of the nation to the South and East are fully accomplished the Sea-coasts of Afrique Brasil Asia perfectly viewed forts colonies of the Portugalls planted in convenient places the way to the East Indies by the backe of Afrique traced out the riches of the East brought by Sea into Europe the great navies and armies of the Aegyptian Sultans of other barbarous Princes discomfited ouerthrowne and no small part of Aethiopia India Persia subdued or made tributary Iohn the third son to Emanuel Sebastian son to Iohn Prince of Portugal son to Iohn the third With more then youthfull folly adventuring his person against the Moores in Afrique yong vnmarried without any knowne successour that might continue the house he was there vnfortunately slaine at the battaile of Alcaçar in the yeare 1578. Henry the second Cardinall and Bishop of Evoâ—a son to king Emanuel In this Prince being a Priest vnmarried and leauing no heires ended the line masculine of the kings of Portugal He deceased in the yeare 1580. Philip son to the Emperour Charles the fift Isabel daughter to king Emmanuel the first Monarch of Spaine since the Gothes his Competitour Don Antonio naturall son to Lewes son to king Emmanuel driuen out Philip the third son to Philip the second Philip the fourth son to Philip the third By this meanes after so many chaunges and successions Spaine as hath beene declared is become at this day divided into three distinct kingdomes vnited vnder one Monarch but otherwise differing in Lawes in the manner of their government 1 of Castille Leon whereof Navarra Granado are parts 2 of Aragon 3 of Portugal contayning together 18 lesser divisions or Provinces 1 of Portugall betwixt the rivers Minio Duero 2 betwixt the Duero Taio 3 betwixt the Taio Guadiana 4 Castillia la Veia 5 Castillia la Nueva 6 Asturia 7 Biscaia 8 Galitia 9 Guipuscoa 10 Navarra 11 Estremadura 12 Andaluzia 13 Granado 14 Murcia 15 Aragonia 16 Valentia 17 Catalonia 18 and the Land of Russillon The occasions of the names of Portugall Castille we haue before related Galitia Asturia were called thus from the Calaeci and Astures their auncient inhabitants Guipuscoa Biscaia corruptly from the Vascones intruding hereinto Granado Murcia Valentia from their chiefe cities thus named Aragonia from the riuer Arga or Aragon where the state begun Navarra from the more euen plainer situation thereof Andaluzia from the Vandals or Silingi there sometimes inhabiting Russillon from the auncient Castle so named Estremadura from the riuer Duero beyond the which it lay the bounds sometimes of the Christians Moores the name in continuance of time being remoued further from the riuer Southward vnto the Guadiana as it hapned vpon the like occasion vnto those of Northumberland in England and Austria or Oosterriech in Germany The name of Catalonia some haue drawne from the Catti and Alani there inhabiting together Others from the Catalauni an ancient French people Both vncertainly Their descriptions follow THE SEAVENTH BOOKE Contayning the Chorographicall description of Spaine PORTVGAL BOunded vpon the South and West with the Atlantique Ocean intercepted betwixt the rivers Guadiana and Duero vpon the North with the rivers Minio and Avia dividing it from Galicia and vpon the East with a line from the towne of Ribadania standing vpon the Avia drawne by the river Duero and the towne of Miranda vnto the Guadiana a litle below Badaios then with the river Guadiana continued from thence vnto the Ocean dividing it from Andaluzia Estremadura and the two Castilles It contayneth 400 miles in length in breadth where it is widest 100 miles where it is narrowest fourescore miles The country is healthy pleasant but not so fruitfull yeelding litle corne shipped hither for the greatest part from neighbouring countries enriched chiefely by meanes of the trade of the nation in Afrique Brasil and the Indies and rather by forreine then home-bred coÌ„modities It is divided into the parts named from their situations betwixt the Taio and Guadiana betwixt the Taio and the Duero and betwixt the Duero and Minio PORTVGAL BETVVIXT THE TAIO AND GVADIANA THis is the most wilde and desert part of the kingdome dry leane asperous peopled with few townes neither those very populous The South part hereof is named Algarve divided from the rest of the countrey by a line drawne from the Guadiana betwixt the litle rivulets Vataon and Careiras Westwards vnto the litle towne of Odeseiza vpon the Moores and with that title given to Alfonsus the third by Alfonsus the tenth king of Castille continued since in his Successours stiled now Kings of Portugal Algarve Chiefe townes here are Elvis Portelegre Bishops Sees Beia supposed to be Pax Iulia of Pliny Ptolemy then a Roman colonie and one of the 3 juridicall resorts of Lusitania The towne is meane and ill inhabited Setunel Salacia of Ptolemy now a noted port situated at the mouth of the river Palma Evora Ebora of Pliny Antoninus surnamed Faelicitas Iulia and free of the rights of the auncient Latines now an Arch-bishops See and Vniversity founded of late yeares by Cardinall Henry afterwards king of Portugall seated in the middest of a spacious pleasant plaine surrounded with wooddy mountaines the chiefe towne of the countrey Olivença beyond the river Guadiana in the parts belonging sometimes vnto Baetica In the kingdome of Algarve Tavila Balsa of Ptolemy Pliny Faro supposed to be Ossonoba of Ptolemy and Antoninus Lagos all three noted parts vpon the Ocean More within the land Sylvis a Bishops See Neere to Lagos lyeth the noted Promontory de Santo Vincente named thus from the reliques of that holy Martyr brought hither from Valentia by certaine persecuted Christians flying the cruelty of Abderrahmen the first king of the Spanish Moores remoued afterwards to Lisbona by king Ferdinand Strabo Ptolemy call it Promontorium Sacrum adjudged then to be the furthest point of the world towards the West The auncient inhabitants of this part of the kingdome were the Celtici and Turdetani of Ptolemy and Strabo continuate with those other of the same names inhabiting Baetica Strabo nameth the wedge of land where lyeth the Promontory Cuneum called thus from the forme thereof PORTVGAL BETVVIXT THE TAIO AND DVERO COntayning the part of the countrie lying betwixt those two rivers Chiefer townes are Lisbona Oliosipon of Ptolemy Olisipon of Antoninus Olyssippo of Solinus Olysipo of Pliny a municipium of the Romans surnamed Faelicitas Iulia afterwards made a kingdome of the Moores then vpon the surprisall thereof by Alfonsus the first the royall seate of the Kings of Portugal now an Archbishops seate the residence of the Vice-royes and a populous and flourishing Empory the staple of all the Merchandise comming from the conquests of the Portugals situated vpon fiue rising hills vpon the right shore of the river Taio and about fiue miles from the
otherwise called Gallia Togata from the Roman habite and greater civility of the people conquered by the Romans before the other and brought vnto their manners and custome of liuing This was a part of Italy as it is at this day accompted more aunciently possessed by the Thuscans and first chaunging into this new name vpon the comming of the Gaules from beyond the Alpes desbourding hither vnder Bellovesus Nephew to Ambigatus King of the Celtae in the raigne of Tarquinius Priscus King of Rome those auncient inhabitants driuen out subduing the Country and planting therein The bounds hereof were the Alpes of France and Germany dividing it from those Continents the Tirrhene and Adriatique Seas and the riuers Arno Rubicon falling thereinto and dividing it from the rest of Italy It contayned the parts where now lye the great Dukedome of Milan those other of Mantua Ferrara Parma and Vrbin the States of Genoa and Lucca Marca Trevisana and the country of Venice Romagna Piemonte and the dominions of the great Duke of Tuscanye lying West of the riuer Arno. They were the Gaules of this division famous in auncient times for their taking and sacking of the city of Rome and their great Conquests and victories in Greece and Asia before mentioned After long and fierce warres with the Romans the country and people became at length totally subdued by that nation which their finall subiection hapned a little before the Second Punique warre and about the yeare of Rome 531 M. Claudius Marcellus and Cn. Cornelius Scipio being then Consuls For it was in the Consulships hereof as in the 3 d Booke of Eutropius that their last war herewith was ended commenced against the Insubrians Concerning the after estate hereof since it was no part of the more auncient and proper Gaule see Italy GAVLE TRANSALPINA GAule Transalpina was divided from Gaule Cisalpina with the Alpes being bounded on the other sides with the Pyrenaean mountaines from Spaine the riuer Rhijn from Germany with the Sea Mediterranean and the Aquitanique and the British Oceans It comprehended at this day the Wallons and Low Countreyes as farre as the Rhijn the Dukedomes of Lorraine Gulick Sweyburg Savoy the free County of Burgundie Elsace Luick the district of Triers Stiff van Colen the Diocese of Mentz parts of the Lower Palatinate Dukedome of Cleve the most part of the Cantons and Confederacy of the Switzers together with the great and renowned kingdome of France the subject of this present discourse This was the true and proper Gallia whose sundry fortunes and estates successions and alterations follow GAVLE VNDER THE FIRST NATIVES THE first dominion hereof was vnder the Gaules occasioning the name of the Country whose antiquity and first comming hither lye without the reach of History or times memory a people much renowned for armes the victorious Conquerours of neighbouring and remote nations themselues for a long time remaining vnconquerable Their government during their first and rude times was vnder kings divided amongst many Amongst these we read of Ambigatus king of the Bituriges or Celtae Teutomalius of the Salyi Bituitus of the Auverni with others not worth the mentioning In the time of Caesar they consisted for the most part of Common-wealths the name authority of kings abrogated The first of forreine Nations flowing hereinto were the Germans intruding vpon the parts neighbouring to the Rhijn from whom the many people of the warlike Belgae were descended The certaine time of their comming is not set downe In the raigne of Tarquin the Proud king of the Romans and in the 45 Olympiade arriue here the Phocenses a Graecian people inhabiting Phocaea a City of Ionia in Asia the lesse subdued and driuen out of their Country by Harpagus generall of the army of Cyrus Monarke of the Persians the founders here of the noble city of Massilia the mother of the many after flourishing colonies of Emporiae Nicaea Forum-Iulium Taurentium Olbia vpon the sea-coast hereof and of Spaine GAVLE CONQVERED BY THE ROMANS THe Romans were the first who for the desire of rule and the greater enlargement of their Empire invaded this country About the yeare of Rome 628. M. Fulvius Flaccus and M. Plautius being then Consuls pretending the iniurie of their cōfederates the Massillians fell out here their first war with the Salyi subdued by this Fulvius and by the succeeding Consul C. Sextius together with their neighbours the Vocontij Ligures