Forces of these Princes I have little to say but think them to be of good consideration in both respects their Territories lying in the best and richest part of Italie and their Estates environed by more puissant neighbours which both necessitate and inable them to defend their own The Duke of MONTFERRAT THe Dukedom of MONTFERRAT is situate betwixt Lombardy and â—iemont or the Rivers of Tenarus and Po on the East and West extended North and South in a line or branch from the Alpes to the borders of Liguria of which last it was sometimes counted part and called Liguria Cisapennina for distinction sake It took this name either à Monte ferrato from some mountain of it stored with Iron or else à monte feraci as some rather think from the fertilitie of the Mountains And to say truth though the whole Country seem to be nothing else than a continuall heap of Mountains yet are they Mountains of such wonderfull fruitfulness that they will hardly give place to any Valley in Europe The principall River of it is the Tenarus above mentioned which springing out of the hils about Barceis a Town of the Marquisate of Saluzzes falleth into the Po not far from Pavie The principall Cities of it are 1 Alba called by Plinie Alba Pomera situate on the banks of the sayd River in a rich and fertile soyl but a very bad air near to which in a poor village called Zobia the Emperor Pertinax was born Who being of mean and obscure Parents after the death of Commodus was called by the Conspirators to the Roman Empire But being over-zealous to reform the corruptions of the souldiers he was by the Praetorian Guards hating their Princes for their vertues as much as formerly for their vices most cruelly murdered and the Imperiall dignity sold to Julianus for 25 Sestertiums a man 2 Casal vulgarly called Saint Vas from the Church there dedicated to St. Evasius or Saint Vas as they speak it commonly the strongest Town in all this Country well built and peopled with many antient and noble Families of which the family of St. George is one of the principall and made a Bishops See by Pope Sixtus the fourth An o 1474. t was in former times the chief seat of the house of Montferrat and for that cause compassed with a strong wall and a fair Castle but of late fortified after the modern manner of Fortifications and strengthned with an impregnable Citadel by Duke Vincent Gonzaga as the surest Key of his estate in which new Citadell the Governour of the Province holds his usuall residence 3 Aique in Latin Aquensis famous for its Bathes or Fountains of hot and medicinall waters 4 Saint Saviours where there is a very strong Fortress as there is also in 5 Ponsture or Pont di Stura so called of the River Stura 6 Osoniano antiently Occimianum the old seat of the first Marquesses of this Montferrat 7 Villa nova 8 Balzale 9 Liburn and many others of less note Here are also with in the limits of this Dukedom the Towns of Ast Cherian and Chivasco belonging to the Dukes of Savoy in the description of whose Country we may speak more of them together with Novara and Alexandria appertaing to the Dukedom of Millain which we have spoken of already And hereunto also I refer the strong and in those times impregnable Fortress by the Latin Historians called Fraexinetum from some Grove of Ashes near unto it situate in the advantages of the Mountains and not far from the sea by consequence better able to defend it self and admit relief and therefore made the receptacle or retreat of the Saracens at such time as they had footing in these parts of Italie First took and fortified by them in the year 891 recovered afterwards by the prowess and good fortune of Otho the Emperor deservedly surnamed the Great about 60 years after Of great note in the stories of those middle times By Luitprandus placed near the borders of Provence by Blondus and Leander near the River Po and the Town of Valenza once called Forum Fulvii and finally by Sigonius in the Coltian Alpes and so most fit to be referred unto this Country though now so desolated that there is no remainder of the ruins of it This Country was made a Marquisate by Otho the 2 d An. 985. one of the seven by him erected and given to the 7 sons of Waleran of Saxonie who had maryed his daughter Adelheide A Military Family conspicuously eminent in the Wars of Greece and the Holy-land where they did many acts of singular merit insomuch as Baldwin and Conrade issuing from a second branch hereof were made Kings of Hierusalem and Boniface one of the Marquesses got the Kingdom of Thessaly and many fair Estates in Greece But the Male-issue fayling in Marquess John the Estate fell to Theodorus Palaeologus of the Imperiall family of Constantinople who had maryed the Heir-generall of the house continuing in his name till the year 1534 when it fell into the hands of the Dukes of Mantua In the person of Duke William Gonzaga raised to the honour of a Dukedom as it still continueth the best and richest part of that Dukes Estate and the fairest flower in all his Garden The residue of the story may be best collected out of the following Catalogue of The Marquesses of Montferrat A. C. â—985 1 William one of the sonnes of Waleran and Adelheide made the first Marquess of Montferrat 2 Boniface the sonne of William 3 William II. who accompanied the Emperor Conrade the 3. and 5 Lewis of France to the holy-Holy-land â—183 4 Boniface II. sonne of William the second his younger brother William being designed King of Hierusalem and Reyner another of them made Prince of Thessaly succeeded his Father in Montferrat Ayding his Nephew Baldwin the sonne of William in recovering the Kingdom of Hierusalem he was took prisoner by Guy of Lusignan Competitor with him for that title 5 William III. sonne of Boniface poysoned in the Holy-land where he endeavoured the restoring of his Brother Conrade to that languishing Kingdom 6 Boniface III. sonne of William the third for his valour in taking of Constantinople made King of Thessalie 1254 7 Boniface IV. sonne of Boniface the third added Vercelli and Eporedium unto his Estate 8 John surnamed the Just the last of this house 9 Theodore Palaeologus sonne of the Emperor Andronicus Palaeologus the elder and Yoland his wife daughter of Boniface the fourth 10 John Palaeologus sonne of Theodore 11 Theodorus II. sonne of John a great builder and endower of Religious houses 12 Jacobus Johannes sonne of Theodore the second 13 John III. eldest sonne of Jacobus Johannes 1464 14 William IV. brother of John the third founder of the City and Monastery of Casal 1487 15 Boniface V. brother of John and William the two last Marquesses invested by Fredederick the fourth Blanea Maria the daughter of William surrendring her Estate unto him 16 William V. sonne of Boniface
of the Barbarians then confederate with him would become too insolent gave him leave to retire home through Italy which he â—arassed with Fire and Sword murdering the People and ruining the Towns so that he was then and long after called Flagellum Dei Aetius notwithstanding this good service was by Valentinian the Emperour of the West rewarded with the loss of his head By which act the Emperour as one truly told him had cut off his right hand with his left And indeed so it happened For not long after he himself was by Maximus murdered and the Empire of Rome irrecoverably destroyed Now that these Fields say here abouts and not about Chalons in the Province of Champaigne as some learned and industrious men have been of opinion I am assured by these three reasons First the improbabilitie that Aetius having got the victory should suffer such a vast and numerous Army to pass through the whole length of France from one end to the other and having wasted all the Countrie to break into Italy and secondly the testimony of â—ornandes an antient writer who telleth us first that before this fight Attila had besiedged and distressed the City of Orleans and therefore was not vanquished in the fields of Chalons and then that immediately upon the Victory Torismund the King of the Gothes his Father Theodoriâ— being slain in Campis Catalaunicis ubi pugnavâ—rat Regia Majestate subvectus Toloâ—am ingreditur being proclamed King in those very fields entred with great Statâ— and Triumph into Tholouse The Regall Citie at that time of the Gothish Kingdom Which plainly proves the place of battle to be neer this City though possible by the name Campi Catalaunici the great length and breadth thereof considered we are to understand the whole Country of Languedoc The old Inhabitants of this Countrie besides the Helvii the 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 Vages and Albigenses formerly remembred were the Agâ—â—enses 〈◊〉 Gâ—bâ—les Volcae and the Arâ—comici all which together with some others of lâ—sser note made the Province of Narbonensis Prima whereof the Metropolis was Narbon In the falling of the Râ—man Empire assigned with the rest of Narbonensis some part of Spain to Aâ—â—â—ulfus King of the 〈◊〉 whom Hoâ—orius by this gift bought out of â—talie The Gothes having got so good footing in Gauâ— enlarged their bounds by taking in the most part of Aquitain Quercu and 〈◊〉 but forced to quâ—t them to the French who Conquered that from them which they got from the â—omans and shut them up within the limits of their first Donation after this they 〈◊〉 as fast in France as they thrived in Spain losing Provence to Theodoric King of the 〈◊〉 Gâ—thes or Gothes of Itali Whose successour Amalâ—sunta fearing a War from Greece resigned her intereâ—s in Provence to Theodobert the French King of Mets. Nothing now left unto the Gales of their Gallick purchases but this Languedock only and this they held as long as they had any thing to do in Europe but lost it finally to the Moors with all Spain it self Recovered from the â—oors by Charles Martel and added to the rest of the French Empire it was by Charles the great given to one Thursin of the race of the antient Kings with the title of the Earl of Tholâ—uâ—e on condition that he would be Christned How long it continued in his Race it is hard to say the story and succession of these Earls being very imperfect not setled in a way of Lineall Deâ—cent till the time of Raimâ—nd the eighth Earl Brother to another Raimond Earl of St. Giles a Town of Guienne whose Grand-child Hugh being an adventurer in the Wars of the Holy Land and wanting money to provide himself for that expedition sold his Estate herein to his Vncle Raimond the Earl of St. Giles before mentioned From this time forward we find these Earls to be as often called the Earls of St. Giles as the Earls of Tholouse and by that name frequently remembred in the Eastern stories but not without some mark of infidelity as if not sound and through-paced to the Cause on foot A punishment whereof the short continuance of this house is supposed to be For Raimond the Great Earl of Tâ—olouse St. Giles and Tripoli in the holy-Holy-Land had three Sonnes all of them succeeding the first two issuless the third the Father of Raimond the Father of another Raimond who proved a great maintainer of the Albigenses and in pursuance of that Cause murdered the Legat of the Pope sent to Excommunicate him strangled his own Brother Baldwin because he found him not inclinable to his opinions For this cause Warred upon and Vanquished by Simon de Monfort Father of Simon de Monfort the great Earl of Leicester and after many troubles and continuall Wars left his estate and quarrell to his Sonne named also Raimond the last Earl of this House Who proving also a strong Patron of these Albigenses was condemned for a Heretick cursed by the Pope and persecuted by the French Kings Philip the second Lewis the 8th and St. Lewis This last willing to make a peaceable composition maried his Brother Alfonso to Jane daughter and heir to Count Raimond with this clause That if it should happen these two to die without issue then Languedoc should be incorporated to the Crown Raimond agreed the mariage was solemnized Anno 1249. They both died without issue 1270 and Languedoc returned to the Crown in the dayes of Philip the third The names and Succession of these Earls in regard they were Peers of France great Princes and for the most part men of action take in order thus A. Ch. The Earls of Tholouze 779. 1 Tursiâ— the first Earl of Tholouze 803. 2 William made Earl by Charlemaigne Peer of France at the first foundation of that Order 828. 3 Isauret Thursin Sonne of Thursin the first Earl 841 4 Bertrand Sonne of Isauret Thursin 894. 5 William II. of some other house 919. 6 Ponce a great Justiciar but of unknown race 963. 7 Almaric of as obscure parentage as Ponce 1003. 8 Raymond the Brother of Raymond Earl of S. Giles advanced by Robert King of France 1052. 9 William III. Duke of Aquitaine succeded in right of his Wiâ—e the Daughter of Raymond 1086. 10 Hugh â—rmon Sonne of William the 3d sold his Estate and Earldom to his Uncle Raymond 1096. 11 Raymond II. Earl of S. Gâ—les Tholouzeâ— and Tripoli of great note in the Warre of the Holy-Land 12 Bertrand Sonne of Raymond the Great 13 William IV. Brother of Bertrand 1101. 14 Alfonso Brother of William the fourth 1146. 15 Raymond III. Sonne of Alfonso 1185. 16 Raymond IV. Sonne of Raymond the 3d the Great Patron of the Albigenses 1222. 17 Raymond V. Sonne of Raymond the 4th vanquished and compounded with by King Lewis the Saint 1249. 18 Alfonso II. Brother of St. Lewis and Husband of Ioan. daughter and heir of the last Raymond after whose death and the decease of Ioan the
France and Lorrein and France it self distracted into many Soveraign Estates and Principalities 26. 841. 4 Charles II. surnamed Calvus or the Bald youngest Sonne of Lewis King of France and Emperour vanquished by Charles the Grosse in the War of Italie 38. 879. 5 Lewis II. surnamed Balbus or the Stammering Sonne of Charles the Bald King of France and Emperour 881. 6 Lewis III. with Caroloman his Brother the base Sonnes of Lewis the Stammering Usurpers of the Throne in the infancy of Charles the Simple 886. 7 Charles III. surnamed Crassus or the Grosse King of Germany and Emperour called into France and elected King during the Minority of Charles the Simple 5. 891. 8 Odo or Eudes Sonne of Robert Earl of Anjou of the race of Witikindus the last King of the Saxons elected by an opposite Faction outed Charles the Gâ—osse 9. 900. 9 Charles IV. surnamed Simplex or the Simple the Posthumus Sonne of Lewis the Stammerer restored unto the Throne of his Fathers which after many troubles raised against him by Robert the 2d Earl of Anjou whom he slew in battel he was forced to resigne 27. 927. 10 Rodolph of Burgundie Sonne of Richard Duke of Burgundie the Brother of Eudes succeeded on the resignation of Charles the Simple 2. 929. 11 Lewis IV. surnamed Transmarine in regard that during his Fathers Troubles he had lived in England restored unto the Regal Throne on the death of Rodolph opposed therein by Hugh Earl of Paris and Anjou the Nephew of King Eudes by his Brother Robert before mentioned 958. 12 Lotharius Sonne of Lewis the 4th disturbed in his possession by Hugh Capet the eldest Sonne of the said Hugh on the pretensions of that house by which at last he got the Kingdom 987. 13 Lewis V. Sonne of Lotharius the last King of the House of Charles the Great After whose death being King onely for a yeer the Crown was seized on by Hugh Capet Charles Duke of Lorreine Brother of Lotharius and Uncle unto Lewis the fift being pretermitted And now we are come to the present race of the Kings of France founded in Hugh Capet so called from the greatness of his head Sonne of Hugh the great Earl of Paris and Anjou and Grandchild of Robert the second Earl of Anjou Which Robert was the Brother of Eâ—des and Cousin German of Rodolph Kings of France Who partly by his own wits but chiefly by the weakness of the mungrel Issue of Charles the Great having got the Diadem transmitted it unto his Posterity the Crown descending in a direct line from Father to Sonne till the death of Lewis the 10th surnamed Hutin But here we are to understand that the Realm of France was at that time shut up within narrower bounds than it is at the present the large and rich Countries of Champagne Normandie Bretagne Anjou Poictou Languedoc and the great Dukedom of Aquitain besides those Provinces which constituted and made up the Kingdom of Burgundie being aliened and dismembred from it How they became reduced to the Crown again will be discerned in the ensuing History and Succession of The third Race of the Kings of France of the Capetine or Saxon Line 988. 1 Hugh Capet of whom sufficiently before 9. 997. 2. Robert the Sonne of Hugh Capet Duke of Burgundie also 34. 1031. 3 Henry the eldest Sonne of Robert his younger Brother Robert being setled in the Dukedom of Burgundie 39. 1061. 4 Philip the Sonne of Henry who added Berry to the Crown 49. 1110. 5 Lewis VI. Sonne of Philip surnamed the Grosse 28. 1138. 6 Lewis VII Sonne of Lewis the sixt an Adventurer in the War of the Holy Land as also did his Sonne and successour 1181. 7 Philip II. surnamed Augustus by whom Normandy Aquitain Anjou with their severall Appendixes were taken from King Iohn of England 43. 1224. 8 Lewis VIII Sonne of Philip Augustus 3. 1227. 9 Lewis IX surnamed the Saint renowned for his Wars in Egypt and the holy-Holy-Land He restored Guienne to the English and added the Earldoms of Tholouse and Mascon to the Crown of France 44. 1271. 10 Philip III. Sonne of Lewis 15. 1286. 11 Philip IV. surnamed the Fair King also of Navarre in the right of the Lady Ioan his Wife 28. 1314. 12 Lewis X. surnamed Hutin King of Navarre in right of his Mother whom he succeded in that Kingdom Anno 1305. After whose death the Kingdom of France was to have descended on Ioan his Daughter 2. 1315. 13 Philip V. called the Long Brother of Lewis Hutin partly by threats promises and other practices caused a Law to pass to which he gave the name of the Sal que Law for disabling Women from the succession to the Crown and thereby quite excluded his Brothers Daughter served in the same kind himself by his Brother Charles who following his example excluded on the same pretence his Neeces Joan and Margares the Daughters of Philip. 5. 1320. 14 Charles IV. but in true accompt the fifth of that name most commonly called Charles the Fair Brother of Philip and Lewis the two last Kings After whose death began the Wars of the English for the Crown of France challenged by King Edward the 3d. as Sonne and Heir of Isabel the Daughter of King Philip the Fair and Sister to the 3 last Kings 7. 1328. 15 Philip VI. surnamed de Valois Son of Charles Earl of Valois the second Sonne of King Philip the third and Vncle to the three last Kings succeeded under colour of the Salique Law of which Charles it is said that he was Sonne to a King Brother to a King Vncle to a King and Father to a King yet himself was no King In this Kings dayes was fought the famous Battle of Crecie Anno 1343. in which the French Army consisted of about 70000 Souldiers the English of 11800 only yet the victory fell unto the English by whose valour fell that day Iohn King of Bohemia 11 Princes 80 Barons 120 Knights and 30000 of the common Souldiers He added unto his Estates the County Palatine of Champagne the Country of Daulphine and the Citie and Earldom of Montpelier 22. 1350 16 Iohn the Sonne of Philip de Valois in whose reign was fought the battel of Poictiers wherein Edward the black prince so called for his black acts upon the French with an handfull of wearied Souldiers but 8000 in all overcame the French army consisting of 40000 men of which they slew besides the Nobles 10000 of the common Souldiers and took prisoners King John himself and Philip his Sonne 70 Earls 50 Barons and 12000 Gentlemen 14. 1364. 17 Charles V. the Sonne of Iohn recovered all those peeces except only Calice which the English had before gotten from his Father and Grandfather He is called commonly Charles the Wise but Lewis the 11th would by no means allow him that attribute affirming that it was but a foolish part to give his younger Brother Philip the Dukedom of Burgundy and withall the Heir of Flanders to wife
And so it proved in the Event 18 Charles VI. a weak and distracted Prince in whose reign Henry the fifth of England called in by the faction of Burgundy against that of Orleans maried the Lady Catharine Daughter of this King and was thereupon made Regent of France during the Kings life and Heir apparent of the Kingdom But he had first won the great battel of Agincourt in which the English having an Army but of 15000 vanquished an Army of the French consisting of 52000 men of which were slain 5 Dukes 8 Earls 25 Lords 8000 Knights and Gentlemen of note and 25000 of the Commons the English losing but one Duke one Earl and 600 Souldiers This unfortunate Prince lost what his predecessor Philip the ad had taken from King Iohn of England and had not been restored by King Lewis the ninth 1423. 19 Charles VII Sonne of Charles the sixt after a long and bloodie War recovered from the English then divided by domestick dissentions all their Lands and Signiories in France except Calice only 1461. 20 Lewis XI Sonne of Charls the seventh added unto his Crown the Dukedom of Burgundie the Earldom of Provence and therewithall a Title unto Naples and Sicil and a great part of Picardy A Prince of so great wants or such sordid parsimony that there is found a Reckoning in the Chamber of Accompts in Paris of two shillings for new sleeves to his old doublet and three half pence for liquor to grease his Boots 21 Charles VIII Sonne of Lewis the 11th who quickly won and as soon lost the Kingdom of Naples which he laid claim to in the right of the house of Anjou By the mariage of Anne the Heir of Bretagne he added that Dukedom to his Crown 1498. 22 Lewis XII Sonne of Charles and Grand-sonne of Lewis Dukes of Oriâ—â—ans which Lewis was a younger Sonne of Charles the fifth succeeded as the neâ—t Heir-male of the house of Valois He dispossessed Ludowick Sforzâ— of the Dutchie of Millaine and divided the Realm of Naples with Ferdinand the Catholick but held neither long By his mariage with Anne of Bretagne the Widow of his Predecessour he confirmed that Dukedom to his House and united it unto the Realm by an Act of State After his death the English to prevent the growing greatness of Spaine began to close in with the French and grew into great correspondencies with them insomuch that all the following Kings untill Lewis the 13th except Francis the 2d a King of one yeer and no more were all Knights of the Garter 1515. 23 Francis Duke of Angolesme Grand-sonne of Iohn of Angolesme one of the younger Sonnes of the said Lewis Duke of Orleans succeeded on the death of Lewis the 12th without iâ—â—ue male Took Prisoner at the battel of Pavie by Charles the fifth with whom he held perpetual wars he being as unwilling to indure a superiour as the Emperour was to admit an equall 32. 1547. 24 Henry II. Sonne of Francis recovered Caliâ—e from the English and drove Charles out of Germanie and took from him Mets â—oui and Verdun three Imperial Cities ever since Members of this Kingdom 12. 1559. 25 Francis II. Sonne of Henry the 2d King of the Scots also in the right of Mary his Wife 1560. 26 Charles IX Brother of Francis the 2d the Author of the Massacre at Paris 14. 1574. 27 Henry III. elected King of Poland in the life of his Brother whom he succeeded at his death The last King of the House of Valois stripped of his Life and Kingdom by the Guisian Faction called the Holy League 15. 1589. 28 Henry IV. King of Navarre and Duke of Vendosme succeeded as the next Heir-male to Henry the 3d in the right of the House of Bourbon descended from Robert Earl of Clermont a youunger Sonne of Lewis the 9th He ruined the Holy League cleered France of the Spaniards into which they had been called by that potenâ— and rebellious Faction and laid La Bresse unto the Crown together with the Estates of Bearn and Base Navarre and after a ten years time of peace was villainously murdered by Ravillac in the streets of Paris 21. 1610. 29 Lewis XIII Sonne of Henry the 4th the most absolute King of France since the death of Charles the Great For the reduction of the scattered and dismembred Provinces the work of his many Predecessors he added the reduction of all the Ports and Garrisons held by the Hugonots in that Kingdom seized on the Dukedom of Bar and surprized that of Lorreine both which he held untill his death 32. 1642. 30 Lewis XIV Sonne of Lewis the 13th and of the Lady Anne eldest Daughter of Philip the third of Spaine succeeded at the age of four years under the Government of his Mother the 30th King of the Line of Capet the 43 from Charles the Great and the 64 King of France or rather of the French now living As for the Government of these Kings it is meerly Regal or to give it the true name Despoticall such as that of a Master over his Servants the Kings will going for a Law and his Edicts as valid as a Sentence of the Court of Parliament Quod Principi placuerit Legis habet vigorem was a Prerogative belonging to the Roman Emperours as Justinian tells us in his Institutes and the French Kings descending from Charles the Great claim it as their own The Kings Edicts alwayes ending with these binding words Car tel est nostre Plaisir for such is our pleasure And though he sometimes send his Edicts to be verified or approved in the Parliament of Paris and his Grants and Patents to be ratified in the Chamber of Accompts there holden yet this is nothing but a meer formalitie and point of circumstance those Courts not daring to refuse what the King proposeth It is Car tel est nostre plaisir which there goeth for Law And by this intimation of his Royall pleasure doth he require such Taxes as the necessity of his Affairs the greediness of his Officers or the importunity of Suters doe suggest unto him The Patrimonie of the Crown being so exhausted by the riot and improvidence of former Princes that the King hath no other way to maintain his State defray his Garrisons reward such as deserve well of him and support those that depend upon him but only by laying what he pleaseth on the backs of his Subjects against which there is no dispute by the common People though many times the Great Princes have demurred upon it And therefore to make them also instrumentall to the publick 〈◊〉 the Kings are willing to admit them to some part of the spoyl to give them some exâ—mptions from those common burdens and to connive at their oppressing of their Teâ—ants against all good conscience that being so privileged themselves they may not interrupt the King in his Regal â—ourses The power of the French King over his Subjects being so transcendent it cannot be but that
