent but by an earth-quake and inundation of water to have been rent off and so made an Iland The figure of this Country is Triquetra triangle or three square Justin in his 4 Book doth seem to suspect that Sicily was in times past fastned unto Italy But Seneca in consolatione ad Martian cap 97. doth say plainly that it was sometimes a piece of the continent There was also a great contention for this Countrey between the Carthaginians and the Romans but the Romans obtained it and had from thence exceeding store of Corn yearly whereupon Sicily was called Horreum Pope Rome Here stood the goodly City called Siracusa which was destroyed and sacâ—…ed by Marcellus the Roman When as Livy writeth of him he being resolved to set on fire that City which was then one of the goodliest places of the world could not choose but breake forth into teares to see how vain and transitory the glory of worldly things is here At that time lived Archimedes who was a most admirable ingenious Engine-maker for all kind of fortifications of whom it is said that by burning glasses which he made he did set on fire divers ships which the Romans had lying in the Haven When the City was taken he was making plots and drawing figures on the ground for to prevent the assaults of the Romans and being unknown he was slaine by some of the Souldiers which did break in upon him Some think that it was he and not Architas which made the dove of which it is written that it was so equally poised that being thrown up into the aire it would hover or flutter there and in a good space not fall down This was in times past a Kingdome where the two Tyrants the elder and the younger Dyonisius did reigne where Gelo also that great friend to the Romans did remain It was afterward made a province and goverâ—…ed by a Praetor or Deputy of the Romans whereof Verres was one who was so inveighed against by Tully It grew afterward to be a Kingdome again in so much that Tancredus was King of Sicily which entertain'd our Richard the first when with Philip the King of France he went to the conquest of the Holy Land Here was likewise Phalaris the Tyrant so famous King of Agragentum The tyrannies which were used in Sicily were in times past so famous that they grew into a Proverb as Invidi â Siculinon invenêre Tyranni tormentum majus but they who were the causes of all did oftentimes speed very ill themselves as appeareth by the elder Dionysius who being driven out of his Dominion did flee into Italy and was glad there to teach children that so he might supply his necessity His son grew more tyrannous then the father and stood so farre in fear of his own people that many times he caused himself to be shut up in a Tower and his guard to keep the door that nobody might come at him He durst not trust his barber to shave or clip him for fear of cutting of his throat but that which was done he caused his Daughters to do who with the
if they were neer the Land The first oâ—… our Nation that sailed to Guiana and made report thereof unto us was S. Walter Raleigh who â—…ravelled far up into the country upon the river Orinoque after him one or two voyages thither did captain Kemish make and now lately captain Hâ—…recourt with others have visited â—…hat Country where our men conâ—…inued the space of 3. or 4. yearâ—… being kindly intreated of the natives who much desired them to come and make some plantation amongst them hoping by them to be defended against the Spaniards whom they greatly hate and fear When Sir Walter Raleigh come to Guiana â—…he overthrew the Spaniards that were in Trinidado and took Bereo their Captain or General prisoner he loosed and set at liberty four or five Kings of the people of that country that Bereo kept in chains and sent thâ—…m home to their own which deâ—…d of his did win him the hearts of the people them and make much to favour our English at this day Divers also of that country which â—…mongst them are men of note have been brought over into England here living many years are by our men brought home to their-own country whose reports and knowledge of our Nation is a cause that they have been wel entreated of these Guiancans and much desired to plant themselves amongst them Our men that travelled to Guiana amongst other things most memorable did report and in writing delivered to the world that near unto Guiana and not far from those place where themselves were there were men without heads which seemed to maintain the opinion to be true which in old time was conceived by the Historians and Philosophers that there were Acephali whose eies were in their breasts and the rest of their face there also scituated and this our English travellers have reported to be so ordinarily and 〈◊〉 mentioned unto them in those parts where they were that no sober man should any way doubt of the truth thereof Now because it may appear that the matter is but fabulous in respect of the truth of Gods creating of them and that the opinion of such strange shapes and monsters as were said to be in old time that is men with heads like Dogs some with eares down to their ankles others with one huge foot alone whereupon they did hop from place to place was not worthy to be credited although Sir John Mandevile of late age fondly hath seemed to give credit and authority thereunto yea and long since he who took upon him the name of S. Augustine in writing that counterfeit Book Ad frates in Ermo It is fit that the cerainty of the matter concerning these in Peru should be known that is that in Quinbaia and some other parts of Peru the men are borne as in other places yet by devises which they have after the birth of Children when their bones and gristles and other parts are yet tender and fit to be fashioned they do crush down the heads of the children unto the breasts and shoulders and do with frames of wood other such devices keep them there that in time they grew continuate to the upper part of the trunke of the body and so seem to have no necks or heads And again some other of them thinking that the shape of the head is very decent if it be long and erect after the fashion of a Sugar-loaf do frame some other to that form by such wooden instruments as they have for that purpose and by binding and swathing them to keep them so afterwards And that this is the custome of those people and that there is no other matter in it Petrus de Cieca who travelled almost all over Peru and is a grave and sober writer in his description of those Countries doth report There be in some parts of Peru people which have a strange device for the catching of divers sorts of fowls wherein they especially desire to take such as have their feathers of pâ—…ed orient and various colours and that not so much for the flesh of them