Vpon occasion of this war and of the protection aide of Teutomalius King of the Salyi in the yeares of Rome 631 and 632 hapned their next wars with the Allobroges assisted by the Auverni managed successiuely by two of their Consuls Cn Domitius Ahenobardus and Q. Fabius Maximus the issue whereof was the captivity of Bituitus king of the Auverni with great slaughter of the Barbarians and the subjection of the whole Southerne part hereof extended from the sea Mediterranean vnto the Mountains Cemmeni called afterwards Gaule Narbonensis first reduced into the order of a Province as thinketh Sigonius by this Fabius in the yeare 633 of Romes foundation and some 5 yeares after that the wars with this Nation beyond the Alpes first begun Some 70 yeares afterwards C. Iulius Caesar governour of the province in ten yeares space by a long and bloody war conquered the rest hereof lying North of the Mountaines Cemmeni and knowne by the name of Gallia Comata all which he reduced vnder the forme of a Province governed by their Proconsuls and other names of Magistrates vntill the expiration of the Roman Empire In the raignes and Consulships of the Emperours Honorius Theodosius the second and about the yeare of Rome 1164 and of Christ 412 by the gift of Honorius the Gothes vnder their king Ataulphus first entred into and tooke possession of Gaule Narbonensis followed immediatly after by the Burgundians and Frenchmen with whose swarmes the whole in a short space became ouerspread the Roman authority and Empire as the name of Gaule becomming hereby quite extinguished THE DESCRIPTION OF GAVLE VNDER THE FIRST ROMAN EMPEROVRS THe first division hereof during the Roman government and those first times we finde in Caesar to haue beene into the parts of Aquitania contayned betwixt the Pyrenaean Mountaines and the riuer Garonne Celtica extended betwixt the Garonne the Seine Marne and of Belgica reaching from those two rivers of the Marne and Seine vnto the Rhijn and the Ocean He excludeth Narbonensis from the accompt and name of Gaule doubtles in regard of the civility of the inhabitants by their long commerce and acquaintance with the Romans then growne altogether Italianate and differing from the other in fashion and maner of living Augustus Caesar notwithstanding afterwards correcting this division added Gaule Narbonensis herevnto making hereby 4 parts or provinces of the whole Gaule Narbonensis Aquitania enlarged vnto the Loire Celtica or Lugdunensis and Belgica a division long afterwards
Then in the raigne of the Emperour Valentinian the first with the Scots and Picts sorraging Bretaigne and with the Frenchmen Gaâ—â—e It was after this in the raigne of the Emperours Valentinian the third and Marcianus that accompanyed with the Angli and Vitae they subdued Bretaigne giuing the name of England vnto the best and largest part of that great and famous Iland Their first dwelling was after Ptolemies description wholy beyond the Elb bounding according to Chytrâ—us vpon that river vpon the South on the Ocean vpon the West vpon the Cimbri on the North and on the East vpon the Tentones and Tentonoari and inhabiting where now is the Dukedome of Holstein In the time of the latter Roman Emperours passing over the Elb they spread Southwards as farre as the French whether beating out the ancient inhabitants or which is more probable communicating vnto them this their more noble and victorious name For otherwise it is altogether impossible that so small a nation as these were in Ptolemies time should of themselues possesse and fill so large and spatious a country The Westerne Empire overthrowne the French withdrawing towards the heart of Gaule they enlarged to the Rhijn vnto against Colen Their more precise bouÌ„ds in the raigne of the Emperour Charles the Great was vpon the North the riuer Eydore dividing them from the Danes vpon the West first the Ocean betwixt the riuer Eydore and the Rhijn then the Rhijn from the mouth or fall thereof vnto about Colen parting them from France vpon the East first a line from Stargard vpon the sea Balticke drawne vnto the Elb about Hamburg then the Elb from about Hamburg vnto the meeting of that riuer with the Saltza then the Saltza together seuering them from the Sclaâ—es Winithi and vpon the South the Thuringians now Duringen and Hessen They contained nowe the Dukedomes of Holstein Wagerland excepted of Brunswijck and Lâ—nenburg the Bishops of Bremen Ferden Hildesheim Halberstat and Meydburg the Earledome of Mansfeldt the old Marches of Brandenburg Westphalia the two Freislandts and Over-Ysel with parts of Gelderlanâ—t and Hollandt They were divided into 4 distinct nations or parts of the Saxons beyond the Elb comprehended betwixt that riuer the Ocean and the rivers Eydore and Trave and containing now Holstein of the Ostphali contained betwixt the Elb the Ocean and the riuers Weser and Saâ—tza and containing now the fiue Bishopricks before mentioned and the Dukedomes of Brunswijck and Lunenburg of the Angriuarij coasting along the South-west shore of the Weser now the part of Westpâ—alia where lie the townes of Wildehusen Minden Hervorden Lâ—â—gow Osenburg Diepholt Soest Waldes Arnsbâ—rg with Surland in the diocese of Colen of the Westphali now the rest of moderne Westphalia extended vnto the Rhâ—â— coÌ„preheÌ„ding now the Dukedome of Bergâ—Ì„ the Earledome of Marck Tremond Wesel Embrick Zutphen Relinghâ—seâ— Benthem Mâ—ster with others After sundry revolts from vnder the French by which nation vnder their princes Clâ—tarius Charles Mâ—â—tel Carlomâ—n Pepin they had divers timeâ— before beene vanquished and made tributarie they were at length after 35. yeares warre vtterly subdued by the Emperour Charles the Great and reâ—â—ced into a French province or Dukedome the title whereof remaineth vnto this day By the Emperour Henry the first and the succeeding princes of the house and nation of the Saxons the Winithi or Sclaves lying beyond the rivers Elb and Saltza where now are Meissen Lâ—usnitz Brandenburg Mecklenburg Lewenburg Pomeren were conquered or otherwise added vnto this name and accompt peopled with their language and colonies Henry surnamed the Lion Duke of Saxony and Bavaria being proscribed by the Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa the whole broke into sundry lesser states and goverments the chiefe whereof and which remaine vnto this day are the Dukedomes of Brunswijck Lunenburg Holstein Westphalen Clâ—ve and Bergen of whose beginnings successions and conâ—â—â—ance together with the Dukedoâ—e Electorship entitl'd of Saxony although now lying without the bounds of the ancient wee will speake inordâ—â— The ELECTORSHIP DVKEDOME of SAXONY This Dukedome was first begun by the Emperour Charles the Great after his conquest of the Saxons ordering the subdued country hereof into a province thus stiled The first Duke was Witichind king of this nation during their warres with Charles the Great appointed by this Emperour After other Bruno was the first Duke brother vnto Witichind From Bruno Fabritius deriveth the succeeding Dukes in manner following Luitulphus the first sonne to Bruno Bruno the second sonne to Luitulphus the first He dyed sans issue Otho the first brother to Bruno the second Henry the first surnamed the Fowler sonne to Otho the first The house of France and of Charles the Great being extinguished in Conrade the first he was elected Emperour of the Romanes and king of Germany continuing for a time in his posterity During the raigne of the Emperours of the house of Saxony this Dukedome or country was divided amongst sundry lesser princes whereof all did beare this title amongst whom was Berâ—ard Duke of Saxony Engern and Westphalen and Lord of Lunenburg created Electour of the Empire by the Emperour Otho the third Bernard Duke of Saxony Engern and Westphalen and Lord of Lunenburg first Electour of the Empire of the Dukes and house of Saxony From this Bernard the Duke Electours of Saxony haue beene continued as followeth Bernard the second Electour and Duke of Saxony sonne to Bernard the first Ordulphus sonne to Bernard the second Magnus sonne to Ordulphus Taking part with Rodulph Duke of Schwaben against the Emperour Henry the 4 he was taken prisoner and deprived of all his dignities the last Duke Elector of Saxonie of the house of Bernard Lotharius the first Earle of Supplinburg and Arnsperg created Electour and Duke of Saxonie by the Emperour Henry the first After the decease of the Emperour Henry the fift hee was made Roman Emperour and king of the Germans Henry the first surnamed the Proud Duke of Bavaria created Duke Electour of Saxonie by the Emperour Lotharius his father in law whose daughter Gertrude he had married proscribed by the Emperour Conrade Henry the second surnamed the Lion sonne to Henry the first He marryed vnto Maude daughter to Henry the second king of England besides the ancient Saxonie which excepting Holstein and what the Bishops possessed he almost wholy enioyed Lord of both Bavariaes and of the parts beyond the Elb where now lye the Dukedomes of Mecklenburg and Lawenburg conquered by him from the Winithi the greatest of all the German Princes before and almost since his time Forsaking the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa excommunicated by the Pope at the seige of Alexandria in the Dukedome of Milan he was proscribed by him and depriued of all his dignities and possessions Brunswijck and Lunenburg excepted restored vpon his reconciliation at the mediation of his father in law the king of England the occasion of those Dukedomes After this proscription the country of Saxonie vntill
