a collection of some attempts made to the north-east, and north-west, for the finding a passage to japan, china, &c. as also somewhat relating to the satisfaction of all inquirers into captain john wood's present search of a passage by the north-pole, &c. by joesph moxon, hydroprapher to the king's most excellent majesty. moxon, joseph, 1627-1691. 1676 approx. 15 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 1 1-bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a51539 wing m3000b estc n66307 99834802 99834802 39339 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a51539) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 39339) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1837:6) a collection of some attempts made to the north-east, and north-west, for the finding a passage to japan, china, &c. as also somewhat relating to the satisfaction of all inquirers into captain john wood's present search of a passage by the north-pole, &c. by joesph moxon, hydroprapher to the king's most excellent majesty. moxon, joseph, 1627-1691. 1 sheet ([1] p.) : ill. printed by j. moxon, and sold at his shop on ludgate-hill at the signe of atlas; and by james moxon, in the strand neer charing-cross, right against king henry the eighths-inne, london : 1676. with a map of the north pole and northern latitudes. reproduction of the original at the bodleian library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng geography -early works to 1800. northwest passage -early works to 1800. 2003-09 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-11 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-12 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-12 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a collection of some attempts made to the north-east , and north-west , for the finding a passage to iapan , china , &c. as also somewhat relating to the satisfaction of all inquirers into captain iohn wood's present voyage in search of a passage by the north-pole , &c. by joseph moxon , hydrographer to the king 's most excellent majesty . i formerly set forth a small pamphlet intituled , a brief discourse of a passage by the north-pole to japan , china , &c. with a small map of the countries about the pole : which pamphlet of mine , when it came to the sight of that worthy and ingenious commander , my good friend , capt. iohn wood , had the luck to be so acceptable to him , that upon the consideration of my arguments , he resolved to use his interest with the king , to set him forth in a ship upon this discovery : and now he is , ihope , happily upon it , if by this time he hath not found it . but that draft being adjudged by some gentlemen , of my acquaintance , too small for their more nice inquiries into the attempts that have formerly been made to find a passage both by the north-east , and also by the north-west , they solicited me to set forth one so large as conveniently i could upon a royal sheet of paper , with some brief notes and observations upon the proceedings of such english commanders that have attempted to finde a passage either way : and also because they knew i us'd to keep frequent conferences and consultations with capt. wood , to describe the track of his intended voyage : to gratifie whom , and to satisfie others that dayly enquire of me concerning his voyage , i have herein complied with their requests , and set forth this draft , and the relations of former voyages to the north-east and north-west , with two passages taken out of dutch journals relating to a farther confirmation of a passage , and also the track he intended to sail before he set forth . the first therefore we find recorded in hackluit , fol. 265. was sir hugh willoughby to the north-east , who set forth from deptford , may 10. 1553. with three ships , viz. the bona esperanza , the edward bonadventure , and the bona confidentia , and sailed as far as sir hugh willoughby's land in the latitude of 72 ; from whence he returned southward into lapland , where in the haven of arzina he intended to winter ; but he and all his company perished there with extremity of cold . the second was capt. stephen burrough , in a pinace called the searchthrift , to the north-east , who set forth from radclif , april 23. 1556 , and sailed almost to novae zembla , where finding bad wind and weather , and the winter drawing on , he returned home . the third was sir martin frobrisher to the north-west , who set forth from blackwall with two small barques of 25 tuns apiece , and a pinace of 10 tuns , iune 15. 1577 , and sailed 60 leagues up frobrisher-straits , where he lost his boat and five of his men by the salvages , which were never heard of since ; but the abundance of ice and extremity of cold forced him to return home . the fourth was sir martin frobrisher's second voyage to the north-west , who set forth from blackwall , may 26. 1577. with three ships , viz. the aid , the michael , and the gabriel , and sailed into iackman's sound in frobrisher's straits , laded their ships with supposed gold-oar , and so returned home again . the fifth was sir martin frobrisher's third voyage to the north-west , who set forth from harwich , may 31. 1578 , with fifteen ships , and sailed to liecester's point in frobrisher's straits : here they intended to inhabit with 120 men , and to leave them three ships for their use ; yet they did not , but onely laded their ships as before with supposed oar , and so returned home to england again . the sixth was capt. arthur pet , and capt. charles iackman to the north-east , who set forth from harwich with two barques , viz. the george , and the william , may 30. 1580 , and sailed about five or six leagues beyond the weygats ; but by extremity of cold and frost about the 25th of iuly they were forced to return . the 22 of august in their return , being off colgoyeve , the george , of which capt. pet was commander , lost the sight of the william , in which capt. iackman was commander , who never returned , but doubtless there perished . the seventh was capt. iohn davis to the north-west , who set forth from dartmouth with two barques , viz. the sunshine of 50 tuns , and the moonshine of 35 tuns , iune 7. 1585 , and sailed into davis strait , and then returned home . the eighth was capt. iohn davis's second voyage to the north-west , who set forth from dartmouth with four ships , viz. the mermaid 100 tuns , the sunshine 60 tuns , the moonshine 35 tuns , and the north-star 10 tuns , may 7. 1578 , and sailed as far as the latitude of 66. 17. long. from london 70 deg . the ninth was capt. iohn davis's third voyage to the north-west , who set forth from dartmouth with three ships , viz. the elizabeth , the sunshine , and a clinker called the hellen of london , may 19. 1587 , and sailed into the latitude of 73 deg . on the west-side of groynland , which he named london-coast , and then returned home . the tenth was capt. george waymouth to the north-west , who set forth with two flyboats , one of 70 tuns , the other of 60 tuns , victualled for 18 months by the muscovia and turkey companies , may 2. 1602 , and sailed into the latitude of 63 d. 55 m. towards london-coast , where his men began to mutiny , and so he returned home . the eleventh was capt. iohn knight to the north-west , at the cost and charge of the muscovia company and the east-india merchants , who set forth from gravesend , april 18. 1606 , and sailed no farther than the latitude of 56 deg . 48 min. for there a violent storm took him , so as his ship bulged , and he going on shoar to endeavour to mend his ship , was never heard of more ; but with much ado the ship returned home . a polar draft of all the discovered lands about the north pole ▪ wherein is noted the discoverie of such englishmen that have endeavoured to find a passage to japan ▪ china &c. by y e north east and north west . as also a track of the present a●tended voyage of that noble minded commander cap t. john wood upon the discovery aforesaid . by joseph moxon hydrographer to the kings most excellent majesty . the thirteenth was sir thomas button to the north-west , who set forth with two ships , the resolution , and the discovery , victualled for 18 months , about the beginning of may 1612 , and sailed into button's bay , where he wintered in a small river called port nelson , in lat. 57. 10. but the next year he continued his search of a passage in the same bay , and coasted to and fro till he came into the latitude of 62 deg . 57 min. and then the year being spent , he returned home . the fourteenth was capt. gibbons to the north-west , who set forth with a ship called the discovery , in the year 1614 ; but sailed no farther than the mouth of hudson's straits , where he was frozen in for 20 weeks in lat. 57 , in a little bay which his men called gibbons his hole ; and the season being thus spent , he was forced to return . the fifteenth was capt. bilot to the north-west , in the discovery , burthen 55 tuns , in the year 1615 ; who sailed as far as cape comfort in the lat. of 65 deg . 25. min. being to the northwards of button's bay , and so returned home . the sixteenth was mr. will. baffin to the north-west , set forth at the charge of sir dudley diggs , sir tho. smith , mr. iohn wolstenholme esq and alderman iones , in the discovery , 1616 ; he sailed round that great bay called baffin's bay , into the latitude of 79 deg . and finding no passage , returned home . the seventeenth and eighteenth were capt. luke fox , and capt. thomas iames , who set forth 1631 , who searched round hudson's bay , and button's bay : but their voyages being the last that have been made to the north-west upon a discovery , i have with prick●lines , traced down in the draft it self , therefore i refer you to it . capt. iames was forced to winter in iames his bay , where he suffered great hardships , and the loss of some of his men by extremities of cold and frosts ; but the next year returned with his ship home . here you may perceive , that all the attempts made to the north-west , were made in several bays ; and indeed the whole sea it self , where the passage was expected to be found , is but one great bay , which receives great quantities of ice out of many fresh-water rivers that empty themselves into it , and so this sea or great bay delivers it into hudson's straits , which makes that so unpassable . and the attempted passage by the north-east is found but a great fresh-water bay , which also receives the ice of many fresh-water rivers into it , and so makes that unpassable : as appears by the copy of that letter sent from muscovy to amsterdam , and from amsterdam to mr. oldenburgh , secretary to the royal society , which he published in transact . 101 ▪ which i also set forth in my brief discourse of the passage by the north-pole to japan , china , &c. to either of which i refer you . besides these performed by english men , there have been other attempts made for the finding of a passage to iapan , china , &c. both by the danes , and dutch ; but the dutch have made the fairest progress therein : for one william barents being satisfied that no passage was between nova zembla and the main , steered his course to the northwards of nova zembla , and sailed into the tartarian sea about 2 or 300 leagues beyond nova zembla ; and had doubtless sailed through , had not the dutch east-india company ( against whose interest it was ) corrupted him , and taken him off the prosecution . they have also made such other navigations from the east-indies , as may in my opinion satisfie any considerate understanding person of a passage ; and more especially the navigations of two ships , whose journals have come to my hands . one was a ship sent from batavia , to discover beyond iapan to the northwards , because of reports they had in batavia of gold and silver-mines to be in yedso , or some countries or islands about it ; which ship having sailed somewhat beyond yedso , in their journal they write , that to their great amazement they found themselves in the tartarian ocean . this sentence i did perceive , by the scope of the whole journal , was writ without designe , nay , not so much as reflection upon a passage ; and therefore i think it may be accepted for truth . the other navigation was of a ship sent from batavia , and intended for iapan to trade ; but by contrary winds was driven to corea , a little to the westward of iapan , where a violent storm arising , the ship was broken to pieces , and of 64 men in her , only 36 escaped shipwrack , and were made slaves of by the coreans : but after 13 years slavery there was no more than 16 of these men left alive , and 8 of them escaped in a boat , and got to iapan among their country-men . hendrick hamel of gorcum was the book-keeper to the ship , and kept the journal of their voyage , and passages that happened to them in their slavery ; which journal and passages was afterwards printed at rotterdam , together with a brief description of the kingdom of corea ; with its laws , maxims , and policies both civil and military : and in this description of corea , he relates as follows : that on the west side trends the coast of china , or the bay of nankin ; and that its north end is fastened to china with a mighty huge mountain , which makes corea no island but a peninsula , because that on the north-east side is nothing but an open sea , in which is found every year many whales with french and holland harping-irons in their bodies . there is also in the months of december , january , february , and march , great quantities of herrings caught , which in the two first months are very like the hollands herrings , and in the two other months are much less , like the pan-herrings in holland ; so that of necessity it must follow , that between japan and corea there must be a passage to the wey-gats . [ note , this writer should have said , a passage to nova zembla , or greenland : for a passage through the weygats is since contradicted by the discovery made by the express order of the czar of muscovy , as appears by the letter aforesaid sent to mr. oldenburg . ] and we have , saith he , often enquired of the coreans that inhabited on the north-east side of corea , if there were any more land on the north-east side : but they answered us , no , there is nothing but an open sea. london : printed for ioseph moxon , and sold at his shop on ludgate-hill at the signe of atlas ; and by iames moxon , in the strand neer charing-cross , right against king henry the eighths-inne . 1676. to the kings most excellent majesty. the humble petition of william dyre gent dyer, william, of rhode island. 1670 approx. 17 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 3 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2007-10 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a37133 wing d2948a estc r215315 99827223 99827223 31639 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a37133) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 31639) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1906:9) to the kings most excellent majesty. the humble petition of william dyre gent dyer, william, of rhode island. [1], 3 p. s.n., [london? : 1670] caption title. imprint suggested by wing. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng geography -early works to 1800. north america -history -colonial period, 1600-1775 -early works to 1800. 2006-10 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-10 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-12 celeste ng sampled and proofread 2006-12 celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited 2007-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion to the kings most excellent majesty . the humble petition of william dyre gent. sheweth ; that whereas their late royal majesties king james and king charles the first , of ever blessed memory , did ( upon the resignation of the grand charter ) grant by their letters patents , several colonies in that part of america called new-england , beginning in the west , to the lord mougrave , running eastward to hudsons river . secondly , to his grace the duke of richmond . thirdly , to the earl of carlisle . fourthly , to the lord edward gorges . fifthly , to the marquess of hamilton . sixthly , to captain john mason ; and lastly , to sir fardinando gorges . all or most of which colonies having been planted and peopled at the charge , and by the noble encouragement of the proprietors , and many adventurers , do increase and flourish daily : notwithstanding some of those , and them not the least considerable ; are much obstructed in their prosperity and greatly ruined by the continual disputes and controversies arising from their unsetled limits and bounderies , which hath occasioned much dissention amongst the governments , treason of the massathusets usurping a power and imposing laws , or tyrannical edicts upon the inhabitants of the provinces of mayn and newhampshire , using acts of hostility against the institutions of the proprietors ( and in direct opposition to your majesties express will and pleasure strictly commanding the contrary ) have subverted the government setled there by your majesties commissioners in the year 1666. to the injury and disquiet of the commonalty ; and contempt of your royal authority . wherefore , to compose the matter , and put an end to the aforesaid differences , and for setling peace , union and concord amongst your majesties subjects and plantations ; it is most humbly pray'd , that your sacred majesty will be graciously pleased to purchase of mr. mason and mr. gorges , the abovesaid provinces of newhampshire and mayne , which now may be bought at an easie rate , the which will give your majesty an absolute and immediate dominion of all new-england , and bring into your majesty the most considerable advantages that either have been , or are to be made by any of those your majesties plantations , as shall be demonstrated by your petitioner with your majesties leave . and your petitioner shall ever pray , &c. an experimental and geographical description of the provinces of mayn and new hampshire in north america ; now belonging to mr. john mason and fardinando gorges esquire , with a brief collection of such advantages as are to be made by the same if in case they were in your majesties possession , and setled under your immediate government , most humbly offered to your majesties consideration ; by w. d. gent. first concerning the entrance , latitude and course of merrimeck river for decision of the northern bounds of the massathusets colony in new england . the river monomack , alias merrimack , hath its inlet , or easterly beginning about 22 miles north and by east from cape ann , the north side of the said rivers mouth being in 42 degrees and 57 minutes northerly latitude , running west southerly , as far as 〈◊〉 the south , and salisbury on the north , where the river is about half a mile over , and the torrent swift , though mitigated by an island in the midst thereof ; and from thence to haverhill vvest , south-vvest , and so continues its course vvestward as high as any settlement of english , or discovery hath yet been made , and is said to proceed from the lake of troquoies , which falls into hudsons river , and this of merrimack ; but to my certain knowledge there is no principal branch , nor part of merrimack that lies or extends more northerly then the north-side of the entrance or rivers mouth , three english miles to the northward of which , into the land , was built a little hutt called bound-house ; which said cottage , or place where it stood being in 43 degrees of northern-latitude , is the septentrional confines of the massathusets line , nor did they pretend to any more , till the new-setled plantations in the provinces of mayn and new-hampshire , being without government , and in danger of the salvages , craved their temporary protection , which having been long continued , is now by the bostonians claim'd as their rights . indeed , if merrimack river or any branch of it were found to run so far northward as 45 degrees , and then taking into the land three english miles farther north , from whence stretching a direct line eastward into the atlantick sea , it must be own'd , that then the provinces of mayn and new-hampshire do fall inclusively within the massathusets bounds . and so likewise , from the southward of the south-west stream of charles river , and three english miles southward of that running a due south course into the ocean , will be comprehended the provinces of novum-belgium , new-haven , conecticutt , rhod-island , and new-plymouth : the thoughts of which boundless possessions might swell them of the massathusets colony into an ambitious conceipt of being absolute lords and proprietors of a great empire , and so arrogate to themselves a liberty of prescribing laws , and exercising their dominion over all the inhabitants of new-england . but , to prevent their title to so copious a claim , and settle other patentees into their just dues ; it 's presumed , there is nothing more plain and demonstrable ( both from the course of the rivers , and the express words of the charter ) then that the intent of the patent , and bounds of the massathusets grant , was , three english miles to the northward of the northernmost banks of merrimack , taking it gradually into the land parallel with the river as it runs up into the countrey , which is west-southerly ; and , in the same manner not to exceed three english miles to the southward of the south-west part of charles river , still taking it up along the said rivers side , and not from the heads or extream branches thereof , and then three english miles to the southward or northward of each river , and so run by course into the sea : which would include all the southern and northern colonies abovesaid , rendering their patents insignificant and improperly granted . wherefore the hope of your majesties suffering subjects depends wholly upon your majesties gracious clemency , wisdom and justice for relief in the matter ; it being only in your majesties royal power to put a final issue to the controversies : which is earnestly desired by all that wish well to your majesties interests , and may be happily , honourably and successfully done by your majesties purchasing the provinces of new-hampshire and mayne , of the abovesaid proprietors , which are situated and furnished according to the description here following . the province of new-hampshire , which was the assignment of captain john mason , is bounded on the south and south-west by the massathusets line north-eastward upon the province of mayne , on the east and south-east , by the sea , stretching westward into the continent , and lies between 43 and 44 degrees of north-latitude ; in which is comprised newhampton , with several other towns , villages and spacious farms pleasantly situated , some fronting the sea , some within land , and some upon the south-west-side , or part of pascataway-river , where are built many commodious and profitable saw-mills , for cutting plank , timber and boards . that part of america called province of mayn , takes its beginning at the entrance of pascataway river , extending up the same to the river newchewannick , to the extream part thereof ; and from thence north-west , 120 miles , and from the mouth of pascataway river aforesaid north-eastward along the sea-coast , to sagadehock ; and up the same to kenebeck-river , as far as the head thereof , comprehending several islands in the sea , viz. the north , half of the isles of shoalds , nantucket , martins-vineyard , capanawagon , richmonds-island , the clap-board islands , and sundry others of very great importance for fishing , farming and planting . the climate and air of this province ( as well as that of new-hampshire ) is temperate , sweet , cleer and healthy ; the soyles fertile ; the harbors , ports and havens commodious and safe , and the countrey every where well furnished with rivers , brooks , lakes , ponds , streams and springs ; with store of champion-ground , ranges , level-land , meadows , swamps , thickets , marches , uplands , hills , and fruitful valleys : where growes tall cedars , sturdy oaks , brave elmes , tough walnut , and streight chesnut trees ; fragrant birch , brown beech , and multitude of ash , maple , asp , holly , ivie , hazle , hawthorne , shumach , willow , buttonwood , alder , poplar and sassafras ; with curious cypress , fir , sprewse and pines of a vast magnitude ; and the most incomparable timber for building ships in the world. there are also plenty of vines which naturally yield three sorts of pleasant grapes , the first a large whitish and mellifluous grape , the second a purple colour of the same size , and very delicious , the third a small black winter-grape , somewhat tart , but very wholsome and good . as for orchard and garden-fruits , there are apples of all sorts , pears of most kinds , peaches , malagatoons , quinces ; apricocks , plums , cherries , currants , hurts , strawberries , cramberries , and blewberries , also musk-mellons , water-mellons , and cucumbers , with all manner of plants , herbs and roots ; each tree , herb , plant and root , according to its kind , brings forth nuts , berries , fruit and seeds . the pastures are cloathed with grass , and the fields produce plenty of wheat , pease , barly , rye and oats , with some other sorts of grain , in which fields and grounds are bred and raised huge droves of good cattel , horses , sheep and hogs . but the natural inhabitants of the abovesaid woods , hills and swamps , are incredible numbers of wild beasts , as bears , moose , deer , wolves , foxes , bevers , otters , minks , martins , musquashes , sables , squirils , rackoons , wild-cats , hedg-hogs , porcupines , wild rabbets , hares and woodchucks . the bowels of the earth being no less enricht with plenty of iron , ore , tin , copper , lead , coals , sulphur , and other minerals , which voluntarily offer themselves to publick view , without searching after , as if nature were willing to discover , and disburthen her self of what our ingenuities are slow in seeking . nor know i any reason why richer mines should not there be found , as well as in the neighbor-colonies ; in regard there is more external probality , and visible encouragement in these provinces then was in any of them . the production of the rivers , lakes and ponds , is infinite quantities of fresh-water fish , as bass , salmon , trouts , carp , perch , pinkerin and pouts ; also the salt-water and sea-coasts abounding with whales , grampuses , seals , herring-hogs , porposes , sharks , dog-fish , sturgeon , hollibut , cod , haddock , hake , pollock , mackeril , soles , scate , alewives , smelts , eeles , lamprons , frost-fish , cole , thornback , herrings , capeline and shad ; and of shell-fish there be lobsters , muscles , oysters , crabs , perriwinkles , tortoise , clams , cockles and scollops . the islands adjacent , together with the woods , sea , rivers , and shoares , yield swarms of fowl and birds , as turkeys , pheasants , heath-hens , partridges , quailes , eagles , hawks , ravens , crowes , stares , owles , cormorants , cranes , bitterns , herns , kites , pidgeons , thrushes , turtle-doves , swans , geese , brants , murrs , penguins , mallard , teal and vvidgins , with abundance of other sea-fowle and small birds , all which variety of creatures , being there placed by the infinite providence of almighty god , are so beneficial for the subsistance of mankind , as contributes much to the peopling and planting of that countrey , which in the summer is most delightful and pleasant by the lovely shady groves , sweet singing birds , and cool christal springs . vvherefore if the great worth and intrinsick value of the aforesaid provinces were duly considered , and by your majesties gracious favour brought under the obedience of your royal authority , there are certain and almost incredible advantages to be made , as well conducible to your majesties benefit , the honour of your crown and dignity , as also to the publick good of that place a●● this nation , as may appear in the several particulars following . imprimis . were the provinces of mayn and new-hampshire purchased by your majesty , your majesty hath then the absolute , real , actual dominion and soveraignty of those seas , with the sole propriety and benefit of all fishing used on the coasts of new-england , and may at your royal pleasure settle a duty or impost upon all fisheries there , without intrenching upon the liberties of the bostoners patent , the abrogation of their priviledges , or the least wrong to the inhabitants , and also in a short time reduce , or win those of the massathusets and plymouth colonies to a ready subjection and compleat obedience . 2. from hence your majesty may be ( at all times both in peace and war ) supplyed with masts , tarr , timber , plank , boards , and pipe-staves , at a much cheaper , and easier rate then now your majesty is , or by any other means can be ; wherein consists very much the safety of your majesties maritime affairs . 3. in these provinces your majesty may settle a very considerable and profitable trade with the indians , for beaver and all other peltry ; in regard they border so near upon nova-scotia , and are as well furnished with lakes , ponds and rivers as that countrey is , and also with little charge improve all mines and minerals of worth there . 4. by your majesties being the 〈…〉 of your subjects , the prosperity of your plantations , the encouragement of trade , navigation and commerce , be inexpressibly advanced , by uniting the colonies , and securing the ports and countrey from invasion . 5. to the aforesaid places your majesty may in time of peace imploy some of your great flemish prizes to bring over masts , deales , timber and staves , which will be of singular benefit both to your majesty and this nation . 6. by having the propriety of these provinces , your majesty will receive a considerable revenue out of the fish taken and made there , as also by a small duty upon all kind of timber and raft that shall be exported , which will be advantagious and of great value , in regard those commodities are not to be had in any other part of new-england , but in the provinces of new-hampshire and mayne , which may now be your majesties for a small sum of money , or trifle , compared with their true value and consequences . these particulars are in all humility , duty , and submissive obedience laid at your majesties feet , and most loyally proposed by a faithful subject , to the end your sacred majesty may be absolute in your soveraignty , greater in riches , name and power , and that your royal commands may be with reverence obeyed , your majesties laws executed , the protestant religion cherished , the priviledges of your majesties subjects enlarged , learning propagated , and all vertue encouraged . and that your majesties good subjects in those parts may not only have the name of your majesty , but also your power amongst them , and thereby live peaceably , happily and quietly under your majesties royal government , which heaven grant may be long , long and prosperous . finis . fata mihi totum mea sunt agitanda per orbem digges, dudley, sir, 1583-1639. 1611 approx. 27 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 15 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a20443 stc 6846 estc s105356 99841085 99841085 5644 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a20443) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 5644) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1349:14) fata mihi totum mea sunt agitanda per orbem digges, dudley, sir, 1583-1639. [2], 26 p. by w. w[hite] for iohn barnes, imprinted at london : 1611. by sir dudley digges. printer's name from stc. running title reads: of the circumference of the earth. reproduction of the original in the henry e. huntington library and art gallery. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng geography -early works to 1800. northwest passage -early works to 1800. northeast passage -early works to 1800. earth -early works to 1800. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-05 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2003-05 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion fata mihi totvm mea sunt agitanda per orbem . imprinted at london by w. w. for iohn barnes . 1611. though our particular opinion of the pro●…abilitie , that after the vn-blest indeauours of so manie of our countrimen , sought for the north-west passage , were reason good enough for our aduentures , to merite ( at the worst ) by making knowne th'impossibilitie , the thankes of future ages : yet now , when persons of more e●…inence are interested in the prosecutio●… of that action ; least after good successe , as in like cases , the enuy of the world , commend the fortune rather then the iudgement of the vndertakers : we are aduised to shew some such as you , a litle of our reason ; by the sufficience whereof , you ( as we wis●… ) will iudge vs , and our enterprize , though an vnlook'd for ill e●…ent , should surnish other men with stronger arguments then yet they haue against vs. for yet ( setting aside some one ▪ it may be , and that fortified especially with this ) the maine obiection is ▪ that all our moderne globes and mappes doe either shew no pa●…sage ▪ or else fo high into the north , and long into the west , that cold and ice , and fogges , and so foorth , will make it of no vse . to which wee iustly might reply ; that it hath euer been , the custome of describers of the wo●…ld in remote partes , to set downe land or sea out of their owne imagination , with gian●…s , pigmies , monsters , and miraculous reportes of fabulous authors . o●… if wee list , to let them see how poore it is to trust in pictures : could tell them of those globes that make america and asia all one continent , euen vnder the tropicke : or of those maps that seuer them by a small fretum onely ; that since is found to be a vaste and spatious sea : or of those that ioyne america and grond-land , betweene which dau●…s , and other of our countrimen , discouered a large passage : or of those that force the backe of brasill by the streightes of mag●…llan , to trend so strangely westward , when m. cauendish found that coast to turne immediatly vp to the north , inclining to the east : or of other as grosse errours , which later voyages haue mended . by which , those men might be perswaded from ours , because it is a new discouerie to rectifie their cardes , that make no mention of our streightes found in ( ) a latitude free from feare of danger , cutting through the body of america 200. or 300. leagues , vnto an open sea , that shewed a great and hollow billow , and brought a flood that rose 5. faddome . the rather , for that it agreeth iustly with the portingal card , taken in the late queenes time out of a carricke and with the intelligence which sir mar●…in furbisher had long since from a portingal in gwinie , that sayd , hee had past it : and with the generall confession of pilots now at l●…shbon , yeelding to the newes : and with vnpartiall stories , telling that the admirall of d. garcia g●…offroy loaysa of u●…-real , in the time of cha●…les the fifth , by the coast of bacalaos and 〈◊〉 , went to the moluccaes . but because some ( that hold the place , at least of ) good sea-men , and maisters in the studie of cosmographie , deliuer their opinion without reasons , that there yet remaine , on the north of america , many hundred leagues for vs to passe : we hold it not amis to shew you why ( besides our late experience ) we thinke not so , in this succeeding short discourse . of the circvmference of the earth . vnlearned men are now at length assured by the renowned voyages of sir francis drake and m. cauendish , and other worthy persons , that in the last age compassed the world : as aunciently mathematicians were by the roundnesse of the shadow in the eclipse of the moone . that the forme or figure which god gaue vnto the sea and earth , when his wisedome set the waters and dry land apart , was gloabe-like or sp●…aricall . wherein it is agreed there are two poynts , correspondent to the north and south poles of the heauens , of ea●…ie creation in a solide of that nature , from which centers by describing seuerall circles , we deriue our paralells , whereof the largest in extent , must of necessitie fall iust in the mid'st ; the rest infallibly growing lesser and lesser , as they draw neerer and neerer to those poles . whereas our meridians being circles that doe euer meete in both those poyntes of north and south , and so deuide the orbe into iust 〈◊〉 , though they be not aequidistant , yet are euer of one equall circuite to the greatest paralell , which we call the aequinoctiall . in which line , all men obseruing that the s●…nne in foure and twentie howers was carried round ; and the most learned , that one houre tooke vp 300. leagues , or 900. miles . it was concluded , that the sunnes whole course was 24. times so much : so that the common best opinion of the greatest compasse of the world , became 7200. l or 21600. m. according to which computation , sea-men and trauelers that goe directly north or south , doe find their eleuation to alter one degree of the 360. for 20. l. of way , and ha●…ing sure meanes to tell how many degrees or partes of their m●…ridian they are gone n. or s. they can proportion well inough their distaunce in latitude , to be so many l. or miles . but in their course of longitude , ( which is from east to west ) for want of fixed helpes , they are constrayned to turne backward , and by reckoning their l. or m. of way , to make accompt of so many parts or degrees of their paralell : but hauing not had due consideration of the aboue saide lessening of parale●…s , to distribute consequently fewer miles or leagues to eac●… degree , besides the too vncertaine ground ; it hath fallen out that lands sette foorth in gloabes or mappes , from such erroneous cardes or computations , as touching longitude or distance east and west , are most extreamely false , especially in new discouered northerne & southerne countries . for which cause ( setting by the authority of handy-workes ) the 〈◊〉 c●…erence of the earth is to be lookt for in the histories of such as traueld to describe the worlde : among the which in auncient time , the men that layde the firmest and most artificiall grounds , and neerest to the best of modern●… , were 〈◊〉 alexandrinus : and he whom 〈◊〉 confutes marinus tyrius , the one of them by a heauenly way of eclips●…s , most exact ( if well obserued ) thus argued . such an eclipse happen'd at m. hora 8. and at n. at 9. therefore m. and n. differ in longitude one hower , that is , the 24. part of the aequinoctiall , that is , 15. degrees , contayning euery one some 60. miles . but on th●… contrary , marinus tyrius proceeded thus : such a man went from m. to n. versus occasum , or from n. to m. versus exortum 7500. stadi●… , whereof 500. are about 60. miles , or one degree of the aequinoctiall ; from which experience he concluded , therefore m. and n. did differ 15. degrees , that is one hower in longitude . which course how euer m●…chanicall as wee say ; and seldome or neuer exact : yet on firme land , by small helpes giuen to a man of ordinary vnderstanding , may easily be freed from a grosse errour : whereas wee must confesse ptolomey his learned method is of such difficile obseruing , that errour soone creepes in , and euery small one breeds a great mistaking . and therefore seing ( eyther way ) geographye depends on the reports of trauellours ( which ptolomey cal's historiam peregrinationis ) and trauellours be seldome math●…maticians , but merchants , saylours , souldiers , men that may vse common rules and instruments , not subtilties of nice and curious practise . there are that doe professe , they hold p●…olomey his way much fitter , from the relations of learned men , & countries where good artes are flourishing , to rectifie precedent obseruations , then to delineate or set downe by heare-say , the distances from east to west , of farre remote newly discouered countries . nay , that confesse ( vnder correction of the learned world tha●… hath receiued it ) they are not yet so fully well perswaded of 〈◊〉 his bounding the olde world of europe , africa , and asia , betweene a meridian of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and 12. howers or 180. degrees , but rather doe approoue marinus tyrius his extending asia into the east , as farre as 15. howers , and that for these reasons . if those men conceiue a right , that gesse that 〈◊〉 for his aboade in 〈◊〉 , did stile himselfe alexandrinus , in emulation of mari●… , called tyri●… , from the towne of tyr●… . it cannot be denied but the merchants of that port were fellowes vnto princes , and had in those dayes greater trade then any ; so that marinus liuing there , was like to haue much better information then an other in an other corner ; especially being more auncient , and neerer to the ass●…ian and persian monarchies , to the iourneys of alexander , hercu●… , and bacchus , and the businesse then most into the east . hee could not but haue better helpes then ptolomey , that liued when all went westward . the merchauntes then traueling ouer firme land , through plaine and open countries by directions of the heauens , wherein the men of those times and territories were best read ; they were the better able to make perfect iournals of their way , and consequently marinus truer computation of the longitude of plac●…s . since 〈◊〉 himselfe confesseth , that the landes from the f●…tunate islands , to the passage of the riuer euphra●…es through h●…apolis , were rightly laide by tyri●…s , being gathered from mens voyages west-ward ouer seas , and through the wooddie , mountanous , baren & then barbarous partes of europ●… : why should we not thinke his informatiō was as good , and more frequent from the easterne richest countries of the world ; and so beleeue as well of his accompt ad turr●● lapideam , and thence ad sinar●…m metropolim ? nothing doubting what euer ptolomey coniecture , his care to examine mens relations , ere hee gaue them ●…redite , since though his worke vnhappily appeare not ; yet out of his confuters mouth , wee heare hee did reiect phil●…rs forged tale of 〈◊〉 greatnesse . how confidently soeuer ptolomey , with stronger arguments then those against his longitude , condemne marinus tyrius for forcing africa , as touching latitude to reach beyond the tropick●… of capricorne ▪ whereas he will allow it to extende to not full 17. partes : yet now infallible experience hath taught vs , that marinus in that then most difficult poynt , was much the better informed , a fayre occasion to doubt p●…olomey , and trust him in the other . 5 ly . that ptolomey was strangely abused in his vnderstanding of those partes , appeareth plainely , by his making asia to turne downe to the south , and winding round to ioyne with africa , conceiuing our great sea of zur , for that he heard but of a peece to be a bay or sinus , which indeed he tearmed magnus ; but reported to be lesse then either 〈◊〉 or persicus . last of all , seeing that although 〈◊〉 mela , & other of the ancient , besides the late discouered trueth it selfe , make a●…ia to reach vnto the sea ; yet pt●…mey doth bound it east-ward terra incognita : why might not marinus proportion more degrees or howers , were it but for that land vnknowne ▪ sure we are , p●…olomey his fardest meridia●… doth leaue a great part of china east , his sinus magnus being but a peece of our south sea , betweene malacca and the moluccaes , and his aurea chersonesus , in truth no other then the moderne sumatra , though by some learned men mistaken for his taprobane : and thus vnhappily wee fall vpon another paradoxe ; yet for the trueths sake , can not but deliuer our opinion , that , that which hee cald taproban●… , was our now ce●…lam . not because barrius , or corsalus , or varrerius , or at last or●…elius conceiued so ; nor yet for the plentie of elephants , and other riches which ptolomey gaue to his tapro●…ane , and are in truth in our c●…lam : nor for the nee●…nesse of the sound or name of the auncient inhabitantes of taprobane , cald by him salaj , and his opposite promontory in jndia tearmd c●…ry , to our ceilam , and the neighbour c. 〈◊〉 : but for these , as we thinke vnanswerable reaso●…s . the latitude ( wherein as 〈◊〉 and other , rightly iudge 〈◊〉 err'd least ) of our c●…ilam being about 10. degrees northerly , agreeth much better with ptolomey his tapro●…ane , then sumatra , that like his aurea chersonesus , lyeth vnder the line . 2 ly . the sholes & drownd lands about our ceilam shew that perhaps it hath been greater , if any should too strictly vrge plinie his magnitude of ta●…robane , which ptolomey placeth but a few degrees east-ward from his riuer indus , ouer against that part of jndia where the bracmanoj magoj liu'd : and so is our ce●…lam now situate , from that riuer , and opposite to the jndians ; whose priestes are called bachmenes . 3 ly . before his taprobane , ptolom●… placeth . 1300. little islands an vnusuall seamarke , no where in the world but before our ceil●…m , to wit the isles of mald●…uar . 4 ly . ptolomey his tabrobane lay betweene the mouths of the riuers jndus , and ganges , almost indifferently , as our c●…lam now doeth , whereas su●…atra not onely is beyond the riuer ganges , but our go●…pho de bengala , his sinus 〈◊〉 . i but the learned merca●…or was of other minde , whose sentence maginus & other geographers approoue : hee take●… su●…tra to be taprobane , and our iapan for au●…ea chersonesus , &c. the trueth is , in his vniuersall mappe , a●… in the quarter cardes which ho●…dius drew from thence , the labour is so great to fitte the new discouered countries in those seas , to p●…olomeys olde names : that he that will but reade iudiciously ptolomey himselfe , be it of merc●…tors owne edition , shall soone perceiue the errors which wee wish that learned man had not committed : for , for a taste , what can be weaker , then to deny sumatra to be chersonesus , because it is not a peninsal●… , although the broken groundes about it , and the neere●…esse to the maine witnesse perhaps it was : and although the latitude and other circumst●…nces accord ; when the same hand doth make j●…pan that hath no colour , no resemblance of an jstmos , lying farre ●…rom the continent , in 36. degrees , of n. eleuation to bee ptolomey his c●…rise o●… cherso●…sus that wa●… vnder the aequinoctiall . i but according to ptolomey cherso●…sus , must lie beyond the riuer ganges , as taproban●… on this side : and therefore mercator finding the riuer cantam to be ganges , had reason to reconcile p●…olomey vnto himselfe , &c. surely mercator had small reason , b●…sides will , so worse and worse to lime himselfe : the particular narrations of soli●…s , and other describers of those partes , from the persi●…us sinus and island of the sunne to carmani●… , so to jndus , then jn●…ia intra gangem , then 〈◊〉 extra gang●…m , and so ad ser●…s , as well as 〈◊〉 his enumeration of the riuers , mountaines , townes , and head-landes , with their distances , shew plainely , that his riuer ganges was nothing neere so farre from indus : and if that mightie continent betweene in●…s and can●… were but india intra gangem , china it selfe must then be india extra gang●…m ; and so vnlesse the sea haue eate it vp , wee cannot guesse what is become of sin●…rum regio , that p●…olomey so often mentions to lye eastward from india extra gange●… . and surely if the riuer of bengala ( which linschot sayes the indians doe call gueng●… ) be not ga●…ges , falli●…g out into a sea so well knowne , and being of that breadth & deapth and length that the indians superstitiously conceiue it comes from par●…dise , it had ill lucke to scape the mention of our m. ptolomey . in a word , the seuerall mouths of ptolo●…y his g●…nges , especially the most distant , lay in the same latitude , which is impossible for cantam falling eastward , and not full south into the sea. neither hath ca●…am a bay like golpho de b●…ngala to answere sinus gangeticus ; neither can there be , if cantam were g●…ges , beyond it eastward any trending of land ( as ptolomey writes ) so farre to the south , that there were aethiopes : neither is there beyond cantam any towne within the tropicke , whereas ptolomey in his 8. booke of caelestiall obseruations , or rectifications , reckons all the cities of india extra gang●…m , and some of sinarum regio too , to haue sole●… in vertice bis in anno : all which , doe well agree with our opinion . but why doe wee pursue mercator any further , whose first mistaking , notwithstanding all his witte and labour , brought him at last to place cattigara si●… arum statio , in 60. degrees of northerly latitude , which ptolomey expressly layes beyond the aequinoctiall . the clearer trueth is , that the riuer indus , of ptolomey , by the vniuersall consent , falles into the ocean neere camb●… , from whence proceeding eastward , you come to his promontory cory our cape comorj , ouer against which lay his taprobane our ce●…lam , from thence to his sinus gangeticus our golpho de bengala ▪ so to his riuer ganges the indian guenga ▪ then to our 〈◊〉 his chrise or chersonesu●… , and last of all to his sinus magnus , a peece of our south sea betweene peg●… or si●…m & the islands of spices , into some port whereof , the comming of some sinae to trade , occasioned his conceit of ca●…gara sinarum st●…o : all which against mag●…nus , and such as so easily swallow mercators coniectures , may be much better iustified then their positions . now then , by this that hath been sayd , it may appeare , that p●…lomeys hem●…sphere reacht litle beyonde sumatra and siam ; so that not onely china , which by them that know it best , is ●…ayd to trend from 2●… . degrees of nor : latitude 700. leagues north-east ward , but a good part of cauchin-china too , remaynes for p●…olomey his terra incognita , to make vp the 3. howers , or 45. degrees more of marinus ty●…ius : vpon whose computation , columbus especially did found his so happy and renownedent erprize . i , but how commeth it to passe , that all our moderne maps contract euen ptolomeys hem●…sphere , and make sum●…tra to extend to litle aboue 150. degrees ? why surely by the generall mistaking of his ta●…robane ; and in particular , by a tricke of the portinga●…es , the first and chiefe frequenters of those partes , they hauing by the popes authoritie , fixt a merd●…an at the islands of cape v●…rde , from which westward the castilia●…s should haue all to 180. degrees as themselues , the other moytie fastward : it fell out that the riches o●… the 〈◊〉 cald the islands of spices , set them both at oddes , and the 〈◊〉 finding a short and easie passage from america thither , not onely chalenged those islandes , but some part of india too , to ●…al within their limits : for preuention whereof , to bring the 〈◊〉 within their hem●…sphere , the portin●…ales in probabilitie shortned their cardes : for at the meeting at ba●…os and yelbes , betweene them , there was lost a 7. th parth of the world , and the 〈◊〉 were they that shun'd the triall : but the emperours occasions compelling him to yeeld to them , that else , ( as the r●…cordes declare ) had litle right : the world hath since receiu'd the d●…lineation of those partes from p●…rtingal accompt . but there is reason to imagine , that ere long , our skilfull frequenters of the east ind●…es , by obseruation of some on●… eclipse , will teach the truth ; meane time , let vs ageee with the spaniards the maisters of those partes , and the computation of our maisters the old geographers . if therefore from the meridian of the fortunate islands , in the paralell of 37. ( which is chosen as most eminent and fit to reckon on ) wee may accompt to the farthest partes of c●…ina , ouer against 〈◊〉 , lying in the same height 225. degrees , or 15. howers , according to the additions vnto gemma frisius tables : there then remayne but 9. howers , or 135. degrees , to make vp ●…he complement ; which being ouer seas , wee know both difficult and vncertaine : but the best experience , from the coast of china to the most easterne part of 〈◊〉 , sets downe 200. l. from thence to the backe of america in 37½ . where sir 〈◊〉 drake his noua albion should bee ; you haue , by the estimate of fran : 〈◊〉 900. more : in all 1100. l. whereof by the dutch computation 12 : by the spanish 14 : by the engl●…sh 16 : in that paralell make one degree , which last as surest , though worst for vs , we follow , and do find from china vnto noua 〈◊〉 69. degrees . now from the meridian of the 〈◊〉 westward to 〈◊〉 , or to keepe our paralell to uirginia by seuerall eclipses , obserued by seuerall men , there hath been found a difference of neare 60. degrees or 4. howers : so that the remainder of the 135. is about 6 degrees , or 300. english miles betweene virginia and noua albion . for co●…firmation whereof , let vs remember that the india●…s in 〈◊〉 continually assure our people , that 12. daies iournie westward from the fa●…s , they haue a sea , where they haue some-times seene such shippes as ours . let vs remember how uasques de coronado , sent to discouer the north of ameri●…a by the viceroy ; a●…onio d●… m●…ndoza , labouring in his letters to perswade the emperour what a large and ample continent there was to inhabite , writeth , that at c●…bola , hee was 150. l. from the south sea , and a litle more from the north. let vs remember how plainely sir francis drake his iornal , prooues that his n●…a a●…bion can be very litle further westward then 〈◊〉 ; whereby see but how great a part of the backe of america , is cleane wyp't away ? but if any yet doe doubt , let him looke into the spanish voyages , or coll●…cttions of antonio de herrera the coronist●… 〈◊〉 for the king , and contraction house , in whose description of those partes the particular distances & bounds of guadalaiara , zacat●…cas , nueu●… , viscania , cinaloa , cibola , and the rest , from compostela , purification , s. sebastian , on the south sea , as from mexico , and from 〈◊〉 on the north , too long to sette downe here doe plainely shew , that continent is nothing broad , how euer it be painted . now if any iudge wee haue not altogeather prooued asia to extende as farre as 15. howers , let him consider for a supplement , of what may want thereof , that the spaniards reckon 20. degrees more then we haue done heere , to the west-indies ; and on the other side , from noua spagna , to the philippinas 1700. l. as our sir francis drake and maister cauendish doe aboue 2000. farre beyond ours of francis gu●…lle . if therefore our streights had been discouered about virginia , to runne westward , 200. or 300. l. vnto a flowing sea , wee thinke it might haue probably been iudged the mar del zur : but lying in a paralell more northerly , ( whereby those leagues will take vp more degrees ) the northerne backe of america , by the card of antonio de 〈◊〉 ; by the voyage of juan de fuca , a pilot that liu'd ●…ourtie yeeres in those countries ; and by the relation of some dutehm●…n ; besides the mappe of gemma frisius , appearing to trend north eastward . and for any thing wee yet can heare , no one voyage to the contrary , wee see not but we may conclude , that the fludde our people mette , came from the southerne sea , and till we heare more authenticall reasons then of feare , gronnded on false cardes ; bele●…ue that our industry , by gods grace , may this next voyage manifest the prophesie of ba●…ista ra●…usius , touching the northwest passage . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a20443-e370 first . 2. ly . 3. ly . fourthly . first . the doue: or passages of cosmography. by richard zouche ciuillian, of new colledge in oxford zouch, richard, 1590-1661. 1613 approx. 58 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 36 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-03 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a15870 stc 26130 estc s111819 99847087 99847087 12097 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a15870) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 12097) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 981:5) the doue: or passages of cosmography. by richard zouche ciuillian, of new colledge in oxford zouch, richard, 1590-1661. [72] p., folded plate : map printed [by thomas snodham] for george norton, and are to be sould at his shop vnder the blacke bell, neere temple-barre, london : 1613. in verse. printer's name from stc. signatures: a⁴ b-e. reproduction of the original in the folger shakespeare library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every 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siefring sampled and proofread 2003-01 judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the dove : or passages of cosmography . by richard zovche ciuillian , of new colledge in oxford . sicut columbae . london : printed for george norton , and are to besould at his shop vnder the blacke bell , neere temple-barre . 1613. to the trvely noble , and worthily honoured , edward lord zouche , st. maur and cantelupe , of his maiesties priuie-councell . right honorable : my resolued assurance , that the mouths of infants may reueale a truth , makes me who haue not attain'd that perfection of speech , which is reputed worthie to be openly heard , yet hopefully ambitious to be beleeu'd . and truely , i desire no more , but that this simple intelligencer , who hath brought in a relation of the world to me , may report me againe to the world , one who wish the good of all who are studiously affected , and honour of those who haue put life into my poore indeauours . how much i am bound both in my selfe , and those whom i esteeme as neare , to your lordships fauours , i should blush in this idle manner to make profession , did i not thinke that those noble ends , which haue giuen beginning to all your actions , haue enabled you to entertaine with constancie , the slender acknowledgements of great deseruings . but what your honour did neuer expect in the great vnthankfull , and cannot meet in this little imperfect world of mine , may you finde eternally remembred , in that more glorious and incorruptible to come . your lordships kinsman obliged in duty richard zovche . ad autorem . iste tripartitae liber est descriptio terrae , et simul ingenij mappa , typusque tui . consimili versu pingatur america , su tu ipse , columba velut musa , columbus eris . tho. lake . tam paucis , tot , tanta ? quis o , si deforet orbis , non velit in libro , zouche , habitare tuo ? ioan : harris , n.c. to my dearely affectionate friend mr. richard zovche . thy worke hath tongue , for vs t' admire thy worth , silence , the voyce of an admiring minde should then best fit my pen ; but loue breaks forth and will needs speake what in thy booke i finde , and wrestingly , out of my wonted lynes it makes me shuffle in these hobling rymes . though t' were not thine , it 's good , but hauing birth from thee , it 's excellent ; who in an houre flyest o're the forrest of the spatious earth , and of each eden dost cull out some flowres , and leau'st out nothing , ( this is admirable ) which to a setled eye can be remarkeable , and in so narrow lines could be discouer'd of so much world ; ) but thy penne hath vtterr'd , and for this truth , which men best-bred do know didst but into the muses garden goe . who fearing danger dares not crosse the sea , and of the earth desires to know the frame , let him but read thy worke , and he shall see the worlds faire symstry by distinguisht names , and by thy art , his ignorance may know for which most men by land and sea doe row : and let him blesse thy wit , and prayses sing that thus with ease dost him such knowledg bring . ingenious zovche , liue thy verses long , fly faire , and far thy doue , with her smooth song : of thy all-noble name for armes long knowne , these lettred times haue thee design'd their owne . your louer and friend , richard yong. to the author . behold , a miracle , a singing doue , which sweetly sings , yet sings not sweets of loue. each studie be her doue-house , and each breast , which harbours studious thoughts , her gentle neast . nic. stoughton , int. temp. aspice ; non veneri est deuota columba ; mouetur illius , auspicijs , penna , minerua , tuis . ergo deae noctis studiosae noctua cedat , dum tu gaudentem luce tueris auém . car. herbert , n.c. the doue . take wing my muse , and like that siluer dove which o'er the world new-bath'd , did hou't●● fly the low-coucht seas , and high-plac't land aboue , discerne with faithfull , though with fearefull eye , that what both land and sea resounding ring wee may to this all-makers prayses sing . he who directs the sparrowes tender flight , and sees him safely reach the hurtlesse ground , guide thee in all thy passages aright and grant thy course be sure , they restin● found from mount of oliues , as from hill of ●●yes , blest with the branch of peace though not of praise . and you whose care our floating house yet saues from sinking in the deluge of despayre , whil'st with poore feather'd oares she passe the waues of this all-vulgar-breath'd , storme-threatning ayre : deare lord vouchsafe with patient looke t' attend her flights both trembling rise , and humble end . the world. to our small isle of man , some well compare the world , that greater continents huge frame nor much vnlike eythers perfections are their matter , and their mixture both the same : whence m●ns affection it so much allures , sith greatest likenesse greatest loue procures . but if their outward formes we looke vpon , wee shall their figures diuers plainely see : for mans erected tall proportion to his heau'n-hoping soule doth best agree : vvhereas the world each way being framed round , the aptest forme for turning change hath found . like natures rarest workemanship , the eye , the well contriued instrument of seeing , vvhich by exact and apt rotunditie , performes his duty , and preserues his beeing , of many curious circling spheares composed , and orbs , within the orbs without enclosed . the earth . in midst of which by rarer engeny , then mars and venus hang in lemnian net : the land and sea imbracing louingly , making one perfect globe , in th' ayre were set . vvhose interveyning qualities agree to breede and beare what moue , or resting be . thrice happy vnion when these greater things accord in perfect loue and amitie : vvhose peace an vniuersall blessing brings , causing in lesser states sweet harmonie : and euer blessed be his powerfull hand , by whom this order doth supported stand . now rose-cheek't morning , kindest friend of arts , learnings best mistresse , my presuming muse of all the earths diffused , sundry parts thy neighbour confine kingdomes first doth chuse , that when her faultie boldnesse shee doth see , if blush she doe not she may learne of thee . asia . the worlds true mother-land , mans nurcery , great asia , obiect of diuiner view , saluted first by heau'ns all-seeing eye , soonest by it departing , bid t'adiew . the west yet wrapt in darknesse shin'd in light , that since inlightened , lyes inwrapt in night . china her farthest region in the east , by portugals to vs discouered late , is with much pleasure , and rich plentie blest , with people , and with princes fortunate : yet most procuring wonder doe excell the cities where her prince and people dwell . the skill of printing and artillery , rarest inuentions which these dayes haue seene , ( if we beleeue the fame which thence doth flye ) here in the ancient'st times haue practis'd beene : and sure that people is or should be wise , which say we see with one , they with both eyes ▪ bord'ring on china northward lies cathay , rul'd by her emperour , the mighty cham , to whom great tartarie doth tribute pay : great tartary whose farre distended name , twixt auncient india , and the icy sea , possesseth all to westerne muscouy . the nation sprung from sires of scythian race , not satisfi'ed with ob , nor volga's floud , people anew some new vnpeopled place , in guilded sculs carowsing luke-warme bloud , more happy yet in spoyling states well built , then in erecting where their force hath spilt . as those hayle vollies which the vvhirle-winds cast of leaden drops , from some darke molten showres , beat downe the fruit , and all the fields lay wast : led by great tamberlaine those storming powres forc'd asia's tyrant , with his prostrate troope , vnder their fearefull armes to bend and stoope . southward from china , doe confining lie the easterne indies whose rich golden sands vnder conduct of greedy tyranny , oft felt the violence of warlike bands , vvhich hoping to proue rich with forreyne spoyle , forsooke the sweetnesse of their natiue soyle . first bacchus did this country ouer-runne , and set vp trophees in the conquer'd east : oh would he had gone on as he begunne , and neuer turned to subdue the west ! might indus bancks haue bore his branching vines , nor europes streams bin stain'd with sweeter wines . great alexander next wtth powerfull might , vvithout resistance , did these parts subdue , vvhil'st the inhabitants not vs'd to fight away before his armie trembling flew . since subiect vnto him , whose spacious minde not gange , nor once farthest gades confinde . their state most slauish , fortune miserable , their life is painefull , and vnpleasing to them , they others making strong , are made vnable , and wealth which blesseth few , did first vndoe them , which is no more then hath beene seene of old , they most vnhappy who haue heapt most gold . their neighbour persia tride this long before , greatly presuming on her mightie treasure : but fill'd with much , and euer crauing more , did surfet , and grow sicke with too-much pleasure : for whose disease the fates did thinke it good the prince of macedon should let her bloud . cyrus , with natures rarest graces blest , the type of vertue , paragon of honour , pluckt from assyria's proud imperiall crest a monarchs diadem , and plac't it on her : which they who follow'd , but with ill successe , vnhappy soone did lose , or leaue much lesse . yet since those losses , somewhat haue regain'd these sometimes onely expert carpet knights , that late in champion field their vertue train'd , countries farre of remote , now oft affrights : their mighty sophy to that strength is growne , that fear'd of others , he yet feareth none . the west of asia , once earths paradice , since subiect to the tvrks most slauish yoke , hath seene her cedars reaching to the skyes , layd low by his fierce sacrilegious stroke : her glorious kingdomes of illustrous fame , being swallow'd in the deluge of that name . downe from armenia's ruder mountaine tops , this violent impetuous torrent fell , whose stronger source impatient of stops , orewhelmed all th' inhabitants that dwell betwixt the greater sea , nere trebizond , and that which washeth rich arabians strond . the caspian sea which seemes on ocean , within his circuits is restraind and bound : but this outragious race of ottoman which hath no end , nor limits euer found : scorning with bancks or borders to be held , hath o're euphrates , and broad tygris sweld . great babylon sometimes assyria's pride , by their preuailing armies ouerthrowne , their fury , and their fiercenesse hauing tride , now feeles by deere experience of her owne , what griefe iudaea captiue then sustain'd , when by her riuers weeping shee complain'd , yet now no comfort can ivdaea take in this her neighbour nations ●uster woe , her fellowship in miserie may make her like distressed minde like passion show , yet not bewaile it , sith her losse more neare , may borrow many , but not lend a teare . this country by the midland sea confin'd . vvas once a happy , and a holy land : to gods owne peoples heritage assign'd , manured onely by his royall hand , then scaene of heau'nly fauour , since the stage of most inhumane , furious , hellish rage . here he , who hath the highest heau'n his throne , the earth his foot-stoole , did vouchsafe to make his regall presence , that thrice-sacred-one , whose mightie vertue diu'lish forces brake , in humane nature borne to vnder-goe our most inhumane sinne-reuenging woe . o blessed loue , of iuda's blessed king ! o happy mercy of that blessed loue ! let quires of angels to his glory sing , let earth beneath , let highest heau'ns aboue assist poore man his soules best thoughts to raise , to his distressed soules redeemers praise . hierusalem , thou iuda's choysest cittie , beholding all his wonderfull effects , wer 't chiefest obiect of his tender pittie , but yet his kindnes cruelly neglects : which foule offence deseruing thy decay , iordan may witnesse but ne're wash away . thy glory since to desolation chang'd , thy bulwarks , and faire buildings are defaced , all fauours of the heau'ns , are quite estrang'd , thy people fleeing thee , else-where disgraced : and sion which did siluer drops distill . thy vallyes with salt teares of griefe doth fill . aboue iudaea , bord'ring on the west , of great armenia , lesser asia lyes ; which on three sides , three famous seas inuest , once knowne so many kingdomes to comprise , now his entire , whose tyranny so farre , sworne foe to peace , hath rauaged in warre . his burthen stiffe-neckt taurus vndergoes , and slye moeander by his winding shelfe , snake-like enwreathed , which so doubtfull flowes , deludes obseruers , and doth loose himselfe , vnwilling his strange cruelty to see , doth euer seeke , but findes no corner free . betwixt the red sea , and the persian bay , from palaestina to the southern maine , famous arabia doth at large display her triple-folded thrice-illustrous traine , whose riches into diuers countries brought , are with great trauell , and much danger sought . to those faire parts which being farthest plac't , doe serue as spicery to other lands , a tedious fearefull iourney must be pac't , through rocky desarts , and wind-driuen sands , where many merchants trading oft haue bin , lost in the spatious wildernes of sin. of baulmes and spices well this soyle may boast , whilst mahomet from hence first issued forth : vve enuy not the fruit of this faire coast , nor ought that to despise the colder north , vvhich so great distance from those parts remou'd , haue beene no lesse by bount'ous heau'n belou'd . afrique . afriqve remoued to the southern parts , in forme resembling some well-shapen shield , vvould ill resist the sunnes more piercing darts , but that her vncouth monster-bearing field , to phoebus angry fury most expos'd , vvithin great neptunes bauldrick rests inclos'd : betwixt the midland sea , and sanguine bay , deuided by a little tract of ground , hither from out of asia , a way as o're a straight , but strong-built bridge is found , vvhere nilus streames , like many branching vaines doe feed with plenty aegypts fruitfull plaines . nature dispos'd her selfe to recreate , as in her fittest worke-house , here doth vse , ( vvhich art may wonder at , not imitate ) life into new created shapes t'infuse , the sun-beames serue as fire , the worke to make , the slymy soyle as apt each forme to take . industrious art , lesse potent , not lesse proud , enuying natures vncompared power , hath there vprais'd outreaching eu'ry cloud , many a gallant , and starre-threatning tower : whose strange , sky-piercing , flame-resembling spires this age distrusts , antiquitie admires . next , neere those cynthia's-kisse-aspiring hils , where profuse nilus hides his bankrupt-head : those tawny troopes whose fame all afrike fils . vnder great praester iohns conduct are led , by whom the christian ensignes are retain'd , but with some blots of error fowly stain'd . and least some corner more diuinely blest , from strange prodigious monsters should be free , a late vsurped kingdom 's here possest by that rude amazonian anarchy , where they , who should a distaff , scepters sway , and men their wiues imperious rules obay . in zanzibar , neare to that southern cape , which lately from good-hope deriu ' his name , if not by nature , many an vgly shape haue beene brought forth by m●●ster-ma●ing fame , such creatures hardly could produced be , but by th' assistance of her midwifry . there headlesse some are fram'd , as momus would , with eyes and mouth , like windowes , in their breast ; others as cast in polyphemus mould , of one light in their fore-head stand possest : some pygmyes , men diminutiues ▪ maintaine like pawnes tall squadrons ●n a chesse-boord plaine hence turning northward that great kingdome lyes now by the name of manicongo knowne : and ri●h gvynaea , whose commodities the english to their country oft haue showne . then nvbia eastward , whose warme sands enfold heapes of the purest , best refined gold . the la●● of negroes is not far from thence nearer exended to th' atlanticke maine : vvherei● the blacke-prince keepes his residence , attended ●y his ietty , coloured traine : vvho in their natiue beautie most delight , and in contempt doe print the diuell white . vvith wilde arabia , lybia may contend , a field of dangers , and vnheard of feares , her sands want number , and her desarts end . inhabited by lyons , panthers , beares : such rough possessors of so rude a soyle , that none , of eyther , eyther would despoyle . next these the pastures of nvmidia lye ; vvhere , with their easily-remouing tents , the princes of that wandring policie doe follow still their grazing regiments : and sure those troopes are worser taught then fed , vvhere rulers by the multitude are led . from skye-prop atlas to that watry plaine , vvhich doth twixt africk and faire europe runne , oppos'd to italy , to fraunce , and spayne , barbaria next , enioyes a milder sunne ; vvhose borders sundry kingdomes doe confine , fez , with marocco , tunes , telesine . fez , long since famous for her fruitfull vines ; and rich marocco , which with sugred reedes sweetens the relish of those sharper wines , vvhich th' other countryes bruised cluster bleedes , lye next those island in the vvesterne maine , where fortunes first , since dwelt actaeons trayne , from carthage ruines , whose yet infant state , bathed in poore queene didoes wronged bloud , her most strange loue turning to stronger hate , with rome in long-fixt opposition stood : tvnis and teseline deriu'd , doe grow in fast-bound friendship with great europes foe . europe . the complement of this inferiour globe , faire amphitrite , natures chiefest pride , thrice glorious with her siluer-waued robe , with islands , as with iewels beautified : within her armes enfolded , sets apart evrope , the earths sure head , the worlds sound hart. where swift iberus with true lowlinesse , performes his dutie to the midland mayne , the great and lesser balearides , first in the streights doe guard the coasts of spaine , whose expert youth , were wont , the smallest thing to strike far distant with their well-rul'd sling . then as the holmes , two sturdy vmpires met betwixt the quar'ling welsh , and english tydes , in equall distance each from other set , as both remoued from faire seuernes sides : sardinia next with corsica doth stand twixt the fierce roman and fell punick land. triangl'd sicily , some authors say , was once one with th' italian continent , till working neptune twixt them dig'd a way with force of his three forked instrument : rebell to heau'n here aetna vpward casts , to daunt the lightning , sulphure-fuming blasts . little melita which paules innocence , scaping the water , at the fire did trie . more to the south-coast scituate from hence , hath beene renowned for their chiualry , who driu'n from rhodes neere caria , here withstood the profuse wasters of poore christians bloud . next , candy , cradle of reputed ioue , with nectar-dropping vines is ouer-spread : whence eastward sacred to the nymph of loue , cyprvs erects her myrtle-crowned head . well twixt these two hath neptue put some space , whose fruits once met in one , marre any place . the arch-sea rowling from th'vnruly north , doth seeme to threaten candyes ouer-throw ; but that the troopes of cyclades stand forth to breake the fiercenesse of his furious blow , like xerxes fearefull army , asia's wonder , cutting in broken streames his strength asunder . aboue that are those streights so much renown'd , which europe scarce from asia separate , vvhere helle first , leander since was drown'd , by them made famous , though vnfortunate , yet ( so from smalnesse things to greatnesse rise : ) the greater-sea beyond this passage lyes . such is that channell , by whose slender sides , as through her sluce , the vast maeotis pond charged with full fraught greatnesse , hardly slides from out her round shores close in circling bond : vvhich tanais falling from the frozen hils , with his cold , almost chrystall current fils . neare tanais with tartary confin'd , along the northerne ocean , doth lye with wast liuonia in the west conioyn'd the spacious empire of vast mvscovy , whose duke like boreas in his big-built hall , doth foes at hand affright , farre off appall . svveden and norvvay in the same degree , saue what a narrow isthmus doth retaine , quite from the earth almost diuided be , pull'd by the strong arme of the baltick mayne , which wrong peace making winter doth preuent , and them congeal'd bindes to the continent . next poland , southward , doth her bounds extend downe from muscouia towards hungary , which diuers other countries comprehend , whose confines round about her confines lye , pleasant massouia , rich and fruitfull russia , cold pomerania , and much colder prussia . within the compasse of two goodly riuers , sav●s and teissa , plowd with many a floud , which vp to ister all his store deliuers : ister disperseth to the countries good , vnhappy hvngary by nature's blest . much good possessing by much ill possest . eastward enuirond round about with hils , as with the strongest rampires of defence , in peace her valleyes transylvania tils somewhat secur'd from turkish violence : so he who to that empire hath giu'n way , hath also meanes and power to make it stay . beyond danubius many branching streames , which through the east of europe stately runne , reuiued by the more relieuing beames , of a directer , and more southern sunne : illyricum , dalmatia , and thrace , changing their names , retaine their antient place . thrace on three sides is washt with neptunes waues , yet is no fruitfull , nor delightsome soyle , her old inhabitants were old romes slaues , her new rome now made new inuaders spoyle , where th' orient empires seat , by him 's aspir'd , whose rule like phaëtons , the world hath fir'd , in equall parallell to thrace confines antient dalmatia , through well temp'red vaines which once diffusing her rich golden mines , now equall bondage , with poore thrace sustaines , her low-layd temples sleeping in the dust , and brightest glory quite ore-grown with rust , below it greece the dismall sepulcher of learning , vertue , valour , pollicy , which once were flourishing and famous there , since in rude barbarisme doe buried lye , seemes what she hath bene now vnapt to show , obiect of fury , image of strange woe . had helen in her vndissembling glasse , viewing the wrinckles which her age had wrought , foreseene what misery should come to passe , to her disfigur'd countrey , her sad thought ( so scarce faire dames beholding foule are pleas'd , had not she much bene ioyd , had much bene eas'd . olympus , vnto whom the clouds gaue way , to vpstart tyranny submits , and bowes : parnassus once crown'd with the verdant bay , with saddest cyprus shrowdes his mourning browes , and tempe , rob'd of all her pleasing weeds , with spitefull furrows wounded weeps and bleeds . athens , miuerua's chappell , phoebus quire , within whose cloysters , those pure vestall maydes the muses , kept their euer-burning fire whose light , our cold , darke ignorance vpbraids , from broken ruines , and her vaults scarce found no voyce , but voyce of horror 's vs'd to sound . the schoole of vertue , stately theater , of brauest , men-beseeming action , whose lawes excelling farre , exceeded were , by customes easily , and truely done : like feeble miloes armes eneru'd , and dead ▪ old lacedaemons vertuous strength is fled . and theban wals , raised by the pow'rfull sound of rare amphions sweet well-fingerd lute , humbly saluting the debased ground , lye raz'd with noyse of trumpets , drums , and flute vvhich instruments , if any , may be sayd here to haue true , and quick diuision plaid . vvhere like a second midland sea the pride of swelling adria , doth distend her shoares , oppos'd to italy , whose armed sides oft feare th' approaching of slauonian oares : illyricvm whilst turcisme it ore-flowes , feeles not her billowes nor respects her blowes . some rather curious how the earth should stand , then carefull how similitudes doe runne , haue likend to a legg , th'italian land : but since it hath so many conquests wonne , it farre more fitly might compared be vnto an arme , the limb of chiualry . her wealth , her sinewes , and her riuers veynes , her buildings were her bones , her people marrow , yet whilest she mars his warlike speare sustaines , at length was wounded with yong cupids arrow , since of bellona'es ensignes dispossest , on venus pillow long hath layn at rest . the pleasant land of labour , naples seat , vvhere first appeared that contagious sore , vvhich since contracted by the frenchmens heat , they farther westward or'e the alps haue bore , by female luxury impaird , was faine to seeke her physicke in the fields of spaine . life-feeding humours drawne from eu'ry part , tyber engrossing , hath that vlcer bred impostem'd rome , which quite confounding art , hath o're the bosome of all europe spred . o! may some royall heau'n-grac'd hand asswage this swelling euils kings-stroke-asking rage ! florence by arno almost compast round , the perfect beautie of the tuscan plaines , if well disposed it continuing sound infectious anguish not so much sustaines to her great medici , who haue withstood the common danger , owes her chiefest good . the gate of italy transporting farre , the sundry plenties of her faire increase , long foe to venice in the fiercest warre , corriuall in the softst delights of peace , with strong-mand gallyes genua scours the seas , with well-rigd pinnaces seekes rodes of ease . like hundred armed briareus , the po , stretcht forth on lumbardyes delightfull bed , vvith dropsie humours makes her ouerflow , by which surcharged not discreetly fed , oft times her spunges ( millaines duke put by ) suck her abundance , and doe soke her dry . ) bath'd in the adriatiques farther waue , as some faire sea-nymph , famous venice sits , whom all the prayse which fiction freely gaue to sea-borne venus , farre more truely fits earths richest iewell , beauties brightest starre , mother of loue , loue of the god of warre . the eagle , badge of sou'raigne maiestie , vpon one breast deuiding many heads , the sundry parts of scu'red germanie , at large displayed , shadowing ouer-spreads , whence much distracted , that faire body stayes , vvhose chiefest parts are bent so diuers wayes . vvhere it on italy doth next confine , closing with hungary , doth avstrich rest : renowned austrich , whose prince-branching line stretcht through the yeelding , and declining west , vvith various windings hath attaind of late , many a farre and neere encompast state . like great danubius vnresisted source , their fame extended to the larger maine , by sundry conquerd islands takes his course , obseru'd of italy obey'd of spaine , thence through the streights close passage hauing pierc't by th' ocean , to both indies is disperst . iser , and oenus which from tyroll flowes , hauing their homage to bauaria done , with licus which the bounds of suevia showes , and many high-born streams which down-ward run : against the turks encroaching power combin'd , to austria's current haue their forces ioyn'd . mora which to morauia lends her name , her tribute duely vncompell'd doth bring : and great odera slesia's chiefest fame , with yonger albis , hold him for their king. the waser , rhine , the maze , the sceld though free , yet to danubius all inferiour be . the oder hauing slesia's bounds out-gone , doth brandenbourghs faire marqui●ate salute , whose double marches now both rang'd in one , mongst german princedomes beares a choise repute ; thence in the baltick ocean vp resign'd her freezing streames colde entertainment finde . neare to bohemia's farthest eastern skyrt , as from the earth's breast , yet small albis crawles , vvhere , with th'hercinian forrests pale begyrt , and stately mountaines strong surrounding wals , till with multauia ioyn'd she breakes the bay , from out her country hardly findes a way . from thence through saxony she takes her course , where meeting sala , ( whose faire streames diuide turinge from misnia ) with more strength'ned force , she goes t' encounter with the northern tyde : o'er which preuailing neare to iuitlands coasts , in triumph towards denmarkes court she posts . haile denmarkes court , seate of a faithful king , sweet nurcery of brittaines sou'raigne qveene , fountaine of all our ioy , from whom doe spring the hope of thames , and happinesse of rhene ; latona like which makes the albion land , her childrens well-rockt cradle firmer stand . the hassian confines quickly passing by , waser vpon westphalia longer stayes , vvhence em to freeslands embden seemes to flye , vving'd with affection , which detests delayes : vvhere in the watry region both doe meete , and each imbracing other kindly greete . downe from the alps-spring cloud-despising heads , europes perpetuall well-fill'd conduits , flow ( vvhose farre-dispersed moysture all o'er-spreads ) the rhene , the rhosne , the danow and the po , po and danow towards the rising sunne , sothward the rhosne , the rhene doth northward runne . rhene through the fighting switzers cantons past , downe from those countries loftie verge descends through basell , and by strasbourg ; then with hast meetes neccar , which faire heidelberg commends : vvhose lesser streames which wittenberg confine , growne big doe honour rhenes count palatine . now stay you gentle streames , and let that ayre which sweetens your pure waues , refresh my muse , ne'er may my silence passing by that paire , which make earth happy , courteous heau'n abuse . what loue-taught turtles onely best expresse , lesse may my doue adorne , admire no lesse . here the faire shevver of th' imperiall court , prince of those princes which doe caesars make : in honours palace , ioyn'd to vertues fort , where equall pleasure loue and beautie take , reside ( ô worthy of immortall breath ! ) faire frederick , and fair'st elizabeth . he as another mercury on earth , deputed faithfull arbiter of right : shee like cleare cynthia of caelestiall birth , from brittaine svnne deriuing heauenly light : in sweet coniunction matcht , doe truely show , vvhat happy states to high-plac't vertues owe. thence rhene and neccar friendly take their way to mentz , where maenus from franeouia rose , doth for their comming with attendance stay , and kindely with them downe to collen goes : mosella passing triers them first o'er-takes , and entertained once , no more forsakes . so would these mitred cities once professe , truths worth apparent , which they conscious see , albis and oder might consent no lesse , the duke and marquisse both conioyn'd agree : that german diadem design'd to bare , rhenus with swelling isther might compare . from collen passing downe along by cleue , then thorough gelders reaching holland , all together of the continent take leaue , and in among the zeland islands fall . where noble ●●sle doth keepe with english bands , flushing , the key of all the nether-lands . the mase confining lutzenbourg , descends , meeting with sambre at namur , to liege : then brabants halfe-encompast coast defends from neighb'ring gulick , and neere gelders siege : and passing well-man'd huisden , ioynes at length to rhenes more worthy force , his wel-met strength . to them the sceld , rising neere cambray speeds , which leauing artois borders on the vvest ; through henault comes to tourney , then proceedes to gaunt in flanders , where not finding rest , it makes to antwerpe , by whose safe conuoy it doth at length a long-wisht end enioy . belge's faire daughters midst these flouds remaine . of which with low obeysance some doe bowe , bearing vp isabel th' infanta's traine , for whose deare loue oblieg'd in nuptiall vowe , her coosen austrich from the church estrang'd , his scarlet bonnet for steele beauer chang'd . the rest to faiths allegeance firme adhere , freed by the christian faiths defendres ayde , her champions hauing them secur'd from feare , and superstitions strong encroaching staid : all vertuous captaines , most praise-worthy all , braue norris , sydney , vere , and vuedall . and may not enuy here my loue debarre or zouches name be in my name deprest , both * you who yet attend the charge of warre , and a you whose happy soules in peace doe rest , deare , loue-deseruing brothers , ought to be , by them remembred , not forgot by mee . france , europes eden , westerne paradice , part pal'd with mountaines , moated part with seas the famous seed-plot of the flowre de lyce , vvants nothing which the curious sense muy please , except the easie arbour of repose , vnder the shadow of the sou'raigne rose . the more then earthly once reputed powers , driu'n from the troubled and distemper'd east , there placing since their fancy-pleasing bowers , where they more freely might disport and feast : choysest delights of them esteem'd most deare , seeme to haue planted and disposed here . ioues oake , whose root he makes his conscious pillow , and thicke-leau'd boughes his shady canopy : si●ke-thoughted iuno's pale forsaken willow , crowne of contempt-conceiuing iealousie , that on the ayrie mountaines , this doth grow where crystall riuers through coole vallyes flow vnder the lawrels , worth adorning wreaths , mars ▪ and apollo ioynd in friendship rest ; yet mars short-winded angry accents breaths , late basely of great henry dispossest , and f●arce apollo hath lamenting left , of his diuine du bartas quite bereft . amongst the oliues fruite-concealing leaues , pallas and all the virgin muses sing , to chearefull ceres , well-growne ripened sheaues , the rurall nymphs as rarest posyes bring , venus and cupid midst the myrtels sport , the elms doe bacchus and his vines support . great britaines ocean with his conquering tide , passing the entrance of their yeelding shore , hath prou'd their plenty , and represt their pride , hath tride their vertue not impaird their store , and much admiring most himselfe admir'd , his right reserued , hath his force retir'd . the fayrest of-spring of the floudy peeres , with due obseruance to his crystall throne , doe pay the tribute of their siluer teares : rich seyne , sweet loyre , & great garond , the rhone hasting his banke-disdaining course t' enlarge , doth in the streighter seas his streame discharge . thorough geneua's cleare and constant lake he comes to lyons , hauing left sauoy , where meeting soane from burgundy , they take by daulphny to auignion , thence with ioy , passing by prouence , they at arles attaine a spatious entrance to the midland mayne . well-planted champaigne seyne first watring fals on paris , scituate in the isle of fraunce , about whose stately citties goodly wals , many of amphitrites daughters daunce , till all conioyning norman vales giue place , they reach the harbour of the hau'n of grace . hence did that worthy duke first hoyse his sayle . whom right conducted , conquest seem'd t' attend , fortune assisted with a prosprous gale , the floure of vertue fraunce along did send , which vnto english fields remou'd , and set , prepar'd a roome for great plantaginet . amongst them , not the meanest of the flocke , allan , the earle of lesse brittain came , deriuing from the stemmes of antient stocke , that sometimes flourishing , now fading name : which though it little to earths moysture owe , blest by the deaw of heau'n againe may grow . the siluer crescent , in the sable skye seemes to resemble loyres cornuted streames , but farther follow'd with attending eye : it lookes like full-fac'd phaebe's scattring beames , she midst the lesser stars great lustre showes , this mongst the minor flouds abundant flowes . rising in auergne it descends to neuers , then passing orleans , turneth downe to tours , whence bending vnto nants , it poictou seuers from brittaine , where this horne of plenty powers her much encreased scarce contained store , ouer the surface of the westerne shore . so when the second henry first set forth , simply attended with the strength of mayne : proceeding forward his attractiue worth , adding braue spirits to his spreading traine , whilst to a larger state his hopes aspire , his late-got-greatnes all the land admire . from out the frontier hils , through gascony , garond to toulouse lesse obserued goes , then entertaining from all parts supply , passeth to bordeaux , and by passing growes , that ere at blay it reach the watry realme , her sea-beseeming-waues the land ore-whelme . how did the sou'raigne of st. george his knights , his new enobled garter here aduance , whilest his admired order's worth incites the states succeeding of amazed france , to follow after , though preceded farre , with badge of golden fleece , and sparkling starre ? crecy and poitiers saw the princely bands , ecclips with feathr'y clouds the lowring day : and agincourt in daunger , trembling stands , whilst henryes valour ore it towring lay : each place but passable by searching fame , gaue way to neuils , and great talbots name . next france the pirenean hils descry , spayne , as the orchard of th' hesperides , whose golden fruit , obseru'd with wary eye a sterne and watchfull gardian did possesse ; now blest the wealth and happy is that soyle whose keepers care 's not feard , nor strangers spoile . vnder those stately mountaynes shady side , entrencht by great iberus , lyes nauar , whence nearer to that sea which spaine deuides from parched africke , southward seated are hot arragon , and those choyce-hearbed-fields of good valenc'a , which such plenty yeelds . these , and those seigneuries which here , erewhile no great superiours , free controulement brookt , are by the lofty turrets of castile , vpon t'herculian pillars rais'd , ore-lookt , her mounted ordinance commanding all , betwixt nauar , and farthest portugall . the western ocean doth confine the shore of wealthy portugall , where tagus sands mixt with abundance of gold-yeelding ore , was sifted by some guilt-approuing hands , wohse mettall-minded hard affection would turne with refining all they touch't to gold . now on poore protestants such art they vse , whom they with all pursuite do first enquire , and hauing found , doe sift , and sifted bruise , at last their soundnes they explore with fire : and though they neuer will their stamp admit , to passe with angels they doe make them sit . faire andaluzia which had once repute , for giuing weary phoebus welcome rest , feedes her siuilians with gold-seeming fruite : oh! would they were with vs indeed so blest who farre more truely entertaine the light , repelling errours wrong-protecting night . there boetis which doth fall neere cadis bay , seing the english ensignes faire displayd , stopping her troubled course , beganne to stay , and feeling her vaste body much dismayd : vp ●oward corduba where first she bred , her bloud contracting back retir'd and fled . the winged charriots , which out-sayld the wind , led by great essex , with much ease did passe beyond plus vltra , and haue left behinde trophees aboue the monuments of brasse , of which may yet these peacefull times relate , louing our own , though theirs we leaue to hate . thence as that nauy , where the flowre of greece return'd from colchos , whilest they come from spaine , brauely enriched with the golden fleece , and ride triumphing ore the sea-greene-plaine : great brittaine glories capitoll dilates , the close-bard entrance of her crystall gates . great brittaine shadow of the starry sphears selfe-viewing beauties true presented grace in thetis myrrhour , on this orbe appeares , in worth excelling , as extoll'd in place : like the rich croisade on th' imperiall ball , as much adorning as surmounting all . bounded within the watry firmament , whose euer-mouing streames about it role , she measures forth her length in faire extent , towards the southern , from the northern pole : betwixt her riuers zone-diuiding lines , each citie like a constellation shines . auon and twede her tropicks , zodiack-wise passe trent and seuern : to the springing morne trent goes declining , seuerne bending lyes downe by the western , freez-cloath'd capricorne . thames , as th'equator , doth more eeuen runne , proud with the mansions of her biding sunne maiesticke svnne , long may thy kinde aspect shed downe sweet influence vpon this clime , beyond all enuy , as without defect , ruling but neuer altering our time , till passing from our teare-bedewed eyes , thy glory in another heau'n shall rise . t●●● soone our ivlian-starre late prince of light , the sparkling lustre of whose vertuous ray to brittaine hearts content with shortest night , promis'd the comfort of eternall day : too soone expir'd , ô worthy long to proue the worlds great wonder , & his countries loue. and faire elisa midst the glistering crew , which as our glorious cynthia seemes renew'd , lately remouing from our fainting view , her presence with all graces bright endew'd , for latmus shade , doth spend her precious houres on rhenus banks amidst the myrtle bowres . yet like those glistring emblems neare the pole , still aboue earths horizon el●uate . may our heroicke princes name controule the starry orders of this well-rul'd state , and brittaines chariot as the northern vvayne , with great arcturus ioyne her charlemaigne . a stately burs , built in the vvestern strand , renowned exeter farre off doth seeme : but london , exchange-royall of the land , is obiect of the peoples best esteeme : so whilst the glorious day-star shines more bright , cleare hesperus obscur'd doth giue no light . sweet-seated sals-bry , vvilshyres ornament , neighb'red with plaines , graced with goodly vallies , like some delightfull garden of content , watring with siluer streames her well-squar'd allies , but that it doth more firme and surely stand , doth seeme another venice in our land. bathe , fairely-built , throughout the world is knowne for her most wholesome strength-repayring springs , but she which hath so strange effects oft showne , vvith ill successe did lend her founder wings : poore worme-like creeping men she might restore , ne'er make them borne to goe , like birds to soare . bristow , the marchants magazin , enclos'd with rocky hils , by auons streame imbrac't , faire by industrious workemanship compos'd as by great natures wisedome firmely plac't , viewing her verdant marsh , may well disdaine romes somtimes-glory , mars his champian plaine . old winchester , the auncient seate of kings , for vertue , and for valour much renowned , so subiect vnto change are earthly things , in stead of diadem with bayes is crowned . where worthy wicchams children now mainetaine the fame once known by great king arthurs traine . oxford by isis crystall streames confin'd , and well-discerning cambridge , learnings payre , excell those lamps which once on ida shin'd : bright iuno shew'd , cleare pallas , venus faire ; but eyther of these thrice illustrious eyes , doth brightnes , clearnesse , fairnesse all comprise . as that true ensigne of th' almighties loue , liuely displayed in the cloudy skye , the gazers eye astonished doth moue to wonder at such strange varietie : rain-bow-resembling london , englands blisse , the heau'ns great mercy , and earths maruell is . to the reader . reader : if thy patience be not too much discouraged , aduenture on the little common-weale of my poore thoughts . i euer rather admired then professed poetry , the necessitie of my studies , to which a higher direction then mine owne choyse hath appointed mee , forbidding the one , and that delight , which beyond ordinary content receiued in all sorts of learning , hath beene presented to me in this , occasioning the other : yet haue i , as my leasure gaue me leaue , taken to my selfe in this idlenesse that reliefe , which in other varietie most doe thinke they may iustly vse . i know some whose credit hath challenged respect exceeding strong in preiudice against the composing and reading such trifles , yet the excellency of diuers in this kinde , commended by others , whom i haue no warrant to distrust , makes my small experience thinke , that some muses , like silke-wormes , spinne a fine threed for necessary vse , as many like spiders curious webs for vnprofitable admiration . his censure who affirmed the reading of amadis du gaule as dangerous to youth , as of macciauel pernitious to old men , was , as the author , truly generous ; yet i presume it extends not to all which without proclaiming title to wisdome and iudgement , seeme rais'd or fashioned by imagination . there is , who hath vndertaken to illustrate by places of the arcadia , all the points of the art of speaking : i will adde ( which is as much as achilles his father desired chiron should teach his sonne ) hee is rude that cannot discerne , or exceeding austere that scornes to obserue therein , worthy behauiour and carriage both in priuate and common businesse : and one as vnderstanding in the pollicie of letters and peace , as la noue was experienced in the discipline of armes , and a troubled state , by exquisite vnfolding of some fabulous stories , makes it plaine , that the cesternes of these times , deriue the fulnes of their wisdome , by no other conueyance then such narrations , from the purer springs of all antiquitie . to whom he had yeelded his assent ; who , imploying his faithfull labours in teaching to beleeue , i know had care he might not be disprou'd , and farther graceth poetry , with the choise appellation of the soules vvoing-suite ; in which diuers ( their excellencie carrying them higher ) haue shewed their thoughts not vnfit for solemne , yea sabaoth deuotions . and truely , they who will be pleas'd to credit our owne tongue , and age , may finde our present , and later poets , capable of that commendation , which was giuen the antienst among the greekes : that if their writings were preserued , no part of learning should wholy perish . spencer , hauing as well deliuered morall , and heroicall matter for vse and action , as du bartas ( now ours ) naturall and diuine , for study and meditation . i would not diminish the worthy reputation of other volumnes ; for mine owne part , it being knowne to some , i haue spent time in them , i should be loth to be thought ignorant of that , which i am perswaded all that know doe well allow . but as the plaine way affecteth most , the neerest many , so i am sure there are some , who , had they beene shewed that which was pleasing , would haue prooued successefull , when they haue returned exceeding empty from systems and commentaries . what i haue attempted in this subiect , was long since excellently performed by dionysius in greeke , and diuers in latin , whose example hath giuen me some incouragement , but no more direction then magellan to syr francis drake , shewing the straights might be past , not instructing how . some places may seem obscure , but i intend it to those who vnderstand , or desire to know something in this argument : i haue not touched all , because i would be short , and haue vsed shortnes , as vnwilling to sweat , and make a labour of my sport , as any fastidious lookers on are quickly apt to distast satietie . as it is , reader , i indifferently leaue it to thy discretion : what esteeme thou wilt be pleased to put on it , is in thy power , how i may valew thy esteeme remaines in mine . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a15870-e4860 * william and allan zouche . a henry and francis zouche a short account, of the nature and use of maps as also some short discourses of the properties of the earth, and of the several inhabitants thereof : to which is subjoin'd, a catalogue of the factories and places now in possession of the english, french, dutch, spaniards, portegueze and danes, both in the east and west-indies. alingham, william, fl. 1694-1710. 1698 approx. 73 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 34 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2006-06 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a26664 wing a930 estc r19265 12672324 ocm 12672324 65499 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a26664) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 65499) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 679:29) a short account, of the nature and use of maps as also some short discourses of the properties of the earth, and of the several inhabitants thereof : to which is subjoin'd, a catalogue of the factories and places now in possession of the english, french, dutch, spaniards, portegueze and danes, both in the east and west-indies. alingham, william, fl. 1694-1710. [6], 56 p., 2 folded leaves of plates : map. printed, and are to be sold by mr. mount ..., mr. lea ..., mr. worgan ..., and william alingham ..., london : 1698. attributed by wing to william allingham. advertisement: p. 56. map of the two hemispheres has legend: a new mapp of all the earth. sold by philip lea at ye atlas & hercules, london. a catalogue of some of the chiefest places in the world, with their latitudes and longitudes from london, extracted from the best tables now extant: p. 46-[48] reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to 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elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng cartography -early works to 1800. geography -early works to 1800. 2006-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-02 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2006-03 andrew kuster sampled and proofread 2006-03 andrew kuster text and markup reviewed and edited 2006-04 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a short account , of the nature and use of maps . as also some short discourses of the properties of the earth , and of the several inhabitants thereof . to which is subjoin'd , a catalogue of the factories and places now in possession of the english , french , dutch , spaniards , portegueze and danes , both in the east and west-indies . london , printed , and are to be sold by mr. mount , at the postern on tower-hill ; mr. lea at the atlas and hercules in cheapside ; mr. worgan mathematical instrument maker under st. dunstan's church , fleet street ; and william alingham , mathematick-teacher , in 〈…〉 nel-row , westminster , 1698. to the reader . reader , the design of the ensuing treatise , is a short account of the nature and vse of maps ; a knowledge of great advantage to several sorts of people ; and the principal branch of that noble science of geography , which informs you in the nature , property and magnitude , not only of the whole earth , but also of each distinct and particular part thereof . for by this science the divine , merchant , souldier and traveller , may ( without danger of those apparent hazards they are like to fall under ) take a particular view of those vast and pleasant countries , they have occasion to visit or mention in their several vocations . such , with many other , are the advantages of this excellent science . but leaving this , i shall give you a short account of the ensuing treatise , which as the title informs you , is the nature and use of maps , in which i have incerted such discourses as is requisite to give you a clear understanding of the nature and reason of their projection : next i proceed to their vse , in knowing how to find out any place , by the most practical and common methods yet known ; and also how to measure the distance betwixt two places when found in any map ; with other pleasant accounts of the distinction and division of the earth into zones , climates and parallels . lastly , i have added a catalogue of the places and factories now in posession of the english , french , dutch spanniards , portugueze and danes , both in the east and west-indies , as they were collected by an ingenious author ; all which is humbly presented to those , whose genious leads them to the consideration of such excellent inquiries . a new mapp of all the earth . of the earth . the earth was in the beginning , by command of the most high , created out of a chaos , or a confused heap , which before had no form , and was made a habitation for man to dwell upon , that , for a time , he might contemplate upon the inferiour works of his creator . the description of this earth is termed geography , and the figure that the earth and water do together constitute , is , by many observations and experiments prov'd to be round , or in form of a globe , hanging by nothing in the air , and by the most accurate observations its circumference , is found near 24971 english miles , and consequently its diameter 7291 of the said miles , as has been found by the late experiments of several nations . the greatest part of this globe is covered with water , for ought we yet know , which at the creation , by the almighty decree , was gathered into one place , call'd the sea : this ball , or globe , of earth and water , is covered with a thin subtile matter , call'd air , by which it is rendred habitable , in the center of this globe , is an actractive power , by vertue whereof all heavy bodies , though loosed from it , will again return and cling to it , by which faculty 't is defended from dissolution , in not permiting the least part thereof to be seperated from it . this globe by its ( or the suns ) twofold motion , enjoys the grateful vicissitudes of day and night , winter and summer ; the first , by turning upon its own axis once in 24 hours , and the second , by having the said axis carried about the sun in the space of one year , by some unknown principle of nature , during the time of its other revolution ; and this axis not being perpendicular to the plain , in which the said annual motion is performed , causeth one hemisphere to have more of the sun 's light for one half year , and the other hemisphere for the other . arguments for proving the spherick , or globular form of the earth . a globe , or sphere , is a perfect round solid body , contained under one surface , in the midst of which is a point call'd the center , from whence all lines drawn to the out-side are equal ; these lines are termed semidiameters . of this form and figure is the whole earth and sea , as we have reason to conclude , from several undoubted observations and experiments , the principal of which follows . first , eclipses of the moon which are caused by the earths coming betwixt the sun and her ; for the moon having no light , but what she receives from the sun , is hindred of it by the opaque body of the earth , who interposing betwixt the sun and moon , casts her shaddow upon the moon , which to us appears circular thereon ; and therefore , according to optick principles , the earth from whence it proceeds , is a spherick , or globular body . secondly , eclipses of the sun , which are caused by the moon 's passing betwixt him and those places where he appears eclipsed ; for unless the earth were globular , as astronomers have assumed it , the time when , and place where , solar eclipses should happen , could not be determin'd ; but seeing both time and place is nicely limited , their supposition of the earth's roundess must needs be true . thirdly , because all the phenomenae do rise , culminate , and set , sooner to the eastern then to western inhabitants , as has been observed by those who have carried correct time-keepers to sea , and this proportionally according to the roundness of the earth . fourthly , viewing from the shoar a ship a good distance from you , at first you shall only perceive her top-sails , but as she approaches nearer , you shall see her lower-sails , and at last her hull , which i think is an evident proof of the earth's sphericity ; for did not the globosity of the water interpose betwixt our sight and the ship , we might more easily see her hull than her top-sails at first . fifthly , our modern navigators , in their voyages , especially , those that have been made round the world by drake and cavendish , make it very apparent ; for sailing eastward , they have , without turning back , arived to the place from whence they first set sail , only they came short home by one day and night , that is , they were absent 24 hours more by their own reckoning , than by the account of them kept at home , which thing further confirms the earth's sphericity . sixthly , it is found by daily practice , that the degrees of every parallel upon earth , have the same proportion to the degrees of the equinoctial , as the degrees of the like parallel of an artificial globe , has to a degree of the equinoctial thereon described . seventhly and lastly , common experience shows us , that sailing , or going towards the north , we raise the north-pole , and northern stars , and on the contrary , do depress the south-pole and southern stars , the north elevation encreasing equally with the south depression , and both proportional according to the distance sailed , the like happens in sailing southwards ; besides , the oblique ascention , descentions , amplitude of riseing and seting of the sun , moon and stars , would be the same in all places , were not the earth globular . and it may further be observable , that was not the earth globular , but a long round-flat , as some have foolishly imagined , then these absurdities would follow , viz. the elevation of the pole , and height of the stars , would be the same in all places . the same appearance of the heavens would be to all inhabitants . the sun , moon and stars would rise , culminate , and set , to all places at the same time . eclipses would appear to all people at the same time . the days and nights would be of the same length to all parts , neither would there be day in one place , when there is night in another . shadows would be alike in all places , that is , all of them would be one way , neither would one country be hotter or colder than another . but though we thus endeavour to prove the earth round , yet it must not strickly be taken , as if there were no inequalities of its surface ; for the mountains , hills and vallies , which are so common in most parts of it , cause some irregularities and cragginess in the surface ; yet because the greatness of these inequalities have scarce any sensible proportion to the whole , the height of the highest mountain being not 1 / 6000 part of its diameter , which is inconsiderable ; and therefore notwithstanding these small irregularities , we may affirm the earth to be round , or in form of a globe , or sphere . of the measure of the earth . the earth and water being of this form , we shall in the next place enquire into its extent , for the effecting of which , several essays have been made , to find either its circumference or diameter ; for when one of them is gotten , the other is easily known , and by having them both , its surface and solidity may be nicely discovered . now , as their conclusions has been different , so has the ways by which they have endeavoured to attain them . eratosthenes's way was by the sun-beams , and shade of a stile , vid. deschale's use of 29. 1 euc. maurolycus abbot of messuva , his way was by finding the quantity of the angle , made by two lines drawn from the surface of the earth , to the top of any high hill , vid. deschale's use of the 6. 2. euc. a third way was by eclipses , which is very uncertain , for a small mistake in the times of observation at one or both of the places , will cause a very great and sensible error , in the distances of the said places . a fourth and surest way which has been try'd by most nations , is , that of measuring north and south under one meridian , some good large distance , viz. one or two hundred miles ; for in those observations of small distances , there can be no certain conclusion . the method of doing this , is either with an instrument and chain , or else with a perambulator , or measuring wheel , which after 't is actually taken , must with great care be plotted down upon paper , but not without allowing for the variation of the needle , and all notable ascents and descents with other turnings and windings , that will of necessity be met with in the way , and so by this means we shall come to know how many miles on the earth will answer to a degree in the heavens , provided an exact observation by a large quadrant , or other instrument , be made to find the latitude of the place we begin to measure from , and the latitude of the place we measure to . according to this method , did mr. richard norwood , a good mathematician , and an able sea-man , in the year 1635. make an experiment in measuring the distance betwixt london and york , by which he found one degree upon earth , that is , the 1 / 360 part of the circumference of the earth to contain 69 4 / 11 english miles ( each english mile containing 5280 feet ) and consequently the whole circumference of the earth 24971 english miles , and its diameter 7291 of the same . from these dimensions will the area of the surface of the whole globe of earth and water be found to be 197795291 square english miles , and its solid content 261089784120 cubical english miles , which account doth likewise nearly agree with the dutch and french. definitions . the earth being in the form before described , astronomers have form'd an artificial one in representation thereof , on which they have pictured both sea and land in all their parts , and according to their scituation so far as is known , a type of which is here delineated , where the straight line 90. 90. 90 in one hemisphere is the axis of the world , the arches 80. 80 ; 70. 70 ; &c. encreasing in bigness are parallels of latitude , and the arches 90. 80. 90 ; 90. 70. 90 , &c. are hour circles , or meridians ; among which is one that is the outermost which is as it were the land-mark of the whole sphere , being the bounds from whence the longitude of any particular place is accounted qu●●● round the globe . now this meridian from whence we begin to reckon the longitude , has been differently assigned by several nations , for the arabian and nubian geographers , place it at the utmost extremity of the western shoar . ortelius , in his sheet-map of europe , makes london to lie in 28 degrees , but in his sheet-map of france and belgia , it lies but in 21 degrees of longitude ; so that where he begins his longitude , is not exactly known . the spaniards , since the west-indies conquest , begins at toledo , and contrary to all other accounts , reckon their longitude is from east to west . blaew , the dutch geographer , begins his at teneriff , the most noted of the canary islands , though on his large map of the world , he makes it pass through tercera , one of the azores . sansoon , the french geographer , begins his at ferro , one of the canaries : our late geographers , especially the english , place it in the azores , some beginning at tercera , others at corvo , a third at gratiosia ; though upon our new sort of globes , and some late maps , it is made to pass through the westermost part of st. michaels . so that longitude is the distance of a place reckoned in the equator , from the meridian , which passes through that place you begin your longitude from . latitude is the nearest distance of a place from the equator , or the height of pole above the horizon . continent , is a great part of the habitable earth that lies together , not being divided by the sea ; such is the whole continent of europe , asia and africa , as likewise america . island , is a piece of land environ'd quite round with water , as great britain , ireland , &c. an isthmus , is that little neck of land that joins a piece of land to the continent ; such is that of sues , which ties asia to africa , and that of corinth , which ties morea to greece . peninsula , is almost an island , being that which is so tied to the continent by an isthmus ; such is affrica and morea . a promontory , or cape , is a high land bending or running out into the sea ; such is the cape of st. vincent's , cape of good hope , &c. mountain , is a part of the earth higher than the rest ; such is the alps , the cheviat hills . of the water . the ocean , or main sea , is that vast body of the water , that environs , or surrounds , the continent . gulph , is an arm of the ocean , running in between lands ; such is the gulph of persia , arabia , &c. straight , is a narrow channel that joyns one sea to another , or gulph to the ocean ; such is that of gibralter , which joins the mediteranean to the western ocean . lake , is that which continually keeps standing water in it ; such is that of nicaragua in america , and zair in affrica . river , is a fresh running water , that looses its streams in the sea ; such is thames , severn , &c. port , or harbour , is a small portion of the sea of such depth , and so hemn'd in by the land , that ships may there ride in safety . bay , is likewise an arm of the ocean , but the entrance thereof is much wider than that of a gulph . shelf , is either a heap of sand , or else a rock that lies near the surface of the water . archipelago , is a sea where many islands are . a short description of the making and projecting of circular maps . maps are only the pictures , or representations of any part , or parts , of the globe in plano , that is , they are a perspective draught either of the whole , or else some particular place , or part of the earth : for suppose the earth was transparent , and the eye to be placed some where in the equator , and that at right angles , to the line passing from the eye to the opposite part of the earth , a plain be conceived to be placed cuting the earth into two equal parts , that is passing through the earth's center ; then i say , if from the eye rays be imagined to pass thro' the said plain , to every physical point in the obverse hemisphere of the earth , these lines shall project points upon the said plain , which , if join'd , will give the true picture of one half of the places on the earth's surface . and because , but one half of a globe is to be seen at one time , therefore if you desire a representation of the whole terraqueous globe , it must be done in two hemispheres . according to this representation , there is geometrick rules laid down , for projecting and delineating the circles and lines as they thus appear to the eye , whether 't is upon the plain of a meridian , which makes the common hemispheres , or else upon the equator , which is that we call the polar projection , because the eye is supposed in the pole ? and this projection is almost as frequent as the other . as for the geometrick directions , for teaching how to draw these circles and lines , as they thus appear to the eye , either upon the plain of the meridian , or equator , i shall not here show , because it properly belongs to the projection of the sphere . how to lay down places upon the hemispheres . but supposing it done , i shall direct you how to lay down places upon the hemispheres , having therefore compleated a projection of the imaginary circles , viz. equator , meridian , parrallels , &c. as in the annexed map of the world may be seen ; consider that the longitude and latitude of any place is determined by the meridian , and parallel of that place , so that having the longitude and latitude of any place , we may incert it in the map thus : count from the meridian , or outermost circle on the equator , the longitude of the place you desire to express , so shall you thereby find the meridian of that place ; then among the parallels find the latitude of that place , and in the point where the meridian and parallel intersect , is the place to be put in the hemisphere by this artifice , may the one half of the earth's surface , by taking several points , be delineated in plano , just as it appears to the eye in the aforesaid position , and after the like manner is the other hemisphere to be projected . if you would make a map , but of some large part of the earth , such as europe , asia , germany , spain , france , &c. the method and manner of doing it , is the same with the preceding , only in this case , the projection is made much larger , and then cut off in a square form to such latitude and longitude , as will contain the extream latitudes and longitudes of that portion of the earth you design a map off . after the same manner may you divide it , if it be a map of europe , asia , &c. into its empires , kingdoms and provinces , by laying down the latitudes and longitudes thereof . of the making of right lin'd maps . maps that are projected after this way , ought to be but of small places , that is , such which have scarce a sensible proportion to the whole surface of the earth , else they will be very erronious , because the least portion of the earth's surface is spherical , which , if we consider , and take for plain , as we do in this case , must needs be false ; but for small places lying either upon the equator , or within few degrees of it , they may without much error be thus represented , their surface being very little differing from a true plain . in order therefore to make a map of some such place , consider both the difference of longitude and latitude of the extream parts thereof ; as suppose i would make a map of a place , whose difference of longitude is 4 degrees , and the difference of latitudes , if they were both north or south ( else the sum of them ) 6 degrees ; draw a blind line , then take any length for a degree , which let be as large as you please , for the larger the better : this length prick off 4 times on the said line , for your degrees of longitude , after which raise a perpendicular , and take the same distance as before , and run off 6 times upon it , this done , compleat the parallelogram , whose sides in this case , will be as 6 to 4 , that is , the latitude is 6 degrees , and the longitude 4 ▪ and this finishes the limits of your map. it will be necessary also to subdivide each degree into 6. 10. or more equal parts , as the largeness of the degree will permit ; after which , prefix both to top , bottom , and each side the numbers , corresponding to the latitudes and longitudes . how to lay down places on this plan. the plan being thus prepared , and a table of the longitudes and latitudes , of all the boundary parts of the place you would make a map off , if laid down before you , which latitudes are actually and nicely found by some large quadrant or other instrument , and the longitudes calculated from the bearings of places , observed by the needle , distances measured , &c. proceed as follows . suppose one point of the place you design a map off , is in the latitude of 2 degrees , 20 minutes , and longitude of 14 degrees , 40 minutes : here i begin and count from the bottom of the map , upwards on each side , 2 degrees 20 minutes , and from those two points draw a blin'd line through the map , this done , i count from the left hand side of the map towards the right , both at top and bottom , 14 degrees 40 minutes , and from these two points , draw an obscure line also quite through the map ; the point where these two lines cross each other , is the true point , where such place ought to be set ; after the same manner , proceed to incert all the boundaries , and principle places within the map , by having their longitudes and latitudes ; and here note , that the more latitudes and longitudes of the boundaries you take , the more exact and true will your map be limited . as for places that lie in great north latitude , suppose betwixt 50 and 60 deg . there you must consider the proportion , that is , betwixt one degree in the parallel of 55 degrees of latitude , and a degree of the equator , and by so much as the later exceeds the former , by so much must a degree of latitude exceed that of longitude . the proportion for finding the quantity of a degree , in any parallel , is this : as the diameter of the equator , is to its circumference , so is the diameter of the parallel of 55 degrees , to its circumference ; divide the circumference of the equator by 360. as also the circumference of the parallel of 55 degrees ; the first quote is , the length of a degree of longitude in the equator ; the second , the length of a degree of longitude in the parallel of 55 degrees of latitude , and therefore by so much as the first of these quotes exceeds the second , by so much must a degree in latitude , exceed that of longitude , in the making of such a map. this brief account , will i hope , give some light into the method of making and projecting of maps , in the prosecution of which , i might have been more copious , by adding of cuts , and making a table of the longitudes and latitudes of the boundaries of some places , and so actually transfering them into the plan or scheme ; but when i considered my design was more to shew their use , than the method of making them , i purposely omitted it . if a map was to be made of any small county , hundred , lordship , &c. of about 20 or 30 miles round , it is not so exactly determined by longitudes and latitudes , but by an actual survey of the same with some instrument , as semicircle , theodelite , &c. general notes for using of maps . in most of the circular maps , observe , that having found the name , you are not to take that part of the map , possest by such name , for the true position of the place ; but you are to seek either over , under , or on one side of such name for this mark ( o ) and where that stand there is the true point of that place . in right lin'd maps , towns and places are generally represented by the shape of a little house , cities with the like mark , but something bigger . when any map is placed right before you , then take notice , that the bottom part , or part next to you , generally is the southern part , the top , or part farthest from you , the north part ; that next your left hand , the west part , and the other opposite , or next the right hand , the east ; which quarters or parts , are commonly denoted , either by the words , north , south , west and east , writ at top or bottom , and on each side , or else by a compass , which is round like a wheel , having 32 points issuing from the center , which represents the 32 points of the compass ; at the end of one of them is the picture of a flower-de-luce , which always points exactly to the north. hence 't is evident , that you must always seek for the latitude on the sides of the map , and the longitude at top and bottom ▪ which sometimes is differently numbred , by reason that at the top of the map , the longitude may be reckoned from one place , and at the bottom from another . observe also in maps of empires and kingdoms , the divisions of it , in principalities , provinces or counties , is generally performed by a small prickt irregular line . rivers , is commonly denoted by a full black line , and sometimes by a double line . roads , are variously pictured , viz. in some maps , by small black lines , in others , by double prickt lines , and sometimes by single prickt lines . mountains , are represented by a black clouded figure , in shape like a bell. the sea is frequently in all coloured maps painted green , if the maps are not coloured , the space denoting the sea is left white . the land is bounded from the sea by an irregular dark clouded line , which if the map be painted , is generally coloured . but in maps , there is generally an explanation of the marks and characters there used , as how they note boundaries , roads and rivers ; also which mark signifies cities , which market towns , which villages , &c. take notice likewise , that to several maps , there are three sorts of scales , to which are prefixed the names magna , medieria and parba , the meaning of which is this , that you should measure the great miles upon the magna scale , the mean miles upon the mediocria scale ; and the small miles upon the parva scale ; for not only other countrey miles differ from ours , but even we among our selves ; the miles in yorkshire and several other places being much larger than those about london . how to find out places upon any sort of maps . there is but two methods of finding out places in any map , the one is by longitude and latitude , and the other by bearing and distance , the former of which is most peculiar to circular maps , the later to right lin'd maps ; though either of the said methods may be used , for the finding of places in both kinds of maps . as to the first of these , there is one grand difficulty in it , which is upon account of beginning the longitude , because as i have already observed , in one map , the longitude begins from gratiosa , another from st. michael , a third from teneriff , and a fourth from some other place ; so that unless you know , from what place they reckon the longitude of any map , you can never know , by this method , how to find out any place in such map , though the longitude and latitude of the place be given , which indeed is a very great misfortune ; for was all the geographers but unanimously agreed from whence to begin it , that is , would they but all agree to fix it at any on particular place , it would make the science of geography very easie and pleasant . but however , because it is otherwise at present ; i shall incert a table , shewing the difference of longitude betwixt pico teneriff , and most of the principal places from whence they have begun to reckon , and then proceed to the method of doing it . betwixt pico teneriff , and   d. m. toledo 15. 53. gratiosa 10. 25. tercera 9. 00. palma or ferro 2. 50. corvo 13. 25. st. michaels 8. 5. suppose in the sheet-map of the world , that is , in the small hemisphers , i would find out jerusalem , which is in the longitude of 66. d. 00. m. counted from st. michaels , and latitude of 33. d. 10. m. north. here i begin at the outer circle , which is the first meridian , from whence the longitude is reckoned , and counted upon the equator 66. d. its longitude ; then i reckon from the equator , on the first meridian upward toward the north-pole 32. d. 10. m. the latitude , and so tracing that parallel till i come right against the longitude i find this mark ( o ) and the word jerusalem writ close by it , whence i conclude , that is the true position of jerusalem . and here , note , that if in your hemisphere , the longitude is not reckoned from st. michaels , but some other place , then you must consider whether such place lies east or west of st. michaels , and how many degrees ; and accordingly substract , or add , such difference from or to the given longitude of any place , to get the longitude of such place in that map. as for example ; suppose i look in a map for london , whose longitude from st. michaels is about 27 d. 30 m. now perhaps this map begins the longitude from the westermost part of spain , which is 16 degrees east of st. michaels ; here i must substract 16 from 27. 30. the remainder 11. 30. is the longitude of london in such map. if the map had begun his longitude from any place that lies west of st. michaels , as from the isle corvo , which is near 5 d. 20 m. west of st. michaels , then to 27. 30. i must have added 5 degree 20. m. and it will give 32 d. 20 m. the longitude of london in that map , which reckons his longitude from corvo . the second way how places may be found , is thus : suppose i would find bourdeaux in france , whose bearing is very near full south from london , and distance therefrom about 200 miles ; here i trace the meridian that passes through london , which may nearly be done by the eye or a rule ( if none be actually drawn ) 200 miles , and there about you shall find the said place . there is another way for finding out places upon maps , but it is peculiar , and serves only some sort or kind , the method of it is thus : the maps are ( by lines drawn parallel to the sides thereof ) divided into certain long slips , or spaces , about an inch broad ; which spaces is again sub-divided into small squares , by other lines drawn parallel to the top and bottom near the same distance of the former . on both sides of the map , against each space , is set letters , as a , b , c , d , &c. there is also both at top and bottom of the map , other letters set differing from the former ; by help of these letters a table is constructed , having in it the names of all the places , and against each name two letters , as ( ah ) or ( bm ) &c. by which letters i can find out any place in the map. thus , suppose i seek for babylon , in such a sort of map , against which i find ( c s ) then i seek on the side of the map for c , and at the top for s , and at the angle of meeting , that is in the little square , right against both these letters , is babylon , the place sought . but in most of these sort of maps , there generally is directions for the using of them , printed in some vacant place of it . of measuring distances on circular maps . first , if the two places , whose distance you seek , lie on the equator , then the degrees upon the equator , contain'd betwixt them , multiplied by 70 , gives the miles they are distant from one another . secondly , if the two places have the same longitude , and both north or south latitude , then the difference of their latitudes multiplied by 70 , gives their distance in miles . thirdly , if the two places have the same longitude , but different latitudes , i. e. one north , and the other south , then the sum of their latitudes multiplied by 70 , will give their distance in miles . fourthly , if the two places have both north or south latitude , but 180 degrees difference of longitude , then the sum of the complements of their latitudes multiplied by 70 , gives their distance in english miles . fifthly , if the two places have different latitudes , i. e. one north , and the other south , and 180 degrees difference of longitude , then the difference of their latitudes taken from 180 degrees , and the remainder multiplied by 70 , gives their distance in miles . if the places be not in any of the positions aforesaid , but differ both in longitude and latitude , then having their latitude and difference of longitude with a scale of versed lines , to find their distance , proceed thus : suppose the distance was required betwixt london , whose latitude is 51 d. 30 m. n. and babylon in caldea , whose latitude is 35. 00 n. their difference of longitude being 47 d. 30 m. first , draw a line at pleasure , and with the versed sine of 90 degrees , describe the semicircle a f h ; this done , find the sum and difference of both latitudes , take the sum 86. 30. from 180 degrees , the remainder 93 d. 30 m. take from the scale of versed sines , and set from a to b on the diameter a h ; take also 16 d. 30 m. the difference of latitudes from the said scale of versed sines , and lay from a to c. in like manner , set upon the said diameter the difference of longitude 47. 30. taken as before from a to d ; then take the distance b c , and set from h to f upon the arch , and draw the line a f , which done , with your compasses take the nearest distance betwixt d , and the line a f , and lay from c to g ; the distance a g taken off and applied to the scale of versed sines , will give near 37 d. 30 m. which multiplied by 70 giveth 2625 , their nearest distance in english miles . there is another way which is sometimes used for measuring distances upon these general projections . but it is not so exact the former , and therefore not to be used where nicety is required . the method of performance is thus . take the distances of the places ( as they lie in the map ) betwixt your compasses ; this extent apply either to the east or west side , as right against the two places as you can , and it will give you the degrees they are distant , which if multiplied by 70 , gives their distance in english miles . and here note , that the farther distant places are , the greater is the error , and contrary , &c. this method is to be used only upon maps of the quarters , and great empires or kingdoms ; such as , tartary , germany , aegypt , and the like , and not up-the hemispheres . other ways there are for finding the distance of places , both as they lie in the hemispheres , or by having their latitudes and difference of longitudes , but they being something foreign to the present design , because not practicable without the knowledge of the nature of projection and calculation , i purposely neglect them . how to measure distances on right lin'd maps . distances are easily measured on these sort of maps ; for having found the two places on the map , whose distance you require , set one foot of the compasses in one place , and extend the other foot to the other ; this extent applied , either to bottom , top , or sides of the map , shews you how many degrees they are distant , which multiplied by 70 , gives their distance in english miles , if there be any odd minuits above the degrees for every 6 of them , allow 7 miles . but generally to these kind of maps , there is annexed a scale of miles , so that having the distance betwixt any two places , 't is but applying it to this scale , and you have the miles they are distant by inspection . of the zones . a zone signifies a belt or girdle , but here is to be understood a certain quaintity of land , included by ( one or ) two parallels . now the number of zones , geographers have divided the globe into , are five : of which there are two temperate , two frigid or frozen , and one torrid . the torrid zone is that space of earth , contained betwixt the two tropicks , viz. cancer and capricorn being in breadth to 47 degrees , which is 3290 english miles ; upon this zone or tract of earth , lies most part of africa , a great part of south america , also several islands , as java , sumatra , st. thomas , &c. the antients , both philosophers , divines and poets , counted this zone altogether inhabitable , by reason of the extream heat , and therefore termed it intemperate , but later discoveries have prov'd to the contrary . the inhabitants of this zone are called amphiscians , because they have their shadows both ways at noon , that is , one part of the year it is toward the north , the other part toward the south . the temperate zones are those spaces of earth , included betwixt the tropicks and polar circles , the north temperate zone being that portion of earth contained betwixt the tropick of cancer and artick circle ; the south temperate zone , is that part or portion of earth , bounded by the tropick of capricorn and antarctick circle ; each of these zones are in breadth 43 degrees , that is , 3010 miles ; in the northern temperate zone , lies almost all europe and the north part of africa , as also a considerable part of asia and america ; the southern temperate zone is not so well known to us , it being far distant from our habitation . these zones are termed temperate , because the sun-beams being cast obliquely , cannot create that excessive heat , as they do where they fall perpendicular . they in some measure pertake of the extremities of heat and cold , proceeding from the torrid and frigid zones ; those that inhabit in these zones are called heteroscians , because their shadows is but one way . the frigid , or frozen zones , are those two tracts of earth environ'd by the two polar circles ; that enclosed by the artick circle , is called the northern frigid zone ; the other encompassed , is the southern frigid zone , their diameter is 47 degrees , which is 3290 english miles . under the northern frigid zone lies greenland , lapland , nova zembla , and part of the tartarian ocean , whether there is any land in the southern frigid zone , is not known to us that inhabit this part of the earth . the coldness of these zones , is caused from the very oblique , falling of the sun's rays upon the earth's surface , from which his action is so small , that the heat proceeding from him in the warmest day they there have , is scarce sufficient to melt the congealed rocks of ice and snow . those that inhabit these parts of the earth , are called periscians , because their shadows are thrown quite round them , they are under great inconveniencies ; first , by reason of the extream cold they suffer , and secondly , because their whole year is but one day and night ; for when the sun is once risen , he sets not again for half a year together , and when he sets , rises not again for as long a time . of the climates . the climates are certain spaces of earth , limited by two parallels , distant from the equinoctial toward each pole ; the difference betwixt the zones and climates , is this : the principal office of the zones is to distinguish the quality of the air , in respect of heat and cold , and the alteration of shadows : but the office of the climates is to shew the greatest difference in the length of the days and nights , as also the variation in the rising and seting of the stars . those that live under the equator , have their day and night equal , but those places that recede so far from the equator , as to make the difference of the longest artificial day , half an hour longer than it is , where the longest day is 12 hours and a half , there ends the first climate , and there the second begins ; if therefore according to the increase of days the climates be reckoned , there will be 24 in each hemisphere , that is in all 48 , counting no farther than the polar circles ; for the places in that parallel of latitude , conciding with either polar circle , have their longest day above 24 hours long . now geographers have given names only to 9 of those in the northern hemisphere , and these names are taken from the most famous places , through which the parallel circles pass that bound them . as , dia-meroes . dia-syenes . dia-alexandrias . dia-rhodu . dia-rhomes . dia-pontu . dia-boristhenes . dia-britanias . dia-tanaidos . the southern climates are distinguished by the word ante , as ante dia meroes , ate dia synenes , &c. of the properties of the several inhabitants of the earth . those people living put under the equator , have great heat , having two summers , one when he passes the first of aries , the other when he passeth the first point of libra , and has also two winters , which are when he passes the first points of cancer and capricorne , for then the sun is farthest remote from those people , ( though not so remote , but that their winters are much hotter than our summers ; ) whence 't is evident , their two summers are our spring and autumn , and our winter and summer their two winters ; their noon-shades are thrown both to the north and south , and sometimes directly under them , that is , they have none at all . their artificial day is always just 12 hours long , they see the whole phaenomenae of the heavens , for all the planets and stars to those inhabitants , do arise , culminate , and set once in 24 hours . secondly , for those who inhabit betwixt the equinoctial and topick of cancer , they have some seasons as the former , viz. two summers and two winters ; for the sun twice a year passeth there zenith , their noon-shadows are likewise thrown both to the north and south part of heaven , and sometimes directly under them , their longest day is something longer then 12 hours . thirdly , the inhabitants under the tropick of cancer , that is , such people that have their zenith in the said tropick , have the sun but once a year in their zenith , and that is when he is in the first point of cancer , they have but one summer and one winter ; their noonshadow is always toward the north , except when he is just in the tropick , and then there is none at all , their longest day is 13 h. 36 m. long . fourthly , the people that inhabit betwixt the tropick of cancer , and the circle artick , have the sun never vertical ; their shadows are always thrown toward the north , and their artifical days is of all lengths , viz. from 13 h. 36 m. to 24 hours . fifthly , those that have their zenith in the artick circle , that is , such who live just upon that circle , have the pole of the ecliptick just in their zenith , and consequently the ecliptick coinciding with their horizon , and therefore the tropick of cancer must be all above the horison , and the tropick of capricorn quite under the horizon , so that the sun being in the first point of cancer , their artificial day is just 24 hours long , and their night but a moment , their shadow is cast quite round them . sixthly , the people inhabiting betwixt the north-pole , and artick circle , have their horizon cutting the ecliptick in two points , and a certain portion of it equally distant from the first point of cancer that never sets , but remains always above the horizon ; whence it cometh to pass , that all the time the sun is passing this portion of the ecliptick , they have continual day and no night , the length of which is more or less , according to the portion of the ecliptick that never sets , being about one month long when the said portion is 30 degrees , two months when the said portion is 60 degrees , or two signs , and so on : that is , the farther north , the longer day , till at last you come just under the pole it self , where the whole year is but one day and night , each being half a year : in this position also , there is a certain portion of the ecliptick , equidistant from the first point of capricorn , that never rises or comes above the horizon , so that during the time the sun is passing the said portion , there is perpetual night to these inhabitants , their shadows are also projected quite round them . seventhly , as for those people ( if any be ) inhabiting just under the pole , they have the equinoctial coinciding with their horizon , and have always but the northern half of the ecliptick above the horizon , so that their year is but one natural day as before was hinted ; for when the sun passeth the first point of aries , then to those people he arises , and sets not again till he passes the first point of libra , which is half a year after , they never see no more then half the heavens at once , all the southern hemisphere being totally obscured from their sight ; their shadow is likewise cast clear round them , the end of it projecting a concentrick circle . of the perieci , antieci and antipodes . the inhabitants of the earth compared with one another in respect of their scituation , are perieci and antieci , antipodes . the perieci , are those people that dwell in opposite points of the same parallel , that is , they have the same latitude with us , but 180 degrees difference of longitude , and therefore their days and nights are equal to ours , only they are contrary ; that is , our noon is their mid-night , and our evening their morning , &c. their seasons are at the same time with ours . anticeci , are those people that dwell over against each other , they have the same meridian , and are equally distant from the equator , one having as much south latitude , as the other has north latitude ; they have the same hours with us , that is , our noon and their noon , is at the same instant of time : but the seasons are different , for when 't is summer with us , 't is winter with them , and contrary . the antipodes ( as the word imports ) are such as dwell feet to feet , that is , they are such people that inhabit just under us , having as much south latitude as we have north , and 180 degrees difference of longitude ; their nearest distance is 180 degrees , or 12600 miles , which is half the circumference of the earth ; their hour-seasons and all other accidents are quite contrary , for our noon is their mid-night , our summer their winter , and our autumn their spring , we can see no more of their stars , than they do of ours , and the stars that never rise to them , never set to us , and contrary . a catalogue of some of the chiefest places in the world , with their latitudes and longitudes from london ; extracted from the best tables now extant . places names . lat. long. aberdeen in scotland . 58 04 358 15 alexandria . 30 58 35 00 amsterdam . 52 25 5 00 antwerp . 51 12 4 15 aracta in syria . 36 00 50 00 athens in greece . 37 42 28 30 babylon in caldea . 35 00 47 30 berwick in england . 55 50 358 30 bethlehem in judea . 31 50 42 00 bononia in italy . 43 49 11 15 bristol in italy . 51 28 257 00 breme in saxony . 53 10 9 30 calicut in east-india . 11 30 88 00 canterbury in england . 51 25 01 00 comportella in spain . 43 00 351 00 conimbria in lusitania . 40 15 351 45 cambridge . 52 17 0 30 constantinople in thrace . 43 00 34 30 damascus in syria . 34 0 45 30 darby in england . 53 3 358 30 dantzick in pursia . 54 23 18 30 dublin in ireland . 53 11 353 15 durham in england . 54 17 358 30 edinburgh in scotland . 57 06 357 30 exter in england . 50 53 356 30 frankford odar . 52 20 15 00 frankford mane. 50 2 8 45 glocester in england . 51 58 357 45 ter goose in zeland . 51 30 4 15 gaunt in flanders . 51 04 4 30 goa in judia . 16 00 87 30 grats in styria . 47 02 14 00 haffina in denmark . 55 43 13 00 hartford in england . 51 55 359 45 huntington in england . 52 24 359 45 jerusalem . 32 10 45 30 leyden in holland . 52 07 5 15 lisbon in portugal . 38 45 351 30 leverpool in england . 53 22 357 30 london . 51 30 00 00 lyons . 45 16 5 00 madrid . 40 45 257 45 mount in cornwall . 50 39 354 45 mentz in germany . 51 31 11 15 munster in westphalia . 51 54 7 00 naples . 40 42 15 00 norimberg . 52 40 12 00 norwich . 52 44 1 00 niniveh . 35 50 54 30 orleans in france . 48 08 00 00 oxford . 51 40 358 45 prague . 56 00 14 30 paris . 48 5 2 30 quinzay in china . 40 0 12 00 rome . 42 2 12 45 roterdam . 51 55 3 45 roan in normandy . 49 30 1 30 rochel . 45 49 359 00 smyrna . 38 50 33 30 stockholm . 48 50 15 45 syracuse . 36 50 16 15 thessalonica . 41 32 26 45 toledo . 40 10 354 00 valence in spain . 39 45 358 15 venice . 45 15 12 30 vienna . 48 22 17 00 uranilerg . 55 55 13 00 warwick . 52 25 358 30 wittenberg . 51 52 13 30 winchester . 51 13 358 00 worms germany . 50 25 7 45 yarmouth . 52 45 1 30 york . 54 00 359 00 an account of the factories and places now in possession of the english , french , dutch , spanish , portuguese and danes , both in the east and west-indies . to the english belong in asia . fort s. george [ aliter madrassipatan ] on coast cormandel ▪ bombay castle and island on the west coast of decan . in the east of bisnagar . pettipole massulipatan madapollam viceagaparam in bengal . hughly ballesore cassum bezar maulda daca tutta nutta pattana in the moguls empire . agra cambaya surrat amadarad baroch on the coast of malabar . d●bul in decan . callicut carnar in persia . ispahan gombroone bussora in arabia . mascat mocha in the island sumatra . smirna in natolia . achem indrapora bengalis jambee . bantam in java , till expelled by the dutch , 1682. macassar in the isle celebes , but now expell'd . camboida in the k. of siam . in china . tonquen canton in africa . tangier , in the coast of barbary , near the straights , but now demolished . on the coast of the jalofes . fort s. andrew fort s. philip the mouth of the river sierra leona , in the west of guinea . the island of s. helens west of ethiopia , s. lat. 16 deg . benin in the east part of guinea . on the south coast of guinea . calabar tagrin madrebomba taxorari cape corso emacham in america . new england new york pensilvania new jersey east west maryland virginia carolina as also they possess port nelson in hudsons bay. newfoundland in part . jamaica one of the greater antilles . bermudus lying e. of florida . new providence one of the lucajos . long island lying s. of new york . 6 of the caribee islands . anguilla berbuda st. christopher nevis antego montserrat dominica st. vincent barbados to the spaniards belong in asia . 6 of the philippin , and most of the rest . luconia tandaya mindano s. juan mindore panay in africa . the trade on the west coast of africa . the canary islands . in america . new spain , whose parliaments are mexico . guadalajara . guatimala . a considerable part of new mexico . in florida . s. augustins s. matthews terra firma , whose parliaments are panama . granada . peru , who parliaments are quito . lima. de la plata . chili . a great part of paraguay . several islands , particularly those of cuba . hispaniola . port-rico . to the portuguese belong in asia . several factories in persia . upon the ganes . asterim ougelli in decan . chaul a considerable town . massagan a little village morro caranga goa with her fortresses and adjacent islands coran . divar . macao upon the coast of china . the fort larentoque in the island solor e. of flores . in peninsula indiae extra gangem . aracan pegu tanacerin ligor cambodia already mentioned . golcond agra amadabat cambaia surat baroch bengala in africa . mazagan in the kingdom of morocco . some forts on the river s. domingo in the county of 〈◊〉 jalofes . some forts on the coasts of guinea . congo . angola . a great part of the coasts of cafres , and zanguebar . the trade of the e. coast from the cape good hope , to the r. sea. several islands , especially those of the azores ▪ isles of cape verde . madera . in america . all the coast of brasil divided into many captainships . towards the mouth of the river amazon . estero conduba cogemine to the french belong in asia . in the moguls empire . bereaux new surrat the island s. maria lying south west of goa . some forts in the kingdom of siam . the island of java . in africa . fort dauphin in madagascar . a fort on the river senega . the trade of africa upon the river senega . gambia . rufisque near cape verde . in guinea . great sestre and ardra in america . in canada . montreal the three rivers quebeck tadonsack , and some other places on the river st. laurence . a great part of nova scotia . in new-found-land . bay plasensa bay blacco port s. louis in the island cayene lying e. of guyana . some of the antilles . s. bartholomew . sancta cruz. s. martins . guadaloupe . la desireé . maria galants . les saintes . martinico . s. aloisia . granada . domingo in part . grenadins . la tortue . to the dutch belong in asia . on the coast cormandel . tuticorin negapatam karkall fort gelders pallecate malacca . ceylon . java , and most of the moluccoes , tho' of right they belong to the english . are several factories . persia . the moguls empire . cormandel . malabar . siam . malacca . smmatra . china . java . celebes . borneo . arabia . in africa , near cape verde . arguin gora many forts in congo . some near the cape of good hope . s. maurice in madagascar . in guinea . factories forts in america . the city coro in the north of terra firma . the island curacco , one of the sotovanto . some forts on the coast of guyana . to the danes belong in asia . on the coast of cormandel . frankebar dansburge in africa . in guinea . fort frederickburgh nigh cape corso the castle of christianburg in america is new denmark in the north part thereof . these are the principal european plantations , both in the east and well-indies . finis . advertisements . all sorts of spheres , globes , maps , chards , mathematical books , and other instruments , are sold by philip lea , at the atlas and hercules in cheapside . all sorts of mathematical instruments both for sea and land , are most correctly made , and sold , by john worgan , under st. dunstan's church in fleet-street . a briefe introduction to geography containing a description of the grounds, and generall part thereof, very necessary for young students in that science. vvritten by that learned man, mr william pemble, master of arts, of magdalen hall in oxford. pemble, william, 1592?-1623. 1630 approx. 74 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 27 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-08 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a09258 stc 19571 estc s114325 99849551 99849551 14705 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a09258) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 14705) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1181:2) a briefe introduction to geography containing a description of the grounds, and generall part thereof, very necessary for young students in that science. vvritten by that learned man, mr william pemble, master of arts, of magdalen hall in oxford. pemble, william, 1592?-1623. [4], 64 [i.e. 46], [2] p., folded leaf : ill. (woodcuts) printed by iohn lichfield printer to the famous vniversity for edward forrest, oxford : ann. dom. 1630. running title reads: a briefe introduction to geographie. the last leaf is blank. p. 46 misnumbered 64. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic 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proofread 2004-06 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-07 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion briefe introdvction to geography containing a description of the grovnds , and generall part thereof , very necessary for young students in that science . written by that learned man , m r william pemble , master of arts , of magdalen hall in oxford . ac : ox arms of oxford university oxford printed by iohn lichfield printer to the famous vniversity for edward forrest ann. dom. 1630. to the reader gentle reader ; i here present vnto thy view these few sheets , written by that learned man m r william pemble , i doubt not to call him the father , the childe fauours him so much . it hath long lay bid from thy sight , but now at length emboldned vpon thy curteous acceptance of his former labours , it lookes abroad into the world ; it 's but little ; let not that detract any thing from it , there may lie much , though pent vp in a narrow roome ; when thou reades , then iudge of it ; thus much may bee sayd : though many haue writ of this subiect , yet this inferiour to none ; thou may'st obserue in it an admirable mixture of art and delight , so that for younger students it may bee their introduction , for others a remembrancer , for any not vnworthy the perusall : only , let it finde kinde entertaynment , at thy hands . farewell . a briefe introdvction to geographie . chap. 1. a generall description and division of geography . topographie is a particular description of some small quantity of land , such as land measurers sett out in their plots . chorographie is a particular description of some country , as of england , france , or any shire or prouince in them : as in the vsuall and ordinary mappe . geography is an art of science teaching vs the generall description of the whole earth , of this especially wee are now to speake of , and also chorography as a part vnder it conteyned : both , excellent parts of knowledge in them selues , and affoording much profit and helpe in the vnderstanding of history & other things . the parts of geography are two . generall , which treateth of the nature , qualities , measure , with other generall properties of the earth . speciall , wherein the seuerall countrys and coasts of the earth are deuided and described . of the generall in the first place , and more at large then of the other , because it is more difficult , and hard to bee vnderstood , and yet of necessary vse , for the vnderstanding of the other . this generall tract may bee parted into fiue particular heads . 1 of the properties and affections of the earth . 2 of the parts of it in generall . 3 of the circles of it . 4 of the distinction and diuision of it accordinge to some generall conditions and qualities of it . 5 of the measuringe of it . these in theire order . cap. 2. of certaine generall properties of the earth . in geography when wee name the earth wee meane not the earth taken seuerally by it selfe , without the seas and waters . but vnder one name both are comprised , as they are now mingled one with another and doe both together make vp one entire and round body . neither doe wee diue into the bowels of the earth , and ente● into consideration of the naturall qualities , which are in the substance of earth and water , as coldnes , drinesse moisture , heauines , and the like , but wee looke only vpon the out side , contemplating the greatnesse , scituation , distances , measuringe , and other such affections which appeare in the superficies of it , to the eyes of our bodies and mindes : these then of the earth and water together , rules are to bee knowne , 1 the earth and the water doe make one globe , i. e , one round or sphericall body . the naturall place of the water is to bee aboue the earth , and soe it was in the first creation of it , compassing , the earth round aboute as appeares genes . 1. 9. but for the vse of 〈◊〉 and all other liuing creatures , god made a separation of them caussing the waters to sinke downe into huge hollow channells , prepared to receaue it , that so the drie land might appeare aboue it . notwithstanding which separation , they doe both still remaine together , not couering one another as 〈◊〉 first , but intermingled one with another , and that soe exactly as they now make but one round body , whereas at first they made two . here therfore are two poynts to be proued , 1. that they are one globe . 2. that this one is round . 1 they are one globe hauing the same center or middle pointe , and the same surface or conuexe superficies . which will appeare by these reasons . 1 common experience . take a lumpe of earth and any quantity of water , and let them both fall downe together vpon the earth from some high place , wee see that in the descēt they doe not seuer , but keepe still together in on streight line , which could not bee , if the earth and water were two seuerall round bodies hauing seuerall centers . as for example suppose them to bee two globes and let ( a ) bee the center of the earth and ( b ) the center of the water● frō ( c ) some high place aboue the earth hurle downe earth and water , i say the earth will part from the water in going downe and the earth will fall downe vpon ( d ) & the water vpon ( e ) but this is contrary to experience & ergo the supposition is false . 2 the shadow which in eclipses is cast vpon the moone by the earth and the water , is but one and not two , & therefore the body is so likewise . this will appeare in the proofe of the next point , v. 2. 2 that both earth and water are one round body , 〈◊〉 square , long , hollow , or of any other figure . this is proued by diuerse reasons . 1 by eclipses ; when the earth , stands iust betweene the sunne and the moone , then doth the shadow of the earth falling vpon the moone darken it wholy or in part . now as is the fashion of the shadow , such is the figure of the body , whence it falls , but the shadow of the earth and water cast vpon the moone is round , and also one , therefore they are round and also one body . 2 by the orderly and successiue appearing of the starres , as men trauile from north to south , or from south to north ; by sea or land . for as they goe by degrees , they discouer ne● starres , which they saw not before , and loose the sight of them they did , which could not bee if the earth were not round , as for example , let ( x. o. r. ) the inward circle bee the earth , ( q. s. p. ) the outward , the heauen : they cannot see the starre ( s ) which dwell vpon the earth in ( x ) but if they goe northward vnto ( o ) they may see it . if they goe farther to ( r ) they may see the starre ( p ) but then they loose the sight of the starre ( q ) which being at ( x ) and ( o ) they might haue seene . because , as it appeares in the figure , the earth riseth vp round betweene ( r ) and ( x ) . 3 by the orderly and successiue rising of the sunne and starres , and settinge of the same . which appeare not at the same time to all countryes , but vnto one after another . as for example , let ( f. c. b. ) be the circle of the earth , ( d. e. a. ) the circle of the heauen from east to west , let ( a ) bee the sunne or a starre . when the sunne ( a ) is vp , and shines vpon them that dwell in ( b ) hee is not risen to them that dwell in ( c ) againe when hee is risen higher and is come to ( e ) and so shines vpon those that dwell in ( c ) hee is not yet vp to them that dwell in ( f ) . againe when hee setts in the west . in ( d ) and so is out of sight to the inhabitants in ( b ) hee is yet vp to them that dwell in ( c ) and ( f ) . which shews plainely the earth is round . 4 by the different obseruations of eclipses . one and the same eclipse appearing sooner to the easterly nations then those that lye farther west . which is caused by the bulke of the earth swelling vp betweene . as for example . let ( x. o. ) bee the circle of the earth , and the greater the circle of the heauen from east to west . let ( p. q. ) bee the body of the sunne , ( w. s. ) of the moone in the eclipse by reason of the earth betweene it and the sunne . it is manifest that the inhabitants in ( o ) shall see the eclipse before the inhabitants in ( x ) by certaine houres , according as the distance betweene ( x ) and ( o ) is more or lesse . they that dwell in ( o ) shall see it in ( s ) they that dwell in ( x ) see it not till it come to ( w ) a great deale higher . 5 that the water is round besides the naturall weight and moisture of it , which being apt to yeeld and runne abroad , will not suffer some places to ly high , and some low , like hills , & dales , but though it be made rough and vneuen by tempest , doth presētly returne to their naturall smoothnesse and euennesse : i say besides this : it is cleare by common experience ; for if wee stand on the land , and see a ship goe forth to sea , by degrees wee loose the sight of it , first of the bulke then of the must , and all . so also one the other side they that are at sea by degrees do● loose or gaine the sight of the land : as for example . let ( a ) bee some steeple vpon the land ( b ) a shipp at sea : he that stands at ( a ) shall by little and little loose the sight of the ship , as shee goes out , & gett sight of her as shee comes in . both first and last hee shall haue the sight of the top mast ( b ) when hee sees nothing else . because the sea riseth vp betweene his sight and the ship . these reasons and experiments may suffice to proue the roundnesse of the earth and water ; which might bee farther demonstrated by shewing the falshood of all other figures regular or irregular that can be giuen vnto it : that it is neither square , nor three-cornerd , nor piramidall , nor conicall on taperwise , nor cylindricall like a barley rowle , nor hollow like a dish , nor of any other fashion , as some haue imagined it to bee of . wee come to this second rule . 2 the tops of the highest hills , and bottoms of the lowest vallies although in seuerall places they make the earth vneven , yet being compared to the vast greatnesse of the whole , doe not at all hinder the roundnesse of it . among all geometricall figures the sphaetiall or the round is the most perfect , and amongst all naturall bodies the heauen is the most excellent . it was therefore good reason the most beautifull body should haue the most perfect and exquisite shape . exact roundnesse then is not found in any body , but the heauens ; the earth is round as was showed before , but not precisely , with out all roughnes and inaequality of its surface . there are hills like warts and vallies like wrinkels in a mans body ; and that both for ornament and vse . yet is there such vnformity in this varietie , as that there is no notable and sensible inaequa●ity made in the earth by hills and vallies . no more then if you should lay a sly vpon a smooth cartwheele , or a pinnes head vpon a greate globe . now that this is soe appeares by sense and reason . by sense thus , if wee stand on a hill or in a plaine , when wee may discrie the country round about 15. or 20. miles : wee may behold the b●im or edge of the earth round about vs to bee in a manner euen and streight , euen there , where the country is very hilly , and full of mountaines . so th●t a farre of their height makes but a little alteration and difference from the plaine countreys , when wee behold all togeather a farre of : though when wee come neere , the alteration seemes more sensible . by reason thus , the thicknesse of halfe the earth is ( as shall be shewed about 4000 miles , now the plumb height of the highest mountaines , is not accounted aboue a mile and a halfe , or two miles at the most . now betweene two miles and foure thousand , there is no sensible proportion , and a line that is foure thousand and two miles long , will not seeme sensibly longer then that which is foure thousand ; as for example . let ( o ) be the center of the earth , ( xw ) a part of the circle of the earth which runneth by the bottomes of the hils and superficies of champion and even plaines ( wo ) or ( xo ) is the semidiam●ter or halfe the depth of the earth . ( s ) is a hill rising vp aboue that plaine of the earth , ( ws ) is the plumb height of the hill . i say that ( ws ) doth not sensibly alter the length of the line ( ow ) ; for ( ws ) is but two miles . ( wo ) 4000 miles , and two to 4000 alters not much more , then the breadth of a pinne to the length of a pearch . so a line drawne from ( o ) the center to ( s ) the top of the hill , is in a manner all one with a line drawen to ( w ) the bottome of the hill . the third rule . 3 the earth resteth immovable in the very midst of the whole earth . two points are here to be demonstrated . first that the earth standeth exactly in the midst of the world. secondly that it is immoveable . the former is proved by these reasons . 1 the naturall heavinesse of the earth and water is such , as they will never cease mooving downewards till they come to the lowest place ; now the center or middle point of the world is the lowest place , and ergo they must needs moue thither , as for example . let ( o ) be the center of the world , ( c d e ) the heauens : it is manifest that the lowest place from the heauens on all sides is ( o ) . s●uppose the earth to be in ( a ) or in ( b ) some where out of the center . i say it is not possible ( vnlesse it be violently held vp ) that it should abide there , but it will descend till it come to ( o ) the middle point . 2 if the earth stood any where but in the midest we should not see halfe the heauens aboue vs , as now we alway doe , neither could there be any aequinox , neither would the daies and nights lengthen and shorten in that due order and proportion in all places of the world as now they doe ; againe eclipses would never fall out but in one part of the heavens , yea the sunne and moone might be directly opposite one to another and yet no eclipse follow , all which are absurd . as for example , let the center of the world be ( o ) let the earth stand in ( a ) , a good way distant from the center , it is manifest that the greater halfe of the heauens ( c i b ) will alwaies be aboue , and the lesse halfe ( c d b ) below , which is contrary to experience . thence also it followes that the daies and nights will never be equall , for the sunne ( b ) will be alwaies longer aboue the earth whil'st he moues from ( b ) to ( c ) then below , mouing from ( c ) to ( b ) . againe the sunne ( b ) may stand iust opposite to the moone ( x ) and yet noe eclipse follow , the earth which makes the eclipse , standing out of the midst . 