having in vain attempted to recover his Kingdom at last divided it with Canutus not long after which he was treacherously and basely murdered by Edward surnamed the Out-Law his Eldest Sonne he was Grand-father of Edgar Athelingâ— and of Margaret Wife of Malcolm the third King of the Scots The Danish Kings 1017. 1 Canutus King of Denmark and Norwey after the death of Edmund the 2d sole King of England 20. 1037. 2 Harald the base Sonne of Canutus 3 Hardy-Cnute the lawfull Sonne of Canutus by Emma the Widow of Ethelred the 2d and Mother of Edward surnamed the Confessor the last King of the Danes in England After whose death that People having tyrannized in England for the space of 255 yeers of whichthey had Reigned only 26 were utterly expelled the Countrey or passed in the Accompt of English Edward the Confessor the youngest Sonne of Ethelred being advanced unto the Throne by the power and practices of his Mother Emma and the absence of the Children of Edmund Ironside his Elder Brother Now concerning the Danes abiding here and going hence as they did I observe three customs yet in use amongst us First each English house maintained one Dane who living idly like the Drone among the Bees had the benefit of all their labour and was by them called Lord Dane and even now when we see an idle Fellow we call him a Lordane 2 The Danes used when the English drank to stab them or cut their throats to avoid which villany the party then drinking requested some of the next unto him to be his surety or pledge whilst he paid nature her due and hence have we our usuall Custom of pledging one another 3 The old Romans at the expulsion of their Kings annually solemnized the Fugalia according to which pattern the joyfull English having cleared the Countrey of the Danes instituted the annuall sports of Hockâ—â—ide the word in their old tongue the Saxon importing the time of scorning or triumphing This solemnity consisteth in the merry meetings of the Neighbours in those dayes during which the Festivall lasted and was celebrated by the younger sort of both sexes with all manner of exercises and pastimes in the streets even as Shrovetide yet is But now time hath so corrupted it that the name excepted there remaineth no sign of the first Institution The Saxons reinthroned A. Ch. 1046. 16 Edward III. surnamed the Confessor half Brother both to Edmund Ironside and Hardy-Cnute the Dane succeeded in the Realm of England This King collected out of the Danish Saxon and Mercian Laws one universall and generall Law whence our Common Law is thought to have had its Original which may be true of the written Laws not of the customary and unwritten Laws these being certainly more antient He was in his life of that Holiness that he received power from above to cure many Diseases amongst others the swelling of the throat called by us the Kings Evill a Prerogative that continueth Hereditary to his Successors of England Finally after his death he was Canonized for a Saint and dyed having Reigned 24 yeers 1066 17 Harald a Sonne to Earl Godwin was chosen King in the nonage of Eagar Atheling Grand-child to Edmund Ironside the true Heir of the kingdom But William Duke of Normandy of which people we have spoke already when we were in France and shall speak more at large when we come to Denmark as the last Actors on the Theatâ—◠〈◊〉 of England This William I say pretending a Donation from Edward the 〈◊〉 invaded England slew Harald and with him 66654 of his English Souldiers possessed himself of the kingdom using such Policie in his new Conquest that he utterly disheartned the English from hopes of better Fortune From him beginneth the new Accompt of the Kings of England those of the former Line being no longer reckoned in the computation of the first second or third c. The Norman Kings 1067. 1 William surnamed the Conqueror after the vanquishment and death of Harald acknowledged and Crowned King altered the antient Lawes of England and established those of Normandy in place thereof governing the people absolutely by the povver of the Sword and giving a great part of their Lands to his former Follovvers and such as vvere ingaged in the Action vvith him from vvhom most of our antient Families doe derive themselves those Lands to be holden in Knights-service vvhich drevv along vvith it the Wardship of the Heir in Minority as a charge laid upon the Land 1089. 2 William II. surnamed Rufus second Sonne to the Conqueror succeeded by the appointment of his Father and was crowned King slain afterwards in the New Forest by an Arrow levelled at a Deer 1102. 3 Henry for his learning surnamed Beau-clerk in the absence of his Brother Robert in the Holy-Land Wars entred on the Kingdom and afterwards took from him also the Dukedom of Normandie and put out his eyes Deprived of all his male-issue he lest one only Daughter whose name was Maud first maried to the Emperour Henry the fift and after to Geofrie Plantagenet Earl of Anjou Tourein and Maine 34. 1136. 4 Stephen second Sonne of Stephen Earl of Champagne and Blais and of Alice Daughter to the Conqueror succeeded who to purchase the peoples love released the tribute called Dane-gelt he spent most of his reign in War against Maud the Empress 19. The Saxon blood restored 1155. 5 Henry II. Sonne to Maud the Empress Daughter to Henry the first and to Maud Daughter to Malcolm King of Scotland and Margaret Sister to Edgar Atheling restored the Saxon blood to the Crown of England His Father was Geofrie Earl of Anjou Tourein and Maine which Provinces he added to the English Empire as also the Dutchie of Aquitain and the Earldom of Poictou by Eleanor his Wife and a great part of Ireland by conquest Happy in all things the unnaturall rebellions of his Sonnes excepted 34. 1189. 6 Richard the Sonne of Henry surnamed Ceur de Lyon warred in the Holy-Land overcame the Turks whom he had almost driven out of Syria took the Isle of Cyprus and after many worthy atchievements returning homewards to defend Normandy and Agnitain against the French was by Tempest cast upon Dalmatia and travelling thorough the Dominions of the Duke of Austria was taken Prisoner put to a grievous ransom and after his return slain at the siege of Chaluz in the Province of Limosin 12. 1201. 7 Iohn Brother of Richard an unhappy Prince and one that could expect no better as being an unnaturall Sonne to his Father and an undutifull Subject to his Brother Distressed for a great part of his reign by Wars with his Barons outed of all Normandie Aquitain and Anjou by the power of the French to whom also he was likely to have lost the Realm of England Finally after a base submission of himself and his kingdom to the Popes Legat he is said to have been poysoned at Swinstede Abbey 17. 1218. 8 Henry III. Sonne of
rising out of a Sea wavie Argent Azure WEST-FRISELAND hath on the East Groyning-land and a part of Westphalen in High-Germany on the South Over-yssell and the Zuider-See on the North and West the main Ocean The Countrey generally moorish and full of fennes unapt for corn but yeelding great store of pasturage which moorishnesse of the ground makes the air very foggie and unhealthy nor have they any fewell wherewith to rectifie it except in that part of it which they call Seven-wolden but turf and Cow-dung which addes but little to the sweetnesse of an unsound air Nor are they better stored with Rivers here being none proper to this Countrey but that of Leuwars the want of which is supplyed by great channels in most places which doe not onely drain the Marishes but supply them with water Which notwithstanding their pastures doe afford them a good breed of horses fit for service plenty of Beeves both great and sweet the best in Europe next these of England and those in such a large increase that their Kine commonly bring two Calves and their Ewes three lambs at a time The Countrey divided into three parts In the first part called WESTERGOE lying towards Holland the principall towns are 1. Harlingen an Haven town upon the Ocean defended with a very strong Castle 2. Hindeloppen on the same Coast also 3. Staveren an Hanse Town opposite to Enchuisen in Holland the town decayed but fortified with a strong Castle which secures the Haven 4. Francker a new University or Schola illustris as they call it 5. Sneck in a low and inconvenient situation but both for largenesse and beauty the best in this part of the Province and the second in esteem of all the countrey In Oâ—ffergoâ— or the East parts lying towards Groiningland the townes of most note are 6. Leuwarden situate on the hinder Leuwars the prime town of West-Friâ—eland and honoured with the supreme Court and Chancery hereof from which there lyeth no appeal a rich town well built and strongly fortified 7. Doccum bordering upon Groyning the birth place of Gemma Frisiiâ— In SEVEN-VVOLDEN or the Countrey of the Seven Forrests so called from so many small Forrests joining neer together is no town of note being long time a Woodland Countrey and not well inhabited till of late The number of the walled Townes is 11 in all oâ— the Villages 〈◊〉 Burroughs 345. To this Province belongeth the Isle of Schelinke the shores whereof are plentifully stored with Dog-fish took by the Inhabitants in this manner The men of the Iland attire themselves with beasts skins and then fall to dancing with which sport the fish being much delighted make out of the waters towards them nets being pitched presently betwixt them and the water Which done the men put off their disguises and the frighted fish hastning towards the sea are caught in the toyles Touching the Frisons heretofore possessed of this countrey we shall speak more at large when we come to East-Friseland possessed also by them and still continuing in the quality of a free Estate governed by its own Lawes and Princes here only taking notice that the Armes of this Friseland are Azure semy of Billets Argent two Lyons Or. The ancient Inhabitants of these three Provinces were the Batavi and Caninefates inhabiting the Island of the Rhene situate betwixt the middle branch thereof and the Waeâ— which now containeth South-Holland Vtrecht and some part of Gueldres the Frisii dwelling in West-Friseland and the North of Holland and the Mattiaci inhabiting in the Isles of Zeland By Charles the Bald these countries being almost unpeopled by the Norman Piracies were given to Thierrie son of Sigebert a Prince of Aquitain with the title of Earl his Successours acknowledging the Soveraignty of the Crown of France till the time of Arnulph the 4. Earl who atturned Homager to the Empire In John the 2. they became united to the house of Hainalt and in William the 3. to that of Bavaria added to the estates of the Dukes of Burgundie in the person of Duke Philip the Good as appeareth by this succession of The EARLS of HOLLAND ZELAND and LORDS of WEST-FRISELAND 863 1 Thierrie or Theodorick of Aquitain the first Earl c. 903 2 Thierrie II. son of Thierrie the 1. 3 Thierrie the III. the son of Theodorick the 2. 988 4 Arnulph who first made this Estate to be held of the Empire shin in a war against the Frisons 993 5 Thierrie IV. son of Arnulph 1039 6 Thierrie V. son of Theodorick the 4. 1048 7 Florence brother of Thierrie the 5. 1062 8 Thierrie VI. son of Florence in whose minority the Estate of Holland was usurped by Godfrey le Bossu Duke of Lorrein by some accompted of as an Earl hereof 1092 9 Florence II. surnamed the Fat son of Thierrie the 6. 1123 10 Thierrie VII who tamed the stomachs of the Frisons 1163 11 Florence III. a companion of Frederick Barbarossa in the wars of the holy-Holy-Land 1190 12 Thierrie VIII son to Florence the 3. 1203 13 William the brother of Thierrie and Earl of East-Friseland which countrey he had before subdued supplanted his Neece Ada his Brothers daughter but after her decease dying without issue succeeded in his owne right unto the Estate 1223 14 Florence IV. son of William 1235 15 William II. son of Florence the 4. elected and crowned King of the Romans slain in a war against the Frisons 1255 16 Florence the V. the first as some write who called himself Earl of Zeland the title to those Ilands formerly questioned by the Flemmings being relinquished to him on his marriage with Beatrix the daughter of Guy of Dampierre Earl of Flanders 1296 17 John the son of Florence the 5. subdued the rebellious Frisons the last of the male-issue of Thierrie of Aquitaine EARLS of HAINALT HOLLAND c. 1300 18 John of Avesnes Earl of Hainalt son of John of Avesnes Earl of Hainalt and of the Ladie Aleide sister of William the 2. and daughter of Florence the 4. succeeded as next heir in the Earldome of Holland c. 1305 19 William III. surnamed the Good Father of the Lady Philippa wife of one Edward the 3. 1337 20 William IV. of Holland and the II. of Hainalt slain in a war against the Frisons 1346 21 Margaret sister and heir of William the 4. and eldest daughter of William the 3. married to Lewis of Bavaria Emperour of the Germans forced to relinquish Holland unto William her second son and to content her self with Hainalt 1351 22 William V. second son of Lewis and Margaret his elder Brother Steven succeeding in Baâ—aria in right of Maud his wife daughter and coheir of Henry Duke of Lancaster succeeded in the Earldome of Leicester 1377 23 Albert the younger Brother of William the fift fortunate in his warres against the Frisons 1404 24 William VI. Earl of Osternant and by that name admitted Knight of the Garter by King Richard the 2. eldest
golden Bul of Charls the 4. by whom first promulgated anno 1359. 1002 10 Henry II. surnamed the Saint Duke of Bavaria the first Emperour elected according to the constitution of Gregory the fift 1025 13 Conrade II. Duke of Franconia surnamed Salicus 1040 14 Henry III. surnamed Niger the son of Conrade 1056 15 Henry IV. son of Henry the third in whose dayes the Popes began to usurpe authority over the Emperours insomuch as Leo the ninth having received the Popedom at the Emperours hands repented himself of it put off his Papall vestments went to Rome as a private person and was there new chosen by the Clergie This done by the perswasion of a Monke called Heldebrand who being afterwards made Pope by the name of Gregory the 7. excommunicated this Henry the first Prince that was ever excommunicated by a Pope of Rome from which time till the year 1254. there were continual wars and thunders betwixt them and the nine following Emperours some of them being excommunicated some forced to put their necks under the feet of the Pope others to quit the care of the Common-wealth and betake themselves unto the wars of the holy-Holy-Land leaving the Pope to doe what he list in Germanie 1106 16 Henry V. son of Henry the 4. armed by the Pope against his father whom he had no sooner succeeded in the Empire but the Pope excommunicated him for being too stiffe in the businesse of investitures and raised up the Saxons against him by whom vanquished and otherwise afflicted by the Popes practises he was forced to submit unto his commands and was the last Emperour of the house of Franconia 1125 17 Lotharius Duke of Saxonie seised on the Empire without any election reconciled unto the German Princes by the means of S. Bernard He settled the affairs of Italie in two journies thither 13. 1136 18 Conrade III. son of Frederick the first hereditary Duke of Sweve or Schwaben and fifters son unto Henry the fifth vanquished Henry surnamed the Proud Duke of Saxonie and Bavaria and going to the holy wars with Lewis King of France discomfited the Turks near the Banks of Meander 15. 1153 19 Frederick surnamed Barbarossa Duke of Sueve crowned at Rome by Adrian the 4. and not long after excommunicated by Pope Alexander the 3. to whom he was fain at last to submit himself the Pope insolently treading on his neck He went after to the Holy Land where he dyed having difcomfited the Turks in three great battels 39. 1190 20 Henry VI. son of Frederick King of Sicil in right of Constance his wife crowned by Pope Celestine who employed him in the wars of the Holy Land in his journey towards which he dyed at Messina 8. 1198 21 Philip Duke of Sueve brother of Henry the 6. excommunicated by the Pope who loved not this Familie by whose means Otho the son of Henry the Lion Duke of Saxonie was set up against him The occasion of great wars among the Germans reconciled by marriage of Otho with a daughter of Philip. 9. 1207 22 Otho IV. son of Henry surnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxonie and Bavaria crowned at Rome by Pope Innocent the 3. by whom not long after excommunicated for taking into his hands some towns of Italie which belonged to the Empire vanquished in Brabant by the faction raised up against him he relinquished the Empire to his Competitor 1212 23 Frederick II. King of Sicil and Naples son of Henry the 6. having settled Germanie disposed himself for the wars of the Holy Land where he recovered the possession of the Realm of Jerusalem excommunicated by the Pope at his return into Italie not long after poisoned 1250 24 Conrade IV. son of Frederick the last Emperour of the house of Schwabâ—n After whose death the Empire being distracted by the Popes practises into many factions each faction chose an Emperor or King of the Romans so that at one time there were elected Henry Earl of Turingia William Earl of Holland Alfonso King of Castile the renowned author of the Alfonsive Tables and 1254 25 Richard Earl of Cornwall brother of Henry the 3. of England the best-monyed man of all his time supposed therewith to buy the suffrages of the Archbishop of Colen and Electour Pvlatine by whom he was elected and crowned King of the Romans anno 1254. and after he had dealt in the affairs of the Empire 6 years he returned into England where he dyed During these battels and the times since Henry the fourth the Popes had in a manner forced the Emperours to abandon Italie so that Rodolphus who succeeded sold all his rights in Italie to the fairest chapman Nor did the craft of the Popes rest there but extended into Germanie also where by arming the Princes against the Emperours and raising the Prelates to the dignitie and estate of Princes he made the Empire of small power and consideration Made smaller yet by the unworthinesse and weaknesse of some of the Emperours who to get that honour for themselves or to leave it after them to their sons dismembred from the same many towns and fair possessions given by them to the Electors for their votes and suffrages by means whereof the Princes grew in time so strong that there were few of them who durst not undertake a warre against their Emperors And this appeareth by the Example of Charls the fifth who though the most mighty and most puissant Emperour which had been in Germanie since the death of Charls the Great yet found himself so over-matched by these ruffling Princes that he was willing to resign the Empire to his brother Ferdinand But to proceed after an interregnum of 12 years from the Exit of Richard Earl of Cornwall the title was at last accepted by 1273 26 Rodolph Earl of Habsburg a petite Prince others of greater Estates and Fortunes not daring to take up the honour the Raiser of the present Austrian Familie 1292 27 Adolph Earl of Nassaw who served in person under King Edward the first of England against the French for which disrelished by the Germans he was encountred and slain near the Citie of Spires 1298 28 Albert Duke of Austria son of Rodolphus the Emperour to whom Pope Boniface the 8. gave the Realm of France of which he had deprived King Philip the Fair. But Albert would not meddle out of Germanie and did nothing in it 1308 29 Henry Earl of Luxembourg made a journey into Italie to recover the rights of the Empire where an Emperour had not been seen in 60 years supposed to be poisoned in the Chalice by a Frier at Benevent a town of the Popes 6. 1314 30 Lewis Duke of Bavaria crowned at Aix in the wonted manner opposed by Frederick Duke of Austria chose by another Faction and crowned at Bonna a town of the Archbishop of Coleno but being defeated Lewis remained sole Emperour ex communicated by Pope John 22. 33. 1346 31 Charls IV. son of John King of Bohemia and grandson of Henry the
South side of the Lake so named an Episcopall See and honoured with giving the title of a Baronie to the Dukes of Mecklenburg 3 Malcaw first walled by Niclot Prince of the Vandals anno 1270. 4 Ratzenburg an Episcopall See spoken of before 5 Rostoch the next in reputation of all the Hâ—â—se towns to Lubeck and Dantsick Large rich and much frequented by all sorts of Merchants in compasse almost six English miles situate on the River VVarn neer the fall thereof into the Baltick Honoured with an University here founded by John Duke of Mecklenburg an 1419. the first Professors in it being brought from Erdford in Saxony 6 Stargard which once gave the title of Duke to the younger Princes of this house 7 Sarentine memorable for a Nunnery there founded by Duke Magnus the second 8 Laâ— built and fortified by Duke Henry the second as an out-work to Rostock which he had lately bought of Christopher then King of Denmark 9 Sternberg of which little memorable 10 Fridland on the edge of Pomeren not far from Stargard which gave the title of Duke to Albert of Wallenstein after that called Duke of Fridland that eminent and prosperous Commander of the Imperiall Forces in the late war of Germany but miserably murdered after all his services by command of the Emperour 11 Fitchtell both pleasantly and strongly seated on the edge of a Lake 12 Dammin a strong Town on the Marches of Brandenburg The antient Inhabitants of this Country were the Vandals with the rest of the Heruli and Burgundians But the Burgundians being reckoned as a part of the Vandals were not much took notice of till their irruptions on the borders of the Roman Empire made them more considerable the Princes of these Nations using no other title then Kings of the Heruli and Vandals Of these the first is said to be one Anthyrius sonne of an Amazonian Lady who learned his first rudiments of warfare under Alexander the Great Out of his loins descended a long race of Kings amongst whom Rhadaguisâ— who together with Alarick the Goth invaded Italy I know not by what warrant is accounted one Gunderick the seventeenth of these Kings weary of so cold a dwelling passed towards the South and having harassed Gaul and Spain shipped himself over the Straits of Gibralter and erected the Kingdome of the Vandals in Africk whose successors we shall meet with there By Vitalaus the youngest sonne of Gensericus the sonne of Gunderick the line of these Princes is continued who after mingling with the Obotriti and other of the Sclaves succeeding into the void places of the Vandals left off the title of Kings of the Vandals and called themselves Kings of the Heruli and Obotriti continuing it to Pribislaus or Primislaus the second who wrote himself Pribislaus Dei gratia Herulorum Wagriorum Circipanorum Palumborum Obotritorum Kissinorum Vandalorumque Rex Making herein a generall muster of those tribes of the Sclaves and Heruli which remained under his command But he being vanquished by Henry surnamed the Lyon Duke of Saxony and Bavaria the title of King was laid aside his successours contenting themselves with that of Princes Divided betwixt Henry and Niclot the Nephews of Pribislaus by his sonne Henry into two Estates Henry assuming to himselfe the title of Prince of the Obotriti and Niclot that of Prince of the Vandals But the posterity of Niclot failing in VVilliam the last of that line anno 1430. his title with the lands thereunto belonging fel to Henry the fat the fourth Duke of Mecklenbourg to which honour Albert and John the sonnes of Henry the fourth descended from the elder house had been advanced by the Emperour Charles the fourth at Prague Anno 1348. The succession of which family from Pribislaus take in order thus The PRINCES of the HERVLI and DUKES of MECKLENBVRG 1158 1 Pribislaus the last King and first Prince of the Heruli after their subjection to the Saxons restored to this title and his former estate by the bountifull conquerrers to be held under the right and homage of the house of Saxony 1179 2 Henry sonne of Pribislaus baptized with all his people in his fathers life time by the perswasion of Henry Duke of Saxony and Bavaria by whom restored to their Estates 3 Henry II. sonne of the former Henry dividing the estate with his brother Niclot 1228 4 John surnamed the Divine so called because created Doctor of Divinity in the University of Paris whither he was sent by his Father to learn good Arts. 1260 5 Henry III. surnamed of Hierusalem because of his expedition thither against the Saracens 1302 6 Henry IV. surnamed the Lyon for his valour and undaunted constancie 1319 7 Albert and John the sonnes of Henry going to Prague with a Princely train to attend on the Emperour Charles the fourth were by him created Princes of the Empire and Dukes of Mecklenberg anno 1348. 1380 8 Magnus sonne of Albert. 1384 9 John sonne of Magnus the founder of the University of Rostock anno 1419. 1423 10 Henry V. surnamed the Fat who on the death of William the last Prince of the Vandals succeeded into his Estate 1447 11 Magnus II. sonne of Henry founder of the Cathedrall Church of Rostock 1503 12 Albert II. sonne of Magnus the second 1547 13 John-Albert sonne of Albert the second endowed the University of Rostock with the lands of some dissolved Monasteries and authorised in his Estates the Reformamation of Religion begun by Luther 1578 14 John III. sonne of John-Albert 1592 15 Adolph-Frederick and John-Albert sonnes of John the third dispossessed hereof by the Emour Fernand the second anno 1528. their Estates with the title of Duke of Mecklenberg being conferred on Albert of Wallenstein Duke of Fridland Who had not long enjoyed the Title when Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden the Assertor of the liberties of Germany restored it to the proper owners The heirs to whose Estates is Gustavus Adolphus the onely sonne and heir of John-Albert the other of those two being without issue 17. The DUKEDOME of SAXONIE The Dukedome of SAXONIE reckoning in the Estates and Provinces united to it and now in possession of those Dukes is bounded on the East with a part of Bohemia Lusatia and some part of Brandenbourg on the West with Hassia on the North with the Dukedome of Brunswick and on the South with Franconia and some parts of Bohemia So called because the Patrimony and possession of the Dukes of Saxonie who since the proscription and deprivation of Duke Henry surnamed the Lyon anno 1180. in some or other of these Countries have had their fixed seat and habitation It containeth the distinct Provinces of 1 Turingia 2 Misnia 3 Voiteland and 4 Saxony properly and specially so called 1 TVRINGIA is bounded on the East with Misnia and a part of the River Saltza on the West with Hassia on the North with the Wood Hartz and Saxony specially so called on the South with the mountainous Forrest of Duringer-Wald