which they may eate as for their feathers whereof they make garments either short as Cloaks or as Gowns long to the ground and those their greatest Nobles do wear being curiously wrought and by order as appeareth by some of them being brought into England And here by this mention of feathers it is not 〈◊〉 to specifie that in the sea which is the Ocean lying betwixt Europe America there be divers flying fishes yet whose wings are not feathers but a thin kind of skin like the wings of a Bat or Rearmouse and these living sometimes in the water and flying sometimes in the aire are well accepted in neither place for below either ravenous fishes are ready to devourt them or above the sea-fowls are continually beating at them Some of the Spaniards desirous to see how far this Land of Peru did go towards the South travelled down till at length they found the Lands end and a little strait or narrow Sea which did run from the main Ocean toward Africk into the South-sea One Magellanus was he that found this strait and although it be dangerous passed through it so that of his name it is called Fretum Magellanicum or Magellans straits And this is the way whereby the Spaniards do pass to the back-side of Peru and Hispania nova and whosoever will compass the whole world as some of our English men have done he must of necessity for any thing that is yet known passe through this narrow strait Ferdinandus Magellanus having a great mind to travel and being very desi rous to go unto the Molucco Islands by some other way than by the back side of Africk if it might be did in the year 1520 set forth from Sivill in Spain with five ships and travelled toward the West Indies went so far towards the South as that he came to the lands end where he holding his course in a narrow passage towards the West for the space of divers daies did at the length peaceably pass through the straights and came into a great sea which some after his name do call Mare Magellanicum some others Mare pacaficus because of the great calmness and quietness of the waters there but most comonly it is termed the South sea the length whereof he passed in the space of three months and 20. daies and came unto the Moluccoes where being set upon by the East Indian people himself and many of his company were slain yet one of his ships as the Spaniards do write called Victoria did get away from those Moluccoes and returning by the Cape Bonae spei on the South side of Africk came safe into Spain So that it may be truly said that if not Megellanus yet some of his company were the first that did ever compass the World through all the degrees of longitude Johannes Lyrius in the end
A BRIEFE DESCRIPTION OF THE WHOLE WORLD WHEREIN Is particularly described all the Monarchies Empires and Kingdoms of the same with their Academies AS ALSO Their severall Titles and Scituations thereunto adjoyning Written by the Reverend Father in God George Abbot late Archbishop of Canterbury The Fifth Eddition LONDON Printed for Margaret Sheares at the Blew Bible in Bedford-Street in Coven-Garden and John Playâ—…ere at the White-Beare in the upper Walk in the New-Exchange 1664. A Briefe Description of the whole World THe Globe of the Earth doth either shew the Sea or Land The Sea general is called by the name or Ocean which coasteth all the World and taketh his name in speciall either of the place neare which it commeth as Oceanus Britanicus Mare Germanicum Sinus Perficus Mare Atlanticum of the Hill Atlas in the West part of Africke or of the finder out as Fretum Magellanicum or of some other accident as the Red Sea because the sand is red Mare Mediterraneum because it runneth between the lands of Europe and Africke Mare Icarium because Icarus was drowned there or the like There be some few Seas which have no intercourse with the Ocean as Mare Mortuum neare Palestina Mare Caspium sive Hircanum not far from Armenia and such a one is said to be in the North part of America The Straits or Narrow Seas are noted in the Latine by the name of Fretum as Fretum Britannicum The English Narrow Seas Fretum Herculeum the Straights between Barbary and Spaine Fretum Magellanicum c. The Earth is either Islands which are those which are wholly compassed by the Sea as Britannia Sicilia Corsica or the Continent which is called in the English The firme Land in the Latine Continens The old known firme Land was contained only in Asia Europe and Africa Europe is divided from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea from Asia by the River Tanais whereby appeareth that the North parts of Asia and Europe in old time were but little known and discovered Africa is divided from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea from Asia by the River Nilus and so Asia by Tanais and Nilus is severed from Europe and Africke Of Spaine TO say nothing of England and Ireland the most Westerne Country of Europe is Spaine which is bounded on the South with the Mediterranean on the West with the Atlanticke on the North with Oceanus Cantabricus or the Spanish Seas on the East with France from which it is severed with certaine Mountaines called Montes Pyrenei or the Pyrenay hils If we should enquire into the times that were before the comming of the Carthaginians and Romans into Spaine we shall find nothing but that which is either fabulous or neare to sables here it was first called Iberia ab Ibero flumine afterwards Hispania ab Hispane we may take as a tradition but their Gargoris their Ha bis their Geryon exceed beleefe of any but those that will take all reports on trust It is certain that the Syrians planted a Colony there in the Isle of Gades corruptly now called Cadiz or Cales These troubled by their Neighbours desired aid of the Carthaginians a flourishing neighbour Common-wealth descended of the Syrians as well as themselves who sent first to defend the Gaditanes against their neighbours afterwards heartned on by their successe in their first Expedi tion these Carthaginians succes sively sent thither three Captaines Hamilcar Hasdrubal and Hanibal who for the most part subdued the Province and held it till by Scipio's and the Romans Forces they were dispossessed of it Yet for many years after the fortunes of the Romans stuck as it were in the subduing of that Province so that from the time of â—…he second Punick war untill the time of Augustus they had businesse made them in that Country continually neiâ—…her could they till then bring it peaceably into the forme of a Province It continued a Province of the Roman Empire untill the time of Honorius the Emperour in whose dayes the Vandals came into it conquering and making it theirs then the Goths the Vandals either driven out or called over into Africk entring erected there