3 the shadowes of all bodies on the earth would not fall in that orderly vniformity as they now doe : for if the earth stood towards the east , the shadowes would be shortest before noone , if toward the west afternoone , if towards the north , the shadowes would still fall northward , if towards the south , southwards , all which experience shewes to be false . as for example , let the earth stand eastwards in ( a ) the shadow of any body vpon the earth , as of the body vnder ( e ) will be shorter in the morning when the sunne is in ( c ) , then at noone when the sunne is in ( x ) . if the earth stand southward in ( w ) the shaddow of any body will alwaies fall south , as it doth in the figure ( y ) and ( z. ) the second thing to be proued was that the earth is immoueable . where wee must vnderstand a double motion , streight , or circular . for the first it is cleare that with out supernaturall violence it cannot bee moued in any streight motion , that is , vpward downewarde , or toward any side ; it cannot bee shoued out of his place . for the second , whether abiding still in his place it may not moue rounde , the question is disputed , and maintained one both sides . some affirme it may , and doth : who thinke there is greater probabilitie the earth should mooue round once a day , then that the heauens should : by reason of the incredible swiftnesse of the heauens motion , scares conpetible to any naturall body ; and the more likely slownesse of the earths mouing . others deny it grounding theire opinion vpon scripture , which affirmes the earth to stand fast , so as it cannot bee moued ; and vpon sence , because wee perceaue it not to moue , and lastly vpon reasons drawne from things hurled vp , and let fall vpon the earth . the arguments on both sides wil bee more easie to bee vnderstood by the figure that followes . in this figure it is manifest , that the earth in the midest , cannot ●oue by any streight motion , vpward towarde ( n ) or sideward toward ( m ) or any other way out of its proper place , and therefore that opinion of copernicus and others , that the earth should moue round once ayeere in such a circle as ( m p r ) is most improbable & vnreasonable . and reiected by the most . but although it cannot moue streight , it may moue round . for though it be a m●rueilous great body of vnconceaueable weight , yet being equally poised on euery side , there is nothing can hinder its circular motion : as in a globe of lead , or any other heauy substance , though it were 40. fadome in compasse , yet being set vpon his two poles , it would easily bee turned round eu●n with a touch of ones little finger . and therefore it is concluded that this circular motion is not impossible . the probabilitie of it is thus made plaine . the whole circuit of the heauens , wherein are the fixed starrs is reckoned by astronomers to bee 1017562500. that is a thousand and seauenteene millions of 〈…〉 les , fiue hundred sixty two thousand , and fiue hundred miles . let this bee the compasse of the circle ( n m o z. ) so many miles doth the heau●ns moue in one day , till the same point come to the place from whence it went ; as till ( n ) moue round , and come to ( n ) againe . this being the motion of the whole day 24 , ●ou●es how m●ny miles will ( n ) moue in one houre ? ●t will moue 423 〈◊〉 4●7 and a halfe . i. e. forty two millions three hundred ninty eight thousand , foure hundred thirty seuen miles and an halfe . so many miles will ( n ) moue in one houre , from ( n ) to ( m. ) a motion so swi●● that it is vtterly 〈…〉 dible . farre more likely it is , the circuit of the earth ( a s x v ) being about 24000. i. e. twenty foure thousand 〈…〉 les 〈◊〉 or lesse , it should moue round once aday for then one point as ( n ) should moue in one houre from ( x ) to ( v ) but a thousand miles , which motion although it bee swifter then any arrow or bullet from a cannons mouth , yet is it incomparably flower then that of the heauens , where so many millions are posted ouer in an houre . now for the saluing of all the caelestiall phaenomena , or appearances , the truth is the same , if wee suppose the earth to moue , as if wee beleeue it to stand still . the riseing of the sunne and starres , the motions of all the planets , will keepe correspondence that now . nor neede wee feare logging , or that steples and towers would totter downe , for the motion is regular , and steady without rubbes , and knocks . as if you turne a globe about , it will goe steadyly , and a fly will set fast vpon it , though you moue it apace . besides the whole body the ayre is carryed about with the whi●linge of the earth , so that the earth will make noe winde , as it turnes swiftly about ; as a wheele will , if it bee turned apace . notwithstanding all this , most are of another opinion , that the earth standeth still without all motion , rest rather befittinge so heauy and dull a body then motion . the maine reason brought to establish it is this . let a stone bee throwne downe out of the ayre from ( w : ) if the earth stand still , it is manifest it will fall vpon ( x ) iust vnder it ; as wee see it doth by common experience , a stone will fall downe from any height vpon the place wee aymed at , but let the earth moue , the stone will not light vpon ( x , ) but some where else as one ( s : ) for ( x ) will bee moued away , and gone to ( u. ) so againe let two peices of ordinance that will shoote at equall distance bee discharged one iust towards the east , the other towards the west ; if the earth moue ( as they say it doth ) towards the west , the bullet that is discharged eastward will fly farther then that westward . for by the contrary motion of the earth hee will gaine ground . but experience hath proued this to bee false , shewing that the bullets , will both fly at equall distance . to salue thi● answere is made that the earth by its swist motion carries with it and that steadily not only all bodies resting or moueing vpon it , but also the whole sphaere of aire ( w e q ) with all things whatsoeuer that are moued in it naturally or violently , as clouds , birds , stones hurled vp or downe , arrowes , bullets , and such like things violently shott forth : as may appeare in the figure . the fourth rule . 4 the earth , though it bee of exceeding greate quantity being considered in itselfe , yet being compared to the heauens , especially the higher sphaeres , is of noe notable bignes , but may be accounted as a point or pricke in the middest of the world . that the earth is noe bigger then a point or pinns head in comparison of the highest heauens will easily appeare vnto vs , by these reasons . 1 the starres which are many times bigger then the earth , seeme yet to vs to bee noe bigger then a greate pinns head , or such like quantity ; therefore much lesse shall the earth appeare to bee of any sensible magnitude . 2 wee alwaies beholde halfe the heauens aboue vs , which could not bee if the earth had any sensible proportion to the heauen . 3 all obseruations of hights and distances of the coelestiall bodies , which are made on the superficies of the earth , are as exact , and true , as if they were made in the very centre of the earth . which were impossible , vnlesse the thicknes of the earth were insensible in regard of the heauens . 4 all sunn dialls which stand on the superficies of the earth , doe as truely cast the shadowes of the houres , as if they stood in the center . as for example . the starre ( s ) appeares like a point or pricke to them that dwell in ( a ) wherefore the earth ( o x ) will appeare much lesse to the sight of him that should behold it from ( s ) , nay it would not bee seene at all . againe halfe the heauens ( b f e ) are alwayes seene to thē that dwell in ( a ) wanting some two minutes , betweene ( e d ) and ( b c ) which difference is alltogether insensible . againe if wee obserue the height of the starre ( s ) aboue the horizon ( b e ) it will bee all one namely ( b s ) whether wee obserue it in the topp of the earth in ( a ) or in the middle in ( o. ) for , ( a ) and ( o , ) are so little distant one from another , that ( a s , ) and ( o s ) will bee paralell lines , and bee esteemed but 〈◊〉 one line . the fourth reason concerning dialls , is cleare by the framing and constructio● of them : wherein either the lower end of the cocke ( or gnomon ) whereat all the houre lines meet , or the vpperend and knobb ( as in many dialls ) is supposed to bee the center of the earth . cap. 3. of the parts of the terrestriall globe . the properties of the earthly globe haue beene handled in the former chapter wee come now to the parts , which are two in generall . earth water both containe vnder them more particular parts to be knowne . the more notable parts of the earth are these . 1 a continent or maine land , or as some call it firme land , which is not parted by the sea running betweene . 2 an iland , a land compassed about with waters . 3 a peninsula , a land almost surrounded by waters saue at one place , where it ioynes by anarrow necke of land to the continent ; this is also called chersonesus . 4 an isthmus , a streight necke of land which ioynes two countreys together , and keepes the sea from compassing the one . 5 a promontorie or head land running farre out into the sea like a wedge . all easie to bee knowne without any definition . 6 a mountaine 7 a valley 8 a champion plain 9 a wood the more notable parts of the water are these 1 mare the sea , or ocean , which is the gathering together of all waters . 2. fretum a streight or narrow sea running betweene two lands . 3 s●nu● a creeke , gulfe , or bay , when the sea runnes vp into the bosome of the land by a narrow enterance but openeth it broader when it is within ; if it bee very litell it is called a hauen , portus . 4 lacus a lake , a little sea with in the land hauing riuers running into it , or out of it , or both . if it hath neither it is calldd staguum a standing poole , also palus ; a senne . 5 fluvius a riuer , which from the pleasantnesse is also called amnis ; from the smalnesse of it rivus . cap. 4. of the circles of the earth . in a round body as the earth is , there can be no distinction of parts , & places , without the helpe of some lines drawen or imagined to be drawen vpon it . now though there are not , no● can be any circles truly drawen vpon the earth , yet because there is a good ground in nature and reason of things for them , we must imagine them to be drawen vpon the earth , as truly as we see them described vpon a globe or in a plaine paper . further this must be noted , that all circles on the earth haue the like opposite vnto them conc●aved to be the heavenes , vnder which they are directly scituated . thus knowen , the circles that wee are to take the speciall notice of are of two sorts , greater and lesser . the greater circles are those which devide this earthly globe into equall halfes or haemispheres . the lesser are those which devide it into two vnequall parts , one bigger , another lesse . of the former sort there are foure , the 1 aequator . 2 meridian . 3 horizon . 4 zodiack , or eclipticke . 1 the aequitor or aequonoctiall li●e , is a li●e dra●●● iust in the midst of the earth , from east to west , which compasseth it as a girdle doth a mans body , and devideth it into two equall parts , one 〈◊〉 the north side , the other on the south the two points in the earth that are every way fa●hest distant from it north , & south are called the poles of the earth which doe directly stand vnder the two like points in the heaven , so called because the heaven turnes about vpon them , as the earth doth in a globe that 's set in a frame . this circle is of the first & principall note and vse in geography , because all measurings for distances of places and quarters of the earth are reckoned in it , or from it . it is called the aequinoctiall , because when the sunne in the heavens co 〈…〉 es to be directly over that circle in the earth , the daies & nights are of equall length in all parts of the world . marriners call it by a kind of excellency , the line . vpon the globe it is easily discerned being drawen bigger then any other circles from east to west , and with small divisions . 2 the meridian , is a line that is drawen quite crosse the aequinoctiall , and passeth through the poles of the earth , going directly north and south . it is called the meridian , because when the sunne stands just over that circle it is meridies i. d. noone day . it may be conceaued thus , at noone day , when it is just twelue a clocke , turne your face towards the south , and then imagine with your selfe two circles drawen , one in the heavens , passing from the north iust over your head through the body of the sunne downe to the south , and so round vnder the earth vp againe to the north pole. another vpon the surface of the earth passing through your feete just vnder the sunne , and so compassing the earth round till it meete at your feete againe , and these are meridians answering one to another . now the meridian is not one only , as was the aequinoctiall , but many still varying according to the place wherein you are , as for example . at london there is one meridian , at oxford another , at bristow another , & so along eastward or westward . for it is noone at london sooner then at oxford , and at oxford sooner then at bristow . vpon the globe there are many drawen , all which passe through the poles , and goe north and south , but there is one more remarkeable then the rest , drawen broad with small divisions , which runneth through the canary ilands , or through the ilands of azores westward of spaine , which is counted the first meridian in regard of reckoning and measuring of distances of places o●● from another ; for otherwise there is neither first nor last in the round earth . but some place must bee appointed where to beginne the account : and those ilands haue beene thought fittest , because no part of the world that lay westward was knowne to the ancients further then that : and as they began to reckon there , we follow them . this circle is called in greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . 3 the horizon is twofold sensible or appearing . intelligible or true . the sensible or appearing horizon is the space of the earth so farre as in an ope● plaine , or vpon some hill a man may see round about him . the brim or edge of the earth further then which you cannot see , that is the horizon , or as some call it the finitor . because finet or terminat visum , it setts the limits or bounds to your sight , beyond which nothing can bee seene vpon the earth . this is greater or lesser , according as the height of the eye aboue the plaine superficies of the earth , is more or lesse . the most exact triall hereof is at sea , where there are no mountaines nor any vnequall risings of the water to hinder the sight , as there are at land . for example let (  b a f ) be the superficies of the sea and let a mans eye bee placed in ( x ) aboue the sea ; as the eye stands higher or lower so will the distance seene be more or lesse , as if the hight of ( x a ) be 6 foot which is ordinary the height of a man , the eye looking from ( x ) to ( b ) shall see 2 miles and 3 quarters , if ( x ) be 20 foote high ( b a ) will bee fiue miles , if 40 foote 7 miles , if 50 foote 8 miles . so that from the mast of a ship 50 foote high , a man may see round about at sea 8 miles every way , toward ( b g ) and ( f ) , so farre may the water it selfe be seene , but any high thing on the water may be seene farther , 16 , or 20 miles according as the height is as the ship at ( c ) may be seene from ( x ) as far more as it is from ( a ) to ( b ) . there can be therefore no certaine quantity and space set downe for this sensible horizon , which continually varies according to the height of the eye aboue the plaine ground or sea . this horrizon is not at all painted on the globe nor can be . the intelligible or true horizon is a line which girts the earth round in the midst , and divides it into two equall parts or hemispheares the vppermost vpon the the top & middle point whereof wee dwell , and that which is vnder vs. opposite to this in the heavens is another horizon , which likewise cuts the heaven into two hemispheres , the vpper and the lower . aboue which circle when any starre or the sunne is moued , it then riseth vnto vs , and setteth vnto those that dwell opposite vnto vs , and so on the contrary , you may conceiue it best thus , if standing vpon a hill , or some open place , where you may perfectly see the setting of the sunne , you marke when the sun is halfe gone out of your sight , you may perceiue the body of the s●nne cut in two , as it were by a line , going along through it , the halfe aboue is yet seene , that vnderneath is gone out of your sight . this line is but a p●ece of the horrizon , which if you conceiue to be drawen vpward about the world from the west to the north , and so by east and south , to west againe you haue the whole horrizon described . this circle is not drawen vpon the body of the globe , because it is variable ; but stands one the outside of it , beeing a broad circle of wood couered with paper on which are sett the moneths and days of the yeare both in the old and new calender , and also the 12 signes , and the points of the compasse . all which are easily discerned by the beholdinge . the vse of this horizon is not so much in geographie as in astronomie . the zodiake is a circle which compasseth the earth like a ●●lt , crossing the ●quator slopewise , no● streight as the meridians doe . opposite to it in the heauens is another circle of the same name , wherein are the 12. signes , and in which the sunne keepes his owne proper course all the yeare long , neuer d●●lining from ●t on the one side or other . the vse hereof in geography is but litle only to shew what people they are ouer whose heads the sunne comes to bee once or twice a yeare ; who are all those that dwell with in 23. degrees of the aequator ; for so much is the declination , or sloping of the zodiacke . this circle is also called the eclipticke line , because when the sunne and moone stand both in this circle opposite each to other , then there happens an eclipse of the sunne or mone , vpon a globe it is easily discerned , by the sloping of it from the aequator , and the diuisions of it into 12. parts , and euery of those 12. into 30. degrees . these are the greater circles : the lesser follow ; which are all of one nature , and are called by one generall name : sc. parallels , because they are so drawen on each side of the aequator , as they are ●quidistant vnto it euery way . many of this kinde are drawne vpon the globe ( as is easie to ●e● seene ) and may bee conceaued to bee drawne vpon the earth : but there are only two sorts cheifely to bee marked : namely the tropickes and the polar circles . the tropickes are two , parallel circles distant on each side of the aequator 23. degrees shewing the farthest bounds of the sunns declination north or south from the aequator , or the midest of heauen . and therefore they are called tropickes a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●ertendo , because when the sunne comes ouer these lines , hee either turnes away from vs , as in the summer , or turnes toward vs againe as in the winter : there are then two of them vid. 1 the tropicke of cancer which lies on the north side of the aequator , to which when the sunne comes , it makes the longest day in summer . 2 the tropicke of capricorne , lying southward of the aequator , to which when the sunne comes , it makes the shortest day in winter . the polar circles are two parallels drawne by the poles of the zodiacke compassinge about the poles of the world , being distant from them euery way 23 degrees . these are two . 1 the articke circle that compasseth about the north pole : it is so called because that in the heauens ( where vnto this in the earth lies opposite ) runs through the constellation of the great beare , which in greeke is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 the antarticke circle that compasseth about the south pole , & is placed opposite vnto the former . all these with the former are easily known vpō the globe by these descriptiōs , & names vsually added vnto thē . but because maps are of an esier price , & more cōmon vse then globes , it will be needfull to shew how all these circles , which are drawne most naturally vpon a round globe , may also as truly , and profitably for knowledge and vse be described vpon a plaine paper . whereby we shall vnderstand the reason of those lines which we see in the vsuall mapps of the world , both how they are drawne , and wherefore they serue . vnderstand therefore , that in laying downe the globe vpon a plaine paper , you must imagine the globe to be cut in two halfes through the midst , and so to be pressed downe flat to the paper ; as if you should take a hollow dish , and with your hand s●ui●ze the bottom down , till it lie ●lat vpon a bord or any other plaine thing for then will those circles that before were of equall distance , runne closer together towards the ●i●st . after this conceit , vniversall maps are made of two fashions , according as the globe may be devided two waies , either cutting quite through by the meridian from north to south , as if you should cut an apple by the eye and the stalke , or cutting it through the aequinoctiall , east and west , as one would divide an apple through the midst , betweene the eye & the stalke . the former makes two faces , or hemispheares , the east and the west hemispheare . ●he latter makes likewise two hemisph●ares , the north and the south both suppositions are good , and besitting the nature of the globe : for is touching such vniversall maps , wherein the world is repre●●nted not in two round faces , but all in one square plot , the ground wherevpon such descriptions are founded , ●s l 〈…〉 naturall and agreeable to the globe for it supposeth the 〈◊〉 to be like a cylinder ( or role of bowling allies ) which imagination , vnlesse it be well qualified , is vtterly false , and makes all such mappes faulty in the scituation of places . wherefore omitting this , we will shew the description of the two former only , both which are easie to be done . cap. 5. of divers distinctions , and divisions of the earth . next after the circles of the earth , wee may not vnfitly handle the seuerall divisions and distinctions which geographers make of the parts , and inhabitants of the earth , these are many , but wee will briefely runne them ouer . 1 the first and most plaine is by the coasts of the heauens , and rising , and setting of the sunne , so it is distinguished into the east where the sunne ariseth . oreins , ortus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . west where the sunne goeth downe . occidens . north : betweene both fromwards the sunne at noone . septentrio . south : betweene both towards the sun at noone . meridies . these foure are called the cheife or cardinall quarters of the world . they with the others betweene them are easily knowne but are of more vse to mariners then to vs , wee may rather take notice of those other names which by astrono mers geographers divines and poets are giuen vnto them . who somtime call the east the right hand part of the world , sometime the west , sometime the. north , & sometime south . the diuersity is noted in these verses , ad boream terrae . sed coeli mensor ad austrum . praco dei exortum , videt , occasumque poeta . this serues for vnderstanding of authors , where in any mention is made of the right or left part of the world , if for example ●e be a poet , he means the south by the right hand , the north by the left : because a poet turnes his face to the west , and so reckons the quarters of heauen and earth . 2 the second distinction is by the notable differences of heat and cold , that are observed on the earth , this is the the division of the earth by zones or cirdles , which are parts of the earth , wherin heat and cold doe remarkably increase or decrease . those zones are 5. 1 the hot or burning zone ( zona torrida ) which containes all that space of earth , that lieth betweene the two torpicks , supposed heretofore ( but falsly as after experience hath shewed ) to be inhabitable by reason of heat , the sunne continually lying ouer some part of it . 2. 3 the temperate zones wherein neither heat nor cold is extreame but moderate : these are two , one on the north side of the aequator betweene the articke circle , and the torpicke of cancer , another on the south side betweene the torpicke of capricorne , and the antarcticke circle . 4. 5 the cold , or frozen zones , wherein cold for the most part is greater then the heat , these likewise are two , one in the north , betweene the arcticke circle , and the north pole , another on the south betweene the antarctick circle and the south pole. these of all parts of the earth are worst inhabited , according as extremity of cold is alwaies a greater enemy to mans body , then extremity of heat . 3 the third distinction is by the shadowes , which bodies doe cast vpon the earth , iust at nooneday ; for these doe not alwaies fall one way but diuersly according to their divers scituation vpon the earth . now in respect of the shadowes of mens bodies , the inhabitants of the earth are divided into the 1 amphiscij ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) whose shadow at noone day fall both waies , sc. to the north when the sunne is southward of them , & to the south when the sunne is northward , and such are those people that doe dwell in the hot zone . for the sunne goes ouer their heads twice a yeare , once northward another time southward , when the sunne is just ouer their heads they are called ascij , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , without shadow . 2 heteroscij ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) whose shadowes doe alwaies fall one way , namely alwaies towards the north , as those that dwell in the northerne temperate zone , or alwaies to the south , as those that dwell in the southerne temperate zone . 3 periscij ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) whose shadowes goe round about them , as those people who dwell in the two cold zones , for as the sunne never goes downe to them after he is once vp , but alwaies round about , so doe their shadowes . 4 the fourth distinction is by the scituation of the inhabitants of the earth , compared on with another : who are called either . 1 perioeci ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) such as dwell round about the earth in one and the same paralell , as for example vnder the tropicke of cancer . 2 antoeci ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) such as dwell opposite to the former in another paralell of the same distance from the aequator . as those vnder the tropicke of capricorne . 3 antipodes ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) who dwell ●ust vnder vs theire feete opposite to ours . 5 the fifth distinction is of the length and breadth of the earth and places vpon it : these may bee considered two wayes 1 absolutely , and so the longitude or length of the earth is its circuit , and extension from east to west , latitude or breadth of it , is the whole circuit and compasse of it from north to south : 2 comparatiuely comparinge one places scituation with another , and so the longitud of a place , is the distance of it from the first meridian going through the canary ilands , eastward . whereby wee know how farre one place lies east or west from another . latitude of a place , is the distance of it from the aequator towards the north or south . whereby wee know how farre one place lies northward , or southward of another . the longitude must be reckoned by the degrees of the aequator , the latitude by the degrees of the meridian . for example , in these two haemisphaeres , the longitude of the whole earth is from ( c ) to ( a ) and ( b ) in the aequator . the latitud is from ( n ) to ( s ) , and from ( q ) to ( p ) the north and south poles , and this reckoned in any meridian . the first meridian is ( a n b s ) which goes by the canary ilands , the aequinoctiall is ( a b c a ) . now i haue a citty giuen sc. ( d ) i would know in what longitude and latitude it is . for the longitude i consider what meridian passeth through it , which is the meridian ( n d s ) which crosseth the aequinoctiall in ( i ) at 15 degrees , wherefore i say that ( d ) stands eastward from the first meridian 15 degrees . so i finde that the citty ( ε ) is 150 degrees eastward , ( g ) 195 , and ( f ) 345. for the latitude i consider what paralell runnes through ( d e g ) or ( f ) and i finde the 30 to passe by ( d ) 45 by ( e ) the 15 by ( f ) the 45 southward by ( g ) and those numbers are the latitude of the place that are distant from the aequator , ( c a b ) . 6 the sixth distinction is by the length or shortnesse of the day in summer time in seuerall quarters of the earth . and this diuision is by climates ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) which are seuerall spaces of the earth contained betweene two paralells , in the which the longest day in summer exc●edes that in another paralell , by halfe an houre . there is a greate deale of confusion and difference betweene the late and and ancient geographers about the distinction and diuers reckonings of the climats . it is not worth the labour to recount theire opinions and calculations : thus much is plaine , and easie to bee knowne . there are 24. climats in which the day encreaseth by halfe houres , from 12. houres to 24. there are likewise 6. climats in which the day encreaseth by moneths , from one moneth to sixe , that is halfe a yeare . vnder the aequator the day is alwayes twelue houres longe , but as you goe from it towards the pole , the day lengthen● still till it comes to a day halfe a yeare long . now in what degrees of latitude euery on of these climats beginne and end , shall appeare by this table following . 7 the seaventh and lost distinction of the earth is taken from the scituation of it in respect of the heavens , and especially the sunnes motion . in regard whereof some parts or inhabitants of the earth are said to be or dwell in a right spheare , some in a paralell spheare , and others in an oblique or crooked spheare . they dwell ( in sphaerarecta ) in a right or streight spheare who dwell iust vnder the aequinoctiall , whose horizon is paralell to the meridians , but cutts the aequator at right angles . they dwell in paralell spheares , who dwell iust vnder either of the poles , whose horizon is parallell to the aequator , but cuts all the meridians at right angles : and the latter is sometime called a paralell spheare . they dwell ( in sphaera obliqua ) in a crooked spheare , who inhabite any place betweene the aequinoctiall and the pole , whose horizon cuts the aequator , the paralells , and the meridians at oblique or vnequall angles . 1 the vse of this table is easie . in the first columne are contained the names and number of the climats . in the second the paralells which enclose it on each side , and deuide it in the middest . for the paralells here are drawne by eueryhalfe houres encrease . the third columne is the length of the day in summer , in euery climate , which from 12. houres encreaseth by halfe houres to 24. houres after by moneths , from one moneth to sixe . the fourth containes the degrees of latitude , how farre euery climate lies from the aequinoctiall . the fist contaynes the space or breadth of euery climate , how many degrees or minutes it takes vp vpon the earth . the sixt containes so●e notable places by which the climats passe . 2 hereby it is easie to know what the longest day is in any place of the worlde whose latitude is knowne . or contrarily the longest day being knowne to know the latitude for example oxford hath latitude 52. 0. degrees longitude 24. 0. in the table i finde that 52. degrees of latitude lie in the 9 th climate wherein the day is 16. houres and a halfe longe , so much i say the day is at oxford in summer . the place of oxford in the haemisphaere is at ( u. ) 3 vpon globes the climats are not vsually described , but are noted out vpon the brazen meridian . so also in vniversall mappes they are seldome drawne , to avoide confusion of many lines together but they are many times marked out on the limbe or edge of the mappe , cap. 6. of the measuring of the earth . vvee are now come to the last point concerning the measuring the earth , which is two fold , either of the w●●●e earth . 2 severall parts thereof , and their distance one from another . concerning the first it is but a needlesse labour to recount the diversity of opinions that haue beene held from time to time by learned geographers , what is the compasse and depth of the earth . this may be seene in ●ues de vsu globe , part . 3. cap. 2. and in clavi●s on sacrobosco with others . they all differ so much one from another , that there is no certainty in trusting any of them . the most common and received opinion is that the circuit of the earth is 21600 miles , reckoning 〈◊〉 miles for every degree , and then the depth or diameter of the earth shall be 6877 english miles , containing 5000 foote in a mile . th● means wherby the circuit and diameter of the earth are found out are principally two . 1 by measuring north or south , ●nder one meridian some good quantity of ground , threescore or an hund●●d miles ( or two for the more certainty ) for in those petty observations of small distances , there can be no certaine working . this may be done , though it be laborious , yet exactly without any sensible error by a skilfull workeman , plotting it out vpon his paper , with due heed taken , that 〈◊〉 often rectifie the variation of the needle ( by which he travells ) vpon due observation , and that all notable ascents and descents , with such winding and turning as the necessity of the way causeth , be reduced to one streight line . by this means wee shall know how many miles in the earth answering to a degree in the heauens ; if exact observation by large instruments be made to finde the elevation of the pole , in the first place where wee begin to measure , and the last where wee make an end . besides this way of measuring the circumference of the earth , there is none other that hath any certainty of obseratiō in it . that by eclipses is most vncertain ; for a little error in a few minuts of time ( which the observers shall not possibly avoide ) breeds a sensible and fowle error in the distance of the two places of observation . that of erat●sthenes by the sunne beames , and a shadow of a stile or gnomon set vpon the earth , is as bad as the other . for both the vncertainty of the calculation in so small quantity as the shadow and the gnomon must needs haue , and the difficulty to obserue the true length of the shadow , as also the false supposition wherevpon it proceeds , taking those lines for parllells which are not , doe manifestly shew the reckoning hereby made to be doubtfull and not sure . 2 the second is by measuring the semidiameter of the earth : for as the circumference makes knowne the diameter , so doth this the circumference . this may be done by observ●tion made vpon some great hill , hard by the sea side . the invention is of maurolycus abbot of mess●va in sicili● , but it hath beene perfitted , and more exactly performed by a worthy mathematician ed. w. who himselfe made proofe of it . by this art was the 〈…〉 idiameter of the earth ●ound ou● to be 1831262● foote : which allowing 5000 foot to a mile is ●662 & a halfe miles , which doubled is the whole diameter 7325 miles . the circuit of the earth shall be 2●030 miles , and one degree containes 63 61 / 36 miles , which is almost 64 miles . which as it exceeds the ordinary account , so may wee rest vpon it as more exact then any other . 2 the second point concerninge the measuringe of particular distances of places one from another is thus performed . first vpon the globe it is most easie . with a payre of compasses take the distance betweene any two places howsoever scituated vpon the globe , and apply the distance so taken to the aequator , & see how many degrees it takes vp ; those degrees turned into miles shew the distance of the two citties on from another . vpon vniuersall mapps theire is a little more difficulty in finding the distance of places which here must bee considered in a threefold difference of scituation : 1 of latitude only . 2 of longitude only . 3 of latitude and longitude together . 1 if the two places differ only in latitude , and lie vnder the same meridian if the places lie both on one side of the aequator , the differences of the latitudes : or the summe of both latitudes added together , if one place lie north and another south , being turned into miles giues the true distance . 2 if the places differ only in longitude , and lie both vnder one parallel of latitude the difference of longitude turned into miles proportionably accordinge to the latitude of the paralell , giues the true distance . 3 the distance of places differing both in latitude and longitude may thus bee found out first let there bee drawne a semicircle vpon a right diameter noted with ( a b c d ) whereof ( d ) shall bee the center . the greater this semi-circle is made , so much the more easie will bee the operation ; because the degrees will bee la 〈…〉 . then this semicircle being drawne , and accordingly devided , imagine that by the helpe of it , you desire to find out the distance betwixt london and ierusalem , which citties are knowne to differ both in longitude & latitude . now , that the true distance betwixt th●se two places may be found out , you must first substract the lesser longitude out of the greater , so shall you find the differences of their longitudes , which is 47. degrees . then reckon that difference vpō the semi-circle , beginning at ( a ) & so proceed to ( b ; ) & at the end of that difference , make a marke with the leter ( ε ) vnto which point by your ruler , let aright line be drawne from ( d ) the center of the semi circle . this being in this sort performed , let the lesser latitude be sought out which in 32 degrees , in the fore said semicircle , beginning your accompt from the point ( e ) and so proceede towards ( b ) , and at the end of the lesser latitude let another point be marked out with the letter ( g ) , from which point , let there be drawen a perpendicular line which may fall with right angles vpon the former line drawen from ( d ) to ( ε ) , and where it chanceth to fall , there marke out a point with the letter ( h ) : this being performed let the greater latitude which is 51 degrees 32 minuts , be sought out in the semicircle beginning to reckon from ( a ) towards ( b ) and at the end of that latitude set another point signed out by the letter ( i ) from whence let there be drawen another perpendicular line that may fall with right angles vpon the diameter ( ac ) : & here marke out a point with the letter ( k ) , this done take with your compasse the distance betwixt ( k ) and ( h ) which distance you must set downe vpon the diameter ( ac ) placeing the one foot of your compasse vpon ( k ) and the other towards the center ( d ) , and there marke out a point with the letter ( l ) ; then with your compasse take the shorter perpendicular line ( g h , ) and apply that widenesse vpon the longer perpendicular line ( i k , ) placing the one foote of your compasse at ( i , ) which is the bounds of the greater latitude , and extend the other towards ( k ) , and there make a point at ( m ) , then with your compasse take the distance betwixt ( l ) and ( m ) , and apply the same to the semicircle , placing the one foot of your compasse in ( a ) and the other towards ( b ) , & there marke out a point with the letter ( n ) , now the number of degrees comprehended betwixt ( a ) and ( n ) will expresse the true distance of the two places , which will bee sound to be 39 degrees : which being multiplied by 60. and so converted into miles according to the former rules , will produce 2340. which is the distance of the said places . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a09258-e210 〈◊〉 navigation ● . 229. of this hypothesis se● 〈◊〉 errors of navigation . that is geographers looke to the north , astronomers to the south . priests turne them to the east , & poets to the west . those th●● dwell vnder the pole haue not past 3. or 4 moneths profund as ●ene●ras darke night , for when the sun is in libra & pisces being then nigh , the horizon it sends forth to them a glimmering light not vnli●e to the twilig●● or d●wning of the day in a morning a little before the suns rising muns●er lib. 1. cap. a description of the whole world with some general rules touching the use of the globe : wherein is contained the situation of several countries, their particular and distinct governments, religions, arms, and degrees of honour used among them ... / by robert fage, esq. fage, robert. this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a41248 of text r16870 in the english short title catalog (wing f83). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. 99 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 39 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo 2017 a41248 wing f83 estc r16870 12037812 ocm 12037812 52918 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a41248) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 52918) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 67:2) a description of the whole world with some general rules touching the use of the globe : wherein is contained the situation of several countries, their particular and distinct governments, religions, arms, and degrees of honour used among them ... / by robert fage, esq. fage, robert. 70, [2] p. : 1 folded map printed by j. owsley, and sold by peter stent ..., london : 1658. advertisement ([2] p.) at end. reproduction of original in huntington library. eng geography -early works to 1800. a41248 r16870 (wing f83). civilwar no a description of the whole world, with some general rules touching the use of the globe, wherein is contained the situation of several count fage, robert 1658 17844 104 0 0 0 0 0 58 d the rate of 58 defects per 10,000 words puts this text in the d category of texts with between 35 and 100 defects per 10,000 words. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 mona logarbo sampled and proofread 2003-04 mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a figure of the heavens and elements earth aer eyer 1 ☽ the moone could and moist benevolent silver 2 ☿ mercury such as he is ioyned with quick silver 3 ♀ could and moist benevolent copper 4 ☉ the sonne hott and dry benevolent gould 5 ♂ mars hott and dry malevolent iron 6 ♃ iupiter hott and moyst benevolent tynne 7 ♄ saturne could and dry malevolent lead 8 ♈ aries * 2 ♉ taurus * ♊ gemini * 4 ♋ cancer * 5 leo * 6 ♍ virgo * 7 ♎ libra * ♏ scorp * 9 ♐ sagita * 10 ♑ capri * ♒ aq*ar * 12 ♓ pisse * 9 the christaline heaven 10 the first moveable heavene a description of the whole world , with some general rules touching the use of the globe , wherein is contained the situation of several countries . their particular and distinct governments , religions , arms , and degrees of honour used among them . very delightful to be read in so small a volume . by robert fage , esq. the earth is the lords , and the fulness thereof , psalm . 24. vers. 1. london , printed by i. owsley , and sold by peter stent , at the white-horse in guilt-spur-street , between newgate and pye-corner , 1658. a desription of the whole world with rules for the use of the globes , and understanding of maps . the heavens declare the glory of god , and the firmament sheweth the work of his hands , psalm 19. 1. in the creation of which and the whole earth , and sea , and all things therein contained , of meer nothing within the compass of six daies ; and in his wise and gracious ordering and guiding of all things , is abundantly set forth his infinite and unutterable wisdom , power , greatness , and goodness : his end herein is first and chiefly for his own glory , the lord made all things for himself , prov. 16. 4. and secondly , mens happiness , unto whom the dominion of all things was under god committed , gen. 1. psalm . 8. 6. that men may come therefore to some understanding thereof , i shall first speak of the heavenly and of the earthly globes , and the several matters incident thereunto . then i shall also make a brief description of the foure parts of the earth , and the countries in each part , the several religions professed in them ; with their varieties of trade and commodities therein , never yet set forth in a treatise of this nature . the whole wo●ld therefore is divided into two parts , ethereal , or celestial , and elemental ; of which there are two globes accordingly , the heavenly and the earthly ; now a globe is a proportionable representation of the heavens or of the earth ; the ethereal , celestial , or heavenly part doth compass the terrestial o● earthly , and containeth the ten upper spheres , or neerest unto the earth , the moon 2. mercury 3. venus 4. the sun 5. mars 6. iupiter 7. saturn 8. the starrie firmament 9. the chrystalline heaven , having no stars at all , 10. the primum mobile , or first mover , containing all the rest within it , and moving from the east to the west , carrieth about with it in violence all the other spheres . the rest of the spheres have contrary motions , every one in his kind , though far slower then the other , & the motions are contrary from the west to the east ; and so are carried about oftentimes by the first mover , before they make one perfect revolution in themselves . the chrystaline or ninth sphere his motion is almost insensible , and is called the trembling motion , pe●formed ( according to the opinion of latter astronomers ) in four thousand nine hundred years . the eight sphere being the starry firmament , in seven thousand years , the sphere of saturn in thirty years , of iupiter in twelve years , mars in two years , the sun passeth the zodiack in three hundred sixty five daies , venus ends her course in somewhat more then a year , mercury holds equal pace with the sun , and the moon co●rseth about the heavens once every eight and twenty daies . thus much for the celestial or heavenly part of the world , wherein i shall need say nothing of the religion of angels , and the spirits of just men made perfect , seeing it is manifest enough to every one , that there they keep their first esta●e ; the religion also of the fallen angels ( who are held by many to be thrust out of heaven , and to abide in the aire , whereupon sathan is called the prince of the aire , eph. 2. 2. ) is so no●o●ious for enmity against god and all manner of wickedness , that poor man is more sen●ient of ●orow , for their tentations , then 〈◊〉 with words to express their wickedness to the life . the elemental part of the world is fourfold , earth , water , aire , fire , as may be seen in that round figure of the frame of the heavens and elements one within another ; the inmost and middlemost circle containing earth and water intermixed together ; the next the three regions of the air ; and immediately above that orbe is the element of fire : all which you may eas●ly discern by their seve●al names in their proper places . and 〈◊〉 mu●h 〈◊〉 s●ffice to have spoken of the glob● of 〈◊〉 whole world . i shall now peak first generally and briefly of the globe of the whole earth ▪ and things incident thereunto● th●n 〈◊〉 parti●ularly of the 〈…〉 , and every remarkable co●n●y in each part , as i promised in the beginning . the globe of the earth therefore is defined to be a sphe●ic●l body propo●tionably composed of ea●●h and water , the two parts thereof . the parts of the earth are either real or imagin●ry . the real parts are either continents or islands , a continent is a great quantity of land not interlaced or separated by the sea , wherein many kingdoms and p●incipalities are con●ained ; as europe , asia , africa and america . an lsland , called in la●ine insula quasi in sale , is a part of the earth environed ●ound with waters ; as brittain , iava , st. laurence isle , bermoodes . now these again are sub-divided into a peninsula , isthmos , and a promontory . a peninsula is such a tract of land , which being almost incompassed round by waters , is nevertheless joyned to the firm land by some little isthmus , as peloponesus , taurica , cymbrica and pervana . an isthmus is a little narrow neck of land which joyneth any peninsula to the continent ; as the straits of dariene in peru , and corinth in greece . a promontory is some high mountain which shooteth it self into the sea , the utmost end of which is called a cape : as that great cape of good hope ; and cape verde in africa , cape gomerie in asia , and that of saint michaels mount in cornwal , the north cape in norway , and divers others . there are also other reall parts of the earth , as mountains , valleys , fields , plains , woods , and the like . the other general part of the globe is the water , divided into the ocean . secondly , the sea . thirdly , the straits . fourthly , creeks . the ocean is the general collection of all waters , which invironeth the whole world on every side . the sea is part of the ocean , to which we cannot come , but through some strait , as the mediterranean sea , the balti●k sea , and the like . these two take their names either f●om the adjacent places , as the british ocean , the ●erman sea , the atlantick sea , and the like : or from the first discoverer , as the magellanick sea , forbushers straits● , or from some remarkeable accident , as the red sea from the red colour of the ●ands , and the like . thirdly , a strait is a part of the ocean restrained within narrow bounds , and opening a way to the sea , as the straits of gibralter , hellespont , anian . fourthly , a creek is a crooked shore , thrusting forth as it were two arms , to embrace and affectionately to hold the sea ; as the adriatick , persian and corinthian creek . hitherto belong rivers , brooks , and fountains engendred of congealed aire in the earths concavities , and seconded by sea-waters , creeping through hidden crannies thereof . thus much of the real parts of the earth in general . the compass of the whole earth is cast by our latest learned geographers , twenty one thousand six hundred english miles , which we thus compute . we see by continued experience , that the sun for every degree in the heavens , gaines sixty miles upon the earth towards his circuit round , and after three hundred sixty degrees returneth to the same point in respect of us as before it was . add the number of sixty so oft , and you will find the account the same , and so by proportion of the circumference to the diameter , which is , tripla sesqui septima . the same which twenty two hath to seven . we may count likewise the earths thickness to the center : the whole diameter by rule being less then a third part of the circuit . that in the proportion to twenty one thousand six hundred , will be six thousand eight hundred seventy two , halfe the number will reach the middle of the world , and that is , three thousand four hundred thirty six , being considered with great exactness , as the measure of such a great bulk as the earth is , can easily be taken and comprehended . geographers attribute unto the earth five circles . the first is the equinoctial , when the sun in his course is come thereunto ; about the eleventh of march and september , the day and the night are of equal length through the whole earth . it is also termed the equator , and by the sea-faring men the middle line ; because it divideth the earth into two equal parts , of which the one lyeth towards the north , the other towards the south . and because it is in the middest between the two poles of the world , one in the north , the other in the south . the second circle is called the tropick of the crabb , because when the sun is come thither about the tenth of iune , it returneth by little and little unto the equator . and then unto them that dwell on the north-side of the equator , is the day longest ; and shortest to them that dwell on the southside thereof . this circle is distinct from the equinoctial twenty three degrees , three minutes and an halfe , northward . the third is called the tropick of capricorn , because the sun being come thereto on the eleventh of december , turneth his course backward to the equator ; and then contrariwise , to them who live on the north of the equator is the day shortest , and longest to them on the south thereof ; it is distant from the equinoctial southward twenty three degrees , thirty one minutes and an half . the fourth is called the arctick circle ; the fifth the antartick ; of which the one is distant twenty three degrees , thirty one minutes and an half from the no●th pole ; the other just so many from the south pole . and are described by the revolution of heaven from the poles of the zodiack , which is the sun . mercator the ancient astronomer understood by the arctick circle not onely that aforesaid , but also every circle whose half diameter answereth to the pole in any place whatsoever , and containeth , according to the altitude of every countrey , certain starrs , which never set , but alwaies are above the earth ; so that in all regions differing in latitude , this circle is diverse , as also is the antarctick . now the four lesser circles , the two tropicks and polar circles , do fitly part the earth into five zones , that is to say girdles , because they compass like bands , the round globe of the earth . the first of these zones lyeth under the artick or north circle , and is called the cold north zone ; the second lyeth under the antartick or sourth circle is called the cold south zone ; the third is situate in the middle between the two tropicks called the scorched zone ; the fourth lyeth under that which is between the north circle and the tropick of cancer , and is called the temperate north zone ; the fifth also is under that space which is between the tropick of capricorn , and the south circle , and is called the temperate south zone . now to understand rightly the situation of countries , their longitude and latitude according to the mind of geographers is to be known . the latitude of places which with the height of the pole is alwayes one , beginning at the equinoctial , is taken two manner of wayes ; either towards the south , or towards the north , unto the number ninety . the longitude is returned from the meridian circle , and about the west islands called carva and flores , beginning right at the equator easterly , and running forwards unto the number three hundred sixty . as for example , london lyeth from the equinoctial northward , fifty one decrees and a half , which is the latitude ; and the longitude thereof is twenty degrees answering unto that degree of the equinoctial , reckoning from the meridian . and now that i have briefly touched upon the longitude and latitude of countries , and having often spoke of the meridian and horizon : i shall i hope not unprofitably take time in a word or two , to tell you what each of them are . the meridian is a great circle rounding the earth from pole to pole . there are many meridians according to the divers places in which a man liveth . but the chief and first meridian passeth through the islands saint michael and of the azores . the horizon is a great circle designing so great a space of the earth as a quick sight can ken in an open field : the use of it is to discern the divers risings and settings of the starrs . i shall now speak a little of the climates , and parallels , and then i hope i have done with things generally concerning the earth . a climate is a space of the earth included within the space of two parallels . the use of them is to shew the difference of length and shortness of daies over all the world , as you may see in the midst of every climate , the number of the longest day in the year , under that climate ; the longest day in one climate differing half an hour from the longest of another , so that there are twenty four climates , consisting of forty eight parallels , ere the day come to be twenty four houres of length , which is twelve houres longer then the equinoctiall day is . now under the equinoctial line , and thirteen degrees , that is , three parallels on either side thereof , the dayes exceed not the length of twelve houres , but after in every clime encrease the length of half an hour ; and when they come to forty eight parallels and twenty fo●r climates ( as i said before ) the dayes being then twenty four houres long , their encrease is then by whole weeks and moneths , till in the twenty fourth clime about the pole , the day is full half a year long ; and it is thus between the equator and the north pole . so it is between the said equator and the south pole : wherefore there are two sorts of climes , that is , twenty four northern , and as many southern , touching the names of which and other circumstances , i shall say nothing here , but leave the readers to other more long discourses , thinking this enough in a tract of this nature to have spoken of things generally concerning the whole earth . the whole earth is now divided into four parts . europe . asia . africa . america . of each part , and their several regions , empires , kingdoms , dominions , common-wealths , titles of honours and laws , as briefly as i can , together also with their sundry trade and commodities . europe , though the least of the three first parts of the world , nevertheless excelleth all other parts in worthiness , power , renown , multitudes of well-builded cities , and of people skilful in all kind of arts , also excelling in vertue , and the knowledge of god , better then all the riches of the world . through the grecian and romane empire in it , it hath had once the dominion over asia and africa . mr. heylin mentions in it fourteen mother tongues , which i will not stand now to name . it hath plenty of grain , plants , fruits , coles , rivers , and fountains of admirable vertue ; it needs nothing but what may be well spared , as hot spices , not so fit for our temper , precious jewels , the nourishers of vain and soul-destroying pride , and wild beasts , which cause deserts where they breed ; yet of gold , silver , and other commodities it hath a part : it is divided on the east from asia , partly by the rivers duina , and tunnis , and partly by the l●ke called meotis , now termed mare de le zabbacche , & pone euxine , or mare maggiore . from africa , it is severed by the midland sea ; on the west and north side it hath the great ocean ; i shall follow mr. heylins method in the desciption of the regions and countries thereof , beginning with first italy , then going secondly to the alps , thirdly , france , fourthly spain , fifthly britain , sixthly , belgia , sevently , germany , eighthly denmark , ninethly , swethland , tenthly , russia , eleventh poland , twelfth , hungary , thirteenth , sclavonia , fourteenth , dacia , and the fifteenth greece ; speaking of the several islands , as they relate to some or other of these greater countries . italy , the mother of all latine learning stretcheth out easterly on asia between the adriatick and thuscan seas , and borders towards the west upon france , and towards the north on germany , and is severed from those countries by the river varus , and the mountains called alpes , the rest being compassed with the sea . it hath had seven kinds of government , first kings , second consuls , third dictators , fourth decemviri , fifth tribunes , sixth emperours , seventh popes . it flourished most in the time of christ , and a little afterwards by means of the great and wide dominion of the mighty city of rome , which then reigned as queen of the world , over many lands of europe , asia , and africa . this land excelleth all the lands of europe , in fruitfulness and pleasantness , the inhabitants are witty , industrious and frugal , yet hot and lascivious . and withall the men very jealous , and that taken to be not without cause . the religion there now professed is the popish religion , unto which they are more straitly kept by the inquisition . the chief wares which are carried out of italy into other countries , are rice , silks , velvets , sattins , taffaties , grogrems , rashes , stamels , bumbasins , fustians , felts , serving for clokes , costly arras , gold and silver-thred , allum , gals , venetian drinking and looking-glasses . it containeth at this day the kingdoms of naples , sicily , and sardinia , the lands and patrimony of the church so called ▪ which the pope possesseth ; the great dukedoms of urbin and tuscani , the common-wealths of venice , genoa , and luca , and the estates of lumbardy , being the dukedoms of millain , mantua , modena , parma , montferrat , and the principality of piemont ; of all which i shall observe somewhat . the kingdome of naples in italy , is environed on all sides with the adriatick , ionian and tuscan seas , excepting where it joyneth on the west to the lands of the church , from which separated by a line drawn from the mouth of the river tronto or druentus , falling into the adriatick , to the spring head of axofenus , taking up all the east of italy , one thousand four hundred sixty eight miles ; it hath anciently been called the kingdome of both the sicilies . the fertilest place of all italy , abounding in all things necessa●y for life , delight and physick . hence are also brought the neapolitan horses . it hath had thirteen princes , twenty four dukes , 25. marquesses , ninety earles , and nine hundred batons , not titular onely , but men of great estates ; it hath had twenty six kings of several countries , beginning first with the norman race , and now being in the hand of spain ; the disease called now the french pox , was first in all christendome found here . the arms of this kingdome are azure●seme of fleur de lices , or a file of three labels gules . its revenue is two millions and an half of crowns , whereof twenty thousand are the popes his chief rent , and the rest so exhausted in maintaining garisons upon the natives , and a strong navy against the turks , that the king of spain receiveth not a fourth part thereof clearly ; it hath twenty arch-bishops , and one hundred twenty seven bishops-seas . the kingdom of sicilia in italy is situate under the fourth climate ; the longest day being thirteen hours and an half ; it shoots forth into the sea with three capes or promontories . the people are ingenious , eloquent and pleasant , but withal very inconstant and full of talk ; they invented oratory , pastoral eclogues , hour-glasses , with military engins . the soyl is incredibly fruitful in wine , oyl , honey , minerals of gold , silver , and allum ; together with plenty of salt , and sugar ; there are also gems of agats , and emeralds ; it yieldeth also great store of the richest silk , hath most excellent and delicious fruits both for tast and colour ; with abundance also of all sorts of grain . here is the hill aetna , which many have taken to be hell , and ignorant papists purgatory , because of its sending forth of flames of fire , which the brimstone there causeth . it hath many cities . rivers , and lakes , of which i cannot stand to treat . there were eight kings of sicilia , six of the first whereof were called to rule . in the year one thousand two hundred eighty one , the house of arragon governed it , and there hath succeeded ten kings ; it is now united to the crown of spain the revenue is eight hundred thousand , some say million of duckets disbursed again on the entertainment of the vice-roy & defence of the island the arms are four pallets , gules sable , being those of arragon between two flanches argent , charged with as many eagles sabel beaked gul●s . it hath had seven princes , four dukes , thi●teen marquesses , fourteen earls , one viscount , and forty eight barons ; the people are papists , and have three arch-bishops , and nine bishops . the island and kingdome of sardinia in italy , lyeth west from scicilie from the neerest point cape boy , or cape bara . it is distant about two hundred miles , it is in lenghth one hundred eighty miles , ninety in breadth , five hundred sixty in the circuit , and is situate under the fourteenth climate , the longest day being fourteen houres ; there is neither woolf nor serpent , neither venomous or hurtful beast , but the fox onely , and a little creature like a spider , which will by no means endure the sight of the sun , excep● 〈◊〉 by violence : some pools it hath , very plentiful of fish ▪ but generally are destitute of river-water , that they are fai● to keep the rain which fals in winter for their use in summer ; by means whereof , and for that there is is no passage , for the northern winds being obstructed by the high mountains neer cap-lugudori , the air is generally unhealthy , if not pestilential . the soil is very fertile , but ill manured , well stored with all sorts of cattel ; the horses hereof ●ot , headstrong and hard to be broken , but will last long : the bullocks naturally gentle , so that the country-man doth as familiarly ride them , as they do in spain on mules or asses , here is also the beast called mufrones or muscriones , found in corsica also , but in no other part of europe , somewhat resembling a stagg , but of so strong an hide , that it is used by the italians in stead of armour , of the skinne of which carryed to cordova in spain , and there dressed is made the right cordovant leather ; also there is an herb whereof if one eat , it is said that he will dye with laughter ; the herb being of such a poysonous nature , that it causeth the man to dye with such a convulsion of sine●s , tha● he seemeth to grinne or laugh at the time of his death . the people are small of sta●●re , their complexion inclining unto swarthiness , rude in manners , very slothful and rebellious , yet given to hunting , their dyet mean , their appa●●el in towns gorgeous , in villages base , their religion papistically formal , little curious , their clergy being counted the most illiterate and ignorant in that part of the world called chris●endome ; it 〈◊〉 now in the hands of the king of spain , 〈◊〉 by a vice roy , who resides at calari● ▪ and must of necessity be a spa●●ard , under whom are 〈◊〉 deputies , governour● , 〈…〉 what profits arise here to the king of spain , i have no where found . the arms hereof are said to be or a cross gules betwixt four saraçens heads sable curled argent . there are also divers small islands belonging thereunto . and lastly it hath three arch-bishops and fifteen bishops . the lands of the church , or the popes dominions in italy , lie west of the realm of naples , extended north and south from the adriatick to the tuscan seas , bounded on the north-east with the river trontus , on the south-east with the axofenus , by which two parted from that kingdome as on the northwest by the rivers poe and frore ; by which separated from the state of venice : and on the southwest by the river piscio , by which it is divided from the modern tuscany , or the state of the florentine . it is the middle of italy , having in breadth from one sea unto another , above one hundred miles , and in length above three hundred miles ; the land exceeding fertile , abounding with multitudes of people , seldome consumed with wars ; they are good husbands for their ground , but no tradesmen for manufactures ; there have been fifteen exarches of ravenna in romandiola ; seventeen dukes and marquesses of ferrara : the revenue whereof was two hundred fifty thousand crowns yearely , but now it is not worth so much to the pope : there have been also six dukes of urbin , the revenues are one hundred thousand crowns ; but the chiefest glory they have , is of the city rome , sometime the empress of the world : there are accounted to have passed in it sixty five bishops before it usurped the spiritual supremacy over christendome ; bonifacius the third in the year of christ six hundred and six making the sixty sixth bishop , so ful●illing the mark of antichrist , rev. 13. 18. of the number six hundred sixty six , which also the numeral letters make up in his arrogant title , genera lis vicar ius dei in terris . the bishops taking this title in the year one thousand six hundred forty four , had been one hundred seventy nine , and both added together , two hundred forty four ; and how many more they shall be , he onely knoweth , who knoweth all things ; the ordinary temporal revenues of the pope , are two millions of crowns , but the extraordinary spiritual , twice as much . there were several orders of monks installed at several times , called the orders of sain●basil , austin , ierome , carmelites , crouched fryers , dominicans , benedictines , franciscans , iesuites , and oratorians : and of women the orders chiefly of clare and bridget , which to name onely , i think may suffice in a treatise of this nature . the arch-bishops here are forty four , the bishops fifty seven . the italian provinces of the state of venice , lie northward of the lands of the church from romandiola to the alps , bounded on the south with the territory of ferrara and the rest of romandiola on the west , with the dukedome of millain on the north , with the main body of the alps , and on the east with the adriatick sea and the river arsia , by which it s parted from liburnia , a sclavonian province . it abounds with wise people and fruitful cities and countries ; their religion is popish , but not so absolutely slavish as the rest . they b●ptize the sea yearely , and their duke marryeth it as often . their government is aristocratical and popular ; they have had neer one hundred dukes of venice ; they have two principal orders of knighthood , of saint mark the patron of the city , instituted one thousand three hundred thirty , and renewed one thousand five hundred sixty two . they are to be of noble blood , at least a gentleman ; their word or motto is , pax tibi marce : the other is of the glorious virgin , instituted one thousand two hundred twenty two : their charge is to defend widows and orphans , and to procure ( as much as in them is ) the peace of italy . the arms of the order is a purple cross between certain stars ; the habit a white surcoat over a russet cloak , and seems to be religious as well as military : there are in this italian part of venice , two patriarchs , and sixteen bishops . the dukedome of florence or the estate of the g●eat duke of tuscany , is divided in the east from saint peters pat●imony by the river pisca , on the west from the common-wealth of genoa , by th●river macra , and the strong fort of sarezana , on the north from romandiola , and marca anteritana by the appeninne hils : and on the southside , it is bounded with the tuscan or terrhenian seas : it was a while a free state , having princes of the house of medici , but now it is governed by the duke of florence , or great duke of tuscany , of the same family . the length of this state is two hundred sixty mile , the breadth in some places much inferiour : the onely order of knighthood here is that of saint stephen , in●●ituted one thousand five hundred sixty one . it is kept august 6. yearely , and hath all the priviledges of them of malta , upon condi●ion that they of the order should make a vow of charity , of continual chasity and obedience ; they are to be nobly born , and in lawful wedlock , of 〈◊〉 romish church , and without note of infamy ; their robe is of white chamlet , with a red cross of their lefr side sowed upon their midday garments , or their wearing cloaks : the number is uncertain ; the great duke is the supreme master of it , the revenues are very great ; besides the great duke is a merchant , and taketh excise almost of every thing : the arms are or , five tortecax , gules , two two & one and one in chief , azure charged with three florwre-de-luces of the first . here are three arch-bishops and twenty six bishops . the free state of luca in italy , lyeth betwixt the state of the great duke , and the common-wealth of genoa ; they are a free , courteous , modest people of good judgement and discreet , wisely preserving their liberty against the strength of potent neighbours , they are industrious also , well seen in manufactures , especially in weaving cloth of gold and silk . the dominions of it are eighty miles , the revenue is eighty thousand crowns yearely ; it can raise for war fifteen thousand foot and three thousand horse ; the government is mixed of aristocracy , and democracie : the principal magistrate , called gon falinere , is changeable every second month , assisted by a certain and determinate number of citizens , whom they change every sixth month also , during which time they lie together in the palace or common hall ; their protector is also elective , of some neighbour king or state ; their religion is popish ; they have two bishops , onely acknowledging the arch-bishop of florence for their metropolitan . the common-wealth of genoa in italy lieth west of tuscany , from which it is divided by the river macra . they were anciently a large state , but have now onely liguria and the isle of corsica in their power ; the men were good warriors , merchants , and given to usury , which they learned of the jews . mr. heylin reporteth , that it was the saying of a merry fellow , that in christendome there were neither scholars enough , gentlemen enough , nor jews enough : not scholars enough , for then so many would not be double or treble-beneficed ; not gentlemen enough , for then we should not have so many pesants turn gentlemen ; nor lastly , jews enough , for then so many christians would not turn usurers . the women here are priviledged above all italy having liberty to talk with whom they will , and be courted by any that will both publickly and privately ; from hence and some other particulars , they have made this proverb of the state of the country ; mountains without wood , seas without fish , men without faith , and women without shame . they have a duke and eight more assistant with him , all subject to the general counsel of four hundred men ; the duke and his eight assistants hold but two years ; spain is their protector , and they have one arch-bishop , fourteen bishops . the states of lumbardy in italy is bounded on the east with romandiola , and the state or territory of ferrara , on the west with that part of the alps which divides italy from france , on the north ( reckoning marca trevigiana within the bounds thereof ) with that part of the alps which lyeth towards germany ; and on the fo●th with the apennine , which parteth it from liguria or the states of genoa : as italy is the garden of europe , so lumbardy is the garden of italy for the fruitfulness . the dukedome of millain in italy , hath on the east the states of mantua and parma , on the west piemont , and some part of switzerland one of the provinces of the alps , on the north marca treuigana , and on the south the apennine , which parteth it from liguria or the states of genoa : it hath had several lords and dukes of millain , accounted the chief dukedome in christendome , but now under the spaniards ; the aunual rent worth eight hundred thousand duckets ; but considering all charges , the spaniard is taken to be out in keeping it . the arms are argent , a serpent azure crowned , or , in his gorge an infant gules , there are one arch-bishop , six bishops . the dukedome of mantua in italy , is bounded on the west with millain , on the east with romandiola , on the north with marca triugiana ▪ and on the south with the dukedome of parma ; the soyl is reasonable good , and yieldeth all sorts of fruits , being well manured plentiful in corn , pastures and abundance of vines , but the inhabitants not so civil and well bred as the rest of italy , childish in their apparel , without manly gravity , in entertainment of friends and exacting all they can from strangers ; it is a free state , & hath many dukes thereof , the chief order of knighhood in these dukedomes is of the blood of our lord jesus christ , instituted ann. one thousand six hundred eight , it consisteth of twenty knights whereof the mantuan dukes are soveraigns . the collar hath threds of gold , laid on with fire , and enterwoven with these words , domine probasti . to the collar are pendent two angels supporting three drops of blood , and circumscribed , nihil ista triste recepto . it is accounted a great circuit , but not worth above five hundred thousand ducats : the arms are argent , a cross patee gules between four eagles sable membred of the second , under an escuchion in fise charged quarterly with gules , a lion or and or three bars sable : here are one archbishop , four bishops . i shall pass by the dukedoms of modena , parma , and mountferrat , as being all three but small esttates of italy , and having but four bishops amongst them all : the arms of modena the same with the dukedome of ferrara , and the arms of mountferrat , gules , a chief argent : thus much for italy . the principality of piemont a part of the alpes , situate at the foot of the mount is bounded on the east with millain and mountferrat , on the west with savo● , on the north within the switzers , and on the south it runneth in a narrow valley to the mediterranian , having mountferat on the one side province and a part of the alps upon the other : it is very fertile compared with savoy , and switzerlaad , but thought to be inferiour to the rest of italy : the arms of this principallity are gules , a cross argent , charged with a label of three points azure . it is now subject to the dukedome of savoy . savoy strictly and specially so called , is bounded on the east with wallisland , and part of piemont on the west , with daulphin and la bress , on the south with some parts of daulphine onely , and on the north with switzerland and the lake of geneva . the country is altogether hilly and mountainous , very healthful but not very fruitful : the common people are naturally very dull , but the gentry pleasant , ingenious , and civil : there have been neer thirty earls and dukes of savoy : it is a very strong place with fortifications of nature ; the revenue ordinarily a million of crowns yearely . the onely order of knighthood here is that of the anunciado , ordained one thousand four hundred and eight ; their collar is of fifty links , to shew the mysteries of the virgin ; at the end is her portraiture with the history of the annunciation , instead of a motto these letters f. e. r. t. i. e. fortitudo ejus rhodum tenuit , are engraven to every plate or link of the collar , each link being interwoven one within another in form of a true lovers knot ; the number of the knights is fourteen beside the duke the soveraign of the order ; the solemnity held annually on our lady day : the arms are g. a cross a. geneva is a city of the dukedome of savoy , now a free state , having cast off both the pope and their own duke , and kept freely by their neighbours jealousie each of other touching it ; the religion is calvinist protestant , the government presbyterial , the language the worst french , the people industrious , and merchants ; their situation , for neighbours advantagious thereunto . wallisland reacheth from the mountain de burken to the town of saint maurice , where the hills do close and shut up the valley , which is so narrow in that place , that a bridge laid from one hill to another ( under which the river rosue doth pass ) is capable of no more then one arch onely , and that defended with a castle , and two strong gates ; on other parts it is invironed with a continual wall of steep and horrid mountains , covered all the year long with a crust of ice , not passable at all by armies , and not without much difficulty by single passengers , so that no citadel can be made so strong by art as this country is by nature . the valley is very fruitful in saffron , corn , wine , and most delicate fruits , having medows and pleasant pastures . they have also a fountain of salt , and many hot bathes , and medicinal waters ; they have cattle enough to serve them ; also a wild buck , equal to a stagg in bigness , footed like a goat , and horned like a fallow deer , leaping with wonderful agility , and so not easily caught , but in summer time , for then with the heat he is blind . the people are courteous towards strangers , but very rough and churlish towards one another : they are of the romish religion , and subject to the bishop of sion . the deputies of the seven resorts having not only voices with the cantons in his election but bein chosen they joyn with him also in the diets for choosing magistrates , redressing grievances , and determining matters of the state . switzerland hath on the east the grisons , and some part of tyrol in germany , on the west the mountain iove and the lake of geneva , which parts it from savoy , and burgundy , on the north suevia , another province also of the upper germany ; and on the south wallisland , and the alps which borders on the dukedome of millain . it is totally in a manner overgrown with craggy mountains , but such as for the most part have grassy tops , and in their hollowness rich medows and nourishing pastures , being two hundred forty miles in length , and one hundred eighty in breadth : the inhabitants are rich , and rugged of disposition like their land , good souldiers and mercenary almost to every one ; their religion mixed , some papists , some protestants , zwinglians , yet they have agreed to tolerate one another ; their government popular . the country of the grizons is bounded on the east with the country of tyrol , with switzerland on the north , with suevia , and a part of the switzers , on the south with lombardy , a very mountanous and barren land , the people now protestant , their government popular ; in these alpine parts there are two arch-bishops , thir●teen bishops . france hath alwayes been held the principal and worthiest kingdom of all christendome ; it is bounded on the east with germany , and southward with the mediteranian sea , south-east with the alps , and on the north with the brittish sea . it is very fruitful in all sorts of grain , and whatsoever is needful for the maintenance of life , especially it hath great abundance of wines , wherewith many other lands are also served . it is divided into many great dukedoms and provinces , hath in it also divers great , mighty and famous cities , the people are heady ; but ingenious and good warriours . the government is meerly regal , and at the pleasure of the prince , of which it hath had many great and powerful ones : the religion of the land is popish , but there are many protestants there , who although they have been greatly persecuteed , yet sometimes their number hath indulged them in the exercise thereof : the chief orders of knighthood yet extant here are first of saint michael , instituted one thousand four hundred and nine . it consisted first of thirty persons , but after , of three hundred : the habit of the order a long cloak of white damask , down to the ground , with a border interwoven with cocklsheells of gold , interlaced and furred with ermins , with a hood of crimson velvet , and a long tippet about their necks ; they wear a collar woven with cockle-shels : the word immensi tremor oceani ; the picture of saint michael conquering the devil was annexed to the collar , the seat thereof anciently , saint michaels mount in normandy , and the day saint michaels day . secondly of the holy ghost , ordained one thousand five hundred seventy nine . the order of saint michael is to be given to none but such as were first dignified with this , whereunto none were to be admitted , but such as could prove their nobility by three descents : their oath to maintain the romish catholick religion , & prosecute all opponents to it : their robe a black velvet mantle , pourtrayed with lillies and flumes of gold , the colar of flower-de-luces , and flowers of gold , with a cross , and a dove appendent to it : the arms of france are azure three flower-de-luces or ; it hath seventeen arch-bishops , one hundred and eight bishops , and one hundred thirty two thousand parishes . the pirenean hills are onely a bound between france and spaine , two potent kingdoms ; the whole length not reckoning in the windings & turnings , affirmed to be eighty spanish leagues at three miles to a league : the people barbarous , but of what religion my author saith not : it may be he esteemed them so barbarous , that he thought they could live without any religion at all . spain is severed from france by the pirenean mountains , on all other sides it is invironed with the sea , it containeth at this day divers kingdoms , one gothes , two navars , there have been fourty one kings : the arms are gules a carbuncle nowed , or , the chief order of knighthood was of the lilley , their blazon a pot of lilies with the pourtraiture of the virgin ingraven upon it ; their duty to defend the faith , and dayly to repeat certain avemaries , thirdly biscay , and empascon , hath had nineteen lords : their arms argent , two wolves sable , each of them in his mouth a lamb of the second : four , leon and oviedo , hath had thirty kings ; the arms are argent ; a lion passant crowned , or ; five , gallicia hath had ten kings : the arms azure semee of cressets fiched , a chalice crowned , or , six , corduba hath had twenty kings : the arms or ; a lion gules armed and crowned ; of the first a border , azure charged with eight towers argent : seven , granado hath had twenty kings , the arms or , a pomgranate slipped , vert : eight , murcia : nine , toledo , hath had eleven morish kings : ten , castile hath had twenty kings ; the order of mercie is his chief order here : their arms are a cross argent , and four beads , gules in a field , or ; their habit white ; the rule of their order that of saint augustine : their duty was to redeem christians taken by the turks with such money as was bestowed upon them : eleven , portugal hath had twenty one kings : the principal orders of knighthood here , are first of avis wearing a green cross : second , of christ , instituted one thousand three hundred twenty one , their robe is a black cassock under a white surcoat , wherewith a red cross stroked in the midst with a white line : their duty to expel the moores out of boetica the next neighbour to portugal : the arms of this kingdome are argent on five escouchins azure , as many befants in saltire , of the first pointed sable , within a border gules , charged with seven towers or : eleven majorca hath had successively four kings : twelve , aragon hath had twenty kings : the order of knighthood is of mintesa , their robe a red cross upon their breast ; the arms or , four pallets gules : all these are now united in one monarchy of the king of spain : their religion popish , whereunto they are kept by the violence of the inquisition . the land yields all sorts of wines , oyles , sugar , grain , metals , as gold and silver ; it is fertile enough for the inhabitants , whose ambitions for the most part are base , the meanest proud , the best , superstitious and hypocrites , many of them lascivious , yet good souldiers , by patience in enduring hunger , thirst , labour . the king is not rich by reason of his great expences to keep his dominions , in which he hath eleven arch-bishops , fifty two bishops . england together with scotland on the north part thereof , maketh the greatest island of europe , and the richest in the world , situated in a very temperate soil and wholesome air , and exceeding fruitful in wheat and other grain , hath many pleasant rivers , plentifully stored with fish , excellent havens , commodious and safe , mines of silver , lead , iron , espetially of fine tinne ; innumerable flocks of sheep , bearing fine wool , of which is made cloth that serves not only themselves , but is also transported into other parts : the chief city is london , the inhabitants are brave warriers both at sea and land , and many of them learned and witty : the orders of knight-hoo● are of saint george , or of the garter ; there are twenty six knights of it , whereof the king of england was the soveraign : the ensigne is a blew garter , buckled on the left leg , on which these words are embroidered , honi soit qui mal y pense ; about their necks they weare a blew riband , at the end of which hangeth the image of saint george , upon whose day this order is for the most part celebrated . secondly of the bath , instituted one thousand and nine . they used to be created at the coronation of kings and queens , and the installing of the prince of wales . their duty to defend true religion , widows , maids , orphans , and to maintain the kings rights ; the knights thereof distinguished by a red riband , which they weare ordinarily about their necks , to difference them from knights bachelours , of whom they have in all places the precedence , unless they be also the sons of noble men , to whom their birth gives it before all orders . thirdly of baronets , an hereditary honour : the arms are mars , three lions passant gardant sol. scotland , invironed with the sea , except on the south side where it bordereth with england , is not so fruitful , yet hath of all things enough to sustain it self ; the head-city is edenborough . scotland giveth not many sorts of course woollen cloth , wool , mault , hides , fish . the principal order of knighthood here , is that of saint andrew . the knights did weare about their necks a collar interlaced with thistles , with the picture of saint andrew appendant to it . the motto is , nemo me impune lacessit . secondly of nova scotia , ordained by king iames , one thousand six hundred twenty two , hereditary ; but the knights thereof distinguished by a riband of orange tawney : the arms of the kingdome are sol , a lion rampant , mars within a double tressure counter-flowred . ireland is full of brooks , marshes , waters and woods , hath good pasture , and abundance of tame and wild beasts , but little grain : the inhabitants are rude and wild people , yet through the conversation and government of the english are dayly more and more brought to civility ; the aire here is very temperate , cooler in summer and warmer in winter then in england : the arms of ireland are azure , and harp or stringed argent . the isles belonging to great brittain are the surlings or scillies , garnesey , iarsey , wight , anglesey , man , hebrides , orcades , and many others . all which three kingdoms and islands aforesaid , make up one common-wealth under the government of his now highness oliver , lord protector . their religion is calvinist protestant , their government called independent . the low countries contain seventeen provinces , the dukedoms of brabant , guelderland , lymburge and lisenburge , the countries of flanders , artois , henault , holland , zeland , namen . zukfen , the marquisate of the holy empire , the lord-ships of freezland , michlen , ouserisen and graving ; all which are lands above measure well tilled and inhabited , containing two hundred and eight cities , fortified with walls and ditches , and about six thousand three hundred villages , with parish churches , besides the castles , forts , and noble mens houses , which are almost infinite in number . this land is watered with many excellent rivers , as the rhine , the mose , the mard , the scheld , and others . it hath also many commodious sea-havens , abounding in ships , and very skilful and expert mariners and pilots , as by their navigations may appear , whereby they have compassed as it were the whole world . the inhabitants also are very valiant and notable warriors as well by sea as by land , as their enemies themselves will witnes . they are excellently well skilled in all cunning and handy-crafts . many attribute unto them the invention of the sea-compass , as also the needle , and laudable art of printing of books : they send abroad into other parts all sorts of linnen and wollen cloth , camerick , pasementlace , of gold , silver , and silk , taffata , wrought velvet , grograms , sayes , whole and half velvet baggs , silk laces , say , and linnen . all manner of twined thred , wrought silk , refined sugar , prepared buff , and ox hides , as also spanish leather , pictures , books , cables , ropes , and other ship-furniture , cards , pinns , and all kind of mercery , dried and salt fishes , herring , butter , cheese , and bisket ; the people are of the reformed religion , but flanders and artois , and they are papists ; they suffer any religion amongst them : the principal order of knighthood ordained by these princes is that of the golden fleece instituted one thousand four hundred thirty nine , ordained , as some conceive , from gideons fleece ; their habit is a collar of gold interlaced with iron seeming to strike fire out of a flint , or ex ferro flammam being the word , at the end whereof hung the toison'd at or , or a fleece of gold , the king of spain may now make as many of them as he please . there are in these parts three arch-bishops , fifteen bishops . germany is one of the greatest provinces in europe , ( and is in the midst thereof ) bounded on the east with hungary and polonia , on the south with italy and bolonia , on the west with france ; and on the north with the north sea , and with the sea called mare balticum . in the middest whereof lyeth bohemia , wherein stands pragu● , where the emperour commonly keeps his court : it is adorned with magnificent towres , well fortified and furnished with such a number of castles , and of villages , such abundance of people , and with such politique government , that she may compare with any . the soyl is fruitful both in corn and wine , it hath many navigable rivers , stored with plenty of fishes , most excellent fountaines and hot bathes ; mines of gold , silver , tin , copper , lead , and iron , it hath very learned men , skilful in all sciences and mechanick arts : the religion is here very diverse , for there being many free provinces , some are papists , some protestants , and of these again some calvinists , some lutherans : there are six arch-bishops , and thirty four bishops . denmark and norway are very great regions bordering southward upon germany ; they extend toward the north to seventy one degrees and thirty minutes , and north latitude towards the east ; they border upon sweden , and on the west and north-side they are invironed with the sea , they at this time are under the government of one king who is lord of seland . greenland , hitland , and gothland , these kingdoms afford unto other lands oxen , barley , malt , stock-fish , tallow , sand , nuts , hides , goat-skins , masts , deales , oaken boards , wood to burn , pitch , tarre , brimstone , and the like : their religion is the lutherans . the chief order of knighthood in it is that of the elephant , their badge a collar powdered with elephants , towred supporting the kings arms , and having at the end the picture of the virgin mary . the arms of the land are quarterly or three lions pasant , vert , crowned of the first for the kingdome of denmark , and two gules , a lion rampant or crowned and armed of the first in the paws , a dansk hatchet ; argent for the kingdome of norway ; there are two arch-bishops , thirteen bishops . sweden is a great and mighty kingdome , bordering on the east upon muscovia , on the south unto the baltick sea , and denmark on the west unto norway , and on the north unto the finmark and the zurick sea . the merchandises it selleth are copper , iron , lead , costly furres , buff , and ox hides , goat-skins , tallow , pitch , barly , malt , hazel-nuts , and such like things : their religion is lutheran : the arms of the kingdome azure , three crowns , or , hath two arch-bishops , eight bishops . russia is the last region towards the east in europe , a good part of it is in asia , it is bounded on the north with the frozen sea , on the east with tartaria , on the west it borders upon livonia , and on the realm of sweden , and on the south with the sea called mare caspium , the greatest part is extreme cold , but for the help of the inhabitants nature hath stored it with furs , sables , white fox , martins , and other commodities , as cattel , corn , and fruit : the whole region is subject to the emperor of russia , a wast tract , and as wild a government . the people are base , ignorant , contentious , and foolishly superstitious ; after the greek church , they deny the proceeding of the holy ghost , they bury their dead upright , with many other ceremonies : muscovia is the seat of the empire . the country affords very good flax , and hoop to make casks , and ropes , and store of hides , as well of oxen as helks , much salt fish , and whales grease , the arms are sable , a partel open of two leases and as many degrees , or. here is one patriarch , two arch-bishops , eighteen bishops . poland is bounded on the south with moldavia , and hungary , on the east with muscovia , and with the tartaries , per o coptiques , on the west with germany , and on the north with the baltick sea , the religion is partly with the greek church , partly with the roman , and so there are here of the romish church three arch-bishops , and nineteen bishops , and of the greek church , two arch-bishops ; and six bishops : the arms are one gem , and eagle , an ass argent crowned and nowed , or , for the region of polonia , and two gules a chevaleir armed cap a pe pe advancing his sword argent mounted upon a barbed courser of the second for the dukedome of lituania : the commodities sent thence are spruce or dantz beer , amber , wheat , rye , and other grain ; hony , wax , hemp , flax , pitch and tarr : it hath also mines of copper and iron . hungary is bounded on the south with bosnia and croatia , on the west with germany , on the east with moldavia and valacha , and on the north with polonia : a great and mighty kingdome , and exceeding fruitful , it hath many navigable rivers , wherein are multitude of fish . the people are strong , and shew their antiquity to be of the scythians , by thei● neglect of learning , and barbarous manners ; their sons equally inherit without priviledge of birthright ; their daughters portion is onely a new attire . the german emperor and the turk share it between them ; the commodities that go from thence are divers sorts of colours , wheat , beef , salt , wine , and river-fish salted : the arms are bar wise of eight pieces , gules and argent : there are here two arch-bishops , thirteen bishops . sclavonia hath on the south the adriatick sea , on the west part of italy , greece on the south east , and hungary on the north ; part of it belongs to the turk , some to the venetian estate , some to the hungarians , and some to the austrians : the arms argent , a cardinals hat , the strings meeting in base gules perpendant and placed in a true loves knot ; there are four arch-bishops , twenty six bishops . greece , once a mother of learning and arts , now the den of the turkish empire who hath its abode at constantinople : it is bounded on the west with the adriatick sea , on the north with the mountain hemus , on the south with the mediterranean sea , and on the east aegypt , hellespont propontis . the commodities brought from hence are gold , silver , coper , divers colours , wines , and velvets , damask and turkish grogram ; their religion hath in it some substantial error , as that they deny that the holy ghost proceedeth from the father and the son , they hold also baptisme of fire to be necessary , yet they resist the authority of the bishop of rome . and thus now have i finished europe , the first part of the world . the names of the greatest and most famous cities and rivers in the world . in italy the cities of genoa , milan , venice , florence , rome , bologne , and naples , the rivers most famous , are arnus , tiber , and po. the cities in france that are most famous , are amiens , rouen , paris , troyes , nantes , orleans , d●ion , lyons , burdeaux , toulose , marseilles , gre●●ble , anverse : the rivers that are most remarkable , are the l●yre , the garone , the rhone , the s●yne . the cities in spain that do most prefer themselves to observation , are toledo , madrid , leon , pampelunc , bilbo , priede , saint iames of compostella , lisbone , fax , siville , grenade , mursy , sarragosa , barcelona , and valentia : the rivers there most famous , are the dower , the river of tagus , the gadian and the guadalguinur . the cities in england that be most famous , are london , york , bristol ; the rivers most famous , are the thames , the severn , the river of humber , and the ou●● . the cities in scotland most famous are edinborough , sterlin , aberdin , and saint andrews , the most famous river is the river of tay. the most famous city in ireland is dublin , and the greatest river is the river of shannon . the chiefest cities in the netherlands belonging to the catholicks , are metz , besancon , chambery , antwerp , the chief city belonging to the united states , is amsterdam ; the two most famous rivers are the river of scheld , and the river mosa . the most famous cities in germany , are strasborough , colen , munster , norimbergh , ausburgh , numick , vienna , prague , dresda , berlin , stettin , and lubeck ; the chiefest rivers are the rhine , the weser , the elbe , the oder , and the danow : the most famous cities in denmark are coppenhague , and trondon ; the chiefest river is the wezer . the chiefest cities in swedeland are calmar , stockholme , abo , and riga , the last whereof is in livonia , but now in the possession of the king of sweden ; the most famous river is the river of torne . the chiefest cities of russia , are mucow , wolodimax , saint michael the arch-angel , cazan and astracan ; the most famous rivers are , the dwine , the volga , the don , or tana . the most famous cities in poland are , cracovia , warsovia , dantzick , vilna , kion , cameneca , and smolensco , which is part of muscovy , and now again in the possession of the great duke : the chiefest rivers in poland are the vistula , or weisser , the niemen , the duna , or the niester , and the boristhenes . the chiefest cities in hungary , transylvania , valastia , moldavia , and little tartary , are buda , presborough , hermonstade , tergoguis , czuchan , or sozow , craffa , and burgos : the chiefest rivers are the drin , the river of oxfeus , or alfeus , the river of peneus , the vardax , the marize , and the danubius . the most famous cities in dacia are trieste and pedena . the most famous cities in bohemia , are cuttenbergh , pilzen , dommingraci , and budrozis . the most famous cities at this time in greece , buda , salonique , andrianopolis , scutary , durazzo , la valone , l armiro , prevezza , larta , lepanto , setines , or athens , stines , or thebes , corinth , patras , misira , or lacaedemonia , which are all now in possession of the turks . the most famous cities in bosnia , are iuycza , bagnalone , fruansaray : in croatia , is the famous city of wihitz . the chiefest cities in sclavonia , are nona , zara , nonigrad , tin● , sebenico , saint nicolo ; trau , spalato , salona , almisse , starigrad , vesi●chio , catara , buda , and dolcigno . the most famous city in walachia is called tergovis , and in moldavia , zaczow . in the land of sicily , there are the famous cities of messina , and palermo ; in the island of sardinia , the city of calari ; and in corsica , the city bastie . the renowned cities in romania , are constantinople , and adrianopolis . asia . asia is now the second part of the world , eparated from europe by the floods tanais and duina , and from africa , by the narrow part of lod le lakis . unto egypt , it is bigger then europe or africa , and doth far exceed them in riches , as precious stones and spices : this region hath been renowned by the first & second monarchs of the world : there man was created , placed in paradise , seduced by sathan , and redeemed by our saviour : in this part was done most of the histories mentioned in the old testament ; and many things also in the new : the eminent persons that have the rule of asia , are the kings of china , the king of persia , the great turk , and the emperour of russia . tartaria is bordered upon the north sea , eastward upon the sea of china , southward upon the provinces of china , of india , with the flood oxdo and the sea mare caspium , and towards the west with the flood mare steneum , and mor●ovia . the tartariaus are divided into certain commonalties ot colonies , one from another , so they differ in manners and trade of life : they are men of a squa●e stature , broad and gross faces , their eyes sink into their heads , and looking somewhat a squint ; they are strong of body , and hardy : they eat horses , and all other beasts except hogs , howsoever they are slain . china is bounded on the east by the east sea ; on the west with india , and bramus ; and on the north it is divided from tartaria with a wonderful wall four hundred miles long , built between the mountaines : it is divided into fifteen kingdoms or great provinces , and having a peculiar prince , but all yielding obedience to their great king : it is reported that he may bring into the field three hundred thousand foot , and two hundred thousand horsemen . the land is fruitful of grain , and beasts wild and tame , wines , of precious stones , gold , copper , iron , steel , and pearl , and good store of silk ; also very great cities , well peopled ; paquin is the royal city , of which things be written that be incredible : the people are lively , witty , wondrous artists , they make waggons that sayl over the land as the ships do over the sea : the art of printing and making of guns , is more ancient with them then with us : they have good laws according to which they do live ; but they want the knowledge of god , for they are heathens , and worship the sun , moon , and stars , yea and the devil himself that he may not hurt them . iapan aboundeth so with gold , that it is reported that the kings palace was covered therewith in the time of paulus venetius . india situated between persia and the tartars , sinca , and the indian sea : all writers account it the best and goodliest land in the world , for it 〈◊〉 almost the whole world with precious jewels and pearls , medicinal drugs and perfumes , that it may be called an earthly paradise , and it belongs to the spaniards . persia is a mighty rich land , governed by the sophy , though he a mahometist : yet warreth against the turk for the religion of mahomet , 〈◊〉 differences in expounding the alcora●● out of persia are brought the bezor stone and other precious stones , pearls of great value , and many ●●k-works . n●tolia or asia the less , wherein is that part of land fo●m●rly called canaan , by which lye the arabians : this asia is a good and fruitful country , and hath been eminent in the true religion ; for therein were written the most part of the new testament . it is almost divided from africa by the red and mediterranean sea , and is now a part of the turkish empire . the chief islands of asia are zellant , whose ground is alwayes green , and the trees laden with blossoms and fruits , as oranges , lemons ; the cinamon grows here in whole woods , for it is the second rind of a tree , but being cut and laid in the sun , becomes red : the tree in three years space receives his ●ind again ; besides many other beasts , here are a multitude of elephants . sumatra yieldeth besides other sorts of spices , abundandce of pepper , here are also moneys of divers metals , of which the inhabitants have learned to cast good ordinance ; very great elephants are found here , which being learned are serviceable in war . the rhinoceros , a deadly enemy to the elephant , is found here , for though he be less yet he warreth with him , having whet his horn on the rock , he therewith seeks to rip up the elephan●s belly . he is by many held to be the true unicorne : every part of him , especially his horn , being sovereign against all poyson . iava is very fruitful in several spices and indian fruits , especially pepper . benda a second island , but very famous , for herein onely are several islands : hereabout grow all the nutmegs and mace which are in great abundance sent into all the world : the trees on which nutmegs grow , yield three times in the year fruit , onely in august and december , but the most and best in april . the islands of the mollucas , though but sand , yet are known all over the world , by reason of the plenty of cloves which grow up here onely are dispersed over all the world , they are five in number , ternate , tidon , matir , mantrian and bachion . victuals are here scant , for there grows neither rice nor any other grain ; it hath no cattel but a few goats and hogs : they make their bread of certain trees and roots . in these islands onely are found the bird of paradise , which for the strangeness and fairness of feathers exceeds all the birds in the world . thus much touching the second part of the world . the chiefest cities of asia with the rivers . the chiefest cities in asia which belong unto the turks , are in anatolia , burse , chioutai , angoure , trebisond , sattalie : the rivers there most famous are the river of alie , iordan , euphrates , and tigris . the most famous cities in syria are aleppo , tripoli , damas , said , and hierusalem . the most famous cities in georgia are mosul , bagded , balsora , sanatopoli , stranu , derbent : the most famous rivers in georgia are the rivers of fazze and arais . the most famous cities in arabia , are herac , ava , medina , and mectra ; the most memorable river is the river of cayban . the chiefest cities in persia , are tauris , gorgian , coysolma , hispahan , erat , sus , schiras , and ormutz : the chiefest rivers are the rivers of tirditiri , and bendimur . the chiefest cities of india , are amedabur , cambaia , gouro , diu , bengala , pangab , or lahor , agra , goa , calicut , visnagor , pegn , arracan , malaca , camboge , and facfo : the fairest rivers in india are the river indus , ganges , and mecon . the most famous cities in china , are paguin , quin●ay , caneun , macao , mancian , and nagaia ●●ordo : the greatest river is the river of qui●am , or iamsu quiam . the most famous cities in tartary , are za●aspe , samarcanda , thibet , cambalu , tatur , or tartar : the chiefest rivers are the tatar , the ●eniscoy , the oby , the chezel , and the albiamu . the isles in asia in the ocean are the isle of iaphan , where are the cities of bungo , meaco , and sacay . the phillipine islands , in which are the cities of lusor , manille , and mindanao . the moluno islands in which are the cities of gililo , mucasar , and aquen . not far from thence is sumatra and iava , where are the cities of candra , and columbo , neer unto it is bornro , manur , and male . in the mediterranean sea , there are the islands of cyprus , rhodes , and scarpanto , in which are the famous cities of nicosia , formagusta , rhodes , and scarpanto . in the archipelago there are the islands of chios , and metelin , which have cities after their own names . africa . africa , the third part of the world , is separated from europe by the mediterranean sea , and from asia by the red sea ; she yieldeth gold , balm , ivory , ebony , sugar , ginger , dates , aloes , myrrh , feathers : also madera , the countryes in asia now follow . barbary is bounded by the mediterranean sea northward , on the east with egypt , on the south with the mount atlas , and westward with the altantick ocean : the inhabitants are faithless , crafty in promising , and also in performing ; they are fraudulent , covetous , and beyond measure jealous of their wives : their country yields olives , figs , dates , oranges , and a certain kind of goat , whose hair makes a stuff as fine as silk . egypt hath idumea on the east , and the bay of arabia ; on the west barbary , numidia , and part of lybia , on the north the mediterranean sea , on the south ethiopia superior or the abassin empire . it containeth in length five hundred sixty two italian miles , and in breadth one hundred sixty , situated under the second and fifth climates , so that their longest day in summer is not above thirteen houres and a half . the air is very hot and of●ensive , the soil is fruitful , by the overflowing of nilus , it hath rich pastures wherein they feed great store of camels , horses , asses , oxen , greater of growth then usually in most places else : and by reason of the morishness of the country , they have also great store of fouls , it is furnished with great plenty of metals , some precious stones , good wines , and fruits , as lemons , oranges , pomgranates , citrons , figs , cherries , and such as these , excellent both for tast and colour : here grow the palm trees , which alwayes grow in couples , the male and female , both thrust forth cods full of seed , but the female alwayes fruitfull , and that not except growing by the male , and having his seed mixed with hers : the pith of these trees is an excellent sallade , better then an hartichoke , which in tast it doth much resemble ; of the branches they make bedsteds , lattices , &c. of the leaves , baskets , mats , fans , &c. of the outward husk of the cod , cordage , of the inner brushes ; the fruit it bears is best known by the name of dates , which are in tast like figs : and finally it is said to yield whatsoever is necessary to the life of man : it is the nature of this tree , though never so ponderous a weight were put upon it , never to yield to the burden , but still to resist the heaviness of it , and to endeavour to lift and raise it self the more upwards ; a fit emblem of the resurrection : the people are not black , but tawny or olive-coloured ; they weep and mourn over the bodies of their dead , daubed over with dung , they hold it a great impiety to burn or bury them , but having embalmed them they lay them in so me inner room : the men keep at home for the house-hold business , the women follow merchandise and affairs abroade ; the men carry burdens upon their heads , and the women upon their shoulders : a witty and ingenious people , the first inventers of geometry , arithmetick , physick , astronomy , nec●omany , and sorcery , yea they found out the very use of letters . the christians among them differ from all other christians ; first , using circumcision with baptisme . secondly , conferring all orders under priesthood on infants immediately after baptisme , their parents , till they come to sixteen years of age , performing what they promised in their behalf , to wit , chastity , fasting on wednesday and friday , and the four lents of the year . thirdly , reputing baptisme not to be of any efficacy except ministred by a priest in the open church , in what extremity soever . fourthly , & yet not baptising any children till the fortieth day , though they die in the mean time . fifthly , giving the lords supper to infants as soon as christened . sixtly , contracting marriages in the second degree without dispensation . seventhly , not observing the lords day , nor any festivals , except in cities . eighthly , reading the gospel writ by nicodemus . they differ from the papists in these things : first , administring the lords supper in both kinds : secondly , with leavened bread : thirdly , admitting neither extreme unction nor the lords supper to those that are sick : fourthly , nor purgarory not prayer for the dead : fifthly , not using elevation in the act of administring : and sixthly , accounting the roman church for he ●etical , and esteeming the latines no better then the iews . mount atlas is a ridge of hils , of exceeding height , and of no small length , it is above the clouds , and is alwayes covered with snow in the midst of summer , full of thick woods ; and against africa so fruitful , that it affords excellent fruits of its natural growth , not planted , grafted , or inoculated with the hand of man . lybia hath mount atlas on the north , by which it is parted from barbary and asrenaca , on the east with lybia , marmarica interposed betwixt it and egypt , and part of ethiopia superior , or the abassine empire , on the south with ethiopia inferior , and the land of nigros , and on the west with the main atlantick ocean ; the country abounds with dates , the chief diet of the people , which commonly rotteth out their teeth ; their goats they feed with the stones , wherewith they grow fat , and yield store of milk ; the air is so ●ound , that it cureth the french pox without any physick ; the inhabitants are a base and vile people , thieves , murderers , treacherous , and ignorant of all things , feeding most on dates , barley , and carrion , counting bread a diet for holidayes ; their garments of the coursest cloth , so short that they cover not half the body ; the richer sort wear a jacket of blew cotton , with great sleeves , they ride upon camels without stirrup or saddle , a leather thrust through an hole made in the nose of the camel , serves them for a bridle , and to save spurs , they use a goade ; their religion is mahome●isme . the land of negros is bounded on the east with ethiopia superior , on the west with the atlantick ocean , on the north with lybia deserta , and the south with the ethiopick ocean , and part of ethiopia inferior : the country very hot by reason of the situation under the torrid zone , yet very well inhabited , full of people , and in some places alwaies grass , well watered , specially where the river niger overfloweth , well stored with corn , cattel , and garden ware , well wooded , having store of beasts wild and tame ; they want fruit trees , they have both gold and silver mines very pure ; the inhabitants are of little wit , and destitute of all arts and sciences , prone 〈◊〉 luxury , and for the most part mahometans . ethiopia superior is bounded on the east with the red sea , and the sinus barbaricus , on the west with lybia inferior : the realm of nabia in the land of negros , and part of the kingdome of congo in the other ethiopia , & on the north with egypt , and lybia marmarica , and on the south with the mountains of the moon : it is in length a thousand five hundred miles ; in breadth half as much : the religion of the people is , they use to circumcise their children both males & females . secondly , they baptize the males at forty , & the females 80 daies after circumcision . thirdly , after the lords supper , they are not to spit till sun-set . fourthly , they profess but one nature and one will in christ . fifthly , they accept only the three first general councels . sixthly , their priests live by the labour of their own hands , for they allow them nothing , nor permit them not to beg . seventhly , they baptize themselves every epiphanie in lakes and ponds , because that day they suppose christ to have been baptized of iohn in iordan . eighthly , they eat not of those beasts which in the old law are reckoned for unclean , and they keep the jews sabbtah equally solemn with the lords day . tenthly , they minister the lords supper to infants presently after baptisme . eleventhly , they reach the reasonable soul of man is derived from the parents by seminal propagation . twelfthly , that infants dying unbaptized , are sanctified in the womb by vertue of the lords supper received by the mother after her conception . and finally , they shew a book of eight volumes , writ as they say by the apostles assembled at jerusalem for that purpose , the contents therof they observe most solemnly , and they differ from the papists as the christians in egypt , they are under the goverment of prester iohn and the turk . i pass by ethiopia inferior , the people being pagans , and likewise i omit the several islands of africa being but small , because i have been so large already . the chiefest cities of africa , with the names of the rivers which are there most famous . in barbary which containeth the kingdoms of fez , morocco , tremiser , algeir , tunis , tripoli and barca , there are the famous cities of morocco , fez , tanger , telensin , oran , algeir , constantine , tunis , tripoli , and barca . the rivers there most famous , are the tensife , the ommiraby , and the river of cebus , mulvia , rio major , and the magrida . in belledulgered which containeth the kingdomes of suz , daza , sagelmosse , tegorarin , bi●edulgerid , and the desart of barca : there are these famous cities , taradante , dara , segelmoss , tegorarin , zeb , billedulgerid : the chiefest rivers are the river of sur , the river of darha , and the ghir . in egypt are the famous cities of sabod , cairo , alexandria , rascha , or rosesta , dumietta , cosir , and surs the renowned river is the river of nilus . in the desert of zaara are these memorable cities , zauhaga , zuenzera , targa , lemta , berdoa , gaoga and borno . in the country of the negroes , are these remarkable cities , gue , eata , gueneha , tombu , agados , cano , cassena , gangara , tula , catan , or senega , guinala , beria , melli , songo , gago , wuber ▪ zegzog , and sanfara : the rivers here that are most famous , are sernoga , gambaea , and rio degrand . in gniomy a●e these famous towns , serze-lionne , or cachieu , saint george de la mine , and benin . in nubia are these remarkable cities , gorham , cusam , nubia , dancala , iulac , bugiha , canfila , and da●ila . in the upper ethiopia which containeth the kingdomes of barnegus , tigremahon , amara , damont , cafatos , innari , gogame , baga , medri , meroe , ximenchi , and dambaea : there are these famous cities , barone , caxumo , amara damont , cefates , narre , goyame , and adeghena : the rivers which are here most memorable are the rivers of zaire , and quilmanci . in that part which is called zanguebar , are these remarkable cities , dambea , mosambique , quiloa , monbaze , melinda . on the side of aian , are brava , magadaxo adea , adel . on the side of abex , erocco , or arquico , suaquem , biafra . in the lower ethiopia , which comprehendeth congo , caffrare , and monomotepa , are the famous cities of banza loanga . s. salvador , cabazze , or dongo , safula , simbaos , or messapa , and butua , and tang , or tete : the rivers are cuama , spiritu sancto , and the river dos infantes . in africa are divers islands , as malta in the mediterranean seas , the chiefest city whereof is vallette : in the western ocean , the canaries , the cape verd , and the isle of saint thomas , the chiefest in the canaries is called saint iago , and in saint thomas , panoasan . in the eastern ocean there is the isle of madagascar , or saint laurence , and the isle of zocotora , who hath a city after her own name . america . america , the fourth part of the world , hath obtained this name from americus vesputius , who in the year of christ one thousand four hundred ninety seven , did sail about it ; but it was first of all discovered by christopher columbus , five years before , who went out with the authority of ferdinando king of castile , and called it the new west-indies , by reason of the likeness , where they seem to return to the other indies . it is divided into two parts , one is called mexicana and peruana : the spaniards and hollanders possess a great part thereof , which they have fortified very strongly : it is exceeding rich of gold and silver , insomuch , that as the historians witness , attalalipa king of peru , being taken prisoner by the spaniard , for his ransome did offer and promise to fill his prison , being a place of twelve foot long and seventeen foot broad , once full of gold , to such a height , as he standing upon the toes of his feet , was able to reach with the points of his fingers stretched on high ; or fill the same twice as full of silver , if they had rather have that , unto the uppermost roof of it : yea the spaniards when they first entred into the country shod their horses both with gold and silver , as historians testifie . peruana is divided now adaies into three several parts , according to the situation of the land , to wit , in plain land , in mountains , and in lands which are hilly grounds without them . out of these countries are brought over into europe , gold , silver , beza , and other precious stones , salsaparilla , sugar in abundance , brasil wood , cotton , costly plumes , jackanapses , several sorts of curiously feathered birds , and many more druggs , and merchandise ; and thus much for the fourth part of the world . magellanica , which some geographers would have now the fifth part of the world , is since found out to be a very little part , as consisting onely of some few islands , and the southern side of the magellanick straits so called , by fredericus magellanicus , who discovered it in the year one thousand five hundred and twenty , writing moreover that there he had seen tall men about nine , and ten foot high ; and he saw many fires which the inhabitants had kindled , doubtless by reason of the coldness of the weather , he named it the land of fire , or smoky , whereby he presumed the more , that it must needs be a very vast great country reaching east and westwards unto new guinney , according to which guessing it hath hitherto been delineated by the maps of geographers ; but since hath there in stead thereof a large and wide sea been found both by iacob le mair , who in the year one thousand six hundred sixteen , sayling about the southern coast of these islands entred into the indies , and by iohn davis in the year one thousand six hundred forty two , who sayling toward the north , about one thousand 6 hundred forty further then guinny discovered divers lands , and passing on the southside sayled about the east coast of new guinny , and so going on westward , he came to the indies ; whence we may certainly gather that all the former descriptions and definitions of the magellanick and unknown lands , are but meer abuses and certain devised fables . and thus now god enabling me , i have finished the description of the world , and the four parts thereof : and leave my endeavours herein to the judgement of the reader . the chiefest cities of america , with the names of the rivers . in the northern part of america are greenland , east-land and iceland , in which are the towns of bearford , and scalbod . in canada or new france , are the towns of quebec , and port-royal , some degrees more foutherly , are new engand , the new low-countries , virginia , the isles of bermudes , and more southerly of them , the islands of barbadoes , and saint christophers : in virginia are the towns of iames : in new-england the town of plimmouth : the rivers in caneda that be most famous , the river of canada , or saint laurence : the river of chesseapeac , or powatan , the trinity , and the river of may . the cities in new-mexico that are most remarkeable , are the end , and the granada . in hispaniola is the city of domingo , in cuba the city called hanana . in the isle of iamaira , the city called sevilla● in the island of boriquenrie , puerto , rico : in florida is saint augustino : in mexico , or new-spain are these great cities , mexico , mechoa●an , or wallodolid , saint estenan , del puerto , los angeles , antequera dela vetoria , meroda , guadalaida , compostella , saint sebastian , saint miguel , gernada , and zacateca . there are also saint iago , de guatimala , guevetulan , cinidid real , verapax , valadolid , or commagaiva , leoade nicaragua , cartago , la conception , portobello , and panama . the rivers here most famous , are nort of new-mexico , spiritu sancto , towards the east , spiritu sancto towards the west ; econdido , panuco , barania , zacatula , and desaguadero , de nicaragua . in terna firma , are the famous cities of cartagena , saint martha , saint fe de bogatta , na , sa , de los remedios , veneznella , o cori , cordova , lannuena , o comana , manoa , o el dorado . in peru are these remarkable cities , cali popaian , saint francisco , de quito , bacca , saint iuan de las , selinas , lima o los , reyes , cusco , potosi , la plata , sancta cruz de la sierra , saint iago , de chili , and l' imperiale . the rivers which are most famous in terra firma and in peru , the river grand , o de darien : the river grand o de sancta martha , paria , o orinoque , essequ●be , and desaguedero , de peru. in the south part of america , is terra magellanica , where is the city del rey felippe , there are the magellan isles , and terra del foco . in brasile are these fourteen memorable cities , para , maranhan , ciara , potenii , paraiba , tamaraca , olinda , seregippe saint salvador , los istcos , porto seguro , spiritu sancto , sancte sebastian , los santos . the rivers in brasile are orelhane , or des amazones , maragnan , o de mirari , tabacouru , the great river of potengi , the river zoyal . in ria de plata are the cities of saint iago , del festero , cordova , de tucuman , l assumcicon , civided real , o ontiveros . the river here that is most famous is called paraguay . a catalogue of some plates , maps , pictures , and copy-books that are printed and sold by peter stent , dwelling at the sign of the white-horse in gilt-spur street , betwixt new-gate and py-corner . general maps . a map of the world . a map of england . a map of ireland . a map of france . england , scotland , and ireland in four sheets . maps of shires . kent two sheets . essex . surrey . hartfordshire . norfolk . susfolk . stafford-shire . vvarwick-shire . vvorcester-shire . leicestershire and rutland in one . cheshire . lancashire . virginia . pictures of men in quarto . his highness the 〈◊〉 protector . sir thomas overbury . cardinal vvolsey . sir . thomas gresham . duke of buckingham . prince and princess of orange . prince rupert . pr. maurice . earl of salisbury . mr. brightman . bishop usher . dr. eravius . mr. shelton . gen. lashley . l. say . king charles 2d . of scotland . earl of pembrook . earl of manchester . great sheets . battel of nazby 2 sheets with observations . dunbar battel in 2 sheets . 4 plates of signes or badges for innes , or taverns . 42. the cities of london . gunpowder treason , and 88. the arms of the trades and corporations of london 74. a death . jer●salem 2 sheets . lord gen. ludlow on horsback . x. commandements . x. persecutions of christians . orpheus . copy books . cokers coppy book . davis coppy book . billingsley in quarto . billingsley in octavo . one published by p. s. 2d . by lewis hews . 2d . called hancocks 22. plates . and all other sorts of coppy books that are to be had in london . books for draughts of men , birds , beasts , flowers , fruits , flyes , fishes , &c. 1 book of j. fullers drawings , 15 plates . 1 book of draughts of mr. hollars work and mr. vanderburghs , 18. plates . flora 13. plates , beasts , birds , &c. 1 book of birds sitting on sp●igs , 16. plates . 1 book of beasts 1 book of branches , 11 plates . 1 book of flowers 12 plates for cheez trenchers pictures in sheets of their excellenci●s . robert e. of essex . tho. l. fairfax . the protector . divers pictures of mr. payn , hollar , faythorn , pumbard , gaywood , and other artists works . and all other sorts of maps , pictures , copy-books , &c. that are usually sold in black and white , and in colours . minerva and 7 liberal arts . finis . a new mapp of the whole world in many places amended by the avthor n : i : piscator and augmented and enlarged by io : bleau anno dom : 1657 london printed and sould by peter stent at the white horse in guilt spurr street without newgate . map of the world a geographical dictionary in which are described the most eminent countreys, towns, ports, seas, streights, and rivers in the whole world : very useful for the understanding of all modern histories. 1662 approx. 207 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 74 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a37110 wing d2920a estc r43133 26866721 ocm 26866721 109836 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a37110) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 109836) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1714:28) a geographical dictionary in which are described the most eminent countreys, towns, ports, seas, streights, and rivers in the whole world : very useful for the understanding of all modern histories. duval, p. (pierre), 1619-1682. [4], 138, [2] p., [1] (folded) leaf of plates : map. printed by j.c. and are to be sold by henry brome ..., london: 1662. advertisement: [2] p. at end. imperfect: print show-through. 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conversion a geographical dictionary . in which are described the most eminent covntreys , towns , ports , seas , streights , and rivers in the whole world. very vseful for the vnderstanding of all modern histories . london , printed by j. c. and are to be sold by henry brome at the gun in ivy-lane , 1662. the stationer to the reader . courteous reader , i here present you with a small copy of the world drawn by an english pencil from the original of the famous monsieur du vall , geographer to the french king. though it seem too small a volume to perform the promise the title page makes you , yet upon perusal you will find it satisfyed , and that seeming defect amply repaired by the convenience ( a greater bulk would not afford you ) to make it your constant companion , without abating you the knowledge of any place considerable , either for praerogative , historical observation , or commerce , to which end it was only designed ; peruse it , and enjoy the benefit . farewel . h. b. typus orbis terrarum a mapp of the world p. st●●t excudit a geographical dictionary : in which are described the most eminent countries , towns , ports , seas , straights , and rivers in the whole world. very useful for the understanding of all modern histories . a abbeville the chief town of the county of ponthieu in picardy . aberdene , a town , and sea port in the northern part of scotland , famous for a university , and the fishing of perles and salmons . aberfraw , a town in the isle of anglesey , formerly the residence of the kings of north-wales . abernethy , a town in scotland on this side the taye , anciently the seat of the kings of the picts . abex , a coast in abissinia upon the red sea. abissinia or abassinia , the greatest kingdom in all africa . abe , a town in finland . abruzzo , a province in the kingdom of naples . abapulco , a sea port in new spain , where they usually embarque for peru , and the phillipine islands . accadie , a peninsula in new france . aere or ptolemais , a town and sea port in phenicia , formerly the residence of the knights of malta . aden , a town of great traffique in arabia giving name to a kingdom , of which the turk having hang'd up the king has possessed himself . adour , a river in gascoigne in france , running to bayon . adria , a town in the venetian signiory , which first gave the name to the adriatick sea. africa , one of the four parts of the world , lyes southerly from england . agde , a city and bishoprick in languedoc in france , lately made a port. agen , a city and bishoprick in guienne in france neer the river garomne . agra , a city in the continent of india , the residence of the great mogol . agram , a city in sclavonia , properly belonging to the house of austria . agria or eger , a very strong town in hungary under the subjection of the turk . aiazzo , a town and port in the isle of corsica . aiehstet , a city and bishoprick of the empire , situate in the upper palatinate . ainaon , an island upon the coast of china , famous for the abundance of pearls found there . aigues mortes , a town in the lower languedoc , neer the mouth of the river rhone . ainza , a town in arragon . aire , a very strong town in artois . aire , a city and bishoprick in gascony . aix , in provence in france , a city and arch-bishoprick , and seat of a parliament . aix , an imperial city lying neer the low countries . albe , a town in montferrat , belonging to the duke of savoy . albano , formerly alba longa , a town in italy twelve miles distant from rome . alba regalis , a city of hungary , where the kings formerly were crowned . alberg , a city and bishoprick in jutland . albret , a country and dutchy in gascony . albreton , a town and port in barbary . alby , a city in languedoc , the richest bishoprick in all france . alcali de henares , a town and university in the new castile . alcantara , a city of castile . alemaer , a town in the northern part of holland . almaigne , see germany . alenson , a city and dutchy in normandy . aleppo , a town of great traffique in asia , where the garravannes arrive , and the rendezvous of the turkish armies , in their wars against persia . aletz , a city and bishoprick in languedoc . alexandretta or scandero , a sea port at the bottom of the streights . alexandria , a city of egypt , seated on the mediterranean sea , a patriarchal seat , having two ports , and famous for the pharos there built , one of the seven wonders of the world. alexandria , a city in the dutchy of milan . algabria , a province in the south of portugal . algiers , a city and republique in africa , upon the confines of barbary , famous for pyracies , and the defeat of the emperour charls the fifth's fleete . alicante , a town and port in the kingdom of valentia in spain . alize , a place in the dutchy of burgundy , now ruinous , formerly famous for the siege it endured against julius caesar . allier , a river in france , it runs to moulins . almeria , a town and port in granada . alps , mountains which divide france and italy . alost , a town in flanders . alsatia , a province of germany . altembourg , a town and dutchy of the empire in misnia . amalfi , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples , where was first found out the use of the compass . almara , a town seated on a mountain in abissinia , where are kept the princes of the blood royal. amasia , a town in anatolia . amberg , the chief town of the upper palatinate . amboina , an island in the indian sea , upon the north from the molluccos . ambois , a town and castle in tourane in france , seated on the banks of the river loir . america , one of the four pants of the world , otherwise call'd the west-indies . amiens , a city and bishoprick , and chief town of picardy , one of the most considerable in france , beautified with a very strong citadel , built there by henry the iv. after he had taken the town from the spaniards in the year 1596. ammon , a town of bile dulgend , formerly famous for the temples and oracles of jupiter . amsterdam , the chief town of holland , a place of the greatest traffique in europe . ana , a town in arabia deserta , upon the river euphrates . anatolia , a province in asia , under the subjection of the turk . anclam , one of the hans towns in pomerania . ancona , a town and port upon the adriatick sea , or gulfe of venice , under the subjection of the pope . andaluzia , a province in spain . andernac , a town under the archbishop of colen . adrianople , a city in romania , the seat of the turkish emperours before constantinople . angiers , the chief town ( and a bishoprick ) of the province of anjou in france . anglesey , an island upon the coast of wales . angola , a kingdom in africa , upon the south of the kingdom of conge . angoulesme , a city , bishoprick , and dutchy , the chief town of the province of angoulmois . angoulmois , a province in france . angra , the chief of the tercera islands . anian , a streight between america and asia , takes it name from a country of new mexico . anjou , a province in france . annecy , a town of savoy , formerly the chief of the country of geneva , and residence of the bishop of geneva . antibes , a town and port in provence . antioche , a patriarchy in asia . antivary , a city in dalmatia , under the subjection of the turk . antwerp , a city in brabant , under the king of spain , a place of great traffique , and strengthened with one of the noblest citadels of europe . aoust , a city and dutchy in piedmont . appenines , mountains which passe from the east to the west of italy dividing it . appenzel , a town and chief of one of the cantons of switzerland . apt , a city and bishoprick in provence . apulia , a province in the kingdom of naples . aqui , a town in moutferrat , where there are hot baths . aquila , a town in the kingdom of naples in italy . aquilea , a town in friuli , under the venetians , ruinated by artila king of the huns , after a three years siege . it was formerly the seat of a patriarch , whose residence is now at vdino . arabia , a country in asia ; there are three countries of them distinguished by the epithetes of petrea , the stony ; deserta , the desart ; and foelix , the happy . arauques , a people of chili , the most warlick of all the americans . archipelago , formerly the aegean sea , between europe and asia . arbois , a town in the franche county , famous for the good wines it yields . ardennes , a forrest in luxembourg upon the frontiers of france . ardres , a very strong town in picardy . aremberg , a county of the empire , bordering upon the states of juliers and colen . arguin , a small island and a fort upon the coast of nigritia , belonging to the hollanders . arhusen , a town , port , and diocess in jutland . ariea , a port in peru , where they ship the silver brought from petosi . arles , a city and arch-bishoprick in provence , upon the rhone , one of the ancientest towns of france . armagh , a town and arch-bishoprick in vlster in ireland , whose archbishop is primate of all ireland . armagnae , a county in gascoyne . arnehim , a town in guelderland . arona , a town in the dutchy of milan . arques , a small town in normandy , famous for the victory obtained there by henry the fourth , in the year 1589. arquico , or erroco , a town upon the confines of abex , belonging to the turk . arragon , formerly a kingdom , now a province in spain . arras , the chief town of artois . artois , a country between france and flanders , shared by the kings of france and spain . aschaffenbourg , a town in franconia , the residence of the elector of mentz . asia , one of the four parts of the world assisi , a town in italy , in the patrimony of the church in vmbria . l'assumption , a town in the country of plata in america . ast , a town and country lying between piedmont , and montferrat . astorga , a town , and bishoprick in the kingdom of leon in spain . astracan , a town , and kingdom , in the greater tartary , near the mouth of the river volga , belonging to the great duke of muscovy . asturia , anciently a kingdom , now a province in spain . athenes , now setines , a ruined town in greece , anciently the head of a noble commonwealth . atlantick , sea , part of the western ocean . atlas , or claros , a mountain in africa , towards the south of barbary , one of the highest in the world. athlone , a town in the province of connaught in ireland . auche , the metropolitane town of gascony , whose archbishoprick is esteemed to be the richest in france . avein , a town in luxembourg . avesnes , a town in hainault . auge , a country in normandy . avigliano , a small town in piedmont . avignon , a city and archbishoprick , and chief of the county of venaissin , upon the rhone , between provence and the principality of aurange , belonging to the pope . avii , a town in portugall . aulnis , a country in xaingtonge , of which rochelle is the chief town . auranches , a town , and bishoprick in normandy . auray , a town and port in britany . aurick , a town in friseland , residence of the counts of embden . ausbourg , a town in swabeland . aussone , a town in burgundy , upon the river saone . austria , a country in germany , the only arch-duchy in europe . autun , a very ancient city and bishoprick in burgundy . auvergne , a province in france . auxerre , a city and bishoprick in burgundy . auxois , a small country in burgundy . axel , a town in flanders , whose surprisall was the first exploit of count maurice of nassau , captain general of the united provinces azac , or azoff , a town seated in the marishes made by the lakes called meotides , between europe and asia . azin court , a small town in artois , where in the year , 1415. the french army consisting of 80 thousand , and commanded by the connestable d'albret , were defeated by king henry the fifth of england . b babelmandel , an island , in the streights , at the entry of the red sea. bache serrail , a town in the lesser tartary . badoiox , a town in castillia nova , upon the confines of portugal . bade , a town in switzerland , where the assembly of the cantons is held . baden , a city and marquisate in alsatia , subject to the emperour . bagded , a town upon the river tygris in asia , a place of great traffick , by reason of the passage from turky to persia , a little dayes journey from the ancient babylon . bagalouq , a town upon the frontiere of bosnia and dalmatia , under the dominion of the turks . bahama , an island , and the most rapid channel in all america , being eastwards from florida , thorow which the spanish fleets pass to the havana . bah●rem , an island in the gulfe of persia . baieux , a city and bishoprick in normandy . baio●ne , a city and bishoprick in gascony , upon the borders of biscaye . balaguier , a town in catalonia . balbastro , a city and bishoprick in arragon . balsora , a town in turcomania , in asia , near the mouth of the river tigris . baltick sea lies between germany , denmark , sweden , and poland . bamberg , a city , and bishoprick of the empire . bangor , a city and bishoprick in wales ; famous for the abbey anciently founded there , in which twelve hundred monks lived upon their own labour . bantam , a town in the isle of java , the general mart of almost all the east indies . bapaume , a town seated upon rising in artois , very hard to be besieged , by reason of the scarcity of water in those parts . barca , a town in the eastern part of barbary . barca , a desart in the eastern part of biledulgend . barcelona , a city and bishoprick in catalonia , the chiefest town of that province , very rich , populous , and of great traffick , being seated upon the sea . barcelonete , a city and principality in piedmont . barbary , a country in africa , lying upon the mediterranean sea. bar upon aube , a town in champaigne in france . bar , upon the seine , a town in burgundy . bari , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples , where the kings of the two sicilyes were anciently crowned . bar le duc , the chief town of artois . barletta , a city , and archbishoprick , and fortress in apulia , in the kingdom of naples . barrois , a country lying between lorraine , and campaigne . barnagesso , a kingdom in abissinia , which payes annually to the turk a thousand ounces of gold. barwick , a very strong town in england , upon the frontiere of scotland . basil , a city , giving name to a canton of the switzers , seated upon the river rhine , one of the fairest of all that country . biscaye , a country bordering upon gascony . bass , a small island not far from edenburgh , famous for the great quantity of geese that frequent it at certain seasons . bassigny , a country in campaigne . bastia , the chief town of corsica , where the governour resides . bastic , a small town upon the coast of epirus , where they usually imbargue for constantinople . batavia or jacatra , a town in the isle of java , belonging to the hollanders . baudissen , a town in lusatia , the residence of the governour . bauge , a small town in anjou in france , where charles the eighth , then dolphin , obtained a signal victory over the english , then commanded by the duke of clarence , who was there slain , in the year 1420. bavaria , a country , and duchy in germany . bazas , a city and bishoprick in guienne in france . bearne , a province of france upon the borders of navarre , also a canton of switzerland joyning to geneva . bearford , a small town in groenland . beaucaire , a town in languedoc , upon the banks of the rhone . beausse , a province in france , of which orleans is the chief town . beaufort , a town in anjou in france , but that that gives a title to the ducthy is in champaigne . beaujolois , a small country , comprised under the lyonnois a province in france . beaumaris , a town in the isle of anglesey . beaune , a town in burgundy , famous for the excellent wines it yields . beauvais , a city , bishoprick , and peerdom of france , within the government of the isle of france . beja , a town in portugal . belac , a town in marche , a smal province comprised under that of poictou in france . belgrade , the chief city of servia seated upon the danube . bellegarde , a strong town in burgundy , upon the river saone . belley , a city , and bishoprick in bressia , near the franch county . bellinzone , a small province in switzerland , under the protection and jurisdiction of the three principal cantons . belle-isle , an island upon the coast of britany in france . benavarri , a town in arragon in spain . benevent , a city , archbishoprick , and dutchy in the kingdom of naples , under the subjection of the pope . bengala , a kingdom and gulfe in the east indies . benin , a town and kingdome in guine . benthem , a city and county under the dominion of the emperour in westphalia . bergamo , a city not far from the alps , under the dominion of the state of venice . bergerac , a town in perigort in france . bergen , a town in norway . bergen op zon , a strong town in brabant , subject to the states of holland . berlin , the chief city of brandenburg , and residence of the elector . bern●●des , an island towards the east of virginia , subject to the king of england . berne , a protestant city and canton of the switzers , bordering upon the lake of geneva , the most powerful of them all ; also a country in the kingdom of navarre . berri , a province in france . bertogade , an imperial town in bavaria . bervalde , a town in brandenbourge , where the treaty was between the french and swedes , in the year 1631. besancon , an imperial city , and archbishoprick in the franch county . besarabie , a country which makes up part of moldavia ; subject to the turk . bethune , a town in artois . beziers , a city and bishoprick in languedoc in france . bidache , a small soveraignty , in the lower navarre . bielsk , the chief town of polaquia . bienne , or biel , a town in switzerland leagued with the cantons . bigorre , a town in gascony . bilbao , the chief town of biscaye , famous for the excellency of its corn , beyond all the rest of spain . biledulgerid , or numidia , a country in africa . biledulgerid , a particular town of that country . biminis , a small island eastward of florida . biolizero , a fortress seated in a lake in muscovy , where the great duke keeps his treasures . bi r , a town upon the river euphrates , the usual place of imbarguing for bagdet . biscaye , a province of spain . new biscaye , a province of new spain . bitche , a county in lorraine , upon the frontiers of germany . black sea , anciently the euxine sea , lyes between asia and europe above constantinople . blaye , a town and fortresse upon the river garomne in guienne . bletterans , a town in the franche county . bloys , a town and county with a royal castle seated upon the loire . bohemia , a kingdom near germany , now possessed by the emperour . bois belle or enrichmont , a small soveraignty in berry in france . bologne , sur mer , or upon the sea , a city and bishoprick in picardy in france . bolognia la grassa , so called by reason of the fatness of the soyl , a city , archbishoprick and famous ancient university in italy , the second town in the popes dominions . bommel , an island beautifyed with a fair town , in the dutchy of guelderland . boni , a town upon the loyr , between neverrs and orleans , and ancient residence of the knights of st. lazarus , an order now abolish'd in france , and incorporated with that of st. maurice in savoy . bonificaio , a town and port in the isle of corsica . bonne , a town upon the river of rhine , alittle above colen , the residence of that elector . borcholme , a fortresse in the isle of oeland near gotia . boriquen , one of the greatest islands upon the coast of america . boristhenes , a river in scythia . bormio , a town and county in switzerland , belonging to the grisons . borneo , an island in asia , with a town of the same name . bosledue , a strong town in brabant , subject to the states of holland . bosnia , a province of europe , under the subjection of the turk , it was anciently a kingdom . bothnia , a province in swedeland . bovines , a town in the county of namur , made famous by the bloody field which philip , sirnamed august , king of france , won of ferdinand , earle of flanders , who was there taken prisoner . bourbon l' ancy , a town in burgundy . bourbon l' archam bault , a city in the province of bourbon in france , famous for the baths , and the title which the royal house of france thence assume . bourbonnois , the name of that province in france . bourdeaux , a city and archbishoprick , the chief town of guienne , and seat of a parliament , famous for the great traffique there used for wines . bourg in bressia , the chief town of that province . bourg sur mer , or upon the sea , a town of guienne , built upon the banks of the river dordogne . bourges , a city and archbishoprick , the chief town of berry , and seated in the very center of france . bourgogne or burgundy , a province of france . bozolo , a principality belonging to the duke of mantoua . brabant , a dutchy , and one of the 17. provinces of the netherlands . bracciano , a city and dutchy within the popes dominions , of whom it is now held by the antient family of ursini in italy . braga , a city in portugal , whose archbishop pretends to the primacy of all spain . braganza , a city and dutchy in portugal , the title of king john the fourth , before he was proclaimed king. brandenbourgh , a county , city , and electorate in germany . breda , a city and barony belonging to the prince of orange , seated in brabant . bregens , a town and county in tirol . bremen , one of the hans towns in the lower saxony , the archbishoprick of bremen was raised to a dutchy , and by the peace concluded at munster in the year 1648. given up to the crown of sweden . bremgarten , a baylywick in switzerlnnd , and belongs to the eight antientest cantons . bresil , a country of a vast extent , in the eastern parts of the southern america , and possessed by the portugals and hollanders . breslaw , the chief town of silesia , and one of the fairest of all germany . bressia , a town lying under the alps , belonging to the state of venice . bressia , a province of france between lyons and geneva . brest , a town and famous port in the extremest westerne part of the lower britany . britain , great britain , the greatest island of europe , comprising england and scotland ; also a province of france , divided into the higher and lower britany . brian con , a town in dauphine in france , conceived to be one of the highest in the world. briare , a town upon the loyre within the dutchy of orleans , where the channel is cut for the communication of the loyr and the river seine . brie , a country in champaigne in france . briege , a town in silesia . bregnol , a town in provence , whence come our best prunellaes . brilinton , a small town in york shire where the queen landing at her return from holland was barbarously treated by four of the parliaments ships , who for a long space played with their canon on the town , especially on that house in which her majesty was shelterd , brille , a famous town and port in holland . brindisi , formerly brundusium , a city , archbishoprick , and famous port within the kingdom of naples . brinne , a town in moravia . brisack , a city in brisgau a country of alsatia , and one of the strongest of all germany ; it was yielded up by the house of austria to the crown of france , in the year 1648. brisack , a town and dutchy in anjou in france . bristol , a city of great traffique , situate both in somersetshire and glostershire , but is a free county of it self , not far from the borders of southwales . brives , a town in limosin a province of france . brixen , a city and bishoprick in the county of tirol , under the emperour of germany . brouage , one of the fairest and strongest forts in france , in xaintonge not far from bourdeaux . bruges , a city in flanders , the fairest and best built of any in that province , famous also for the beauty of its female inhabitants . brunswick , a town in germany , one of the four principle hans towns , also a country and dutchy in germany . bruxelles , a city in brabant , the residence of the prince or governour of the low countries under the king of spain . buda , the chief town of the kingdom of hungary , the residence of a bashawe . budu veis , a town in bohemia . buenos aytes , a town upon the river plata in the west-indies , whither the king of spain was perswaded to bring his silver from potosi , but found it not convenient , by reason of the vicinity of the portugalls in bresil . buckingham , a town and county , with the title of dutchy , now born by the noble family of the villiers . bulgaria , a province of europe , under the subjection of the turk . burgau , a marquisate in swabeland , belonging to the house of austria . burgos , a city and archbishoprick in the old castille . bursa , a city of anatolia , the seat of the first emperours of the turks , and one of the fairest of all turky , little inferiour to constantinople . butrinto , a place upon the confines of epirus , belonging to the venetians . c cab● d'istria , a town in istria , in the venetian territories . cabul , a city and kingdom upon the continent of india , belonging to the mogull . cachieu , or serra leona , a town in guinee belonging to the portugalls . caen , a city and university in normandy . caffa , a town in the peninsula of the lesser tartary , belonging to the turk . caffreria , a country in africa . cagliari , the chief city , and an archbishoprick in sardinia . cahors , the chief city , and a bishoprick in quercy in france . cairo , the chief city of aegypt , and second of the turkish empire , near to which are built the pyramides , one of the seven wonders of the world. cairoan , a town in barbary , in the kingdome of tunis , formerly the residence of a mahometan calife . calabria , a province in the kingdom of naples . calais , a town in picardy , opposite to dover , formerly in the possessions of the kings of england , but surprised by the french in the raign of queen mary . it s situation gives it the reputation of one of the keyes of france ▪ and its gallant fortifications and great traffick gain it a place among the best towns of that kingdom . calatajub , a town in arragon . calatrava , a city in castilla nova . calcedon , a city in anatolia , famous for the general councill held there . calicut , a town in a peninsula made by the river indus , on this side the river ganges , belonging to the portugalls . california , an island near to new mexico . caliz or cadiz , an island and city upon the coasts of andalusia , with a famous port , the usual rendezvous of the king of spains armadoes , where also his west-indian fleets do still come in ; a place of that consequence , that charles the fifth recommended the preservation of it to his son , as one of the keyes of his dominions , the other two being gouletta in barbary , and flushing in zealand . callo , a fort in flanders , where the states army received a sharp check in the year 1638. calmar , a town in gothland , strongly fortified , by reason it is upon the frontiers of denmark ; it hath also a port upon the baltick sea. cambaja , a city and kingdom in india . cambalu , a town of tartary , and chief of the province of cathaye . camboja , a kingdom , and town of the same name in india . cambra , a city and archbishoprick of the empire , seated between france and the low countries , strengthened with two brave cittadels . cambridge , one of the two most famous universities in the world. camin , a city , and bishoprick of the empire , in pomerania . canada , or new france , a large country in the northern part of america . canaries , islands belonging to the king of spain . canaria , a town in these islands , famous for the excellency of its wine . candahar , a kingdom and city of the same name , upon the east of persia , belonging to the mogull . candea , a town in the isle of ceilan in asia . candie , an island and kingdom in the mediterranean sea , under the subjection of the venetians , and for these many years the seat of war between them and the turks . it was anciently called crete . candia , the chief city , and an archbishoprick of that kingdom . canea , a town in the isle of candy , taken by the turks in the year 1645. canterbury , a city in kent , the seat of the archbishop and metropolitane of all england . canton , the richest town , and of the most traffick in all china . capoua , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . caprarola , a small town in the ecclesiastick state , but made famous by one of the most noble palaces of all italy , belonging to the duke of parma . capria , an island near naples . cap verde , an island upon the west of america . caramit , a town of diarbuh a province of turky in asia . carcassone , a city and bishoprick in languedoc in france . cardiff , a town in southwales . cardona , a city and dutchy in catalonia , famous for its mountain of salt. caribes , a people in guiana in america , who eat those enemies whom they take in battle . carignan , a principality and city of the same name in piedmont . carinthia , a province of germany . carlisle , a strong town in cumberland , upon the borders of scotland . carlinforde , a town and port in the province of ulster in ireland . carmagnole , a fortress in the marquisate of salusses in piedmont . carmarden , a country and town of the same name in wales . carniole , a province in germany . carpentras , a city and bishoprick in the county of avignon in france , but belonging to the pope . carpy , a city and principality belonging to the duke of modena . carrikke , a province in scotland . carthage , a ruined place near tunis in barbary . cartagena , a city in murcia , the best port of all spain . cartagena , a town in castile d' oro , advantaged with a fair port , which renders it the most considerable of america . casal , the chief city of montferrat , belonging to the duke of mantoua , and which being under the protection of france , and fortified with a gallant cittadell , has proved many times the ball of discord between the kings of france and spain . casbin , a city in persia . cascar , a kingdom , and city of the same name in turquestan in tartary . cashell , a city , and archbishoprick in munster in ireland . caspian sea , de sala , or de bachue , a sea in forme of a lake in asia . cassell , the chief city of hessen . cassovia , a city in the higher hungary belonging to the house of austria . castel-arrogonese , a strong town in the isle of sardignia . castelnau darry , a town in languedoc , near to which was defeated and taken the duke of montmorency in 1632. who was not long after beheaded at tholouse . castille , a kingdom in spain ; there are two of these castilles , the old , and the new . castille d'oro , a country in america . castillon de stivere , a small soveraignty , and marquisate belonging to the duke of mantuxa . castillon , a town in perigord in france , near which were defeated the english , and their general slain upon the place , in the year 1451. by which victory charles the seventh recovered the province of guienne . castres , a city and bishoprick in languedoc in france . castro , a dutchy , and town of the same name , in the ecclesiastick state , but belonging to the duke of parma . catalognia , a province , and principality in spain , upon the mediterranean sea. cathaye , a country in tartary in asia . cavilon , a city and bishoprick in the county of avignon . caudebec , a town in normandy . caux , a country in normandy . cauamalca , a small place in peru where atabalippa the last king of that country was defeated and taken by the spaniards . cazan , a kingdom and town of the same name in tartary belonging to the great duke of moscovy . cephalonia , an island , and town of the same name upon the west of greece , belonging to the venetians . ceilan , an island in asia . ceneda , a town under the subjection of the venetians . cerigo , an island near the morea , belonging to the venetians . cerisoles , a small town in piedmont , famous for the victory obtained by the french under the conduct of the duke d'enquieu , over the marquess du guast 1544. ceve , a town and marquisate in piedmont . cevenes , a country upon the mountains of languedoe in france . ceuta , a town of barbary , upon the streights of gibraltar belonging to the king of portugal . chaalons sur marne , a city , bishoprick , and county in champagne , famous for the victory obtained by the french , romans , and goths , over attila king of the huns , in the year 453. chagra , a river upon the confines of the two americaes , where pass the merchandises bound for panama , and peru. challo● , a city and bishoprick in burgundy . chamb , a town and county in the upper palatinate . chambery , the chief town of savoye . champagne , a province of france . champ arrien , a small town near bourdeaux where charle maigne defeated the gothes . charante , a river in france , running to angoulesme , and seintes . la charite , a town in the dutchy of nevers in france . charlemont , a town strongly seated in the county of namur , one of the seventeen provinces of the low countries . charle ville , a town upon the meuse , in the north part of champagne . charolles , the chief town of the county of charrolloi in burgundy . chartres , a town in b●ausse in france , an ancient residence of the druides , chasteau-dun , the chief town of a little country called dunois , near unto beausse . chasteau regnaud , a little soveraingty upon the meuse in champagne . chasteau-roux , a town in berry . chasteau thierry , a town within the government of the isle of france . chastelleraud , a town upon the river vienne in poictou in france . cher , a river in france , which discharges itself into the loyre a little below tours . cherbourg , a town upon the coast of normandy . chesne povilleux , a town in champagne , where the inhabitants claim a priviledge to assist at the coronation of the kings of france , and to convey the holy ampoulle or oyle ( pretended to be brought by an angel at the consecration of the first christian king of that kingdom ) from st. remy to our ladies church in rheimes . chester , the chief town of the county palatine of cheshire where we usually embarque for dublin , and the parts adjacent , in ireland . chiavene , a town and county in switzerland . chier , a town in piedmont , where the french obtained a signal victory over the spaniards in the year 1639. chili , a country in america . china , the most considerable kingdom of all asia . chinon , a town in tourrain in france . chio , an island , where there is also a town of the same name , the most pleasant & fertile of any island in the archipelago , famous for the mastick & malvoisy wines which it yields . chiorlick , a town of romania , near to which was defeated selim by his father bajazet emperour of the turks . cilley , a town upon the east of carniola . ciotat , a town and port in provence in france . cirenza , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . circassia , a county in georgia , where the mamalukes had their original . citta di castello , the chief town of a small province , within the ecclesiastick state . ciudad del rey philippo , a colony of spaniards planted in magellanica at the mouth of the streights of magellan , but dissipated by famine . civita de chieti , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . clermont in auvergne , a bishoprick and chief city of that province in france . cleves , a country and dutchy in germany upon the rhine . clissa , a fortresse in dalmatia , taken by the venetians in 1648. cobtentz , a city of the archbishoprick of triers , where the rhine and the moselle meet . cobourg , a city and dutchy of the empire , in franconia . cochim , a kingdom with a town of the same name in india . cochin china , a kingdom in india bordering upon china . coeverden , in overissel , the most regular fortification in europe . cogoreto , a town upon the coast of genoa , the country of christ . columbus . coimbra , a town in portugal ; famous for its university . coire , the chieftown of the grisons . colberg , a very well fortified town upon the baltick sea . colchester , a town in essex , where the royallists made a brave resistance against the parliamentarians under the command of sir thomas fairfax , but being at length ( vanquished by necessity ) forced to yield , sir charles lucas and sir george lisle were harquebusiered after the rendition of the town . colleoure , a strong town in the county of ronssillon , taken from the spaniards by the french in 1648. colmar , an imperial town in the upper alsatia . colocza , a city and archbishoprick in hungary . colen , an imperial town upon the rhine , the archbishop of that place is one of the electors of the empire , and keeps his residence at bonne . como , a town in the dutchy of milan , gives name to a great lake not far from it . cominges , a country in gascony . compiegne , a town in the isle of france . compostella or st. jago , the chief town of galicia , famous for the pilgrimages thither made to the reliques of that saint who gives name to the chiefest order of knights in spain . concarneau , a strong town and port in britany in france . condom , a city and bishoprick in guienne . congo , a kingdom in africa . coni , a town in piedmont very advantageously seated . connaught , a province in the west of ireland . conserans , a country in gascony . constance , a town in swabeland , gives name to a lake not far from it . constantine , a city and chief of a kingdome in barbary . constantinople , a city in romania , seated the most pleasantly of any in the world , anciently the residence of the eastern emperours , now of the grand signior of the turkes . constantinow , a place in padolia in poland , near to which were the polish forces roughly handled by the revolted cosackes in 1648. conza , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . copenhagen , a city in the isle of zealand , chief of the kingdom of denmark , and usuall residence of its kings . corbeil , a town upon the sein within the government of the isle of france . corbie , a town in picardy upon the some , taken by the spaniards , and retaken by the french in 1636. cordova , a city in andalusia , chief of a kingdome , during the raign of the moores in spain , but much more considerable under the romanes . corena , a town in barbary , in the country of barca . corfou , an island , city and archbishoprick in the venetian territories , lying on the west of greece , accomodated with a good port , and strengthened with two castles , whose scituation renders them almost impregnable . cori , one of the chiefest towns in georgia . corinth , a town seated in an isthmus in that part of greece , now called morea , formerly more famous then now adayes . cornewall , a county in the south-west part of england , famous for the abundance and excellency of the tinne it yields . corregio , a town and principality in the country of modena , subject to the duke of that country . coromandel , a place upon the coast of the river indus . corsica , an island in the mediterranean sea , upon the south of italy , belonging to the republick of genoa . coruna , a town and port in gallicea , one of the best of all spain . cosaques , auxiliary souldiers entertained by the king of poland , and kept upon his frontiers to oppose the incursions of the tartars . cofenza , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . cosmopolis , a town in the isle of elbe in the mediterranean sea , belonging to the duke of florence , accomodated with a fair and well fortified port . cossir , a town in aegypt upon the red sea. cotbus , a town in lusatia , belonging to the electors of brandenbourg . courtray , a town in flanders upon the lys , famous in the late wars , but more in the year 1302. by the defeat of the french , who there lost the greatest part of the nobility of france , besides the connestable , the king of majorque , the count of artois , and many other great persons there slain . coutances , a city and bishoprick in the lower normandy . coutras , a town in guienne , famous for a battle fought there in the year 1587. cranganor , a city and archbishoprick in the peninsula made by the river indus , belonging to the portugalls . creci , a place in picardy famous for the bloody victory which the english there got over the french , who there lost the king of bohemia , the brother of king philip of valois , the duke of lorraine , the countes of blois , flanders and st. pol , in the year 1346. crema , a town in the venetian territories . cremona , a city within the dutchy of millain . crevant , a town in burgundy , where in the year 1423. the connestable stuart lost a memorable battle , fought against the english and the burgundians . crim , a town in tartary the lesser . croatia , a province in europe divided between the turk and the house of austria . croia , a town in albany , the country of scanderbeg , the scourge of the ottoman empire . cromarty , a sea port in scotland . crossen , a town and dutchy in silesia , belonging to the electors of brandenbourg . cuba , an island upon the coast of america , and one of the most considerable in those parts . cujavie , a province of poland . cullembach , a principality of the empire in franconia . culm , a town in prussia , and chief of a little country there . curlande , a province between poland and swedeland , governed by a duke of their own under the protection of poland . cuscou , a town in peru , the ancient residence of their kings , whom the inhabitants call incas . custrim , a very strong town in brandenbourg . czirnicz , a town in carniola , where there is also a lake , where the retreat and reflux of the waters affords the pastime either of hunting or fishing . d dalmatia , a province of europe lying upon the gulph of venice , anciently a kingdom , but now subject to many masters . damas , the chief town of phenicia , residence of a bashaw , famous for its good grapes , excellent blades , and other damasco works . dambea , a town in abyssinia . damietta , a town in aegypt , upon the sea , formerly conquered by st. lewis king of france . damvillers , a strong town in luxembourg . danemark , a kingdom in the north part of europe . dantzick , a town in prussia , one of the principall of the hans towns . danube , the most eminent river of europe , rises in swabeland , and falls into the black sea. darby , a shire and town of the same name , about the middle of england . dardanelles , castles upon a streight in the hellespont . davis , a streight towards china . dax , a city and bishoprick in gascony , famous for its baths . dead sea , in judea in asia . decan , a kingdom in the east indies . delf , a town in holland , where william prince of orange was assasinated . delli , a kingdom , and city of the same name , sometimes the residence of the great mogull . denia , a port town in the kingdom of valentia . derbent , a town in georgia , seated upon the caspian sea , and belonging to the turk . dessau , a town in the upper saxony , residence of the prince of