but reigning in their severall parts Of which Demetrius intending to disseize his brother was himself vanquished and forced to fly into Parthia leaving the whole Kingdome unto Philip. During which warres amongst themselves Syria was invaded and in part conquered by Aret as King of the Arabians and Alexander King of the Jews 3884. 21. Tigranes King of Armenia during these dissentions was by the Syrians chosen King that by his power they might be freed from the Jews and Arabians the most puissant Prince that had reigned in Syria since the time of Antiochus the Great as being King of Syria by election of Armenia by succession of Media by conquest But ingaging himself with Mithridates whose daughter he had maryed against the Romans was vanquished by Lucullus who with the loss of five Romans onely and the wounds of an hundred is reported to have slain of his Enemies above a 100000 men Finally being again broken and vanquished by Lucullus he yielded himself to Pompey who being appointed Lucullus successour deprived him of the honour of ending that warre and retaining to himself Armenia only he left all Syria to the Romans having reigned eighteen years And though Antiochus Comagenus the Sonne of Eusebes petitioned Pompey for a restitution to the Throne of his Anâ—estours yet it would not be granted Pompey replying that he would not trust the Countrey into such weak hands as were not able to defend it against the Arabians Parthians and the like Invaders and so reduced it presently to the form of a Province The government of this Countrey under these new Lords was accompted to be one of the greatest honours of the Empire the Prefect hereof having almost regall jurisdiction over all the regions on this side Euphrates with a super-intendency over Egypt Niger the concurrent of Severus was Praefect here and on the strength hereof presumed on that competition So also was Cassius Syrus who being a Native of this Countrey and well-beloved by reason of his moderate and plausible demeanour had almost tumbled M. Antonius out of his Throne On this occasion it was enacted by the Senate that no man hereafter should have any militer or legale command in the Province where he was born Left perhaps supported by the naturall propension of the people to one of their own Nation and heartned by the powerableness of his Friends he might appropriate that to himself which was common to the Senate and people of Rome But this was when it was entire and passed but for one Province only Phoenicia being also taken into the accompt which made the Antiochians so proud and insolent that Adrian in his time intended to subduct Phoenicia from it netot civitatum Metropolis Antiochia diceretur faith Gallcanus that Antioch might not be the chief of so many Cities But what he lived not to accomplish was performed by Constantine By whom Phonicia was not only taken off but Syria itself divided into four distinct Provinces as was shewed before each of them having its Metropolis or Mother City but all subordinate to the command of the Comes or Praefect of the East as he to the command of the Praefectus Praetorio Orientis the greatest Officer of the Empire of whom we have often spoke already For the defence hereof aswell against all Forrein invasions as the insurrections of the Natives a wavering and inconstant People the Romans kept here in continuall pay four Legions with their Aids and other Additaments For so many Mutianus had here in the time of Galba and by the strength and reputation of those Forces was able to transfer the Empire upon Vespasian And though the Constantinopolitan Emperours to whose share it fell in the division of the Empire rather increased than diminished any part of this strength yet when the fat all time was come and that Empire was in the Declination the Saracens under the conduct of Haumar their third Caliph an 636. possessed themselves of it Heraclius then reigning in Constantinople And it continued in their power till Trangrolipix the Turk having conquered Persia and the Provinces on that side of Euphrates passed over the River into Syria and made himself Master of a great part of that also A quarrell falling out betwixt him and his neerest Kins-men and thereby a great stop made in their further progress was thus composed by the mediation of the Calivh of Babylon in the time of Axan his Successour To Cutlu Muses was assigned a convenient Army to be by him employed against the Christians with Regal power over the Provinces by him gained without relation or subordination to the Persian Sultans of whose successes and affairs hath been spoke elsewhere To Melech and Ducat two others of his discontented Kins-men but all of the same Selzuccian family he gave the fair Cities of Aleppo and Damascus and those parts of Syria with whatsoever they could conquer from the Caliph of Aegypt who then held all Phoenicia and the Sea-coasts of Palestine to be held in see and vassalage of the Crown of Persia To these two brethren then we are to refer the beginning of the Turkish Kingdome in Syria who with their Successors by reason that here they held their residence caused themselves to be called The Turkish Kings of Damascus 1075. 1. Melech and Ducat the first Turkish Kings of Damascus by the gift of Axan the second Sultan of the Turks in Persia added to their dominions all the rest of Syria together with Cilicia and some neighbouring Provinces in the Lesser Asia 2. Sultan of Damascus at such time as the Christians of the West won the Holy Land against whom he notably defended the City and Territories of Damascus and in a set Battel discomfited and flew Roger the Norman Prince of Antioch 1146. 3. Noradine the Sonne of Sanguin Generall of the Armies and Sonne-in-Law to the former King succeeded him in the estate A noble Prince memorable amongst other things for a gallant answer made to his Commanders when they perswaded him to take the advantage on the death of Baldwin the third and to invade Hierusalem whilst the Christians were busie in solemnizing his Funerals Not so faith he Compassion and regard is to be had of the just sorrow of those Christians who have lost such a King as could not be equalled in the world 1175. 4. Melechsala Sonne of Noradine contemned by reason of his youth by his Nobles and Souldiery who made choice of Saladine for their King by whom dispossessed first and after vanquished 1176. 5. Saladine the Turkish Sultan of Egypt having vanquished the Persians or Parthians coming under the conduct of Cacobed Uncle to Melechsia to restore that Prince to his Estate remained King of Damascus and by the puistance of his Armies recovered from the Christians all Syria and the Holy Land with the City of Hierusalem 1199. 6. Eladel or El-Aphzal the eldest Sonne of Saladine suceeded in the Realm of Damascus which he exchanged for that of Egypt with his Brother Elaziz 7. Elaziz
at Joppa or some other Port of the Mediterranean and from thence set forwards thorow the Streits of Gibraltar and so plainly Westward 7. Finally in the History of Wales writ by David Powel it is reported that Madoc the son of Owen Gwinedth Prince of Wales of purpose to decline ingaging in a Civil war raised in that Estate in the year 1170. put himself to Sea and after a long course of Navigation came into this Country where after he had left his men and fortified some places of advantage in it he returned home for more supplies which he carried with him in ten Barks but neither he nor they looked after by the rest of that Nation To which some adde that here is still some smattering of the Welch or British tongue to be found amongst them as that a Bird with a white head is called Pengwin and the like in which regard some sorry Statesmen went about to entitle Queen Elizabeth unto the soveraignty of these Countries Others more wise disswaded from that vain Ambition considering that Welch men as well as others might be cast upon those parts by force of tempest and easily implant some few words of their own among the people there inhabiting And though I needs must say for the honour of Wales that they have more grounds for what they say then those which look for this New World in the Atlantis of Plato the Atlantick Ilands of Aristotle and Plutarch or the Discoveries of Hanno the Carthaginian yet am I not so far convinced of the truth thereof the use of the Mariners Compass being not so antient without which such a Voyage could not be performed but that I may conclude with more satisfaction that this Country was unknown to the former Ages But now as Mela the Geographer said once of Britain then newly conquered by the Romans Britannia qualis sit qualesque progeneret mox certiora magis explorata dicentur quippe jam diu clausam aperit ecce Principum maximus he means Claudius Caesar nec indomitarum modo sed incognitarum ante se Gentium Victor so may we say of America on these late discoveries What kind of Country it is and what men it produceth we do and shall know more certainly then in former times since those puissant Kings of Spain have laid open all the parts thereof inhabited not only by unvanquished but even unknown Nations For God remembring the promise of his Son that his Gospel should before the end of the World be preached to all Nations stirred up one Christopher Colon or Columbus born at Nervy in the Signeury of Genoa to be the instrument for finding out those parts of the World to which the sound of the Gospel had not yet arived Who being a man of great abilities and born to undertake great matters could not perswade himself the motion of the Sun considered but that there was another World to which that glorious Planet did impart both his light and heat when he went from us This World he purposed to seek after and opening his Design to the State of Genoa An. 1486 was by them rejected On this repulse he sent his brother Bartholomew to King Henry the seventh of England who in his way hapned unfortunately into the hands of Pirats by whom detained a long while but at last inlarged Assoon as he was set at liberty he repaired to the Court of England where his Proposition sound such chearfull entertainment at the hands of the King that Christopher Columbus was sent for to come thither also But God had otherwise disposed of this rich purchase For Christopher not knowing of his Brothers imprisonment not hearing any tidings from him conceived the offer of his service to have been neglected and thereupon made his Desires known at the Court of Castile where after many delayes and six yeers attendance on the business be was at last furnished with three ships only and those not for Conquest but Discovery With this small strength he sailed on the main Ocean more then 60 days yet could see no Land so that the discontented Spaniards began to mutinie and partly out of scorn to be under the command of a Stranger partly desirous to return would not go a foot forwards Just at that time it hapned that Columbus did discern the clouds to carry a cleerer colour then they did before and probably conceiving that this clearness proceeded from some nigh habitable place restrained the time of their expectation within the compass of three days passing his word to return again if they did not see the Land within that time Toward the end of the third day one of the Company called Rodrigo de Triane he deserves to have his name recorded being no otherwise rewarded for such joyful news descried Fire an evident Argument that they drew neer unto some shore The place discovered was an Iland on the Coast of Florida by the Natives called Guhanani by Columbus S. Saviours now counted one of the Lucaios Landing his men and causing a Tree to be cut down he made a Cross thereof which he eâ—ected neer the place where he came on Land and by that Ceremony took possession of this NEW WORLD for the Kings of Spain Octob. 11. An. 1492. Afterwards he discovered Cuba and Hispaniola and with much treasure and content returned towards Spain and after three other great Voyages fortunately finished he died in the year 1506. and lieth buried at Sevil. Preferred for this good service by the Fings themselves first to be Admiral of the Indies and next unto the title of Duke De la Vega in the Isle of Jamaica but so maligned by most part of the Spaniards that Bobadilla being 〈◊〉 into those parts for redress of grievances loaded him with Irons and returned him 〈◊〉 into Spain Nor did they only stick after his death to deprive him of the honour of this Discovery attribuâ—ing it to I 〈◊〉 not what Spaniard whose Cards and Descriptions he had seen but iâ— his life would often say that it was a mitter of no such difficulty to have sound these Countries and that if he had not done it when he did some body else might have done it for him VVhose peevishriess he consuted by this modest artifice desiring some of then who insolently enough had contended with him couching this Discovery to make an Egg stand firmly upon one of its ends Which when they could not do upon many Trials he gently bruizing one end of it made it stand upright letting them see without any further reprehension how easie it was to do that thing which we see another do before us But to proceed Columbus having thus led the way was seconded by Americus Vâ—spusius an old venturous Florentine imploied therein by Emanuel King of Portugal from whom the Continent or Main land of this Country hath the name of Americas by which still known and 〈◊〉 commonly called To him succeeded John Cabot a Venetian the Father of Sebastian Cabot in
and defence he principally regarded was Egypt not so much for the valour and courage of the Inhabitants as the naturall strength and situation of the place Alexander of Macedon having annexed it to his Empire never committed the entire Government and Jurisdiction thereof to one man fearing lest he presuming on the wealth of the People and site of the Countrey would settle the possession in himself And so AUGUSTUS calling to mind as well the multitude as the levity and inconstancy or 〈…〉 that it was very rich in coyn and the Roman Granary as serving the City four 〈◊〉 yearly with Corn not only trusted not the rule thereof into the hands of any of the 〈◊〉 but expresly forbad any of that Order without his speciall permission to sojourn there 〈◊〉 is a principle in State never to license men of great houses and credit among the people to have free access into that Country whose revolt may endanger the whole Empire Wherefore it was a weakness doubtless in the Counsell of King Henry the sixt to suffer Richard Duke of York to pass at pleasure into Ireland where he had harbour and relief and whence he brought supply both of Men and Money But to return to Egypt Germanicus entring once into Alexandria only to see the Antiquities of it and return stirred such suspitions and distractions in the jealous head of Tiberius that he spared not sharply to rebuke him for it Vespasian also being by the Syrian Legions chosen Emperour first assured himself of Egypt as the Key of the Sea and Land with a small power against a strong host easily defended This place he resolved to make his Sanctuary if his designs succeeded not luckily And to this place he hastened after the defeat of the Vitellian Army that so detaining the ordinary provision of Victuals he might by Famine compell the City of Rome to stand at his devotion The Government of this Province was by AUGUSTUS alwaies committed to some one of the Roman Gentry as less able by reason of his low Condition to work against the Princes safety Neither would he allow his Deputy the glorious attributes of Lieutenant Legatus Proconsul or Praetor Captain or President of Egypt was their highest Title there being even in Titles no small motives to Ambition 40 AUGUSTUS having by these means reduced both the City and Provinces under his absolute command and being now declining in strength by reason of a sudden and violent sickness began to call his wits to Counsell how to dispose of the Estate after his decease Male-child he never had any His Daughter Julia a woman of immodest carriage never made further use of her Fathers greatness than that she satisfied her Lusts with the greater insolence Marcellus his Sisters sonne and Julias husband was a young man of an ingenious disposition and seemingly capable of the fortunes which attended for him Him being yet young AUGUSTUS preferred to the Pontificall dignity and Aedileship yet once upon his sickness he privately determined to choose a Successor in the Common-wealth rather than his own Family and nor to leave the Empire to Marcellus whom he held unable to undergo it but to his companion in Arms Agrippa a man daunted neither with adverse nor altered with prosperous fortunes This Marcellus afterwards so stomacked that he began to grutch at Agrippas greatness and to bear a vigilant eye on his plots and actions Contrarily Agrippa unwilling to offend him under whose future Government he was in all likelyhood to end the rest of his days with much adoe obtained leave to retire unto Lesbos that so his absence either might allay or remove the displeasure conceived against him by the young Prince An action full of wisdom and magnamity For though AUGUSTUS chief end was to discountenance the popular dependancies of his sonne by the favours heaped on his servant Yet did Agrippa know that a Favorite ought to have so much in him of the Persian Religion as to worship the Rising Sun also and that he should resemble old Janus with the two faces with th' one looking on the King regnant with th' other on the Prince successive 41 Marcellus being dead Agrippa returning married his Widdow and on her begat two Sonnes Caius and Lucius whose actions afterward afforded such variety for censure that there was wanting neither much reason to commend nor little to condemn them On these two or at the least one of them AUGUSTUS now grown aged resolves to settle the Estate and if they failed upon such others as by the liberty of the Laws he might Adopt Adoption in the estimation of the Roman Laws being indeed another Nature Posterity whether it be naturall or only legall is the best supporter of the Arms Imperiall Such as both fortifies the Prince and assures the Subject Yet this he did not without much reluctancy and a great conflict in his mind Sometimes his thoughts suggested to him that the designed Successors draw to them all the attendance and respect from the Prince in possession That they have alwaies a lingring desire to be actually seated in the Throne That they suppose the life of the present Prince too tedious not caring by what means it were shortned That sometime it is pernicious yea even to the appointed Successor himself also On the other side his better thoughts prompted him to consider in what a miserable distraction he should leave the Empire if sudden death should take from him an ability to nominate his heir The fear conceived in the whole City at his last sickness That Pyrrhus of Epirus was of all hands condemned for leaving his Kingdom to the sharpest sword That the Common-wealth falln into dissentions could not be setled again without a lamentable War and a bloudy Victory That the people seeing him childless would not only contemn him but perhaps endeavour to recover the old liberty though with the ruin of the State That it was the custom of Tyrants to desire the eternizing of their deaths by the downfall of their Countries His mind thus distracted and perplexed at last he brake in this manner Thou hast Octavian a Wolf by the ears which to hold still or to let go is alike dangerous Many inconveniences may ensue if thou dost not declare thy Successor More if thou dost The good of the Republique consisteth in knowing the future Prince Thine own welfare dependeth on the concealment The Common good is to be preferred before any private Yet ought Charity to begin at home No Octavian no As thou hast receiv'd so shew thy self worthy of the title of Pater Patriae Yea and perhaps this designation may secure thine own Estate For what will it profit the people to consult against thee when they shall see a successor at hand either of thine own body or thine own appointment ready to take thy place and revenge thy wrongs 40 Thus resolved he adopteth Caius and Lucius desiring though he made shew to the contrary they should be Consuls Elect and
affirmed that the Christians generally do live in a better condition under the Turk than under the Venetians Without such helps though heavy and burdensom to the Subject they could not possibly have spent twelve millions in the war against Selimus the second and as many a little before that in the enterprize of Ferrara and the war raised against them by the League of Cambray which was that formerly remembred As for the Dukes of Venice though no Soveraign Princes nor such as do succeed each other in the right of inheritance yet being they are always men of most eminent note and that in their names all the business of State is acted and all writings dated I will subjoyn a Catalogue of them to this present time to the end that meeting with their names in the course of Historie we may the better know in what times they lived The Dukes of Venice 697 1 Paulus Anafestus 20 718 2 Marcel Tegalian 10 727 3 Hippateus Ursus 11 An Interregnum of six yeers 742 4 Theodatus Hippateus 755 5 Galla of Malamocco 756 6 Dominico Monegarta 760 7 Maurice Galbata 783 8 John Galbata 799 9 Obelerius 804 10 Angelus Partitiatius 822 11 Justinian Partitiatiâ—s 824 12 John Partitiarius 832 13 Petro Tradonico 859 14 Ursus Partitiarius 876 15 John Partitiarius 881 16 Petro Candiano 17 Dominico Tribuno 18 Petro Tribuno 905 19 Ursus Badoarius 925 20 Petro Candiano II. 932 21 Petro Badoario 935 22 Petro Candiano III. 950 23 Petro Candiano IV. 970 24 Petro Urscola 972 35 Vital Candiano 973 26 Tribuno Meme 985 27 Petro Urscola II. 1003 28 Otho Urscola 1020 29 Petro Barbolani 1021 30 Dominico Flabenico 1031 31 Dominico Contareni 1059 32 Dominico Silvie 1072 33 Vitalis Falerius 1084 34 Vitalis Michaeli 1090 35 Ordelasius Falerius 1105 36 Dominico Michaeli 1118 37 Petrus Polanus 1136 38 Dominico Morosini 1143 39 Vitalis Michaeli II. 1160 40 Sebastian Ziani 1165 41 Auria Maripiere 1179 42 Henrico Dondolo 1193 43 Petro Ziani 1216 44 Jacobo Tepuli 1236 45 Marino Morosini 1240 46 Renieri Zeno 1256 47 Lorenzo Tepuli 1263 48 Jacobo Contareni 1267 49 Dondolo 1276 50 Petro Gradenico 1298 51 Marino Georgio 1299 52 John Sourance 1315 53 Francisco Dandolo 1326 54 Barthol Gradonico 1330 55 Andrea Dandolo 1342 56 Marinus Falerius 57 John Gradonico 1343 58 John Dauphin 1348 59 Lorenzo Celso 1352 60 Marco Cornaro 1355 61 Andrea Contarene 1371 62 Michael Morosini 63 Antonio Venieri 1389 64 Michael Steno 1402 65 Thomazo Mocenico 1412 66 Francisco Foscari 1447 67 Paschal Malipiere 1452 68 Christophoro Moro 1461 69 Nicolao Troni 1463 70 Nicolao Marcelli 1464 71 Petro Mocenico 1465 72 Andrea Vendramine 1467 73 John Moconico 1474 74 Marco Barbadico 75 Augustino Barbadico 1489 76 Leonardo Loredani 1509 77 Antonio Grimani 1511 78 Andrea Gritti 1527 79 Petro Lande 1533 80 Francisco Donati 1540 81 Antonio Trevisani 1541 82 Francisco Vivieri 1543 83 Lorenzo Prioli 1547 84 Hierome Prioli 1555 85 Petro Lorâ—dani 1560 86 Lewis Mocenico 1567 87 Sebastian Venieri 1578 88 Nicola di Pont 1586 89 Paschal Cicogne 1596 90 Marino Grimani 1606 91 Leonardo Donati 1612 92 Antonio Memmo 1615 93 Giovanni Bembo 1618 94 Nicolas Donate 1618 95 Antonio Priulâ— 1623 96 Francisco Contarem 97 Giovanni Correlio 98 Francisco Erizzo now living An. 1648. The principall Orders of Knighthood in this Republick are 1. Of S. Mark who is the Patron of this City instituted in the year 1330. and renewed again being grown somewhat out of use An. 1562. The honor is commonly bestowed on the person present sometimes by Letters Patents on a party absent as lately upon Daniel Heinsius one of great eminence for learning in the Netherlands The person chosen is to be of noble blood at the least a Gentleman the Wrod or Motto of the Order is Pax tibi Marce. 2. Of the glorious Virgin first instituted by Bartholmew of Vincentia Ano. 1222. Their charge is to defend Widows and Orphans and to procure as much as in them is the peace of Italie It was allowed of by Pope Urban the fourth Ano. 1262. The Arms of this Order are a purple Cross between ceratain Stars The habite a white Surcote over a Russet Cloke and seems to be as well a Religious as a Military Institution like to the Spanish Orders and that of Malta The Armes of the Republick are Gules two Keys in Saltire Or stringed Azure which seem to have been given them for some notable service done unto the Church There are in the Provinces of this Common-wealth before described Patriarchs 2. Bishops 16. The Dukedom of FLORENCE OR OF TUSCANIE HAving thus run along the Coast of the Adriatick or upper Sea from the Lands of the Church unto the Alpes which divide Italie from Germany let us next keep along the tract of the Tuscan or Lower Sea from the said Lands of the Church to that part of the Alpes which divide Italie from France And in the first place we meet with the Dukedom of Florence or the Estate of the great Duke of Tuscany divided on the East from S. Peters Patrimony by the River Pisco on the West from the Common-wealth of Genoa by the River Macra and the strong Fort of Sarezana on the North from Romandiola and Marca Anconitana by the Apennine hills and on the South side it is bounded with the Tuscan or Tyrrhenian Seas It taketh up the greatest and goodliest part of all that which antiently was called Tuscany from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to sacrifise of which act of Religious Worship or rather of some superstitious Ceremonies appertaining to it they are conceived to be the Authors And to say truth they were much given to Sooth-sayings and Divinations and such like vanities of Gentilism Tages that Merlin of the old World first appearing here from whom they learned the greatest part of their Superstitions So that this name was adventitious and accidentall For properly and originally it was called Tyrrheniâ— from Tyrrhenus the sonne of Atys King of Lydia who came and planted in those parts about the time that Gedeon judged the Tribes of Israel But these names signified the same both Country and people though in divers Langues and with respect to different Originations the name of Tyrrheni and Tyrrhenia being most used by the Greeks as that of Tusci and Tuscia by their neighbours of Rome who also called the people Hetrusci and the Country Hetruria from a particular Province of it which was so entituled Antiently it extended as far Eastward as the banks of Tiber the other bounds being then as they are at the present and in that tract gave dwelling to a potent Nation who not content to be restrained within the 〈◊〉 and the Tiber wasted three hundred Towns of the Umbri the next bordering Nation and buiâ—â— twelve Cities on the other side of the Mountains that is to say Adria Verona Viâ—centia Treâ— Bergaâ—â— Mantâ—a Como Vercellae Novara Parma Bonoma