Mauritius miserably vexing and afflicting the Romane provinces Their dwelling during this their first mention was altogether in Sarmatia beyond the Ister with the Antae coasting along the greatest part of the shore thereof and thwarting vpon the other side of that river the countries of Illyricum and Thrace Iornandes who lived in the raigne of Iustinian the first nameth them then a part of the populous nation of the Winidae Their name and accompt being communicated afterwards to all the rest of the Sarmatians and these after the custome of other barbarous nations swarming into neighbouring countries they overspread in a short time the whole Easterne moitie of Europe extending from the river Tanais the Euxine sea Westwards as farre as the river Elb in Germany and Southwards from the sea Baltique and the Frozen Ocean vnto the Mountaines of the Alpes Haemus besides the whole Sarmatia comprehending Mysia Dardania Illyricum and Dalmatia with part of Pannonia now the Russes Muscovites Hungarians Polonians Moldavians Walachians Transylvanians Bulgarians Rascians Servians Croatians and Sclavonians particularly so called all descended from and speaking their language togither with one halfe part of the ancient Germany contained betwixt the river Wixel and the rivers Saltza and the Elb the occasion of this discourse When these first disbourded into the continent of Germany cannot be defined out of any approved authours Most probably with Becanus this hapned presently vpon or shortly after the departure of the Almans Burgundians Boioarians and other people of the Suevians towards the South and the Romane confines whose left or ill inhabited roomes they tooke vp We first finde them here named in the raigne of Clotarius the second king of the Frenchmen agreeing with the raigne of Heraclius Emperour of the East vpon occasion of one Samo a Frenchman by birth chosen king of the Scalves Winidi They comprehended the whole North-east moity hereof divided from the rest of Germany by a line drawne from the towne of Stargard vpon the sea Baltique vnto the river of Elb about Hamburg parting them from the Saxons beyond the Elb the river Elb from Hamburg vnto the meeting thereof with the river Saltza dividing them from the Saxons Ostphali the river Saltza parting them from the Thuringians and the mountaines of Bohemia from the Boioarians They contained here at this day the Dukedomes of Schlesi Mecklenburg Pomeren and Lawenburg the Marquisates of Meissen Lausnitz and Marheren the Midle and New Marches of Brandenburg Saxony about Wittenberg Wagerlandt the kingdome of Bohemia with parts of Poland and Hungary They were divided into foure generall names or nations the Winithi Bohemians Moravians and Poles whereof in order THE WINITHI THese with the Winidae Winidi Vendi Vindae Winuli and Heneti for all those names we finde were but the corrupt languages of the ancient Veneti or Venedae accounted by Ptolomie amongst the nations of the Sarmatae The more exact bounds hereof after their descent into Germany were vpon the North the sea Balticke intercepted betwixt the towne of Stargard the river Wixel vpon the West a line drawne from the towne of Stargard vpon the sea Baltique vnto the river Elb or Hamburg the part of the Elb taken from Hamburg vnto the meeting of that river with the Saltza together with the river Saltza dividing them from the Saxons and Thuringians vpon the South the Mountaines of Bohemia and vpon the East the riuer Wixel and Poland They comprehended the sundry names and people of the Wagrij containing now Wagerland part of Holstein the Obotriti Polabi Linguones Warnani Kircani Circipani Redarij and Tholenzi now the Dukedomes of Mecklenburg and Lawenburg the Wiltzi now Pomeren on this side of the river of Odera the Pomerani the part now of Pomeren betwixt the rivers Odera and Wixel the Rani or Rugiani now the Iland Rugen the Helveldi Leubuzi Wilini Stoderani and Brizani now the Middle and New Marches of Brandenburg and the Sorabi containing now Meissen and Lausnitz Their gouerment whilst that they were a free people was vnder sundry Princes Their Religion was Gentilisme maintained with great stiffenesse and hatred to Christianity vntill their subjection or rather extirpation by the Dutch After long wars with the neighbouring Saxons sundry revolts and much obstinacie they were by the raigne of the Emperour Frederick Barbarossa at length totally hereby subdued their country being planted with new Dutch Colonies accounted afterwards part of Saxonie containing at this day besides some lesser states the Marquisates of Meissen Brandenburg Lausnitz the Dukedomes of Mecklenburg Lawenburg and Pomeren whose beginnings and fortunes vnto our times follow THE MARQVISATE OF MEISSEN THe estate hereof was first occasioned about the yeare 930 by the Emperour Henry the first vpon his conquest of the Sorabi building the cittie Meissen and after the policy then of the Dutch Empire appointing there a Limenarck or Marques to guard that frontire against the Poles and other neighbouring Sclaves becomming afterwards hereditarie and giving the title and name to the whole limit or border The first Marques was one Bruno descended from Witichind king of the Saxons appointed by the Emperour Henry the first Vnto him succeeded Ridacus Earle of Mersburg vnto whom Echard succeeded son to Gunter Earle of Ostland the first prince or vsu-fructuary and proprietarie Marques by the gift of the Emperour Otho the third the former being only such deputies of the Emperours commaunding in nature of Lord Marchers with vs. The order of the Marqueses continuing the house from more certaine and cleare times follow Conrade Marques of Landsberg and Lusatz created Marques of Meissen by the Emperour Henry the fift He deceased in the yeare 1156. Otho the first surnamed the rich son to Conrade the first Theodoric son to Otho the first He marryed vnto Iudith daughter to Herman Lantgraue of Duringen Henry son to Theodoric and Iudith daughter to Herman Lantgraue of Duringen Henry the last Lantgraue deceasing without issue he succeeded by right from his mother in the Lantgraue-ship of Duringen and the Palatinate of Saxony continued ever since in his house Albert Marques of Meissen and Lantgraue of Duringen son to Henry Frederick the first son to Albert. Fredericke the second son to Fredericke the first Fredericke the third son to Fredericke the second Fredericke the fourth Marques of Meissen and Lantgraue of Duringen son to Fredericke the third He was created Electour and Duke of Saxony by the Emperour Sigismond The succeeding Marqueses of Meissen and Lantgraues of Duringen wee haue continued in the order of the Duke-Electours of Saxony THE MARQVISATE OF BRANDENBVRG IT hath beene so called from the towne of Brandenburg situated vpon the river Havel sometimes the chiefe towne of the country and the seat of the Marqueses The Emperour Henry the first before mentioned having wonne that citty from the bordering Heneti or Sclaves first ordained the Marquisate to affront and keepe in that enemie It encreased
Rhijn king of Denmarck Norwey and Swethen son to Margaret sister to Eric aforesaid He deceased without issue Charles son to Canutus a knight of the country elected king of Sweathland after Christopher the Danes excluded Christiern the first king of Denmarck Norwey and Swethen Charles being driuen out Charles king of Swethen restored the second time Christiern the first king of Denmarck being againe excluded After the decease of Charles Steno a nobleman of the country governed the affaires of the realme during the rest of the time of Christiern the first Iohn king of Denmarck Norwey and Swethen sonne to Christierne the first about the yeare 1448 admitted by Steno and the Sweathlanders pressed with the warres of the Russes Christierne the second son to Iohn king of Denmarck Norwey and Swethen by armes and the right of his ancestours He afterwards lost all the three kingdomes driuen out in regard of his tyranny and cruelty Gustaue son to Eric a noble man of the country given by the Sweathlanders amongst the pledges for their fidelity to Christiern the second vpon the fame of Christiernes the Danish tyranny making an escape out of prison expulsing that enimie and elected king of Sweathland Since this time the Sweathlanders free from the Danish servitude haue beene still commaunded by princes of their owne nation Eric eldest son to Gustaue deposed vpon pretence of tyranny and misgoverning the state succeeded vnto by his brother Iohn Duke of Finlandt Iohn Duke of Finlandt son to Gustaue the first and brother to king Eric He marryed vnto Catharine daughter to Sigismond the first sister to Sigismond the second kings of Poland Sigismond son to Iohn and Catharine aforesaid before the decease of his father elected king of Poland afterwardes of Swethen vpon the cause of his different religion and the pretence of his breach of covenants with the people excluded and deposed by his factious nobility succeeded vnto by his vncle Charles Charles Duke of Suderman vncle vnto Sigismond the third king of Poland and younger sonne to Gustaue the first during the absence and warres of Sigismond and the Polonians created Administratour and governour of the kingdome afterwardes in the yeare 1608 elected and crowned king of Sweathland Gustave the second sonne to Charles king of Sweathland nowe raigning THE NORVEGIANS VVHether these were called thus from the country of Norwey or the country from them it is vncertaine We haue not yet read either name in any ancient author Both seeme more lately to haue been giuen from their Northren situation THE KINGDOME OF NORWEY THe coūtry by Aymonius was sometimes otherwise named Westerfold a part then of the Danish kingdome For thus it appeareth by his description hereof in his fourth booke and 101. chapter situated then to the West and North and thwarting the extreame point of the Iland of Great Brittaine It afterwardes became a distinct kingdome By meanes of the marriage of Haquin the last prince vnto Margaret Queene of Denmarcke it became annexed to the house of Denmarcke where it hath ever since continued After this maner the name of Germany is become at this day enlarged beyond the ancient over the provinces of Rhaetia and Noricum with parts of Gaule Pannonia as on the other side extended sometimes vnto the river Wixel the Frozen sea is since become straitned within the Eydore the sea Balticke and the confines of the Polonians the auncient then comprehending without the accompt of the moderne the kingdomes of Denmarke Norwey and Swethen with the greatest part of Poland and the moderne now containing lying without the limits and accompt of the auncient the countries of Seirmarck Karnten Krain and Tirol the parts of Austria Bauaria and Schwaben without the riuer Danow and of France betwixt the riuers Rhijn the Meuse and the Soasne The whole now accompted Germany speaking Dutch or subiect to the soverainety hereof may be diuided into three different States 1. the prouinces of the Low Countries 2. the confederacy of the Switzers 3. and the Empire or kingdome of the Germanes the present subiect of this discourse The originall of the many particular states we haue now related There remaineth the generall state or kingdome whereof the other are parts and subordinate THE KINGDOME OF GERMANY THis is otherwise called the Empire in regard of the residence therein of the Imperiall Roman Maiesty Italy being subdued by Odoacer and the Heruli and the rest of the Roman prouinces of the West by other Barbarous natiōs about the yeare 475 left of by Augustulus after an interregnum of 326 yeares resumed againe by Charles the Great king of the Frenchmen and by succession herefrom the French dominions being divided afterwards in the yeare 880 deriued vpon Charles surnamed the Fat king of Germany maintained euer since in the Princes hereof The country after that it became subiect to the Frenchmen was for a long time a part of their kingdome of Austrasia after the policy of those times divided into 4 maine provinces or Dukedomes of Franconia Saxonie Almaigne and Bauaria the parts lying now beyond the riuers of the Elb and Saltza and possessed then by the many nations of the Sclaues not being added vntill afterwards About the yeare 841 in the person of Lewis surnamed the auncient sonne to the Emperour Lewis surnamed the Godly the French Empire being then shared amongst the many sonnes hereof it was first made a distinct kingdome in which title the Princes haue still enioyed it their name of Emperour hauing beene since added vnto them onely as they are soveraigne Lords of Rome and Italy successours to Charles the Great and the French The kingdome contained onely at the time of its first erection the parts now bounded in with the Mountaines of Bohemia the Alpes the German Ocean and the riuers of the Rhijn Eydore Elb and Saltza including Pannonia a part then of Bauaria afterwards taken herefrom by the Hungarians By the Emperours Otho the third and Conrade the second the parts lying in Gaule betwixt the rivers of the Rhijn the Soasne and the Meuse were added The manner wee haue shewed in France By Henry the first and the succeeding Emperours vnto Frederick Barbarossa and by the armes of the Dukes of Saxonie and the Marqueses of Brandenburg were added the parts beyond the rivers Saltza and Elb containing now Mecklenburg Lawenburg Pomeren Meissen Lausnitz and the Middle and Newe Marches of Brandenburg held vnder the right hereof The order of the kings of Germany follow Lewis before mentioned surnamed the Ancient second sonne to the Emperour Lewis the Godly first king of Germany whose portion it was in the division of the French Monarchie betwixt him and his other brethren Lotharius and Charles the Bald. Carloman Lewis and Charles surnamed the Fat kings of Germany sonnes to Lewis the Ancient Charles the Fat sole king of Germany his two brothers Lewis and Carloman deceasing without heires or lawfull The male issue of his vncle the Emperour Lotharius failing