anhalt . deventer , the chief town of over-issel . diarbecb , a province of turkie in asia . die , a city and bishoprick in dauphine . dieppe , a port town in normandy , opposite to rye in sussex . digue , a city and bishoprick in provence . dijon , the chief town of burgundy , and seat of a parliament . dinan , a town within the bishoprick of liege , which boasts of 17 sieges it hath withstood . dingle , a port town in ulster in ireland . dinkespiel , an imperial town in swabeland . diu , a fortress of the portugals , in a little island , near the mouth of the river indus . dol , a city and bishoprick in britanny in france . dole , the chief town in the franche county . dombes , a principality in bressia in france , belonging to madamoiselle the eldest daughter of the late duke of orleans . donavert , an imperial town in swabeland , a great pass upon the danube . donquerque , a strong town and port in flanders , having several time been under the subjection of the french and spanish , is now in the possession of the king of england . donzi , a town of the dutchy of nevers in france . dorchester , the chief town of dorsetshire , in the south part of england . dordogne , a river in france , which falls into the garomne five leagues below bordeaux . dordrecht , a town in holland , famous for the national synod held there in the year 1619. douay , a town in flanders , where the english of the romish church have a colledge . douglas , a castle in the county of cliddesdale in scotland . doullens , a town in picardy . douro , a river in spain , rising in old castille . doutling , a town in swabeland , where the french army had a harsh entertainment in the year 1643. dover , a famous port and castle in the county of kent , where king charles the second upon his happy restoration to his just rights first landed . dresde , the chief town of misnia , and residence of the elector of saxony . dreux , a town within the government of the isle of france , famous for a great battle fought there in the year 1562. drogedah , a sea port in ulster in ireland , where cromwell most barbarously murthered the garrison in cold blood after quarter given . dront●em , a chief town of norway . dublin , a port , city , arch-bishoprick and university in ireland , the chief town of that kingdom , and usual residence of the lord lieutenant . dungarvan , a port town in munster in ireland . dunghall , a county and castle of the same name in munster in ireland . dunkelden , an ancient town in scotland . dun le roy , a town in berry in france . dunstafag , a town in the west part of scotland , anciently the residence of the scottish kings . durance , a very rapid river in provence , which infesteth the countrey with frequent inundations . durazzo , a port town in albani in greece . durham , a city , bishoprick , and county palatine in the north of england , where was fought a memorable battle between the english and the scots in the year 1346. durlach , a town and marquisate of the empire in alsatia . dusseldorp , the chief town of the dutchy of bergh upon the rhine . dwelande , an island in zealand , famous for the passage of the spaniards through the sea in the year 1575. dwina , a town of great traffique in the north part of moscovy , in a province , and upon a river of the same name . e. ecclofiastique state , the popes dominions , lying in several countreys in italy . ecija , a town in andalusia . edinbourgh , the chief town of scotland . egra , a town and seigniory in bohemia , where in the year 1634. wallestein duke of freidland , and generalissimo of the imperial forces , was assassinated . egypt , a countrey of africa , lying upon the red sea. elbe , a river of germany , which rises in bohemia , also an island in the mediterranean sea , on the coast of tuscany , belonging to the duke of florence . elbing , a hans town in prussia . elnbogen , a town and seigniory in bohemia . elsenore , a town in the isle of zeland in denmark , whose castle commands the sound . elsimbourg , a town in schoneland in denmark , upon the sound . elvas , a town in portugal , famous for the excellency of its oyls . embden , a town and county of the empire in westphalia . embrun , a city and archbishoprick in dauphiné in france . england , a kingdom in the west part of great britain , new england , a countrey in canada . ems , a town in austria , upon a river of the same name . ensistheim , the chief town of the higher alsatia . epirus , a province , anciently a kingdom in greece . erfort , the chief town of turingia in germany . ervansarat , the chief town of bosnia . escaut , a river in the low countreys , rising in picardy . escuriall , a royal castle near madrid , built by king philip the second of spain , in form of a grid-iron , in memory of the battle of st. quentins ; this structure cost him twenty millions of gold. eslingen , an imperial town in swabeland . estampes , a town and dutchy in beausse in france . este , a town in the venetian dominions , from whence the family of the dukes of modena have their name . estella , a town in the kingdom of navarre ; it is also called merinda . esthonia , a province & dutchy in livonia . estotilande , a countrey in the north part of america . estrac , a county in gascony . estramadura , a country in castille , and portugal . etna , a mountain in scicily , famous for the flames it oftentimes breaths forth at the top of it . euphrates , a river in turkie in asia . evora , a city and arch-bishoprick in portugal . eureux , a city and bishoprick in normandy . europe , one of the four parts of the world . exceter , the chief town of the county of devonshire in the south-west of england . f faience , a town in provence , famous for the white earthen ware there made . falaize , a town in normandy , the countrey of william the conquerour . famagousto , a port town in the isle of cyprus . faso , a town in georgia . fer , the most western island of the canaries , famous for a most miraculous tree growing there , which supply the inhabitants with as much water as they have need of . ferden , an imperial city and bishoprick , now a dutchy , given up to the crown of sweden by the treaty of munster 1648. la fere , a strong town in picardy . fermo , a city and arch-bishoprick in the ecclesiastique state , in marcha anconitana . ferrara , a dutchy and city of the same name near the river po , now subject to the pope , anciently governed by a duke of its own . fez , a kingdom and city of the same name , with an university , in barbary . final , a town and marquisate upon the coast of genoa , under the subjection of the king of spain . fino terra , the most western cape in europe in gallicia . finland , a province of sweden . finmarque , the most northern part of norway . fiumo , a town in dalmatia near unto italy , belonging to the house of austria . flanders , the most noble county of christendom , and one of the 17 provinces , subject to the king of spain . la fleche , a town in anjou , famous for the colledge of jesuits , which by the donation of henry the fourth , have nested themselves in one of the royall palaces . flensbourg , a port town in jutland , where the assembly of estates of denmark is usually held . flushing , a very strong port town in zealand . florence , the fairest city of italy in tuscany , an archbishoprick and residence of the great duke . florida , a countrey in america . fogie , a town in anatolia , upon the archipellago , where the venetians obtained a memorable naval victory over the turks in 1649. foligui , a town in the ecclesiastique state in umbria . fountain bleau , the fairest of the king of france his houses , within the government of the isle of france . fontarabie , a strong fortress in biscay , where the french received a defeat in 1638. fontenay le comte , the chief town of the lower poictou . forden , a strong town in scotland . forez , a province in france near lyonnois . fournoue , a town in the dutchy of parma , where king charles the eighth of france obtained a signal victory over the princes of italy 1494. france , a brave kingdom of europe , whose king carries the title of the most christian . isle of france , a province in which paris stands . franckfort upon the maine , an imperial town in franconia , famous for the fairs , and the election of the emperours . frankfort upon the oder , a town in brandenbourg . franch comte , a province within the kingdom of france , but subject to the king of spain . franconia , a province in germany . frankendale , a strong town in the lower palatinate . frieberg , a town in misnia , the burial place of the electors of saxony . freiuis , a city , bishoprick and port in provence . fribourg , a town in alsatia , and chief of the province of brisgaw . fribourg , a canton and town of the same name in switzerland . friuli , a province in the venetian territories . friseland , one of the seven united provinces . friseland , a countrey in the north sea , taken for a part of groenland . fromigni , a village in the lower normandy , where the english were defeated by the french in 1450. frontignan , a small town in languedoc , famous for the excellence of its wines . fulde , a town and abby in hesse , whose abbot is a prince of the empire , and first abbot of germany . funchal , the chief town of the isle madera . fures , the chief town of the province of forez . furnes , a town in flanders , where philip the fair of france gained a memorable victory over guy count of flanders , who lost there 16000 of his men . g gaietta , one of the strongest towns in the kingdom of naples . gallicia , a province in spain . new gallicia , a province in new spain . gallipoli , a town in romania , upon a streight of the same name , otherwise called the dardanelles , st. george his arms , and the hellespont . galloway , a port town in connaught in ireland . gand , the chief town in flanders , formerly so populous that it could raise an army of 80 thousand men . ganges , a river in india , which divideth it into two parts . gapi , a city and bishoprick in dauphine . garomne , one of the four principal rivers of france , it rises in the pyrennean hills , and falls into the ocean below bourdeaux . garnzy , an island upon the coast of normandy , subject to the king of england . gascogny , a province in france . gostinois , a small countrey near beausse in france . gaure , a small countrey in gascogny . gemblours , a town in brabant , where the confederates of the low countreys were defeated by the spaniards in 1578. genoa , a republique and famous city of the same name in italy , governed by an elective triennial prince . geneva , a considerable town and commonwealth , seated upon a lake of the same name , leagued with the switzers ; the first seed-plot and nursery of presbytery . gennep , a town in the dutchy of cleves , taken by the hollanders 1641. georgia , a countrey in asia . germany , a countrey in the north part of europe , it hath the title of an empire , and comprehendeth many great provinces and principalities . gex , a town and bayliwick in france , between bressia and switzerland . gibraltar , a town and famous streight between europe and africa , at the entry of the mediterrancan sea. girone , a town in catalonia , formerly the apportion of the eldest son of the kings of arragon . gisors , a town in normandy , in the county of vexein . givaudan , a countrey in the cevenes in languedoc in france . glandeve , a city and bishoprick in provence . glantz , a canton and town of the same name in switzerland . glascowe , a city and arch-bishoprick in scotland . glatz , a town and county appendant to bohemia . gloucester , a shire , with a town and county of the same name , famous for the combat between edmond ironside and canutus king of the danes . glukstad , a fortress in holsatia , upon the elbe , subject to the king of denmark . gnesne , a city and bishoprick , the primacy of all poland , whose archbishop executes the regal office in the interregnum or vacancy of the king. goa , a city and archbishoprick in the east indies , the residence of the vice roy of portugal . goi●me , a kingdom and town of the same name in abissinia , where is supposed to be the source of the river nilus . goritz , a county and town of the same name , belonging to the house of austria . gorlitz , the chief town of lusatia . gothbourg , a port town in gothland . gothland , antiently a kingdom of it self , now subject to the king of sweden . gothland , an isle in the baltique sea , belonging to the king of sweden . gottingue , a town and dutchy in the countrey of brunswike . gouletta , a fortress at the entry of the port of tunis . grace , a city and bishoprick in provence . gradisque , a town in the county of goritz , belonging to the house of austria . gran , or stiggonia , a city and archbishoprick in hungary upon the danube , now under the turk ; the archbishop of that place is perpetual chancellour of that kingdom , and hath the honour to crown the king after he is elected . granoon , a town in switzerland , where charles duke of burgundy with an army of 50000 men was defeated by 5000 switzers , who came too late to the relief of the town , in the year 1476. granville , a port town in normandy . graveline , a town in flanders , one of the strongest of all europe . greece , a countrey of europe , now subject to the turk . greez , the chief town of stiria . grenada , a kingdom in spain , very considerable in the time of the moors dominion there . grenada , a town in the same kingdom , one of the biggest of all spain . new grenada , a kingdom in castille d'oro in america . grenolle , a city and bishoprick in dauphine , and seat of a parliament . grisons , a people bordering upon , and leagued with the switzers . gripswalde , a town and university in pomerania . grol , a town in the county of zutphen in the low countries . groeneland , a great countrey towards the arctique pole , it is an island or peninsula . gronengue , a town and seigniory , one of the united provinces . glogaw , a town in silesia upon the oder . gruiers , a town in the canton of fribourg in switzerland . grunninguen , a town in saxony in the principality of halberstat . guadalaiara , a town and province in new spain . guadaloupe , one of the islands called the azores , of which there are many upon the coast of america . guadalquivir , one of the greatest rivers in spain , it runs to sevill . fuadarfuj , the most eastern cape of africa . guadiana , a river in spain , which its said , runs under ground . guanahani , one of the azores , the first that was discovered by columbus . guastella , a town and principality under the duke of mantoua . guatimala , a province and town of the same name in new spain . gueguere , an island in aethiopia , in the river nilus . guelderland , a dutchy , and one of the seventeen provinces , divided between the king of spain and the hollanders . gueret , the chief town of marche , a province in france . guiana , a countrey in the south part of america . guienne , a province in the west part of france . guinée , a countrey in africa . new guinée , a countrey lying east of the east indies . guinegat , a small town in artois , famous for a defeat the french there received in the year 1478. guise , a town and dutchy in picardy in france , strengthened with a brave castle . gustrou , a town in mechlenbourg , and residence of the duke of mechlenbourg . h. habsbourg , a ruined castle in switzerland , it hath the title of an earldom , and was the first possession of the house of austria . hadersluven , a port town in jutland . harlem , a town in holland , famous for the first invention of printing . hag , a town and county of the empire in bavaria . hague , the fairest , best built and most pleasant village of europe , the residence of the prince of aurange , and the councel of the united provinces . haguenau , an imperial town , and chief of the lower alsatia . hailbron , an imperial town in swabeland , upon the nekar . hainaut , one of the seventeen provinces , under the subjection of the king of spain . halberstat , a city , bishoprick and principality of the empire in saxony , now belonging to the elector of brandenbourg . halderstein , a small seigniory in switzerland , near to coire . hall , an imperial town in swabeland ; there are many other places of the same name in germany . ham , a hans town in the county of mark in westphalia . hambourg , a hans town of great traffique upon the elbe in the lower saxony . hamiltown , a castle in the south part of scotland , the possession of one of the principal families of that kingdom . hanau , a town and county in veteravia , a countrey of germany , which makes up part of hesse . hartford , a town in a shire of the same name in the eastern part of england . hastings , one of the cinque ports in the county of sussex , famous for the victory obtained there by william the conquerour . havana , an eminent port town in the isle of cuba , the rendezvous of the spanish fleets havre de grace , or new haven , a very strong port at the mouth of the river seine in normandy , fortified with a most impregnable cittadel . hebrides , islands to the number of 300. upon the coast of scotland . hecla , a mountain in isleland , famous for the fires it sends out . heiterskeim , a castle in brisgow in alsatia , the residence of the grand prior of the order of malta . henday , a town of france , in the county of biscay , famous for the exchange of two queens , anne of austria , married to the french king , and isabella of bourbon , married to the king of spain . henneberg , a county of the empire in franconia . herac , a town in arabia deserta . hermanstad , the chief town of transilvania . harmanstein , a fortress near the rhine , in the archbishoprick of triers . hesdin , a strong town in artois . hesse , a countrey of germany , the soveraign of it is known by the title of landgrave . hieres , a town in provence , which gives name to the neighbouring islands . hispaniola , an island , one of the chiefest upon the coast of america . hoentwiel , a fortress in swabeland in germany , belonging to the duke of wirtemberg , seated upon a rock , and hath bravely withstood seven or eight sieges against the imperialists . hola , a small town in island . holac , or hoenloe , a county in franconia , whose chiefest town is veikersheim . holland , the most considerable of the seven united provinces . holdenby , a castle belonging to the crown , in northamptonshire , where king charles the first was first kept a prisoner by the parliamentarians . holsatia , a province between germany and denmark . honduras , a province and gulph in new spain . honnecour , a small town upon the frontiers of picardy , where the french received a notable defeat in the year 1642. hudson , a streight in a sea in the north of america , otherwise called christian . hulst , a town in flanders , taken by the hollanders , in 1645. hungary , a kingdom upon the north-east of germany , divided between the house of austria , and the turk . hutons , a people of canada . j jacca , a city and bishoprick in arragon , strengthened with a fair cittadell . jaon , a town , formerly a kingdom in andalusia in spain . jamaica , an island upon the coast of america , now subject to the crown of england , the pittiful return of many thousands lavished by cromwell in his expedition for hispaniola . jametz , a strong place in lorraine , yielded to the king of france in the year 1632. jamsuquiam , a river in china , otherwise called nanquim . janewits , a town in bohemia , where in the year 1645 the swedes gained a great battle over the imperialists . japan , an island in asia . jarnac , a town in angoulmois in france , famous for a great battle fought there , in the year 1569. jaroslaw , a town and dutchy , the apportion of the eldest son of the great duke of moscovy . jarzy , an island upon the coast of normandy , but subject to the crown of england , and with its neighbour island of garnzey , under the bishoprick of winchester . java , an island of asia . javarin , or raab , a fortress in hungary , belonging to the house of austria . jaycza , the chief town of bosnia . jegerndorf , a town and dutchy in silesia . jemmingen , a small town in westphalia , famous for the defeat of the confederates of the low countries , under the command of lewis of nassau , by the spaniards , under the conduct of the duke d'alva . jerusalem , a town in the holy land in asia , the theatre upon which were acted the chief mysteries of our salvation . indus , a river in the east indies , giving name to that great countrey , in asia . indies , west , the same with america . ingolstat , a town upon the danube in bavaria . ingria , a province in the kingdom of sweden . inspruck , the chief town of tyroll , and seat of a parliament . joinville , a town and principality in champagne in france . jordan , a river in the holy land in asia , it falls into the dead sea . joux , a fortress in the franch county , taken by the french 1639. ipre , a town in flanders , where cornelius jansenius was bishop . ireland , an island in the western ocean , formerly a kingdom of it self , but long since conquered by the english , to whose king it is still subject . iroqu●is , a people of canada . ischia , an island and fortress not far from napl●● . isembourg , a county of the empire in veteravia , in germany . isere , a very rapid river in dauphine , falls into the rhone , not far from valence in the same province . island , an island belonging to the king of denmark . isenach , a town and dutchy of the empire in turingia . ispahan , the chief town of persia , and residence of the sophy . issoudun , a town in berry in france . istria , a province in italy , upon the gulph of venice , and subject to that state. jucatan , a peninsula in new spain . juliers , a town and dutchy of the empire , in germany , not far from the low countries . ivree , a town and marquisate in piedmont , belonging to the duke of savoy . ivry , a town in normandy , famous for a memorable victory there gotten by henry the fourth of france , in 1590. jutland , a peninsula in denmark . k kamenieck , the chief town of podolia in poland . kanisa , a town in hungary , the residence of a turkish bashaw . kempen , a town in the archbishoprick of colen . kendall , a town in westmorland in the north of england , which gives a title to the eldest son of the duke of espernon in france , who is called duke of candalle . kildare , a town in a county of the same name in lemster in ireland . kilkenny , a town in a county of the same name in lemster in ireland . kimpercorentin , a city and bishoprick in the lower britanny in france . kingstown , the chief town of the kings county in lemster in ireland . kingsail , a port town in munster in ireland . kiow , the chief town of volhinia , upon the boristhenes a river in scythia , very strongly sortified , by reason of the vicinity of the tartars . knock feergus , a port town in vlster in ireland . kolding , a town in jutland , where there is an imposition of a rix-dollar upon every head of great cattle that passes there . komorre , a fortress upon the danube in hungary , belonging to the house of austria . konigsberg , the chief town of prussia ducall , belonging to the duke of brandenbourg . krempe , a very strong town in holsatia . l. ladoga , a town and lake in moscovy , upon the frontier of sweden , the greatest in europe . laguibraj , a town in normandy , famous for the fairs held there . lahor , a town in a kingdom of the same name in india , belonging to the great mogol , where the caravannes pass . laiazzo , a town in anatolia upon the frontiers of souria , where bajazet the second emperour of the turks was defeated by the soldan of egypt . lancaster , the first town of the county palatine in lancaster , and a dutchy title of one of the younger sons of the king of england . lanciano , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . landes , a county in gascogny . landrecy , a strong town in hainault . landsberg , a town in brandenbourg . langres , a city and bishoprick of champagne in bassigni , whose bishop is duke and peer of france . languedoc , a province of france upon the mediterranean sea , and bordering upon catalognia . lantriguet , or triquier , a city , bishoprick and port town in britany in france . laon , a city and bishoprick , the chief of a small countrey in picardy , the bishop is a duke and peer of france . laponia , or lapland , a province , part of which is subject to the king of sweden , the other part to the great duke of muscovy . laredo , a port town in biscaye , where in the year 1539 the archbishop of bourdeaux defeated the spanish fleet. larmiro , a port town in thessaly in greece . larta , a town in epirus . lavaur , a city and bishoprick in languedoc in france . laubach , the chief town in carniole . lave munde , a town in corinthia . lauraguais , a countrey in languedoc . lausanne , a city and bishoprick in switzerland , the bishop resides at fribourg . lawenbourg , a town and dutchy of the empire in the lower saxony . lawingen , a town in swabeland upon the danube , the countrey of albertus magnus . le●oa , a town in the kingdom of naples , reputed the second best of that kingdom . leicester , a town in a shire of the same name about the middle of england . leipsick , a town in misnia , famous for three memorable battles in 1631 , 1632 , and 1642. all to the advantage of the swede . leith , a small town not far from edinbourg in scotland . leitour , a city and bishoprick in gascogny . lemster , a province in the east part of ireland . leon , a kingdom in spain , also the chief town of that kingdom , where many of the kings of spain are interred . leondule , or st. pol de leon , a city and bishoprick in britany in france . leopolis , see lewemberg . lepanto , a town in greece , where the christians obtained a memorable victory over the turks , in 1571. lerida , a town in catalognia . lescar , a city and bishoprick in bearne . lespece , a town and gulph upon the coast of genoa . leucatc , a fortress in languedoc . leuchtemberg , a landgraviate in the upper palatinate . leutmaritz , a town in bohemia . levin , a valley in the valtoline , where the duke of roban general of the french defeated the army of the imperialists , 1635. lewarden , the chief town of west friseland . lewemberg , a soveraignty in pomerania , subject to the crown of poland . lewemberg , or leopolis , and l●uvou , a city and arch-bishoprick in black russia . leuvin , a lake and castle in the south part of scotland , once the prison of that famous princess , mary queen of scotland , and dowager of france . leyden , a town in holland , famous for its university , and that memorable srege of the spaniards it withstood in the year 1574. the besiegers there receiving a total rout . libourne , a town in guienne in france . liesse , a small town in laonnois , a countrey in picardy , famous for the devotions there paid to our lady . ligorne , or livorne , a brave new port and town in tuscany . lisle , a town of great traffique in flanders . lillo , a fortress below antwerp , belonging to the states of holland . lima , or los reyes , an archbishoprick and chief town of peru , the residence of the vice roy of spain . limaigne , a rich valley in auvergne , a province in france . limbourg , a town and dutchy , one of the 17 provinces , subject to the king of spain . limerick , a town in a county of the same name in munster in ireland . limoges , the chief town of limosin , a province in france . lincolne , the chief town of a county of the same name in england , upon the german sea . lindau , an imperial town of swabeland , upon the lake of constans . lingen , a strong town in westphalia . lin●ithgo , a town and county in scotland , west of edinbourgh . lints , a town in the upper austria . lipars , islands in the mediterranean sea , upon the north of sicily . lire , a town in brabant . lisbone , the chief town of the kingdom of portugal , one of the fairest , richest and most populous town of europe . lisieux , a city and bishoprick in normandy . lithuania , a province and dutchy in poland . liverdune , a town in the dutchy of lorraine . livonia , or leifland , a province in poland , subject to the crown of sweden . locarne , a town and bayliwick in italy , belonging to the switzers . loches , a town in tourraine , a province in france . locomoriens , a people of tartary . lodere , a city and bishoprick in languedoc in france . logan , a town and bayliwick in italy , belonging to the switzers . loire , one of the principal rivers of france , it rises in the gevennes in languedoc , and falls into the western ocean below nantes in britany . lombardy , a countrey in italy , upon the po. lombez , a city and bishoprick in gascogny . london , the chief town of england , seated upon the river thames , one of the fairest and richest of the world . lopia , a countrey of tartary . loretto , a town in the ecclesiastique state , upon the adriatique sea , famous for the devotions and pilgrimages there made to our lady . lorraine , a dutchy , soveraign in europe . los isleos , a government in bresill . los reyes , see lima. los santos , a fortress in bresill . lot , a river in cahors in france . loudun , a town in poictou , gives name to a little countrey in that province . louvaine , a town in brabant , with an eminent university . low countries , the seventeen provinces of belgia or lower germany ; there is also another countrey in canada which bears the same name . lubeck , an imperial hans town , in lower saxony . lublin , a town in the higher poland , the seat of a parliament in summer . lugon , a city and bishoprick in poictou , the first preferment of cardinal richlieu . luequa , a town and republique in tuscany in italy , lyes between genoa and florence . lunden , a city and bishoprick in sconeland , the metropolis of denmark . lunebourg , a hans town , and soveraign dutchy of the same name in saxony . lure , an abbey and soveraignty in the franche county . lusatia , a province in germany . lusignan , a town in poictou in france , from whence is issued a family some of whose branches have been kings of cyprus and jerusalem ; famous also for the noble castle of melusine . lutzeilstein , a county in lorraine . lutzen , a town in misnia in germany , famous for the last victory and death of the king of sweden , in 1632. luvou , see lewembourg . luxembourg , a dutchy and one of the 17 provinces of the low countreys . luxembourg , the chief town of that dutchy ; also the name of one of the noblest palaces of europe in paris , built by queen mary de medicis , the wife of henry the great of france . lyege , a town upon the meuse , chief of a bishoprick of the same name . lygeois , a bishoprick and principality bordering upon the low countreys . lyons , an antient city , standing upon the rhone , and the soane , one of the fairest , richest , and of greatest traffique of france , the archbishop of lyons stiles himself metropolitan of france . lyonnois , a province of which lyons is the chiefest city . m. macao , a town in an island of the same name upon the north part of china , subject to the portugals . madagascar , vid. st. laurenslis . madera , an island upon the west of barbary , lying in the western ocean , belonging to the king of portugal . madrid , a town in castillia nova , the chief town in spain , and residence of the king. magdebourg , a hans town in saxony , often sacked by the imperialists , against whom it withstood a memorable siege for the space of fifteen mon●ths , in the year 1545. one half of the town is free ; the other half is subject to the elector of brandenbourg , who was put into the possession of it by the peace concluded in the year 1648. magellan , a famous streight upon the south of america . magellanica , a countrey in the southern part of america . mahamorra , a fortress upon the coast of the kingdom of fez , belonging to the king of portugal . maienne , a town in the dutchy of maine . maine , a province in france . maillezais , a city and bishoprick in poictou in france . maina , a small republique in the morea . majorque , a town in an island of the same name upon the coast of spain in the mediterranean sea , antiently a kingdom . malabar , a countrey in the east indies , on this side the river ganges . malaca , a town in a peninsula made by the river indus ; it is now in the possession of the hollanders , who took it from the portugals . malaga , a port town in the kingdom of granado , famous for the wines it sends forth . maldives , an island in asia . male , the chief town of that island . malespine , a marquisate , and soveraignty in tuscany in italy . malines , a town and soveraignty in brabant , one of the 17 provinces , belonging to the king of spain , and seat of the chief parliament , of all the catholique part of the low countreys . malleguetta , a countrey upon the coast of guinée . malta , an island in the mediterranean sea , between sicily and africa , whose knights are a considerable bulwark of christendom . malvoisia , a town in the morea , famous for the wines it yields . man , an island lying in the irish sea , between lancashire and ireland . manar , a small island upon the coast of ceilan , an island of asia , famous for the abundance and excellency of the pearls there taken ; the portugals have a fortress there . manfredonia , a city and arch-bishoprick in the kingdom of naples , it lyes upon the gulph of venice . manheim , a fortress in the lower palatinate , where the rhine and the neckar meet , it is now dismantled . manilha , a city and archbishoprick , the chief of the philippine islands . manoa-el dorado , a town in guiana . le mans , the chief town of the dutchy of maine . mansfeld , a town and county of the empire , in the upper saxony . mant , a town in the government of the isle of france . mantouan , a countrey and dutchy in italy . mantoua , the chief town of that dutchy , and residence of the duke . maranhox , or miari , a river , and government in bresill . marche , a province of france . margaias , a people of bresill . margareta , an island upon the coast of castille d'oro , famous for the pearls which come thence . mariembourg , a strong town in hainault . marignan , a town in the dutchy of milan in italy . marmora , a sea between asia and europe , formerly called the propontis , between the hellespont and constantinople . marne , a river in champagne in france . marocco , a town in a kingdom of the same name in africa , upon the west of barbary . marpurg , a town in hessen , a province of germany . marquenterre , a countrey in picardy . marsalquivir , a port town in the kingdom of algiers , possessed by the king of spain . marsan , a countrey in gascogny in france . marseilles , a city and bishoprick in provence upon the mediterranean sea , the most antient town of all france , accommodated with as secure a port as any in the world besides ; the antient inhabitants have expressed their dexterity and courage in opposing two of the greatest emperours of the world , julius caesar , and charles the fifth . martegues , a port town in provence . mascon , a city and bishoprick in burgundy . mase , see meuse . massa , a town in a soveraign principality of the same name in italy , between tuscany and genoa , famous for its marble quarries . masseran , a principality in piedmont . mastrich , a town in lyegois upon the river mase , subject to the states of holland . matapan , the most southern cape of europe , in the morea . matera , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . mauleon , a town in biscaye . mazagan , a fortress of the king of portugal , upon the coast of marocco . mazara , a town in sicily . mazzo , a small town in the valteline , where the french , under the conduct of the duke of roban gained a memorable battle against the imperialists , in the year 1635. meaco , the chief town of japan . meaux , the chief city and bishoprick of brie in france . mecqua , a town in arabia , where mahomet was born . medellino , a town in castille nova . medina , a town in arabia , where mahom●ts tombe is . mediterranean sea , lyes in the midst of our continent , between europe , africa , and a part of asia . medoc , a countrey in guienne in france . mechelbourg , a countrey and dutchy of the empire , in germany . meliapor , or st. tomaso , or st. thomas , a town in the peninsula made by the river indus , on this side ganges . meldola , a marquisate and soveraignty in the ecclesiastique state. mellila , a town in barbary , subject to the king of spain . melinda , a kingdom and town in it , in zanguebar in africa . melun , a town in the isle of france . mentz , a free town upon the rhine in germany , which gives name to an electoral archbishoprick . mende , a city and bishoprick in the countrey of givaudan in the cevenes . meotides , lakes and marishes between europe and asia . mergetheim , a town in franconia . merida , a town in castille nova , antiently so populous that it could raise an army of 80000 foot , and 10000 horse . mersbourg , a city and bishoprick in misnia . messina , a city and archbishoprick in sicily , the bravest port in the whole island . metelene , a town in an island of the same name in the archipellago , upon the coast of asia , under the turk . metz , a city and bishoprick in lorraine , now subject to the french crown , and seat of a parliament . meulan , a town and fortress upon the seine , in the government of the isle of france . meurs , a town in a country of the same name in germany , bordering upon the rhine . meuse , or mase , a river running through lorraine , champagne , and the low countreys . mexico , an archbishoprick , and chief town of new spain , residence of a vice roy , and famous for its silver , which is esteemed to be the best in the world . mexico , or new spain , a countrey in america . new mexico , a countrey of great extent in the west part of america . mezieres , a town in champagne , strengthened with a brave cittadel . micona , a small island in the archipellago , belonging to the venetians . middlebourg , the chief town in the island of zealand . middlebourg , a town in flanders , under the subjection of the states of holland . milan , the greatest and fairest town in italy . milanez , the fairest dutchy in all italy . milforde , a port town in wales . mingrella , a county in georgia in asia . minorqua , an island in the mediterranean sea , upon the coast of spain . mirandola , a town in a dutchy and soveraignty of the same name near mantouan , in italy . mire court , a town in lorraine . mire poix , a city and bishoprick in the county of foix in france . misistra , antiently sparta , a ruined town in the morea in greece . misne , or meissen , a city and bishoprick in misnia . misnia , a province of germany . mocandan , a streight at the entrance of the persian sea . modena , the chief town of modenois . modenois , a county and dutchy in italy . mogacz , a place in the lower hungary upon the danube , where the christians had a great overthrow by the turks . moldavia , a county of europe , but tributary to the turk . molueques , islands of asia . mombase , a kingdom in zanguebar , with a fortress in an island of the same name , belonging to the king of portugal . mombelliard , a town and county in the franche county , belonging to the duke of wittemberg . mombrisson , a town in forez in france . momgommery , a town in normandy , the title of that gentleman who unfortunately slew henry the second of france , with a lance , in a jest . mommedi , a strong town in lorraine . mompellier , a city , bishoprick , and antient university in languedoc in france . mompulcian , a town in tuscany in italy . monaco , or mourgues , a port town and fortress upon the coast of genoa , governed by a prince under the protection of france , since 1641. mon castell , a town in flanders . monson , a town in arragon in spain . moncontour , a town in poictou in france . montferrat , a province of italy , divided between the dukes of savoy and mantoua . monmouth , a town in a county of the same name in wales . monomotapa , a countrey and kingdom in africa . monce , the chief town in hainault . monserat , in catalonia , famous for the devotions there paid to our lady . monsoreau , a town in anjou in france . monstieres , a city and archbishoprick in tarantaise in savoy . mont , a marquisate in the ecclesiastique state in italy . montaldo , a small place in piedmont , subject to the pope . montargis , a town in gastinois upon the east of beausse , a province in france . montauban , a city and bishoprick in quercy in france , famous for the memorable sieges it hath withstood . mont de marsan , a town in gascoigne in france . montefiascope , a town in the ecclesiastique state in italy , famous for the muscatello wines . montelimark , a town in dauphine in france . monterreau-faut-yonne , a town in the government of champagne , where was killed the duke of burgundy , the sworn enemy of the house of orleans . monte st. angelo , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . montesia , a town in the kingdom of valentia in spain , it gave name to an order of knights . montgommery , a town in a shire of the same name in wales . montleherry , a town in the isle of france . mont●●●lian , a town and fortress , the key of savoy . montreal● , a city and archbishoprick in sicily . montreuill , a town and fortress in picardy in france . montrose , a marquisate in the north of scotland , made famous by the last marquesse there of , one of the greatest captains in our age , who most faithfully supported the interest of king charles the first , and the second , against the covenanters , who ro their eternal ignominy most basely murthered him . moravia , a province in germany . morea , a peninsula in greece , antiently called peloponesus . moock , a town in guelderland upon the mase , where the spaniards gained a memorable battle against the confederated dutch. mora● , a town in switzerland , where charles duke of burgundy received a defeat in 1476. morlaix , a port town in britany in france . mortaro , a town in the dutchy of milan , where charles le magne formerly obtained a signal victory over the lombards . moscou , the chief town of muscovy , residence of the great duke , and a patriarch . moscovye , see russia blanche , or the white . moselle , a river running through lorraine and germany . mosul , antiently nineve , a town in diarbech in asia . la mothe , a fortress in lorraine , razed by the french in 1645. moulins , the chief town of bourbonnois in france . mountains of the moon , mountains upon the north of monopotapa in africa . mourgues , see monaco . mouzon , a town in champagne , famous for the brave resistance it made against the imperialists , under the command of picolomini , one of the greatest captains of his time . mozambique , a kingdom in zanguebar in africa , with a fortress in an island of the same name , the most considerable government which the portugals there have . mulberg , a town in misnia in germany , where charles the fifth defeated the elector of saxony . mulhausen , an imperial town in alsatia . munick , the chief town of bavaria , and residence of the duke . munster , a province in the south of ireland . munster , a city and bishoprick of the empire in westphalia . murcia , a kingdom in spain upon the mediterranean sea. murcia , a chief town in that kingdom , famous for its traffique of silk . muret , a town in gascoigne in france , where simon earle of montforde obtained a great victory over the albigeois , and arrogonois , the king of arragon being there slain upon the place , with above 20000 others , in the year 1206. n nagera , a place in navarre , where was instituted the order of knights of the flower de lys , in 1048. namur , the chief town of the county of namur , one of the 17 provinces , subject to the king of spain . nancy , the chief town of lorraine : before this town was charles duke of burgundy slayn by rene duke of lorraine , in 1477. nangasachi , a town in japan . nanquim , a city in china , near a river of the same name . nantes , a city and bishoprick upon the river loire , in britany . naples , a fair town in a kingdom of the same name in italy , subject to the king of spain , for which he payes a small yearly tribute to the pope . napoula , a town in the morea . narbone , a city and bishoprick in languedoc in france . narsingue , a town in a kingdom of the same name in india . navarre , a kingdom in spain . navarrin , a port town in morea . navarrins , a fortress in bearne in france . naumbourg , a city and bishoprick in misnia . negrepont , a town in an island of the same name in the archipellago , subject to the turk . nemours , a town and dutchy in the government of the isle of france . nerac , a town in guienne , and chief of the dutchy d'albert . nermonstier , an island upon the coast of poictou in france . nerva , a strong town in livonia . newbourg , a town and dutchy of the empire in bavaria . newcastle , a strong town in the county of northumberland , whence come great abundance of coales . neuf chastell , a town and county belonging to the duke of longueville . nevers , a city , bishoprick , and dutchy , the chief town of nivernois upon the loire . newport , a town in the isle of wight , also a port town not far from ostend in flanders . newark , a town in nottinghamshire upon the kiver of trent . newsell , a fortress in hungary . nicaregua , a province in new spain . nice , a city and bishoprick in a county of the same name in france , upon the mediterranean sea , strengthened with a fair citadel . nice de paille , a town in montferrat . nicosia , a town in the isle of cyprus . nieper , or bonithenes , a river in poland . nigeboli , a town in bulgaria , where bajazet emperour of the turks gave a great defeat to the christians . nigritia , a countrey in africa . niger , a river in that countrey . nile , a river in africa , running through abissinia and aegypt , where it falls into the mediterranean sea . nimmeguen , a town in the dutchy of guelderland . niort , a town in poictou . nitaw , the residence of the dukes of curland . nivernois , a province in france . nogent le retrou , the fairest village of france , in perche . noion , a city and bishoprick , and one of the antient peerages of france , which assist at the kings coronation . nombre des dios , a town in castille d'oro , whose commerce is now translated to porto belo . norfolk , a rich county in the east part of england . norlinguen , an imperial town in swabeland . normandy , one of the fairest provinces of france . northampton , the chief town of a shire of the same name about the middle of england . northausen , an imperial town in turingia . northumberland , a county in the north of england . norway , a kingdom in the north of europe , subject to the king of denmark . norwich , the chief city in norfolk , famous for the manufactury of stuffs . notebourg , the chief fortresse of ingria . noto , a town , and valley in sicily . nottingham , a town in a shire of the same name about the middle of england . novara , a town in the dutchy of milan , where in the year 1512. the switzers gave the french a great overthrow . novelare , a town and county under the duke of mantoua . novogrode-veliki , or the great , a city and archbishoprick in moscovy . nisi novogrode , or the lesse , a town in muscovy , upon the river volga . nubi● , a kingdom in africa , also the chief town of that kingdom . nuremberg , an imperial town in franconia . nuys , a town in the archbishoprick of colen upon the rhine , famous for its brave resistance against the siege of charles duke of burgundy , in the year 1474. o. obi , a river in asia . ocziacow , a town in podolia in poland , where the river boristhenes falleth into the black or euxine sea , belonging to the turk . oder , a river in germany , running through silesia , brandenbourg , and pomerania . oelande , an island in the baltique sea. offembourg , an imperial town and chief of the county of ortnau in alsatia . oldembourg , a town and county of the empire in westphalia . oleron , a fair island and fortress in the western ocean upon the coast of xaintonge , a province of france . oleron , a city and bishoprick in bearne . olinde , a town in bresil , taken by the hollanders in 1630. olite , a town in navarre . olmuts , a city and bishoprick in moravia . olonne , a port upon the coast of poictou in france . ombria , a province in the ecclesiastique state in italy . oneille , a town and marquisate upon the coast of genoa , belonging to the duke of savoy . onspach , a town and marquisate of the empire in franconia . oran , a town upon the coast of barbary , subject to the king of spain . orange , a town and principality upon the rhone , bordering upon the county of avignon , and the province of dauphine in france . orbitelle , a town upon the borders of tuscany in italy . orcades , islands upon the north of scotland . orehelana , a river between guiana and bresil . oristano , a city and archbishoprick in sardignia . orleans , a city and bishoprick upon the loire in france , it was antiently the head of a kingdom , but now the title of the french kings second son . ormus , a town in a kingdom in persia . ornano , a seigniory in the isle of corsica . orvietto , a town in the ecclesiastique state in italy . osma , a city and bishoprick in the old castille . osnabrug , a hans town in westphalia . ostend , a strong port town in flanders . ostia , antiently a famous port at the mouth of tiber. otranto , a city , and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples , where they imbarque for greece . ottansee , the chief town of fionia . overisle , one of the united provinces of the low countreys . ouessant , an island upon the west of britany in france . oviedo , the chief town of biscay , where sonie of the gothish kings retreated upon the approach of the moores . ourque , a town in portugal , famous for the victory of king alfonso over five kings of the moors . oxford , a town in a shire of the same name , it is also the most eminent university in the world . oyse , a river running through picardy and the isle of france . p paderborne , a hans town in westphalia . padoua , a city and bishoprick , and famous university , about 25 miles from venice , and subject to that commonwealth . palatinate , a province in germany upon the rhine . palamos , a port town in catalognia . palermo , a city and bishoprick in sicily , and residence of the vice roy of the king of spain . palmela , a town near setuvall in portugal . palma la nova , a fortress in friuli , the the most regular fortification in the world , guarded with nine bastions , and 700 pieces of cannon . palos , a port town in andalousia , where columbus set fail , when he went to the discovery of the west indies . pamiers , a city and bishoprick in the county of foix in languedoc in france . pampeluna , the chief town of the kingdome of navarre . panama , a town in castille d'oro upon the south sea . para , a fort and government in bresil . paraguay , a country in america , comprising tucuman and plata . paraiba , a town in bresil , possessed by the hollanders . paria , or ore noque , a river between castille d'oro and guiana . parime , a sea or rather lake in guiana . paris , a most noble city and archbishoprick , the chief town of france , and residence of the king , and seat of the chief parliament . parma , the chief town of a dutchy of the same name in italy . parmezan , the country where parma stands . passage , a port town in biscay . passau , a town of the empire in bavaria , upon the danube . patagous , a people in magellanica , ten foot high . patay , a town in the province of beausse in france , where the french under the conduct of john duke of aleneson , got a memorable victory over the english , commanded by the great talbot , the terrour of the french. patras , a town in the morea in greece . patrimony , of st. peter , a province in the ecclesiastick stare in italy . pavia , a great town in the dutchy of milan , where francis the first of france was taken prisoner . pavoasan , a town in the isle of st. thome . pegu , a town in a kingdom of the same name in india . peguin , the chief town of china , and residence of the king. pembroke , a town in a county of the same name in wales . penon de veloz , a fortress of the king of spain's , upon the coast of barbary . pirche , a province in france . perigord , a province in france . perigueua , the chief city and a bishoprick in perigord . peron , a very strong town in picardy . perpignan , the chief town of the county of rousillon strengthened with one of the fairest and best fortified citadells in europe . persia , a great kingdom in asia . perthois , a countrey in champagne . peru , a countrey in america . perugia , a town in a province of the same name in the ecclesiastique state. petillano , a soveraign county in tuscany in italy . petrikow , the seat of the parliament in poland in the winter time . psalzbourg , a principality in lorraine . phenicia , a province in asia . philippe ville , a strong town in hainault . philippine , islands upon the coast of asia , of which lucon is the chiefest . philisbourg , a fortress in the lower palatinate , one of the keys of germany , subject to the archbishop of tryers . pica , a mountain in the island of tenariffe , one of the canary islands , and one of the highest in the world . picardy , a province in france . piedmont , a countrey of italy , subject to the duke of savoy . pignerol , a town and citadel in piedmont , the key of italy . pilsen , a town in the kingdom of bohemia . piombino , a town and principality upon the coast of tuscany . pisa , a city and archbishoprick in tuscany , between ligorne and florence , residence of the knights of the order of st. stephen . placentia , a city and bishoprick in the kingdom of leon. plaisensa , a town in a dutchy of the same name in lombardy , subject to the duke of parma . plata , a river ; also a countrey in america ; also a city and archbishoprick in peru. pleskow , a strong town in muscovy , upon the frontiers of sweden and poland . pleurs , a town in the grisons countrey , overwhelmed with a fall of a mountain , in the year 1618. plimouth , a town of great traffique by reason of its two ports , in devonshire , in the south-west part of england . pludents , a small seigniory in tyrol , belonging to the king of spain . po , the greatest river of italy , it runs through lombardy , & falls into the adriatique sea or gulph of venice in several branches between venice and ravenna . poblet , a monastery in catalognia , where the kings of arragon were antiently buried . podolia , a province of poland . poissi , a town upon the seine in the isle of france . paictiers , a city and bishoprick , the chief town of poictou , and one of the greatest circumference in france , famous for its university , and many memorable battles , especially that of the black prince . poictou , a province of france . pola , a town in istria . polaquia , a province of poland . pomejok , a town in virginia . pomerania , a country in germany , shared between the crown of sweden , and the elector of brandenbourg . pont a mouson , a town in lorrain . pont de ce , a small town and castle upon the loire , in the province of anjou in france . pont de l' arche , a strong town in normandy . pont du gard , three bridges built , one over the other , over the river gardon , for the continuing of an aquaduct to nismes , the lowest bridge having six arches , the second eleven , and the highest thirty four , a thing of great antiquity . pont eau de mer , a town in normandy , between caen and roven . pont l'evesque , a town , not far from caen in normandy . pont oise , a town in the isle of france , not far from paris . pont orson , a town in normandy , upon the frontier of britanny . pont st. esprit , a town in languedoc upon the rhone . ponthieu , a county in picardy . pontremoli , a town and signiory between genoa and tuscany , belonging to the duke of florence . popaien , a town in a countrey of the same name in castillia d'oro . porentru , a town in switzerland , the residence of the bishop of basil . port hercole , a town and port in tuscany , belonging to the king of spain . port lewis , or blavese , a secure and well fortified port in britanny in france . porto royale , a port in acadia in new france . porto , a town in the ecclesiastique state , at the mouth of the river tiber . porto , a town of great traffique in portugal , which first gave name to that kingdom . porto belo , an eminent port in castillia d'oro , where arrive all marchandises from spain to peru. porto longono , a fortress and port in the isle of elve , upon the coast of tuscany . porto seguro , a government in bresill . portsmouth , a strong town and port in hampshire . portugal , a kingdom in europe , inclosed by spain on all sides , except where it opens to the western ocean . posega , a town in sclavonia , subject to the turk . posna , the chief town of the lower poland . povengi-o-rio grande , a fortress in bresill . potosi , a town and mountain in peru , where are the richest silver-mines in the world . prague , the chief city , and an archbishoprick in bohemia . precop , a town in the lesser tartary , which is thence called precopense . presbourg , the chief town of that part of hungary which is under the house of austria . preveza , a town in epirus in greece . provence , a gallant province of france . provins , a town in brie . prussia , a province of poland : it is distinguished into royal and ducal , the latter belonging to the elector of brandenbourg , who does homage for it to the crown of sweden . le puy , a city and bishoprick in vellaj , in the gevenes in languedoc . puy cerda , the chief town of the county of cerdaignia between france in spain . pyrenean hills , mountains which separate the kingdoms of france and spain . q. qvebec , a town upon the great river in the county of canada or new france . quedelimbourg , an abbey in saxony . quercy , a province in france . quieras , a town in piedmont . quiloa , a town upon the coast of zanguebar , belonging to the portugals . quimpercorintin , a city and bishoprick in the lower britany . quito , a town in peru. r. raab , or ravarin , a fortress in hungary belonging to the house of austria . radicofani , a castle and signiory in tuscany , between siena and rome . ragusa , a city , archbishoprick , and republique in dalmatia , tributary to the turk . ranzou , a castle in holsatia . rappers viler , a town in a county of the same name in switzerland . rattisbone , a city and bishoprick of the empire , it stands upon the danube in bavaria . ravenna , a city of great antiquity in romania in italy , not far from the gulph of venice . ravensberg , a county of the empire in westphalia , belonging to the elector of brandenbourg . razebourg , a town in finland . re , an island in the western ocean , not far from rochelle . red sea , the sea of meca , or the long sea , a gulph or sinus , extending it self from the arabian almost to the mediterranean sea , and dividing africa and asia . redding , a borrough town in bark-shire upon the thames . rees , a town and dutchy in cleves , now under the power of the states of holland . reggia , a town in modenois in italy . rheggio , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . rheimes , a city and archbishoprick in champagne , the archbishop hath the title of premier , or first duke and peer of france , to him belongs the priviledge to crown the french king. remorentine , a town in sologne in france . rendam , a castle in auvergne , before which died the constable guesclin . rennes , a city and bishoprick , the seat of the parliament of britanny . renti , a fortress in artois . retel , a town in champagne , near which did the french obtain a notable victory over the spanish forces , in the year 1650. retimo , a town in candia , taken by the turk in 1646. revel , a port town in livonia . rhimberg , a town of germany upon the rhine . rhinfeld , a town of swabeland upon the rhine , famous for the defeat of the imperialists , and the taking of john de wert , by the duke bernard weymar , in the year 1638. rhodes , a town in an island of the same name near anatolia , in the mediterranean sea , formerly the residence of the knights of the order of saint john of jerusalem , who most exquisitely fortified , and as bravely defended it against solyman emperour of the turks , to whom after a long siege they were forced to yield it ; it was at the entry of this port that stood the huge colossus , from whence the rhodiots were called colossians . rhosne , a river which rises in switzerland , and running through the lake of geneva , and a great part of france , at length falls into the mediterranean sea near aygues mortes in languedoc . richelieu , a new town and dutchy in poictou in france . richemonde , a town and dutchy in torkshire . rieti , a town in the ecclesiastique state in vmbria , about the midst of italy . rieux , a city and bishoprick in languedoc . riez , a city and bishoprick in provence . riga , a city and archbishoprick in livonia , of which it is the chief town . rimini , a town in the ecclesiastique state. riogrande , a government in bresill . riom , a town in auvergne . ripaille , a town in savoy upon the lake of geneva . rivoli , a town in piedmont . roanne , a town upon the loire in forez , not far from lyons , where travellers usually take the convenience of that river to descend to orleans , &c. rochelle , a strong town and port in the countrey of aulnis . rochester , a port town in kent . rocroy , a strong town in champagne , near to which the duke d'enguyen , now prince of conde , defeated the spanish forces , in the year 1643. rodez , a city and bishoprick in rouergue in languedoc . romagnia , a province in the ecclesiastique state. romania , a province in europe , subject to the turk . romans , a town in dauphine in france . rome , a town in italy upon the tiber , the seat of the pope , and formerly the head of the most flourishing empire of the world . roncevaux , a place in navarre , where the french received a great defeat under charlemagne , in the year 792. roneiglione , a county in the patrimony of st. peter . rose-com●n , a county in connaught in ireland . rosevecq , a small town in flanders , famous in history for a battle which charles the sixth won against the rebels of gante ; of whom were slain 40000. upon the place , and their general philip d'artevill was taken and hanged . roses , a very strong town and port in catalognia . rosette , a port town in egypt . roskill , a city and bishoprick in the isle of zeland in denmark . rossano , a city and archbishoprick in calabria , a province in the kingdom of naples . rostoc , a town in mechlebourg . rothsaye , a castle in an island in the gulf of dambritton , it hath the title of a dutchy , and was formerly the apportion of the prince of scotland , from whence , it s said , issued the royal family of the stewarts . rotterdam , a port town in holland , famous for the birth of the learned erasmus . rotweil , an imperial town in swabeland . rouen , a city of great traffique , and an archbishoprick in normandy . rovergue , a country in the province of languedoc . rovigo , a town in italy , subject to the venetians . rousillion , a country between languedoc and catalognia . royans , a town in xaintonge near the mouth of the river garomne . ruyen , an island and principality upon the coast of pomerania , subject to the crown of sweden . ruremond , a town in guilderland , belonging to the king of spain . rushin , a town in the isle of man. russia , black russia , a province in poland . white russia is the same with moscovy , a great empire in the north part of europe . s. sabaria , a town in hungary . sabionetta , a strong town and soveraign dutchy in mantouan . saguenay , a town in new france . sahid , a town in a country of the same name in the higher aegypt . st. andrew , a city and archbishoprick in scotland . st. antonin , a town in rovergue in france . st. aubin , a small town in britany , famous for the victory there obtained by lewis of fremoville , general for charles the eighth over the duke of britany and other princes , in 1488. cap of st. augustin , the most eastern of all africk . st. augustino , a port town in florida . st. beaume , a town in provence where is the grotto of mary magdalen , whose body is said to be there yet preserved . st. bertrand de gominges , a city and bishoprick in gascony . st. borondon , an island upon the west of the canaries , supposed inaccessible by reason of the clouds which perpetually obscure the coasts of it . st. brieux , a city and bishoprick in britany . st. christopher , an island lying towards america , possessed by the english and french. st. denis , a town in the isle of france , four miles distant from paris , the sepulchre of the french kings . st. dizier , a town in campagne . st. domingo , the chief town of the island called hispaniola . st. fe , a town in new mexico . st. fe de bogosa , a town in the new kingdome of granada . st. flour , a city and bishoprick in the upper auvergne . st. foy , a town in guienne upon the dordogne . st. gal , a town and abby in switzerland . st. george de la mine , a port town and fortress in guinee , belonging to the hollanders . st. germane in laye , one of the noblest of the french kings palaces , seated upon the seine in the isle of france , seaven leagues distant from paris . st. guirtrembourg , a strong town in holland , famous for the salmon-fishing . st. helene , an island in the aethiopian sea very remote from the terra firma , and called the sea inn , by reason of the abundance of fresh water , which ships take in there . st. hubert , a city and bishoprick in luxembourg . st. jago de chili , the chief town of chili . st. jago , de compostella , the chief town of gallicia , famous for the pilgrimages made thither in devotion to st. james , whose relicks are reported to be still there reserved . st. jago del estero , a town in tucuman a country in america . s. jean d' angeli , a town in xaintonge in france . st. jean de loon , a town in burgundy upon the saone . st. jean de luz , a small town in biscay . st. jean de morienne , a city and bishoprick in savoye . st. jean pie di porto , a town in the lower navarre , subject to the french king. st. joan de porto rico , a town in the island b●riquen . st. johns town , a town in scotland . st. laurens , or madagascar , an island upon the east of africa , one of the greatest in the world. st. laurence , a river and gulfe in canada . st. legar de conserans , a city and bishoprick in gascony . st. lucar , a port town of great traffick in andalusia , at the mouth of the river guadalquivir . st. malo , a city , bishoprick , and famous port in britanny . st. marguerite , an island upon the coast of provence . st. marino , a town and smal republick in the ecclesiastick state . st. matheo , a port town in florida . st. maure , and island and fortress of the turks upon the coast of epirus . st. menehoud , a town in champagne . mont st. michel , a town built upon a rock in the sea between britanny and normandy , whence came the first institution of the knights of the order of st. michel . st. michel aroange , a port town of great traffick in muscovy . st. michel , the chief town of barrois . st. morris , a town in the country of vallesia . st. nicholas , a port town in moscovy , which gives its name to a gulfe , which is also called the white sea . st. omer , a strong town in artois . st. palaci , the chief town of the lower navarre . st. papoul , a city and bishoprick in languedoc . st. patrick , a place in vlster , called the purgatory of ireland . st. pierre le moustier , a town in nivernois . st. pol de leon , a city and bishoprick in the lower britanny . st. pol trois chasteaux , a city and bishoprick in dauphine . st. pons de tomiers , a city and bishoprick in languedoc . st. quentin , a town in picardy , near which in the time of francis the second were defeated the french in the year . 1557. st. salvador the chief town of bresil , subject to the portugalls . st. salvador the chief town of congo . st. sever , a town in gascony . st. sebastian , a port town in biscaye . st. thomas meliapor a town in india . st. thome , an island and gulfe in the aethiopian sea . st. veit , the chief town of corinthia . saintes , a city and bishoprick , and chief of saintonge . saintonge , a province of france not farr from rochelle . salamanca , a town in the kingdom of leon , famous for its university . salces , a fortress in roussillion . salerna , a city and archbishoprick in the kindom of naples , famous for its physick school , it is also a principality , and was anciently the title of the eldest son of the king of that kingdom . salfeld , an abby of the empire in turingia . salisbury , a noble city in wiltshire . sallies , a town in bearne , famous for a fountain of white-salt issuing there . salme , a county in lorrain . isle of salomon , an island in the pacifick sea ; so called by the spaniards , as if salomon had sent thither for his gold. salon , a town in provence . salone , a ruined town upon the coast of dalmatia . salonicque , a town in macedonia . salzbourg , a city and archbishoprick in bavaria , whose archbishop is a prince of the empire . samarcanda , a town in tartary , the residence of the great tamerlane . samogitia , a province in poland . samoiedes , a people in tartaria deserta . sancerre , a town in berry in france . sanchoan , an island upon the coast of china , where the portugalls first landed in those parts , where also francis xaverius , a brother of ignatius of loyola , who with him first instituted the order of jesuites dyed . sandwiche , a port town in kent . sanguessa , a town in navarre . sanscverina , a city and archbishoprick in calabria . sanferre , a country in picardy . santoss , a fortress in bresil . saone , a river of france , falling into the rhosne , just below the city of lyons . sarbruc , a county between lorraine and germany . sarragosa , the chief city of arragon . sardinia , an island in the mediterranean sea , opposite to genoa , and subject to the crown of spain . sargan , a county subject to the switzers . sarlat , a city and bishoprick in perigord in france . sarzana , a frontiere town between the republick of genoa , and the dutchy of tuscany . sas de gand , a fortress in flanders , taken by the hollanders in 1644. sassari , a city and archbishoprick in sardinia . sattalia , a town in anatolia . saverne , a town in alsace , and residence of the bishop of strasbourg . savillan , a town in piedmont . saumure , a town in anjou upon the loire . savoye , a soveraign dutchy between france and the switzers country . savona , a port upon the coast of genoa . saxony , a country and dutchy in germany , it is divided into the higher and the lower saxony . scagen , a town and promontory in jutland . scardona , a town in dalmatia . scarlin , a castle upon the coast of tuscany , before which was slayn the famous strozzi prior of capoua , in the french quarrel . scarpanto , an island upon the coast of anatolia , belonging to the turk . scaffhausen , a town , and one of the protestant cantons in switzerland . scalold , a town in island . sconeland , a countrey upon the coast of denmark . schwerin , the chief town of mechlenbourg , it stands upon a lake , and is the residence of the dukes of that countrey . scenk , a fortress in guelderland , belonging to the states of holland . scouven , an island in zeland , famous for the bold attempt of the spanish captain mondragon . schwartzembourg , a county of the empire in turingia . schweinfurt , an imperial town in franconia . schianhai , a port town in china . sclavonia , a countrey upon the south of hungary , divided between the turk and the house of austria . scone , a famous abbey in the county of perth in scotland , made more illustrious by the coronation of the kings there celebrated . scotland , a kingdom upon the north of england , united by the happy succession of king james the undoubted heir to both those crowns . scutars , a town in albany upon a lake of the same name subject to the turk . sebenico , a town in dalmatia , which most bravely repulsed the turks four several times . sedan , a very strong town and chief of that province , upon the frontiers of champagne and luxembourg . seez , a city and bishoprick in normandy . segui , a town in the ecclesiastick state , whére it s said was the first invention of organs . segovia , a town in castille , famous for an aquaduct of 177 arches in length . seine , a river of france , runs through paris , roven and falls in the british sea at hauvre de grace . sempach , a town in switzerland , under the protection of the canton of lucerne . senega , a town and river , a branch of the river niger in nigritia . senez , a city and bishoprick in provence . sentis , a city and bishoprick in valois . seni , the chief town of senois , a small province under the government of champagne . seregippa , a town and government in bresil . serraliona , a mountain , and town in guinee , called also cachieu . servia , a province of europe subject to the turk . setines , anciently athenes , a ruined town in greèce , setaval , an eminent port town in portugal . seville , a city of great traffick in andalouzia , where the west india fleets usually land their merchandises . sfachia , a town in the isle of candy , which gave name to the sfachiots , the bravest souldiers of that island . shetlande , and island upon the north of the british isles . sian , a town in a kingdom of the same name beyond the river ganges . sicily , an island and kingdom lying in the mediterranean sea at the lower end of italy , from whence it is apassage but of half a league , and the mouth of the gulfe of venice ; subject to the king of spain . sienna , a city and archbishoprick in toscany , distant about a dayes journey from florence . silesia , a province in germany . syllyes , see sorlinges . sion , a city and bishoprick , the chief town of vallesia , a country leagued with the cantons of the switzers , and lying between them and geneva . syracusa , a port town in scicily , memorable in history for the defence it received from the engines invented by archimedes . simmeren , a principality of the empire in the lower palatinate . sinobi , a port town in anatolia upon the black , or euxine sea . siponte , a city and arch-bishoprick in the kingdom of naples . sisseg , a town in croatia , belonging to the house of austria . sittia , a town in candia . sisterou , a city and bishoprick in provence . sixenne , a priory in arragon of ladies , of the order of st. john of jerusalem . slaboda , a town in muscovie . sleswick , a town and dutchy in jutland . sluyse , a most impregnable town in flanders , under the power of the states of holland smirna , a great port in anatolia . smolensko , a town in muscovy , now under the power of the polander . soczou , the chief town of maldavia . sodor , a town in the iisle of sura , one of the hebrides , where are interred 48. kings of scotland , 4. kings of ireland , and 8. kings of norway . sofala , a castle and a , river in cafreria , subject to the king of portugal , near to which he gets great quantity of very pure gold. soissons , a city , bishoprick , and county in picardy . solfarin , a small signiory in mantovan . soloturne , a town and canton of switzerland . sologne , a country upon the south of orleance . solms , a county of the empire in veteravia solsona , a town in catalonia . somme , a river in picardy . sonde , or sounde , a streight in denmark , and key of the baltick sea . there is also another streight , called by the same name , between the islands of sumatra & java in asia . sonnemberg , a town of brandenbourg , anciently the residence of the grand prior of malta . sophia , the chief town of bulgaria . soria , a town in castile , near to which are the ruines of the ancient numantia . sorlinges , a great many small islands , upon the west of england , 6. of which are inhabited sorrento , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . souria , a province of tur comania in asia . southhampton , a town of great traffique , and chief of the county of hampsh . sous , a kingdom in the west part of biledulgerid . spa , a small town in the principality of lyege , famous for its medicinal waters . spalatro , a city , archbishoprick and port in dalmatia . spandau , a fortress in brandenbourg . spigelberg , an island or peninsula towards the artique pole not yet well discovered . spire , a city and bishoprick of the empire . spiritu santo , a town and government in bresil . spirlinga , a small town in sicily , the only one that was innocent of the conspiracy of the sicilian vespers . spoleto , the chief town of ombria in the ecclesiastick state. staffanger , a city , bishoprick , and port in norway . stafford , the chief town of staffordshire . stalimene , an island in the archipelago . stavelo , an abbey of the empire , between the archbishop of triers , and the low countries . stenai , a town in lorraine upon the maase . stendel , a town in brandenbourg . sterlin , a town in scotland . stetin , a hans town , and chief of pomerania , it s now under the swede . stives , anciently thebes , a ruined town in greece . stockholme , a port and chief town of the kingdom of sweden at the mouth of the lake of meler . solberg , a county of the empire in the upper saxony . stralsonde , a hans town in that part of pomerania , which is subject to the swede , and port upon the baltick sea . strasbourg , an imperial town in alsatia , famous for its arfenal clock and tower , that hath 630. stairs up to the top of it . strido , a town of stiria the country of st. jerom. stugarde , the chief town of wirtemberg . suaquem , a town in the coast of abex , upon the red sea , under the power of the turk . suda , a port town and fortress in candia . sues , a port town of aegypt , at the end of the red sea , the turks arsenal or magazine . sulmone , a town in the kingdom of naples . sulzbach , a seigniory of the empire in the upper palatinate or bavaria . sumatra , an island upon the coast of asia . sundenberg , a town and dutchy in the isle of alsen near jutland . surate , a port town in cambaia , a kingdom in india . susdal , a city , archbishoprick and dutchy in muscovy . swabeland , a province of germany . sweden , a kingdom in the most northern part of europe . new sweden , a country in the north of america , not far from virginia . switzerland ▪ the country of a most warlike nation in europe , lying upon the alpes , and the borders thereof , and divided into thirteen cantons , each of which is a particular republick . suz , a town in persia , the ancient residence of its kings . t tabasco , a town in new spain , where correz the spanish general gave an irrecoverable defeat to the mexicanes . tabor , a very strong town in bohemia . tadousac , a town in new france upon the great river . tagus , a river in spain , anciently famous for its golden sandes , it passes through toledo , and lisbone . taillebourg , a town in saintouge . tamaraca , a town and government in bresil , belonging to the hollanders . tanacy , otherwise called dom , a river which divides europe and asia . tangier , a town in africa , upon the streight of gibraltar , subject to the king of portugal . tangermund , a town of brandenbourg , where the emperor charles the fourth kept his court . tannez , a town of sundgow , in the upper alsace . tarascon , a town in provence , upon the rhosue . tarbes , a city and bishoprick , and chief of bigorre , a small country in gascogny . tarentum , an archbishoprick , and port town in the kingdom of naples . tarne , a river in languedoc , running to albi and montauban . tarragone , a town upon the sea coast in catalonia , one of the most ancient of all spain . tartar , or tatar , a town in the north part of tartary . tartarie , a country in asia , of the largest extent of any other of the world . tartarie the lesser , a principality in europe , oftentimes called precopensis or crimea , leagued with the turk . tarudante , the chief town of the kingdom of sous in biledulgerid , a country in africa . tauris , a town in persia , sometimes the residence of the sophy . tay , a river in scotland , dividing it in two parts , the northern and the southern . telusin , see tremisen . temesvar , a very strong town in hungary , the residence of a beglerbeg . tende , a town and seigniory in piedmont , tenedos , an island in the archipelago , belonging to the venetians . tercera , an island in the west ocean . tergovis , or tervis , the chief town of vaelachia . ternate , the chief of those five little islands called the molucquaes . terouene , a town in artois ruined by the emperour charles the fifth . terracino , a town in the champagne of rome . texel , an island and port in holland . thames , commonly the temmes , the fairest and most pleasant river in the world , it runs through london to gravesend , &c. thessalonica , a town and gulph in macedonia , a province of greece . thoursan , a country in gascony . thionville , a very strong town in luxembourg thoulouse , the chief city and archbishoprick in languedoc , the seat of the parliament of that province . tiber , a river running through a great part of italy , through rome , a little below which place it falls into the mediterranean sea . tierache , a country in picardy . tigris , a river in turquic of asia . tillemont , a town in brabant , pillaged by the french and hollanders , 1635. timerais , a small country in perche . tingocses , a people of tarta●y . tirconnel , a castle in a county of the same name in vlster in ireland . tirol , a county in germany , one of the biggest of christendom . tokay , a very strong town in hungary , belonging to the house of austria . toledo , a very ancient city and archbishoprick in castile , it had anciently the title of a kingdom under the moores . tolen , a town in zealand . tolentino , a town in the ecclesiastick state . tomar , a town in portugal . tombut , a town in a kingdom of the same name , the most considerable of nigritia . tongres , a very ancient town in the country of lyege . tor , a port town in arabia petrea or the stony . torgan , a town in misnia . tornus , a town in burgundy . tortona , a town and castle in the dutchy of milan . tortosa , a city and bishoprick in catalognia . torreglia , a sovereign marquisate , between the countreys of milan and genoa toscany , a dutchy in italy , the duke of it has the title of great duke , he keeps his court at florence . toul , a city and bishoprick of the empire in lorraine , and seat of a parliament . toulon , a city , bishoprick , and port in provence , the rendezvous of the french kings galleys . tonpinamboas , a people of bresil . touraine , a province of france . tournai , a town in flanders . tournon , a town in vivaretz in languedoc in france . tours , the chief town of touraine , seated on the loire , near which town charles martel overthrew 400000 sarazens , of which 375 thousand were slayn upon the place . touvres , a famous fountain in angoulesme . trans , a city and archbishoprick in the kingdom of naples . transylvania , a principality of europe , tributary to the turk . transisalane , otherwise overissel , one of the united provinces of the low countreys . trebisonde , a town in anatolia , seated on the black or euxine sea , antiently the head of an empire , which was subjected to the turk by mahomet the second , who put the emperour thereof to death . treguier , or lantriguet , a city and bishoprick in britanny in france . tremisen , or teleusen , a town in a kingdom of the same name in barbary . trent , a city , bishoprick , and principality of the empire in italy , almost incompassed with the venetian territories , famous for the councel held there . treviso , a town in the venetian territories , and chief of the province called marchia trevisana . trevaux , the chief town of the principality of dombes in france . triers , a city and electoral archbishoprick of the empire , whose surprise by the spaniards in the year 1635 was one of the chiefest occasions of the war between france and spain . triest , a port town in istria , subject to the house of austria . trin , a town in the province of mont●errat in italy , subject to the duke of savoy . tripoli in barbary , a town in a kingdom of the same name in africa , seated upon the mediterranean sea , and subject to the turk . tripoli in souria , a port town in asia upon the mediterranean sea. troyes , the chief city and an archbishoprick in champagne . tucuman , a countrey in america , subject to the king of spain . tudela , a town in navarre . tulles , a city and bishoprick in limosin . tunis , a city and port in a kingdom of the same name in barbary , subject to the turk , near the place where carthage formerly stood . turcomania , a province in asia . turgow , a countrey subject to the switzers . turin , the chief town of piedmont , and usual residence of the dukes of savoy . turingia , a countrey and langraviate in germany . turquestan , one of the greatest parts of tartary in asia . turkie in asia , a countrey so called in asia . turkie in europe , a countrey so called in the eastern part of europe . tuy , a city and bishoprick in gallicea . tyre , or syr , a port town in phenicia , at the end of the mediterranean sea in asia , antiently more famous than it is at this day . tyrone , a county in the province of vlster in ireland . tzebona , a very strong town in bohemia . v. vabres , a city and bishoprick in rouergue in france . vai , a port town upon the coast of genoa . vaijon , a city and bishoprick in the country of avignon . valaquia , a principality in europe , tributary to the turk . valdivia , a town in chili , a countrey in america . valence , and city and bishoprick upon the rhone in dauphine . valentia , a city and archbishoprick in a kingdom of the same name upon the mediterranean sea in spain . valentia , a strong town in the dutchy of milan . valencrennes , a town in hainault . valette , a town in the isle of malta , residence of the grand master of the knights of the order of st. john of jerusalem . valadolid , a town in castille , one of the fairest of all spain , antiently the seat of the kings of spain . vallage , a countrey in champagne . vallai , or vallesia , a countrey in a valley ly between the alps and geneva , leagued with the switzers . valois , a country and dutchy in the isle of france . valona , a port town in albania , subject to the turk . valteline , a province in switzerland , subject to the grisons . van , a fortress of the turks upon the frontiere of persia . varna , a place in bulgaria upon the black or euxine sea , where the turks gave the christians a great overthrow . varnemund , a port town in mehelbourg . vasserbourg , a town in bavaria , where the duke keeps his chiefest treasures . vaucluse , a fountain in the county of avignon , famous for the frequent resort of the learned poet petrarck thither . vaudre vange , a town in lorrain . vdenheim , or philisbourg , a fortress in the bishoprick of spire . vdino , the chief town of friuli , and residence of the patriarck of aquilea . veissel , or vistule , a river in poland , it runs to cracovia , warsovia , and dantzik . vellai , a country in the cevennes in languedoc in france . venaissen , a county in which stands the town of avignon , between languedock province , and the principality of aurange . vence , a city and bishoprick in provence . vendosme , a town , dutchy , and small countrey upon the west of beausse , a province in france . venice , a famous city and head of as noble a republique , seated in the sea , five miles distant from any land . venlo , a town in guelderland , subject to the king of spain . vennes , a city and bishoprick in britanny in france . vera-cruz , a port town in new spain , where arrive the fleets which usually came to st. john d'vlloa . veneeil , a city , bishoprick , and seigniory in piedmont . verdemberg , a county subject to the switzers . verdun , a city and bishoprick of the empire in lorraine . verdun , a town in burgundy . verdun , a town in a countrey of the same name in gascony . vermandois , a countrey in picardy . vermeio , a sea , or rather a streight near new mexico . verneuil , a town in normandy , famous for the overthrow the english there gave to the french in the year 1424 , where 4500 french were slain upon the place , and the earle of narbone being taken was hanged , for assisting at the massacre of john duke of burgundy . verona , the chief town of a countrey of the same nam ithin the venetian territories in italy . vervins , a town in picardy . vesel , a town in the dutchy of cleves , possessed by the states of holland . veser , a river in the lower saxony . vexin , a countrey in normandy and the isle of france . veteravia , a countrey in germany upon the west of hessen . viana , a town and principality in navarre , antiently the apportion of the prince of navarre . vie , a town in lorraine , where was held the treaty in the year 1632 between the french king and the duke charles of lorraine . vicenza , the chief town of a small countrey in italy , not far from padua . vie le comte , a town in auvergne . vienna , the chief and strongest town of austria , and residence of the emperour of germany . vienne , a city and archbishoprick upon the rhone in dauphine , 5 leagues distant from lyons . vienne , a river which runs to limoges , a town in france . vigevan , a town in a small countrey of the same name in the dutchy of milan . vignoris , a town in champagne . vihitz , the chief town of croatia , possessed by the turk . vilaine , a river in britanny , runs through rennes , the chief city of that province . vilne , the chief town of lithuania , a province in poland . villach , a town in carinthia . villa france , a town in piedmont , where the french defeated prosper colomna in the year 1516. ville franche , a town in rouergue . ville mur , a town in languedoc . vimeux , a countrey in picardy . vindau , a town in curland . vineros , a port town in the kingdom of valentia in spain . vire , a town in normandy . virginia , a countrey of a vast extent in america . visapor , a town in india , on this side ganges . visbui , a town in gothland . viterbo , an antient town in st. peters patrimony , 40 miles on this side rome . vitre le francois , a town in champagne . vitstock , a town in brandenbourg , where the swedes and saxons got a great victory over the imperialists , in 1636. viviers , the chief town of vivaretz , a country in languedoc upon the rhone . vivaretz , as in viviers . vlme , a town in germany , where the danube begins to grow navigable . vlster , a province in the north of ireland . volfembutell , a fortress , and residence of the dukes of brunswick . volga , a river in moscovy , and one of the greatest of europe . volhinia , a province in poland . vouille , a place near poictiers in france , where clovis king of france gained a great victory over alaric king of the gothes , whom he slew with his own hand . voutenai , a place near auxerre in burgundy , where charles surnamed the balde , got a great victory over lothaire , in the year 841. vpsal , a city and archbishoprick , the metropolitane of sweden , where the kings and queens of that kingdom are usually crowned . vraniborg , a castle in an island near copenhagen , made famous by the residence of that learned mathematician tycho brahe . vrbin , a city and archbishoprick in the ecclesiastick state , formerly the head of a dutchy , which is now escheated to the church . vscoqs , a people in dalmatia , subject to the house of austria . vtrecht , a seigniory , and one of the united provinces of the netherlands . vtrecht , the chief town of that province , and one of the noblest in the low countries . vserch , a town in the province of limosin in france . vses , a city , bishoprick , and dutchy in lauguedoc in france . w wales , a principality upon the west of england , of which the king of englands eldest son carries the title of prince . wardhust , a castle in norway . warrington , a town in lancashire , upon the edge of cheshire , where the scottish army under duke hamilton were defeated by the parliamentarians , in the year 1648. warsovia , the chief town of mazovia in poland . warwick , a town in a county of the same name , about the middle of england . waterford , a port town in munster in ireland . wiegats , a streight upon the south of new zemble , through which the hollanders in vain sought a passage china . weikersheim , the chief town of the county of holac in franconia . weymar , a town and dutchy of the empire in turingia , the title of one of the greatest captains of his time , duke barnard saxon weymar , weisemburg , an imperial town in swabeland . weisembourg , a small province of the empire in alsatia . werthaim , a county of the empire in franconia . westphalia , a province of the empire . wexforde , a port town in a county of the same name in lemster in ireland . wibourg , a town of great traffick in leifland . wibourg , a city and diocess in jutland . wighte , an island upon the south of england in the british sea , under the sheriff of hampshire . winchester , a city and bishoprick in hampshire , the bishop of which is prelate of the garter . windsor , a castle royal , upon the thames , where are performed the ceremonies of the noble order of garter . witzbourg , a city and bishoprick of the empire , whose bishop has also the title of a duke . wismar , a hanse and port town in mekelbourg , given up to the crown of sweden in 1648. wirtemberg , a castle and dutchy of the empire in swabeland . wittemberg , the chief town of the electorate of saxony , famous for its fortifications , university , regence of luther , and residence of the electors . whadislaw , the chief town of cujavia a province in poland . wolodimer , a town in moscovy , formerly the residence of the great dukes . wolgast , a town in pomerania . wologda , a dutchy and fortress in the north part of moscovy , where the great duke keeps his chiefest treasures . worcester , a city and bishoprick , the chief of worcestershire about the middle of england . wormes , a city and bishoprick of the empire , in the lower palatinate . x. xaintonge , the same with saintonge . xarandille , a town in castille near to placentia , in spain . xativa , a town in the kingdom of valentia in spain . xeres de la frontera , a town in andaluzia , where the moores gave the gothes a great overthrow in the year 712. y. yarmouth , a port town in the county of norfolke . yenne , a town in savoy upon the rhone . york , a city , county , archbishoprick and dutchy , the second son of the king of england , has the title of the duke of york ; it is famous for the residence of two emperours , severus and constentine , who dyed there . youghall , a port town in munster in ireland yverton , a town in the canton of berne in switzerland . yvetot , a signiory in the country of caux in normandy , it bore antiently the title of a kingdom . yvice , a town in an island of the same name in the mediterranean sea , upon the coast of spain . z. zaara , or the desart , otherwise called lybia , a country in africa . zagathai , a part of tartary in asia . zagrab , a town in sclavonia , belonging to the house of austria . zahaspe , a port town in the caspian sea in zagathai . zaire , a river of congo , also a lake of the same name in abissinia . zamos●y , a town in poland . zanguebar , a country in africa . zanhaga , a country and wilderness in lybia . zante , a town in an island of the same name upon the west of greece , subject to the state of venice . zara , a very strong city , archbishoprick , and port , the best in all dalmatia , subject to the venetians . zegne , a port town in dalmatia , subject to the house of austria . zeland , an island in denmark . zeland , an island and one of the united provinces of the low countries . new zemle , an island in the northern seas near europe and asia , newly discovered . zerbi , a small island upon the coasts of barbary , near the kingdom of tripoli . zibith , a town and kingdom of turkey in asia , in arabia the happy . ziden , a port town in meca ▪ in arabia the happy . zimbao , a town and fortress in monomotapa . zoaro , a town in barbary upon the coast of tripoli . zocotora , a town in an island of the same name upon the coast of zanguebar . zollingen , a town in germany near the rhine zuhal , one of the philippine islands , made eminent by the death of the famous magellan . zug , a town and canton in switzerland . zuickau , a town in misnia . zulch , or zulpich , formerly tolbiac , a town in the dutchy of juliers . zurich , a town and canton in switzerland . zutphen , a county , and one of the united provinces , also the chief town of that county zweibruck , a dutchy of the empire in the lower palatinate . zygeth , a town in hungary , at the siege of which dyed the great emperour of the turks , solyman the magnificent , in the year 1566. finis . a catalogue of some books printed for h. brome ' at the gun in ivy-lane . the alliance of divine offices , exhibiting all the liturgies of engl. since the reformation , by hamon l'estrange in fol. the souls conflict , being eight sermons preach'd at oxford , and so much recommended by dr. hewit , in 8 dr. browns sepulchral urns and garden of cyrus , in 8 two essayes of love and marriage , in 12 the royal exchange , a comedy in 4. by r. brome . five new playes , by r. brome , never belore printed in 8 poems by the wits of both universities , in 8. a treatise of moderation , by mr. gaule in 8 st. boniventure's soliloques , in 24. mr. baxters treatise of conversion , in 4 golden remains , by that most learned r. stuart , d. d dean of westminster , and clerk of the closet to king. charles the first , being the last and best monuments that are likely to be made publick , in 12 mr. sprats plague of athens , in 4 jewes in america by mr. thorowgood , in 4 the royal buckler , or a lecture for traytors , in 8. a review of some late remarkable transactions , leading to the happy government under our gracious soveraign k. charles the second , by r. l'estrange esq ; in 4. the holy cheat , proving by the undeniable practises of the presbyterians , that the whole design of that party is to enslave both king and people under the colour of religion , by r. l'estrange esq ; the relaps'd apostate , or notes upon the presbyterians petition for peace . state divinity , or a supplement to the relapfed apostate , all by r. l'estrange . a caveat to the caveliers . a modest plea both for the caveliers and the author all the songs on the rump , in 8 the pourtracture of his sacred majesty king. charles the second , from his birth 1630 till this present year 1661 being the whole story of his escape at worcester , his travels and troubles . the covenant discharged by john sussell , in 4 the compleat art of water-drawing , in 4 mr. boys his translation the 6th book of virgil , in 4 mr. walwin's sermon on the happy returne of k●ng charles the second . a perfect discovery of witchcraft , very profitable to be read of all sorts of people , especially judges of assize before they passe sentence on condemned persons for witches , in 4 a short view of the lives of the illustrious princes , henry duke of gloucester , and mary princess of orange deceased , by t. m. esq ; in 8 aeneas his voyage from troy to italy , an essay upon the third book of virgil , by j. boys esq ; in 8 mr. grenfields sermon in behalf of the loyal party . mr. stones sermon at st. pauls october 20. 