Earls of 〈◊〉 though extracted from the Royall bloud and lived in a condition equall to most Kings in Christendom 3 The Earldom of BEGORRE is situate North of Bearn at the foot of the Pyrenâ—an mountains so called from the Bâ—gerrones the old inhabitants hereof in the time of Caesar Scattered in which and the adjoyning Principalitie of Bearn live a leprous and infectious people of noysome breaths deformed bodies and ghastly visages in which regard not suffered to have any commerce with other people nor to inherit any lands but only to applie themselves to drudgerie and the basest of mechanick trades From their great mishapen heads called â—apeâ—s or Gabets Chief Towns hereof are 1 Baigneres famous for medicinall Bathes 2 Lou de of which nothing memorable 3 Tarbe by Antonine called â—ursaubica seated upon the River Adâ—â— honoured with a strong Castle an Episcopall See and the Seneschalsie for all the Countrie of Begorre Which Countrie having for long time it s own Propriâ—tarie Earls was at the last by the mariage of Petronilla Daughter and Heir of Esquibal the last Earl to Boson Vicount of Marsan and Gabardan added to that house Whose Daughter Matthee marying to Gaâ—â—â— Prince of Bearn increased that Principalitie with those goodly peeces of Marsan Gabardan and Begorre all brought unto the house of Foix by Margaret Daughter of this Gaston maried to Roger Bernard as before is said The Armes hereof were Azure a Cross Argent By Inigo Arista the Sonne of Simon Earl of this Countrie called to the Crown of Navarre made the Arms of that Kingdom whereas before that time the Arms thereof had been Argent on a Tree Vert a Cross in chief Gules Which Arms are said to have been took by Garciâ Nimines the first King of Navarre from such a signe appearing to him in the Skie before his first battell with the Moores 4 The Earldom of COMMINGES lyeth betwixt Bearn and Foix running betwixt both as far Northward as to border Eastward on Begorre Divided into the Higher and more mountainous part situate at the foot of the Pyrences and the Lower which hath somewhat more of the vallie in it The old â—nhabitants of both the Convenae and Conserant The principall places at present in the Lower Comminges are 1 Lombes a Bishops See but of late erection 2 Moret upon the River Garonne 3 Samathan 4 Lisle en Dodon And in the Higher there is 1 Conserans once the chief Town of the Conserani now a Bishops See situate at the foot of the Pyrenean hills 2 S. Bernaud of old called Civitas Convenarum a Bishops See also and the chief Citie of this Earldome 3. St. Beat 4 St. Fâ—egou 5 Monregeau or Mons Regius 6 Silliers c. Of the estate of this Earldom I have little to say but that it was allied to the house of Foix by the mariage of Eleanor the Daughter of an Earl hereof to Gaston the second of that name and 11th Earl and afterwards unto that of Armaignac John of Lescon a Bastard of the Earl of Armaignac being Earl of Comminges and one of the Marshals of France in the time of King Lewis the 11th The Arms of which Earls were Gules four Orelles in Saltier Argent 5 The Earldom of ARMAIGNAC the greatest of all these Estates considered severally and apart lieth on the North of Comminges and so extendeth it self to the banks of the River Garond Principall Towns are 1 Aux upon the River Gez antiently called Augusta Ausciorum the Metropolis or head Citie of the Novempopulonia by consequence an Archbishops See The Revenues whereof are said to be the greatest of any Prelates in France computed at no less than 40000 l. per Annum 2 Lectoure a Bishops See called of old Lestoracium in our modern Latine Lectodurum A Town so well fortified when in the power of the Earls of Armaignac that it held out a siege of 3 months against the forces of France but since it came into the hands of the French Kings so strengthned and embattelled according to the modern Art of Fortifications that it is held the strongest Bulwark of the Kingdom on this side and their surest Fortress against Spain 3 Lisle de Iourdain which hath the title of an Earldom bought at the price of 38000 Crowns of Iohn Duke of Bourbon by Iohn the 4th Earl of Armaignac Anno 1421. 4 Auvillar 5 Auzan 6 Chastel-neau 7 Malbourquer 8 Nestes c. The Earls of Armaignac fetch their Original from the Kings of Navarre Sancho the great having subdued some Lands in Gascoigne which he conferred on Garsias a younger Sonne of his with the title of Earl of Armaignac Anno 1014. On which foundation it increased so fast both in power and honour that Barnard the fourth Earl hereof came to be Constable of France And so did Iohn the 4th of that name by the favour of King Charles the 7th who also writ himself By the Grace of Gâ—d Earl of Armaignac according to the stile of Soveraign Princes A man of so considerable power in these parts of France that the mariage of a Daughter of his to our Henry the sixt was thought the best means for establishing his Estate in Guienne And I remember it was charged on the Duke of Suffolk That by breaking off this alliance for that of Anjou he had been the cause of the loss of the Kings pieces in France This greatness made him subject to the jealousie of King Lewis the 11th who worried him out of his Estate and his life together Charles Brother of this Iohn succeeded by the favour of King Charles the 8th After whose death this fair Estate was seized on to the use of the Crown till given again by Francis the first to Charles Duke of Alanson whose grand-father had maried with a Sister of the said Earl Iohn and to the Lady Margaret his Wife the said Kings Sister who after the decease of the Duke of Alanson brought it to Henry of Albret and King of Navarre her second Husband returning so to the Original from whence first it came The Arms of these great Princes were Quarterly 1 Argent a Lyon Azure 2 Gules a Leopard Lyon Or. The 3d c. 6 The Earldom of ALBRET is situate on the North-west of Armaignac bordering upon Guienne The chief Town whereof is 1 Nerac seated on the River of Baize the only place of strength and moment in all this estate 2 Chastell-Ialone well seated to disturb the Trade betwixt Bourdeaux and Gascoigne but not able to endure a siege 3 Mont de Marsan and 4 Tartas both seated on the River Ladour and all four formerly Towns of Caution for those of the Reformed Religion of which this Countrey is so full that the Popish Religion had hardly any footing in all this Territory Which though the smallest of the six and of least Antiquitie had yet the fortune to incorporate all the rest into it For Iohn the Sonne of Alan Earl of Albret by his mariage
Boulogne in Picardie to whom he brought the famous Godfrey surnamed of Bovillon because Duke thereof before he did succeed into that of Lorrain renowned for the conquest of Hierusalem and the holy-Holy-land Who afterwards succeeding in the Dukedome of Lorrain sold his Estates of Bovillon unto Obert Bishop of Leige as before was said by whom and his Successors both the Estate and Title of Duke of Bovillon was peaceably enjoyed till the yeaâ— 1530 or thereabouts when Eberhaâ—d of Mark Bishop and Cardinall of Leige sold it to Robert Earl of Mark his brother descended from Engelbert Earl of Mark and a daughter of the house of Aremberg who brought with her Sedan Jamais and others of the Towns spoken of before But Robert being worsted by Charles the 5. for whom he was too weak an enemy the Town of Bovillon being taken by the conquering Emperour was afterwards restored to the Bishops and nothing but the title of Dukes of Bovillon left to the Princes of Sedan And that he might be able to hold Sedan this Robert was fain to return again to the protection of the French as his Ancestors had done before and died anno 1535. leaving hâ—s titles and estate unto Robert his son one of the Marshals of France whose grandson called also Robert being a dear friend and companion of Henry of Bourbon K. of Navarre and afterwards of France also dying without issue at Geneva anno 1588 committed to him the disposall of his estates and of the Lady Charlotte his only Sister And he so well discharged his trust that having setled his own affairs he gave the Lady in marriage to Henry de la Tour Viscount of Turene in France one who had done him very good service in the course of his long war against the Leaguers and with her the possession of Sedan and the title of Bovillon whose posterity do still enjoy it As for the Town of Bovillon it self being taken from Duke Robert by Charles the 5. and from the Imperialists by the French anno 1552. as before was said it was at last restored unto the Bishop of Leige by the treaty of Cambray anno 1559. but without prejudice to the title of the Prince of Sedan So that at this time there are no fewer then three which write themselves Dukes of Bovillon viz. the Bishop of Leige who hath possession of the Town the house of de la Tour who is invested in Sedan and some other pieces and finally the Heirs Males of the collatorall line of the house of Mark who hold some other parts and places of this estate But to return again to the Dutchy of Luxembourg it was at first a part of the great Earldome of Ardenne dismembred from it in the time of the Emperour Otho the first by Sigefride the son of Ricuinus Prince thereof who in the division of that estate amongst his Brethren had this for his portion with the title of Earl denominated from the Castle now the town of Luxembourg selected by him for the seat of his principality Of his Successours there is little to be found upon good record untill the time of Henry the 1. father of Henry the 7. Emperour of Germany and of a Royall progeny of Kings and Princes two of the which are most considerable though all of them of eminent quality in their severall times viz. 1. Henry elected and crowned Emperour by the name of Henry the 7. said to be poisoned by a Frier in the Holy Chalice to prevent some designs he had against the Pope in asserting the Imperiall power in Italie 2. John the son of this Henry chosen King of Bohemia in regard of his marriage with Elizabeth daughter of Wenceslaus King thereof the possession of which Realm he left unto his Posterity advanced unto a Dukedome by Charles the 4. the eldest son of this John in the person of Wenceslaus his younger brother What else concerns it we shall finde in this following Catalogue of EARLS and DUKES of LVXEMBOVRG 1 Sigifâ—ide the son of Ricuine Prince of Ardenne 2 Henry Earl of Luxembourg slain in the quarrell of Rainold Earl of Gueldres contending with John Duke of Brabant for the Dutchie of Limbourg 3 Henry II. by means of his brother Baldwin Elector of Triers chosen Emperour of the Germans the 7. of that name anno 1308. first crowned at Aken and afterwards at Rome one of the last Emperours that medled in the affairs of Italy 1313 4 John son of Henry II. Earl of Luxembourg married Elizabeth daughter of Winceslaus the elder King of Bohemia of which he was upon that marriage elected and crowned King anno 1311. in the life of his father slain by the English in the battell of Crecie anno 1346. 1346 5 Wenceslaus the younger son of John created Duke of Luxembovrg by his elder brother Charles the 4. Emperour and King of Bohemia 1383 6 Wenceslaus II. eldest son of the said Charles the 4. Emperour and King of Bohemia also succeeded his Uncle in the Dukedome 1419 7 Sigismund brother of Wenceslaus succeeded Wenceslaus in all his estates to which he added the Crown of Hungarie by the marriage of Mary daughter of King Lewis the first 8 Elizabeth daughter of John Duke of Garlitz a Town of Lusatia the brother of Sigismund by the giâ—t of Sigismund her Uncle being then alive the better to fit her for the bed of 〈◊〉 of Bourgogn Duke of Brabant after whose decease she married John the 3. Earl of Hamalt Holland c. But having no issue by either of them she sold her interest in this Dukedome to Philip the Good in pursuance of the contract and agreement made at her first marriage for setling this estate in the house of Burgundie The Armes are B. six Barrulets A supporting a Lyon G crowned and armed Or. 7. LIMBOVRG The greatest of the Estates of Belgium for extent of territory at the time of their incorporating in the house of Burgundie was that of Brabant comprehending 5. of the 17. Provinces that is to say the Dukedome of Limbourg and Brabant the Marquisate of the holy Empire the Earldome of Namurce and the Seigneury of Macklyn 1. LIMBOVRG hath on the East the Dukedome of Gulick in High Germany on the West the Bishoprick of Leige on the North Brabant and on the South the Dukedome of Luxembourg The Soyle fruitfull of all necessary commodities excepting wines the want whereof is recompensed with most excellent wheat great store of sewell and plenty of the best iron mines in all these countries all which commodities it hath of so great excellency in their severall kinds that it is said of them proverbially that their Bread is better then bread their Fire hotter then fire and their Iron harder then iron It is also well stored with medicinable simples and enriched with a mine of Copperas by Plinie called Lapis â—rosus lib. 34. c. 10. which being incorporated with brasse makes Lattin and increaseth the brasse by one third part Lapis aerosus
not one of the Marquesses hereof being Jodocus Barbatus elected Emperour anno 1410. After whose death Sigismund his next heir Emperour and King of Bohemia gave it to his son-in-law Albert Duke of Austria anno 1417. who in the end succeeded him in all his Estates since which time it hath alwayes gone along with the Crown of Bohemia The Arms of the old Dukes or Princes of it were Azure an Eagle chequered Or and Gules membred and langued of the same 2 SILESIA or SCHLESI as the Dutch call it is bounded on the East with Poland on the West with Lusatiâ—a on the North with Brandenburg and on the South with Moravia Wholly encompassed with Mountaines except towards the North which lets in a sharp aire upon them the midland parts being full of Woods but withall of Mineralls Chief Cities are Jagendorse or Jegerndorse of late the Patrimony of John Georgius of the family of Brandenbourg commonly called the Marquesse of Jagendorse The lands and Estates in his possession first given by Ladislaus King of Bohemia to George surnamed Pius one of the sonnes of Frederick of Brandenbourg the first Marquesse of Auspach of this house for the many good services hee had done him But his posterity being extinct they fell to the said John Georgius brother to Sigismund the Electour proscribed by Ferdinand the second for adhering to the partie of Frederick Prince Elector Palatine A Prince of great note and activenesse in the beginning of the late German Bohemian wars 2 Munsterberg which gives the title of Duke to the posterity of George Pogebraccio once King of Bohemia advanced by him unto this honor and a fair Estate 3 Glatz or Gletz the last Town of Bohemia which held out for Frederick the Electour against that Emperour 4 Glogaw a strong Town on the River Odera 5 Niess on a River so named an Episcopall See 6 Breslaw in Latine Vratislavia so called from Vratislaus the founder of it once one of the Dukes of this Province by whose procurement it was made an Episcopall See anno 970 or thereabouts It is situate on the River Odera all the water wherein could not save it from being burnt down to the ground anno 1341. but it was presently reedified with fair Free strone and is now one of the prettiest Cities for the bignesse of it in all Germany fair populous and well contrived with open and even streets the chief of the Countrey 7 Oppolen on the Odera also well fortified both by Art and nature barricadoed by the River on the West and on the East with good out-workes strong walls and a fair Castle 8 Straten 9 Reichenbach both made Townes of war since the beginning of the Bohemian troubles There are also within this Province the two Seigneuries of Priguitz and Crossen so called from the chief Towns thereof belonging to the Electour of Brandenbourg the two Dukedomes of Oswitz and Zator appertaining to the Crown of Poland as also the Dukedome of Lignitz and Sue inits all of them bearing the names of their principall Towns of which two last Sueinits is in the immediate possession of the Kings of Bohemia and Lignitz hath a Duke of its own but an Homager and Tributary of that King The first two Inhabitants hereof were the Marsigni Burii Gothini and some part of the Quadi In the partition of the Eastern parts of Germany amongst the Sclaves laid unto the Dukedome or Kingdome of Poland continuing part thereof till the time of Vladislaus the second who being driven out of his Kingdome by his brethren was by the mediation of Frederick Barbarossa estated in this Countrey to be held under the Soveraignty of the Kings of Poland Divided betwixt his three sons and afterwards subdivided amongst their posterities according to the ill custome of Germany it became broke at last into fourteen Dukedomes of 1 Breslaw 2 Oppolen 3 Ratibor 4 Cessin 5 Bethom 6 Glogaw 7 Segan 8 Olents 9 Steinaw 10 Falkenbourg 11 Sweinits 12 Lignitz 13 Oswitsâ— and 14 Zator Of all which onely the two last doe remain to Poland the five first being made subject to the Kings of Bohemia by Wenceslaus the second the five next by King John of Luxenbourg Lignitz remaining in the possession of a Proprietary Duke as before was said and Sweinits given to Charles the fourth Emperour and King of Bohemia by the will and Testament of Boleslaus the last Duke all Schlesi by this means except the two Dukedomes of Oswitz and Zator being added to the Crown of Bohemia of which it is rather an incorporate then a subject Province 4. LVSATIA by the Dutch called Lausnitz is bounded on the East with Silesia on the West with Misnia on the North with Brandenbourg and on the South with Bohemia The countrey rough and full of Woods yet plentifull enough of corn and of such fruits as naturally arise out of the earth So populous and thick set with people that though it be but a little Province it is able to arme 20000 Foot as good as any in Germany Most commonly it is divided into the Higher and the Lower the first confining on Bohemia the last on Brandenburg Places of most note in the higher Lausnitz are 1 Bautsen Badissinum the Latines call it the first Town attempted and taken in by the Duke of Saxony when he took upon him the execution of the Emperors Bann against Frederick Elector Palatine then newly chosen King of Bohemia The poor Prince in the mean time in an ill condition the Saxon being the head of the Lutheran and the Bavarian chief of the Popish partie arming both against him So jealous are both sides of the active and restlesse Calvinian spirit as to leave no means unassaied for the suppressing of it Seated it is upon the Spre and for the most part is the seat of the Governour for the King of Bohemia 2 Gorlitz upon the River Nisse which gave the title of Duke to John brother of Sigismund Emperour and King of Bohemia and Father of Elizabeth the last Dutchesse of Luxembourg before it fell into the hands of the Dukes oâ— Burgundie A fine neat Town well frequented and strongly fortified founded about the yeare 1231. and not long after so consumed by a mercilesse fire anno 1301. ut ne unica domus remanserit as my Authour hath it that there was not one house left of the old foundation But it was presently rebuilt in a more beautifull form and more strong materialls then before it was both publick and private buildings very neat and elegant 3 Zittaw on the same River bordering on Bohemia 4 Lauben 5 Lubben 6 Camitz of which little memorable but that together with the former they make up those six townes which are confederate together in a stricter league for their mutuall defence and preservation but under the protection and with the approbation of the Kings of Bohemia Then in the LOWER Lusatia there is 7 Sprenberg so named from its situation on the River Spre which