a Kingdome which flourished for many yeares till by the comming of the Saracens and Moores their Kingdome was broken who setling themselves in Spaine erected it a Kingdome changed the names of many places and Rivers and gave them new names such as they retaine to this day and continued for the space of some hundred of yeares mighty in that Countrey till they were first subdued by Ferdinand afterwards and that now lately utterly expelled by Philip the Third After the comming in of these Africans in this Country there were many Kingdomes as the Kingdome of Portugall toward the West the Kingdome of Granado toward the South the Kingdom of Navarre and Arragon toward the East and the Kingdome of Castile in the middle of the Land but the whole Dominion is now under the King of Spaine As Damalanus à Goes doth write in the Treatise intituled Hispania there were in times past twelve severall Kingdomes in Spain which he nameth thus Castellae antiquae novae Leonis Aragoniae Portugalliae Navarrae Granatae Valentiae Toleti Galitiae Algarbiâ—…rum Murtiae Cordubae which is not to be wondred at since in England a farre lesse Country there were in the time of the Saxons seven severall Kingdoms and Monarchies In the best Maps of Spaine the Armes of these severall Kingdomes do yet distinctly appeare where for the Armes of Leons is given a Lion which manifestly argueth that whereas by some it is called Regnum Legionis that name is false for it is Leonis surable thereunto for the Armes of Castile is given a Castle which was the cause that John of Gaunt Son to Edward the Third King of England did quarter with the Armes of England the Castle and the Lion as having married Constance Daughter to Peter King of Castile and at this day the first and chief Coat of the King of Spain is a Castle quartered with a Lion in remembrance of the two Kingdomes of Castile and Leons In Corduba as in times past it was called standeth Andaluzia neare unto which the Island called properly Gades but since by depravation of the word Cadiz and commonly Cales which was lately surprized by the English The Kingdome of Granada which lieth nearest to the Mediterranean was by the space of seven hundred years possessed by the Moores and Saracens who do professe the Reâ—…igion of Mahomet the reason whereof Rodericus Toletanus in the third book of history doth shew to be this that whereas the Sarazens after Mahomets time had spread themselves all along Africke even unto the Westerne part of Barbary a King of Spaine called Rodericus employed in an Embassage to them one Julian a Nobleman of his who by his wise Demeanour procured much Reputation amongst the Moores but in the time of his service the King Rodericus
Calecut and others Of Persia. THere be divers Countries between India and Persia but there are not famous Persia is a large Country which lyeth far West from India it hath on the North Assyria and Media on the West Syria and the Holy Land but next unto it Mesopotamia on the South the main Ocean which entreth in notwithstanding by a Bay called Sinus Perficus This is that Countrey which in ancient time was renowned for the great riches and Empire thereof These were they that tooke from the Assyrians the Monarchy and did set up in their Countrey the second great Empire which began under Cyrus and continued unto that Darius who was overthrown by Alexander the Great In this Countrey reigned the great Kings Cyrus Cambyses Darius the Son of Histaspes the great Xerrxes Artaxerxes and many others which in prophane writings are famous for their wars against the Scythians Egyptians and Grecians and in the Scripture for the delivery of the Jews from Babylon by Cyrus for the building of the 〈◊〉 Temple at Jerusalem and for many things which are mentio ed of them in the Prophency of Daniel The 〈◊〉 of this Nation although they were in former times very riotous by reason of their great wealth yet after they had lost their Monarchy by the Macedonians they have grown great Souldiers and therefore as they did ever strongly defend themselves against the old Romans so in the time of Constantine and the other Emperours they were fearefull Neighbours to the Romane Government and of late Time they have strongly opposed themselves against the Turkes ever making their party good with them And yet notwithstanding in the daies of Amurath the third father to Mahomet the Turke now reigning the Turke had a great hand upon the Persians going so farre with his Army as that he took the strong City Taunus standing within the Persians Dominions neer unto the Caspian sea but this losse was to be attributed partly to the great dissentions which were among the Persians themselves and partly to the multitude of the Turke his Souldiers who by fresh supply did overthrow the Persian although he slew down many thousands of them They fight commonly on horseback and are governed as in time past by a King so now by an absolute Ruler and a mighty Prince whom they terme the Shaw or Sophy of Persia. He hath many Countries and small Kings in Assyria and Media and the Countries ad joning which are tributaries Among other the Sophies of Persia about a hundred years since there was one of great power called Ismael the Persian who procured unto himself great fame by his many and valorous attempts against the Turk Surius in his Commentaries writting upon him saith that upon some fond conceit the Jewes were strongly of opinion that he was that Messias whom unto this day they expect and therefore hoped that he should have been their Deliverer and Advancer But he addeth in his report that it fell out so clean contrary that there was no man who more vexed and grieved them than that Ismail did The Persians are all at this day Sarazens in Religion beleeving in Mahomet but as Papists and Protestants do differ in opinion concerning the same Christ so do the Turks and Persians about their Mahomet the one pursuing the other as Herericks with most deadly hatred insomuch that there is in this respect almost cominâ—… all war between the Turk and the Persians Of Parthia and Media ON the North-East side of Persia lieth that Countrey which in old time was called Parthia but now named Arach of whom those great wars of the Romans with the Medians or Armenians in Tacitus and ancient Histories are true This Country aboundeth on Media by the West and it was in ancient time very full of people whose fight as it was very much on horseback so the manner of them continually was for to give an Onset and then to return their waies even to return again like to the Wild-Irish so that no man was sure when he had obtained any victory over them These were the people that gave the great Overthrow to that rich Marcus Crassus of Rome who by reason of his