1661. the harmony of the world , in 8 blood for blood in 35 tragical stories ; the five last being the sad product of our late rebellion ; in 8. finis . compendium geographicum, or, a more exact, plain, and easie introduction into all geography ... after the latest discoveries, or alterations, very useful, especially for young noblemen and gentlemen, the like not printed in english / by peregrin clifford chamberlayne ... chamberlayne, peregrine clifford. 1682 approx. 214 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 79 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2008-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a31608 wing c1861_variant estc r36299 15633263 ocm 15633263 104272 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a31608) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 104272) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1183:34) compendium geographicum, or, a more exact, plain, and easie introduction into all geography ... after the latest discoveries, or alterations, very useful, especially for young noblemen and gentlemen, the like not printed in english / by peregrin clifford chamberlayne ... chamberlayne, peregrine clifford. [16], 140 p. printed for william crook ..., london : 1682. includes a gazetteer. imperfect: faded, with print show-through; p. 137 torn, with some loss of print. reproduction of original in the huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng geography -early works to 1800. gazetteers -early works to 1800. 2006-07 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2006-07 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2007-06 robyn anspach sampled and proofread 2007-06 robyn anspach text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion compendium geographicum : or , a more exact , plain , and easie introduction into all geography , then yet extant , after the latest discoveries , or alterations ; very useful , especially for young noblemen and gentlemen , the like not printed in english . by peregrin clifford chamberlayne , of the inner temple , gent. london : printed for william crook , at the green dragon without temple bar , 1682. to the right honourable charles lord herbert , son and heir to the lord marquess of worcester . my lord , the honour that i have had of your lordships most obliging kindness and favour , in your travels abroad , hath animated me humbly to beg your lordships patronage over these my first fruits ; not that by this enchiridion , or small pocket-book , i pretend to add any thing to the knowledge of a person , who before he had attained to the age of thirteen years , et mores hominum multorum vidit , et urbes ; and who now at the age of twenty , is endowed with so much judgment , wisdom and discretion , as appears every day , my lord , by your eminent service towards your king , and country , in a most diligent and dextrous administration of justice : not ( i say ) that this epitome of geography can add to your lordships knowledge ; but only , that when your lordships illustrious name shall appear in the front hereof , it may the sooner encourage the young nobility and gentry of this nation , to make use of it ; which is the main aim of , my lord , your lordships most humble , and most obedient servant ; p. c. chamberlayne . the preface . i will not go about to say very much in commendation of this science , neither could i speak its praise enough to satisfie my self , had i that intention ; therefore i will leave it to some more skilful encomiast : but i cannot sufficiently admire , to see it thus neglected in a nation where all other arts and sciences do flourish , and abound in so great a measure : no excuse ought to suffice any well bred person for his ignorance in geography ; this being a science , and i may truly say , the only science that comes within the capacity of all mankind , whether old or young , men or women ; for any one may easily attain to the knowledge of it that has but a memory , a few maps and a little method ; and methinks he that is ignorant of it , ( especially if a man of parts ) must needs blush every time he reads the gazette , and cannot give an account in what country is seated such a place , or town of note ; and surely he must be strangely out of countenance to hear himself baffled in geography by every ordinary seaman : yet i hope there will not be found among our oxonians , that shall assert the moors came out of greece , ( as did a gentleman of the vniversity of paris ) because part of this country is now called morea ; and i can speak of my own knowledge of a young minister beyond sea , who took copenhagen to be the name of a dutch commander . i may be bold to say , that this science is not necessary in our daily conversation only ; for he that understands it has no less advantage towards the reading of any history , and he cannot but acknowledge that his skill in maps gives an extraordinary light to what he reads : besides , no one will deny but that it is also very delightful to travel round the earth , and visit each part thereof , without danger , and without quitting their native country , friends and relations : and seeing that god has allotted the earth , and all that is in it to be under the jurisdiction of man ; it seems as if they , who are wholly ignorant of the form , and dimensions of this lower world , and of the situation , extent , or division of it's parts , did in some sort slight , and despise the creation . 't is true , there are other sciences not a little advantagious to him who will throughly understand a history , as chronology and genealogy ; yet geography is placed before these of course ; for the question is generally asked , first where , and afterwards when , and by whom this or that thing was done . moreover , god having created the earth before he made man , it would seem something absurd to be well versed in the state of humane affairs , and altogether ignorant of the countries wherein they were acted . knowing that a good method ought chiefly to be observed in this , as well as in other sciences ; i have therefore imitated that of monsieur de launay , a very learned man , in his introduction to geography , printed two or three years ago in france , from whence i translated what made most for my purpose ; but from the beginning to the end of this small treatise , i have endeavoured to observe that brevity which i first proposed to myself ; therefore if any esteem this volume too little for the subject whereof it treats , i must apologize for my self , and it , with brevitas memoriae amica ; nevertheless i will at the same time affirm without any thing of vanity , that there is no geography now extant in english , except one of two of a large bulk and larger price , that treats so fully as this of all the parts of the known earth , with their subdivisions . i confess i have inserted very little of the historical part , that it might be the more compendious , and to make the more room for what belongs purely to geography , which induces me to hope that the reader will here find magnum in parvo : to conclude i have taken all the care imaginable to render this geography clear and easie , even to the meanest capacity , and not to spell the proper nomes wrong , or miscall them , an error too frequent in most others ; by which confusion the reader is not seldom discouraged to proceed , in what he began perhaps with no small delight . concerning the vse of the globe , and maps . my intention at first , was to have enlarged a little more upon this subject of the use of maps ; but mr. guy miege has lately prevented me with a treatise called , a new survey of the whole world ; wherein , as well this point , as all others relating to cosmography , are discussed by way of dialogue : i will therefore be as brief as possible , at least concerning any matter whereof he has already treated . geography , in greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , i. e. a description of the earth , is compounded of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies the earth , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to write or describe : here the earth must not be taken simply but for one element , as in natural philosophy , but must be understood to be a terraqeous globe , that is , a globe composed of two elements , earth and water , which together make one spherical body , commonly called the earth , as being the name of the more worthy part . this science differs from cosmography as one part doth from the whole , for the word cosmography has a signification far more comprehensive , as is demonstrated by its erymology , being derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the world , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to describe ; now by the world is meant the heavens with the four elements , &c. as cosmography includes under it geography , so this latter comprehends chorography , i. e. a description of a country from the greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a country , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : but the description of a particular place , as a small territory , town , castle , &c. is called topography , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 locus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . as to the lines , circles , or points , of most use in geography , either upon the globe , or in maps , we will begin with the axle-tree of the world ; which you must conceive by an imaginary line drawn through the center , or middle of the earth to each pole : now the two extremities of this line are called poles , from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a greek verb signifying to turn , for that the whole frame of the earth moves , or turns round upon this axle-tree . if you will fancy poles to any of the circles , those of the equator are the same with the poles of the earth , and the four lesser circles being parallel to the equator , have also by consequence the same poles : the horizon may have the same , because it is a circle movable every way ; but the meridian , and zodiack must of necessity have different poles , as well from the rest of the circles , as from one another . here you ought to take notice , that the pole of the world which is nearest us , is termed artick pole , or north pole , the other south , or antarctick pole : the word arctick is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , in english a bear , there being a constellation ( or company of stars ) near the north-pole , to which astronomers give the likeness of a bear : antarctick is compounded of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contra , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , because this pole is diametrically opposite to the other . the next thing worthy of consideration , is the division of the globe by these eight circles ; whereof four divide the globe into equal parts , whence they are called great circles , because they have as large a circumference as can be made upon the globe : the other four divide the globe into unequal parts , and consequently making a narrower compass , are termed lesser circles . the greater are called , equator , zodiack , meridian , horizon . the lesser are called , tropick of cancer , tropick of capricorn , artick circle , antartick circle . the equator being one of the great circles , divides the earth into two equal parts , the one north , the other south : it is also called equinoctial line , ab aequalitate noctium , because when the sun arrives to this circle the nights are every where of equal length with the days : but mariners call it the mid-line , or simply the line 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . vpon this circle are marked the degrees of longitude , which are counted from the great meridian quite round the globe , to the number of three hundred and sixty . you will find this great meridian in most maps to pass by the canary islands . the zodiack cuts the equator obliquely , and is divided into twelve parts , signs , or houses , through which the sun passeth within the compass of twelve months , or three hundred sixty five days , and something more : and because the signs placed upon this circle represent the figures of animals , the word zodiack takes it's derivation from the greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , which signifies a living creature . next we come to the meridian , a word that is applied to eighteen whole , or rather thirty six half circles ; but you may imagine as many as you please , and then every step a man makes eastward , or westward , he alters the meridian ; but not if he goes exactly north and south . these meridians cross the equator in a rect-angle , whose extremities meet all together in the center of each frigid zone , and are thus termed from the word meridies , in english noon or mid-day ; because to whatsoever meridian the sun arrives , it is mid-day with those who inhabit under it . vpon the great meridian you will find marked the degrees of latitude , the first degree beginning at the equator , from whence they are to be counted northwards to the arctick pole , which is ninety degrees ; and in the same manner ninety degrees from the equator to the antarctick pole. the last great circle is called the horizon , from the greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in latin finiens or terminans , for that each hemisphere ( or half sphere ) is limited , and distinguished from one another by this circle ; vel quod aspectum nostrum definiat , dividing the half sphere of the firmament which we see , from the other half which we see not . the place where any one stands is the center of his hemisphere and horizon , and the poles of his horizon are the same with two imaginary points in the heavens called zenith , and nadir , borrowed from two words of the arabian tongue , semith , and nathir ; the former signifies the point directly over his head , the latter is a point in the other hemisphere diametrically opposite to it ; but as soon as he stirs from that place , he changes ( tho insensibly ) his horizon , zenith , and nadir , and makes an alteration in his hemisphere . as to the four lesser circles ; two of them , the tropick of cancer , and the tropick of capricorn , compass the globe at twenty three degrees and a half of latitude , which ( as i said above ) is at so many degrees distance from the equator , but the former is in the northern , and the latter in the southern latitude : they have the name of tropicks from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verto , because when the sun has attained the tropick of cancer he turns back again by degrees to that of capricorn , unto which when he is arrived , he returns again in like manner to that of cancer , which is his annual course ; but this is by an oblique motion from west to east , and must be more clearly demonstrated upon the globe it self : the names of cancer and capricorn are borrowed from two signs of the zodiack , that are hard by the two tropicks . the other two are the arctick , and the antarctick circles , which compass but very little portions of the globe , by reason that they are at sixty six degrees and a half of latitude : they are also called polar circles , because they lie nearer than any of the rest to the poles , the arctick circle being distant from the north pole but twenty three degrees and a half , the antarctick as many degrees from the south pole. the etymologies of arctick and antarctick , has the like reason with what i said above concerning the poles . these lesser circles make a division of the globe into five parts or zones ; one torrid or hot , two frigid or cold , and two temperate ; they are called zones from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a girdle or band. the torrid zone is all that space of earth between the two tropicks : the two frigid zones are enclosed , one within the arctick , and t'other within the antarctick circle ; and between the torrid , and each frigid , lie the two temperate zones , which do thereby partake of a more equal mixture of heat and cold. as the globe is made up of two parts , earth , and water , so each of these elements have their parts and subdivisions : to begin with the earth , it may most properly be divided first into islands and continents . an island is a country , or portion of land compassed about with sea , or other water ; as great britain , sicily candy , &c. continents are of two sorts : first a continent properly so called , is a large quantity of land having little or no sea near it ; as muscovy , poland , &c. the other sort of continents , are those which are almost environed with water , to which the name of peninsula , or chersonesus , is more fitly applied ; such is morea , the south part of greece . peninsula must be understood quasi penè and insula almost an island ; and chersonesus is taken from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 terra , and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 insula . in isthmus ( from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to enter ) is that space or neck of land , which joins a peninsula to the continent , and is called sometimes a straight , though improperly . a promontory , quasi mons in mare prominens , now commonly styled cape or head , is a hill , or point of land , stretching out into the sea. all the water upon the globe goes under the denomination of seas , lakes , and rivers ; but where the sea is of a large extent , and not intermingled with land , as between america and astrick , it is generally termed ocean ; and when a small part of the sea is almost environed with land , they commonly give it the name of gulf , as the red sea , the gulf of venice , &c. and that narrow passage by which a gulf is joyned to the main sea , is called a straight : but a gulf that is of no great compass , as six , seven , or eight mile , is more properly stiled a bay or creek ; yet it is sometimes otherwise . a lake is a large place of a considerable depth , always full of water , and compassed about with land , not having any entercourse with the sea , unless by a subterranean passage , or by some river ; as the lake of geneva between swizzerland and savoy . a river is a stream of water which has it's beginning from a spring , or lake , from whence it flows continually without intermission , and at last empties it self into the sea. now to make a comparison of some parts of the earth with others of the water , you will find that the description of a continent resembles that of the ocean ; and the form of an island , that of a lake : a peninsula in point of figure is not unlike a gulf ; and an isthmus has the same relation to the former , as a straight has to the latter . least any one should make use of maps that are erroneous or defective ; this is to give notice , that the most exact maps are those of sanson , and du val , the two famous french geographers ; unto which ( as being the best ) i have adapted this little geography . a short and easie introduction into geography . chap. i. of the earth in general . geography is the description of the terrestrial globe , represented by the maps of geography , which are the true plat-forms of it , and by the help thereof it is made easie to us . the terrestrial globe being round , cannot be represented in the map of the earth but by two hemispheres ; the one eastern , and the other western . to the end that you may know the situation of the places in the maps , you must observe that the north is always on the top , ( or at least should be so ) the south at the bottom ; the east on the right hand , the west on the left . the terrestrial globe is divided into land and water : the land is distinguished in the maps by the places filled up , the sea by the empty , and the rivers by the small lines which go winding in and out through the land towards the sea , where at last they all end ; the mountains and hills are easily known , being made like little mole-hills or like small waves , the forests by small shrubs , the rocks and the banks of sand by little black specks pricked in the water ; and certain shadows or small stroaks , which one may see in the maps all along between the sea and land , serve to mark the sea coasts , and to divide the land from the water . the division of the earth ought to precede that of the water , because it is the dwelling place of man , and because the knowledge of it is more noble and necessary . all the surface of the habitable earth is divided into four great parts , ( which the vulgar call worlds , and the geographers continents ) and into several islands which lie up and down in the ocean , or within narrow seas , which make as it were a fifth part . chap ii. of the continents . the first continent , which we inhabit , is called the eastern continent , but most commonly the ancient world : it comprehends three parts , to wit , europe , situated in the north-west part of this continent ; then asia , which is the greatest and most easterly part ; and last of all asrick which lies south-west from the other two . the second continent , which lies westerly from us , is called america , or the new world , and by the merchants and mariners , the west indies , or the little indies , supposed to be called anciently atlantis insula , the isle of atlas : it is divided into two parts , to wit north america or mexicana , and south america or peruviana . the third continent , which is the most southerly part , is known to us by the name of magellanica , or terra incognita , the fourth is the most northern continent , called terra arctica , whereof we have so little knowledge , that we doubt yet whether or no it is separated from america . in the old world ; first europe is subdivided into eight great parts ; or to make a more convenient division , one may add the brittish isles , and so divide it into nine parts ; whereof three are towards the north and cold , three in the middle of europe which are temperate , and three towards the south more hot ; to which great parts add three small ones , interlaced between the others . the three northern parts are , 1. the brittish isles , which comprehend the kingdoms of england , scotland and ireland ; the chief towns are london , edenburg , and dublin . 2. scandinavia , which includes the kingdoms of swedeland , denmark , ( at first inhabited by the cimbri or cimbrians ) and norway ; chief towns , stockholm , copenhagen , and drunthem . 3. thirdly muscovy or russia , which with poland in the time of the romans was called sarmaria , ch . t. mosco , great novogrod , and archangel . the three parts of europe which partake more equally of north and south are . 4. france , ch . t. paris , lyons , and rouen . 5. the empire of the west , or germany , ch . t. vienna , prague and colen , 6. poland , ch . t. cracow , warsaw , and dantzick . the three southern parts of europe are , 7. spain , ch . t. madrid , sevil , and lisbon in portugal . 8. italy , ch . t. rome , venice , and naples . 9. turky in europe , or greece , ch . t. constantinople , ( before constantine the emperour called bizantium , ) adrianople ; and buda in hungary . the three little parts of europe interlaced between the great ones , and often comprehended under them are , 10. the low countries , or the seventeen provinces , between france , germany , and he brittish seas , ch . t. amsterdam , brussels , and gaunt . 11. the swizzerland cantons and their allies , between france , italy ▪ and germany , ch . t. bern , basil , and soloturn . 12. the provinces tributary to the turk , ch . t. hermanstat in transilvania , jazy or jaick●a in moldavia , targowisko in walachia , ( all three lying between turky and poland , and comprised within the bounds of the ancient country of dacia ) and kaffa in little tartary once called scythia taurica , between pontus euxinus or the black sea , and muscovy . the most remarkable mountains of europe ▪ are , the riphaean mountains towards the north of muscovy , now called stolp ; the carpathian hills now crapack , between hungary and poland ; the alps , between italy , france , and germany ; the apennine , parting italy down along through the middle of the whole length of it ; the pyrenies , which divide spain from france ; and mount gibel , anciently aetna , in the isle of sicily . asia is divided into twelve great parts , six of them southern , and the other six northern . the six southern parts , beginning with those that are next to europe are , 1. turky in asia , ch . t. aleppo , bagdat , mosul , jerusalem , damascus , scanderoonor alexandretta , erzerum , bursa , and smirna . in this part of asia were anciently the countries of chaldaea , mesopotamia , judaea , phoenicia , syria , cilicia , pamphilia , phrygia , with many others . 2. arabia , ch . t. medina , mecca , ziden , zibit , aden and el-catif , 3. persia , ch . t. ispahan , ormuz , schiras , caswin , ardevil , and derbent . 4. the indian continent or the empire of the mogol , ch . t. agra , delli , bengala , cambaia , surate , and lahor . 5. the two peninsula's of the indies , one on this side the river ganges , and the other beyond , ch . t. goa , golconda , and narsinga on this side the ganges ; and pegu , sian , and malacca beyond . 6. c hina , ch . t. peking , nanking , quancheu , queyang , nanciang , and macao . the six northern parts of asia are , 7. georgia , situated on the north of turky , which includes the ancient country of colchos , ch . t. kori or goreden , teslis , and savatopoli . 8. vsbeck , ziagathai , or mavaralnahara , on the north side of persia , ch . t. samarcand , famous for the birth of tamerlane the great , bockora , and cascar . 9. turquestan , or thebet , on the east of ziagathay , ch . t. thebet , and chotan . 10. tartary of the great cham , by some called cathay , northward from china , ch . t. muoncheu heretofore cambalu , campion otherwise tanguth , and camul or xàmo . 11. tartary desart , towards the north sea , and muscovy , ch . t. astracan upon the wolga near the caspian sea , cazan , and bulgar . 12. the true ancient tartary called the north tartary , above cathay , and turquestain , ch . t. chazan or kaimach , ciandu , and tartar in the north. these five last parts are commonly comprehended under the name of great tartary anciently scythia . taurus is the chief mountain in asia , by the greeks called ceraunius ; it passeth through most of the countries in asia , but under divers names : in the western part of turky 't is most properly called taurus , more northerly towards georgia , 't is named ararat , again in the middle of persia , taurus ; it takes the name of imaus in tartary , and between tartary and the indies 't is called caucasus , by which name the mountains in georgia are also called . africk which is the most southerly region of our continent , is divided into twelve parts , whereof these six first compose the vpper africk towards europe in time past libya , and the six others make up the lower africk called before aethipia , situated towards the south . let us begin with the vpper africk and see its divisions which are . 1. barbary , which comprehends most of the ancient mauritania , ch . t. fez , marocco , tangier , algier , tunis , and tripoli . 2. bildulgerid or numidia , ch . t. dara , segelmessa , and tesset . 3. egypt , ch . t. grand cairo , alexandria , rosetta , damiata , suez or calzem , and cossir . 4. zaara or the desart , ch . t. zuenziga , targa or zaghara , and zanhaga . 5. the land of the blacks , or nigritia , ch . t. tombote , genehoa , gualata , cano , cassena , cantozi , mandinga , gago , and guber . 6. guinny , ch . t. benin , arda , and st. george of the mine , or mina . 7. nubia , ch . t. nubia , dancala , and jalac . 8. congo , ch . t. st. salvador , st. paolo or angola , and dongo . 9. abissinia , ch . t. amara , depsan , cangan , boxa , fremona , caxumo , arquico , doncala , and suaquem . 10. zanguebar , ch . t. mozambick , quiloa , mombaza , melinda , brava , and magadoxo . 11. monomotopa , ch . t. madragan commonly called monomotopa , zimbaoe or massapa , and butua . 12. cafreria , or the coast of the caffres , ch . t. zofala . africk hath these mountains following , viz. mount atlas , now more comonly called claros , between barbary and bildulgerid ; lunae mons , the lunar hills or the mountains of the moon , so called by reason of their height , lying between the country of the abissines , and monomotopa : most geographers are of the opinion that the river nilus springs from these mountains , yet ( new discoveries being lately made ) it is thought otherwise by some . lastly the mountains of sierra liona in guinny . america is also divided into twelve parts , whereof four lie towards the north , and eight towards the south , separated from one another by the istmus of panama . the four parts towards the north , which compose north america are , 1. canada or new france , ch . t. quebeck , montreal , and tadousack . 2. new mexico , ch t. sta. fe or st. faith , and new granada . 3. new england , including part of florida , ( the rest being comprehended under new spain ) all virginia , new holland otherwise called new york , and new england comprised in it self ; ch . t. boston , new-town or cambridg , james-town , new plymouth , new york , and charles-town . 4. mexico or new spain , ch . t. mexico , compostella , guadalaiara , valladolid , acapulco , st. jago de guatimala , leon , truxillo , and merida . the eight other parts make south america , viz. 5. castilla del oro , ch . t. panama , porto-belo , carthagena , sta. martha , coro , and sta. fe de bogota . 6. guyana , ch . t. manoa or el dorado , ceperou or fort lewis , and corou . 7. peru , ch . t. lima or los retes , cusco , st. francis , arica , potosi , and la plata . 8. brasil , ch . t. st. salvador , porto-seguro , spiritu santo , st. sebastian , st. vincent , olinda , tamaraca , potengi , and maranhaon . 9. paraguay comprehending la plata , ch . t. the assumption , buenos aires , and sta. fe. 10. tucuman , ch . t. st. jago del estero , st. miguel , and cordova . 11. chili , ch . t. st. jago , the conception , and baldivia . 12 , magellanica , the chief town ( if it may be called a town ) is st. philip , otherwise nick named port-famine . as for the mountains in this part of the earth , the andes in peru , between tu●um●n and chili , and in magellanica , are the most famous of america , and the only mountains worth taking notice of in this small treatise . chap. iii. of the islands . the most famous islands round about the world , are either about our continent or america . those of our continent are of europe , asia , or africk . the islands of europe are either in the ocean , as great britain , ireland , and island , anciently thule ; or in the mediterranean sea , as sicily , candy , ( which of old was called creet ) and sardinia ; or in the baltick sea , as zeeland , fuien or funen , and rugen . the islès of asia are divided into these eight parts following , viz. 1. the japan islands . 2. the islands of china . 3. the philippine islands . 4. the molucco islands . 5. the islands of the sound . 6. the isle of zeilan . 7. the maldive islands . 8. the isle of cyprus . the african islands make six divisions or parts ; viz. 1. the island of madagascar , or st. lawrence . 2. the isles of st. helena , the ascension , the isle of st. thomas under the equinoctial line , with many of less note up and down in the aethiopian sea. 3. the isles of cape verd , or ( as heretofore ) the hesperian isles . 4. the canary ( anciently fortunate ) islands . 5. the islands of madera . 6. the isle of malta , with some lesser islands adjacent to it . the islands of america are also divided into six parts ; viz. 1. the isles azores , or terceran islands , which some make to belong to africk . 2. the isles of new-found land. 3. the isles of the antilles , or the antego islands . 4. the great island of calisurnia . 5. the isles of new guinny , or of the pacifick ocean . 6. the magellanick islands , by the straight of magellan . the magellanick continent , and terra arctica shall not be spoken of here , being not yet fully discovered . chap. iv. of the seas , gulfs , straights , lakes and rivers . the water which doth incompass or separate the parts of the terrestrial globe are divided into seas , gulfs , straights , lakes , and rivers . the great sea which environs our continent , is called the ocean , which is divided into four parts . 1. the northern ocean , called the frozen , and in time past the scythian sea , which comprehends the sea of tartary , of muscovy , and of scandinavia . 2. the western or atlantick ocean ; this contains the seas of great britain , france and spain , with the sea of the canaries , and of guinny . 3. the southern ocean or aethiopian , comprehends the seas of congo or angola , of casreria , and that of zanguebar . 4. the eastern , oriental or indian ocean includes the arabian sea , the persian , the indian , and the sea of china . the great sea about america is divided into the north sea , the south or pacifick sea , and the sea of magellanica . 1. the north sea is divided into three parts , according to the countries adjacent ; viz. the sea of canada or new france , the mexican sea or the sea of new spain , and the sea of brasil . 2. the pacifick sea comprehends in it's full extent , the seas of peru , of new mexico , and the archipelago of st. lazarus , towards china and the east indies . 3. the magellanick sea waters all the coast of terra magellanica , within the compass of which is included the seas of paraguay , magellanica , and chili . but leaving these exact subdivisions of the seas ; this you must observe , that the seas always ( or most commonly ) borrow the names of the adjacent countries ; so that he who understands the division of the maritime states , and of the islands , knows for the most part the names of the seas . the three most famous gulfs of our continent , which for their greatness are called seas , are the mediterranean sea between europe and africk ; the baltick sea between sweden , germany and poland ; and the red sea between asia and africk . the three gulfs of america are , the gulf of mexico between mexico and florida ; hudsons gulf or bay north-westward from canada ; and the gulf of la plata in paraguay . the three most famous straights of the world , are the straights of gibraltar ( the nè plus ultra of the ancients ) between europe and africk , this joins the mediterranean sea to the ocean ; the straights of magellan between america and terra magellanica ; and the straights of anian between our continent and the land of jesso . the three most considerable lakes round about the terrestrial globe are , 1. in asia on the north side of persia , the caspian lake or sea , otherwise called the sea of kilan , or of sala . 2. the lake parima under the equator , in guyana . 3. the lake called the fresh-water sea in canada . the most famous rivers in the world are , in europe nine ; the thames in england , tornia in scandinavia , wolga in muscovy , the loire in france , the rhine in germany , the weyssell or wistule in poland , the river tagus now taio in spain , po in italy , and the danow or danube in turky in europe . in asia twelve ; euphrates , and tigris in turky in asia ; indus or sind , ganges , the river of pegu , and menan in india ; kiang , and hoang or caramoran in china ; ghammas , jihun or balch , anciently oxus , ardock or alsagsh , in time past jaxartes , and obius in great tartary . six in africk , viz. nile in abissinia , and in egypt , niger in nigritia , ghir in zaara , the zair in congo , zambera , and spiritu santo , in monomotopa and cafreria . in america there are also six ; the river of st. laurence in canada , paria or orenoke between castilla del oro , and guyana , the river of the amazons , otherwise orelhana in peru , that of st. francis in brasil , the river parana in paraguay , and that of la plata in the same country , the largest river in the world , the mouth of which is not unfitly stiled a gulf. chap. v. of europe in general . all our design in this little compendium of geography is , to take particular care to describe europe , the knowledge whereof is most necessary for us . although europe gives place to asia , africk , and america , for greatness and extent , nevertheless it 's infinite number of advantages render it , without contradiction , the most considerable part of the inhabitable world. for if we consider the situation of it , we shall find that ( lying in the middle of the temperate zone ) the countries of this part of the world are exceedingly more fertile , and fuller of people than those of the other three . moreover it is to be observed , that through the natural situation of the countries of europe , the inhabitants have great trading one among another by the means of the seas , straights , and gulfs which belong to it , and by the convenience of a great number of rivers which run through all parts of it ; so that by their voyages , navigation , trade , and their frequent wars , they are become the most expert people in the world , and so warlike , that they have in their hands the soverainty of the other parts of the earth . witness the conquests of the grecians and romans in old times , and the victorious navigations in this age , by which the spaniards , the english , the french , and the hollanders have added what was wanting to their own felicity , by the spoils of forreign nations that they have overcome . besides , europe receives a greater advantage by the profession of the gospel of jesvs christ , whose light seems to have been retracted from the other parts of the world , that it might shine brighter , and more gloriously in europe . again , the arts ▪ and sciences , the policy , strength , and magnificence of the cities , the excellent structure of all the buildings , the courage and wise conduct of the inhabitants in their wars and voyages , whether by sea or land ; in a word , the wonderful industry of the europeans in all sorts of rare works , makes them to be esteemed infinitely above all the people in the other parts of the earth . we divided europe in the beginning into nine parts , including the british islands : but afterwards we added thereto three more , viz. the low countries contiguous to france , on the north-east ; the republick of swizzerland and their allies , on the east side : and the provinces tributary to the turk on the south side of poland ; with little tartary nigh the pontus euxinus , or the black sea : the method of geographers who place the north on the top of their maps , obliges us to begin with the three northern parts , all three different countries ; the first consisting of the british isles ; the second of the peninsula of scandinavia ; and the third of muscovy , which is the greatest part of the continent in europe . next we will describe the three middle parts which are , france , germany , and poland , all three alike and take up the rest of the continent ; yet their situation shews , that france is somewhat more temperate than germany and poland , which lie higher towards the north , where the winters are very long and sharp . we shall speak next of the three southern parts , which are peninsula's divided from one another , but have a great traffick by sea with the other parts of the world : and lastly we will end this treatise by the explication of the low countries , the swizzerland cantons , and the provinces tributary to the turk , which being the least countries in europe , shall be explained last of all , although they are situated among the rest . there are three principal languages in europe , viz. latin corrupt , spoken in italy , france , and spain ; dutch , in germany scandinavia , and the british isles ; and in poland , muscovy , and turk●y in europe , they make use of the s●lavonian tongue ; but all under divers idioins . again , the latin tongue is spoken generally where the roman catholick religion is professed ; and where they speake dutch , they are for the most part protestants ; the roman catholick religion is professed in poland , muscovy allows all sorts of religions , and the mahometan religion reigns in turky . chap. vi. of the british isles . the kingdom of england , or the british isles , make the first of the three northern parts of europe , seated in the western ocean , nigh france , germany , and the low countries , and not very far from scandinavia , and spain . the inhabitants of the isle of great britain ( which gives its name to all the lesser islands ) are , as some think , descended from the trojans , who entred this island under the conduct of brute , and laid the first foundations of london , calling it new troy ; afterwards it was named augusta trinobantum , and lastly london : but others say the britains had their name from the word brith , which signifies stained or painted , ( or rather the name of the paint ) by reason of a custom they took to paint their skins all over , and of several colours that they might thereby the more terrifie their enemies ; whence also the romans called the people of scotland picti , from their painted skins . great britain was called also once albion , ab albis rupibus , and is divided into two parts , both of them kingdoms , viz. england , and scotland , which together with the isle and kingdom of ireland , and an innumerable company of lesser islands in the british seas , are now under the protection , and government of our most gracious and redoubted soverain , king charles the second . there were several tribes of people who inhabited anciently these islands ; the most famous of them ( for instance , in england ) were the cantii , the trinobantes , the brigantes , and the silures , &c. who were all governed by their princes , but afterwards all subdued by the romans , except the northern part of the island . the saxons were the next that possessed themselves of the south part of britain , with whom came the angli , neighbours to the saxons , out of the north of germany ; whence it was called england , and the inhabitants english . these saxons divided it into s●en kingdoms ; not including the principality of wales , wh●ther most part of the britains , being driven by them out of england , retired : but now these eight provinces which compose england , and wales , are divided into fifty two shires . of these eight provinces then ( according as they lie from london , the metropolis of all england ) two are in the north of england , northumberland , and mercia ; two in the south , kent , and sussex ; two lie towards the east , essex , and the province of the east-angles ; and two towards the west , wessex , and wales . the two north parts are , 1. northumberland , in which are the shires called yorkshire , lancashire , westmorland , cumberland , durham , and northumberland ; the chief towns of this province are , york , durham , newcastle , carlisle , barwick , lancaster , and hull . 2. mercia , wherein are these following shires ; oxfordshire , glocestershire , buckinghamshire , bedfordshire , huntingtonshire , northamptonshire , rutlandshire , leicestershire , warwickshire , worcestershire , herefordshire , monmouthshire , shropshire , cheshire , staffordshire , darbyshire , nottinghamshire , and lincolnshire ; the chief towns are , oxford , chester , glocester , lincoln , worcester , hereford , coventry , peterborow , and lichfield . the two south provinces are , 3. kent , being but one single shire or county , ch . t. canterbury , rochester , and dover . 4. sussex , containing the shires or counties of sussex , and surrey , ch . t. chichester , rye , hastings , and lewes . the two eastern provinces are , 5. essex , which comprehends under it middlesex , essex , and hartfordshire , ch . t. london the metropolis of england , which ( all things considered ) may be said to be the chief city in the world ; then colchester , hariford , and st , albans . 6. east angles , comprehending norfolk , suffolk , and cambridgshire , ch . t. norwich , cambridg , ipswich , yarmouth , and ely. the two western provinces are , 7. wessex , under which is comprehended somersetshire , hampshire , dorcetshire , devonshire , cornwall , wiltshire , and barkshire , ch . t. bristow , bath , wells , winchester , southampton , excester , plymouth , salisbury , and windsor . 8. wales which includes these twelve shires following ; pembrok shire , caermarthensh . glamorgansh . brecknock sh . radnorsh . cardigansh . montgomerysh . merionethsh . denbigsh . flintsh . caernarvonsh . and the isle of anglesey , ch , t. pembroke , st. davids , cardiff , landaff , denbigh , s. asaph , montgomery , and caernarvon . scotland was formerly called caledonia ; afterwards comprehended under the name of great britain , as at present ; but once it received the name of little britain in comparison of england , which was then properly great britain . it is the most northern part of this island , and contains thirty five shires or counties , viz. fourteen beyond the river tay , which make up the ancient kingdom of the scots . whose king dwelt at dunstasag ; and twenty one on this side the river tay , where was the kingdom of the picts , the kings seat being at abernethy ; but these two towns are now ruined . the chief towns on this side the river tay in south scotland , are edenburg , leith , glascow . st. andrews , sterling , and dunbriton . north scotland , or the habitation of the ancient scots : the chief towns are aberdeen , perth , dundee , and dornock . i shall not trouble the readers memory with the names of each particular county of scotland , nor those of ireland , ( which i am now going to speak of ) as not being of such moment . the kingdom and isle of ireland was anciently called ierna , and sometimes iverna ; from the latter hibernia seems to be derived , by which name it was known in the time of the romans ; and from ierna ( as it is generally believed ) comes eryn , so called by the natives at this day . it is now divided into five provinces , which were formerly kingdoms viz. 1. lemster , in which are nine counties , ch . t. dublin , wexford , and kilkenny . 2. meath , in which are three countie ; ch . t. molingar ; this province by reason of its small extent is commonly comprehended under lemster . 3. vlster , which contains ten counties ▪ ch . t. armagh , drogdagh , and london derry . 4. connaught , which has six counties ch . t. galxay , kilaloe , and athlone . 5. munster , under which is also comprehended six counties , ch . t. waterford ▪ limerick , and cork the most considerable islands high the coasts of great britain , and ireland ▪ which go under the name of british isles , are divided into nine parts , whereof three are in the channel , viz. the isles of wight , jersey , and garnsey ; which two last are near the coast of france . three lie westward in the irish sea , viz. the sorlings , or silly islands , the isle of man , and the western isles nigh scotland , called the hebrides , or inchgalles . the three last are towards the north , viz. the orcades or isles of orkney , the the isles of hetland or shetland , and the fair islands or isles of fero , now belonging , the king of denmark . the chief rivers are , the thames , severn , and trent , in england ; tay , in scotland ; and shannon , in ireland . chap. vii . of scandinavia . scandinavia is the second of the three north parts of europe , joining to germany , poland , and muscovy ; it includes three kingdoms under two states ; viz. the state of denmark , and that of swedeland . the state of denmark , contains two kingdoms , viz. denmark , and norway denmark consists of three parts ; to wit jutland , which is a great peninsula or chersonesus , annexed to germany , and formerly called the cimbrick chersonesus : the isles of the baltick sea and the islands and countries in the north sea. jutland ( so called from the jutae , heretofore the inhabitants of this country is divided into south-jutland and north-jutland . south jutland comprehends two dukedoms . 1. the dukedom of holsatia or holsten ; ( this is counted part of germany , included within the circuit or circle of the lower saxony , and depending on the empire ; which we should not describe in this place , but that it belongs to the king of denmark : ) the chief towns are rendsburg , kiel , and gluckstad . 2. the dukedom of sleswick , ch . t. sleswick , with the castle of gottorp , tonningen , and flendsburg . north-jutland includes four lutheran diocesses , which are . 1. the diocess of rypen , ch . t. rypen 2. that of arhusen , ch . t. arhusen . 3. the diocess of wiburg , ch . t. wiburg . fourthly and lastly that of alburg , ch . t. alburg , and scagen towards the north-cape of denmark , which is famous for it's frequent shipwracks . the most remarkable islands of the baltick sea are , first , the isle of zeeland , of old called codanonia , ch . t. copenhagen , roschild , and helsenore , with the castle of cronemberg . secondly the isle of fuien or funen , ch . t. odensee , middelfurt , and niburg . the three passages or straights of the baltick sea ( heretofore sinus codanus ) are , the sound between zeeland and schonen , the belt between zeeland and funen , and middelfurt sound between funen and jutland . the islands and countries in the northern sea , which depend upon the kingdom of denmark are , 1. a great part of the isle of island , ch . t. hola , a bishoprick . 2. the fair islands , ch . t. strom. 3. greenland , ch . t. bearford . the kingdom of norway , which takes up the western part of scandinavia , is divided into five governments or provinces , viz. 1. the government of bahus , which belongs to the swedes since the treaty at roschild , ch . t. bahus and marstrand . 2. that of agger , ch t. agger , opslo , and frederickstad . 3. that of bergen , ch . t. berg or bergen , the residence of the viceroy . 4. the government of drunthem , ch . t. drunthem , heretofore nidrosia , the seat of the ancient kings of norway . 5. and lastly that of wardhus , ch . t. wardhus , nigh the north kin or cape . the kingdom of swedeland or sweden comprehends seven parts , which are , 1. the coast of schonen , comprehending halland , schonen , and bleking , all which go under the name of south gothland , ch . t. lunden , malmugen , landskroon , and christianstad . 2. the north part of gothland is divided into ostro gothland , and westro gothland , ch . t. calmar . gottemburg or gothburg , and linkopen . 3. sweden , containing eight or nine little provinces , ch . t. stockholm , vpsal , and nikopen . 4. laponia otherwise lapland is divided into five regions or territories , viz. vma , pitha , lula , tornia , and kimi or lapmark , with the towns of the same name , whereof tornia is of most importance . 5. the great province of finland , subdivided into several small provinces , ch . t. aho , wiburg , and raseburg 6. ingria , ch . t. noteburg , and juannogrod . 7. livonia , ch . t. riga , derpt , and revel . the crown of swedeland is also possessed of several islands in the baltick sea ; and in germany the dukedoms of pomeren , bremen , and ferden , the town of wismar , and the isle of rugen . tornia , and kimi , in the north provinces of swedeland , are the most considerable rivers of scandinavia . chap. viii . of muscovy . mvscovy or russia , is the most northern , and most rude and illiterate country of all the parts of europe , but above six times bigger than all the british isles . this empire contains the three kingdoms of cazan , bulgar , and astracan , in tartary desart , with the cities of the same name ; and above thirty provinces , with several distinct sorts of people who live by horda's or companies the twelve principal towns , are mosco , wolodimer , great novogrod , archangel , st. nicholas , plescow , rhezan oustioug , worotin , little novogrod , wologda , and bielizero . the principal rivers are , the wolga , dwina , and tanais or don. this is enough of a country where none go to travel , neither do the inhabitants ( who are all slaves ) go out of it without an express leave from the czar , who does not very often grant their request in that . chap. ix . of france . the kingdom of france in time past was named gaule , containing a larger extent than at present , and was divided into gallia belgica , gallia celtica , aquitania , and gallia narbonensis . it is the first and most westerly of the three parts of europe , which are situated between the north and south countries : it lies nigh england , being separated from us but by our channel , and the pas de calais , ( as the french call it ) a narrow passage not above eighteen mile over . the modern division of france according to the best authors , and geographers , is into twelve general governments ; to which we will add four new governments , the late conquests of the french king. four of these sixteen governments are towards the north , and on this side the loire ; four are in the middle of france , and on each side the loire ; four more are southern , and beyond this river ; and the four last lie eastward towards germany . i will not go about to subdivide the governments which contain but one province ; only ( that i may not overcharge the readers memory ) i will set down the three principal towns in them , and in the governments where there are more than one province , we will take notice of the chief town of each one . the four northern governments are , 1 picardy , situated upon the channel of the british seas , ch . t. amiens , abbeville , and calaïs . 2. normandy , situated on the channel , and divided into high and low normandy , ch . t. rouen , caen , and alenson . 3. the isle of france , situated between the river seyne , the marne , and the oyse , which makes as it were an isle of it , ch . t. paris , st. denis , and melun . 4. champaigne , situated on the east of the isle of france , ch . t. troys , rheims , and chalons upon marne . the four governments in the middle of france , upon the loire are , 5. bretaigne , situated towards the ocean , and divided into upper and lower bretaigne ; the chief towns are rennes , nantes , and brest . 6. the government of orleanois , subdivided into nine little provinces , whereof two lie on the north side of the loire , viz. maine , ch . mans ; and perche , ch . t. nogent . four upon the loire , to wit ; anjou , ch . t. anger 's ; touraine , ch . t. tours ; beauce , ch . t. orleans ; and nivernois , ch . t. nevers . and three provinces on the south side of the loire : poictou , ch . t. poictiers ; angoumois , ch . t. angouleme ; and berry , ch . t. bourges . 7. the dutchy of burgundy , with bress , ch . t. dijon , autun , chalons , upon saone ; and bourg in bress . 8. the government of lyonnois , subdivided into four little provinces , viz : lyonnois , properly taken , ch . t. lyons ; bourbonnois , ch . t. moulins ; auvergn , ch . t. clermont ; la marche , ch . t. gueret . the four southern governments of france are , 9. the government of guienn and gascony situated on the ocean , and on each side the river garonn , cannot be divided more exactly than into eight provinces , whereof three lie northward from the garonn , viz. saintonge , ch . t. saintes ; perigord , ch . t. perigueux ; and limosin , ch . t. limoges . three about the garonn , and the river lot which falls into it ; to wit ; guienn properly taken , ch . t. bourdeaux ; quercy , ch . t. cahors ; and rouergue , ch . t. rhodes . and two on the south side the river , viz. the great province of gascony , ch t. auch ; and the little province of bearn , ch . t. pau. 10. languedock situated on the mediterranean sea , is divided into high and low languedock , and cevennes , ch . t. toulouse , narbonn , mompellier ; and viviers in cevennes . one may include under the general government of languedock , the county of roussillon , ch . t. perpignan . 11. dauphiny , situated towards italy ch . t. grenoble , vienn , and valence ; to which one may add pignerol which serves as a gate for the french to enter into italy . 12. provence , which lies upon the mediterranean sea , whereof the chief towns are , aix , marseilles , and toulon . the four new eastern governments of france lie towards germany , watered with the scheld , the lis , the meuse , and the rhine ; and are , 13. the catholick low countries belonging to france , or french netherlands , ch . t. lisle , and dunkirk in the county of flanders ; arras in artois ; valenciennes in haynault ; cambray in cambresis ; and montmedy in luxemburg . 14. lorain , ch . t. nancy , metz. and verdun . 15. alsatia or alsace , divided into upper and lower , ch . t. strasburg , brisack , and friburg ; it is almost all in the hands of the french. 16. the county of burgundy , vulgarly called the franche or free county , ch . t. bezanson , dol , and salins . one might add thereto the county of monbelliard , ch . t. monbelliard belonging to a prince of the house of wirtenberg . the four most famous rivers in france are , the loire , the seyne , the garonn , and the rhone . chap. x. of germany . germany ( under which name also , was included anciently the vnited provinces , denmark , part of poland , and as some say , sweden , and norway ) makes one of the nine parts of eucope ; and directly si●uated in the middle of the other eight . it is now of less extent by much than it was formerly , but yet comprehends a great number of different soverainties which compose the empire of the we●t , and which depend on the emperour , who is the chief head of all the princes that have shares in this great country . we will then divide germany into western germany , about the rhine towards france and the ocean ; into southern , about the danube towards italy and hungary ; into eastern germany comprehending the state of bohemia towards poland ; and into northern , about the river elbe and oder towards the baltick sea. western germany is subdivided into six great parts , whereof the most part contain many little provinces . three of these parts are upon the rhine , and three on the east of the rhine . the three parts situated on the rhine are , 1. the states of cleves , juliers , and the bishoprick of liege , ch . t. of the same name . 2. the three electoral archbishopricks of the empire , viz. that of colen , ch . t. colen , and bonn ; of treves or triers , ch . t. treves , and coblentz ; and that of mentz , ch . t. mentz , and aschaffemburg . 3. the electoral palatinate of the rhine , ch . t. heidelburg , worins , and spire . the three parts of germany , situated on the east side of the rhine are , 4. westphalia , subdivided into many little states , ch . t. munster , osnaburg , and paderhorn . 5. hessen , comprehending weteravia or weteraw , and the abbey of fuld , ch . t. cassel , darmstad , and fuld . 6. franconia , ch . t. francfort , norimberg , and wirtzburg . southern germany about the danube , is subdivided into nine parts besides several small divisions . three of these parts or provinces are towards the head of the river danube , viz. 1. suevia , or schwahen , ch . t. augsburg , vlm , and constance . 2. the dutchy of wirtenberg , ch . t. stutgart , tubingen , and wirtenberg . 3. brisgow , ch . t. feiburg , now belonging to the french government of alsace ; rotweil , and estingen . the three parts following lie higher upon the danube , and are , 4 the palatinate of bauaria , or the upper palatinate on the north side of the danube , ch . t. amberg , newburg , and aichstad . 5. the electoral duchy of bauaria , with the archbishoprick of saltzburg . ch . t. munchen , ratisbon , and saltzburg . 6. the county of tirole , with the archduchy of inspruck and the territories adjacent , ch . t. inspruck , trent , and brixen . the three last parts of southern germany lie yet further up the danube , and are , 7. the archduchy of austria , ch . t. vienna , lintz , and cremz . 8. the hereditary provinces which are stiria , ch . t. graiz ; carinthia , ch . t. clagenfurt ; carniola , ch . t. lauback , with the only imperial haven of triest ; the county of cilly , ch . t. cilly ; and the marquisate of windes or windisch mark , ch . t. metling . 9. imperial hungary . ch . t. presburg , komora , and raab or javarin . the eastern or bohemian germany towards poland comprehends four parts , whereof the three last depend upon the kingdom of bohemia which is the first and principal part of them all . 1. the kingdom of bohemia , ch . t. prague , kuttenberg , and egra . 2. the marquisate of moravia , ch . t. olmutz , brinn , and newstad . 3. the duchy of silesia ch t. breslaw , gros glogaw , and lignitz . 4. the marquisate of lusatia , now under the jurisdiction of the duke of saxony , ch . t. bautzen , gorlitz and zittaw . northern germany , about the elbe and oder towards the baltick sea , is divided into the upper and lower saxony . upper saxony comprehends three parts , viz. 1. the electorship of saxony properly taken , with misnia , and turingia , ch . t. dresden in misnia , wittenberg in saxony , and ersurt , in turingia . 2. the electoral marquisate of brandenburg , divided into the old , the new , and the middle marquisate , ch . t. berlin , francfort upon oder , and brandenburg . 3. pomerania or pomeren , ch . t. stetin , stralzund , and colberg . lower saxony comprehends likewise three great parts , subdivided again into several others , viz. 1. the dukedoms of lunenburg , and brunswick , ch . t. wolfenbuttel , zell , and hannover . 2. the stares of bremen , ferden , minden , and oldenburg , ch . t. of the same name . 3. mecklenburg , ch . t. swerin , wismar , and gustrow . i shall not make mention here of the dutchy of holsten , although it be part of germany , having spoken of it before in the description of jutland . it sufficeth to observe the two famous imperial hans-towns , hamburg and lubeck , which live under the form of common-wealths . the five chief rivers of germany are , the rhine , the danube , ( called long since ister ) the elbe , the oder , and the weser . chap. xi . of poland . the elective kingdom of poland is the most easterly of the three middle parts of europe : it lies eastward from germany ; on the north of hungary , transilvania , and moldavia ; and south-westward from muscovy . it comprehends two states ; that of true poland with the provinces annexed thereto , and the great duchy of lithuania with its dependances , which is now united to the crown of poland . we will divide the true poland into nine great provinces , and lithuania into three , after having first considered that this state is watered by four great rivers . the wistule , the boristhenes or nieper , the niemen , and the niester which divides poland from moldavia . the nine great provinces of poland are , 1. the province of poland , divided into the lesser or upper poland , wherein are these chief towns , cracow , sandomir , and lublin ; and into the greater or lower poland , ch . t. gnesna or gniesen , posnan or posen , and kalisz . 2. prussia , part belonging to poland , ch . t. dantzick , marienburg , and culm ; and part to brandenburg , ch . t. koningsbeg , elbing , and memel . 3. the duchy of curland , the prince whereof owes fealty to the crown of poland , ch . t. mittaw , and goldingen . 4. mazovia , ch . t. warsaw , and czersk . 5. polachia or podelassia , ch . t. bielsko . 6. little russia or black russia , ( to distinguish it from muscovy , which is sometimes called great or white russia ) ch . t. leopol otherwise lewenburg , halicz , and zamoski . 7. podolia , where is kaminieck , braclawor bratzlaw , and bar. 8. volhinia , whereof the ch . t. are kiow , and lutzko . 9. vkrania , generally included within the limits of volhinia , ch . t. czirkassi . moreover lithuania contains three parts , viz. 1. the great duchy of lithuania , ch . t. wilna , witepscki , and novogrodeck . 2. samogitia , ch . t. rosinia . 3. the palatinates or dukedoms of smolensko , and novogiod-sevierski , with the towns so called . chap. xii . of spain . this country at first was called iberia , from the river iberus now ebro ; and also hesperia , from hesperus the evening star always seen in the west , for it lies the most westward of all the countries of europe ; afterwards in the time of the romans it was more universally known by the name of hispania , and by them divided into three provinces : baetica , so named from the river baetis now guadalquivir , running through the middle of it ; tarraconensis , or the province of tarraco ; and lusitania , which is now the kingdom of portugal . it is encompassed with the ocean and the mediterranean sea , which make it a peninsula , and is contiguous to france on the north-east side , from which it is divided by the pyrenies . but now to the modern division of this kingdom . spain is divided at present into fifteen provinces , ( most of them kingdoms heretofore , whereof the greatest part do still reta in the titles ) to which one may add three isles that are in the mediterranean sea. of these fifteen provinces three are northerly , viz. 1. navarr , whereof the ch . towns are pampelona , estella , and olita . 2. biscay , ch . t. bilbao , fontarabia and st. sebastian . 3. asturia , ch . t. oviedo , santillana , and aviles . three are westerly , viz. 4. gallicia , ch . t. st. jago de compostella , mondonnedo , and la corunna . 5. the kindom of portugal , now free from the soverainty of the spaniards , ch . t. lisbon , which they say was built by vlysses , braga , and coimbra . 6. algarves , belonging to the kingdom of portugal , ch . t. faro , and tavila . three are southerly , viz. 7. andaluzia , ch . t. sevil , cadiz , and cordova . 8. granada , ch . t. granada , guadix , and malaga . 9. murcia , ch . t. murcia , and new carthage or carthagena . three are easterly , viz. 10. valentia , ch . t. valentia , ali●ant , and segorbe . 11. catalonia , ch . t. barcelona , tarragon , and tortosa . 12. aragon , ch . t. saragossa , jacca , and balbastro . the three last provinces are situated in the middle of spain , viz. 13. leon , ch . t. leon , salamanca , and toro . 14. old castile , ch t. valladolid , burgos , segovia , and the ancient numantia , famous for holding out a siege of fifteen years against the romans , but now ruined . 15. new castile , ch . t. madrid , toledo , and alcala de henares , not forgetting the most famous monastry of the escurial , not far from madrid . the three neighbouring isles depending upon this country are , majorca , minorca , and ivica , with the chief towns of the same name , except minorca , which hath the fortress of citadelli . the five greatest rivers of spain are , taio or tagus , ebro , duero , guadiana , and guadalquivir . chap. xiii . of italy . italy is situated in the mediterranean sea , which makes it a kind of peninsula , under the shape of a leg. it is separated from france and germany by the alps , and divided from one end to the other by the apennine hills . italy , as well as spain , hath been named hesperia by the greeks , from whom it lies westward ; it hath also sometimes gon under the name of ausonia , but most generally known , as well anciently as at present , by that of italia it was heretofore divided into fourteen countries , which were inhabited by so many distinct sorts of people : towards the north lie four great parts ; gallia transpadana , venetia , liguria , and gallia cispadana ; these four countries are now called lombardy , from the longobardy a people of germany , who came and dwelt here , towards the middle of italy are five ; hetruria , now called tuscany , vmbria , picenum , samnium , and latium ; these four last are now under the jurisdiction of the pope . and the south part of italy includes five countries more , viz. campania , apulia , messapia , lucania , and brutium ; which are all five now comprehended under the kingdom of naples . every one of these countries were subdivided into many small regions or territories , whose inhabitants lived under several sorts of governments , till they were overcome by the romans ; but these i shall omit as not being necessary to insert here : now let us see how the modern division of italy differs from that of the ancient times . we will now divide it with the adjacent isles , first into four great parts . the upper italy or lombardy , the middle italy , the lower italy or kingdom of naples , and the islands . lombardy is divided into nine provinces or states , whereof the five first make high lombardy towards france , and the four other low lombardy towards the mouth of the river po. the five parts of high lombardy are , 1. savoy , ch . t. chambery , montmelian , and monstiers ; to which we may add the town and republick of geneva . savoy is generally reckoned without the bounds of italy , and therefore is mentioned here but because it belongs to piedmont 2. piedmont , ch . t. turin , vercelli , and nizza . 3. milanese or the duchy of milan , ch . t. milan , pavia , and cremona . 4. monferrat , ch . t. casal , and trino . the former was long since sold to the french king by the duke of mantua . 5 the coast of genoa , ch . t. genoa , savona , and albenga . the four provinces which compose the lower lombardy are , 6. the duchy of parma , ch . t. parma , and piacenza . 7. the duchy of modena , ch . t. modena , and reggio . 8. the duchy of mantua , ch . t. mantua , mirandola , and guastella , which are all soverainties . 9. the dominion or republick of venice , ch . t. venice , padua , and palma nova . middle italy comprehends the state of the church or dominion of the pope , and the grand duchy of tuscany , with the republick of lucca , and other little soverainties inclosed in these two states . the state of the church comprehends twelve little provinces , whereof five are upon the gulf of venice , and the seven others towards the sea of tuscany . those upon the gulf of venice are , 1. the duchy of ferrara with the valleys of comachio , ch . t. ferrara , and comachio . 2. bolognese , ch . t. bologna . 3. romagna , ch . t. ravenna . 4. the duchy of vrbino , ch . t. vrbino . 5. the marquisate of ancona , ch . t. ancona , and loreto . the seven following provinces lie on the south of the apennine hills towards the sea of the tuscany , and are , 6. the territories of perugia , ch . t. perugia . 7. of orvieto , ch . t. orvieto . 8. of vmbria , otherwise the duchy of spoleto , ch . t. spoleto . 9. terra sabina , ch . t. magliano . 10. the patrimony of st. peter , ch . t. viterbo and civita vecchia , 11. campania de roma , ch . t. rome , ostia , and frescati , 12. the duchy of castro , ch . t. castro . the grand duchy of tuscany or florence , is subdivided into three parts ; the territories of florence , the territories of siena , and those of pisa , ch . t. florence , siena , pisa , and legorn : piombino , and orbitello belong to the king of spain , with their jurisdictions which are upon the coast of tuscany . the republick of lucca with it's dependances , ch . t. lucca . the lower italy or kingdom of naples is divided into twelve provinces , whereof six are upon the adriatick sea or gulf of venice , and the six others are upon the sea of tuscany . the six parts which are upon the gulf of venice , are 1. the further abruzzo , ch . t. lanciano . 2. the nigher abruzzo , ch . t. aquila . 3. the county of molissa , ch . t. molissa . 4. capitanata or puglia , ch t. manfredonia . . 5. the territories of bari , ch . t. bari . 6. the territories of otranto ; ch . t. otranto . the six provinces situated on the tyrrhenian sea or of tuscany , are , 7. terra di lavoro , ch . t. naples at first called parthenope , and capua . 8. the nigher principality , ch . t. salerno , and amalfi . 9. the further principality , ch . t. benevento . 10. basilicata , ch . t. cirenza . 11. the nigher calabria , ch . t. cosenza . 12. the further calabria , ch . t. reggio the islands of italy make the fourth part , and are divided into three greatislands which are , 1. the isle of sicily , separated into three valleys or provinces , viz. val di demona , ch . t. messina and catania not far from mount gibel or aetna that vomits out flames . val di noto , ch . t. saragusa the ancient syracuse , and noto . val di mazara , ch . t. palermo , and montreal . 2. the isle of sardinia , ch . t. cagliari , sassari , and algeri . 3. the isle of corsica , ch . t. bastia , adiazzo , and bonifacio . the four most famous river of italy are , the pa , the adige , the tiber , and the arno. chap. xiv . of turky in europe . tvrky in europe is situated in the mediterranean sea near italy , poland , and asia , and is contiguous to germany . we will divide it into high turky about the danube , which includes the ancient countries of pannonia , illyricum , and moesia ; and into low turky towards the archipelago or white sea , wherein are the countries called in time past thrace and greece , which last hath hitherto retained its old name . high turky contains eight parts , viz. 1. part of hungary , anciently called pannonia , ch . t. buda or offen , gran , and kanisia . 2. part of slavonia , ch . t. posega , and gradiskia . 3. part of croatia , with morlakia , ch . t. wihitz . the rest of hungary . slavonia , and croatia , which is not within the ottoman jurisdiction , belongs to the archduke of austria , who is now emperour of germany . 4. dalmatia , partly belonging to the turks , and partly to the venetians ; the ottoman towns are , scardona , and dulcigno ; the venetian are , zara , sebenico , and spalato , with the town and republick of ragusa , tributary both to the turks and venetians . 5. bosnia or bossina , ch . t. jaytza , and bagnialuck , you must observe that slavonia , croatia , dalmatia , and bosnia , made heretofore one great country called illyricum . 6. servia , comprehending the western part of the ancient country of moesia , ch . t. belgrade , and nisa . 7. bulgaria , which was the rest of moesia , ch . t. sophia , and nigepoli . 8. besserabia , with the territories of otzacow towards poland , ch . t , bialogrod , and otzacow . the lower turky is divided into seven provinces , viz. 1. romania , anciently thrace , ch . t. constantinople , adrianople , and gallipoli . 2. macedon , ch . t. salonichi , and contessa . 3. albania , which was once part of macedon , ch . t. scutari , durazzo , and valona . 4. janna , anciently thessaly , ch . t. armiro , and larissa . 5. canina , anciently called epirus and sometimes chaonia , ch . t. prevezza , larta , and bastia . 6. livadia , in time past achaia , ch . t. lepanto , setines , heretofore called athens , stives heretofore thebes , and negropont in an island of the same name , which is counted part of livadia , although it be separated from it by the euripus or straights of negropont . 7. morea , called in time past peloponnesus , ch . t. patras , corinth , and misithra , formerly lacedaemon : these fix last provinces composed the ancient and famous country of greece . the islands which are about turky in europe , are a sufficient number to make a third part ; we will then divide them into turkish , and venetian islands . the chief of the turkish islands are , candy , anciently creet , ch . t. candy , canea , and retimo ; negropont , anciently euboea , ch . t. negropont ; and stalimene , heretofore lemnos , ch . t. of the same name . the venetian islands ( which are considerable ) are , corsu , cefalonia , zant , and cerigo , heretofore cythera . the most famous rivers of turky in europe are , the danow or danube , the draw , the saw , and the tyssa or teissa . chap. xv. of the low countries . after having briefly spoken of the nine great parts of europe , we thought it convenient to avoid confusion , and to facilitate the readers memory by the number of twelve , into the which we have divided asia , africk , and america , to add three lesser divisions of europe , separated and distant from one another , viz. the low countries ; the republick of swizzerland ; and the provinces tributary to the great turk . we shall begin first with the low countries or seventeen provinces , vulgarly known by the name of flanders , and holland , which are the two richest and most considerable provinces of them . the low countries were formerly divided into two parts ; one on the south of the rhine , comprehended under that part of gaule called gallia belgica : now most of it is the spanish netherlands . the other on the north side of the rhine was comprised within the bounds of ancient germany : at present it is the vnited netherlands . the modern division is also into two parts , though with some difference from the ancient , viz. the spanish netherlands , or flanders ; and the vnited netherlands , holland , or vnited provinces . the spanish netherlands contain these following provinces , viz. 1. two thirds of brabant , ch . t. brussels , and lovain . 