Venice the cause of much war and bloud she betwixt those Princes till the Turk came to part the fray and got the greatest part for himself by their disagreements Betwixt these three Sclavonia at this time doth stand thus divided the Venetians possessing the greatest part of the Islands and all the Sea Coasts from the River Arsia to the Bay of Catharo the City and Common-wealth of Ragusi excepted onely the house of Austria in the right of the Crown of Hungary the Inland parts of Windischland and Croatia and the Turks who first set footing here in the reign of Mahomet the second the whole kingdome of Bosna the Patronage of Ragusi some towns in Windischland and Croatia and all the residue of Dalmatia from the Bay of Catharo to Albania The Armes of Sclavonia were Argent a Cardinalls Hat the strings pendant and platted in a true Loves knot meeting in the Base Gules There are in Sclavonia Archbishops 4. Bishops 26. And thus much for SCLAVONIA OF DACIA DACIA is bounded on the East with the Euxine Sea and some part of Thrace on the West with Hungarie and Sclavonia on the North with Podolia and some other Members of the Realm of Poland on the South with the rest of Thrace and Macedonia So called from the Daci who here first inhabited in Strabo better known by the name of the Davi who proving when first known to the Romans an officious people willingly putting themselves to service in hope of gain occasioned the Romans in their Comoedies and common Speech to call a Sycophant or Servant by the name of Davus It lyeth on both sides of the Danow frontiring all along the Vpper and the Lower Hungarie and some part of Sclavonia extended from the 7. Climate to the 10. so that the longest Summers day in the most Northern parts thereof is near 17 hours and in the most Southern 15 hours 3 quarters By this accompt with reference to the other limits before laid down it differeth much in situation and dimensions from the ancient Dacia described by Ptolemie that lying wholly on the North side of the Danow but taking in so much of the Vpper Hungarie as lyeth on the East side of Tibiscus this comprehending all the rest of the ancient Dacia with both the Mysias and Dardania and in a word the whole Dacian Diocese in the largest extent thereof the Province of Prevalitana excepted only which though a Member of this Diocese was no part of Dacia but rather of Macedon or Albania For the clearer understanding whereof we may please to know that Dacia properly so called was situate on the Northside of Danubius as before was said extending as far Westward as the River Tibiseâ—us where it frontired on the Iazyges Metanastae inhabited by a militarie and valiant people who many times especially when the frost did favour them passed over the River and infested the Roman Provinces And though repressed and made tributarie by Julius Caesar yet they brake out again in the time of Augustus who sending Lentulus against them with a puissant Armie compelled them to retire on the other side of the River planting the Southern banks thereof with strong towns and garrisons to restrain them from the like incursions for the time to come By means whereof Si Dacia tunc non vâ—cta summota atque dilata est saith the Historian though Dacia was not overcome yet it was removed somewhat further off and the Provinces thereby secured from the attempts of that people After this from the time of Cotiso with whom Augustus had to deal we find little of them till the reign of Decebalus their last King a man both ready in advice and quick in execution Against him Domitian made warre by Julianus his Lieutenant who gave Decebalus a great overthrow and had then utterly vanquished him if his wit had not better befriended him then his sword For fearing that the Romans making use of their victory would enter and take possession of his Country he pitched in the way a great number of sâ—akes in battell aray putting on them the old Corslets of his Souldiers which looking like so many men of Arms frighted the enemy from approaching the Country Trajane was the next that made war against him and brought him to that exigent that having with much losse endured some few skirmishes he yeelded himself and is acknowledged a friend to the Senate and people of Rome But being one of a high spirit and born in a free air he once again fell off from the Romans but to his own destruction for seeing by the valour of Trajane his kingdome conquered and his Palace taken and destroyed he fell upon his own sword and Dacia was made a Province of the Roman Empire Lost in the time of Galienus it was again recovered by Aurelianus who finding how difficult aud chargeable the keeping of it was like to be transplanted the Roman Colonies and the more civill sort of the Natives on the other side of the River placing them betwixt the two Mysias in some part of each and calling the Countrie given to them by the name of Dacia or New Dacia leaving the Old unto the Gothes and others of the barbarous Nations whose thorough-fare it was in all their enterprises and designs on the Roman Empire Divided by Aurelianus into the two Provinces of Dacia Mediterranea and Dacia Ripensis this lying on the banks of the Danow the other more within the land which with the Provinces of Moesia superior Dardania Praevalitana and part of Macedonia salutaris made up the whole Diocese of Dacia in the times succeeding Subject with that of Macedon to the Praefectus Praetorio for Illyricum and consequently appertaining after the division to the Eastern Empire And it continued in this state till the time of Justimian who being a Native of this Countrie subdued it from the command of that Praefect and instituted both a Praefectus Praetorio for this Diocese only in Civill matters and a Primate for the affairs of the Church both setled in the Citie of Justiniana of his own foundation enlarging the jurisdiction of the first by the addition of some part of Macedonia Secunda and Pannonia Secunda and giving to the other all those preheminences which had been anciently enjoyed by the greater Patriarchs But this new Institution was of no continuance For first the Sclaves and afterwards the Russians Hungars and Bulgarians breaking over the Danow dismembred it peece-meal from the Empire and divided it under new names amongst themselves Of which together with the nature of the soil and people I shall speak anon having first took a view of the Rivers Hils and other Land-marks which are to be my chief guides in the Chorographie or description of them The Rivers then of most note are 1 The Danow which here at Axium or Axiopolis a town of Bulgaria takes the name of Ister continuing it from thence to its Aestuarium where it falleth into the Euxine Sea with 7 mouths
another till they were almost all destroyed 2 Chron. 20. 23. From this time we hear nothing of them but that probably they recovered some parts of their former dwellings when the two Tribes and a half on the East of Iordan were carryed away captive by Tiglath Pileser Possessed hereof and of other their habitations till the reign of Zedekias King of Iudah when vanquished with the rest of these Nations by the Babylonians and Assyrians under Nabuchadnezzar Nor find we any mention of them in the ages following the name of Moab being forgotten or grown out of use the South parts of their Countrey laid to Arabia Petraea as the East parts were to that also of Arabia Deserta and all the rest as well as that which had been conquered by the Jews swallowed up in the general name of Palestinians 3. The AMMONITES inhabited on the North-East of the River Arnon and possessed all that tract from Arocr on the head of that River to the City of Rabbah and on both sides of the River Iaboc as well within the mountains of Galaaed as without the same The seat in elder times of the Rapharms and Zamzummins a Giantlike race of men as the Emmins were but vanquished also as the others by Cherdorlaomor Athtaroth and Heth being then the principal of their habitations Succeeded to in their desolate and forsaken dwellings by the children of Ammon the other Sonne of Lot and the brother of Moab both houses running the same fortune these Ammonites being conquered and deprived of the best part of their Countrey on the South-side of Iaboc by Og King of Basan as the Moabites at the same time of theirs by Sehon A monument of which subjection was the bed of Og found in the City of Rabbah the chief City of Ammon there to be seen when Moses had subdued the Kings of the Amorites as appeareth Deut. 3. Chief Cities at such times as the Israelites first conquered the Land of Canaan were 1. Rabbah the Regall City of their Kings taken by Og of Basan as is said before but again quitted as it seemeth on the comming of Moses that he might be the better able to keep the field Memorabble in suceeding times for the death of Vriah slaine here by a design of Davids when besieged by Joab Who haing brought it to termes of yielding sent for the King to come before it that he might have the honour of taking a place to defensible environed in a manner with the River Iaboc and therefore called the City of waâ—ers 2. Sam. 12. 27. Afterwards repaired and beautified by Ptolomy Philadelphus King of Egypt who having made himself master of those parts of Arabia which lie near unto it and liking the conveniencie of the situation honoured it with the name of Philadelphia 2. Dathema supposed to be Rithma by the learned Iunius mentioned Num. 33. 18. the Hebrew letters D. and R. being much alike a place of great strength amongst the Ammonites 3. Minneth in the South border and 4. Abel vinearum in the East border of Ammon both mentioned in the pursuite of that people when subdued by Iephte 4. Mitspa sometimes one of the Cities of the halfe Tribe of Manasses and at that time honoured with the residence of Iephte but afterwards recovered by the children of Ammon in whose hands it was when utterly destroyed and burnt by Iudas Maccabeaus 1 Macc. 5. 35. 6 Magod and 7. Bosor two other strong places of the Ammonites there also mentioned but said to be in the Region of Galaad by which name or by that of Gileadites all the Countrey of the Ammonites lying on this side of the Mountains was at that time called As for those Ammonites they had nothing at all to do with Israel as they passed towards Canaan neither provoking them nor provoked by them to any acts of hostility Afterwards not well pleased that they were no restored to the possession of those lands which had been taken from them by Og of Basan conferred by the decree of Moses on the tribe of Gad they joined with the Midianites in their expedition But worsted by the puissance and good fortune of Gedeon they lay still a while till stirred up by some secret motions from Almighty God to avenge him on that sinful and idolatrous people who by worshipping the Gods of the Heathen had provoked him to anger Prosperous in it for a time till his wrath was pacified who having made use of them to chastise his people delivered up his rod to be burnt by Jepthe vanquished and driven home by him with a very great saughter Not so much chrushed by the unsuccessefulness of this attempt but that in the time of Saul they break out again and besieged Jabesh Gilead Nabas a cruel Tyrant being then their King who having brought the City into great extremity would give them no other conditions than the loss of every mans right eye to the end that they using to carry a great Target on their left Armes wherewith the eye on that side was wholly shadowed they might by this means be disabled from all future service But Saul came time enough to save them from that shame and loss for that cause so offensive to Nabas that to despight him he shewed friendship to David in the time of his trouble A curtesie which David was so mindful of that he sent Ambassadours to Hanan the Sonne of Nabas to make acknowledgment of it and to confirm the amity which he had with his Father but found so ill requital from him that instead of thanks and kind accepance his messengers were despightfully handled their beards half shaven and their garments cut off by the knee Incensed wherewith he sent Joab against them by whom the Countrey was laid wast and Rabbah their chief City taken their Kings Crown weighing a talent of Gold set on Davids head and all the Prisoners executed with great severity some of them being cast into lime-kills and the rest torn in peeces with saws and harrows Quiet a long while after this we hear no great newes of them till the reign of Jehosophat against whom confederated with the Edomites and Moabites they made open warre but fell by one anothers swords as was said before Not well recovered of this blow they were subdued and made Tributaries by Ozias King of Judah and so continued in the time of Joatham his Sonne who so increased the ribute laid upon them by his Father that it amounted to a hundred Talents of Silver ten thousand measures of Wheat and as many of Barley Taught by this lesson how to value the Kings of Iudah they continued either quiet neighbours or obedient subjects though much improved in power and reputation by regaining the greatest part of their antient dwellings on the removal of the two Tribes and an half on the East of Iordan to the land of Assyria by Tiglath Phul-Assur For after this with reference to the common danger Baulis their King was so strict a confederate
discomfited by the Philistims slew himself for grief or else for fear of falling into the hands of those merciless Enemies against whom he had so often returned victorious 5. Naim on the banks of the River Chison where CHRIST raised to life the Widowes Sonne 6. Hapharaim or Aphraim on the banks of the same River also 7. Endor of chief note for the Witch with whom Saul consulted and the discomfiture of the Midianites by Gedeâ—m who perished at Endor and became as the Dung of the Earth saith the Royall Psalmist 8. Dabarath one of the Cities of refuge 9. Arbela not far from the Cave of the two theeves which so greatly infested Galilee in the time of Herod And 10. of a later date the Castle of Pilgrims Castrum Peregrinorum in Latine Writers built by Raymond Earl of Tholouse and after fortified by the Templers for the security of such as traveled to the Holy Land and for long time the Magazine or Store-house of the Western Christians now called Tortora Situate on the shores of the Mediterranean neer a spacious bay on the North-side whereof Mount Carmel described already As for those Galileans which succeeded in the place of these Tribes they were for the most part originally such as were sent hither by Salmanassar to inhabit there when the Israelites were led away into endless thraldome but intermixed with some Remainders of the ten Tribes as was said before And yet as if they had been wholly of the same extraction with the rest of the Samaritan Nations they were as much despised by the Jews as witnesseth that scornful by-word Can there any good come out of Galilee as the others were though these as Orthedox in Religion as the Jews themselves In which so zealously affected that neither threats nor force could make them offer sacrifice for the health of the Roman Emperours whom they looked on as the Enemies of their Law and liberty Brought under the command of the Kings of Iewry by the Maccabaeans and with the rest of that Kingdome bestowed on Herod by the Romans Left by him at his death to Herod surnamed Antipas the second of his Sonnes then living with the title of Tetrarch which he enjoyed till the death of our Saviour and on his deprivation being banished to Lyons in France by the Emperour Caligula bestowed upon Agrippa his brothers Sonne the first King of the Iews so named Under him and his Sonne Agrippa the second it continued till the generall revolt of the Jewish Nation Subjected by the sword of Titus to the power of the Romans it hath since followed the same fortune with the rest of Palestine 4. SAMARIA SAMARIA is bounded on the East with the River Jordan on the West with the Mediterranean Sea on the North with Galilee and on the South with Iudaea So called from Samaria the chief City of it of which more hereafter The Countrey interchangeably composed of fields and mountains excellent good for tillage and full of trees yielding variety of fruits watered both with the dew of heaven and many fresh springs which the Earth affordeth it occasioning thereby abundance of grass and consequently of Milch-beasts exceeding plenty Heretofore very wealthy and no less populous but now famed for neither The people for the most part were originally the descendants of those Assyrians whom Salmanassar sent hither to possess the dwellings of the captive Israelites Gentiles at first till better instructed by the Lions whom God sent amongst them and after by the Priests sent hither by the Kings of Assyria they entertained the five Books of Moses and out of them learned the manner of the God of the Land 2 Kin. 17 Further then this they would not go rejecting all the rest of the sacred Canon and no strict observers of this neither And though at first they so embraced the worship of God as that they still adhered to the gods of the Nations where before they dwelt as Nergal Ashimah Nibbar Tartak and the rest of that rabble mentioned 2 Kings 17. yet they were soon taken off from those impieties and became zealous in the worship of one onely God erronious cheifly in the place which was destined to it The wicked policy of Ieroboam the Sonne of Nebat was as naturall to them as if they could not have possessed his estates without it and therefore would not suffer their people to go up to Hâ—rusalem to worship as the Law required More pious yet in this than their Predâ—cessours that they erected no Golden Calves in Dan and Bethel or any other parts of their Dominions though to divert the people from the Temple of God they would have a Temple of their own Mount Garizim and the Temple there of which more anon as sacred unto them as that of Solomon to the Iews Schismaticat enough in this but not idolatrous and Schismaticall as the others were yet so conceited of themselves and their own perfections that they imagined themselves defiled by any company but their own If therefore they had visited any of their neighbour nations at their return they used to sprinkle themselves with urine but if by negligence or the necessitie of business they had touched any not of their own Sect they drenched themselves cloathes and all in the next fountain But in this the Iews cryed quittance with them not so much as eating or drinking with them nor having with them any kind of commerce or dealing as appeareth Iohn 4. 9. but loading them on the other side with all the bitternesse of reproach and hatred There are two manner of people saith the Sonne of Sirach which mine heart abhorreth 〈◊〉 the third is no people they that sit on the Mountains of Samaria the Philistims and the foolish people that dwell as Sichem Ecâ—ius 50. And this continued to the times of our blessed Saviour whom when the Jewâ— endeavoured to reproch with their heaviest calumnies they could find out none so great as to say he was a Samaritan which they thought came all to one a man that had converse with Devils and familiar spirits Of these there were some Sects also as amongst the Jews 1. the Dositheans so called from Dâ—suâ—eus or Dosthâ—â— supposed to be the first Priest who was sent thither by the Kings of Assyria agreeing with the Jews in Circumcision and the Sabbath and the doctrine of the Resurrection in which last they differed from the common Samaritan who was a Saducee in that point but differing from them in some points of as signal consequence For they rejected the writings of all the Prophets as not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 inspired by the Holy Ghost they eat of nothing that had life like the Pythagoreans abstained from mariage like the Essenes and in the point of Sabbath-keeping out went the Pharisees it being resolved upon amongst them that in what posture soever a man was found on the Sabbath-day-morning in the same he was to continue without alteration the whole day after 2. The Sebvians so called from
for the cost of the Emperour in whose name Lucan had bestowed this Epitaph on that first Monument Hic situs est Magnus placet hoc Fortuna Sepulchrum Dicere Pompeii quo condi malluit illum Quam terra carnisse Socer Which may be Englished to this purpose Here Magnus lies Such Fortune is thy doom That this vile earth should be great Pompeys Tomb. In which even Caesars self would rather have His Son-in-Law interr'd than want a grave Places of most consideration in it 1. Dinhahah the City of Bela the first King of Edom. 2. Anith the City of Hadâ—d and 3. Pan the City of Hadar two others of the Kings hereof which three are mentioned Gen. 36. 32. 35. 39. 4. Berzamna placed here by Ptolomy supposed to be the same with Bershabee in the Tribe of Simeon the utmost border South-wards of the Land of Canaan of which more there 5. Caparorsa 6. Gammararis and 7. Elasa all of them mentioned by Ptolomy which sheweth them to be of some consideration in those times though now forgotten with the former 8. Anthedon on the South-side of the River Besor opposite to Gaza in the Tribe of Simeon which is situate on the Northern bank A port Town once of good repute till defaced by Alexander King of the lewes re-edified afterwards by Herod the Great and named Agrâ—ppias in honour of Agrippa the favorite and Sonne-in-Law of Augustus Caesar 9. Raphia memorable for the great defeat which Ptolomy Philopater there gave unto Antiochus surnamed Magnus 10. Rhinocurura so called from a mishap which befel the Inhabitants hereof by mangling and defacing their noses By Plinie and Sâ—rabâ— called Rhinocurula and at this day Pharamica Memorable for an old but ill-grounded tradition that here the world was divided by lots betwixt the posterity of Noah and so considerable in the warres of the holy land that it was strongly fortified by Baldwin the first to obstruct the passage of such forces as usually came out on Egypt to aid the Turks 11. Ostracine now Stragionâ— on the Sea-side beneath Anthedon and in that part of the Countrey which from Mount Casius hath the name of Casiotus ascribed by Ptolomy to Egypt but being they are both on the North of the Lake of Sirbon more properly belonging to Palestina But most of these being now buried in their ruines there are left none but a few Castles and scattered villages the villages inhabited for the most part by Arabians the Castles garrisoned by Turks The chief of which lying on the Sea in the road to Egypt are 12. Hamones a small Castle not farre from Gaza used chiefly for a Toll-booth to receive custome of such Merchants as pass that way 13. Harissa a small Castle also serving specially for the same use but stronger and of more importance because neer the Sea from which not above two miles distant and for that cause garrisoned with a hundred Souldiers environed with a few houses by reason of the commodity of the water which is sweet and wholesome else little better than a Desart 14. Catio an other Castle or rather Toll-booth with a garrison of about 60 Souldiers in it seated in a place so desert and unfruitful that nothing vegetable groweth in it but a few starved Palm-trees The water which they have there so bad and brackish though esteemed good enough for the common Souldiers that all which the Captain drinketh is brought from 15. Tina a Town upon the Sea-shore about twelve miles distant and the last upon this coast towards Egypt The first Inhabitants of this Countrey were the Horites the Horites which dwelt in Mount Seir as we reade in Gen. cap. 14 v. 6. that is to say which dwelt in that hilly Countrey which afterwards was called Mount Seir. But whether it were so called from Esaus dwelling here as is said before or from Seir the Horite mentioned Gen. 36. 20. as perhaps may probably be supposed need not now come into dispute Broken by Cherdolaomer and his Associates they were the more easily subdued by Esau Who leaving the land of Canaan to his brother Iacob Gen. 36. 7 8. because those parts in which they dwelt did not afford them room enough for their several Cattel came into this Countrey and having destroyed the Horites from before them succeeded in their habitations and dwelt there in their stead â—venunto this day Deut. 2. 22. T is true we find Esau in Mount Seir before this remove for it is said that Iacob at his first coming out of Mesopotamia sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the Land of Seir the Countrey of Edom Gen. 32. 3. And hence a question hath been moved how Esau dwelling there before Jacobs coming can be said to remove thither to make room for him To this Sir Walter Ra egh and some others answer that at the time when Jacob came out of Padan-Aram Esau dwelt in those parts of the Mountains which lie on the East of Jordan called afterwards Galaad and Mount Hermon by which Jacob must needs passe in his way to Canaan which Mountains then were called by the name of Seir and from thence Syrion by the Zidonians or Phoenicians in the ages following from whence driven by the Amorites at such time as they vanquished those of Moab and Ammon they were forced to seat themselves on the South of Canaan where Moses found them But with this I am by no means satisfied For besides that it maketh Esau to carry a Mount Sier with him wheresoever he went it doth expressely differ from the plain words of Scripture both in the occasion and the time of his setling there the victories which the Amorites had over the Ammonites and Moabites being then fresh and newly gotten when Moses with the children of Israel came into these parts which was at the least 200. years after Esau did withdraw himself to the land of Edom. And therefore I should rather think that Esau finding himself distasted by his Father and Mother in regard of his Canaanitish mariages and the hatred which he bare to Jacob departed from them and so journed in the South parts amongst the Horites of Moun Seir that thither Jacob sent his messengers to make peace between them that the reconciliation being made Esau returned unto the place where before he sojourned and having brought thence his children cattel and the rest of his substance fixed himself again neer the house of his Fathers and finally that on Isaacs death finding his family increased his heards of flocks augmented and the rest of his substance also doubled by the death of his father he thought it fit also to enlarge his dwelling and so removed back once more to Edom. A thing not needful to be done had he dwelt in Galaad Hâ—rmon or any other part of that Mountainous Tract considering the great distance betwixt those Mountaines and the City of Hebron in which Isaac dwelt nigh to which Iacob also had set up his dwelling But on what