THE SILINGI THese vvere also a Northerne people but of vvhat parts vve find not Not vnprobably they might be the Subalingij a German Nation mentioned by Ptolemy Isidore by vvhom onely amongst auncient Authours vve finde them expressely named maketh them to haue beene a part of the Vandals Mariana putteth them to bee a different people but joyned in the same troupe vvith the other vnder one and the same king passing into Gaule Spaine and seating themselues in that part of Baetica vvhereabout vvas Sivilla The Vandals departing into Afrique they remained behind from vvhose longer continuance for as much as they vvere accounted amongst that nation that part of Baetica became named Vandalia novv corruptly Andaluzia By Rechila the second king of the Suevians they vvere finally subdued and their country vvith the vvhole Baetica added to the dominion of that people after vvhich time vvee heare no more of them THE ALANS THese Ammianus Marcellinus placeth in Scythia inhabiting about the Fen Moeotis neighbouring to the Roxolani Iaziges and other Barbarous nations and extending for a great space of land betvvixt that marish and the rivers Tanais and Ganges and divided into sundry lesser people called all by this generall name Their first mention in histories we finde to haue beene in the raigne of the Emperour Vespasian then vvarring vpon the Parthians vvhereof reade Suetonius in Domitian Their after memory is frequent but confused With the Vandals Suevians before mentioned they first entred Gaule and Spaine The parts vvhich they tooke vp to inhabit in vvere the Provinces of Lustainia and Carthaginensis the Celtiberi and Carpetani excepted which people remained yet vnder the Roman subjection Aspiring to the dominion of the whole Spaine cooping with and overthrowne in a mighty battell by the Gothes they shortly after their first entrance lost here both their kingdome and name their king Atace with great number of them being slaine and the residue who escaped the slaughter flying into Calaecia amongst the Suevians where being confounded with that nation wee heare no further mention of them Their raigne here was but short during one only prince before mentioned Their religion was Gentilisme THE SVEVIANS THey were a Dutch people famous in all auncient Geographers Historians inhabiting the more Easterne moity of Germany beyond the river Elb and devided into sundry potent nations whereof these were a Colony or part For from this great generall name sundry other mighty people states the Lombards English High Dutch or Almans Sweath-landers Danes at this day of great power commaund in Europe were descended In the raigne of the Emperours Arcadius Honorius with the Vandals Alans they first invaded Gaule Spaine The part of Spaine wherein they first inhabited was Calaecia Vnder Rechila their second king subduing the Silingi they added Baetica to their dominions In the raigne of Recciarius their third king they became likewise possessed of Lusitania Puffed vp vvith so great posperity falling out vvith Theodoricus the most povverfull king of the Gothes overcome hereby in a great battell and their king Recciarius slaine they for a time became subject to that nation their kingdome and state being ouerthrowne and shared betwixt the Gothes their confederates the Romans After a short Interregnum by the liberality of this Theodoricus they had againe their kingdome restored but now straightned onely within Calaecia King Remismundus not long after added part of Lusitania where now is Coimbre and Lisbona recovered from the Romans vnto whom after that calamity overthrowe vnder Recciarius that province fell In the year 586 after 174 yeares continuance and in the raigne of the traiterous vsurper Andeca this kingdome and state tooke end overthrowne by Leutigildus king of the Gothes their king being shorne monke and Calaecia made a Province of the Gothish monarchie their name and mention becomming after this extinct and no more heard of in Spaine Their religion at the time of their first comming hither was Gentilisme Vnder their king Recciarius they first embraced the Christian and Catholique faith but which in a free estate they enjoyed not long enthralled to Theodoricus and the Arrian Gothes After that their kingdome was restored by the Gothes swayed with the power greatnes of that nation vnder their king Remismundus they chaunged their Catholique faith for the Arrian heresie wherein for about the space of one hundred yeares they afterwards persisted Vnder their king Theodomyrus by the especiall industry of Martin Abbot of Dumia they reassumed the Catholique religion which they constantly kept vntill their state and kingdome ended Their kings for as many of them as were set down in authours for the greatest part are not remembred were Hermenericus vnder whom they first passed into Gaule Spaine and planted in Calaecia Rechila vnder whom they conquered the Silingi Recciarius their first Christian Catholique king subdued slaine by Theodoricus king of the Gothes Franta Masdras after the restitution of the kingdome by the Gothes chosen by their factions the nation being devided Masdras sole king of the Suevians Franta deceasing Frumarius Remismundus son to Masdras after the decease hereof slaine in the third yeare of his raigne Remismundus sole king of the Suevians Frumarius deceasing Vnder this king the nation first revolted to the Arrian heresie After this prince for the space of one hundred yeares by the negligence of auncient times their kings are not remembred and vntill Theodomyrus Theodomyrus the restorer of the Catholique religion Myro or Ariamyrus son to Theodomyrus Eboricus son to Myro deposed shorne Monke by Andeca Andeca vpon occasion and pretence of whose treason Leutigildus king of the Gothes warring herevpon vtterly subdued the nation the last king of the Suevians after the milder custome of those times towards their vanquished enimies forced to religious orders and shut vp in a monastery by Leutigildus THE GOTHES THese Aelius Spartianus in the life of Antoninus Bassianus Caracalla and Iornandes de Rebus Geticis seeme to confound make one nation with the Getae Iornandes would haue their auncient and first abode to haue beene in Scanzia or Scandia thought then to bee an Iland and by Ptolemy accompted vnto Germany since knowne to joyne with the Firme Land The moderne names of East West Gothia in the kingdome of Swethen the stile of the kings hereof amongst other titles now naming themselues kings of the Gothes yeeld some likelihood of the truth of this assertion No lesse probably they might be the Gothini of Tacitus a people of the Suevians inhabiting in the South-East part of Germany A reason to perswade herevnto might be the neerenes of that nation vnto the Ister or Danubius vpon the bankes of which river we first heare of the name of the Gothes in histories Againe the neighbourhood of the Gothini vnto the Quadi and Sarmatae whom in the raigne of the Emperour Galienus we
it was vnited with the kingdome of Aragon extended ouer the whole countrey of Catalonia The first Earle was Bernard a Frenchman Earle or Governour of Barcelona for the Emperours Charles the Great and Lewis the Godly After him succeeded in the Earledome Wifredus the first Governour for the Emperour Lewis the Godly These two Earles were onely such magistrates thus named commaunding for the French during life or for a set number of yeares Wifredus the second son to Wifredus the first In this Earle the estate became first proprietary hereditary by the liberality gift of the Emperour Charles surnamed the Fat to bee held vnder the fief of the Roman Emperours not long after freed from forreine iurisdiction the house of that Emperour expiring and the power of the factious devided French declining Miron Earle of Barcelona son to Wifredus the second Godefridus or Wifredus son to Miron Borellus sonne to Wifredus brother to Miron Raimund the first son to Borellus Berengarius Borellus son to Raimund the first Raimund the second son to Borellus Raimund the third son to Raimund the second Raimund the fourth son to Raimund the third Raimund the fift sonne to Raimund the fourth He married vnto Petronilla daughter to Ramir the second King of Aragon by which meanes these two estates became vnited continued in the Kings of Aragon THE KINGDOME OF PORTVGALL THe name hereof some haue derived from the towne of Porto standing vpon the river of Duero and the Galli or Frenchmen the founders of the nation of the Portugalls Others from the port or haven-towne named Cale now Caia lying at the mouth of that riuer sometimes a rich and flourishing emporie whereof the first princes should be entitl'd The estate was begun long after the rest by the Frenchmen in the yeare 1090 and in the person of Henry a Lorrainer or after others a Burgundian borne in the city of Besançon and descended from the auncient Earles of the Free county who comming hither to the holy warres and hauing married Therasia base daughter to Alfonsus the sixt king of Castille Leon had given vnto him by way of dowry the towne and countrey thus called to bee held with the title of Earle vnder the right tribute of the Kings of Castille The Earledome at the time that it was first instituted was extended only over the part hereof which is contayned now betwixt the riuers of Duero Minio part then of the dominions of King Alfonsus the sixt and by this meanes seperated Earle Henry the first prince added to the accompt and name hereof the part contayned betwixt the Duero and the towne of Coimbre won from the Moores Alfonsus the first his victorious son the first king the townes of Lisbona Leira Santaren Sintra in a manner the rest of the kingdome Algarve excepted taken from the same enemy Sanctius the first the towne of Silvis Alfonsus the second Alcaçar Alfonsus the third the rest of Algarve by conquest from the Infidell and by his marriage with Beatrix base daughter to Alfonsus the tenth K. of Castille the whole extent of the kingdome of Portugall Afterwards Spaine being cleered from the Moores the princes hereof wanting other honourable just wars and meanes of further enlarging their dominions discovering towards the South East made themselues Lords the Canary Ilands excepted belonging