2. luxemburg , ch . t. luxemburg , and thionville . part of this duchy of luxemburg belongs at present to the french , as also the county of artois : part of the county of flanders , &c. but the french having so latelyw on these countries , ( which by the hazards of a new war may be as soonbrought under the jurisdiction of some other potentate ) i shall forbear to make any more divisions of the spanish low countries concerning the french king's conquests there , than what i have mentioned in the chapter of france ; but , as near as i can , shall stick to the division generally agreed upon by all geographers , before the beginning of the last french wars . 3. limburg , ch . t. limburg , and maestricht . 4. about a third part of gelderland , ch t. gelders , and ruremond . 5. almost all flanders , ch . t. gaunt , lisle , dunkirk , and ostend . 6. artois , ch . t. arras , and st. omars . 7. hainault , ch . t. mons , and valenciennes . 8. namur , ch . t. namur , and charlemont . 9. the marquisate of the holy empire , or the seigniory of antwerp , ch . t. antwerp . 10. the seigniory of malines , ch . t. malines , or mechlyn . you must take notice before we proceed any further ; that these two small provinces last mentioned , are enclosed within the duchy of brabant : and that besides the seventeen provinces , there is the town of cambray between hainault , artois , and picardy , which together with it's adjacent territory , makes up a peculiar province called by the french ( who are now masters of it ) cambresis : yet this small province is sometimes comprised under that of hainault . the vnited provinces or , the states of holland , contain these following provinces , viz. 1. holland , ch . t. amsterdam , the hague , dort , and leyden . 2. zeland ch . t. middleburg , and flushing . 3. zutphen , ch . t. zutphen . 4. vtrecht , ch . t. vtrecht . 5. overissel , ch . t. deventer , and swol . 6. west friseland , ch . t. lewarden , and franeker . 7. the seigniory of groningen , with the town of the same name . besides these seven provinces , there is , and hath been a great while in the hollanders possession , above two thirds of gelderland , the chief towns whereof are , nimmegen , and arnhem . about a third part of brabant , ch . t. breda , and boldus : and some towns in the north of the province of flanders ; the most considerable of them is sluys , north. westward from gaunt . chap. xvi . of the republick of swizzerland . the republick of swizzerland is composed of thirteen canrons , which are each one by themselves peculiar democracies , but under one common alliance with several little countries , states , or towns , which go under the name of their allies . the thirteen swizzerland cantons are disposed in this order . 1. the canton of zurick , ch . t. zurick . 2. the canton of bern , ch t. bern , and lausann . 3. of basil ch . t. basil . 4. of lucern , ch . t. lucern . 5. of soloturn , ch . t. soloturn . 6. of friburg , ch . t. friburg : 7. of schashausen , ch . t. schashauser . 8. the canton of switz , which gave its name to the whole country ch . t. switz . 9. that of zug ; ch . t. zug . 10. that of appenzel , ch . t. appeuzel . 11. of glaritz , ch . t. glaritz . 12. of vnderwalden , ch . t. siantz . 13. of vri , ch . t. altors . the allies of swizzerland worth our observation are , 1. the grisons , ch . t. coir . 2. valtoline , ch . t. sundrio . 3. valais , ch . t. sion . 4. the bishoprick of basil , which hath no very considerable town in it , except porentru . besides these , there are many other small territories and towns allied to , and confederated with the swizzers ; which i shall forbear to name , as being too tedious to insert them all . chap. xvii . of the provinces tributary to the turk . by the name of provinces tributary to the turk , we mean those which have each one in particular a soverain prince , but tributary and depending on the turk , who protects them , and pretends to a right of deposing them when they do not embrace his interests , or when they refuse to arm in his defence . these provinces are four in number viz. 1. transilvania , ch . t. hermanstad , clausenburg , and weyssenburg . 2. walachia , ch . t. targowisko , dombrowitza , and braskow . 3. moldavia , ch . t. jazy , soczow , and targorod . 4. little tartary , ch . t. kaffa , crim , and azof or azac upon the don. a short alphabetical table of the antient names of nations , countries , cities , mountains , seas , and rivers which are mentioned in this book ; compared with the newer divisions , and names , by which they are generally known at this day . a a chaia , part of greece , now called livadia . adriatick sea , the gulf of venice . aethiopia , the south part of africk , now divided into several countries . aethiopian sea , now more commonly called the southern oceàn . aetna , a mountain heretofore so called in sicily , but at present gibel . albion , the ancient name of england . an●li , a people in the north of germany . ap●lia , an ancient country in the kingdom of naples . aquitania , the south-west part of france . ararat , a hill in asia , still known by this name : see the following table . athens , an ancient town in greece now called serines . atlantick sea , now generally known by the name of western ocean . atlantis insula , the ancient name of america . atlas , a mountain in africk , at present called claros . augusta trinobunrum , at first called new troy , ( as is thought ) and now london . ausonia , italy heretofore so called . b baetica , an ancient country in the south part of spain . boetis , a river called at present guadalquivir . belgia , the low countries in europe . boris●henes , a river now more commonly called nieper . brigantes , a people in the north of england . britains , the ancient inhabitants of england . brutium , an ancient country in the kingdom of naples . byzantium , the ancient name of constantinople . c caledonia , the north part of great britain , now scotland . campania , a country in the kingdom of naples . cantij , a people in that part of britain called at present kent . carpathian hills , now known by the name of crapack . caspian sea , a great lake in asia , which now goes under the names of kilan or sala . caucasus , the name of some hills in asia : see the following table . ceraunius or taurus , mountains in asia : see taurus in the other table . chaldea , the name of an ancient country within the bounds of turky in asia . chaonia , or epirus , now called canina , a country in greece . cilicia , an ancient country , now part of turky in asia . cimbri , a people that inhabited heretofore denmark . cimbrick chersonesus , jutland . codanonia , at present the isle of zeland . colchos , a little country anciently so called , in georgia near the pontus euxinus . corinth : see the following table . creet . now candy , an island in the mediterranean sea , cythera , the ancient name for the isle of cerigo . d dacia , subdivided into transilvania , walachia , aud moldavia . dama'cus , a town in turky in asia . danube or ister , a river in europe now more generally known by the name of danow . e epirus or chaonia , now called canina , a country in greece . euboea , the isle of negropont near greece . euphrates , a river in asia : see the other table . euripus , the straights of negropont . f fortunate islands , the canary islands towards africk . g gallia belgica , the north part of of france . gallia celtica , the middle , and north-west part of france . gallia cispadana , part of lombardy . gallia narbonensis , towards the south-east side of france . gallia transpadana , part of lombardy . ganges , a river in asia : see the following table ▪ gaule , the kingdom of france . greece : see the following table . h hesperia , italy called so heretofore ; also spain . hesperian isles , the islands of cape verd. hetruria , a country in italy , now tuscany . hibernia , otherwise iverna or ierna . at this day it is called ireland . hispania , the kingdom of spain . i iaxartes , the river ardock or alsagsh . iberia , and not seldom hesperia , both ancient names of spain . iberus , the river ebro , ierna or iverna , eryn or ireland . jerusalem , a town in judaea , so called to this day by us , but otherwise by the turks who are masters of it . illyricum , a country towards the adriatick sea ; now part of turky in europe . imaus : see the following table . indus , a river known at present by the name of sind . ister or danube , now commonly called danow . italia , at present italy . judoea , part of turky in asia . iverna or ierna , now called eryn or ireland . ju'ae , a people formerly inhabiting jutland . l laced ●emon , a town now called misithra . latium , an ancient country in the dominion of the pope . lemnos , an island near thrace now called stalimene . libya , the north part of africk . liguria , the south part of lombardy . longobardi , a people of germany , in , or near the marquisate of brandenburg . lucania , an ancient country now comprised in the kingdom of naples . lusitania , portugal with part of castile . m macedon : see the following table . mauritania , part of barbary . mesopotamia , a country in turky in asia . messapia , a country in the kingdom of naples . moesia , an old country , at present divided into servia and bulgaria . n new troy , otherwise augusta trinobantum ; but now london . nidrosia , a town called drunthem . niger : see the following table . nilus , a river in egypt . numantia : see the other table . numidia , a country called now bildulgerid . o oxus , a river now called balch or jihun . p pamphilia , a country in turky in asia . pannonia , the ancient name of hungary . parthenope , the city of naples . peloponnesus , at present morea . phoenicia , a little country in turky in asia . phrygia , a country in turky in asia . picenum , a country now comprised in the dominion of the pope . picts , a people inhabiting the south part of scotland . pontus euxinus , the black sea. r riphaeah mountains , in muscovy ; but now called stolp . s samnium , an ancient country in the dominion of the pope . sarmatia , that part of europe which comprehends muscovy and poland . saxons , an ancient people in the north of germany . scandinavia , contains the present kingdoms of swedeland , denmakr , and norway . scythia , great tartary . scythia taurica , little tartary . scythian sea , all the northern ocean . silures ; a people towards wales , about monmouth and herefordshire . sinus codanus , the baltick sea. syracuse , a town now called saragusa . syria , a country in turky in asia . t tagus , a river now called taio . tanais : see the other table . tarraco , a town at present called tarragon . tarraconensis , the middle , northern , and eastern parts of spain . taurus or ceraunius , hills in asia : see the following table . thebes , an ancient town in greece , at present called stives . thessaly , that part of greece which is now called janna . thrace , it now goes under the name of romania . thule , the isle of island . tigris : see the following table . trinobantes , a people inhabiting middle-sex , essex , and hartfordshire ; whose chief town was london , called at that time augusta trinobantum . v venetia , an ancient country in lombardy . vmbria , a little country in the dominion of the pope , which included the present umbria or duchy of spoleto . a table of the modern names of all the countries , provinces , islands , cities , towns , hills , seas , lakes , and rivers contained in this book , reduced to an alphabetical order , and directing where they may be found in the maps . also shewing how the most noted of them were called anciently . a abbeville , a town in picardy . aberdeen , a town in north scotland . abernethy , an old town in south scotland . abissinia , a country in africk , part of the ancient aethiopia . abo , a town in finland . abbruzzo the further , a province in the kingdom of naples . abruzzo the nigher , a province in the kingdom of naples . acapulco , a town in new spain . aden , a town in arabia . adiazzo , a town in corsica . adige , a river in italy . adrianople , a town in romania . adriatick sea or gulf of venice , between italy and dalmatia . aethiopian sea or southern ocean , towards the south-west side of africk . aetna , a mountain in val di demona . africk , one of the four parts of the world. agger , a town in the government of agger , agger government , in norway . agra , a town in the indian continent . aichstad , a town in the palatinate of bavaria . aix , a town in provence . albania , a province in greece , heretofore comprised under that of macedon . albenga , a town in the republick of genoa . alburg , a town in the diocess of alburg . alburg diocess , in north-jutland . alcala de henares , a town in new-castile . alenson , a town in normandy . aleppo , a town in turky in asia . alexandretta or scanderoon , a town in turky in asia . alexandria , a town in bgypt . algarves , a province in spain , belonging to portugal . algeri , a town in sardinia . algier , a town in earbary . alicant , a town in the province of valentia alpes , mountains dividing italy from france , and germany . alsagsh or ardock , anciently jaxartes , a river in great tartary . alsatia or alsace , a province in france . altorf , a town in the canton of uri . amalfi , a town in the nigher principality . amara , a town in abissinia . amazon river or orelhana , in peru ▪ amberg , a town in the palatinate of bavaria . america or west indies , one of the four parts of the world , called anciently atlantis insula . amiens , a town in picardy . amsterdam , a town in the county of holland . ancient tartary or north tartary , part of great tartary . ancona , a town in the marquisate of ancona . ancona marquisate , in the dominion of the pope . andaluzia , a province in spain . andes , mountains between chili , and magellanica . anger 's , a town in anjou . anglesey , an island , and county in wales . angola or st. paolo , a town in congo . angouleme , a town in angoumois . angoumois , a province in the government of orleanois . anjou , a province in the government of orleanois . antego islands or antilles , in the north sea towards new spain . antwerp , a town in the marquisate of the holy empire . antwerp seigniory , or marquisate of the holy empire , one of the seventeen provinces ; in flanders . apenine , mountains going through the middle of italy , from north-west to south-east . appenzel , a town in the canton of appenzel . appenzel canton , a province in swizzerland . aquila , a town in the nigher abruzzo . arabia , a country in asia . aragon , a province in spain . archangel , a town in muscovy . archipelago or white sea , on the east side of greece . archipelago of st. lazarus , a sea between the japan and phillippine islands . arda , a town in guinny . ardevil , a town in persia . ardock or alsagsh , anciently jaxartes , a river in great tartary . arhusen , a town in the diocess of athusen . athusen diocess , in north-jutland . arica , a town in peru. armagh , a town in ulster . armiro , a town in janna . arnhem , a town in gelderland . arno , a river in italy . arquico , a town in abissinia . arras , a town in artois . artois , one of the seventeen provinces ; in the french netherlands . ascension , a little island in the southern ocean . aschaffemburg , a town in the diocess of mentz . asia , one of the four parts of the world. assumption , a town in paraguay . astracan , a town in tartary desart . asturia , a province in spain . athlone , a town in connaught . atlantick or western ocean , about the west side of europe and africk . atlas , a mountain between barbary and bildulgerid , now called claros . auch , a town in gascony . augsburg , a town in schwaben . aviles , a town in asturia . austria , a province in germany . autun , a town in the duchy of burgundy . auvergn , a province in the government of lyonnois . azof or azac , a town in little tartary . azores or terceran islands , in the western ocean . b bagdat , a town in turky in asia . bagnialuck , a town in bosnia . bahus , a town in the government of bahus . bahus government , in norway . balbastro , a town in aragon . balch or jihun , heretofore oxus , a river in great tartary . baldivia , a town in chili . baltick sea , anciently sinus codanus ; between germany , poland , and swedeland . bar , a town in podolia . barbary , heretofore ( for the most part ) mauritania , a country in africk . barcelona , a town in caralonia . bari , a town in the territories of bari . bari territories , in the kindom of naples . barkshire , in the kingdom of wessex . barwick , a town in the county of northumberland . basil , a town in the canton of basil . basil canton , in swizzerland . basil diocess , in swizzerland . basilicata , a province in the kingdom of naples . bastia , a town in canina . bastia , a town in corsica . bath , a town in somersetshire . bavaria duchy , the greatest part of the province of bavaria , in germany bavaria palatinate , part of the great province of bavaria , in germany . bautzen , a town in lusatia . bearford , a town in greenland . bearn , a province in the government of guienn , and gascony . beauce , a province in the government of orleanois . bedfordshire , in the kingdom of mercia . belgrade , a town in servia . belt , a straight or narrow passage in the baltick sea , between zeland and funen . benevento , a town in the further principality . bengala , a town in the indian continent . benin , a town in guinny . berg or bergen , a town in the government of bergen . bergen government , in norway . berlin , a town in the marquisate of brandenburg . bern , a town in the canton of bern. bern canton , in swizzerland . berry , a province in the government of orleanois . bessarabia , a province in turky in europe . bezanson , a town in franche county . bialogrod , a town in bessarabia . bielizero , a town in muscovy . bielsko , a town in polachia . bilbao , a town in biscay . bildulgerid , in time past numidia , a country in africk . biscay , a province in spain . black sea , a kind of a gulf between turky , little tartary , and georgia , called in time past pontus euxinus . bleking , a little province , part of south-gothland . bockora , a town in ziagathay . bohemia , a province in germany . bolduc , a town in brabant . bologna , a town in bolognese . bolognese , a province in the dominion of the pope . bonifacio , a town in corsica . bonn , a town in the diocess of colen . boristhenes or nieper , a river in poland . bosnia or bossina , a province in turky in europe , part of the ancient illyricum . boston , a town in new england . bourbonnois , a province in the government of lyonnois . bourdeaux , a town in guienn . bourg , a town in bress . bourges , a town in berry . boxa , a town in abissinia . brabant , one of the seventeen provinces ; in flanders . braclaw or bratzlaw , a town in podolia . braga , a town in portugal . brandenburg , a town in the marquisate of brandenburg . brandenburg marquisate , in germany . brasil , a country in south america . braskow , a town in walachia . bratzlaw or braclaw a town in podolia . brava , a town in zanguebar . brecknockshire , in wales . breda , a town in brabant . bremen , a town in the territories of bremen . bremen territories , in lower saxony . breslaw , a town in silesia . bress , a province in the government of burgundy . brest , a town in bretaigne . bretaigne , a province in france . brinn , a town in moravia . brisack , a town ill brisgow . brisgow , a province in the southern part of germany . bristow , a town in somersetshire . britain or great britain , a country in europe ; the largest of the british isles , anciently known by the name of albion . british isles , in the western ocean , part of europe . brixen , a town in tirole . brunswick , a town in the duchy of brunswick . brunswick and lunenburg duchy , in lower saxony . brussels , a town in brabant . buckinghamshire , in the kingdom of mercia . buda or offen , a town in hungary . buenos aires , a town in paraguay . bulgar , a town in tartary desart . bulgaria , a province in turky in europe , part of the ancient moesia . burgos , a town in old castile . burgundy county or franche county , a province in france . burgundy duchy , a province , and the greatest part of the government of burgundy . burgundy government , in france . bursa , a town in turky in asia . butua , a town in monomotopa . c cadiz , a town in andaluzia . caen , a town in normandy . caermarthenshire , in wales . caernarvon , a town in caernarvonshire . caernarvonshire , in wales . caffa or kaffa , a town in little tartary . cafreria or coast of the caffres , a country in africk . cagliari , a town in sardinia . cahors , a town in quercy . cairo , a town in egypt . calabria the further , a province in the kingdom of naples . calabria the nigher , a province in the kingdom of naples . calais , a town in picardy . calisurnia , an island in the pacifick sea. calmar , a town in ostro-gothland . calzem or suez , a town in egypt . cambaia , a town in the indian continent . cambaln or muoncheu , a town in cathay . cambray , a town in cambresis . cambresis , a province in the french netherlands . cambridg , a town in cambridgshire . cambridg or new-town , a town in new england . cambridgshire , in the kingdom of the east angles . campania di roma , a province in the dominion of the pope . campion or tanguth , a town in cathay . camul or xamo , a town in cathay . canada or new france , a country in north america . canaries , islands in the western ocean , called in time past fortunate islands . candy , a town in the isle of candy . candy , anciently creet , an island in the mediterranean sea. canea , a town in candy . cangan , a town in abissinia . canina , heretofore called sometimes epirus , and sometimes chaonia , a province in greece cano , a town in nigritia . canterbury , a town in the county of kent . cantozi a town in nigritia cape of good hope , the most southern land of africk . cape verd islands , called heretofore hesperian islands , in the western ocean . capitanata or puglia , a province in the kingdom of naples capua , a town in terra di lavoro . caramoran or hoang , a river in china cardiff , a town in glamorganshire . cardiganshire , in wales . carinthia , a province in the southern part of germany . carlisle , a town in cumberland . carniola , a province in the southern part of germany . carolina a province in new england . carthagena , a town in castilla del oro carthagena or new carthage , a town in murcia , casal , a town in monferrat . cascar , a town in ziagathay . cassel , a town in hessen . cassena , a town in nigritia . castile the new , a province in spain . castile the old , a province in spain . castilla del oro , a country in south america . castro , a town in the duchy of castro . castro duchy , in the dominion of the pope . caswin , a town in persia . catalonia , a province in spain . catania , a town in val●di demona . cathay or tartary of the cham , part of great tartary . caucasus , a great mountain between the indian continent , and great tartary ; also a mountain in georgia . caxumo , a town in abissinia . cazan , a town in tartary desart . cefalonia , an island in the mediterranean sea , north-westward from morea . ceperou or fort lewis , a town in guyana . cerigo , an island in the mediterranean sea , near the south coast of morea . cevennes , a province in the government of languedock . chalons upon marne , a town in champaigne . chalons upon saone , a town in the duchy of burgundy . chambery , a town in savoy . champaigne , a province in france . channel , the name of the sea between england and france . charletnont , a town in the county of namur . charles town , a town in carolina . chazan or kaimach , a town in north tartarij . cheshire , in the kingdom of mercia chester , a town in cheshire . chichester , a town in the county of sussex . chili , a country in south america . china , a country in asia . china islands , about the coast of china . chotan , a town in thebet . christianstad , a town in bleking . ciandu , a town in north tartary . cilly , a town in the county of cilly . cilly country , in the southern part of germany . cirenza , a town in basilicata . citadelli , a town in the isle of minorca . civita vecchia , a town in the patrimony of st. peter . clagenfurt , a town in carinthia . claros , a mountain between barbary and bildulgerid , heretofore atlas . clausenburg , a town in transilvania . clermont , a town in auvergne . cleves , a town in the duchy of cleves . cleves duchy , in the western part of germany . coast of the caffres or cafreria , a country in africk . coblentz , a town in the diocess of treves . coimbra , a town in portugal . coir , a town in the territories of the grisons . colberg , a town in pomeren . colchester , a town in the county of essex colen , a town in the diocess of colen . colen diocess , in the western part of germany . comachio , a town in the territories of comachio . comachio territories , in the dominion of the pope . compostella , a town in new spain . conception , a town in chili . congo , a country in africk . connaught a province in ireland . constance , a town in schwaben . constantinople , in time past bysantium , a town in romania . contessa , a town in macedon . copenhagen , a town in zeeland . cordova , a town in tucuman . cordova , a town in andaluzia . corsu , an island in the mediterranean sea , near the western coast of greece . corinth , a town in morea . cork , a town in munster . cornwall , a county in the kingdom of the west saxons . coro , a town in castilla del oro. corou , a town in guyana . corunna or i a corunna , a town in gallicia . corsica , an island in the mediterranean sea. cosenza , a town in the nigher calabria . cossir , a town in egypt . coventry , a town in warwickshire . cracow , a town in upper poland . crapack , mountains between poland and hungary , called in times past carpathian hills . cremona , a town in milanese . cremz , a town in austria . crim , a town in little tartary . croatia , a province in turky in europe , part of the ancient country of illyricum . cronemberg , a town in zeeland . culm , a town in prussia roial . cumberland , a county in the kingdom of northumberland . curland , a province in poland . cusco , a town in peru. cyprus , an island in the mediterranean sea. czersk , a town in mazovia . czirkassi , a town in ukrania . d dalmatia , a province in turky in europe , part of the ancient country of illyricum . damascus , a town in turky in asia . damiata , a town in egypt . dancala , a town in nub a. danow or danube , a river running through germany and turky , anciently called ister . dantzick a town in prussia roial . dara , a town in bildulgerid . darbyshire , in the kingdom of merica . darmstad , a town in hessen . dauphiny , a province in france . delli , a town in the indian continent . denbigh , a town in denbighshire . denbighshire , in wales , denmark , a country in europe , inhabited anciently by the cimbri . depsan , a town in abissinia . derbent , a town in persia . derpt , a town in livonia . deventer , a town in overissel . devonshire , in the kingdom of the west saxons . dijon , a town in the duchy of burgundy . dol , a town in franche county . dombrowitza , a town in walachia . dominion of the pope or state of the church , a great province in italy . don or tanais , a river in muscovy . doncala , a town in abissinia . dongo , a town in congo . dorcetshire , in the kingdom of the west saxons . dornock , a town in north scotland . dort , a town in the county of holland . dover , a town in the county of kent . draw , a river in turky in europe , falling into the danube . dresden , a town in misnia . drogdagh , a town in ulster . drunthem , in time past nidrosia , a town in the government of drunthem . drunthem government , in norway . dublin , a town in lemster . duero , a river in spain . dulcigno , a town in dalmatia . dunbriton , a town in south scotland . dundee , a town in north scotland . dunkirk , a town in the county of flanders . dunstafag , an old town in north scotland . durazzo , a town in albania . durham , a town in the county of durham . durham , a county in the kingdom of northumberland . dwina , a river in muscovy . e east-england , or kingdom of the east angles , one of the seven saxon kingdoms in england . east-indies , ( strictly taken ) is the empire of the mogol with the two adjacent peninsula's ; but under this name is often included all the coasts , from the cape of good hope to the japan islands eastern ocean or indian ocean on the south side of asia . ebro , a river in spain , anciently called iberus . edenburg , a town in south scotland . egra , a town in bohemia . egypt , a country in africk . elbe , a river in germany . elbing , a town in prussia ducal . el-catif , a town in arabia . el-dorado or manoa , a town in guyana . ely , a town in cambridgshire , empire of the mogol or indian continent , a country in asia . england , the south part of great britain , a country in europe ; known in time past by the name of albion . erfurt , a town in turingia . eryn or ireland , a country in europe , one of the british isles , called by the romans hibernia ; and sometimes known by the names of iverna or ierna . erzerum , a town in turky in asia . es●urial , a palace and monastery near to madrid , in new castile . eslingen , a town in brisgow . essex , a kingdom in the county of essex . essex , one of the seven saxon kingdom ; in england . estella , a town in navarr . euphrates , a river in turky in asia . euripus or straights of negropont , an arm of the sea , which divides the isle of negropont from livadia . europe , one of the four parts of the world. excester , a town in devonshire . f fair islands or isles of fero , some of the british isles , lying northward from scotland . faro , a town in algarves . ferden , a town in the territories of ferden . ferden territories , in lower saxony . fero or fair islands , some of the british isles lying northward from scotland . ferrara , a town in the duchy of ferrara . ferrara duchy , a province in the dominion of the pope . fez , a town in barbary . finland , a provine in swedeland . flanders county , one of the seventeen provinces ; in the spanish netherlands . flanders or spanish netherlands , a country in europe adjoining to france ; the better part of the seventeen provinces . flendsburg , a town in the duchy of sleswick . flintshire , in wales . florence , a town in tuscany . florence duchy or tuscany , a large province in the middle of italy , called once hetruria . florida , a country in north america . flushing , a town in zeland . fontarabia , a town in biscay . fort lewis or ceperou , a town in guyana . france , heretofore gaule , a country in europe . francfort , a town in franconia . francfort upon oder , a town in the marquisate of brandenburg . franche county or the county of burgundy , a province in france . franconia , a province in germany . franeker , a town in west-friseland . frederickstad , a town in the government of agger . fremona , a town in abissinia . french netherlands , a new government which belongs to france ; being three or four of the seventeen provinces , next adjoining to picardy . frescati , a town in campania di roma . fresh-water sea , a lake so called in canada . friburg , a town in brisgow . friburg , a town in the canton of friburg . friburg canton , in swizzerland . fuien or funen , an island in the baltick sea. fuld , a town in hessen . g gago , a town in nigritia . gallicia , a province in spain . gallipoli , a town in romania . galway , a town in connaught . ganges , a river in the indian continent . garnsey , one of the british isles near normandy westward . garonn , a river in france . gascony , a province in the government of guienn and gascony . gaunt , a town in the county of flanders . gelderland , one of the seventeen provinces ; in flanders . gelders , a town in gelderland . genehoa , a town in nigritia . genoa , a town in the republick of genoa . genoa republick , a province in lombardy . geneva , a town and republick in savoy . georgia , a country in asia ; the western part whereof went heretofore under the name of colchos . germany , a country in europe . ghammas , a river in great tartary . ghir , a river in zaara . gibel or aetna , a mountain in val di demona . gibraltar , the name of a straight which joins the mediterranean sea to the ocean . glamorganshire , in wales . glaritz , a town in the canton of glaritz . glaritz canton , a province in swizzerland . glascow , a town in south scotland . glocester , a town in glocestershire . glocestershire , in the kingdom of mercia . gluckstad , a town in holsten . gnesna or gniesen , a town in lower poland . goa , a town in the indian peninsula on this side ganges . golconda , a town in the indian peninsula on this side ganges . goldingen , a town in curland . goreden or kori , a town in georgia . gorlitz , a town in lusatia . gothburg or gottemburg , a town in westro-gothland . gothland , a great province in swedeland . gottorp , a town in the duchy of sleswick . gradiskia , a town in slavonia . gran , a town in hungary . granada , a town in the province of granada . granada , a province in spain ▪ grand caire or cairo , a town in egypt . great britain , heretofore albion , a country in europe ; the largest of the british isles . great novogrod , a town in muscovy . great tartary , anciently scythia , all the north part of asia , greece , the most southern part of turky in europe . greenland , a country in terra arctica . grenoble , a town in dauphiny . grisons territorries , in swizzerland . groningen , a town in the seigniory of groningen . groningen seigniary , one of the seventeen provinces ; in holland . gros-glogaw , a town in silesia . guadalaiara , a town in new spain . guadalquivir , a river in spain , known to the romans by the name of baetis . guadiana , a river in spain . guadix . a town in the province of granada . gualata , a town in nigritia . guastella , a town in the duchy of mantua . guber , a town in nigritia . gueret , a town in la marche . guienn , a province in the government of guienn and gascony . guienn and gascony government , in france . guinny , a country in africk . gulf of la plata , an arm of the sea in paraguay . gulf of mexico , between mexico and florida . gulf of venice or adriatick sea , adjoining to italy on the north-west side . gustrow , a town in mecklenburg . guyana , a country in south america . h hague , a town in the county of holland . halicz , a town in russia the black. halland , a little province , part of south-gothland . hamburg , a town upon the frontiers of holtten and saxony . hampshire , in the kingdom of wessex . hannover , a town in the duchy of brunswick . hartford , a town in hartfordshire . hartfordshire , in the kingdom of essex . hastings , a town in the county of sussex . haynault , one of the seventeen provinces ; in flanders . hebrides or inchgalles , some of the british isles near scotland westward . heidelberg , a town in the palatinate of the rhine . helsenore , a town in zeeland . hereford , a town in herefordshire . herefordshire , in the kingdom of mercia . hermanstad , a town in transilvania . hessen , a province in germany . hetland or sherland isles , some of the british islands , not far from scotland , towards the north east . hoang or caramoran , a river in china . hola , a town in island . holland , vnited netherlands , or vnited provinces ; the northern part of the low countries . holland county , one of the seventeen provinces ; in the united netherlands . holsatia or holsten , a province in south-jutland . hudsons bay , north-westward from canada . hull , a town in yorkshire . hungary , anciently called pannonia , a great province in turky in europe . huntingtonshire , in the kingdom of mercia . i jacca , a town in aragon . jaickza or jazy , a town in moldavia . jalac , a town in nubia . james-town , a town in virginia . janna , called heretofore thessaly , a province in greece . japan islands , in the the indian ocean . javarin or raab a town in imperial hungary . jaytza , a town in bosnia . jazy or jaickza , a town in moldavia . jersey , one of the british isles near the coast of normandy . jerusalem , a town in turky in asia . jesso , the name of a country in terra arctica . jihun or balch , anciently oxus , a river in great tartary . imaus , a mountain or mountains in tartary . inchgalles or hebrides , some of the british isles , near scotland westward . indian continent or empire of the mogol , a country in asia . indian ocean or eastern ocean , on the south side of asia . indian peninsula beyond ganges , a country in asia . indian peninsula on this side ganges , a country in asia . indies , they are divided into east indies , and west indies . ingria , a province in swedeland . inspruck , a town in tirole . ipswich , a town in suffolk . ireland or eryn , a country in europe , one of the british isles ; anciently called hibernia , and not seldom iverna or ierna . irish sea , between england and ireland . island , called heretofore thule , an island in the northern ocean . isle of france , a province in france . ispaban , a town in persia italy , a country in europe : it was called heretofore sometimes italia , and sometimes ausonia ; but generally known to the greeks by the name of hesperia . juannogrod , a town in ingria . ivica , a town in the isle of ivica . ivica , an island in the mediterranean sea. juliers , a town in the duchy of juliers . juliers duchy , in the western part of germany . jutland , the greatest part of denmark , divided into north and south jutland : in times past it was called the cimbrick chersonesus . k kaffa or caffa , a town in little tartary . kaimach or chazan , a town in north tartary . kalisz , a town in lower poland . kaminieck , a town in podolia . kanisia , a town in hungary . kent , a county and one of the seven saxon kingdoms in england . kiang , a river in china . kiel , a town in holsten . kilaloe , a town in connaught . kilan or sala , the name of a great lake or sea , between persia and tartary ; called heretofore the caspian sea. kilkenny , a town in lemster . kimi , a town in lapmark . kimi , a river in swedeland . kimi , territories or lapmark , a little province in lapland . kiow , a town in volhinia . komora , a town in imperial hungary . koningsberg , a town in prussia ducal . kori or goreden , a town in georgia . kuttenberg , a town in bohemia . l la corunna or corunna , a town in gallicia . la marche , a province in the government of lyonnois . la plata , a town in peru. la plata , part of paraguay . la plata , the name of a river in la plata . labor , a town in the indian continent . lake of geneva , between swizzerland and savoy . lake parima , in guyana . lancashire , in the kingdom of northumberland . lancaster , a town in lancashire . lanciano , a town in the further abruzzo . land of the blacks or nigritia , a country in africk . land of jesso , a country in terra arctica . landaff , a town in glamorganshire . landskroon , a town in schonen . languedock , a province and the greatest part of the government of languedock . languedock government , in france . lapland or laponia , a province in swedeland . lapmark or kimi , a little province , part of lapland larissa , a town in janna . larta , a town in canina . lauback , a town in carniola . lau'ann , a town in the canton of bern. legorn , a town in tuscany . leicestershire , in the kingdom of mercia . leith , a town in south scotland . lemster , a province in ireland . leon , a town in new spain . leon , a town in the province of leon. leon , a province in spain . leopol or lewenburg , a town in russia the black. lepanto , a town in livadia . lewarden , a town in west-frizeland . lewenburg or leopol , a town in russia the black. lewes , a town in the county of sussex . leyden , a town in the county of holland lichfield , a town in staffordshire . liege , a town in the diocess of liege . liege diocess , in the western part of germany , almost environed by the low countries . liguitz , a town in silesia . lima or los reies , a town in peru. limburg , a town in the duchy of limburg . limburg duchy , one of the seventeen provinces ; in flanders . limerick a town in munster . limoges , a town in limosin . limosin , a province in the government of gulenn and gascony . lincoln , a town in lincolnshire . lincolnshire , in the kingdom of mercia . linkopen , a town in ostro-gothland . lintz , a town in austria . lis , a river in the low countries . lisbon , a town in portugal . lisle , a town in the county of flanders . lithuania , a great province in poland . little novogrod , a town in muscovy . little tartary , heretofore scythia taurica , a little country in europe , tributary to the turk . livadia , a province in greece ; it was called anciently achaia . livonia , a province in swedeland . loire , a river in france . lombardy , a great province in the north part of italy . london , a town in the county of middlesex . londonderry , a town in ulster . lorain , a province in france . loreto , a town in the marquisate of ancona . los reies or lima , a town in peru. lot , a river in france that falls into the garonn , between gascony and guienn . lovain , a town in brabant . low countries or seventeen provinces , in europe ; known in time past by the name of belgia . lubeck , a town upon the territories of holsten and mecklenburg . lublin , a town in upper poland . lucca , a town in the republick of lucca . lucca republick , a little province in italy , near tuscany westward . lucern , a town in the canton of lucern . lucern canton , in swizzerland . lula , a town in the territories of lula . lula territories , in lapland . lunae mons or mountains of the moon , between abissinia and monomotopa . lunden , a town in schonen . lunenburg , a town in the duchy of lunenburg . lunenburg and brunswick duchy , in lower saxony . lusatia , a province in the eastern part of germany . lutzko , a town in volhinia luxemburg , a town in the duchy of luxemburg . luxemburg duchy , one of the seventeen provinces in flanders . lyonnois , a province in the government of lyonnois . lyonnois government , in france . lyons , a town in lyonnois . m macao , a town in a small island upon the coast of china . macedon , a province in greece . madagascar or st. laurence , an island in the southern ocean . madera islands , in the western ocean . madragan or monomotopa , a town in the country of monomotopa . madrid , a town in new castile . maestricht , a town in the duchy of limburg . magadoxo , a town in zanguebar . magellanica ▪ a country in south america . magellanica or terra incognita , a great tract of land towards the south pole. magellanick islands , in the magellanick sea. magellanick sea , towards the most southern side of america . magliano , a town in terra sabina . maine , a province in the government of orleanois . majorca , a town in the isle of majorca . majorca , an island in the mediterranean sea. malacca , a town in the indian peninsula beyond ganges . malaga , a town in the province of granada . maldives , islands in the indian ocean . malines , a town in the seigniory of malines . malines seigniory , one of the seventeen provinces ; in flanders . malmuyen , a town in schonen . malta , an iland in the mediterranean sea. man , one of the british isles between england , scotland , and ireland . mandinga , a town in nigritia . manfredonia , a town in capitanata . manoa or el dorado , a town in guyana . man 's , a town in maine . mantua , a town in the duchy of mantua . mantua duchy , a small province in lombardy . mara●baon , a town in brasil . marienburg , a town in prussia royal. marne , a river in france , marocco , a town in barbary . marquisate of the holy empire , or antwerp seigniory , one of the seventeen provinces ; in flanders . marseilles , a town in france . marstrand , a town in the government of bahus . massapa or zimbaoe , a town in monomotopa . mavaralnahara , otherwise vsbeck or ziagathay , part of great tartary . mazovia , a province in poland . meath , a province in ireland . mecca , a town in arabia . mecklenburg , a province in germany . medina , a town in arabia . mediterranean sea , between europe and africk . melinda , a town in zanguebar . melun , a town in the isle of france . memel , a town in prussia ducal . menan , a river in india . mentz , a town in the diocess of mentz . mentz diocess , in the western part of germany . mercia , one of the seven saxon kingdoms in england . merida , a town in new spain . merionethshire , in wales . messina , a town in val di demona . metling , a town in windisch marck . metz , a town in lorain . meuse , a river in the low countries . mexicana or north america , all the north part of america ; so called from mexico . mexico , a town in new spain . mexico or new spain , a country in north america . middelfurt , a town in funen . middelfurt sound , a straight or narrow passage in the baltick sea , between jutland and funen . middleburg , a town in zeland , middlesex , a county in the kingdom of essex . milan , a town in milanese . milanese , a province in lombardy . mina or st. george of the mine , a town in guinny . minden , a town in the territories of minden . minden territoris , in lower saxony . minorca , an island in the mediterranean sea. mirandola , a town in the duchy of mantua . misithra , anciently lacedaemon , a town in morea . misnia , a little province in upper saxony . mittaw , a town in curland . modena , a town in the duchy of modena . modena duchy , a little province in lombardy . moldavia , part of the ancient dacia , a province in europe , tributary to the turk . molingar , a town in meath . molissa , a town in the county of molissa . molissa county , in the kingdom of naples . moluccoes , islands in the indian ocean . mombaza , a town in zanguebar . mompellier , a town in languedock . monbelliard , a town in the county of monbelliard . monbelliard county , in the government of franche county . mondonnedo , a town in gallicia . monferrat , a little province in lombardy . monmouthshire , in the kingdom of mercia monomotopa , a country in africk . monomotopa or madragan , a town in the country of monomotopa . mons , a town in haynault . monstiers , a town in savby . montgomery , a town in montgomeryshire . montgomeryshire , in wales . montmedy , a town in the duchy of luxemburg . montmelian , a town in savoy . montreal , a town in canada . montreal , a town in val di mazata . moravia , a province in germany . morea , a province in greece , called heretofore peloponnesus . morlakia , a small province in turky in europe , contiguous to croatia . mosco , a town in muscovy . mosul , a town in turky in asia . moulins a town in bourbonnois . mountains of the moon , between abissinia , and monomotopa , muzambick , a town in zanguebar . munchen , a town in the duchy of bavaria . munster , a town in westphalia . munster , a province in ireland . muoncheu or cambalu , a town in cathay . murcia , a town in the province of murcia . murcia , a province in spain . muscovy or russia , part of the antient sarmatia ; a country in europe . n namur , a town in the county of namur . namur county , one of the seventeen provinces ; in flanders . nanciang , a town in china . nancy , a town in lorain . nanking , a town in china . nantes , a town in bretaigne . naples , called formerly parthenope , a town in terra di lavoro . naples , a kingdom and a great part of italy . narbonn , a town in languedock . narsinga , a town in the indian peninsula on this side ganges . navarr , a province in spain . negropont , a town in the isle of negropont . negropont , heretofore euboea an island in the mediterranean sea , on the eastside of greece . netherlands or seventeen provinces , in europe , anciently known by the name of belgia . nevers , a town in nivernois . newburg , a town in the palatinate of bavaria . new carthage or carthagina , a town in murcia . new castile , a province in spain . newcastle , a town in northumberland . new england , a little province in the great country of new england . new england , a country in north america . new-found land , a great island in the north sea , near canada . new france or canada , a country in north america . new granada , a town in new mexico . new guinny , a great island in the pacifick sea , towards asia . new holland or new york , a little province in new england . new mexico , a country in north america . new plymouth , a town in new england . new spain or mexico , a country in north america . newstad , a town in moravia . new-town or cambridg , a town in new england . new york , a town in the province of new york . new york or new holland , a little province in new england . niburg , a town in funen . niemen , a river in poland . nieper or boristhenes , a river in poland . niester , a river in poland . nigepoli , a town in bulgaria . niger , a river in nigritia . nigritia or land of the blacks , a country in africk . nikopen , a town in sweden . nile , a river in egypt . nimmegen , a town in gelderland . nisa , a town in servia . nivernois , a province in the government of orleanois . nizza a town in piedmont . nogent , a town in perche . norfolk , a county in the kingdom of the east angles . norimberg , a town in franconia . normandy , a province in france . north america , almost one half of america northward , otherwise called mexicana . northamptonshire , in the kingdom of mercia . north-gothland . a province in swedeland . north-jutland , a province in denmark . north kin , a cape upon the most northern coast of jutland . north sea , on the north-east side of america . north tartary or ancient tartary , part of great tartary . northern ocean , formerly scythian sea , on the north side of europe and asia . northumberland , a county in the kingdom of northumberland . northumberland , one of the seven saxon kingdoms in england . norway , a country in europe , norwich , a town in norfolk , noteburg , a town in ingria . noto , a town in val di noto , nottinghamshire , in the kingdom of mercia . novogrod the greater , a town in muscovy . novogrod the less , a town in muscovy . novogrodeck , a town in lithuania . novogrod-sevierski , a town in the duchy of novogrod-sevierski . novogrod sevierski and smolensko dukedoms , in poland . nubia , a town in nubia . nubia , a country in africk . numantia , a ruined town in old castile , anciently very famous . o obius , a river in great tartary . odensee , a town in funen . odir , a river in germany . offen or buda , a town in hungary . oldenburg , a town in the territories of oldenburg . oldenburg territories , in lower saxony . olinda , a town in brasil . olita , a town in navarr . olmutz , a town in moravia . opslo , a town in the government of agger . orbitello , a town in tuscany . orcades or orkney , some of the british isles near scotland northward . orelhana or river of the amazons , in peru , or between peru and brasil . orenoke or paria , a river between castilla del oro and guyana . orkney or orcades , some of the british isles near scotland northward . orleanois government , in france . orleans , a town in beauce . ormuz , a town in persia . orvieto , a town in the territories of orvieto . orvieto territories , in the dominion of the pope . osnaburg , a town in westphalia . ostend , a town in the county of flanders . ostia , a town in campania di roma . ostro-gothland , a little province in north-gothland . otranto , a town in the territories of otranto . otranto territories , in the kingdom of naples . otzacow , a town in bessarabia , near the mouth of the nieper . overissel , one of the seventeen provinces ; in holland . oviedo , a town in asturia . oustioug , a town in muscovy . oxford , a town in oxfordshire . oxfordshire , in the kingdom of mercia . oyse , a river in france . p pacifick sea or south sea , on the south-west side of america . paderborn , a town in westphalia . padua , a town in the republick of venice . palatinate of bavaria , part of the great province of bavaria , in germany . palatinate of the rhine , a province in germnay . palermo , a town in val di mazara . palma nova , a town in the republick of venice . pampelona , a town in navarr . panama , a town in castilla del oro. paraguay , a country in south america . parana , the name of a river in paraguay . paria or orenoke , a river between castilla del oro and guyana . parima , the name of a lake in guyana . paris , a town in the isle of france . parma , a town in the duchy of parma . parma duchy , a little province in lombardy . pas de calais , a narrow passage in the channel , between kent and picardy . patras , a town in morea . patrimony of st. peter , a province in the dominion of the pope . pau , a town in bearn . pavia , a town in milanese . pegu , a town in the indian peninsula beyond ganges . pegu , a river in india . peking a town in china . pembroke , a town in pembrokeshire . pembrokshire , in wales , perche , a province in the government of orleanois . perigord , a province in the government of guienn and gascony . perigueux , a town in perigord . perpignan , a town in roussillon . persia , a country in asia . perth , a town in north scotland . peru , a country in south america . perugia , a town in the territories of perugia . perugia territories , in the dominion of the pope . peruviana or south america , all the south part of america , being a large peninsula . peterborow , a town in northamptonshire . philippine islands , in the indian ocean . piacenza , a town in the duchy of parma . picardy , a province in france . piedmont , a province in lombardy . pignerol , a town in dauphiny . piombino , a town in tuscany . pisa , a town in tuscany . pitha , a town in the territories of pitha . pitha territories , in lapland . ple●cow , a town in muscovy . plimouth , a town in devonshire . po , a river in italy . podelassia or polacha , a province in poland . podolia , a province in poland . poictiers , a town in poictou . poictou a province in the government of orleanois . polachia or podelassia , a province in poland . poland , a province in the kingdom of poland . poland , a country in europe ; called in time past , together with muscovy , sarmatia . poland the lower , the north-west part of the great province of poland . poland the vpper , the south-east part of the great province of poland . pomerania or pomeren , a province in germany . porentru , a town in the diocess of basil . port-famine or st. philip , a town in magellanica . porto-belo , a town in castilla del oro. porto-seguro , a town in brasil . portugal , formerly lusitania , and a province in the western part of spain ; but now a kingdom of it self . posega , a town in slavonia . posen or posnan , a town in lower poland . potengi , a town in brasil . potosi , a town in peru. prague , a town in bohemia . presburg , a town in imperial hungary . prevezza , a town in canina . principality the further , a province in the kingdom of naples . principality the nigher , a province in the kingdom of naples . provence , a province in france . provinces tributary to the turk , several small countries between turky , poland , and muscovy . prussia , a province in poland . prussia ducal , the north-east part of prussia . prussia roial , the south-west part of prussia . puglia or capitanata , a province in the kingdom of naples . pyrenies , mountains separating france from spain . q qvancheu , a town in china . quebeck , a town in canada . quercy , a province in the government of guienn and gascony . queyang , a town in china . quiloa , a town in zanguebar . r raab or javarin , a town in imperial hungary . radnorshire , in wales , ragusa , a town and republick in dalma●a . raseburg , a town in finland . ratisbon , a town in the duchy of bavaria . ravenna , a town in romagna . red sea , between arabia and egypt . reggio , a town in the further calabria . reggio , a town in the duchy of modena rendsburg , a town in holsten rennes , a town in bretaigne . retimo , a town in candy . revel , a town in li●●●ia . rheimes , a town in champaigne . rhezan , a town in muscovy . rhine , a river in germany . rhodes , a town in rouergue . rhone , a river in france . riga , a town in livonia . river of the amazons or orelhana , between peru and brasil . river of la plata , in la plata . river of parana , in paraguay . river of st. francis , in brasil . river of st. laurence , in canada . rochester , a town in the county of kent . romagna , a province the dominion of the pope . romania , in time past thrace , a province in turky in europe . rome , a town in campania di roma . roschild , a town in zeeland . rosetta , a town in egypt . rosinia , a town in samogitia . rotweil , a town in brisgow . rouen , a town in normandy . rouergue , a province in the government of guienn and gascony . roussillon , a small province in the government of languedock . rugen , an island in the baltick sea , near pomeren . ruremond , a town in gelderland . russia or muscovy , part of the ancient country of sarmatia ; in europe . russia the black , a province in poland . rutlandshire , in the kingdom of mercia . rye , a town in the county of sussex . rypen , a town in the diocess of rypen . rypen diocess , in north-jutland . s st. albans , a town in hartfordshire . st. andrews , a town in south-scotland . st. asaph , a town in flintshire , st. davids , a town in the isle of france . st. denis , a town in pembrokshire . st. faith or st. fe , a town in new mexico . st. fe , a town in paraguay . st. francis , a town in peru. st. francis , the name of a river in brasil . st. george of the mine or mina , a town in guinny . st. helena , an island in the southern ocean . st. jago , a town in chili . st. jago de compostella , a town in gallicia . st. jago de guatimala , a town in new spain . st. jago del estero , a town in tucuman . st. laurence or madagascar , an island in the southern ocean . st. laurence , the name of a river in canada . st. miguel , a town in tucuman . st. nicholas , a town in muscovy . st. omars , a town in arrois . st. paolo or angola , a town in congo . st. philip or port famine , a town in magellanica . st. salvador , a town in brasil . st. salvador , a town in congo . st. sebastian , a town in biscay . st. sebastian , a town in brasil . st. thomas , an island in the southern ocean . st. vincent , a town in brasil . saints , a town in saintonge . saintonge , a province in the government of guienn and gascony . sala or kilan , the name of a great lake or sea between persia and tartary ; anciently called the caspian sea. salamanca , a town in the province of leon. salerno , a town in the nigher principality . salins , a town in franche county . salisbury , a town in wiltshire . salonichi , a town in macedon . saltzburg , a town in the duchy of bavaria . samarcand , a town in ziagathay . samogitia , a province in poland . sandomir , a town in upper poland . sta. fe or st. faith , a town in new mexico . sta. fe de begota , a town in castilla del oro. sta. martha , a town in castilla del oro. santillana , a town in asturia . saragossa , a town in aragon . saragusa , formerly syracuse , a town in val di noto . sardinia , an island in the mediterranean sea. sassari a town in sardinia . savatopoli , a town in georgia . savona , a town in the republick of genoa . savoy , a little country between france , italy , and swizzerland , but counted part of lombardy . saw , a river in turky in europe which falls into the danube . saxony electorship , a little province in upper saxony . saxony the lower , a province in germany . saxony the vpper , a province in germany . scagen , a town in the most northern part of the diocess of alburg . scanderoon or alexandretta , a town in turky in asia . scandinavia , a large country in the north of europe , containing the kingdoms of swedeland , denmark , and norway . scardona , a town in dalmatia . schafhausen , a town in the canton of schafhausen . schafhausen canton , a province in swizzerland . scheld , a river in the low countries . schiras , a town in persia . schonen , a province in south gothland . schwaben or suevia , a province in germany . scotland , heretofore called caledonia , a country in europe ; being the north part of great britain . scotland , beyond tay , all scotland which lies from the tay northward . scotland , on this side tay , the south part of scotland , which is included between the river tay and england . scutari , a town in albania . sea of kilan or sala , a vast lake between persia and tartary ; known heretofore by the name of caspian sea. sebenico , a town in dalmatia . segelmessa , a town in bildulgerid . segorbe , a town in the province valentia segovia , a town in old castile . servia , a province in turky in europe , being part of the ancient country of moesia . setines , heretofore called athens , a town in livadia . seventeen provinces , low countries , or netherlands in europe , the romans comprised them all under the name of belgia . severn a river in england . sevil , a town in andaluzia . seyne , a river in france . shannon , a river in ireland . shetland or hetland isles , in the northern ocean , not far from scotland . shropshire , in the kingdom of mercia . sian , a town in the indian peninsula beyond ganges . sicily , an island in the mediterranean sea. siena , a town in tuscany . sierra liona , mountains so called in guiny . silesia , a province in germany . silly islands , or the sorlings , some of the british isles between england , france , and ireland . sind , heretofore called indus , a river in india . sion , a town in valais . slavonia , a province in turky in europe , part of the ancient illyricum . sleswick , a town in the duchy of sleswick . sles-wick duchy , a little province in south-jutland . sluys , a town in the county of flanders . smirna , a town in turky in asia . smolensko , a town in the dukedom of smolensko . smolensko dukedom , with that of novogrod-sevierski , ) in poland . soczow , a town in moldavia . soloturn , a town in the canton of soloturn . soloturn canton , a province in swizzerland . somersetshire , in the kingdom of the west saxons . sophia , a town in bulgaria . sorling or silly islands , some of the british isles between england , france , and ireland . sound , a straight or narrow passage in in the baltick sea , between zeeland and schonen . sound isles or islands of the sound , in the indian ocean . southampton , a town in hampshire . south america or peruviana , the greatest half of america , so called from it's situation southward , and from the province of peru. south gothland , a province in swedeland . south-jutland , a province in denmark . south sea otherwise pacifick sea , on the south-west side of america . southern ocean or aethiopian sea , about the south-west side of africk . spain , a country in europe , sometimes called by the romans iberia , sometimes hispania , and not seldom hesperia . spalato , a town in dalmatia . spanish netherlands or flanders , comprehend nine or ten of the most southern provinces of the low countries . spire , a town in the palatinate of the rhine . spiritu santo , a town in brasil . spiritu santo , the name of a river running through monomotopa and cafreria . spoleto , a town in the duchy of spoleto . spoleto duchy or vmbria , a little province in the dominion of the pope . staffordshire , in the kingdom of mercia . stalimene , a town in the isle of stalimene . stalimene , once lemnos , an island in the mediterranean sea , towards romania . stantz , a town in the canton of underwalden . state of the church or dominion of the pope , a great province in italy . sterling , a town in south scotland . stetin , a town in pomeren . stiria , a province in the southern part of germany . stives , a town in livadia , formerly known by the name of thebes . stockholm , a town in sweden . stolp , the name of a company of hills in muscovy ; anciently called riphaeen mountains . straights of anian , between asia and the land of jesso , an unfrequented country near america northward . traights of gibraltar , between spain and barbary ; joyning together the western ocean and mediterranean sea. straights of magellan , between america and that great continent called terra magellanica . straights of negropont or the euripus , an arm of the sea , separating the isle of negropont from livadia . stralzund , a town in pomeren . strazburg , a town in alsace . strom , a town in the isle of fero. stutgart , a town in the duchy of wirtenberg . suaquem , a town in abissinia . suevia or schwaben , a province in germany . suez or calzem , a town in egypt . suffolk , a county in the kingdom of the east angles . sundrio , a town in valtoline . surat , a town in the indian continent . surrey , a county in the kingdom of sussex . sussex , a county in the kingdom of sussex . sussex , one of the seven saxon kingdoms in england . sweden , a province in the kingdom of sweden or swedeland . sweden or swedeland , a country in europe . swerin , a town in mecklenburg . switz , a town in the canton of switz . switz canton , a province in swizzerland . swizzerland , a country in europe near france . swol , a town in overissel . t tadousack , a town in canada . taio or tagus , a river in spain . tamaraca , a town in brasil . tanais or don , a river in muscovy , and upon the frontiers of little tartary . tangier , a town in barbary . tanguth or campion , a town in cathay . targa or zaghara , a town in zaara . targorod , a town in moldavia . targowisko , a town in walachia . taragon , formerly tarraco , a town in catalonia . tartar , a town in north-tartary . tartary of the cham , otherwise cathay , part of great tartary . tartary desert , part of great tartary . tartary the greater , once called scythia , all the northern part of asia . tartary the less , on the south side of muscovy , a country tributary to the turk ; it was called anciently scythia taurica . tavila , a town in algarves . taurus , the name of several mountains in asia , more especially some mountains in the western part of turky in asia : but ceraunius was the most ancient name . tay , a river in scotland . teflis , a town in georgia . teissa or tyssa , a river in turky in europe , discharging it self into the danube . terceran islands or azores , in the western ocean . terra arctica , a great unin habited country towards the north pole. terra di lavoro , a province in the kingdom of naples . terra incognita or magellanica , a vast country toward the south pole. terra sabina , a province in the dominion of the pope . tesset , a town in bildulgerid . thames , a river in england . thebet , a town in a country of the same name . thebet or turquestan , part of great tartary . thionville , a town in the duchy of luxemburg . tiber , a river in italy . tigris , a river in turky in asia . tirole , a province in germany . toledo , a town in new castile . tombote , a town in nigritia . tonningen , a town in the duchy of sleswick , tornia , a town in the territories of tornia . tornia , a river in swedeland . tornia territories , in lapland . toro , a town in the province of leon. tortosa , a town in catalonia . toulon , a town in provence . toulouse , a town in languedock . touraine , a province in the government of orleanois . tours , a town in touraine . transilvania , a province in europe tributary to the turk ; being part of the ancient country of dacia . trent , a town and bishoprick within the confines of italy , but depending on the county of tirole . trent , a river in england . treves , a town in the diocess of treves . treves or triers diocess , in the western part of germany . triest , a town in carniola . trino , a town in monferrat . tripoli , a town in barbary . troyes , a town in champaigne . truxillo , a town in new spain . tubingen , a town in the duchy of wirtenberg . tucuman , a country in south america . tunis , a town in barbary . turin , a town in piedmont . turingia , a small province in upper saxony . turky , a large empire in our continent , divided into turky in europe , and turky in asia . turky the lower , the south part of turky in europe , comprehending the two ancient countries of greece and thrace . turky the vpper , the north part of turky in europe , wherein were included formerly pannonia , illyricum , moesia , &c. turquestan or thebet , part of great tartary . tuscany or duchy of florence , heretofore known by the name of hetruria , a province in italy . tyssa or tessa , a river in turky in europe , which runs into the danube . u val di demona , a province in sicily . val di mazara , a province in sicily . val di noto , a province in sicily . valais , a province in swizzerland . valence , a town in dauphiny . valenciennes , a town in haynault . valentia , a town in the province of valentia . valentia , a province in spain . valladolid , a town in new spain . valladolid a town in old castile . valona , a town in albania . valtoline , a province in swizzerland . venice , a town in the republick of venice . venice republick , a province in lombardy . vercelli , a town in piedmont . verdan , a town in lorain . vienn , a town in dauphiny . vienna , a town in austria . virginia , a province in new england . viterbo , a town in the patrimony of st. peter , viviers , a town in cevennes . vkrania , a province in poland . vlm , a town in schwaben . vlster , a province in ireland . vma , a town in the territories of uma . vma territories , in lapland . vmbria or duchy of spoleto , in the dominion of the pope . vnderwalden , a province or canton of swizzerland . vnited netherlands or provinces , otherwise holland ; seven or eight provinces in the north of the low countries . volhinia , a province in poland . vpsal , a town in the sweden . vrbino , a town in duchy of urbino . vrbino duchy , in the dominion of the pope . vri , a canton or province in swizzerland . vsbeck , otherwise called ziagathay or mauaralnahara , part of great tartary . vtrecht , a town in the seigniory of utrecht . vtrecht seigniory , one of the seventeen provinces ; in holland . w walachia , part of the ancient dacia , a province in europe tributary to the turk . wales , a country in the west of england . wardhus , a town in the government of wardhus . wardhus government , in norway . warsaw , a town in mazovia . warwickshire , in the kingdom of mercia . waterford , a town in munster . wells , a town in somersetshire . weser , a river in germany . wessex or kingdom of the west saxons , one of the seven saxon kingdoms , in england . west-friseland , one of the seventeen provinces ; in holland . west indies , by this name is most properly meant the antego islands , and some others upon the coast of america ; but sometimes all america is so called . westmorland , a county in the kingdom of northumberland . westphalia , a province in germany . wester 〈…〉 lantick sea , on the west side 〈…〉 rope and africk . westro-gothland , a small province in north-gothland . weteravia or weteraw , a little province in the western part of germany , comprehended under that of hessen . wexford , a town in lemster . weyssel or wistule , a river in poland . weyssenburg , a town in transilvania . white sea or archipelago , on the east side of greece . wiburg , a town in finland . wiburg , a town in the diocess of wiburg . wiburg diocess , in north-jutland . wight , one of the british isles , near the south coast of england . wihitz , a town in croatia . wilna , a town in lithuania . wiltshire , in the kingdom of the west saxons . winchester , a town in hampshire . windisch marck or the marquisate of windes , a small province in the southern part of germany , joyning to carniola . windsor , a town in barkshire . wirtenberg , a town in the duchy of wirtenberg . wirtenberg duchy , in the southern part of germany . wirtzburg , a town 〈…〉 wismar , a town in m 〈…〉 urg . wistule or weyssel , a river in poland . witepscki , a town in lithuania . wittenberg , a town in the electorship of saxony . wolfenbuttel , a town in the duchy of brunswick . wolga , a river in muscovy . wolodimer , a town in muscovy . wologda , a town in muscovy . worcester , a town in worcestershire . worcestershire , in the kingdom of mercia , worms , a town in the palatinate of the rhine . worotin , a town in muscovy . x xamo or camul , a town in cathay . y yarmouth , a town in norfolk . york , a town in yorkshire . yorkshire , in the kingdom of northumberland . z zaara , a country in africk . zaghara , or targa , a town in zaara . zair , a river in congo . zambera , a river running through monomotopa and cafreria . zamoski , a town in russia the black. zanguebar , a country in africk . zanhaga , a town in zaara . zant , an island in the mediterranean sea , near morea westward . zara , a town in dalmatia . zeeland , formerly codanonia , an island in the baltick sea. zeland , one of the seventeen provinces ; in holand . zell , a town in the duchy of lunenburg . ziagathay , otherwise vsbeck or mavaralnahara , part of great tartary . zibit , a town in arabia . ziden , a town in arabia . zimbaoe or massapa , a town in monomotopa . zittaw , a town in lusatia . zofala , a town in cafreria . zuenziga , a town in zaara . zug , a town in the canton of zug . zug canton , in swizzerland . zurick , a town in the canton of zurick . zurick canton , in swizzerland . zutphen , a town in the county of zutphen . zutphen county , one of the of the seventeen provinces ; in holland . finis . cosmography or, a description of the whole world represented (by a more exact and certain discovery) in the excellencies of its scituation, commodities, inhabitants, and history: of their particular and distinct governments, religions, arms, and degrees of honour used amongst them. enlarged with very many and rare additions. very delightful to be read in so small a volum. by robert fage esquire. fage, robert. 1667 approx. 245 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 88 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-07 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a41246 wing f82a estc r222645 99833794 99833794 38272 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a41246) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 38272) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 2206:08) cosmography or, a description of the whole world represented (by a more exact and certain discovery) in the excellencies of its scituation, commodities, inhabitants, and history: of their particular and distinct governments, religions, arms, and degrees of honour used amongst them. enlarged with very many and rare additions. very delightful to be read in so small a volum. by robert fage esquire. fage, robert. [8], 166, [2] p. printed by s. griffin for john overton at the white-horse in little brittain, next door to little st. bartholomews-gate, london : 1667. with a frontispiece illustration representing the heavens. with a final advertisement leaf. reproduction of the original in the william andrews clark memorial library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng geography -early works to 1800. anthropology -early works to 1870. 2003-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2003-03 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2003-04 rina kor sampled and proofread 2003-04 rina kor text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-06 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a figure of the heavens and elements cosmography or , a description of the whole world , represented ( by a more exact and certain discovery ) in the excellencies of its scituation , commodities , inhabitants , and history : of their particular and distinct governments , religions , arms , and degrees of honour used amongst them. enlarged with very many and rare additions . very delightful to be read in so small a volum . psal. 24. 1. the earth is the lords and the fulness thereof . by robert fage esquire . london , printed by s. griffin for iohn overton at the white-horse in little brittain , next door to little st. bartholomews-gate . 1667. to the reader . vve are so much strangers to the world , that we know not our selves , that great maxime and sentence of divinity , know thy self , being from no other causes deducible , than the scantling and narrow conceits of the vniverse . men reckon themselves by the possessions and revenues of a mannor or two , and take themselves to be the grand seigniours of the world , when compared with this grand machine , they are like atomes in the sun-shine of worldly felicity . i could wish every man could abridge his ambition , as the describers of the world have epitomized their discovery , and govern themselves by the example of its history ; which is here truly and compendiously recited . wherein we may see how near a piece the two globes are ; and that which we call the new world , is no changeling from the old , war and strife being as natural there as among us . i confesse i am no atlas to undertake the burden of this enterprize , but the pleasure of it ( as is usual with desperate lovers ) ●…vited me to the difficulty ; and to ●…mmend it , as a picture , or every ●…ans looking-glass , which i have ●…ought fit to contract , in its repre●…ntation to the model of our time ●…nd leisure , and by its meer sha●…ow onely , shew its great self and 〈◊〉 magnificence . whatever this endeavour is , i do ●…ot doubt but of its kind acceptance , ●…s parvum in magno , and layes open ●…e whole magazine of the earth , as 〈◊〉 its puissance , government , pro●…ctions , manufactures , merchan●…es , &c. it s present state , policy , ●…d friendships , never before at●…mpted in any one volume , but ●…ow in this manual . there is truth ●…d rarity in it as to generals , be●…ond the attainment of the pen ( it being the felicity of the needle ; and the capatious compass fully and clearly to investigate and disclose every particular ) which will merit a pardon for yours , r. f. reader , this is to advertise thee , that the pricks , which are graven upon the firm land are set to distinguish and divide the three quarters of the world , viz. europe , asia , and africa , one from the other , as by near observation you may perceive ; and that the pricks upon the water or ocean , are the traces of that course which sir francis drake made in his surrounding the world. a glorious and no less fortunate adventure , affording posterity the pleasure and profit of persuing his discovery both in reality and imagination , such as is exhibited in this map , to which we refer you . vale. a description of the whole world . with rules for the use of the globes , and understanding of maps . the heavens declare the glory of god , and the firmament sheweth the work of his hands , psal. 19. 1. in the creation of which and the whole earth , and sea , and all things therein contained , of mear nothing within the compass of six dayes ; and in this wise and gracious ordering and guiding of all things , is abundantly set forth his infinite , and unutterable wisdom , power , greatness , and goodness : his end herein is first and chiefly for his own glory , the lord made all things for himself , prov. 16. 4. and secondly , mens happiness , unto whom the dominion of all things was under god committed , gen. 1. psalm . 8. 6. that men may come therefore to some understanding thereof , i shall first speak of the heavenly and of the earthly globes , and the several matters incident thereunto . then i shall also make a brief description of the four parts of the earth , and the countries in each part , the several religions professed in them ; with the varieties of trade and commodities therein , never yet set forth in a treatise of this nature . the whole world therefore is divided into two parts , etherial or celestial , and elemental ; of which there are two globes accordingly , the heavenly and the earthly . now a globe is a proportionable representation of the heavens or of the earth ; the etherial , celestial , or heavenly part doth compasse the terrestial or earthly , and containeth the ten upper spheres , or nearest unto the earth , 1 the m●…on , 2 mercury , 3 venus , 4 the sun , 5 mars , 6 jupiter , 7 saturn , 8 the starry firmament , 9 the crystalline heaven , having no stars at all , 10 the primum mobile , or first mover , containing all the rest within it , and moving from the east to the west , carrying about with it in violence all the other spheres . the rest of the spheres have contrary motions , every one in his kind , though far flower than the other , and the motions are contrary from the west to the east ; and so are carried about oftentimes by the first mover , before they make one perfect revolution in themselves . the crystalline or ninth sphere his motion is almost insensible , and is called the trembling motion , performed ( according to the opinion of latter astronomers ) in four thousand nine hundred years . the eighth sphere being the starry firmament , in seven thousand years , the sphere of saturn in thirty years , of iupiter in twelve years , mars in two years , the sun passeth the zodiack in three hundred sixty five dayes , venus ends her course in somewhat more than a year , mercury holds equal pace with the sun. and the moon courseth about the heavens once every eight and twenty dayes . thus much for the coelestial or heavenly part of the world , wherein i shall need say nothing of the religion of angels , and the spirits of just men made perfect , seeing it is manifest enough to every one , that there they keep their first estate ; the religion also of the fallen angels ( who are held by many to be thrust out of heaven , and to abide in the air , whereupon sathan is called the prince of the air , eph. 2. 