1517. in which Selimus the first Emperour of the Turks added the Holy Land together with Aegypt to his Empire When Hierusalem was taken by the Christians the German Emperours name was Fredericus the Popes Vrbanus the Hierosolymitan Patriarch Heraclius and so also were they called when the Christians again lost it This is the conceit of Roger Hoveden in the life of Henry the second but how it can agree with Chronology I do not see After the taking of Hierusalem by Sultan Saladine the Christians retired their forces into some of the other Towns of the Holy land which they made good against the enemy and defended them under the government of these three Kings following viz. 10. Conrade Marq. of Montferrat husband of Isabel the daughter of Almericus King of Hierusalem 11. Henry Earl of Campagne second husband of Isabel 12. John di Brenne husband of Mary or Yoland as some call her daughter of Conrade and Isabel the last Christian King that ever had possession in Syria or Palestine inhabited ever-since by Moores and Arabians few Christians and not many Turks but such as be in garrisons onely Yoland the daughter of this John di Brenne was wife to Frederick King of Naples who in her right intituled himself King of Hierusalem and so now do the Kings of Spain as heirs unto and possessors of the Kingdome of Naples Concerning which title it would not be amisse to insert this story When the warres in Queen Elizabeths time were hot between England and Spain there were Commissioners of both sides appointed to treat of peace They met at a Town of the French Kings and first it was debated in what tongue the negotiation should be handled A Spaniard thinking to give the English Commissioners a shrewd gird proposed the French tongue as most fit it being a language which the Spaniards were well skilled in and for these gentlemen of England I suppose saith he that they cannot be ignorant of the language of their fellow-subjects their Queen is Queen of France as well as of England Nay in faith my masters replyed Doctor Dale the master of the Requests the French tongue is too vulgar for a business of this secrecy and importance especially in a French Town We will rather treat in Hebrew the language of Hierusalem whereof your master is King and I suppose you are therein as well skilled as we in the French And thus much for this title The Armes of the Christian Kings in Hierusalem was Luna a cross crosser crossed Sol which was commonly called the Hierusalem Cross But for their forces and Revenues I cannot see how any estimate may be made hereof in regard they subsisted not by their own proper strength but by the Purses and the Forces of the Western Christians more or less active in that service as zeal or emulation or desire of glory were predominant in them Chief Orders of Kinght-hood in this Kingdome after the recovery thereof from the power of the Turks Were 1. Of the Sepulchre said to be instituted originally by Queen Helena the Mother of Constantine the Great by whom the Temple of the Sepulchre was indeed first built but more truly by Philip King of France Anno 1099. at such time as that Temple was regained from the Turks Their Armes the same with that of the Kings before blazoned representing the five wounds of our Saviour CHRIST At the first conferred on none but Gentlemen of blood and fortunes now saleable to any that will buy it of the Pater-Guardian who with a Convent of Franciscans doth reside neer that Temple 2. Of Saint John of Hierusalem begun by one Gerrard Anno 1114. and confirmed by Pope Paschalis the second Their badge or Cognizance is a White Crosse of eight points Their duty to defend the Holy land relieve Pilgrims and succour Christian Princes against the Insidels They were to be of noble parentage and extraction and grew in time to such infinite riches especially after the suppression of the Templars most of whose lands were after given unto this Order that they had at one time in the several parts of Christendome no fewer than 20000. Mannours and of such reputation in all Christian Kingdomes that in Enâ—land the Lord Prior of this Order was accompted the Prime Baron in the Realm But now their Revenue is not a little diminished by the withdrawing of the Kings of England and other Protestant Princes from the Church of Rome who on that change seized on all the Lands of this Order in their several Countries and either kept them to themselves or disposed them to others as they pleased Of these we shall speak more when we are in Malta where they now reside advertising onely at the present that their first Great Master was that Gerrard by whom they were founded the last that had his residence in the Holy land one John de Villiers in whose time being driven out of Palestine they removed unto Cyprus and in the time of Fulk de Villaret Anno 1309. to the Isle of Rhodes Outed of which by Solomon the Magnificent Anno 1522. they removed from one place ro another till at last by the magnificence of Charles the fift Anno 1530. they were setled in Malta and there we shall speak farther of them 3. Of the Templers instituted by Hugh of Payennes Anno 1113 and confirmed by Pope Eugenius Their ensign was a Red Cross in token that they should shed their blood to defend Christs Temple They were burried Cross-legged and wore on their backs the figure of the Cross for which they were by the common people called Cross-back or Crouch-back and by corruption Crook-back Edmund Earl of Lancaster second sonne to our Henry the third being of this Order was vulgarly called Edmund Crook-back which gave Henry the fourth a foolish occasion to faign that this Edmund from whom he was descended was indeed the eldest sonne of King Henry the third but for his crookedness and deformity his younger brother was preferred to the Crown before him These Knights had in all Provinces of Europe their subordinate governours in which they possessed on lesse than 16000 Lordships the greatness of which Revenue was not the least cause of dissolving the Order For Philip the fair king of France had a plot to invest one of his sonnes with the title of King of Hierusalem and hoped to procure of the Pope the revenue of this order to be laid unto that Kingdome for support of the Title which he might the better do because Clâ—ment the fift then Pope for the love he bare to France had transferred his feat from Rome to Avignion But herein his hopes deceived him for this Order being dissolved the lands thereto belonging were given to the Knights Hospitallers or of Saint John The crimes objected against this Order was first their revolt from their professed obedience unto the Patriarch of Jerusalem who was their visitor Secondly their unspeakable pride and thirdly their sinnes against nature The house of
Hagarenis non à fuga duci But time and opposition at the last reclamed him from this error and in the second edition of his work he is content to follow the common opinion of those men whom in the first he whistled off with the infamous appellation of mendaces But to proceed It hapned much about this time that the Saracens revolting from Heraclius the Eastern Emperour joyned themselves unto him They had long been displeased with their condition and now hoped to mend it Exasperated by Julian the Apostate when they served in his warres against the Persian for telling them when they demanded their pay that he had more store of steel than Gold but then they wanted a fit head to resort unto Now serving Heraclius in the same warre they were used by his Officers in the same ill manner Asking their pay the Treasurer of the Army made them this churlish answer that there was scarce money enough to pay the Roman and Grecian Souldiers and must those dogs be so importunate for their wages Provoked herewith and hearing the fame of Mahomet they betook themselves to him who strengthned by their forces and the coming in of the rest of their Countrey-men soon brought the three Arabias under his subjection To which having defeated the Emperors forces sent against him he added some parts of Syria and Egypt and returning to Mecca there dyed frantick and distempered in the 70th year of his Age and three and twentieth of his impostures of which he had spent thirteen at Medina and the rest at Mecca from his first serling in which City the years of his Empire were computed His dead body being kept four daies in expectation of a resurrection which he promised to perform at the end of three grown full of stench and putrefaction was carried to Medina and there interred his Successors out of wicked and worldly policy keeping up the reputation of that Religion after his decease which they derided in his life and calling themselves Caliphs or Vicars Generall to him their Prophet to the Catalogue of which we hasten made intricate not more by their own confusions than by the difference of those names by which they are presented to us by severall Writers according to the times and Languages in which they writ The Caliphs or Emperours of the Saracens A. C. A. H. 622 5 1. Mahomet the Impostor of whom before 632 15 2. Ebubezer or Vquebar Mahomets Father-in-Law and one of his Great Captains supplanted Ali to whom the Empire was designed by the will of Mahomet and took unto himself the name of Caliph 2. 634 17 3. Haumar the second of Mahomets Great Captains having the command of the Army under Ebubezer succeeded him in the estate and added to it Persia Egypt Palestine with great part of Syria and Mesopotamia 12. 647 30 4. Osmen the third of Mahomets great Captains Husband of Zetneh his second daughter succeeded under that pretence and added all Barbary to his Empire Distressed by the faction of Halt and besieged in his own house he flew himself in the eighty seventh year of his Age and the tenth of his Reign 657 40 5. Hali the Kinsman and next heir of Mahomet and the husband of Fatime his eldest daughter succeeded on the death of Osmen murdered by the procurement of Mxavias neer Cafa in Arabia Felix 660 43 6. Muhavias having murdered Hali his Sonne Hasem or Ossan and eleven of the Sonnes of that Hasem the twelfth onely escaping with life from whom descended the Family of the Alaveci and the Persian Sophies assumed the Government as rightfull Successor to Osmen whose widow the daughter of Mahomet he had took to wife He conquered Rhodes Cyprus and a great part of Asia Minor and was the Founder of the Family of Aben Humeya 681 64 7. Gizid the Son of Muhavias more skilled in Poetry than in Armes 8. Habdalla and Marvan Competitors for the Supreme dignity but carried at last by Marvan 685 68 9. Abdimelech the Sonne of Marvan established the begun conquests of Armenia and Mesopotamia 22. 707 90 10. Vlidor Ulit under whom the Saracens or Moors first conquered Spain 9. 716 99 11. Zulcimin Brother to Ulit whose Captain Mulsamas besieged Constantinople till his Ships were burnt and his men consumed with the Plague 3. 719 102 12. Homar or Haumar II. Son of Vildor Vlit 2. 721 104 13. Izit or Gizid II. the brother of Haumar with whom during his life he was joynt Caliph and after his decease enjoyed it wholly to himself 725 107 14. Evelid by some called Ischam in whose time Charles Martel made such havock of the Moores in France Anno 734 their General then named Abderamen 18. 743 125 15. Gizid III. the Son of Gizid the second 744 126 16. Hyces by some called Ibrahim the brother of Gizid the third slain by Marvan 745 127 17. Marvan II. the last of the house of Ben-Humeya slain by Abdalla of the house of Fatime and Hali. 7. 752 134 18. Abdalla of the house of Alaveci or Alabeci descended from Hali and Fatime the eldest daughter of Mahomet called also the Family of Abas because of their descent from Abas the Uncle of Mahomet and perhaps Father unto Hali. 756 138 19. Abdallas II. 20. Mahomet II. surnamed Bugiafer or Abugefer who built the City of Bagdat made from that time the constant seat of his Successors till their fatall period 777 156 21. Mahadi 9. 786 168 22. Musa or Moyses 1. 787. 169. 23. Aron or Arachid who compelled Irene Empress of Constantinople to pay him tribute 23. 810. 193. 24. Mahamad or Mahomet III. 825. 198. 25. Abdalla III. who took and spoyled Crete and overthrew the Greeks be spoiled Sicilia Sardinia and Corsica 17. 832. 215. 26. Mahomet IV. wasted Italy burnt the suburbs of Rome and harassed the fore-named Ilands 40. Others reckon these Caliphs to have succeeded Mahomet II. 815. 198. 25. Mamon 12. 827. 210. 26. Mutetzam 8. 835. 218. 27. Wacek 4. 839. 222. 28. Methucall 12. 851. 234. 29. Montacer 1. 852. 235. 30. Abul Hamet 6. 858. 241. 31. Almatez 4. 863. 245. 32. Motadi Bila 7. 7. After whose death the Aegyptians with-drew themselves from their obedience due to the Babylonian Caliph and chose one of their own to whom all the Arabians or those of the Mahumetan religion in Africa and Europe submitted themselves Of the Aegyptain Caliphs when we come into that Countrey take now with you the names onely of the Syrian and Babylonian Caliphs for story of them I find little or none the power being totally in the hands of the Sultans of the severall Provinces and nothing left unto the Caliphs but an aiery title the shadow of that mighty Tree which formerly had spread it self over most parts of the World The Babylonian Caliphs after the division A. C. A. H. 870 252 1. Mutemad 21. 891 273 2. Mutezad 8. 897 281 3. Muchtaphi 8. 907 389 4. Muchtedtr 24. 931 313 5. Elhaker 1. 932 314 6.
as Jacobites distinct from all other Christians is 1. The acknowledgement but of one nature one will and one operation as there is but one person in Christ our Saviour 2. In signing their Children before Baptism in the Face or Arm with the sign of the Cross imprinted with a burning iron 3. Retaining Circumcision and using it in both Sexes 4. Affirming the Angels to consist of two substances Fire and Light and 5. Honouring the memory of Dioseurias of Alexandria and Jacobus Syrus condemned by the antient Councils The points wherein they differ from the Church of Rome 1. Not enjoining on the People the necessity of Confession to a Priest before they admit them to communicate 2. Not admitting Purgatory nor Prayers for the Dead 3. Administring the Sacrament of the Eucharist in both kinds 4. Allowing the marriage of Priests And 5. Teaching that the souls of men deceased are not admitted presently to the Vision of God but remain somewhere in the Earth to expect Christs coming In which last letting aside the determination of the place as they have many of the Fathers concurring with them so to the first touching the unity of nature in our Saviour Christ they have of late added such qualifications as possibly may make it capable of an Orthodox sense Chief Rivers of this Countrey besides Tigris and Euphrates of which more hereafter 1. Chabiras which rising in Mount Masius passing directly South falleth into Euphrates as also doth 2. Syngarus by Pliny called Masca arising out of the Mountain Syngarus which is but the more Western part of the said Mount Masius Which names of Masea Masius and the Masicni being the name of a People dwelling thereabouts shew plainly that they go upon very good grounds who place Mesch or Mesich one of the sonnes of Aram in these parts of the Countrey It was divided antiently into 1. Anthemasia 2. Chalcitis 3. Gaulinitis 4. Accabene 5. Ancorabitis and 6. Ingine each part containing several Cities or Towns of name These six when conquered by the Romans reduced unto two Provinces onely viz. 1. Mesopotamia lying on the South of Mount Masius or the head of Chaboras and 2. Osrloene on the North this last so named from one Osrhoes the Prince or Governout of these parts in the time of the Persians as Procopius telleth us Chief places of the whole 1. Edessa the Metropolis of Osrhoene situate on the River Scirtas which runneth thorow the middest of it not far from the fall thereof into Euphrates Memorable for the Story of Agbarus before related amongst Church-Historians and in the Roman Histories for the death of the Emperor Caracalla slain here by the appointment of Macrinus Captain of his guard The occasion this The Emperour conscious to himself of his own unworthiness employed one Maternianus to enquire amongst the Magicians in the Empire who was most likely to succeed him by whom accordingly advertised that Macrinus was to be the man The letters being brought unto Caracalla as he was in his Chariot were by him delivered with the rest of the Packets to the hands of Macrinus who by his Office was to be attendant on the Emperiours person that he might open them and signifie unto him the contents thereof at his better leisure Finding by this the danger in which he stood he resolved to strike the first blow and to that end entrusted Martialis one of his Centurions with the execution by whom the Emperour was here killed as he withdrew himself Levandae vesicae gratia as my Author hath it So impossible a thing it is to avoid ones Destiny so vain a thing for any Prince to think of destroying his Successor and therefore very well said to Nero in the times of his tyranny Omnes licet occider is Successorem tunm occidere non potes that though he caused all the men of eminence to be forthwith murdered yet his Successor would survive him and escape the blow But to return unto Edessa in following times it was made one of the four Tetrarchies of the Western Christians when they first conquered Syria and the Holy Land the two first Governors or Tetrarchs successively succeding Godfrey of Bouillon in the Kingdome of Hierusalem But in the year 1142. it was again recovered by Sanguin the Turk Father of Noradin Sultan of Damascus and by the loss thereof no fewer than three Arch-Bishopricks withdrawn from the obedience of the See of Antioch 2. Cologenbar another strong peece adjoining besieged on the taking of Edessa by the same Sanguin who was here stabbed in a drunken quarrell by one of his familiar friends and the Fort saved for that time 3. Nisibis situate somewhat to the East of Mount Masius called also Antiochia Mygdonia from the River Mygdonius which runneth thorow it and afterwards Constantia from Constantius the Sonne of Constantine A City of great note in those elder times a Roman Colony and the Metropolis of the Province of Mesopotamia properly and specially so called which being besieged by Supores the King of Persia Constantius ruling in the East and in no small danger to be lost was gallantly defended by James the then Bishop of it whom Theodoret calls not onely Episcopum Civitatis sed Principem Ducem not the Bishop only of the City but the Prince and Captain of it libr. 2 cap 31. So little inconsistencie was there found in those early daies betwixt the Episcop all function and civill businesses that the Bishops were not interdicted from the Acts of war when the necessities of the State did invite them to it The City not long after most unworthily delivered to the said Sapores by the Emperour Jovinian which drew along with it in short time the loss of the Province 4. Vr seated on the East of Nisibis betwixt it and Tigris and so placed by Ammianus who had travelled this Countrey Conceived to be the Birth-place of Abraham and called Vr of the Chaldees Gen. 11. 28. either because the Chaldees were in those daies possessed of the place or because the name of Chaldaea did comprehend also those parts of this Countrey which lay towards Tigris as was shewn before For that the place from which Terah the Father of Abraham did return to Haran in Mesopot amia was rather situate in this coast where Vr is placed by Ammianus than betwixt the Lakes of Chaldaea and the Persiau Golf where most Writers place it may appear probable for these reasons 1. Because it is said by Josuah chap. 24. ver 12. That Terah the Father of Abraham and the Father of Nachor dwelt on the other side of the Flood that is to say on the further side of the River Emphrates and that too 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Septuagim ab initio as the Vulgar Latine in the first beginning Which cannot be understood of any Vr placed on or neer the Lakes of Chaldaea those being on this side of that River 2. Because all the rest of Abrahams Ancestors from Phaleg downwards were
furlongs 50 fathom deep in the midst whereof were two Pyramides 50 fathoms above the water and as much beneath it the Fish of this Lake for one fix moneths in the year said to be worth twenty of their pounds a day to the Kings Exchequer for the other six each day a Talent 4. The Lakes called Amari into which the Trench or River called Ptolomaeus doth discharge its waters conveyed from thence into the Red-Sea The whole divided antiently into two parts only 1. That called Delta betwixt the two extreme branches of the River Nilus the form of which letter it resembleth to him who standing on the Sea-shore could take a view of it 2. That called Thebais from Thebe the principal City of it comprehending all the rest of the course of that River shut up on both sides with the Mountains spoken of before But this Division leaving out all those parts hereof which lie on the East-side towards the Arabian Golfs and on the West as far as to the borders of Libya Marmarica the Macedonians laying it all together divided it into 18 Cantreds or Districts by them called Nomi increased in the time of Ptolomie the Geographer to 46. Ortelius out of divers Authors hath found 20 more When conquered by the Romans and made a Diocese of the Empire it was divided into four Provinces not reckoning Marmarica and Cyrene into the accompt that is to say 1. Aegyptus specially so called containing all the Delta and the District or Nomus of Mareotica bordering on Marmarica 2. Augustanica so called from Augustus Caesar on the East of the Delta betwixt it and Arabia Petraea 3. Arcadia so called from the Emperor Arcadius in whose time it was taken out of Thebais lying on both sides of the River from the Delta to the City of Antinous 4. Thebais extending on both sides of the River from the borders of Libya Marmarica to the Red-Sea as the other doth unto Aethiopia Divided otherwise by some into Superiorem reaching from Aethiopia to the City of Antinous Mediam stretching thence to the point of the Delta and Inferiorem which comprehendeth all the rest But at this time that part hereof which lieth on the South and East of Caire is called Saud or Salud honoured heretofore with the dwelling of the antient Pharaohs because nearest unto Aethiopia their most puissant neighbour 2. That betwixt Caire Rosetta and Alexandria hath the name of Errifia wherein the Ptolomaean Princes did most reside because most convenient for receiving supplies of men from the States of Greece And finally that from Caire to Tenese and Damiata is now called Maremna in which the Turks and Mamalucks made the seat of their Empire because more neighbouring to the Christians whom they stood in fear of as likewise to invade them upon that side In the whole Country there was reckoned in the time of Amasis the 2d. no fewer then 20000 Cities but if the Towns and Villages be not reckoned in I should much doubt of the accompt By Diodorus Siculus it is said that there were 3000 in his time but Ortelius on a diligent search finds 300 only Those of most note in the Province of Augustanica 1. Pelusium the most Eastern City of Egypt towards Idumaea situate on the most Eastern channel of Nilus called hence Pelusiacum by Ammianus said to be the work of Peleus the Father of Achilles commanded by the Gods to purge himself in the Lake adjoyning for the murder of his brother Phocus Accounted for the chief door of Egypt towards the Land as Pharos was to those who came thither by Sea the Metropolis of the Province of Augustanica the birth-place of Ptolomie the Geographer and the Episcopal See of S. Isidore sirnamed Pelusiotes whose eloquent and pious Epistles are still extant Out of the ruines hereof if not the same under another title arose 2. Damiata memorable for the often Sieges laid unto it by the Christian Armies for none more then that under John de Brenne the titulary King of Jerusalem and the Princes of Europe An. 1220. During which being of 18 moneths continuance the Famine and the Pestilence so extremely raged that the Town in a manner was dispeopled before the Besiegers knew any thing of their condition till in the end two venturous Souldiers admiring the silence and solitude of so great a City in a Bravado scaled the walls but found no man to make resistance the next day the whole Army entred where they found in every house and every corner of the streets whole heaps of dead bodies none to give them burial A lamentable and ruthful spectacle 3. Heros or Civitas Heroum in the Arabian Isthmus at the very bottom of the Golf remarkable for the first interview betwixt Jacob and Joseph after his coming into Egypt 4. Heliopolis or the City of the Sun now called Betsames in the Scriptures On of which Potiphar the Father of Asenath whom Pharaoh married unto Ioseph was priest or Prince as is said Gen. 41. 45. Given as Iosephus telleth us for an habitation to the sons of Iacob by consequence one of the chief Cities of the Land Rameses or Goshen and memorable in times succeeding for a publike Temple built for the Iewes with the consent of Ptolomie sirnamed Philadelphus by Onias the High-Priest then dispossessed of his authority and office by the power of Antiochus a Temple much esteemed by the Hellinists or Grecizing Iews and though Schismatical at the best in its first original yet not Schismatical and Idolatrous as was that of Mount Garizim 5. Bubustis somwhat more North then Heliopolis by some of the Antients called Avaris by the Scriptures Pibeseth another City of that tract now better known by the name of Zioth supposed to be the same which the Notitia calleth Castra Iudaeorum memorable in times of Paganisme for a famous Temple of Diana 6. Arsinoe on the shore of the Red Sea so called in honour of Arsinoe sister of Philadelphus and wife to Lysimachus King of Thrace afterwards called Cleopatris in honour of Queen Cleopatra now better known by the name of Sues Of great commerce and trading in the time of the Ptolomies Now almost abandoned and would be utterly deserted were it not made the station of the Turkish Gallies that command the Gulfe which being framed at Caire of such Timber as is brought thither by sea from the Woods of Cilicia and sometimes from the Shores of the Euxine Sea are again taken in peeces carried from Caire unto this City on the backs of Camels and here joyned together Conceived to be the same which in former times was called Baal Zephon of which see Exod. 14. 9. the last incamping-place of the Tribes of Israel who from hence passed through the Red Sea as upon dry land 7. Gleba Rubra by the Greeks called Hiera Bolus and sometimes Erythra Bolus also more neer the Latine the redness of the soyl giving name unto it situate on the River or Trench of Tralan more memorable for a