to the Crowne of Castille of the whole sea-coasts of Afrique Brasil and Asia extended betwixt the Straights of Gibraltar Magellan the Promontories of Good Hope Malaca planted with their colonies people Henry Cardinall Arch-bishop of Evora the last king deceasing without heires the country was subdued by Philip the second K. of Castille and vnited with the rest of Spaine pretending right herevnto from his mother Isabel daughter to K. Emanuel The Princes follow Henry son to Guy Earle of Vernol son to Reginald Earle of Burgundy created first Earle of Portugall in the yeare 1090 by Alfonsus the first K. of Castille Leon. He added the townes of Lamego Viseo and Coimbre beyond the riuer of Duero Alfonsus the first son to Henry Therasia Having vanquished the Moores in a great battaill fought at Ourique in the yeare 1139 hee tooke vpon him the title of king confirmed afterwards vnto him for a certaine tribute by Pope Alexander the fourth continued in his successours He subdued the great city of Lisbona with the rest of the country vnto Algarve Hauing raigned about 72 yeares he deceased in the yeare 1184. Sanctius the first king of Portugal son to Alfonsus the first Alfonsus the second son to Sanctius the first Sanctius the second son to Alfonsus the second He deceased without heires Alfonsus the third brother to Sanctius the second Casting of his former wife Maude Countesse of Boloigne notwithstanding that he had issue by her marrying vnto Beatrix base daughter to Alfonsus the tenth king of Castille and Leon he had giuen vnto him by way of dowry the kingdome of Algarve to be held vnder the fief of Castille which right was remitted afterwards by Alfonsus of Castille in favour of his Nephew Dionysius He won from the Moores the towne of Faro all other places they held in Algarve extending by this meanes the accompt of Portugall Southwards vnto the Ocean Since this Prince the kings of Portugal alwaies haue bin stiled kings of the Algarves Dionysiê° king of Portugal of the Algarves son to Alfonsus the third Beatrix He fouÌ„ded the Vniversity of Coimbre instituted the military order of Christ. Alfonsus the fourth son to Dionysius Peter son to Alfonsus the fourth At this time raigned three Peters in Spaine all noted for their tyranny and cruelty who were this Prince Peter King of Castille and Peter the fourth King of Aragon Ferdinand son to Peter He died without heires male Iohn the first naturall son to Peter by Therasia Gallega his concubine after the decease of Ferdinand elected King of the Portugals in the yeare 1383. Edward son to Iohn the first and Philippa daughter to Iohn of Gaunt duke of Lancaster Alfonsus the fift son to Edward Warring vpon the Moores in Afrique he tooke from them the towns of Tangier Arzilla and Alcaçar Iohn the second son to Alfonsus the fift Vnder this Prince to the great honour of the Nation begun first the happy discoueries of the Portugals in the Atlantique and Aethiopique Oceans the Westerne shore of Afrique coasted a supposed inhabitable Torride Zone found inhabited populous nations to dwell in the Southerne Hemispheare not beleeued by the Auncients and the vnknowne Continent of the World and Afrique to end to the South in a promontory or wedge of land shewing a passage to the Indies the East for this cause named by the Portugals the Cape of Good Hope He deceased in the yeare 1495. Emmanuel king of Portugal and the Algarves son to Ferdinand Duke of Viseo son to king Edward In the Golden dayes of this Prince the discoueries
other plants and fruite trees Onely water here is scant the common want of Spaine The aire likewise in regard of the more Southerne situation thereof is very immoderate and scorching in Summer notwithstanding refreshed in the night with constant coole gales of winde breathing from the neighbouring Ocean Chiefer townes are Sevilla Hispalis of Strabo Ptolemy Pliny then a flourishing colony of the Romans and one of their foure juridicall resorts for Baetica seated vpon the great riuer Guadalquivir Vnder the Moores it was made the first seate of their Spanish Empire by Alahor lieftenant for the Miramamoline Zuleiman removed to Cordova The dominion of the Spanish Moores afterwards divided it became the head of a petty kingdome of that nation contayning the greatest part of this Province with Algarve in Portugal recouered from the Infidels by Ferdinand the third king of Castille Leon. It is now an Arch-bishops See and the only staple for the commodityes of the West Indyes belonging to the Crowne of Castille rich populous beautified with faire stately buildings both publique and priuate great accompted the second city of Spaine the next vnto Lisbona contayning about 6 miles in compasse and after Botero his accompt some-80000 inhabitants The river vnto it is deepe navigable The country about it is plaine pleasant most fruitfull About a league vpon the East hereof is Sevilla la Veia Italica of Strabo Ptolemy Antoninus and Ilipa surnamed Italica of Pliny the countrey of the mighty Emperours Trajan Adrian now a base obscure village Along the course of the Guadalquivir Palacios Cabeças Le-brixa Nebrissa of Strabo Ptolemy and Nebrissa surnamed Venerea of Pliny S. Lucar de Barrameda Luciferi Farum of Ptolemy a noted port in the way to Sivilla lying at the mouth of the riuer Guadalquivir Puerto de S. Maria Mnesthei portus of Ptolemy a commodious haven towne at the mouth of the river Guadalete Xeres de la Frontera in the maine land Asta of Ptolemy Antoninus and Asta Regia of Strabo Pliny In the fruitfull country hereof grow the plentifull Xeres sacke named thus from the towne It breedeth likewise the most fierce and swift gennets Nere herevnto vpon the river Guadalete was fought that fatall battaile betwixt the Moores and Roderigo the last King of the Gothes Medina Sidonia Asindum of Ptolemy and Asido Caesariana of Pliny Hereof the Dukes of Medina Sidonia are entitl'd Conil a sea-coast towne beyond the Iland of Cadiz belonging to the Dukes of Medina Sidonia Tarif vpon the same sea-coast so named from Tarif generall of the Moores in their first Spanish invasion by whom it was founded Heere Lodovicus Nonius conjectureth sometimes to haue stood the famous Tartessus of Herodotus Strabo and other auncient authours rich in gold and silver and visited by continuall fleetes of the Tyrian Merchants as by the Phocenses in the raigne of Arganthonius a little before their expugnation by Cyrus the same doubtlesse with that Tharsis mentioned in the Scriptures from whence Salamon did fetch part of his gold for the adorning of his new-built temple at Hierusalem Some in Strabo place this where then was Carteia whose position now is alike vncertaine Others in the same authour betwixt the two channels or branches of the river Baetis called then as was the towne Tartessus and as was the neighbouring countrey from hence Tartessis The mention hereof is famous but the towne through age ruinated or the name thereof quite changed in the time of Strabo and other auncient Geographers Algeriza vpon the same sea-coast Cibraltar a strong towne of warre at the entrance of the Straights lying vnder the mountaine named Calpe by Strabo after Pliny one of the pillars of Hercules and the bounds of his labours the furthest point of Spaine Europe towards the South The narrow channell of the Sea betwixt this and Afrique was called by the auncients Fretum Herculeum Gaditanum Tartessiacum from the famous pillars Iland and city before mentioned now from hence Estrecho de Gibraltar They are in length 15 miles and in breadth where they are the straitest about 7 miles Cordova further vp within the land at the foote of Sierra Morena and vpon the right shore of the river Guadalquivir Corduba of Strabo Ptolemy Mela a famous colony of the Romans the first they planted in this province surnamed Patritia by Pliny a juridicall resort and the chiefe city of Baetica reckoned by Ausonius amongst the 4 chiefest of Spaine the countrey of Lucan of the two Senecaes Vnder the Moores it remayned for a long time the chiefe seate of their Spanish dominions after Alahor the residence of the Leiftenants of the Miramamolines as afterwards of their Kings The Empire hereof being divided it was made the head of a particular kingdome named from hence contayning then part of Andaluzia with the country of Granado taken from the Infidels by Ferdinand the third King of Castille It is now a Bishops See and one of the two seates of the Inquisition for this province The towne is large spacious beautified with a magnificent Castle standing at the West end thereof the pallace sometimes of the Moorish Kings The buildings otherwise for the most part are meane The situation is very pleasant happy over-looking towards the South a fruitfull and even plaine towards the North overtopped with the steepe and hollow mountaines of Sierra Morena reaching almost to the subvrbs greened over with oliues vines other plants Iaen a Bishops See At Anduxar a village distant some halfe a Spanish league from hence stood sometimes the towne Illurgis of Ptolemy and Illiturgis of Antoninus and Illiturgi surnamed Forum Iulium of Pliny Ecceia vpon the riuer Chenil Astygis of Ptolemy Astygi of Mela Antoninus and Astygi surnamed Augusta Firma of Pliny a Roman colony and one of the foure juridicall resorts of Baetica Ossuna Vrso of Strabo Pliny whereof the dukes of Ossuna are thus entitl'd a late Vniversity founded in the yeare 1549 by Iohn Telter de Girona Earle of Vrenna The fruitfull pleasant countrey hereabouts aboundeth in oliue trees Marchena vpon a hill overlooking a champian most fruitfull countrey especially for oliues the ordinary residence of the Dukes of Arcos The auncient inhabitants of Andaluzia were the Turditani of Ptolemy and the Turditani and Turduli of Strabo devided by the riuer Baetis and lying vpon the sea-coast on this side of the river Anas at that time the most ciuill and learned people of all the Spaniards vsing Grammar and having their written monuments of antiquity poems and lawes in verse for the space after their accompt of six thousand yeares the Elysian fields of Homer the extraordinary riches pleasure and fertility of the countrey occasioning the fiction Heere also dwelt part of the Turduli of Ptolemy and Bastuli of Strabo Ptolemy GRANADO HAving vpon the West the river Guadalantin the bounds thereof and Andaluzia vpon the North