covetousnesse intending more to his getting of gold than to the guiding of his Army was stain himself and many thousand of the Romanes The Parthians with exprobration of his thirst after money poured molten gold into his mouth after he was dead Against these the great Lucullus fought many battles but the Romanes were never able to bring them quite to subjection On the West side of Parthia having the Mare Caspium on the North Armenia on the West and Persia on the South lyeth that Country which in time past was called Media but now Shirvan or Sirvan which is at this day governed by many inferiour Kings and Princes which are tributaries and do owe subjection to the Sophi of Persia. So that he is the Soveraign Lord of all Media as our English men have found who passing through the Dominion of the Emperour of Russia have crossed the Mare Caspium and Merchandized with the Inhabitants of this Media This Nation in former times was very famous for the Medes were they that removed the Empire from the Assyrians unto them which as in themselves it was not great yet when by Cyrus it was joyned to that of the Persians it was very mighty and was called by the name of the Empire of the Medes and Persians Here it was that Astyages reigned the Grandfather of Cyrus and Darius of the Mâ—…des The chief City of this Kingdome was called Ecbatana as the chief City of Persia was Babylon It is to be observed of the Kings of Media that in the summer time they did use to retire themselves Northward unto Ecbatana for avoiding of the heat but in the winter time they came down more South unto Susis which as it seemeth was a warmer place but by this meanes they were both taken for Imperiall Cities and chiefe residences of the King of Media which being known takes away some confusion in old stories The like custome was afterward used also by the Kings of Persia. Of Armenia and Assyria ON the West side of the Mare Caspium and of Media lyeth a Countrey called by a generall name Armenia which by some is distinctly divided into three parts The North part whereof being but little is called Georgia the middle part Turcomania the third part by the proper name of Armenia By which a man may see the reason of difference in divers Writers Some saying that the Countrey whence the Turkes first came was Armenia some saying Turcomania and some Georgia the truth being that out of one or all these Countries they did descend These Turks are supposed to be the issue of them whom Alexander the Great did shut up within certain mountaines neer to the Mare Caspium There is this one thing memorable in Armenia that after the great
Pliny the fire did breake forth there and so strongly as that the elder Pliny who spent all his time in discovering the secrets of Nature pressing neer to behold it was stifled with the flame smoak ashes or that he died in the place as is most excellently described in the Book of his Epistle 〈◊〉 his Nephew the yonger Pliny Not farre from Sicily on the â—…outh lieth the little Isle called in old â—…ime Melita whence those dogs come which are so much desired under the names of Canes Melitenses This was the place where S. Paul was cast up after his ship-wrack in his journy to Rome where the Viper hanged on his hand and did not hurt him This Country is now called Malta and is one of the places most renowned in the world for repelling of the Turks When Soliman the Emperour of them did send against it a most mighty arm it was then defended by them who are called the Knights of Malta which by sea do great spoile to the Gallies of the Turk that passe that way There were in times past diverâ—… Orders of Knights and men that â—…ad vowed themselves to adventure their lives and whole state for the maintenance of Christs Religion and some places of the earth against the Infidels and Sarazens The most ancient of all those were called the Templers who were a great corporation or society consisting of divers Gentlemen yonger brothers for the most part out of all the Realms of Christendome Their chiese charge was to defeâ—…d the City of Jerusalem and the Reliques or remainder of the Temple there and Sepulchre of Christ for the preservation of which places together with the rest of the Holy Land they had given unto them and purchased for their mony very rich and ample possessions in England France Spaine Italy and other places of Europe insomuch that in the daies of Matthew Paris he reporteth that they had under them many thousands of Mannors They had also in every Kingdome where their Order was permitted a great and ample house where some chief of their company did lye who received the Rents within that Kingdome and caused the money to be transported into the Holy Land and other Ordinances to be made and executed belonging unto their Order of which Houses the Temple that is now in London was a chiefe one which had in former times belonged to the Jewes but was afterwards translated to that use when the Holy Land was quite taken by Saladine and could never be recovered into the hands of the Christians since the society of these Templers ceased the Pope and the King of France conspiring their ruines and their Land were dispersed into divers mens hands In the same time when the Timplers were in their strength there was another sort called the Hospitallers whose condition and im ployment was very like unto the other both of them fighting for the preservation of Palestina We read that sometimes these two companies had great jarrs between themselves whereby grew much hinderance to the wars against the Infidels All these were accounted as Orders of Religion and therefore it was forbidden them at any time to marry without dispensation from the Pope because not being entangled to Wife and Children they might be more resolute to adventure their lives After them grew up the Order of the Knights of Rhodes who since they could not live in the Holy Land yet would abide as near unto it as possibly they might and therefore partly to preserve Pilgrims which should go to visit the Sepulcher of Chirst and partly to infest the Turke and Saracens but especially to keep the enemies of Christs faith from encroaching further upon Christendome which most earnestly they did and do desire they placed themselves in the Island of Rhodes where daily doing grea fâ—…th to the Turk Soliman the great Warriour could not endure them but with a mighty Army so ove lâ—…id them that he won the Island from them After the losse of Rhodes the Iland of Malta was given unto these Knights by Charles the 5. Emperour whereupon they are now called the Knights of Malta for the great Master after he came from Rhodes went into Candy and from thence into Sicily and so into Italy from thence he made a voyage into England and