the Catholique 7. FVERTE-VENTVRA of the same nature with the rest supposed to be the Capraria of Plinie and the Casperia of Ptolomy but not else observable Neer unto these but not within the name and notion of the Fortunate or Canary Isles are certain others of less note that is to say I Gratiosa 2 S. Clara 3 Roca 4 Lobos 5 Alegranco and 6 Infierno small and of no Accompt nor yielding any matter of observation The knowledge of these Ilands being lost with the Roman Empire they lay concealed and undiscovered till the year 1330. or thereabouts when an English or as some say a French ship distressed by tempest did in that misfortune fall upon them Notice whereof being given in the Court of Portugal in the reign of King Alphonso the fourth Lewis de Ordo was designed for the conquest of them Who being repulsed at Gomera An. 1334. gave the entercourse over though on this ground the Portugals build their first claim unto these Ilands But the news spreading by degrees to the Court of Rome Clement the sixt thought fit to make a grant of them to Prince Lewis of Spain son of Alphonso de la Cerde the right heir of Castile by the old name of the Fortunate Ilands and to assist him in the conquest caused Levies of Souldiers to be made both in France and Italy Which coming to the ears of the English Ambassadors in the Popes Court they seared some transport had been made of the British Ilands then which they thought that none could better deserve the name of the Fortunate Ilands and in all haste dispatched a Post to the Court of England for the preventing of the danger The People at the time of this first Discovery were so rude and ignorant that they did eat their flesh raw for want of fire and tilled or rather turned up the earth with the horns of Oxen for want of Ploughs or Tools of Iron their Beards they shaved with a sharp flint and committed the care of their children to the nursing of Goats To kill a Beast was conceived to be the basest office that could be possibly put upon them and therefore commonly imposed on Prisoners and condemned persons who being thus made the common Slaughter-men were to live separate from the rest Their Government by Kings in each Iland one when at their deaths they sit up naked in a Cave propped against the wall with a staff in his hand and a vessel of Milk fast by him the better to enable him for his journey to the other world and leaving him in the Grave with these solemn words Depart in peace O thou blessed Soul The like Funeral they bestowed also on the chief of their Nobles Yet was not the Government in those times so purely Regall but that they had a Common Councell as it were out of all the Ilands consisting of 130 persons who did not only direct in Civil matters but in Sacred also prescribing to the People both their Faith and Worship and for their pains were priviledged with the first nights lodging with every Bride which the Husband was to offer to some one of them But to return unto the Story nothing being done by Lewis de la Cerde in pursuance of the Popes Donation it hapned in the year 1393. that some Adventurers of Biscay setting out certain Ships from Sevil to seek their Fortunes at Sea fell amongst these Ilands And having pillaged Lansarâ—te as before was said and observed the number greatness and situation of all the rest returned into Spain with great store of Wax Hides and other commodities with which those Ilands did abound extremely welcom to King Henry who then reigned in Castile and did intend from that time forwards to possess himself of them By Catharine the Dowager of this King Henry during the minority of John the 2. the Conquest of them was committed to John of Betancourt an adventurous French-man conditioned he should hold them under the soveraignty of the Crown of Castile by whom four of the Ilands were subdued though he himself perished in the action An. 1417. Young Betancourt the son not able to subdue Canary to which most of the Ilanders had retired fortified himself as well as he could in the Isle of Lansarote and took unto himself the title of King which he left not long after to one Menault in whose time the Ilands under his command received the Gospel and had a See Episcopal in the Isle of Lansarote But this new King making money by the sale of his subjects as well of the new Christians as the old Idolaters complaint was made of him in the Court of Castile and Pedro Barva de Campos with three ships of war is sent against him with whom unable to contend with the good leave and liking of the King of Castile he sold his interesse in these Ilands to one Fernando Peres a Knight of Sevil who by the wealth and power of that City made good his purchase and left it unto his Successors But we must know that the posterity of this Peres enjoyed the four lesser Ilands only Canaria it self Tenarisse and the Isle of Palmes being under the command of their own Kings and so continued till the reign of Ferdinand the Catholick who in the year 1483. under the conduct of Alphonso of Muxica and Pedro de Vera two noble Captains became master of them and translated the Episcopal See from Lansarote to the Great Canary So that although the Portugals claim these Ilands in right of the first discovery yet the possession hath gone alwayes with the Crown of Castile Divided at the present into two Estates but the one subordinate to the other Gomera Lansarote and Hierra being in the hands of some private Subjects those which belong unto the Crown being Canaria Palma Tenarisse and Fuerte-Ventura are said to yield yearly to the King 50000 Ducats the Seat of Justice being fixed in the Isle of Canaria unto which all the rest resort as they have occasion 13. MADERA 14. HOLY-PORT 13. MADERA the greatest Iland of the Atlantick is situate in the Latitude of 32 over against the Cape of Cantin in Morocco in compass 140 miles some adde 20 more So called of the wilderness of Trees there growing when first discovered the Portugals naming that Madera which the Latines call Materia we English Timber with which the Isle was so over grown that the best way to cleer it and make it habitable was by consuming them with fire which raged so horribly for the time that the people imployed in it were fain to go far into the Sea to refresh themselves But the Husbandry was well bestowed the Ashes making so good compost to enrich the soil as burning the Turf of barren lands and ploughing the Ashes of it on some grounds with us that at the first it yielded sixty fold increase And though the first vertue of that experiment be long since decayed yet still it yieldeth thirty fold in most places
let the Rhene into the Danow the like had Lucius Verus to joyn the Rhene and the Rhone all which in their peculiar places we have already touched Nicanor also King of Syria intended to have made a channel from the Caspian to the Euxine Sea an infinite project but neither he nor any of the rest could finish these works God it seemeth being not pleased at such proud and haughty enterprises And yet perhaps the want of treasure hath not been the least cause why the like projects have not proceeded besides the dreadfull noyses and apparitions which as we have already said continually affrighted the workmen Not less observable then this great but unsuccessful design of cutting a passage thorow this Isthmus from one Sea to the other was that notable but a like successless Attempt of John Oxenham an adventurous Englishman in a passage over it by Land This man being one of the Followers of Sir Francis Drake ariving in a small Bark with â—0 of his Companions a little above Nombre di Dios the chiesest Town of all the Isthmus drew his Ship on Land covered it with boughs and marched over the Land with his Company guided by Negroes till he came to a River There he cut down Wood made him a Pinnace entred the South Sea went to the Isle of Pearls where he stayed ten days intercepted in two Spanish Ships who feared no Enemy on that side 60000 pound weight of Gold 200000 pound weight in bars of silver and returned in safety to the Land And though by the mutinie of some of his own Company he neither returned into his Country nor unto his â—hip yet is it an Adventure not to be forgotten in that never attempted by any other and by the Spanish Writers recorded with much admiration But to return to the Division of this Country and the two main parts thereof which this Streit uniteth Mexicana or the Northern Peninsula may be most properly divided into the Continent and Ilands the Continent again into the several Provinces of 1 Estotiland 2 Nova Francia 3 Virginia 4 Florida 5 Califormia 6 Nova Gallicia 7 Nova Hispania and 8 Guatimala each of them branched into many sub divisions and lesser Territories Peruana or the Southern Peninsula taking in some part of the Isthmus as before we did hath on the Continent the Provinces of 1 Castella Aurea 2 Nova Granado 3 Peru 4 Chile 5 Paraguay 6 Brasil 7 Guiana and 8 Paria with their several members parts and particular Regions The Ilands which belong to both dispersed either in the Southern Ocean called Mare del Zur where there is not any one of note but 1. Those called Los Ladrones and 2 the Ilands of Solomon or in the Northern Ocean or Mare del Norte reduced unto 3 the Caribes 4 Porto Rico 5 Hispaniola 6 Cuba and 7 Jamaica In the survey of which particulars we will begin with those which lie on the North-east of this great Continent not possessed by the Spaniard and passing thorow the Plantations of such other Nations as have any footing in the same come by degrees to the Estates of the King of Spain that we may lay them altogether without interruption beginning with Estotiland the most Northern part and that which as some say was discovered first OF ESTOTILAND ESTOTILAND as under that name we comprehend those Regions of the Mexicana which lie most towards the North and East hath on the East the main Ocean on the South Canada or Nova Francia on the West some unknown Tract not yet discovered and on the North a Bay or Inlet of the Sea called Hudsons Straits and called so from Henry Hudson an Englishman who by this way endeavoured to finde out a more commodious and quick passage to Cathay and China then had been formerly discovered It comprehends 1 Estotiland specially so called 2 Terra Corterialis 3 New-found Land and 4 the Isles of Bacaleos 1. And first Estotiland specially so called is the most Northern Region on the East side of America lying betwixt Hudsons Straits on the North and Terra Corterialis on the South The soil sufficiently enriched with natural endowments said to have in it Mines of Gold and other Mettals but I doubt it lieth too much North for Gold whatsoever it may do for Brass and Iron The People rude and void of goodness naked notwithstanding the extream cold of the Country not having either the wit or the care to cover their bodies with the skins of those Beasts which they kill by hunting though their Bellies teach them to keep life by the Flesh thereof Said by the first Discoverers to sow Corn to make Beer or Ale and to have many Barks of their own with which they traded into Groen-land as also to have many Cities and Castles some Temples consecrate to their Idols where they first Sacrificed men and after eat them The Language which they spake expressed in Characters of their own but some knowledge of the Latine Tongue there had been amongst them and Latine Books in the Library of one of their Kings understood by few Such were the Reports made of this Country by the first Discoverers who were certain Fishermen of Freezland cast by a Tempest on this Coast about the year 1350. Six of them only got on Land where all died save one who after along wandring from one Princes Court to another found means to return into his own Country the King whereof called Zichumi being a great Adventurer in the feats of Arms prepared for the further Discovery and Conquest of it Animared thereunto by the opportune coming of Nicolo and Antonio Zeni two noble Gentlemen of Venice who desiring to see the fashions of the World furnished a ship at their own charges and passing the Straits of Gibraltar held their course northward with an intent to see England and Flanders But driven by tempest on this Iland An. 1380. They were kindly welcomed by the King then newly prosperous in a War against those of Norway who liked Nicolo so well that he gave him a command in his Navie and under his good conduct woon many Ilands discovered Groen-land and provided for the conquest of Estotiland also But Nicolo in the main time dying the business was pursued by his brother Antonio the King in person making one in the undertaking who liked the Country so well being once possessed of it that he built a City in it and there determining to spend the rest of his days sent back Antonio unto Freezland with the most of his People This is the substance of the story of the first Discovery published long since by one Francisco Marcellino out of the Letters of the Zeni which had they been considered of as they might have been we had not so long wanted the acquaintance of this part of the World But whether it were that their reports were esteemed as fabulous by the States of Europe or that the time was not yet ripe for this great Discovery there was nothing done
to have inhabited on the banks thereof The Fountain of it in Peru the fall in the North Sea or Mare del Nort. A River of so long a course that the said Orellana is reported to have sailed in it 5000 miles the several windings and turnings of it being reckoned in and of so violent a current that it is said to keep its natural tast and colour above 30 miles after it falleth into the Sea the channel of it of that breadth where it leaveth the Land that it is accompted 60 Leagues from one point to the other 2 Orenoque navigable 1000 miles by ships of burden and 2000 miles by Boats and Pinnaces having received into it an hundred Rivers openeth into the same Sea with 16 mouths which part the Earth into many Ilands some equal to the Isle of Wight the most remote of those Channels 300 miles distant from one another By some it is called Raliana from Sir Walter Raleigh who took great pains in the discovery and description of it or rather in discovering it so far as to be able to describe it 3 Maragnon of a longer course then any of the other affirmed to measure at the least 6000 miles from his first â—ising to his fall and at his fall into the Sea to be no less then 70 Leagues from one side to the other More properly to be called a Sea then many of those great Lakes or largest Bays which usually enjoy that name 4 Rio de la Placa a River of a less course then the other but equall unto most in the world besides in length from its first Fountain 2000 mile in breadth at his fall into the Sea about 60 Leagues and of so violent a stream that the sea for many Leagues together altereth not the taste of it All these as they do end their Race in the Atlantick so they begin it from the main body of the Andes or at the least some Spur or branch of that great body But before we venture further on more particulars we are to tell you of these Andes that they are the greatest and most noted Mountains of all America beginning at Timama a Town of Popayan in the New Realm of Granada and thence extended Southwards to the straits of Magellan for the space of 1000 Leagues and upwards In breadth about 20 Leagues where they are at the narrowest and of so vast an height withall that they are said to be higher then the Alpes or the head of Caucasus or any of the most noted Mountains in other parts of the VVorld Not easie of ascent but in certain Paths by reason of the thick and unpassable VVoods with which covered in all parts thereof which lie towards Peru for how it is on the other side or by what People it is neighboured is not yet discovered barren and craggie too withall but so full of venemous Beasts and poysonous Serpents that they are said to have destroyed a whole Army of one of the Kings of Peru in his match that way Inhabited by a People as rude and savage as the place and as little hospitable The most noted Mountains of America as before was said and indeed the greatest of the World Of â—ame sufficient of themselves not to be greatned by the addition of impossible Figments or improbable Fictions Among which last I reckon that of Abraham Ortelius a right learned man who will have these Mountains to be that which the Scripture calleth by the name of Sephar Gen. 10. 30. and there affirmed to be the utmost Eastern limit of the sons of Joktan the vanity and inconsequences of which strange conceit we have already noted when we were in India Proceed we now unto the particular descriptions of this great Peninsula comprehending those large and wealthy Countries which are known to us by the names of 1 Castella Aurea 2 The New Realm of Granada 3 Peru 4 Chile 5 Paragnay 6 Brasil 7 Guyana and 8 Paria with their severall Ilands Such other Isles as fall not properly and naturally under some of these must be referred unto the generall head of the American Ilands in the close of all OF CASTELLA DEL ORO CASTELLA del ORO Golden Castile Aurea Castella as the Latines is bounded on the East and North with Mare del Noort on the West with Mare del Zur and some part of Veragua on the South with the New Realm of Granada Called by the name of Castile with reference to Castile in Spain under the favour and good fortune of the Kings whereof it was first discovered Aurea was added to it partly for distinctions sake and partly in regard of that plenty of Gold which the first Discoverers found in it It is also called Terra Firma because one of the first parts of Firm land which the Spaniards touched at having before discovered nothing but some Ilands only The Soâ—l and People being of such several tempers as not to be included in one common Character we wâ—ll consider both apart in the several Provinces of 1 Panama 2 Darien 3 Nova Andaluzia 4 〈◊〉 5 the little Province De la Hacha 1 PANAMA or the District of Panama is bounded on the East with the Golf of Vraba by which parted from the main land of this large Peninsula on the VVest with Veragua one of the Proviâ—ces of Guatimala in Mexicana washed on both the other sides with the Sea So called of Panama the town of most esteem herein and the Juridical Resort of Castella Aurea It taketh up the narrowest part of the Streit or Isthmus which joyns both Peninsulas together not above 7 or 8 leagues over in the narrowest place betwixt Panama and Porto Bello if measured by a straâ—t line from one town to the other though 18 leagues according to the course of the Road betwixt them which by reason of the hils and rivers is full of turnings Of some attempts to dig a Channel through this Isthmus to let the one Sea into the other and of the memorable expedition of John 〈◊〉 â—ver it by land we have spoke already The Air hereof â—oggie but exceeding hot and consequently very unhealthy chiefly from May unto November the Soil either mountainous and barren or low and miery naturally so unfit for grain that 〈…〉 nothing but Maize and that but sparingly better for pasturage in regard of its plenty of grass and the goodness of it so full of Swine at the Spaniards first coming hither that they thought they never should destroy them now they complain as much of their want or paucitie As for the Inhabitants whatsoever they were formerly is not now material most of the old stock rooted out by the Spaniards and no new ones planted in their room so that the Country in all parts except towards the Sea is almost desolated or forsaken The Country as before was said of little breadth and yet full of Rivers the principal whereof 1 〈◊〉 by the Spaniards called Rio de Lagartos or the River of Crocodiles
the back and nothing on the belly she had her out-side laced with Pearls but within nothing to be found but want and hunger Their bread and water brought them out of other Countries and their Fruits too if they desired to have any here being very few Trees and those most of Guyayacan But so abundant in this Treasure that the Kings Fifths for many yeers amounted to 15000 Ducats yeerly out of this poor Iland In this respect it was presently resorted to and possessed by the Spaniards who planted here a Colony which they called New Cadiz and grew in short time unto so great power that they made themselves Masters of the Port of Maracapana Venezuela one of the best upon those Seas But in the year 1521. hearing that the Savages of Cumana had destroyed the Convent of Franciscans on the opposite Shore they cowardly forsook the Iland and fled to Hispaniola Sent back again by the Counsel there under the conduct of James de Castellon by whom the Town was made more beautiful and strong then ever formerly In great esteem as long as the Pearl fishing did continue now with that decayed Yet still the Iland doth deserve some consideration for a Fountain on the East part of it neer unto the Sea continuing though the Pearls be gone which yieldeth a Bitumineus substance like oyl Medicinable for some diseases and is found two or three Leagues off floating on the Sea more profitable for the good of Mankinde and more easily found then the Pearls which sunk unto the bottom and maintained our pride Four miles from hence but appendant to it lieth a little Iland called Coche three miles in compass but so abundantly stored with Pearls that it hath been worth in that one commodity for some moneths together above a thousand pounds a moneth of our English money First peopled upon that occasion An 1529. but the occasion failing the Plantation ended the Isle being now unpeopled as not worth the looking after 5. THE LESSER ILANDS of this Praefecture or Provincial Government lie all along upon the Coast of Venezuela from East to West the principal of which 1 Tortuga 12 or 14 miles on the West of Margarita four miles in length hardly one in breadth but yielding such good store of Salt that three or four ships are laded with it every year Well furnished with Goats and Guayacan but not else considerable except for being naturally fenced about with Rocks and yielding a convenient Harbour for the use of Marriners 2 Bonaire opposite to the Bay of Golfo triste in the Latitude of twelve Degrees well furnished with Sheep and Goats and other Cattell brought out of Spain and peopled with some Savages out of Hispaniola whom the Spaniards Christened and sent thither some Spaniards with their Governour intermixt amongst them The Iland 16 miles in compass not fruitfull naturally but in Trees which are great and numerous 3 Curacaos nine miles on the West of Bonaire and as many in compass Of a more fertile soyl by far and of very rich Pastures the People given to grazing and make great store of Cheese tramported thence to other places the Iland having towards the North a convenient Harbour 4 Aruba on the North east of Curacaos from which nine miles distant in compass not above five miles for the most part level One hill it hath amongst some others fashioned like a Sugar-loaf Inhabited by few Savages and fewer Spaniards The other Ilands on this Coast as the Tostigos lying Eastwards of Margarita 2 Blanca 3 Orchilla 4 Rocca and 5 the Isle des Aves or of Birds interposed betwixt Tortuga and Bonaire some of them rather Rocks then Ilands few stored with any living Creatures for the use of men and none of them at all with men to mannre and dress them I pass over here And so proceed from these Ilands of the Province of Paria to those which are subordinate to the Counsel of S. Domingo and make a Province of themselves But first we must go back and bring up some of the Ilands of Mare del Zur which could not be reduced to any of the former Provinces And so much of PERUANA OF THE AMERICAN ILANDS And first of those which are in MARE DEL ZUR. THE AMERICAN ILANDS scattered up and down the Shores of this New World are commonly divided into those of Mare del Zur or the Pacifique Ocean and those of the Atlantick or Mare del Noort The first so called by Magellanus the first Discoverer who passing thorow those troublesome and tempestuous Streits which now bear his name found such a change upon his coming into the Main that he gave it the name of Mare del Zur quod à tranquillitate vocavit Mare del Sur faith the Author of the Atlas Minor from the calm and peaceable temper of it By the Latines called Mare Pacisicum in the same regard Called also the Southern Ocean because of its situation on the South-side of America in reference to some part of the Golf of Mexico and the Streits of Anian Not known unto the Spaniards till discovered by Nonnius Vasques de Balboa conducted hither by one of the Caciques or petit Kings of the Country about Nombre di Dios Who seeing the Spaniards so greedy after Gold told them that he would bring them to a place where their thirst should be satisfied Accordingly he brought them to the opposite shore this Balboa being the chief man in that Adventure who discovering further on the Sea opened the way unto Pizarro and the rest that followed to the golden treasures of Peru Executed notwithstanding this good service by Don Pedro de Avila within short time after But the more full discovery of it is to be ascribed unto Magellanus and some later Adventurers though the Spaniards got nothing by the bargain For formerly as long as this Southern Sea was unknown to any but themselves they conveyed their Gold and treasures from one place to another from Panama to Peru from Peru to Panama without loss or charge and thought their Ports upon that shore to be unaccessible But after the way unto this Sea was found out by Magellanus Drake Cavendish and the rest of our English Adventurers did so scoure these Coasts that they left them neither Port nor Ship which they did not ransack as hath been evidenced before in some particulars As for the Ilands of this Sea they lie most of them so neer the shores as if placed there by Nature to serve as Out-works to defend the Continent Many in tale but few of consideration and of those few some of the chief have been described already in their proper places as parts and members of the Province upon which they lie The residue which lie too far off to come under such consideration must be mentioned here and those reduced to these two Heads 1 Los Ladrones 2 the Ilands of John Fernandes 1. LOS LADRONES are certain Ilands situate betwixt the main Land of America