the Great and his son Lewis the Godly were Sole commaunders of all Gaule of Germany vnto the rivers Eydore Elb Saltza of Pannony of a great part of Italy and of Barcelona or Catalonia in Spaine Since the vsurpation of Capet he for a long time held subject in the Low-countries the great Earledome of Flanders with that other of Artois held alwayes by the Princes thereof vnder the fief and soveraignety of this Crowne by the late league of Cambray in the raignes of Henry the second French King and Philip the second King of Spaine quitted from all right and acknowledgment hereof At this day he onely retayneth moderne France limited as aboue together with the bare title of Navarre the countrey ever since Ferdinand the fift being witheld from him by the Spaniard The greater causes of the declining hereof haue beene 1 that improvident devision of the French Empire by the sons of the Emperour Lewis the Godly whereby not only Gaule or France within the Rhijn became parted into divers lesser seigneuryes but Italy and Germany quite rent herefrom their kingdomes with the honour and title of Roman Emperour being translated to forraine stranger families 2 The monstrous alienations of many the chiefer provinces hereof graunted by former Kings with a bare reservation of homage vnto themselues by which meanes the great Dukedomes of Aquitaine and Guienne Bretaigne Normandy and Burgundy the Earledomes of Champaigne and Provençe with others contayning aboue one halfe part of the whole France became for a long time free and loose from the immediate commaund and jurisdiction hereof which by marriages otherwise comming into the hands of straungers or of some not so well affected to this Crowne haue much disabled him for any great performance and oftentimes turning their armes here-against haue much endangered the ruine of the whole kingdome a no small advaÌ„tage of the English cause of the many victories which they atchieved in times past against this Nation 3 The infinite factioÌ„s wherevnto this vnconstant and stirring people haue beene still subject and from the which they haue beene almost never cleare whereof their wiser neighbours haue still knowne to make good vse 4 The jealousies of neighbouring princes especially since the great attempts and conquests vpon Milan and Naples by Charles the eight and Lewis the twelth bending their leagues and setting vp enabling the Spaniard against him But as his power and auncient greatnes haue beene hereby much abated so yet neither haue they beene so empared but that for solide true strength he remayneth now nothing inferiour to any Christian prince of Europe Indeed he is not Lord of such huge and spacious dominions as some others are Yet if we consider the generall fertility and riches of his countries their compaction and vnitednes not broken into diverse kingdomes or parted by Sees or the intervening of forraine states his store of strong and well fortified cites and townes in every province the infinite number of his French subjects in regard of the extraordinary populousnes of the countrie the substance of war the wall of kingdomes estimated at 15 millions of inhabitants and that harmony and good agreement which should be amongst a people of the same law nation countrey and language wee shall finde him to haue sundry advantages aboue many of his neighbours firme strong great and not easily to be endangered by the mainest combination of his adversaries An especiall strength and advantage of the present aboue the former kings hath beene the incorporation of the many alienated great Dukedomes and Estates before mentioned thorough the great wisedome of his Predecessours still as they were gotten in by warre or marriage being inseparably vnited to the crowne hereof What his revenues might be from so rich a kingdome we wil not define Monsieur Froumenteau in his book entitled les Secrets des Finances accompteth them for 31 yeares space during the late raignes of Henry the second of the three brethren kings at 15623655 17 31 Escus or French Crownes one yeare with an other but whereof a great part being then made by the confiscation of Protestants goods alienations of their demaines by the like casualties incident to troubled States cannot be accompted ordinary The country conteineth now 24 greater divisions or Provinces of Bretaigne Normandy Picardy Champaigne Brie France Special Beausse Poictou Engoulmois Berry Bourbonois Forest Beauiolois Lionois Auvergne Limousin Perigort Guienne Gaiscoigne Quercy Rovergne Languedoc Provençe Daulphine and Bourgogne divided amongst 8 iuridicall resorts or Parliaments of Paris Roven Renes Bourdeaux Tholouse Aix Dijon and Grenoble whose descriptions follow hauing first set downe the auncient estate hereof with the sundry changes and successions people nations and gouerments hapning vnto our times occasioning the present names state and divisions THE NINTH BOOKE COntayning the description of the more famous Mountaines and Rivers of France Their auncient and moderne names The auncient name and Etymologie of Gaule The distinction hereof into Gaule on this side and beyond the Alpes The beginning and occasion of the name of Gaule on this side the Alpes The bounds situation and auncient estate of Gaule on this side the Alpes before the subiection thereof to the Romans and revnion with Italy The auncient limits and extent of Gaule beyond the Alpes The first inhabitants of Gaule beyond the Alpes The intrusion of the neighbouring Germans and of the Greekes Phocenses The foundation of the auncient and noble city of Marseilles The conquest of Gaule beyond the Alpes by the Romans The description and face hereof during the Roman government out of Ptolemy Pliny Antoninus and others The history invasion and conquests of the Britons VVisigothes Burgundians Almans and Frenchmen The conquest of the whole by the French The large extent aunciently of the French dominions The reestablishment of the Roman Empire of the VVest in Charles the Great and the French nation The name of France The distinction hereof into the parts and names of Oosten-reich and VVest-reich The division of the grand Monarchy of the French by the sons and posterity of the Emperour Lewis the Godly The French kingdomes of Germany and Italy Their rent from the nation and name of the French The kingdomes of Burgundy Lorraine and VVest-France The Dukedomes of Lorraine Iuliers Cleue Brabant Luxemburg Limburg and Gelderlandt the Palatinate of the Rhijn the Bishopricks of Liege and Vtreicht the Lantgraueship of Elsatz the Earledomes of Namur Hainault Holland and Zealandt parts sometimes of the auncient French kingdome of Lorraine The vniting of Brabant Luxemburg Limâ—urg Gelderlandt Namur Hainault Holland Zealandt Vtreicht vnto the Netherlands and family of Burgundy and of the rest to the Empire of the Germans The Dukedomes of Savoy and of Burgundy on this side the Soasne and beyond the Iour the Earledomes of Lions and Mascon the free counrye of Burgundy the kingdome of Arles the Earledome of Provence Daulphiny and the Common-wealth and League of the
sea vpon the top of an high hill vnder which runneth the riuer Tarn the Seige Presidiall of the country Lanzette Soulac vpon the riuer Dordonne Quercy anciently were the Cadurci of Caesar Strabo Plinie and Ptolemie the Cadorci of Antoninus ROVERGNE HAving Quercy vpon the East and vpon the other sides Auvergne and Languedoc The country is little mountainous and not much to be commended for the goodnes and firtilitie of the soile Chiefer townes here are Rhodes Segodunum of Ptolemy and civitas Rotenorum of Antoninus a Bishops sea and the Seneschaussee chiefe towne of the country vpon the Tarn Ville-Franche Vabres a Bishops sea Rovergne anciently were the Rutheni of Caesar Pliny the Ruteni of Strabo the Rhutani of Ptolemie and the Roteni of Antoninus LANGVEDOC HAving Rovergne Auvergne and Forest vpon the North vpon the North-west Quercy vpon the West Gascoigne vpon the South the Pyrenaean Mountaines and the Sea Mediterranean and vpon the East Provençe and Daulphinie Merula divideth it into Le Pais Albigeois Gevauldan Velay Vivaretz and the more proper Languedoc The country is generally very fruitfull and happy the mountainous parts neighbouring to Auvergne excepted besides those ordinary of France yeelding plenty of Oile Oliues Rasins Figs Orenges and other fruits growing in hotter climates proper onely herevnto and Provençe Chiefer townes here are Alby civitas Albigensium of Antoninus a Bishops sea and the chiefe towne of Albigeois vpon the riuer Tarn Here beganne first the name of those of the Reformed religion called from hence the Albigenses Mende civitas Gabalum of Antoninus a Bishops sea and the chiefe of Gevaudan Gevaudan was anciently the Gabales of Caesar Strabo Pliny and Antoninus and the Tabali of Ptolemy Le Puy Aeria of Pliny and civitas Vellaunorum of Antoninus a Bishops sea situated vpon an high hill or mountaine occasioning the name the chiefe towne in Velay anciently the Velauni of Ptolemy the Vellauni of Antoninus and the Vellaunij of Strabo Viviers Alba Helvorum of Pliny Albaugusta of Ptolemy and civitas Vivario of Antoninus a Bishops sea and the chiefe towne of Vivaretz vpon the riuer Rhosne Le Pont-S-Esprit likewise vpon the Rhosne and in Vivaretz Vivaretz anciently were the Helvij of Caesar the Helvi of Plinie the Elycoci of Ptolemie a countrie wholie mountainous as is Gevaudan Tolouse Tolosa of Caesar Strabo Ptolemie and Antoninus then a famous Romane Colonie now an Archbishops sea a Parliament and a flourishing Vniversity the chiefe cittie in Languedoc and one of the most populous and greatest in France seated in a plentifull and rich country and vpon the riuer Garonne From hence was named the Latine Proverbe Aurum habet Tolosanum applyed to those who had fallen into any suddaine and great misfortune occasioned from a bad destinie beleeued still to attend the fatall treasure lock'd vp in the Temples hereof held alwaies vnfortunate to the owners being the sacrilegious spoiles of Delphos and of other Graecian Temples brought hither by the Tectosages part of the Gaules forraging Greece vnder the second Brennus experienced in the calamitie of Q. Servilius Caepio Consull of the Romans shortly after his surprisall and pillaging hereof slaine with his whole army by the Cimbri The country about Tolouse were the Tectosages of Strabo Plinie Mela and Ptolemie the Tolosates of Antoninus part of the Volcae S. Papoul a Bishops sea Aleth a Bishops sea vpon the river Aude Carcassone Carcasum of Plinie and Carcaso of Ptolemy a Bishops sea and Seneschaussee vpon the Aude divided by the river into two townes La Cite and Carcassonne The inhabitants speake a corrupt French mixed with the Spanish through their neighbourhood to that nation Narbonne Narbo of Caesar Narbo Martius of Plinie and Mela Narbon Colonia of Ptolemie Narbona of Suetonius Eutropius and Am. Marcellinus and civitas Narbonensium of Antoninus then a great and famous Roman Colonie planted by Quinctus Martius from whom it tooke the surname and M. Porcius Cato the chiefe citty of Gaule giuing the name to the Province Narbonensis and the seat of the Roman Proconsuls It is now an Archbishops sea and a strong towne of warre opposing the Land of Russeillon and Catalonia in Spaine seated at the mouth of the riuer Aude The country about Narbonne were the Atacini of Mela named thus from the riuer Atax now the Aude Beziers Betirae of Ptolemy Biltera of Strabo Blitera of Plinie Bliterae of Mela civitas Beterrensium of Antoninus a Colonie thē of the Septumani or of the Roman souldiers of the 7 Legiō now a Bishops sea situated vpō the river Orbe S. Pont de Tonnieres a Bishops sea Agde Agatha of Strabo Plinie and Mela Agathopolis of Ptolemie and civitas Agatensium of Antoninus a Bishops sea and a well frequented Port at the mouth of riuer Erhaud a colonie sometimes of the Greekes Phocenses of Massilia Lodesve Lutava castrum of Antoninus a Bishops sea vpon the riuer Orbe Mont-Pellier a Bishops sea and a noted Vniuersity for the study of Physick the chiefest for this Profession in France seated as the name importeth vpon a high hill vnder which runneth the riuer Lez distant about 10 miles from the Ocean in a most healthy pleasant and fruitfull country abounding with very excellent and perfect wines and medicinable Simples Nismes Nemausus of Strabo and Mela Nemausum of Pliny and Ptolemy and Ciuitas Nemausensium of Antoninus a colony of the Romans the chiefe town of the Arecomici now a Bishpos sea and a petty Vniversity seated in a pleasant and happy country flourishing with vines oliues and fig-trees and with sundry sort of sweet smelling plants flowers Vsetz Ciuitas Vsetiensis of Antoninus a Bishops sea The Diocese or country hereof and of Nismes Mont-pellier and Beziers were the Arecomici of Caesar Strabo Pliny and Mela the Arecomij of Ptolemy with the Tectosages parts of the Volcae of Strabo Pliny and Ptolemy the Volgi of Caesar. Beaucaire a Seneschaussee vpon the riuer Rhosne frontiring vpon Provenaee THE PARLIAMENT OF AIX COntaining onely the Earledome of Provençe PROVENÇE BOunded vpon the West with Languedoc and the riuer Rhosne vpon the South with the sea Mediterranean vpon the East with the Alpes and the riuer Varo and vpon the North with Daulphinie The country is rather hilly then either plaine or mountainous generally very pleasant fruitfull happy of the like qualitie with Languedoc Chiefer townes here are Aurenge Arusio of Strabo Arausio of Pliny and Mela Colonia Arausiorum of Ptolemy and civitas Arausinorum of Antoninus a Roman colonie of the Secundani or souldiers of the second Legion now a Bishops sea and Principality seated vpon the river Meine The Lords or Princes hereof governe in manner of Free states quit from all fief and homage to the Earles of Provençe by Earle Reiner who sold this right to Prince Lewis de Chalon continued afterwardes to succession