then into France and hastly inâ—…o Savoy from whence he departed with the Religion into this Island and there they continue and behave themselves as in the former Iland and offering no violence unto Christians they much hinder the courses of the Turkes from Graecia and Asia and of the other Sarazens from Fez and Morocco They are very valiant men fit to do great service either by Land or Sea as appeared when Soliman did think to have surprised them and their Iland the description of which war is dilipently laid down by Caelius sâ—…undus Curio in a Treatise dedicated to Elizabeth Queen of England There have been divers other Orders of Knights yea and some of them reputed to be a kinde of Religion in Portugal France England Burgundy and some other places of Christendome but because their service hath not been emploi'd purposely as these which are before mentioned we do not touch them in this place Neer unto Graecia and Peloponnsus on the West side towards Italy is the Isle of Corcyra now termed Corfu and not far South from that is Cophalenia from thence South is Zon called by Virgil Nemerosa Zacynthus all which Ilands are at this day under the Venetians The greatest commodity which that Countrey doth yield are Corans which are gathered of a kind of small Grapes and for the making whereof they commonly one time every summer for the space of three weekes have a continuall drought day and night in which time the Currans are laid abroad in the open aire and may not be taken in insomuch that if the season do continue hot and dry their merchandize is very good but if there fall any raine untill the time be expired of their full drying the Currans are not good but do mould and change their colour to be somewhat white like meale The State of Venice under whom this Iland is doth make a great commodity of the impost or taxation which is laid upon this Merchandize calling the Tribute which is paid for them the Revenue of Saint Mark for unto that Saint is the City of Venice dedicated and they hold him for their Patron In this Iland besides the Merchants who repaire thither are divers Italians who be there in Garison for the Venetians in one special Castle which commandeth the whole Iland There are also divers Fryars of that Nation who perform nnto their Country men such exercises of Religion as are convenient They will not fuffer any of our Merchants to have Christian buriall among them unlesse at his death he be confessed after the Romish fashion whereupon some have been forced to convey over some of their
dead bodies into Morea which is not farre distant to be buried there among the Greekes and after their fashion The naturall Inhabitants of Zant are Greeks both by Language and Religion and observe all fashions of the Greekish Church in whose words being now much corrupted depraved there may yet be found some tokens and remainders of the old pure and uncorrupted Greek There are in this Countrey great store of Swine kept whereof the Inhabitants do feed and carry them into Morea but the Turks there by their Mahumetane profession will taste no Swines flesh In Zacynthus our English Merchants have an house of abode for their Traffick South-East from Moreah lyeth the great Island Creta where Minos sometimes did reign so famous for his severity This Countrey was then called Hecâ—…tompolis as having in it a hundred Towns and Cities Here stood the labyriâ—…th which was the work of Dedalus who conveighed the house so by the manifold turnings infiniteness of Pillars and Doors that it was impossible to find the way yet Theseus by the help of Ariadne the Daughter of King Minos taking a bottome of thred and â—…ing the one end at the first doore did enter and slâ—…y the Minotaur which was kept there and afterwards returned safe out again The ancient Inhabitants of this Country were such noted lyars that beside the Proverbs which were made of them as Crettenscmendacium Cretisandum est cum Cretensibus the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to Titus who was left there by him as Bishop of that Island doth cite a verse out of the Heathen Poet Epimenides that the Cretians are ever lyars evil beasts slow bellies This Island is in our daies called Candy being the place from whence our Sugar of Candy is brought It is under the Venetians and repute a part of their Seigniory although the Turks when they had taken Cyprus did think also to have surprised it but that it pleased God by the meanes of Don John of Austria in the behalf of his brother the King of Spaine and the Venetians to give the Turke that great overthrow at sea in the sight near unto Lepanto Yet since that time no doubt the Turks have a greedy eye upon the sland of Canay Between Creta and Peloponnesus lyeth Cithera There was the fine Temple of Venus who thereof by the Poets is called Citherea The Islands are many which lye in the Sea called Mare Aegeum from the bottome of Greece unto the top of the Hellespont as all the Cyclades Euboia and the great Iland Samos and Chios so Seyres where Achilles was born and was King of that Coutrey There is also Lesbos and Cemnos Mytilene and Ithaca where Ulysses was King and Andnos whither Themistocles was sent by the Athenians for Tribute as Plutarch layeth down the History Themistocles did tell them that he came to demand Tribute or some great imposition upon them being ' accompanied with two goddâ—…sses the one was Eloquence to perswade them and the other Violence to enforce them Whereunto the Andrâ—…ans made answer that they had on their side two goddesses as strong whereof the one was Necessity whereby they had it not and the other was Impossibilitie whereby they could not part with that which they never possessed Of these places something may be read in the old History of the Greekes Divers of these did strive that Homer was borne in them but of certain many of those Kings which Homer saith came with Agamemnon to the siege of Troy were Kings but of those small Ilands Eastward from thence not farre from some part af Natolia or Asia the lesser is the Iland of Rhodes the friendship of the inhabitants whereof was in ancient time very much desired by the Princes that had to do that way so that Alexander first and the Romans afterwards did embrace their league Here was that huge and mighty Image of the Sun which was called Colossus Rhodius This Country was long defended by those who were called the Knights of Rhodes against the power of the Turke and it was a great bulwarke to defend Christendome till that in the yeare one thousand five hundred twenty and one Solyâ—…an the Great Turke did win it from the Christians by force From thence Southward is the Isle Carpathus but in the farthest end of the East part of the Mediterranean is Cyprus which