Baldwin the second 15 Baldwin IV. son of Baldwin the third 16 Baldwin V. son of Baldwin the fourth 17 Baldwin VI. of Hainalt and VIII of Flanders in right of Margaret his wife sister and heâ—r of Philip of Elsas Earl of Flanders 1199 18 Baldwin VIII of Hainalt and IX of Flanders Emperour of Constantinople 1295 19 Joan Countesse of Hainalt and Flanders first married to Ferdinand of Portugal and then to Thomas Earl of Savoy 1244 20 Margaret the younger sister of Joan married to William of Bourbon Lord of Dampierre by whom she had William and Guy both Earls of Flanders 21 John de Avesnes base son of Margaret begot before her marriage by Buschart her Guardian the Porter of S. Peters in L'Isle by force and fraud extorted Hainalt from his Brethren born in lawfull wedlock and married Aleide daughter and heir of Florence the 4. Earl of Holland whose successours in both Estates we shall meet with there and amongst them with William the 2. father of Queen Philippa wife of Edward the 3. one of the most considerable of all the number The Arms hereof are quarterly Flanders and Holland 4. The Bishoprick of CAMBRAY Southward with Hainalt lieth the Bishoprick of CAMBRAY containing a goodly Town and territory reckoned of anciently as a part of Hainalt now a state distinct rather confederate with the Princes of the Netherlands then subject to them The Principall City hereof is Cambray called in Latine Cameracum seated on both sides of the River Scheld a fair goodly and mighty City full of people many of which are rich Merchants but all of them industrious especially in making that fine linnen Cloth from hence called Camerac or Cambrick The private buildings very fair but the publick much fairer especially the Monasteries and other Churches of which the most remarkable is that of our Ladie an ancient and sumptuous fabrick and the See Episcopall From whence the countrey and territory hereunto adjoyning is called Cambresis in which are divers Villages and places of importance the chief of which is Chasteau Cambresis six leagues from the City remarkable for the treaty held there betwixt France and Spain anno 1559. in which a peace was happily setled amongst all the chief Princes of Christendome 2. Avesnes le sec so called to distinguish it from Avesnes in Hainalt near which are digged excellent white stones for building little inferiour unto Marble This Bishoprick was founded in the person of S. Diogenes a Grecian born Anno 390. or thereabouts Whose Successours in tract of time became so potent that at the last the Bishop hereof became both the Lord spirituall and temporall of the Town and territory honoured with the title of a Duke and Prince of the Empire and in the end made an Arch-bishop by Pope Paul the 4. anno 1562. The City of Cambray made Imperiall by the Germane Emperours was first by Henry the fift given in protection to Robert of Hierusalem Earl of Flanders afterwards setled and confirmed on all his Successours by the Emperour Frederick anno 1164. Which notwithstanding the French finding it convenient for them divers times possessed it but governing with too great insolence they were driven out by the people in the time of Lewis the 11. and the town yeelded voluntarily unto Maximilian governour of these countries for his son Philip. Charles the 5. in the year 1543. built a strong Citadell in it pretending that he did it for defence of the Town against the French but indeed to keep it for himself After this it was taken by the Duke of Alenson brother of Henry the 3. of France then Governour of the Netherlands anno 1582. but regained not long after by the Spaniards the Inhabitants giving up the Town for want of victuals Since that continually possessed by the Spaniards but so that the people still enjoy their ancient priviledges and are governed by their own lawes and Bishops 5. NAMVR The Earldome of NAMVR hath on the East Hainalt on the West the Bishoprick of Leige on the North Brabantâ— and on the South Luxenbourg The countrey very small containing only 182. Villages and four walled Towns but plentifull of all commodities and replenished with a loyall and industrious people Particularly the aire hereof is very wholesome the countrey watered with many rivers and pleasant brooks amongst which the Sambre and the Maes which besides the benefit of portage yeeld great plenty of fish The hils whereof it hath not many clothed with woods abounding with all kinde of fowle and venison the vallies eminently fruitfull of all sorts of grain rich mines of Lead quarries of Marble of all colours as also of Porphyrie or Jasper and great plenty of Coal but in mines of Iron so abounding and that continually hammered by a painfull people that Vulcans forge may seem to be restored to the world again and seated here which as it makes the people wealthy so it keeps them from idlenesse And as for the Nobility they are generally valiant given to all military exercises fit for their degrees and very affectionate to their Prince the greatest vertue of a subject Walled Towns it hath but four as before was said that is to say 1. Namur the chief of all the Province where resideth the Councell for the countrey from which lyeth no appeal but to Machlyn only Seated between two hils on both sides of the Sambre which doth there fall into the Meuse The City rich inhabited for the most part by the Nobility defended with a strong Castle and beautified with a fair Cathedrall founded here in the Church of S. Albin anno 1559. Not farre off in the Villages of Ardenne and Monstier are two Nunneries of Ladies like those of Montz and Maubuige spoken of in Hainalt 2. Bovines upon the Meuse sacked by the French anno 1554. since repaired and fortified 3. Charlemont a small Town but of most exact fortifications built by Charles the 5. anno 1555. to oppose the French who had then possessed themselves of Mariemburg a Town of Halnalt 4. Valencourt a little Town but standing in a goodly and fruitfull countrey Of the Villages the chief is Doue seated on the Meuse or Maes fortified with a strong Castle and honoured with the title of a Viscountie 2. Floren 3. Vascie and 4. Sausin of much beauty and greatnesse The ancient Inhabitants of this countrey were a part of the Nervii first made an Earldone by some of the descendents of the sons of Clodius the second King of the French who being dispossessed of their Fathers kingdome by Meroveus the Master of his horse to whom he had committed the guardianship or tuition of them were forced to betake themselves to the most defensible parts of the great forrest of Ardenne and the parts adjoyning where they founded the great Earldome of Ardenne divided in succeeding times into many parcels of which this was one By what and by how many Earls possessed I am yet to learn but sold it was by John
the last Earl unto Philip the Good continuing ever since in the house of Burgundie or in their right in those of Austria and Spain The Armes hereofate Or a Lyon Sable debruised with a Bend Gules 6. LVXENBOVRG LVXENBOVRG is bounded on the East with the Mosette and the land of Triers on the West with the Meuse or Maes and a branch of the forrest of Ardenne on the North with Luyck-land Namur and a part of Hainalt and on the South with the Dutchie of Lorrain Divided into two parts the Eastern part being called Fanenne fruitfull of corn and yeelding withall some wines some mines and many excellent quarries of goodly stone the Western called the Ardenne a remainder of that spacious Forrest which sometimes overshadowed all this countrey barren of corn but very plentifull of Venison and of Fowle good store The people of this country are not all of one language those nearer Germanie as in Luxenbourg Arlune Rodemark Theonville and the rest on that side speaking the Dutch as those of Ivois Mommedi Morvill and Damvilliers with the rest bordering on France do a corrupt or broken French In which regard the pleadings held before the Councell residing in Luxenbourg are made in both Languages that so they may be understood by all that have businesse there But the Nobility and Gentry of which there is more in this Province then in any other of the seventeen speak both Tongues perfectly A breed of men full of vertue curtesie and hospitality towards one another and of great truth and faith to their Prince but reckoned for the worst Landlords in all these countries governing their Subjects and Tenants like the Pesants of France contrary to the use and liberties of the rest of the Netherlands Both sorts as well the Nobility as the Commons hate both Law and Lawyers and for the most part end their controversies amongst themselves without any processe The whole countrey containeth in compasse about 70. leagues or 200. Italian miles in which are comprehended 23. walled Towns and 1168. Burroughs and Villages The principall of which are 1. Lucembourg built in the place where anciently stood the Augusta Veromanduorum of Ptolemie and took this new name quasi Lucis burgum from the image of the Sun there worshipped seated on the Alsnutius or Alze which runneth through it large and of a strong situation but not very well built nor yet recovered of the spoils which the long wars betwixt the French and the Spaniard brought upon it before the treaty of Cambray However it is the chief Town of the Province honoured with the residence of the Councell hereof and the Sepulchre of John K. of Bohemia slain in the battell of Crecie against the English anno 1348. 2. Arlune on the top of an high hill so called quasi Aralunae from an Altar consecrated to the Moon in the times of Paganisme 3. Theonville on the Moselle over which it hath a goodly bridge a frontier Town near Metz and the border of Lorrain and for that cause made marvellous strong but taken by the French anno 1558. and restored the next year by the peace of Cambray 4. Bostoack a fair Town and very well traded commonly called the Paris of Ardenne in which part it standeth 5. Mommedi on an high hill at the foot of which runneth the River Chiers 6. Danvilliers once a very strong place also both taken and ransacked by the French anno 1552. 7. Morville upon the Chiers the one half whereof belongeth to the Duke of Lorrain the other to the King of Spain as Duke of Luxenbourg for which cause called Laville commune 8. Rock di March fortified with a strong Castle 9. Ivoys a place once of great importance sacked by the French anno 1552. and restored by the treaty of Cambray on condition it should never more be walled 10. La Ferte on the Chiers a Town of the same condition In the skirts of this countrey towards France standeth the Dukedome of Bovillon and the principality of Sedan distinct Estates and in the hands of severall Owners yet so that the Soveraign of Sedan is stiled Duke of Bovillon Towns of most note 1. Bovillon the chief Town built on the side of an hill near the River Senoy a fair large City and beautified with a goodly Castle on the top of an hill so strong as well by Art as Nature that before the use of great Ordnance it was held impregnable but since it hath been often taken sometimes by the Emperours and finally anno 1552. by the French King It hath command over a fair and goodly Territory honoured with the title of a Dutchy and is now in the hands of the Bishops of Leige to one of whose Predecessors named Obert it was sold by Godfrey of Bovillon Duke of Lorrain at his going to the Holy-land 2. Sedan or Esdain situate on the banks of the Maes or Mosa the usuall residence of the Prince a fine neat Town well fortified and planted with 80. brasse Pieces of Ordnance honoured also with a seat of Learning which being of a middle nature betwixt a Grammar Schoole and an University is in the Criticisme of these times called a Scholaillustris to which men may send their children to learn good letters though they can take in them no Degrees that being a priviledge reserved only to the Universities So that these Schooles may be somewhat like our Collegiate Churches of Westminster Winchester and Eaton but that the younger Students in these last named are more reâ—trained to Rhetorick and Grammar then in the other though these more liberally indowed for the incouragement and reward of learning then all the Scholae illusâ—res of either Germanie 3. Loni 4. Mouson Musonium it is called in Latine a Town of great strength and consequence on the River Maes upon some jealousies of State garrison'd by the French as some other good Peers of this Dukedome are 5. Sausi and 6. Florenge which two last came unto the Princes of Sedan by the Lady Jone the wife of Robert Earl of Mark and mother of that Robert Earl of Mark who first of all this house was honoured with the title of Duke of Bovillon All taken and levelled with the ground by Charles the 5. in his war against Robert Earl of Mark and Duke of Bovillon but afterwards repaired on the peace ensuing 7. Jamais a Town of great importance on the edge of Lorrain by the Duke whereof in the year 1589 it was taken after a long siege from the Lady Charlotte the last Heire Generall of this House and laid unto that Dukedome as a part thereof As for the Dukedome of Bovillon it was anciently a part of the great Earldome of Aâ—denne by Geofrey of Ardenne Duke of Bovillon united to the Dukedome of Lorrain at his investiture in that estate anno 1004. By Geofrey the 2. of that name and fift Duke of Lorrain it was given in Dower to his Sister Ida at her marriage with Eustaâ— Earl of
the second Sonne of Saladine succeeded upon this Exchange in the Realm of Damascus murdered not long after by his Uncle Saphradine 8. Saphradine the Brother of Saladine having barbariously murdered eight of the Sonnes of Saladine the youngest called Saphradine escaping onely who was after Sultan of Aleppo possessed himself of the Kingdome of Damascus left at his death to Corradine his Sonne or Nephew 9. Corradine Sonne or Nephew to the Tyrant Saphradine was by him at his death left Sultan of Damascus to which all Syria and Palestine were then made Provincials But the treacheries and murders of Saphradine crying loud for vengeance Haulon the Tartar in the year 1262. having taken the King of Damascus Prisoner but whether Corradine or some other I am not able to say brought him before the walls of the City threatning to kill him in the sight of his people if they did not deliver it unto him Which the Citizens refusing to do the wretched King was torn in peeces and the City taken by assault the Kingdome by the Conquerors conferred upon Agab the Sonne of Haalon And so ended the Selzuccian family of the Kings of Damascus in the person of Corradine or the Sonne of Corradine most miserably murdered by the Tartars as it had done in Egypt 17 years before in the person of Melechsela and Elmutam the Sonne of Meledine as villainously disposed and murdered by the Mamalucks So slippery is the foundation of those Kingdomes which are laid in blood Nor did this Kingdome hold long in the hands of the Tartars recovered from them in short time by the Mamalucise then Kings of Egypt from them once more regained by the furious Tamerlane who in the year 1400. besieged Damascius with an Army of 1200000. men if the number be not mistaken and one Cypher added more than should in pursuite whereof he filled up the ditches with his Prisoners put all the people to the sword and with great art raised three Towers as a trophey of his victory built with the heads of those whom he had so slaughtered A man so strangely made up of vice and vertues that it is hard to say which had the predominancie But the violence of this tempest being overblown the Mamalucks from whom he had also conquered the Kingdome of Egypt recovered Syria by degrees and repaired Damascus continuing in their power till the year 1516 when Selimus the first discomsited amâ—sâ—n Gaurus the Aegyptian Sultan in the fields of Aleppo Upon the newes whereof the Citizens of Damascus fearing the spoil of their rich City then of very great trading set open their Gates unto the Victors as did all the other Cities and Towns of Syria by their Example By means whereof without any more blows the Turks became Lords of all this Country as the next year of Egypt also by the vanquishment and death of Tonombeius who succeeded Campson so rooting out the name and government of the Mamalucks and adding those rich Kindomes to the Turkish Empire And so much for Syria MOVNT HERMON IN our passage out of Coele-Syria into Palestine we must cross Mount Hermon a ledge of hills which beginning at the East point of the Anti-Libanus bend directly South in different places and by several Nations called by divers names By Ptolomy called Alsadamus by the Amorites Samir by the Phoenicians Syrion by that name remembered in the book of Psadmes But Alsadamus they are called onely where they border upon Coele-Syria Where they begin to part the Region of Traconitis from Arabis-Deserta they are called by Moses and the Scriptures Hermon part of the Kingdome of Og the King of Basan as is said Josuah chap. 12. ver 6. Syrion by the Sidonians as is affirmed Deut. chap. 3. v. 9. Running farther after this unto the South they are called Gilead or Galaad by Strabo Trachonitae after the name of the Region along which they pass and are conceived to be the highest part of all Mount Labanus or rather of that long Ridge of Mountains which there take beginining And so we are to understand the words of the Prophet Jeremie saying Galaad tu mihi caput Libani as the Vulgar readeth it That is to say that as the head is the highest part of a man so these hills or this part of them was the highest of all the branches or spurres of Livanus Called Galeed by Jacob from that heap of stones which was there laid by Laban and Jacob to be a witness of the Covenant which was made betwixt them Con. 31 ver 27. the word signifying in the Original an heap of Witnesses And Laban said this heap 〈◊〉 between me and thee this day therefore was the name of it called Galeed ver 28. By these hills and the main body of the Anti-Libanus lying on the North and the Mountaines of Phoenicia and lanmaea on the West the land of Palestine is so shut up on every side that no Foretress can be stronger by wit or Art than that Countrey by Nature the passages in some parts so narrow as hardly to afford passage for a single person Clauditur undig montibus hinc abruptis rupibus et profundis vallibus concursu Torrentium inde altis et implexis anfractibus sic contractis ut per angustos colles vix pateat transitus viatori as my Author hath it I forgot to adde that that part of these hills which commonly is known in Scripture by the name of Hermon is in one place thereof called Sihon as Deut 4 ver 48. where it is said that the Israelites possessed the Land from Aroer on the bank of the River Arnon even to Mount Sion which is Hermon as also that one of the highest tops or Summits of it had the name of Amana alluded to by Solomon in the fourth of the Canticles by some mistaken for Amanus a branch of Taurus which divides Syria from Cilicia in the Lesser Asia with which Solomon had but small or no acquaintance And so having cleared our selves of so much of this Mountain as lay before us in our way we palestine where we shall meet with it again or rather with the Western parts and branches of it under the names of Gilead and Trachonitis as a part of that Country OF PALESTINE PALESTINE is bounden on the East with the Hills last mentioned by which parted from Coelo-Syria and Arabia-Deserta on the West with the Mediterranean Sea and some part of Phoenicia on the North with the Anti-Libanus which divides 〈◊〉 from Syria and the rest of Phoenicia and on the South with some part of Arabia Petraea It was first called Palestine from the Philistims the most potent Nation of those parts A name first found in the History of Herodotus but generally used in times succeeding by the Greeks Romanâ— And this I look on as the proper and adaequate name of the whole Countrey according to the bounds before laid down the others by which commonly called being more restrained and properly belonging to so much
behalf of Henry the seventh of England who discovered all the North-east Coasts hereof from the Cape of Florida in the South to New found land and Terra di Laborador in the North causing the American Roytelets to turn all Homagers to that King and the Crown of England Followed herein by divers private Adventurers and undertakers out of all parts of Europe bordering on the Ocean Ferdinand Magellanus was the first that compassed the whole World and found the South Passage called Fretum Magellanicum to this day followed herein by Drake and Cavendish of England Frobisher and Davies attempted a Discovery of the North-west passage Willoughby and Burroughs of the North-east So that according to that elegant saying of the learned Verulam in his Advancement of learning this great building the World had never thorow lights made in it till these our dayes by which as almost all parts of Learning so in especiall this of Navigation and by consequence of Cosmographie also hath obtained an incredible proficiency in these later times For in the Infancy and first Ages of the World pardon me I beseech you this short but not unprofitable digression men lived at home neither intent upon any â—orreign Merchandise not inquisitive after the Lives and Fortunes of their Neighbours or in the Language of the Poet Nondum caesa suis peregrinum ut viseret Orbem Montibus in liquidas Pinus descenderat undas The Pine left not the Hils on which it stood To seek strange Lands or rove upon the Flood But when the Providence of God had instructed Noah how to build the Ark for the preservation of himself and his children from the general Deluge the Posterity which descended from him had thereby a pattern for the making of Ships and other Vessels perfected in more length of time whereby to make the waters passable and maintain a necessary intercourse betwixt Nation and Nation T is true the Heathen Writers which knew not Noah attribute the invention of shipping to sundry men according to such informations or traditions as they had received Strabo to Minos King of Crete Diodorus Siculus to Neptune who was therefore called the God of the Seas and Tibullus to the People of Tyre a Town indeed of great wealth and traffick and the most famous Empory of the elder times saying Prima ratem ventis credere docta Tyrus The Tyrians first the Art did finde To make Ships travell with the winde And questionless the Tyrians and the rest of the Phoenicians enjoying a large Sea-coast and many safe and capacious Havens being in these times most strong at Sea and making so many fortunate Navigations into most parts of the then known World might give the Poet some good colour for his affirmation From the Phoenicians the Egyptians their next neighbours might derive the Art of Navigation though being an ingenuous People they did add much to it For whereas the first Vessels were either made of the body of some great Tree made hollow by the Art of man or else of divers boards fashioned into a Boat and covered with the skins of Beasts such as are still in use amongst these Americans the Phoenicians brought them first into strength and form but the Egyptians added Decks unto them By Danaus King of Egypt when he fled from his brother Rameses the use of shipping was first brought amongst the Grecians who before that time knew no other way of crossing their narrow Seas but on Beams or Rasters tied to one another Nave primus aâ— Egypto Danaus advenit ante cnim Ruibus navigabatur as it is in Plinie where we may see the true and genuine difference betwixt Ratis and Navis though now both used indifferently for all sorts of shipping Amongst the Grecians those of Crete were the ablest Sea-men which gave occasion to Aristotle to call Crete the Lady of the Sea and to Strabo to make Mino the Inventor of Ships In following times the Carthaginians being a Colony of Tyre were most considerable in this kinde and by the benefit of their shipping much distressed the Romans But so it hapned as all things do and must concur to Gods publick purposes in the alteration of Estates that a Tempest separating a Quinqueremis or Gallie of five banks of Oars from the rest of the Carthaginian Fleet cast it on the shore of Italy by which accident the Romans learning the Art of Ship-wrights soon became Masters of the Sea That France and Spain were taught the use of shipping by the Greeks and Phoenicians is a thing past questioning Marseilles in the one being a Phocean and Gades in the other a Tyrian Colony As for the Belgians and the Britains it is probable that they first learnt it of the Romans though formerly they had some way to transport themselves from one shore to the other For Casar telleth us of the Belgae Ad eos Mercatores minimeè commeant that they were not at all visited by Forraign Merchants And the same Caesar found the Seas betwixt France and Britain so ill furnished with Vessels that he was sain to make ships to transport his Army Singulari Militum studio circiter sexcentas duodetriginta Naves invenit as his own words are Having thus brought Navigation to the greatest height which it had in those days let us look back again on the Inventors of particular Vessels and the Tackle unto them belonging That the Phoenicians first invented open Vessels and the Egyptians Ships with Decks hath been said before and unto them also is referred the Invention of Gallies with two Banks of Oars upon aside which kinde of Vessels grew so large in the course of time that Ptolomy Philopator is said to have made a Callie of 50 banks Great Ships of burden called Ciraera we owe to the Cypriots Cock boats or Skiffs Scaphas to the Illyrians or Liburnians Brigantines Celoces to the Rhodians and Frigots or light Barks Lembos unto the Cyrenians The Phaselis and Pamphyli which we may render Men of War were the invention of the Pamphylians and the Inhabitants of Phaselis a Town of Lycia in Asia Minor As for Tackle the Boeotians invented the Oar Daedalaus and his son Icarus the Masts and Sails Which gave occasion to the Poets to seign that flying out of Crete they made wings to their bodies and that Icarus soaring too high melted the VVax which fastened his wings unto his shoulders and thereby perished the truth being that presuming too much on this new invention he ran himself upon a Rock and was cast away For Hippagines vessels for the transporting of Horse we are indebted to the Salaminians for grapling hooks to Anacharsis for Anchors to the Tuscans and for the Rudder Helm or Art of Steering to Typhis the chief Pâ—lot in the famous Argo who noting that a Kite when she flew guided her whole body by her Tail effected that in the devices of Art which he had observed in the works of Nature By these helps some great Voyages were performed