Graiae named thus from the mountaine god Paeninus whoÌ„ the Veragri the Painim inhabitants hereof did sometimes worship or otherwise from their sharpe rocks They containe those steepe and horrid mountaines incircling Wallis-landt or lying betwixt that Valley and Ougstal in Italy The more noted top hereof is the greater S. Bernard so named of a monastery here extant dedicated to a Monke of this name of Augsta liuing sometimes Anchoret in these deserts famous in the Popish Legends LEPONTIAE These are East of the Paeninae called thus from the Lepontij their ancient inhabitants They containe the rockie and desert tract hereof lying betwixt the springs of the riuer Rhosne the Vorder Rhijn or as Tschudus more particularly boundeth theÌ„ betwixt the Canton of Vren of the Switzers the vpper Wallislandt the Valley of Augsta with part of Milanese against the Lake of Como and the Grisons including the Vallies Palenser-tal Meintal Eschental Liuinertal with others The most remarkeable and more hugie tops hereof are the Mountaines Die Furcken adioining to the Vpper Wallislandt out of which springeth the Rhosne S. Gothard the head of the riuers Russe and Tesin flowing towards contrary seas Luckmanier where ariseth the nearer branch or head of the Rhijn RHAETICAE These lay East of the Lepontiae so named from their inhabitants the Rhaeti Alpestres They are contained betwixt the Switzers and the Lake of Como and Verona in Italy and comprehend now the Grisons and part of Tirol The more famous tops hereof were Adulas Mons now Colmen d' Ocello to the Grisons and in Dutch Der Vogel where springeth the farther head of the Rhijn Splugen-bergt or Colmen del Orso and Rhaetico-mons now Prettigouwer-berg IVLIAE These were Eastward of the Rhaeticae probably thus called from the famous Iulius Caesar whom we read in Rufus Festus sometimes to haue passed over this part of the Alpes They were otherwise called the Alpes Venetae from the neighbouring Veneti in Italy likewise the Mountaines Tarvisani from that people vpon whom likewise they ioyned in Italy They are the tract of the Alpes coasting along Marca Trivigiana belonging to the Venetians towards the head of the Adriatique sea hauing on the other side the Bishoprick of Saltzburg in Germany Part hereof was called Mons Taurus by Mela which name seemeth yet to be preserued in Gastein Taurn Rastatter-Taurn and other mountainous tops of the same termination in the Diocese of Saltzburg CARNICAE These conclude the Alpes and were the Mountaines of Carnia now of Karnten and Krain from whence came their name A part of these Alpes was the mountaine Ocra of Strabo Ptolomie Of these the Alpes Maritimae and Carnicae are but lowe in comparison to the other rather to be accompted downes then Mountaines The Coctiae and Graiae are neither so high but that their ordinary passages lie open al the yeare long The highest Alpes and of the most grisley aspect are those accosting Germany chiefely the Lepontiae and the hills of the Grisons and Wallislandt for their long steepe ascents narrow and craggie waies deepe and dreadfull precipices strong whirlewindes and huge balles of snow with great noise and violence rouling downe the mountaines some times of the yeare thuart the waies yeelding a most troublesome fearefull and dangerous passage altogether vnpassable by wagon and with great difficulty by horse Here lie notwithstanding hidden in the hollow bottomes sundry faire vallies such as are Intal Wallislandt Valtolina and the Vale of Adise scarcely yeelding in fruitfulnesse to the best plaines and in pleasure farre exceeding them Merula obserueth in his trauaile ouer these mountaines the extreame tops to be exceedingly barren and miserable horride with an ould perpetuall ice and snowe the sides or lower Mountaines to be tollerable pasturage not altogether vnfit for tillage the subiect bottomes to be most plentifull fruitfull especially towards Italy and the Sun THE MOVNTAINES ABNOBI These comprehended that banke of wooddie Mountaines now called Schwartz-wald beginning neere the towne of Waldshut vpon the Rhijn and by the heads of the riuers Danow and the Neccar and the townes of Villingen Rotweil Horb Shiltach Nagolt and Wildbad extended Northwards through part of Schwaben and the Dukedome of Wirtenberg continued afterwards from thence by other names through the lower Palatinate and a long the course of the riuer Cochen SVDETAE They are the hills encircling Bohemia couered with the Woods Gabreta and Luna SARMATICI They seeme to be the same with Sevo of Solinus and Carpathus of Ptolomie diuiding now the kingdomes of Poland and Hungary common then to both nations of the Sarmatae and Germans but named from the Sarmatae MELIBOCVS This after Pirkhermerus was a branch of the Abnobi continued from thence vnto Meissen parts whereof should be Hartzwald and the hilly tract where are found the rich siluer mines B. Rhenanus more probably putteth it to be hilly country of Hessen wherein the name yet seemeth to be kept in the parts of Catzen-elbogen expressing as much as Melibocus of the Catti CARVANCAS This after the same author contained at this day the hilly tracts of Krain Krabbaten and Gorecz ALBANVS AND BAEBII The former now seemeth to containe the mountaine Schwanberger-Albâ— with others of the like termination in Steirmarck The Baebij most probably are now the mountaines of Krabbaten CETIVS This is now the hill Calemberg in Austria continued here for a great length betwixt the riuers of the Danow and the Dra and distinguished into sundry particular names of Schneberg Semering Kemperg Hertperg and Deubsperg Heustperg and Plaitz the common bounds sometimes of the countries Noricum and Pannonia THE WOODS They were the famous Hercynia Martiana Bacenis or Semana Gabreta and Luna HERCYNIA Some deriue this name from the Dutch word Hartz signifying pitch in regard of the great plenty of that oilie matter it yeeldeth others from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth a hedge since encompassing this province with its spreading branches the hedge or mound betwixt the same and forreine nations It begunne after Caesar at the Rhijn and the confines of the Heluetij and Nemeti or of Switzerlandt Elsats and the lower Palatinate and was continued from thence Eastward along the course of the Danow vnto the Daci now the vpper Hungary and Transilvania from whence it declined towards the Left hand from the riuer for the large extent thereof bordering vpon many other countries containing some 9 daies iourney in breadth the length then after 60 daies discouery not being found out by any Of this Wood were parts all the other woods before mentioned and as it seemeth here by the description of my author likewise all those vast deserts forrests of the Daci Sarmatae possessed by the Poles Transilvanians Lithuanians Muscovites â—usses since continued from hence Some left remainders in Germany for the greatest part through long ciuility haue been
West-Freislandt The wet and moorish ground about it affordeth rich pasturages but is altogither vnfit for corne Franicker a schoole or petty Vniversity Bolswaerdt OOSTER-GOE COntaining the Sea-coast betwixt Wester-goe and the country of Groningen Townes here are Lieward or Leewarden the court presidial chancerie and chiefe towne of the proper West-Freislant rich faire and strongly fortified Doccum neere vnto Groninger-landt ZEVEN-WOLDEN COntaining the woodland part towards the South-East and Ouer-ysel It hath not any towne of note THE TERRITORY OF GRONINGEN THis is the most Easterne part of West-Freislandt contained betwixt Ooster-goe and the river Eems or Oost-Freislandt Townes here are Dam neere vnto the Eems and Oost-Frislandt Groeningen the chiefe towne giving the name to the province The towne is of great state large rich and strongly fortified There are contained in the whole West-Freislandt 12. walled townes and some 490 Villages The more auncient inhabitants were the Frisij Maiores of Ptolemy Of these 8 provinces South-Holland Vtrecht on the hither side of the Rhijn with Bommeler-Weert Maes-Wael and Betuwe in Gelderlandt appertaine vnto Gaule Belgick North-Hollandt Veluwe of Gelderlandt Zutphen Over-ysel West-Freislandt and Groningerlandt belong vnto Germany the midle chanell of the Rhijn aunciently parting those two mighty prouinces In bignes pleasure and goodnes of soile they are inferiour to those of the Princes but in trade populousnes wealth strength and number of shipping they much surpasse the other In a manner all their townes stand vpon the Ocean vpon great nauigable riuers creeks or inlets of the sea or amongst deepe vnpassable marishes waters wherby through their strength of shipping never being able sully to be besieged and victualls munition and men being hereby easily conueyed vnto them they are become invincible against the most potent enimies not easily to be mastered vnlesse by their disvnion and the dominion of the sea taken from them Their gouerment since that they shoake of the Spanish yoake hath beene vnder the particular states of each prouince a third part of Gelderlandt and Zutphen excepted where stand the townes of Ruremond Guelders Venlo Watchtendonc Strale and Grol remaining yet subiect to the Arch-dutchesse not vnited into any one entire body of common-wealth and but onely for their better defence confederate together in a more strict league whose delegates resident for the most part at the Hage in Hollandt are called the States Generall Their lawes are their severall municipall lawes customes and priuiledges together with the ciuill or Roman law Their religion which onely publikely is