about 300. yeares since was a Kingdome and did afford great aide unto the Christians that went to conquer the Holy Land but it is now under the Turke The chief City thereof is â—…amogusta which is an Archbishops sea for Christians for their tribute do yet live there In this Countrey in old time was Venus much honoured and therefore she was called Cypria as also Paphia because she had a temple in a City there called Paphos Neer unto Syria stood the Island Tyrus against the pride whereof the Prophets doth much speak this was a rich City for Merchandise and Navigation in old time and is the place from whence Dido and the builders of Carthage did come The destruction of it is most famous by Alexander the great Of the rest of the small Islands we do say nothing Of the Islands in the Indian Sea THe Islands are very many that do lye in the Sea adjoining to the East Indies but the most famous among them shall onely be touched Among old writers as especially appeareth by Solinus was well known that which was then called Tâ—…probana which lieth neer the Equinoctiall Line It was in that time a Monarchy where the Kings reigned not by succession but by election and if any of them did grow intolerable he was deposed and enforced to dye by withdrawing from him all things necessary This is now called Sumatra and hath in it divers Kings Not far from thence lâ—…e Eastward the two Islands called Java major and Java minor which were also known to the old Writers as in general may be noted that all the East part either in the Continent or in the Ilands have very many smal Kings and Kingdomes From whence yet more East lieth a great number of â—…les which are now called the Molucco's which are places as rich for their quantity as any in the World from these it is that the Spaniards have yearly so great quantity of all kinds of spice neither is there any place of all the East-Indies that doth more richly furnish home their Carracts than do these Molucco's The Islands which are called by that name are by some of our writers accounted to be at least four twenty or five and twenty and some of them which are the bigger have in them two or three Kings apiece and some of them which are lesse are either the several Dominions of several Kings or else two or three of them do belong to some one Prince When Sir Francis Drake did compasse the whole World he came near unto these
up as high as these Islands Of America or the new World ALthough some do dispute out of Plato and the old Writers that there was not only a guesse but a kind of knowledge in ancient time that besides Europe Asia and Africa there was another large Country lying to the West yet he that shall advisedly peruse the conjectures made thereupon may see that there is nothing of sufficiencie to enforce any such knowledge but that all antiquitie was utterly ignorant of the new found Countries towards the West Whereunto this one Argument most forcible may give credit that at the first arriving of the Spaniards there they found in those places nothing shewing Trafficke or knowledge of any other Nation but the people naked uncivill some of them devourers of mens flesh ignorant of shipping without all kind of learning having no remembrance of History or writing among them never having heard of any such Religion as in other places of the world is known but being utterly ignorant of Scripture or Christ or Moses or any God neither having among them any token of Crosse Church Temple oâ—… Devotion agreeing with other Nations The reasons which are gathered by some late Writers out of Plato Seneca and some other of the Ancient are rather conjectural that it was likely that there should be some such place than any way demonstrative or concluding by experience that therewas any such countrey and the greatest inducement which they had to perswade themselves that therewas any more Land towards the West then that which was formerly known was grounded upon this that all Asia Europe and Africke concerning the longitude of the World did containe in them but 180 degrees and therefore it was most probable that in the other 180. which filleth up the whole course of the Sun to the number of 360 degrees God would not suffer the water only to possesse all but would leave a place for the habitation of men beasts flying and creeping creatures I am not ignorant that some who make too much of vain shewes out of the British Antiquities have given out to the world and written something to that purpose that Arthur sometimes King of Britain had both knowledge of these parts and some Dominion in them for they find as some report that King Arthur had under his government many Islands and great Countries towards the North and West which one of some special note hath interpreted to signifie America and the Northern parts thereof and thereupon have gone about to entitle the Queen of England to be Soveraigne of those Provinces by right of descent from King Arthur But the wisedome of our State hath been such as to neglect that opinion imagining it to be grounded upon fabulous foundations as many things are which are now reported of King Arthur only this doth carry some shew with it that now some hundreds of years since there was a Knight of Wales who with shipping and some pretty company did go to discover those parts whereof as there is some record of reasonable credit amongst the Monuments of Wales so there is this one thing which giveth pregnant shew thereunto that in the late Navigation of some of our men to Norumbega and some other Northern parts of America they find some tokens of civility and Christian Religion but especially they do meet with some words of the Welch language as that a Bird with a whitehead should be called Pengwiun other such like yet because we have no invincible certainty hereof and if any thing were done it was only in the Northern and worse parts and the entercourse betwixt Wales and those parts in the space of divers hundred years was not continued but quite silenced we may go forward with that opinion that these Westerne Indies were no way known to former ages God therefore remembring the prophesie of his Son that the Gospel of the Kingdome should before the day of judgement be preached in all coasts and quarters of the world and in his mercy intending to free the people or at the least some few of them from the bondage of Satan who did detaine them in blockish ignorance and from their Idolatrous service unto certain vile spirits whom they call their Zemes most obsequiously did adore them raised up the spirit of a man worthy of perpetual memory one Christopherus Columbus born at Genua in Italy to set his mind to the discovery of a new World who finding by that compasse of the old known World that there must needs be a much more mighty space to the which the Sun by his daily motion did compasse about then that which was already known and discovered and conceiving that this huge quantity might as wel be Land 〈◊〉 Sea he could never satisfie himself till he might attempt to make proof of the verity thereof Being therefore himself a private man and of more vertue than Nobility after his reasons and demonstrations laid down whereby he might induce men that it was no vain thing which he went about he went unto many of the Princes of Christendome and among others to Henry the seventh King of England desiring to be furnished with shipping and men fit for such a Navigation but these men refusing him partly because they gave no credit to his Narration and partly lest they should be derided by their Neighbour Princes if by this Genoe-stranger they should be cousened but especially for that they were unwilling to sustaine the charges of shipping At last he betook himself unto the Court of Ferdinandus and Elizabeth King and Queen of Castile where also at the first he found but small entertainment yet persisting in his purpose without weariness with great importunity it pleased God to move the mind of Elizabeth the Queen to deale with her husband to surnish forth to ships for the discovery only and not for conquest whereupon Columbus in the year thousand four hundred ninety and two accompanied with his brother Bartholomeus Columbus and many Spaniards sayled farre to the West for the space of three score daies and more with the great indignation often mutinies of his company fearing that by reason of their long distance from home they should never return again insomuch that the General after many perswasions of them to go forward was at length enforced to crave but three daies wherein if they saw not the Iland he promised to return and God did so blesse him to the end that his Voyage might not prove in vain that in that space one of his Company did espye Fire which was a certain Argument that they were near to the Land as it fell out indeed The first Land whereunto they came was an Island called by the Inhabitants Haity but in remembrance of Spaine from whence he came he termed it Hispaniola and finding it to be a Countrey full of pleasure and having in it abundance of Gold and Pearle he proceeded further and
discovered another bigge Isle which is called Cuba of the which being very glad with great treasure he returned unto Spaine bringing joyful newes of his happy successe When Columbus did adventure to restraine the time of their expectation within the compasse of three daies engaging himself to return if in that space they saw no Land there be some write that he limited himself not at all adventures but that he did by his eye discerne a difference in the colour of the clouds which did arise out of the west from those which formerly he had seen which clouds did argue by the clearnesse of them that they did not arise immediately out of the Sea but that they had passed over some good space of the Land and thereby grew clearer and clearer not having in them any new or late risen vapours but this is but conjectural The Spaniards who are by nature a people proud have since the death of Columbus laboured to obscure his fame envying that an Italian or stranger should be reported to be the first discoverer of those parts And therefore have in their writings since given forth that there was a Spaniard which had first been there and that Columbus meeting with his Cards and descriptions did but pursue his enterprize and assume the glory to himself But this fable of theirs doth savour of the same spirit wherewithall many of them in his life time did reproach him that it was no matter of importance to find out these Countries but that if that he had not done it many other might and would Which being spoken to Columbus it a solemne dinner he called for an Egge and willed all the guests one after another to set it up on end Which when they could not do he gently bruising the one end of it did make it flat and so set it up by imitation whereof each of the other did the same whereby he mildly did reprove their envy towards him and shewed how easie it was to do that which a man had seen done before To go forward therefore Columbus being returned to Castile after his welcome to the Princes was made Great Admirall of Spain and with a new Fleet of more Ships was sent to search further which he accordingly did and quickly found the maine Land not farre from the Tropick of Cancer Which part of the Countrey in honour of Spain he called Hispania nova in repect whereof at this day the King of Spaine doth entitle himself Hispaniarum Rex Some there be which write that Columbus did not discover further then the Islands and that he spent the greatest part of his former labours in coasting Cuba and Hispaniola to see whether they were Islands or a Continent and that some other in the meane time did thrust themselves forward and discryed the firme Land among whom Americus Vespucius the chiefe of whose name a great part of the Countrey is called at this day America They found the people both of the maine Lands and Islands very many in number naked without cloaths or Armour sowing no Corn but making their Bread of a kinde of Root which they call Maiz. Men most ignorant of all kind of Learning admiring at the Christians as if they had been sent downe from Heaven and thinking them to be immortall wondring at their Ships and the tacklings thereof for they had no Ships of their own but big troughs which they call their Canoes being made hallow or the â—…ody of a Tree with the sharp bones of Fishes for yron and such like Instruments they have none Although it do appear that by the Warres of one of their petty Princes or Kings whom they call Cassickes had against another many thousands of the Inhabitants of those Countries were continually wasted and spoiled yet the number of them was so great in every part of the West-Indies that in Hispaniola alone there were supposed to be by computation of the Spaniards first arriving there not so few as 2000000. which yet by the cruelty of the Spaniards were so murthered and other ways made away that within fifty years after as their Writers report there were scant any thousands in that Island remaining of them The like is to be said of the populousnesse of other Coasts and quarters there The Armour which those people did weare when they entred into the Warres was nothing but some sleight covering either made of Wood or Sâ—…els of Fishes or of Cotton-wooll or some such foolish matter For thèy had no use at all of Iron or Steele but the most part of them came without any kinde of cloathing or covering yet armed with Bowes and Arrowes