allowed is the reformed following or allowing the doctrine of Caluin Their language is the Dutch DENMARCK THE bounds hereof are vpon the South the river Eydore parting it from Holstein the kingdome of the Germans vpon the West the German Ocean vpon the East the Sea Balticke or the Ooster-sche and vpon the North the kingdomes of Norwey and Swethen It lyeth betwixt the 55 45 60 and 59 5 60 degrees of Northerne Latitude The length betwixt North and South is 265 Italian miles the breadth some 200 of the same miles The more ancient inhabitants were the Sigulones Subalingij Cobandi Chali Phundusij Charudes and Cimbri of Ptolemie and Tacitus inhabiting the necke of land named by Ptolemy from that more famous nation the Cimbrian Chersonese now the 2 Iutlandts the Teutoni of Mela inhabiting the Iland Codanonia now Zeland and the Sitones or Sueones of Tacitus for we cannot out of his description certainely distinguish whether inhabiting the parts hereof lying in the Continent of Scandia now Hallandt Schonen and Bleking These ancient names towards the waine of the Roman Empire worne out and extinguished we read in Beda of the Angli and Vitae inhabiting the Cimbrian Chersonese whereof these later possessed the more Northern parts the former after the same author were seated betwixt the Vitae and the Saxons From the Vitae the Cimbrian Chersonese now beareth the name of Iutlandt The name of the Angli is yet preserved here in the Dukedome of Scleswijck in the towne or name of Angelen In the raigne of the Emperour Valentinian the third these two nations remouing with the Saxons into the Iland of Great Brittaine not long after in the raignes of Theodoric French King of Austrasia and of Anastasius Emperour of the East we lastly finde here the Danes more certainely named thus as hath beene related from the bay Codanus whose Ilands and neighbouring Continent they inhabited Iornandes who liued in the raigne of the Emperour Iustinian the first placeth these in the Continent of Scanzia or Scandia Vnder their Prince Godfrey in the raigne of the Emperour Charles the Great we finde them enlarged Southwards vnto the river Eydore dividing from them the Saxons or Dutch as they remaine at this present From this nation the country hath since beene called Denmarck famous a long time for armes and their great and many victories atchieved abroad themselues never conquered by foraine power Lords sometimes of England and Swethen and at this day of the large kingdome of Norwey and of all the navigations and Ilands situated towards the Pole Arcticke and the North. The religion hereof which is publikely allowed is only the Protestant or Confession of Augspurg first converted to Christianity by S. Ansgarius Bishop of Bremen the generall Apostle of these Northerne parts in the raignes of king Eric the second and of Lewis the Godly Emperour of the West and reformed to the Orthodox tenent by the authority of king Fredericke the first The Ecclesiasticall affaires are directed by the Arch-bishop of Lunden and six other Bishops of Rotschilt Odensee Ripen Wiborch Arhusen and Sleswijck The state is monarchicall the eldest sonne most commonly succeeding vnto the father yet where the states doe chalenge a right of chusing None of the nobility exceede the dignitie of Knights conferred by the free grace of the Prince The titles of Dukes Marqueses Earles Vicounts and Barons are not heard of vnlesse amongst the issue royall The kingdome for the better distribution of iustice containeth 184 Prefectures or juridicall resorts which they call Herets It lyeth partly in the continent of Germany and partly in the maine land of Scandia and in the Ilands of the Sundt betwixt these containing fiue more generall parts or names of Iutlandt the Ilands of the Sundt Halland Schonen and Bleking IVTLANDT COntaining the neck of land in the continent of Germany called by Ptolemie the Cimbrian Chersonese It hath vpon the West and North the German Ocean vpon the East the Sundt and vpon the South the riuer Eydore parting it from Holstein and the German Empire It is diuided into the North and the South Iutlands South Iutland hath beene otherwise named the Dukedome of Iutlandt likewise the Dukedome of Sleswijck from the towne of Sleswijck about the yeare 1280 in the person of Waldemar severed from the kingdome by Eric to be
downe by the river Wijssel vnto Dantzig and Elbing in Prussen and from thence conveyed into forraine parts the vnexhausted treasurie and storehouse of corne for Europe and the West The common people are poore base and miserable the slaues of the gentry The nobility are braue high minded valiant liberall free or rather superfluous in their gifts attendance and expences They are all of the same ranke professing armes and called Equites in the Latine Polish historians which we interpret knights or souldiers differing onely in their greater or lesser revenues and by the magistracies offices which the more eminent sort hold for tearme of life conferred by the king They pay the prince no tallages in lieu whereof they are to serue and attend him in his warres Their language is the Sclavonian but who much affect and elegantly speake the Latin Their religion is that which every man best liketh all sorts of grosse heresies if not publikely allowed yet being here suffered which hath hapned through the over great liberty of the Nobility and people and the weake power of the king and of such a confused state to controule them yet where notwithstanding the Romish superstition by meanes of the princes great zeale that way at this day most prevaileth Their first conversion to Christianity was vnder their prince Miecislaus son to Nemomislus in the yeare 965. Their Bishops are Cracow Posna Vladislaw and Ploczko vnder the Arch-bishop of Gnesna who is primate of the kingdome and by ancient priviledge the Popes Legat for Sarmatia and in the absence or vacancie of the prince the Vicar generall of the kingdome hauing power to summon the councel and diets and to conclude and publish their decrees The state is Monarchicall and electiue yet where the next of the blood royall most commonly succeede Their kings more anciently were free and soveraigne By a common calamitie of all electiue states they are now bereft of all royall right and prerogatiues having onely limited power and governing according to strict lawes and the direction of the councell and diets who solely haue full liberty to consult of and determine the maine affaires of the common-wealth These are of two sorts I the senate or grand councell consisting of all the Bishops Palatines and Castellans togither with the great Marshals of state and Court and the Chancelour Vice-chancelour and Treasurer of each dominion of Poland and Lithuania or of so many of them as can conveniently be drawne togither or be consulted with 2. and the Generall Diets which are for the more high and important businesses of the weale publicke not determinable by the Senate amassed of the orders before set downe of the Delegates of each province and chiefer citty sent in the name of the rest of the nobility These sworne to preserue the publicke honour and liberty speake freely in the councell Diets oftentimes challenging and reproving the prince and controuling his actions if they thinke them prejudiciall The country is divided into the Greater and the lesser Polands THE GREATER POLAND DIstinguished thus either because it is the bigger or because it is the more honourable the seat sometimes of Lechus the founder of the Polish nation It containeth 9 parts or diuisions named thus from the chiefe towne of each iurisdiction the Palatinates thus called from their Palatines or countries of Posna Kalisch Siradia Lancicia Vratislaw Bresty Rava Ploczko and Dobrzin whose more principall townes and states commanding and residing in them follow in order THE PALATINATE OF POSNA THe townes here hauing jurisdiction are Posna a Bishops sea and the chiefe towne of the Greater Poland seated amongst hills vpon the riuer Warta The citty is fairely built of stone hauing large suburbs beyond the riuer much subiect to invndations Koscien a double walled towne in a plaine amongst dirtie marishes Miedzyrzecze a strong towne opposing Schlesi and the Germans wherevnto it bordereth impregnably seated amongst waters and marishes Ostresow neighbouring to Schlesi and standing in a wide plaine environed with woods Vschow a walled towne in a plaine Sremsk Premetz Rogozno The States here are the Bishops Palatine and Castellan of Posna and the Castellans of Sremsk Miedzyrzecze Premetz Rogozno Cromerus addeth the Castellan of Krivin THE PALATINATE OF KALISCH TOwnes here are Calisch a walled towne vpon the riuer Prosna amongst marishes naming the country Gnesna a walled towne and an Archbishops sea in a plaine the most ancient towne of Poland founded by Lechus the seat of the first kings remoued afterwards to Cracow Pizdry a walled towne vpon the riuer Warta in a plaine amongst woods Warta vpon the riuer Warta Land vpon the Warta Konin a walled towne encompassed with the Warta Slupcza a strong towne vpon the Warta Kolo surrounded with the Warta Naklo vpon the riuer Notez Camenecz The States are the Archbishop of Gnesna the Palatine and Castellan of Calisch and the Castellans of Gnesna Naklo Camenecz and Land THE PALATINATE OF SIRADIA SOmetimes a Dukedome belonging to the second sonnes of the kings of Poland The chiefe townes are Siradia a walled towne and castle naming the country seated in a plain vpon the river Warta Wielun a strong towne and castle vpon the riuer Prosna Schadeck Petrocow a walled town in a moorish soile the place sometimes of the generall diets of the kingdome remoued now to Warsow Without the towne vnder the shade of a pleasant forrest standeth Bugey one of the royall seiours of the kings whether in regard of the more fresh and healthie ayre they retired during the time of the Diets Rosprza in a plaine amongst marishes Spicimeria The States are the Palatine and Castellan of Siradia with the Castellans of Rosprza Spicimeria and Wielun THE PALATINATE OF LANCICIA THe townes are Lancicia a walled towne with a castle mounted on a rock vpon the riuer Bsura Orlow amongst marishes Bresinia Konarzew Inowlodz Biechow The States are the Palatine and Castellan of Lancicia with the Castellans of Bresinia Konarzew Inowlodz and Biechow Cromerus placeth this last in the Palatinate of Kalisch CVIAVIA OR THE PALATINATE OF WLADISLAW FOr a great part marishie and without woods The chiefe townes are Wladislaw naming the country a Bishops sea vpon the riuer Wijssel Bidgost a walled towne vpon the Bard a navigable riuer convaying marchandise out of the greater Poland vnto the Wijssel The States are the Bishops Palatine and Castellan of Wladislaw with the Castellan of Bidgost THE PALATINATE OF BRZESTYE THe Townes here are Brzestye a well fenced towne naming the country standing in a plaine amongst marishes Radzieiow a woodden towne Kruswick built all of wood with a castle the most ancient of the kingdome after Gnesna the seat sometimes of the Princes standing vpon a great lake named Gopla In the castle hereof Popielus the second Duke of Poland was after a monstrous and strange manner devoured with Ratts swarming out of the Lake Kowalow in a moorish situation The States are the