which were made sharp at the end with the scraping of Fish-bones or with Fish-bones themselves put on the end like an Arrow-head and that oftentimes they dipped in a kind of most venomous poyson Some other of them had for their Weapons great clubs wherewith they did use to beat out the braines of those with whom they did combate They had amongst them no good or wholsome food for even that Maiz whereof they made their bread had in the root thereof a most venomous kinde of liquor which is no better than deadly poyson but they crush out that juice and afterward do prepare the rooâ—… so that it maketh them a kinde of Bread There was no sort of good Literature to be found among them nay they could not so much as distinguish any times the one from the other but by a blockish kind of observation of the course of the Moon according to which they made their computation but without any kind of certainty saving for some few Moneths which were lately past but for the set calculaâ—…ing of ought which was done divers years before they could do nothing therein but onely grossely aime at it But that in all Ages it hath appeared that Satan hath used ignorance aâ—… one of the chiefest meanes whereby to increase Idolatry and consequentlie to enlarge his kingdome it were other wise incredible that any who have in them reason and the shape of men should be so brutishly ignorant of all kind of true Religion devotion and understanding For the adoration which they do give was only unto certain foule spirits which they call bâ—… the name of their Zemes. In remembrance of whom divers of them did keep in their houses certain things made of cotton wooll in the manner of puppets or like Childrens babies and to these they did yeeld a reverance supposing some Divine Nature to be in them because sometimes in the Evening and in the night time they had such illusions offered unto them as that they saw these their Puppets to move and stirre up and down in their houses and sometimes to utter voices and give divers sâ—…gnifications of such things as they would have to be done or not to be done Yea and that with such effect from the devill also that if their wills and commandements weâ—…e
Engine-maker Sicily once a Kingdom two famous Tyrants in it The tyrant Phalaris The tyrannies of Sicily were very famous Note that cruelty is alwaies attended with scar. Damocles the flatterer Note how the poor woman prayed for this Tyrant A good note for all inventers of tortures cruelty and likewise for time flatterers The mountian Aetna The reason of the fire in the mountain Aeina Note The Papists Purgatory is the fiery Aeana The death of Pliny the elder Note Malta the only place for repelling the Turks The society of the Knights Templers The Pope the King of France conspiring their ruine Hospitallers The Knights of Rhodes The Knights of Malta The Isle Corsu Cephalenia Zon. The commodities of the Countrey The Impost laid on this Island called the Revenue of St Mark. Zant the Inhabitants Greeks Creta The labyrinth of De dalus The most noted lyars The Island Candy Cithera where was the siue Temple of Venus Divers smal Islands Note The Island of Rhodes The Isle Carpathus The Isle Cyprus The City â—…amogusta The City Paphos The Island Tyrus The Island of Sumatra Two Ilands Iava major and Iava minor The Islands of Molucco's The great richs which the King of Spaine receives from hence yearly Note The Island of Iapan Diverssmal Ilands onely named The Ilands of Gorgades The Isle Madera Hesperides Bonavista Canary Ilands From hence she best Canary Sacks From hence great store of Sugar-canes The Isle of St. Thomas The Isle of Cloves The Ilands of Azores Note the unadvisedness of Don Antonio The people of America utterly void of all manner of knowledge of God or goodnesse The reasons conjectual of a new found World Some have entituled the Queen of England Soveraigne of these Provinces Their Religion Columbus the first discoverer of America In the year 1492. America discovered by Columbus The Island Haity The richs of the country The Island Cuba The pride of the Spaniard labouring to obscure the fame of Columbus Hispania nova Of whom this Country had its name Manner of the people The cruèlty of the Spaniards Their Armour Note their bread No good literature amongst them Note how the Devill did strangely delude these people Note the malice of Satan The admiration of the people at the approach of the men and shipping The mighty bignesse of the trees of Brasile They conceivâ—…d them to be some gods They admired and feared a Letter Some very rare Beasts The Sâ—…a Crocodiles Some rare stones Divers tree not elsewhere found The abun dance of Kin and Buls The condition of the people of America The Religion Yet many grievous sins by them committed Their attire Infinite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gold and silver in America Precious mines Attabaliba his ransome The Country people exchanged it for bablâ—… They dreaded men on horse-back The King had the fist part for his tribute A Councel at Sivill for the government of America Note the Spaniards cruelty His insolency and tyrannising pride Their beastly bassness Note their inhnmanity The Friars complaint of their cruelty Note Mexico described A great Lake Mexico the chief City of all those quarters The Gulph of Mexico Divers Islands in the gulph of Mexico Note And named it Florida The river Mayo Note the Spaniards unchistian cruelty Sir Francis Drakes Voyage Four cities 〈◊〉 in America The burning hill in Americs A strange fire Of Virginia the first plantation The second planta ion The third plantation Of the summer Ilands The fish of New found land Nova Al bion The Portugals discovery of Brasile A large Countrey and much inhabited Note The abundance of Brasile wood Their Religion Their apparell The proportion of the Inhabitants Note The Canibals or man eiters which is the country custome Their great use of Tobacco Note Note this ye Tobacconists A discription of the people of Peru. The riches of the Country of Peru. A strange story of the beast Cincia the first attempters against the Peruvians Guiana The rich ness anâ—… 〈◊〉 os the cuntry The river of the Amazone â—…ir Walter â—… leigh lid first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it to the Englâ—…sh They haâ—…e he Spaniâ—…rds and â—…ove the English A strange story Note Their strange devises to take fowls Divers flying fishes Magellanus straits The South Sea The Moluccoes Magellane the first that evercompased the world Insulae Latornum Insulae Salomonis Philippinae Their Riches Infulas infortunatas Regio Mâ—…gellanica Psittacorum regio Terra del fuego A description of the people Movâ—… Guinea Note Nigra Rupes Groin-land Nova Zembla S Hugh Willonghbies land