2. ) is so notorious for enmity against god , and all manner of wickedness ; that poor man is more sentient of sorrow , for their tentations , then furnished with words to express their wickednesse to the life . the elemental part of the world is fourfold , earth , water , air , fire , as may be seen in that round figure of the frame of the heavens and elements one within another ; the inmost and middlemost circle containing earth and water intermixed together ; the next the three regions of the air ; and immediately above that orb is the element of fire : all which you may easily discern by their several names in their proper places . and thus much shall suffice to have spoken of the globe of the whole world. i shall now speak first generally and briefly of the globe of the whole earth , and things incident thereunto ; then more particularly of the several parts thereof , and every remarkable country in each part , as i promised in the beginning . the globe of the earth therefore is defined to be a spherical body proportionably composed of earth and water , the two parts thereof . the parts of the earth are either real or imaginary . the real parts are either continents or islands , a continent is a great quantity of land not interlaced or separated by the sea , wherein many kingdomes and principalites are contained ; as europe , asia , africa , and america . an island , called in latin insula quasi in salo , is a part of the earth environed round with water ; as brittain , iava , st. laurence isle , bermoodes . now these again are sub-divided into a peninsula ; isthmus , and a promontory . a peninsula is such a tract of land , which being almost incompassed round by waters , is nevertheless joyned to the firm land by some little isthmus , as peloponesus , taurica , cymbrica , and pervana . an isthmus is a little narrow neck of land which joyneth any peninsula to the continent ; as the straits of dariene in peru , and corinth in greece . a promontory is some high mountain which shooteth it self into the sea , the utmost end of which is called a cape : as that great cape of good hope ; and cape verde in africa , cape gomerie in asia , and that of st. michaels mount in cornwall , the north cape in norway , and divers others . there are also other real parts of the earth , as mountains , valleys , fields , plains , woods , and the like . the other general part of the globe is the water , divided into the ocean . secondly , the sea. thirdly , the straights . fourthly , creeks . the ocean is the general collection of all waters , which invironeth the whole world on every side . the sea is part of the ocean , to which we cannot come , but through some strait , as the mediterranean sea , the baltick sea , and the like . these two take their names either from the adjacent places , as the brittish ocean , the german sea , the atlantick sea , and the like : or from the first discoverer , as the magellanick sea , forbushers straits ; or from some remarkable accident , as the red-sea from the red colour of the sands , and the like . thirdly , a straight is a part of the ocean , restrained within narrow bounds , and opening a way to the sea , as the straits of gibralter , hellespont , anian . fourthly , a creek is a crooked shore , thrusting forth as it were two arms , to embrace and affectionately to hold the sea , as the adriatick , persian , and corinthian creek . hitherto belong rivers , brooks , and fountains , engendred of congealed air in the earths concavities , and seconded by sea-waters , creeping through hidden crannies thereof . thus much of the real parts of the earth in general . the compass of the whole earth is cast by our latest learned geographers , twenty one thousand six hundred english miles , which we thus compute . we see by continued experience , that the sun for every degree in the heavens , gains sixty miles upon the earth towards his circuit round , and after three hundred sixty degrees returneth to the same point in respect of us as before it was . add the number of sixty so oft , and you will find the account the same , and so by proportion of the circumference to the diameter , which is , tripla sesqui septima , the same which twenty two hath to seven . we may count likewise the earths thickness to the center : the whole diameter by rule being less than a third part of the circuit . that in the proportion to twenty one thousand six hundred , will be six thousand eight hundred seventy two , half the number will reach the middle of the world , and that is , three thousand four hundred thirty six , being considered with great exactness , as the measure of such a great bulk as the earth is , can easily be taken and comprehended . geographers attribute unto the earth five circles . the first is the equinoctial ; when the sun in his course is come thereunto , about the eleventh of march and september , the day and the night are of equal length through the whole earth . it is also termed the equator , and by the sea-faring men the middle line ; because it divideth the earth into two equal parts , of which the one lyeth towards the north , the other towards the south , and because it is in the middest between the two poles of the world , one in the north , the other in the south . the second circle is called the tropick of the crabb , because when the sun is come thither about the tenth of iune , it returneth by little and little unto the equator . and then unto them that dwell on the north-side of the equator , is the day longest ; and shortest to them that dwell on the south-side thereof . this circle is distinct from the equinoctial twenty three degrees , three minutes and an half , northward . the third is called the tropick of capricorn , because the sun being come thereto on the eleventh of december , turneth his course backward to the equator ; and then contrariwise , to them who live on the north of the equator is the day shortest , and longest to them on the south thereof ; it is distant from the equinoctial southward twenty three degrees , thirty one minutes and an half . the fourth is called the artickcircle ; the fifth the antartick ; of which the one is distant twenty three degrees , thirty one minutes and an half from the north pole ; the other just so many from the south pole . and are described by the revolution of heaven from the poles of the zodiack , which is the sun. mercator the ancient astronomer understood by the arctick circle not onely that aforesaid , but also every circle whose half diameter answereth to the pole in any place whatsoever , and containeth , according to the altitude of every countrey , certain stars , which never set , but alwayes are above the earth ; so that in all regions differing in latitude , this circle is diverse , as also is the antartick . now the four lesser circles , the two tropicks and polar circles , do fitly part the earth into five zones , that is to say girdles , because they compass , like bands , the round globe of the earth . the first of these zones lyeth under the artick or north circle , and is called the cold north zone ; the second lyeth under the antartick or south circle , and is called the cold south zone ; the third is situate in the middle between the two tropicks called the scorched zone ; the fourth lyeth under that which is between the north circle and the tropick of cancer , and is called the temperate north zone ; the fifth also is under that space which is between the tropick of capricorn and the south circle , and is called the temperate south zone . now to understand rightly the situation of countries , their longitude and latitude according to the mind of geographers is to be known . the latitude of places which with the height of the pole is alwayes one , beginning at the equinoctial , is taken two manner of wayes ; either towards the south , or toward the north , unto the number ninety . the longitude is returned from the meridian circle , and about the west islands called carva and flores , beginning right at the equator easterly , and running forwards unto the number three hundred sixty . as for example , london lyeth from the equinoctial northward , fifty one degrees and a half , which is the latitude ; and the longitude thereof is twenty degrees answering unto that degree of the equinoctial , reckoning from the meridian . and now that i have briefly touched upon the longitude and latitude of countries , and having often spoke of the meridian and horizon : i shall , i hope , not unprofitably take time in a word or two , to tell you what each of them are . the meridian is a great circle rounding the earth from pole to pole . there are many meridians according to the divers places in which a man liveth . but the chief and first meridian passeth through the islands saint michael and of the azores . the horizon is a great circle , designing so great a space of the earth as a quick sight can ken in an open field : the use of it is to discern the divers risings and settings of the stars . i shall now speak a little of the climates , and parallels , and then , i hope , i have done with things generally concerning the earth . a climate is a space of the earth included within the space of two parallels . the use of them is to shew the difference of length and shortnesse of dayes over all the world , as you may see in the midst of every climate , the number of the longest day in the year , under that climate ; the longest day in one climate differing half an hour from the longest of another , so that there are twenty four climates , consisting of forty eight parallels , ere the day come to be twenty four hours of length , which is twelve hours longer than the equinoctial day is . now under the equinoctial line , and thirteen degrees , that is , three parallels on either side thereof , the dayes exceed not the length of twelve hours , but after in every clime encrease the length of half an hour ; and when they come to forty eight parallels and twenty four climates ( as i said before ) the dayes being then twenty four hours long , their increase is then by whole weeks and months , till in the twenty fourth clime about the pole , the day is full half a year long ; and as it is thus between the equator and the north pole , so it is between the said equator and the south pole : wherefore there are two sorts of climes , that is , twenty four northern , and as many southern : touching the names of which and other circumstances , i shall say nothing here , but leave the readers to other more large discourses , thinking this enough in a tract of this nature to have spoken of things generally concerning the whole earth . the whole earth is now divided into four parts . europe . asia . africa . america . of each part , and their several regions , empires , kingdoms , dominions , common-wealths , titles of honours and laws , as briefly as i can , together also with their sundry trade and commodities . europe , though the least of the three first parts of the world , nevertheless excelleth all other parts in worthiness , power , renown , multitudes of well-builded cities , and of people skilful in all kind of arts ; also excelling in virtue , and the knowledge of god , better than all the riches of the world . through the grecian and romane empire in it : it hath had once the dominion over asia and africa . mr. heylin mentions in it fourteen mother tongues , which i will not stand now to name . it hath plenty of grain , plants , fruits , coals , rivers , and fountains of admirable virtue ; it needs nothing but what may be well spared , as hot spices , not so fit for our temper ; precious jewels , the nourishers of vain and soul-destroying pride ; and wild beasts which cause desarts where they breed ; yet of gold , silver , and other commodities it hath a part : it is divided on the east from asia , partly by the rivers duina and tunnis , and partly by the lake called meotis , now termed mare de le zabacche , & pont euxine , or mare maggiore . from africa it is severed by the midland sea ; on the west and north side it hath the great ocean . i shall follow mr. heylin's method in the description of the regions and countries thereof , beginning with , first , italy , then going , secondly , to the alps , thirdly france , fourthly spain , fifthly brittain , sixthly belgia , seventhly germany , eighthy denmark , ninethly swetheland , tenthly russia , eleventhly poland , twelfthly hungary , thirteenthly solavonia , fourteenthly dacia , and the fifteenth greece ; speaking of the several islands as they relate to some or other of the greater countries . italy , the mother of all latine learning , stretcheth out easterly on asia , between the adriatick and thuscan seas , and borders towards the west upon france , and towards the north on germany , and is severed from those countries by the river varus , and the mountains called alpes , the rest being compassed with the sea. it hath had seven kinds of government , first kings , second consuls , third dictators , forth decemviri , fifth tribunes , sixth emperours , seventh popes . it flourished most in the time of christ , and a little afterwards by means of the great and wide dominion of the mighty city of rome , which then reigned as queen of the world , over many lands of europe , asia , and africa . this land excelleth all the lands of europe , in fruitfulness and pleasantness , the inhabitants are witty , industrious , and frugal , yet hot and lascivious . and withall the men very jealous , and that taken to be not without cause . the religion there now professed , is the popish religion , unto which they are more straightly kept by the inquisition . the chief wares which are carried out of italy into other countries , are rice , silks , velvets , sattins , taffaties , grogrems , rashes , stamels , bumbasins , fustians , felts serving for clokes , costly arras , gold and silver thred , allum , galls , venetian drinking and looking-glasses . it containeth at this day the kingdoms of naples , sicily , and sardinia , the lands and patrimony of the church so called , which the pope posseth ; the great dukedomes of urbin and tuscany , the common-wealths of venice , genoa , and luca , and the estates of lumbardy , being the dukedomes of millain , mantua , modena , parma , monferrat , and the principality of piemont ; of all which i shall observe somewhat . the kingdome of naples in italy , is environed on all sides with the adriatick , ionian , and tuscan seas , excepting where it joyneth on the west to the lands of the church , from which separated by a line drawn from the mouth of the river tronto or druentus , falling into the adriatick , to the spring head of axofenus , it taketh up all the east of italy , one thousand four hundred sixty eight miles ; it hath anciently been called the kingdome of both the sicilies . the fertilest place of all italy , abounding in all things necessary for life , delight , and physick . hence are also brought the neapolitan horses . it hath had thirteen princes , twenty four dukes , twenty five marquesses , ninety earls , and nine hundred barons , not titular only , but men of great estates ; it hath had twenty six kings of several countries , beginning first with the norman race , and now being in the hand of spain . the disease called now the french pox , was first in all christendome found here . the arms of this kingdome are azure seme of fleur de lices , or , a file of three labels gules . it s revenue is two millions and an half of crowns , whereof twenty thousand are the popes for his chief rent , and the rest so exhausted in maintaining garrisons upon the natives , and a strong navy against the turks , that the king of spain receiveth not a fourth part the●…eof clearly . it hath twenty arch-bishops , and one hundred twenty seven bishops-seas . this crown and kingdom hath been in long dispute between france and spain . charles the eighth of france won and lost it in a dream , so transitory was his possession of it ; much blood being spilt in the quarrel . the duke of guise of the family of lorrain , now pretends a right to it , and hath attempted the conquest of it , of late years twice , being called in by the citizens of naples in 1647. after that famous insurrection in the city of naples , under m●…ssianelio the fisherman , who led and commanded 100000 men at his beck and pleasure for 14. dayes , at the end whereof , he and his mutinous government expired , being supposed to be poysoned by the artifice of the spaniard . in the year 1654. the same duke of guise , having better retained in mind the courtsh●…ps of the neapolitans , than his own misfortunes and his promises made at madrid , where he was kept prisoner , from the time that naples was reduced 1647. equipped another fleet from that kingdome from toulon and marseilles , which n●…rrowly escaped the english fleet under general blake ; designed against it , and after much bad weather , landed and was defeated by the spanish vice-roy ; his lieutenant general , marquis du plessis being killed in the place with 2000 more : and so the french were forced to re-imbarque , and the expedition frustrated . the spaniards how quietly hold it from the papacy , by a fealty present , yearly , of a white horse to his holyness . the kingdom of sicilia in italy is situate under the fourth climate ; the longest day being thirteen hours and an half ; it shoots forth into the sea with three capes or promontories . the people are ingenious , eloquent , and pleasant , but withall very inconstant and full of talke ; they invented oratory , pastorall eclogues , hour-glasses , with military engins . the soyl is incredibly fruitfull in wine , oyl , honey , minerals of gold , silver , and allum ; together with plenty of salt , and sugar ; there are also gems of agats , and emeralds ; it yieldthe also great store of the richest silk , hath most excellent and delicious fruits both for tast and colour ; with abundance also of all sorts of grain . here is the hill aetna , which many have taken to be hell , and ignorant papists purgatory ; because of its sending forth of flames of fire , which eth brimstone there causeth . it hath many cities , rivers , and lakes , of which i cannot stand to treat . there were eight kings of sicilia , six of the first whereof were called to rule . in the year one thousand two hundred eighty one , the house of arragon governed it , and there hath succeeded ten kings . it is now united to the crown of spain ; the revenue is eight hundred thousand , some say a million of ducats disbursed again on the entertainment of the vice-roy & defence of the island ; the arms are four pallets , gules sable , being those of arragon between two flanches argent , charged with as many e●…g'es sable beaked gules . it hath had seven princes , four dukes , thirteen marquisses , fourteen earls , one viscount , and fourty eight barons ; the people are papists , and have three arch-bishops , and nine bishops . the island and kingdom of sardinia in italy , lieth west from sicilie from the neerest point , cape boy , or cape bara . it is distant about two hundred miles , it is in length one hundred eighty miles , ninety in breadth , five hundred sixty in the circuit ; and is situate under the fourteenth climate , the longest day being fourteen houres ; there is neither wolf nor serpent , neither venomous or hurtful beast , but the fox only , and a little creature like a spider , which will by no means endure the sight of the sun , except held by violence : some pools it hath , very plentiful of fish , but generally are so destitute of river-water , that they are fain to keep the rain which falls in winter for their use in summer ; by means whereof , and for that there is no passage for the northern winds , being obstructed by the high mountains neer cape lugudori , the air is generally unhealthy , if not pestilential . the soil is very fertile , but ill manured , well stored with all sorts of cattel : the horses hereof hot , head-strong , and hard to be broken , but will last long : the bullocks naturally gentle , so that the country-man doth as familiarly ride them , as they do in spain on mules or asses . here is also the beast called mufr nes or muscriones , found in corsica also , but in no other part of europe ; somewhat resembling a stagg , but of so strong an hide , that it is used by the italian : in stead of armour ; of the skin of which carryed to cordova in spain , and there dressed is made the right cordovant leather : also there is an herb whereof if one eat , it is said that he will die with laughter ; the herb being of such a poysonous nature , that it causeth the man to die with such a convulsion of sinews , that he seemeth to grinn , or laugh , at the time of his death . the people are small of stature , their complexion inclining unto swarthiness , rude in manners , very slothful and rebellious , yet given to hunting ; their diet mean , their apparel in towns gorgeous , in villages base ; their religion papistically formal , little curious , their clergy being counted the most illiterate and ignorant in that part of the world called christendome ; it is now in the hands of the king of spain , governed by a vice-roy , who resides at calaris , and must of necessity be a spaniard , under whom are two deputies-governours , spaniards also ; inferiour officers of command may be of the natives : what profits arise here to the king of spain , i have no where found . the arms hereof are said to be or a cross gules betwixt four saracens heads sable curled argent . there are also divers small islands belonging thereunto . and lastly , it hath three arch-bishops and fifteen bishops . the lands of the church , or the popes dominions in italy , lie west of the realm of naples , extended north and south , from the adriatick to the tuscan-seas , bounded on the north-east with the river trontus , on the south-east with the axofenus , by which two it is parted from that kingdom as on the north-west by the rivers poe and frore ; by which it is separated from the state of venice : and on the southwest by the river pisco , by which it is divided from the modern tuscany , or the state of the florentine . it is the middle of italy , having in breadth from one sea to another , above one hundred miles , and in length above three hundred miles ; the land exceeding fertile , abounding with multitudes of people , seldom consumed with wars : they are good husbands for their ground , but no tradesmen for manufactures : there have been fifteen exarches of ravenna in romandiola : which province became wholly subjected to the papacy , by the inhumane treachery of casar borgia , nephew , or indeed son to pope alexonder the sixth , who having waged a war , with the nobility and states thereof , who refused his absolute soveraignty , fraudulently entered into a treaty with them , whereby it was concluded as the main article , that he never should assemble the said estates together , they suspecting his malicious perfidiousness against them would then find an advantage of destroying them together ; which nevertheless he by policy and dissimulation effected , and then murthered them ; which being related to the pope , and the perjury of his nephew upbraided : he answered , it was not his nephew had broke the articles , but the estates themselves in coming altogether , meeting there seventeen dukes and marquesses of ferrara : the revenue whereof was two hundred fifty thousand crowns yearly , but now it is not worth so much to the pope : there have been also six dukes of urbin , the revenues are one hundred thousand crowns ; but the chiefest glory they have , is of the city of rome , sometime the empress of the world : there are accounted to have passed in it sixty five bishops before it usurped the spiritual supremacy over christendom ; bonifacius the third , in the year of christ six hundred and six , making the sixty sixth bishop , so fulfilling the mark of antichrist . rev. 13. 18. of the number six hundred sixty six , which also the numeral letters make up in his arrogant title , generalis vicarivs dei in terris . the bishops taking this title in the year one thousand six hundred forty four , had been one hundred seventy nine , and both added together , two hundred forty four ; and how many more they shall be , he only knoweth , who knoweth all things ; the ordinary temporal revenues of the pope , are two millions of crowns , but the extraordinary spiritual , twice as much . there were several orders of monks installed at several times called the orders of saint basil , austin , ierome , carmelites , crouched fryers , dominicans , benedictines , franciscans , iosuites , and oratorians : and of women the orders chiefly of clare and bridget , which to name onely , i think may suffice in a treatise of this nature . the archbishops here are forty four , the bishops fifty seven . the italian provinces of the state of venice , lie northward of the lands of the church from romandiola to the alps , bounded on the south with the territory of ferrara and the rest of romandiola on the west , with the dukedome of millain on the north , with the main body of the alps ; and on the east with the adriatick sea , and the river arsia , by which it is parted from liburnia , a sclavonian province . it abounds with wise people and fruitful cities and countries ; their religion is popish , but not so absolutely slavish as the rest . they baptize the sea yearly , and their duke marryeth●… it as often . their government is aristocratical , of the nobility ; they have had neer one hundred dukes of venice ; they have two principal orders of knighthood , of saint mark the patron of the city , instituted one thousand three hundred thirty , and renewed one thousand five hundred sixty two . they are to be of noble blood , at least a gentleman : their word or motto is , pax tihi marce : the other is of the glorious virgin , instituted one thousand two hundred twenty two : their charge is to defend the widows and orphans , and to procure ( as much as in them is ) the peace of italy . the arms of the order is a purple cross between certain stars : the habit a white surcoat over a russet cloak , and seems to be religious as well as military : there are in this italian part of venice , two patriarchs , and sixteen bishops . the venetians are now , and for more then twenty years last past , have been engaged in a war against the great turk , which is carried on at sea , in the archipelage , in dalmatia , and most fiercely in the isle of candia , which is equally possessed by them both , with little difference of success , having been so maintained twenty four years and like to continue as many more : though the venetians lost the island and kingdom of cyprus as big again , to the said turkish power , in sultan selymus's time , in less than half a year : this maiden-common-wealth , is the bulwark of christendom . for besides the famous battel of lepanto , where they defeated all the naval power of that empire : in the year 1654. general morosini gave them another overthrow as the turkish fleet was endeavouring to come out of the dardanellces , on the 14. of iuly : who lost in the fight , 16. ships , 6. galleys , 2. mahoons , and many other vessels ; 4000 men taken prisoners , who were made slaves , and as many killed . their whole navy consisted of a hundred ships , the venetians not above fifty . the dukedom of florence or the estate of the great duke of tuscany , is divided in the east from saint peters patrimony by the river pisca , 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 anteritana by the appeninne hils : and on the south-side , it is bounded with the tuscan o●… tyrrhenian seas : it was a while a free-state , having princes of the house of medici , but now it is governed by the duke of florence , or great duke of tuscany , of the same family . the length of this state is two hundred sixty miles , the breadth in some places much inferiour : the only order of knighthood here , is that of saint stephen , instituted one thousand five hundred sixty one . it is kept august the 6. yearly , and hath all the priviledges of them of malta , upon the condition that they of the order should make a vow of charity , of continual chastity and obedience : they are to be nobly born , and in lawful wedlock ; of the romish church , and without note of infamy : their robe is of white chamlet , with a red cross of their left side sewed upon their midday garments , or their wearing cloaks : the number is uncertain ; the great duke is the supreme master of it ; the reve●…es are very great ; besides the great duke is a merchant , and taketh excise almost of every thing : the arms are , or , five torteaux , gules , two , two and one and one in chief , azure charged with three flower-de-luces of the first . here are three arch-bishops , and twenty six bishops . the free state of luca in italy , lieth betwixt the state of the great duke , and the common-wealth of genoa ; they are a free , courteous , modest people , of good judgement and discreet , wisely preserving their liberty against the strength of potent neighbours , they are industrious , also well seen in manufactures , especially in weaving cloth of gold and silk . the dominions of it are eighty miles , the revenue is eighty thousand crowns yearly ; it can raise for war fifteen thousand foot , and three thousand horse ; the government is mixed of aristocracy , and democracie : the principal magistrate , called gon falinere , is changeable every second month , assisted by a certain and determinate number of citizens , whom they change every sixth month also , during which time they lie together in the palace , or common-hall ; their protector is also elective , of some neighbour king or state ; their religion is popish : they have two bishops , onely acknowledging the arch-bishop of florence for their metropolitan . the common-wealth of genoa in italy lieth west of tuscany , from which it is divided by the river macra . they were anciently a large state , but have now onely liguria and the isle of corsica in their power ; the men were good warriors , merchants , and given to usury , which they learned of the jews . mr. heylin reporteth , that it was the saying of a merry fellow , that in christendome there were neither scholars enough , gentlemen enough , nor jews enough : not scholars enough , for then so many would not be double or treble-beneficed : not gentlemen enough , for then we should not have so many pesants turn gentlemen : nor iastly jews enough , for then so many christians would not turn usurers . the women here are priviledged above all italy , having liberty to talk with whom they will , and be courted by any that will , both publikely and privately : from hence and some other particulars , they have made this proverb , of the state of the countrey : mountains without wood , seas without fish , men without faith , and women without shame . they have a duke and eight more assistant with him , all subject to the general councel of four hundred men : the duke and his eight assustants hold but two years : spain is their protector , and they have one arch-bishop , fourteen bishops . this common-wealth hath maintain'd it self in perfect peace at home , and free commerce at sea , by its good government for many ages past : having sometimes been troubled by the quarrelling interests of its neighbour potent princes , viz. the duke of savoy , the french , and the dutchy of millain , belonging to the spaniard . they are the king of spain's constantest exchequer . the state of lumbardy in italy , is bounded on the east with romandiola , and the state or territory of ferrara ; on the west with that part of the alps which divides italy from france : on the north ( reckoning marca trevigiana within the bounds thereof ) with that part of the alps which lyeth towards germany : and on the south with the apennine , which parteth it from liguria , or the states of genoa : as italy is the garden of europe , so lumbardy is the garden of italy for the fruitfulness . the dukedome of millain in italy , hath on the east the states of mantua and parma , on the west piemont , and some part of switzerland one of the provinces of the alps , on the north marca trevigiana , and on the south the apennine , which parteth it from liguria or the states of genoa : it hath had several lords and dukes of millain , accounted the chief dukedom in christendom , but now under the spaniards : the annual rent worth eight hundred thousand duckets : but considering all charges , the spaniard is taken to lose in keeping it . the arms are argent , a serpent azure crowned , or , in his gorge an infant gules . there are one arch-bishop , six bishops . the title to this dutchy was , as above , long contested for by the two crowns of france and spain , but was finally vested in the most catholique king : during the last rupture between those two monarchs , this was a sad theatre of war and bloodshed . the last parting blow , not to recite more , before the whole general peace concluded , 1659. was at the city of pavia , besieged by prince tho. of savoy general for the french , and the united strength of savoy and prince of modena , which by the valour of the besieged , and the succour brought them by the marquess of caracena governour of millain , was freed after four months siege : and the two aforesaid princes put to the rout with the loss of 3000. men , some cannon , bag , and baggage , the said duke shot in the arm , and the prince thereby contracted such a feaver , that it soon after ended him . the dukedome of mantua in italy , is bounded on the west with millain , on the east with romandiola , on the north with marca trevigiana , and on the south with the dukedom of parma ; the soyl is reasonable good , and yieldeth all sorts of fruits , being well manured , plentifull in corn , pastures , and abundance of vines , but the inhabitants not so civil and well bred as the rest of italy , childish in their apparel , without manly gravity in entertainment of friends , and exacting all they can from strangers ; it is a soveraignty and hath had many dukes thereof . the chief order of knighthood in these dukedomes is of the blood of our lord jesus christ , instituted ann. one thousand six hundred eight ; it consisteth of 20 knights , whereof the mantuan dukes are soveraigns . the collar hath threds of gold , laid on with fire , and enterwoven with these words , domine probasti . to the collar are pendent two angels supporting three drops of blood , and circumscribed , nihil isto triste recepto . it is accounted a great circuit , but not worth above five hundred thousand ducats : the arms are argent , a cross patee gules between four eagles sable , membred of the second , under an escuchion in fise charged quarterly with gules , a lion or , and or three bars sable : here are , one archbishop , and four bishops . in the year 1627. the 26 of december , duke vincent of mantua deceasing without children ; the succession fell to the duke of nevers , a peer of france , of the illustrious kin and family of gonzaga ; who received it , and precipitated his investiture therein , without the knowledge of the emperour to whom that dutchy is feudatory . the spaniards out of jealousie , the savoyards out of an old pretension , seized of many places in montferrat , and besieged casal . the duke of never●… garrisoned many tenable places , and joyned with the venetians untill such time as the french forces arrived , who had been detained at the seige of rochel , under the command of the duke of crequi , who opposed those armies , and at last came an army of twenty thousand out of germany sent by the emperour to assert his own authority . by these numerous hosts the country was almost depopulated , the churches robbed , the germans being most lutherans , and so enemies to the romish superstition ; till at last by the powerfull instance of cardinal richleiu who set up this duke in spight of the emperour ; and to allay the greatness of the house of austria ; a peace was concluded at vienna , ( wherein the duke of nevers was established , and did his homage ) and published , just as the armies of the french and their confederates were ready to joyn in battell at the seige of casal , defended by the brave french marquess de toyrass , who maintained the isle of rhee against the duke of buckingham newly before . this ducall family is now by marriage principally allyed to the emperour and house of austria . i shall pass by the dukedoms of modena , parma , and mountferrat , as being all three but small estates of italy , and havin●… but four bishops amongst them all : the arms of modena the same with the dukedom of ferrara ; and the arms of mountferrat , gules , a chief argent : thus much for italy . these three small principalities , have afforded very excellent couragious princes . not to mention the exploits of that renowned alexander duke of parma , governour of the low-countries for the king of spain in the time of queen elizabeth ; it shall suffice to say that they ballance the over-growing power of either of the monarchs of france or spain , siding alwayes with the weakest , lest they become a prey to the conqueror ; and to that purpose are commonly divided in the quarrel , siding in opposition , yet exercise no hostility upon each others dominions . moun ferrat is now annexed to the dutchy of mantua , whose duke is prince of the same . the principality of piemont , a part of the alpes , situate at the foot of the mount , is bounded on the east with millain , and mountferrat , on the west with savoy , on the north with the switzers , and on the south it runneth in a narrow valley to the mediterranean , having mountferrat on the one side , provence and a part of the alpes upon the other : it is very fertile , compared with sav●…y , and switzerland , but thought to be inferiour to the rest of italy : the arms of this principality are gules , a cross argent , charged with a label of three points azure ▪ it is now subject to the dukedom of savoy . this principality hath been often made the seat of war , especially in the reigns of hen. the 4. and lewis the 13th . of france , in the passage of their armies into italy , and the duke of savoy , who is prince and soveraign thereof , hard put to it , most of his strong holds being seized while he partaked with the spaniard : but since the alliance of that duke with the french , it hath had a refreshment , which hath been inte●…rupted by some intestine troubles about religion , a great part thereof being of the reformed religion ; witness that massacre there , for which such liberal collections and contributions were made in 〈◊〉 for those protestants , in time of oliver . savoy strictly and specially so called , is bounded on the east with wallisland , and part of piemont , on the west with daulphin and la bresse , on the south with some parts of daulphine only , and on the north with switzerland and the lake of geneva . the country is altogether hilly and mountainous ; very healthful , but not very fruitful : the common people are naturally very dull , but the gentry pleasant , ingenious , and civil : there have been near thirty earls and dukes of savoy : it is a very strong place with fortifications of nature ; the revenue ordinarily a million of crowns yearly . the onely order of knighthood here is that of the a●…nunciado , ordained one thousand four hundred and eight ; their collar is of fifty links , to shew the mysteries of the virgin ; at the end is her pourtraicture with the history of the annunciation ; in stead of a motto these letters , f. e. r. t. i. e. fortitu●…o ejus rhodum tenuit , are engraven to every plate or link of the collar , each link being interwoven one within another in form of a true lovers knot ; the number of knights is fourteen beside the duke the soveraign of the order ; the solemnity held annually on our lady-day : the arms are g. a crosse a. geneva is a city of the dukedome of savoy , now a free state , having cast off both the pope and their own duke , and kept free by their neighbours jealousie each of other touching it ; the religion is calvinist protestant , the government presbyterial , the language the worst french , the people industrious , and merchants ; their situation for neighbours advantagious thereunto . of the duke and this dutchy enough hath been said before , in the historical description of mantua and piedmont , onely thus much may be added , that the present duke is cousin german to our soveraign king charles the second , by his mothers side , who is sister to our present queen mother ; and that he is the powerfullest arbitrator of the affairs of italy , and hath the peculiar stile of his highness royal , as a pretender to the kingdoms of cyprus , as also ierusalem , and portugal . wallisland reacheth from the mountain de burken to the town of st. maurice , where the hills do close and shut up the valley , which is so narrow in that place , that a bridge laid from one hill to another , ( under which the river rosne doth passe ) is capable of no more than one arch onely , and that defended with a castle , and two strong gates ; on other parts , it is invironed with a continual wall of steep and horrid mountains , covered all the year long with a crust of ice , nor passable at all by armies , and not without much difficulty by single passengers , so that no citadel can be made so strong by art , as this countrey is by nature . the valley is very fruitful in saffron , corn , wine , and most delicate fruits , having meadows and pleasant pastures . they have also a fountain of salt , and many hot baths and medicinal vvaters ; they have cattel enough to serve them ; also a wild buck , equal to a stag in bigness , footed like a goat , and horned like a fallow deer , leaping with wonderful agility , and not so easily caught , but in summer time , for then with the heat he is blind . the people are courteous towards strangers , but very rough and churlish towards one another : they are of the romish religion , and subject to the bishop of sion . the deputies of the seven resorts having not onely voices with the cantons in his election , but being chosen they joyn with him also in the diets for choosing magistrates , redressing grievances , and determining matters of state. of this countrey few military occurrences are historified , for that it is by nature as it is described , no way fit for the entertainment of mars ; and is onely a nursery , no residence for souldiery . switzerland hath on the east side the grisons , and some part of tyrol in germany , on the west the mountain iove and the lake of geneva , which parts it from savoy and burgundy ; on the north suevia , another province also of the upper germany ; and on the south wallisland , and the alpes which borders on the dukedome of m●… . it is totally in a manner over-grown with craggy mountains , but such as for the most part have grassy tops , and in their hollowness rich meadows and nourishing pastures , being two hundred fourty miles in length , and one hundred eighty in breadth : the inhabitants are rich , and rugged of disposition like their land , good souldiers , and mercenary almost to every one ; their religion mixed , some papists , some protestants-zwinglians , yet they have agreed to tolerate one another ; their government popular . these people first knew their strength by the defeated ambition of charles duke of burgundy some ages since , whom , after their request to him for peace , which he would not admit without subjection , intending also to swallow italy , they utterly overthrew at the battel of nancy ; but francis the first of france made them know they were not invincible , at the battel of serisolles in the dutchy of millain , where he slew near 20000 of them , and brought down their stomachs . they are now the best strength the kings of france have for infantry , of which there is a constant standing force maintained ; but so mercenary , that upon any failure of their pay , their cry , grown into a proverb , i●… , no money , no switzer . the cantons of the two different perswasions roman and zuinglian , were lately at feud , and several skirmishes happened to the breach of the confederacy and union , but all was at last composed by the mediation of the french ambassadors ; no lesse a person then the duke of longoville , being employed in that affair , to prevent the designs , and intrigues of the spaniard and the pope , who promoted that difference . the country of the grisons is bounded on the east with the country of tyrol , with switzerland on the north , with suevia and a part of the switzers , on the south with lombardy , on the west a very mountainous and barren land : the people now protestant , their government popular ; in these alpine parts there are two arch-bishops , thirteen bishops . this countrey is modernly called the valtoline , being the passage out of the emperour 's hereditary countrey in germany , into italy , and therefore anxiously and jealously look'd upon by both the crowns of france and spain , lest the spaniard should have it open for any assistance , suddenly to overwhelm the princes thereof : upon which account these grisons suffered by both armies in the business of mantua aforesaid ; but in that peace were re-established in their own signiory as it now continues , more out of others distrust then its own impregnability . in this country of the grisons some thirty years agoe a mountain by an earth-quake fell and covered a village called pelura , burying the town and inhabitants together in its ponderous sepulchre , so irrecoverably , that not the cry of any of those miserable persons was ever heard , and were swallowed up quick in that terrible manner . france hath alwayes been held the principal and worthiest kingdome of all christendome ; it is bounded on the east with germany , and southward with the mediterranean sea , south-east with the alps , and on the north with the british sea. it is very fruitful in all sorts of grain , and whatsoever is needful for the maintenance of life , especially it hath great abundance of wines , wherewith many other lands are also served . it is divided into many great dukedoms and provinces , it hath in it also divers great , mighty , and famous cities ; the people are heady ; but ingenious , and good warriours . the government is meerly regal , and at the pleasure of the prince , of which it hath had many great and powerful ones : the religion of the land is popish , but there are many protestants there , who although they have been greatly persecuted , yet sometimes their number hath indulged them in the exercise thereof : the chief orders of knighthood yet extant here , are , first of st. michael , instituted one thousand four hundred and nine . it consisted first of thirty persons , but after , of three hundred : the habit of the order , a long cloak of white damask , down to the ground , with a border interwoven with cockle-shels of gold , interlaced and furred with ermins , with a hood of crimson velvet , and a long tippet about their necks ; they wear a collar woven with cockle-shels : the word immensi tremor oceani ; the picture of s. michael conquering the divel was annexed to the collar , the seat thereof , antiently , saint michael's mount in norm●…dy , and the day saint michael's day . secondly , of the holy ghost , ordained one thousand five hundred seventy nine . the order of st. michael is to be given to none but such as were dignified with this , whereunto none were to be admitted , but such as could prove their nobility by three descents : their oath , to maintain the romish catholick religion , and persecute all opponents to it : their robe , a black velvet mantle , pourtrayed with lillies and flames of gold , the collar of flower-de-luces , and flowers of gold , with a cross , and a dove appendent to it : the arms of france are azure three flower-de-luces or ; it hath seventeen arch-bishops , one hundred and eight bishops , and one hundred thirty two thousand parishes . the pyrenean hills are only a bound between france and spain , two potent kingdoms ; the whole length , not reckoning in the windings and turnings , affirmed to be eighty spanish leagues at three miles to a league : the people barbarous , but of what religion my author saith not : it may be , he esteemed them so barbarous , that he thought they could live without any religion at all . the kingdom of france hath been governed , and possessed by three several races of princes since the failure of the issue of charlemayn , the last of whose name chilperick the fourth was deposed , first by the pope , and then by the common consent of parliament : and pepin the great , son of the mayre of the pallace ( which officer a long space , of 120 years and upwards , had successively mannaged the state both for peace and war ) was advanced to the crown , which after a long descent vested in the name of valois : which for some centuries of years , and during the wars with england , valiantly and prudently swayed the sword and scepter . this line was extinct almost in memory in the person of henry the 3. of france , stabbed at the siege of paris by a iacobine monk , when by vertue of the salique law , which admits of no females to the crown , it devolved after a long and bloody war , worse then their three civil wars concerning religion , ( the head of the protestant armies being this very prince , ) to henry of that name the fourth , of bourbon . this was a son of valour , the great captain , who by assistance of queen elizabeth , by some forces under the earl of essex , broke that abominable league of the guisians against him , and established his throne : and preparing for some great design , was stabbed by one francis ravilliac in h●…s coach in the streets of paris . his son lewis the 13 succeeded , in whose reign , in the year 1627. was that unfortunante expedition of the english to the isle of rhee , in relief of the rochellers : where , the french taking advantage ; the english , as they were retreating after four months continuance in that island , defying the whole strength of france ( but in vain besieging the strong citadel of st. martins ) were at last ventured on as they were passing over a cawsey to their ships . on both sides this way there were salt-pans , the way it self broad enough but for four men a breast , where they were put unto some confusion , and a great many perished in the salt-pans ; but the van that had passed resolutely returning to the assistance of those companies in the reer thus endangered : the french , their first fury being over , fled back over the same cawsey with more confusion than the english were driven before , and durst never attempt any further upon them , but permitted them , and gladly too , to embarque , where the duke of buckingham stayed eight dayes , resolving to do something more if the supply under the earl of holland had come sooner . this invasion of the english put the french into another pannick fear of their victorious armes ; but providence , and the policy of cardinal richleiu secured them , by whose conduct the raign of this prince was very fortunate , though embroyled in a war with spain and the house of austria , for some years before his death , which a while after the decease of the said lewis 14 , and cardinal richleiu , by the prudence of cardinal mazarine was concluded in a peace and marriage betwixt lewis the 14. present king of france , and the infanta of spain , by which treaty , france gained some provinces , and since by the surrender of the duke of lorrain , is possest also of that soveraignty . the nobility are couragious and valiant , but the plebe or peasants the most abject heart-less people in the world ; the gentry also of a like temper with the nobility , so that if they have no war abroad to spend that fury , they will waste it among themselves in intestine troubles , as long experience hath demonstrated it . spain is severed from france by the pyrenaean mountains , on all other sides it is environed with the sea : it containeth at this day divers kingdoms ; one , goths : two , navars . there have been fourty one kings : the arms are gules a carbuncle nowed , or. the chief order of knighthood was of the lilly , their blazon a pot of lillies with the pourtraicture of the virgin ingraven upon it ; their duty , to defend the faith , and daily to repeat certain ave maries : third , biscay , and empascon , it hath had nineteen lords : their arms argent , two wolves sable , each of them in his mouth a lamb of the second . four , leon and oviedo , hath had thirty kings ; the arms are argent , a lion passant crowned , or ; five , gallicia hath had ten kings : the arms azure semee of cressets ficed , a chalice crowned , or ; six , cordu●…a hath had twenty kings ; the arms or , a lion gules armed and crowned ; of the first a border , azure charged with eight towers argent : seven , granado hath had twenty kings , the arms or , a pomgranate slipped , vert : eight , murcia ; nine , toledo , hath had eleven moorish kings : ten , castile hath had twenty kings ; the order of mercy is the chief order here : their arms are a cross argent , and four beads , gules in a field , or ; their habit white : the rule of their order , that of st. augustine : their duty was to redeem christians taken by the turks with such money as was bestowed upon them : eleven , portugal hath had twenty one kings ; the principal order of knighthood here , are , first of avis , wearing a green cross ; second of christ , instituted one thousand three hundred twenty one : their robe is a black cassock under a white surcoat , wherewith a red cross stroked in the midst with a white line : their duty , to expel the moors out of boetica the next neighbour to portugal : the arms of this kingdome are argent on five escouchins azure , as many besants in saltire , of the first pointed sable , within a border gules , charged with seven towers , or : twelve , aragon hath had twenty kings : the order of knighthood is of mintsea , their robe a red cross upon their breast ; the arms or , four pallets gules : all these , but portugal and navar , are united in one monarchy of the king of spain : their religion is popish , whereunto they are kept by the violence of the inquisition . the land yields all sorts of wines , oyles , sugar , grain , mettals , as gold , and silver : it is fertile enough for the inhabitants , whose ambitions for the most part are base , the meanest proud , the best superstitious and hypocrites , many of them lascivious , yet good souldiers , by patience in enduring hunger , thirst , labour . the king is not rich , by reason of his great expences to keep his dominions , in which he hath eleven arch-bishops : fifty two bishops . this kingdome of spain is risen to this grandeur and united strength within the memory of our grandfathers . ferdinand king of aragon , by his valour in vanquishing the moors , and expelling them out of spain , and his prudence and happiness in marrying with the heir of the kingdome of castile , made it of many one entire realm . the wealth of the indies by the offer and fortunate discovery of columbus , being thrown as an addition to his felicity . this was further aggrandized and increased by the marriage of his heir ioan to the house of austria , who by a late marriage with the heir of burgundy , was reckoned the most considerable prince in europe . this was philip , the first of that name , king of castile , son to maximilian arch-duke of austria , duke of burgundy ; and from which marriage with ioan descended charles the fifth , emperour of germany , who had issue philip the second , king of spain , who , by pretence of a right by his wife , and by force of arms , wrested portugal from the right heir , the house of braganza ; this philip long coveted an universal empire , and for which ambition many thousand lives , and more hundred thousand pounds drawn from his inexhaustible mines have been expended . his war in the low-countries 〈◊〉 the united provinces which revolted from him , lasted above 80. years , during which time he had several ruptures , with the french and english , both being his constant enemy all queen elizabeths reign . yet since the peace of the united provinces , he hath been as hard put to it as before ; his provinces in the low-countries much harassed , and his forces over-powered by the united french and english forces , sent by oliver cromwell , to attaque him there , while a fleet was sent to the west indies , to seize his mines , that his treasure , by the great charge , difficulty , and danger , in bringing it from thence , was neer exhausted ; so that a peace was very requisite for him , whereby he regained catalonia , who revolted at the same time , in the year 1640. with portugal , and hath advantage of employing his armies solely against that kingdome ; but it is not to be doubted with but little success , so that he will be constrained to abandon his pretences , as he did to the hollander . he hath quitted the provinces of artois and henault in flanders , and the county of 〈◊〉 to the french , as dower with his daughter . england together with scotland , on the north part thereof , maketh the greatest island of europe , and the richest in the world , situated in a very temperate soil and wholesome air , and exceeding fruitful in wheat and other grain ; hath many pleasant rivers , plentifully stored with fish , excellent havens both commodious and safe , mines of silver , lead , iron , especially of fine tinn ; bearing fine wool , of which is made cloth that serves not onely themselves , but is also transported into other parts : their chief city is london , the inhabitants are brave warriors both at sea and land , and many of them learned and witty : the orders of knighthood are , of st. george , or of the garter ; there are twenty six knights of it , whereof the king of england is the soveraign : the ensign is a blew garter , buckled on the left leg , on which these words are embroidered , hony soit qui mal y pense : about their necks they wear a blew ribond , at the end of which hangeth the image of saint george , upon whose day the order is for the most part celebrated . secondly of the bath , instituted one thousand and nine . they use to be created at the coronation of kings and queens , and the installing of the prince of wales : their duty , to defend true religion : widows , maids , orphans , and to maintain the kings rights : the knights thereof distinguished by a red riband , which they wear ordinarily about their necks , to difference them from knights batchelours , of whom they have in all places the precedence , unless they be also the sons of noble-men , to whom the birth gives it before all orders . thirdly of baronets , an hereditary honour : the armes are mars , three lions passant gardant sol. this kingdome famous for warlike exploits abroad ( there being no nation in the known world , but where their dreadful arms have been carried , witness our holy-land expeditions , our atchivements in spain , several times ; our conquests in france , our defence of the netherlands , our triumphs over scotland , and subduing of ireland : our naval power not less formidable , in 88. and lately with the stubborn dutch , whom for all our more than uncivil broyls we humbled into an intreaty of peace , ) was infinitely more terrible to it self , in the late convulsion and subversion of the laws and government by a fatal quarrel of the parliament with the king. a prince no doubt of the greatest vertues , piety and abilities that ever swayed this scepter : nor could the malignity of our distempers have seized one of a sounder constitution , as to honour , conscience , clemency , justice , or what ever good quality is requisite for a king : being absolutely the best of all the princes that ever reigned in this island . it will be alike grievous and tedious , to relate the miseries of this unnatural war , the battels , seiges , and surrenders that happened therein : it will be too much to say , that after a bloody contest , the king was worsted , and with him the laws , and afterwards , by his own rebellious and traite ous subjects brought to a new unparallel'd high court of justice , and by sentence thereof , beheaded before his own court-gates at white-hall , ianuary 30. 1648. by the perpetration of this murder , and by a thing called an act of parliament , monarchy seemed to be actually dissolved , it being made treason to proclaim the prince , or any other person , king or queen of england . all empires have their certain periods and measures of time , at the expiration whereof , they tast of that vicissitude and change to which all other sublunary things are more frequently subject . this monarchy had ●…asted , without any great alteration , in a direct line ( the name only changed from plantagenes , which begun in henry the second ( who restored the saxon line , to t●…wdor , in the person of henry the seventh ) ( who united the two houses of york and lancaster ) after to stuart , in the person of king iames , who united the two kingdomes of england and scotland , and continuing , and long may it , in our present soveraign ) six hundred years and upwards , till this fatal revolution was come when we were under an anarchy , no government at all in reality . there are reckoned , during this interregnum , no less then seventeen forms of authority we were under , in the space of eleven years , betwixt the parliament , protector , and army . in the year 1651 , our present soveraign , to regain his right , entered england from scotland , ( where cromwell had p evailed , and very like to carry all before him ) and got a start of three dayes march , and came to worcester , where he was not long after defeated , but most miraculously escaped into france , where divine providence preserved him safe , and after many strange over-turnings ; ( after we had been ridden by a rump of a parliament , and tyrannised over in our lives and estates by the protector oliver cromwell , ( who by wicked means had scrued himself into the supreme power , ) and wearied with the lording insolencies of an army ) by the conduct of general monk , returned him in honour and safety to his kingdomes , and his kingdomes to peace and prosperity on his most happy birth-day , may 29. 1660. since which his majesty is most happily married to the infanta of portugal , and such an alliance made , as will be most beneficial to the trade , and consequently promote the glory of these nations . scotland , invironed with the sea , except on the south side , where it bordereth with england , is not so fruitful , yet hath of all things enough to fustain it self ; the head-city , is edenborough . scotland giveth many sorts of course woollen , cloth , wool , mault , hides , fish. the principal order of knighthood here , is that of st. andrew . the knights did wear about their necks a collar interlaced with thistles , with the picture of st. andrew appendent to it . the motto is , nemo me impune lacesset . secondly of nova scotia , ordained by king iames , one thousand six hundred twenty two , hereditary ; but the knights thereof distinguished by a riband of orange tawney : the arms of the kingdome are sol , a lion rampant , mars within a double tressure counter-flowered . little can be said of scotland , because its story is all one with england , as to latter times . but be it remembred , that soon after the union of the two kingdoms was dissolved by dividing the head thereof by the hand of violence , that realm was totally conquered by the english , which all the english prowess and valour of our ancestors could never effect . this was atcheived by the incomparable felicity and conduct of the thrice renowned general monck , who in 1653. marched over hills , rocks , and praecipices , into the furthest northern parts of scotland , and there forced general middleton to fight , where the said middleton was overthrown , and the whole countrey thereupon submitted to the conquerour . ireland is full of brooks , marshes , waters and woods , hath good pasture , and abundance of tame and wilde beasts , but little grain : the inhabitants are rude and wilde people , yet through the conversation and government of the english are daily more and more brought to civility ; the air here is very temperate , cooler in summer and warmer in winter than in england : the arms of ireland are azure , an harp or , stringed argent . this kingdom was never in a better constitution of government as to appearance , than in the beginning of our troubles in 1639. by the prudent steerage of the earl of strafford deputy thereof , but in 1640. the 23. of october , such a sudden and bloody rebellion broke out , that from that day to the 25. of march 1641. but five months , there are reckoned 150000. protestants slain and murthered by the catholick confederate rebels . after many combats and change of fortune and governors in that kingdom , it was by ireton , cromwel's son in law , totally reduced , and the prime ringleaders of the rebellion ( with sir phelim o neale of the family of tyrone , their generalissimo ) deservedly executed . the isles belonging to great brittain are the surlings or scillies , garnesey , iarsey , wight , anglesey , man , hebrides , 〈◊〉 , and many others . all which three kingdoms and islands aforesaid , make up one realm , restored to the government of his most sacred majesty char●…es the second , whom god long preserve . their religion is protestant , their church government by gods mercy , again episcopal . the low countries contain seventeen provinces , the dukedoms of erabant , guelderland , lymburge , and luxenburge●… , the counties of flanders , artois , utrecht , henault , holland , zeland , n●…men , zutfen , the marquisate of the holy empire , the lordships of freezland , mechlen , overysel and graving ; all which are lands above measure well tilled and inhabited , conta●…ning two hundred and eight cities , fortified with walls and ditches , and about six thousand three hundred villages , with parish-churches , beside ▪ the castles , forts , and noble-mens houses , which are almost infinite in number . this land is watered with many excellent rivers , as the rhine , the mose , the mard , the scheld , and others . it hath also many commodious sea-havens , abounding in ships , and very skilful and expert mariners and pilots , as by their navigations may appear , whereby they have compassed , as it were , the whole world. the inhabitants are also very valiant , and notable warriours , as well by sea as by land , as their enemies themselves will witness . they are excellently well skilled in all cunning and handy-crafts . many attribute unto them the invention of the sea-compass , as also the needle , and laudable art of printing books : they send abroad into other parts all sorts of linnen and woollen cloth ; camerick , pasement-lace , of gold , silver and silk , taffata , wrought velvet , grograms , sayes , whole and half velvet bags , silk laces , say , and li●…en . all manner of twined thred , wrought silk , refined sugar , prepared buff , and ox-hides , as also spanish leather ; pictures , books , cables , ropes , and other ship-furniture ; cards , pins , and all kind of mercery ; dried and salt fishes , herrings , butter , cheese , and bisket ; the people are of the reformed religion , except the spanish provinces , and they are papists ; they suffer any religion among them : the principal order of knighthood ordained by these princes , is that of the golden fleece , instituted one thousand four hundred thirty nine ; ordained , as some●… conceive , from gideons fleece : their habit is , a collar of gold interlaced with iron , seeming to strike fire out of a flint , or ; ex ferro flammam being the word , at the end whereof hung the foison'd or , or a fleece of gold ; the king of spain may now make as many of them as he please . there are in these parts three arch-bishops , fifteen bishops . these provinces have been governed by several distinct soveraigns , as the dukes of brabant and guelderland , earls of flanders , holland , henault and zeland , &c. all which by several marriages of the co-heirs , for want of issue-male , at last devolved the entire soveraignty into the house and family of the dukes of burgundy , the male-line whereof expiring , the heir general married with maximilian arch-duke of austria , in the time of h. 7. and conveyed these seventeen provinces to her son philip the 1 of spain , by marriage with ioan , daughter and heir of castile and arr●…gon , in whose posterity they continue ; the emperour charles the fifth , in his division of his estates , leaving these to his son philip the second , who by the tyranny of the duke of a●…va , and the establishing the inquisition , and a bloody council , like our high courts of justice , contrary to the fundamental laws of those people , so alienated the affection of those provinces , that they ( the most of them ) revolted , and being headed and led by william prince of aurange count of nass●…n , and a feudatory subject of burgundy , shook off the yoke of spain , and declared themselves a free estate ; for that the king of spain had forfeited his right , title and authority over them . the wars thereupon are so famous both for the length , vigourousness , and policy thereof , both in battels and seiges , it becoming a trade in which most of the young gallants of all nations were bred , and also for the renown of those captains generals on both sides , such as prince william ( assissinated by a b●…rgundian ) prince maurice and prince frederick grandfather to this prince of aurange on the estates side ( who were mainly supported by the english , and by their blood raised to this grandeur , and partly also by the french ; ) and alexander prince of parma , natural son to charles the fifth , and the marquiss of spinola , on the king of spains ; who by more moderation and arms regained some provinces of the defection : but seven of them , to wit , holland , zeland , and ●…trecht ; and overysel , part of brabant , and most part of guelderland , and zutfen could never be reduced , but after a war of 80. years , he was constrained to acknowledge them a free state or commonwealth , now governed in common by the states general , and in particular , by the estates of each individual province . this peace was concluded on at munster in 1647. to the great content of the spaniard , who was embroiled in a fierce war against the french , who therefore mightily obstructed the proceeding thereof ; but after this calm there arose such a tempest at sea , that had neer sunk them to their former condition of the distressed estates ; by a difference between the up-start common-wealth of england and them , concerning traffique and soveraignty of the sea. the usurping protector after six terrible naval fights , to secure his invasion of the government granted them peace in 1653. which hath been better confirmed by our soveraign charles the second since his restitution , of which they seemed to be as exceedingly and pompously ( during his stay in their countrey just before his happy return ) as concernedly joyous . of the ten other provinces belonging to the spaniard , two of them artois and henault , are conveyed and transferred to the french , in portion for the late marriage : and a part of west-flanders , in which is seated that memorable and well fortified port of dunkirke , at present acknowledgeth the dominion of the crown of england , being put into english hands during the usurpation in 1658. after the joynt conquest of it by their , and the french forces the same year . germany is one of the greatest provinces in europe , ( and is in the midst thereof ) bounded on the east with hungaria and polonia ; on the south with italy and bolonia ; on the west with france ; and on the north with the north-sea , and with the sea called mare balticum . in the midst whereof lieth bohemia , wherein stands prague , where the emperour commonly keeps his court : it is adorned with magnificent towers , well fortified , and furnished with such a number of castles , and villages , such abundance of people , and with such politique government , that she may compare with any . the soil is fruitful both in corn and wine ; it hath many navigable rivers , stored with plenty of fishes , most excellent fountains , and hot bathes , mines of gold , silver , tin , copper , lead , and iron ; it hath very learned men , skilful in all sciences and mechanick arts : the religion is here very diverse : for there being many free provinces , some are papists , some protestants ; and of these again , some calvinists , some lutherans : there are six arch-bishops , and thirty four bishops . the wars of germany , ushered in by the comet or blazing-star in 1618 , have had dire and prodigious effects ; first the prince elector palatine undertaking the crown of bohemia , was worsted at prague ; and the king of denmark seconding him , was likewise brought very low by count tilly the emperour's general , and glad to accept of a peace upon hard terms ; when in 1629 enters gust●…vus adolphus the king of sweden , whose victorious armes conquered tilly at the battel of leipsick , and presently over-run all germany , defeated the emperours next general wallestein duke of freidland at lutzen , where , notwithstanding he was killed , his army had the day ; of whom it was said , that before death , in death , and after death he was victorious . at the battel of nordling●…in the fortune of the swedes failed , a great slaughter being made on them by the imperial army , and so a peace was afterwards patched , and again interrupted , till the solemn and general pacification at munster ; since which time , the princes and people have been in quiet . the prince elector palatine losing the one half of his estate , as forfeited to the emperour , who hath invested the duke of bavaria , the electors neerest kinsman , in the upper palatinate . denmark and norway are very great regions , bordering southward upon germany ; they extend toward the north to seventy one degrees and thirty minutes , north latitude ; towards the east they border upon sweden , and on the west and north-side they are invironed with the sea ; they at this time are under the government of one king , who is lord of seland , greenland , hitland and gothland . these kingdomes afford unto other lands oxen , barley , mault , stock-fish , tallow , sand , nuts , hides , goat-skins , masts , deals , oaken-boards , wood to burn , pitch , tarr , brimstone , and the like : their religion is the lutherans . the chief order of knighthood in it is that of the elephant , their badge a collar powdered with elephants , towered , supporting the kings arms , and having at the end the picture of the virgin mary . the arms of the land are , quarterly of , three lions passant , vert , crowned , of the first , for the kingdome of denmark , and two gules , a lion rampant ; or , crowned and armed , of the first in the paws , a dansk hatchet ; argent , for the kingdome of norway ; there are two arch-bishops , thirteen bishops . this king is allyed to the crown of england ; queen ann , wife to king iames , being aunt to this present king frederick . twice in twenty years ( not to mention other wars before ) hath this crown been endangered by the swedes , but more neerly in 1657 , and 8 , when the king of sweden , carolus gustavus being drawn out of poland to prevent the dane , then in arms against him , with strange success almost over-run his countrey . in a most hard winter , he passed his arms and canon over the sea , from the continent unto the island of funen , where he overthrew the dane , took cronenburg castle , which commanded the sound , and at last laid seige to copenhaguen , the chief city of denmark , where , attempting a storm by night , he was repulsed , with the loss of three thousand men ; and , soon after , the hollanders , with a fleet , in spight of his navy , and the said castle , entered , and relieved the town ; with conceit whereof , and a violent feaver , the said king not long after deceased : and the danes , in gratitude and honour of their king frederick , who had so bravely defended and stood by them , consented to make that kingdome hereditary , ( as now it is established , all the estates having done homage ) which before was onely elective : the family of this king afore , injoying onely the crown of norway by descent and inheritance . this prince suffered much ; for , siding with the dutch against the english , in the late difference , seizing there twenty of our merchant-men , on pretence of his aunts dower , but was forced at last to make recompense for the dammages , which the dutch undertook for him . sweden is a great and mighty kingdome , bordering on the east upon muscovia , on the south upon the baltick sea and denmark ; on the west upon norway : and on the north upon the finmark and the zurick sea. the merchandises it selleth are copper , iron , lead , costly furrs , buff , and ox-hides , goat-skins , tallow , pitch , barley , mault , hazel-nuts , and such like things : their religion is lutheran . the arms of the kingdom azure , three crowns , or : it hath two arch-bishops , eight bishops . it is a wonder , and men can scarce comprehend , how this nation is come to this greatness , to make war in so many parts of europe , being to pass over the sea : or how they get so many men in arms , the dominions thereof being large , but not populous , so that there never came from thence , sixty thousand men. it was reported that many women in mens clothes supplyed their places , and fought like amazons . the beginning of this upstart greatness , was from charles duke of sunderman , who being uncle to sigismond , king of sweden by descent , and of poland by election , upon his seating himself in that kingdom , and constituting his uncle vice-roy of his native kingdome of sweden ; he , with the consent of the senators , assumes the crown , and maintaines it against his nephew ; whereupon ensued divers battels , the usurper wafting over his swedes into poland , and beginning an offensive war : when he dying , his son , the great gustavus , prosecuted it afresh , till after various successes a truce was concluded on ; before the expiration of which , he fell with that strange success into germany before said . after his death , his daughter christina was crowned , and reigned seventeen years , when another occasion of war hapning , they judging her not capable to mannage it , procured her to renounce her right to the crown , and resign it to her kinsman carolus gustavus , who with a powerfull army invaded poland , prompted thereunto by cardinal mazarine , and the usurping protector of england , who by an ambassador mr. whitlock , projected that invasion , to keep the arms of the house of austria in suspence and attendance of the issue of that war , which were raised to the assistance of the spaniards , then in war with both french and english. carolus gustavus dying , as aforesaid , the crown is placed on the head of his son charles , ( a child of five years old , ) by his wife , the daughter of the duke of holsteyn : of their late conquests , within these fourty years , there remains to that crown , all pomerania , and the arch-bishoprick of br●…men in germany , besides other less provinces gained from the dane , and several islands in the baloick sea ; with riga , the chief city of liefland , a wealthy maritine city , being seated as the grand emporium of the more remote north-east countreys , as russia , &c. and was the onely port of trade thither , before the passage about the north-cape to arch-angel was found out . the swede ( a miracle ) is now in full peace with all his neighbours ; but no doubt according to custome , is contriving another invasion upon some of his neighbours . russia is the last region towards the east in europe , a good part of it is asia , it is bo●…ded on the north with the frozen sea , on the east with tartaria , on the west it borders upon livonia , and on the realm of sweden , and on the south with the sea called mare c●…spium ; the greatest part is extreme cold , but for the help of the inhabitants , nature hath stored it with furs , sables , white fox , martins , and other commodities , as cattel , corn , and fruit : the whole region is subject to the emperour of russia , a wast tract , and as wilde a government . the people are base , ignorant , and contentious , and foolishly superstitious ; after the greek church , they deny the proceeding of the holy ghost , they bury their dead upright , with many other ceremonies : muscovia is the seat of the empire . the countrey affords very good flax , and hoops to make casks , and ropes , and store of hides as well of oxen as of elks , much salt-fish , and whales grease ; the arms are sable , a partel open of two leases and as many degrees , or. here is one patriarch , two arch-bishops , eighteen bishops . the emperour hereof is the onely tyrant for government , in europe , and the people more absolute slaves than in turkey , which makes them though perpetually in war with the tartars , and every other year with the polanders , no better souldiers ; slavery begetting in them mean and abject spirits , so that of many years they have effected nothing considerable , save the taking in of the city and dutchy of smolensko , in the year 1654. taken from them thirty years before ; where upon their besieging of it with an army of an hundred thousand men , they were besieged themselves with an army of poles , not above ten thousand in the open fields , and were forced upon hard conditions to render themselves ; for which the russian general nd his son , lost their heads at their return to musco , they attempted riga also , in 1657. from the swedes , but even as the place was by famine and scarcity of men ready to capitulate , the emperour in dispair , broke up his siege , and departed . a peace is now concluded this year 1662. at stockholm , by the russian ambassadours sent thither in most solemn manner : but the poles and they , are still at war with mutual success ; some fifty years ago , the pole ( in behalf of demetrius a counterfeit emperour ) made an in-road into russia , of above 1200. miles length , and was possest of the city of musco , which by the valour and conduct of one collonel hamilton a scot , was rescued , and the poles glad to depart , whose reward ( of the greatness whereof he was so confident , as that to make himself capable thereof , he turned russian and renounced his religion , ) was but neglect , and jealous distrust of his abilities . this emperour is likewise forced to keep a constant army of fifty thousand men , to attend the tartars and cossacks bordering upon his kingdom of astracan , who every year invade him , and make incursions some hundreds of miles , when in their return with their spoil and booty the russian either way-lays or overtakes him , and gives battel . if the russian prevail , he enters their countrey and makes havock , with fire and sword ; if not , the tartar keeping what he has plundered , is content to leave his victory and return home . nevertheless every year ambassadors , some hundred in number , come to musco ; but their main design is , to get presents of silken vests and rayments , they look , and are sure to receive from the emperour . the predecessor of this emperour shewed himself very affectionately respectful to our soveraign , and regardful of his cause , when , upon the murder of his father , he presently seized all the estates of the english , and would have sold them , and delivered the product thereof to my lord wentworth , then ambassador from his majesty , and for his use , if he had not wholly refused it , telling the emperour , they were his masters subjects , whom he ought rather to protect , than to spoil , for the rebellion of other people in england : whereupon the emperour lent a sum of money freely himself , with promise of further assistance , but would by no means grant the english their priviledges , of being custome-free , till his majesties restitution . this great duke lives in great state and splendor , in a most ample and magnificent pallace and castle at musco city , which is now half built from timber with brick-houses ; the fire , when it happened before , usually burning down a third part thereof , the flame running three or four miles in an instant . he is also very wealthy ( all his subjects riches being his own when he pleaseth ) and therefore very potent . the patriarch now governeth him and his empire , being the chief minister , or commander of state. the emperours name is alexei michalowich . poland is bounded on the south with moldavia , and hungary , on the east with muscovia , and with the tartaries praecopenses , on the west with germany , and on the north with the baltick sea. their religion is partly with the greek church , partly with the roman : and so there are here of the romish church three arch-bishops , and ninteen bishops ; and of the greek church two archbishops and six bishops : the arms are one gem , and eagle , an ass argent crowned and nowed or , for the region of polonia : and two gules , a chevaleir armed cap a●…pe advancing his sword argent mounted upon a barbed courserof the second , for the dukedom of lituania : the commodities sent hence , are , spruce or dantz beer , amber , wheat , rye , and other grain ; honey , wax , hemp , flax , pitch and tarr : it hath also mines of copper and iron . this kingdom , as well as the great dutchy of lituania is elective , and hath had kings often from their neighbour nations , such is the aemulation among the chief nobility : they have of late years been addicted to the french , and now to the duke of anguien son to the prince of conde , supposed to succeed king casimir . it is reckoned one of the bulwarks of christendom , to the east , against the turk and tartar ; but hath been lately miserably harrassed by the swede and transylvanian , who came to his assistance under ragotzki . it proved luckily for this people , that the king of denmark quarrell'd with the swede , and raising a formidable army , drew him to defend his own countrey out of the bowels of poland , and made him leave his design of conquest thereof , which he had promised to himself . the marquiss of brandenburgh assisted him in the beginning , but seeing his unreasonable encroachments , and the injustice of his arms , which he might afterwards upon the same pretences use against his dominions , forsook his side , and turned enemy , a practise used to the swedes by the german princes before : for just so the elector , duke of saxony , served them in the german war. this lost the swede all he had got , save his plunder , who by a peace now resigned the dutchies of prussia , which he had garrisoned and possessed , and took a sum of money in lieu thereof ; like a cunning merchant , as my lord bacon observes in hen. 7. that gets by importing and exporting of merchandize , such indeed is war to the swede . but the duke of brandenburgh is invested and possessed of the ducal prussia : seldome is it also , that the poles are without war , either at home or abroad ; abroad now with the muscovite : at home a difference betwixt the senators and the confederate army , which threatens some danger , if not timely composed by the prudence of the king , who is a most excellent prince , and a●…isted by very able noblemen , such as is the renouned old general czarnecki , he who hath so often defeated th●… muscovites and tartars , and once overcame the swedes , whose prince adolph iohn was wounded by sandomiria , in 1657. they are a very warlike people , and the bravest enemy both for gallantry , in mind and body in the world , carrying most of their wealth with them into the field . their arms , and horse-furnitures glittering with gold and silver . they serve most on horseback , the gentry mounting their tenants , and servants , and charge furiously with lances , and then expertly manage a shabel or scymiter : they have this year had two victories against the muscovites . they have been often vexed with the cossacks , a people ( bordering upon the black sea , where they annoy the turk ) mercenary and stipendiary to this crown , who under 〈◊〉 their generall , often combated them , but are now in a better understanding and good complyance by a late treaty . the tartars are as well disposed to be quiet , so that at present poland seems likely to enjoy some respite , and draw breath after so many con●…ulsions , and concussions of its state and government . hungary is bounded on the south with bosnia and croatia , on the west with germany , on the east with transylvania , moldavia , and walachia , and on the north with polonia : a great and mighty kingdome and exceeding fruitful , it hath many navigable rivers , wherein are multitudes of fish. the people are strong , and shew their antiquity to be of the scythians , by their neglect of learning , and barbarous manners ; their sons equally inherit without priviledge of birth-right ; their daughters portion is onely a new attire . the german emperour and the turk share it between them ; the commodities that go from thence are , divers sorts of colours , wheat , beef , salt , wine , and river-fish salted : the a●…ms are bar-wise of eight pieces , gules and argent : there are here two arch-bishops , thirteen bishops . this kingdom of hungary was anciently that fortress against the turks , which now poland is , several of its kings being slain in the fields thereof , in battel against them , so very remarkable is that war maintained by them throughout all the turkish history . this crown was devolved at last to maximilian as hereditary to the house of austria , who a long while also grapled against the same power , to a greater expence of men and money than the title , revenue , and possessions were worth ; and could not expel nor drive them out , being put to it to defend his own ; sultan solyman , in the raign of h. 8. carrying his army to the walls of vienna the emperours imperial city in austria . the emperours chief city , and assembly of the states is presburgh , where the king his son is usually crowned . the grand siegnieurs is buda upon the river danubius , governed by one of his principal bashaws . the hungarians have enjoyed a long , though narrow peace , some part thereof being disquietted by the troubled affairs of their neighbours , such as are the wayvods of moldavia , and walachia ( who are tributary princes to the grand signiour , and are invested by him , who not seldome revolt , and as often pay the price of it with their heads ) and lately , and at this time , the princes of transylvania , of which next . transylvania , a principallity , is bounded on the north with poland , on the east with servia and bulgaria , on the west with hungary , and on the east with moldavia and walachia , two other small principallities , tributaries and vassals to the turks . this country of transylvania is notable for good warriours , being beholding for their stoutness to the strength of their countrey , which , toward the south-east , is surrounded with mountains . for these four last years it hath been the seat of a cruel war ; for , the king of sweden having invited prince ragotzki to the spoyles of poland in 1657. the pole complained of this invasion to the grand seigniour , who commanded ragotzki to withdraw , and withal sent an army to depose him for presuming against his leave and permission to engage against the pole. ragotzki defended ●…mself a while , but , being over-toyled , and spent with care and hard service against so potent an enemie , dyed . whereupon the states chose one remini ianosch to be their prince , whom the turks likewise rejecting the states stood by him , against prince michael abassi , invested by the grand signiour . after severall encounters ; and the loss of waradin , remini was taken and strangled , and his head and quarters set upon the gates of one of the chief cities . michael abassi is now in authority , and the country subdued , which makes the emperour fear an invasion of the turks in hungary and his hereditary countryes , wherefore he is now in treaty with those infidel . sclavonia hath on the south the adriatick sea ; on the west , part of italy ; greece on the southeast , and hungary on the north ; part of it belongs to the turk , some to the venetian estate , some to the hungarians , and some to the austrians : the arms , argent , a cardinals hat , the strings meeting in bsae gules perpendant and placed in a true lovers knot ; there are four arch-bishops , twenty six bishops . in a part of this country called then epirus , but losing now its name with its liberty under the turkish yoke , was born that famous warriour scanderb●…g the scourge of the turks , whose bones , he being dead , the turks , long time after , took out of his grave , and made them meddals and rings therewith ; there are few of this whole nation left that have any spark of their ancestors spirit or valour against their tyrannical masters , but onely a people called the morlacks , who valiantly side with the venetians , and are a great assistance to them in keeping that footing they have in dalmatia : the rest are buried im their slavery , and by the heaviness of their fetters are so benummed , that they stir not a hand , either in holding it up to heaven , or in putting it out to the aid of others , who would endeavour their redemption , so that the country may better be called slavonia . greece , once a mother of learning and arts , now the den of the turkish empire , who hath its abode at constantinople : it is bounded on the west with the adriatick sea , on the north with the mountain hemus , on the south with the the mediterranean sea , and on the east egypt , hellespont , propontis . the commodities brought from hence are , gold , silver , copper , divers colours , wines , and velvets , damask , and turkish grogram ; their religion hath in it some substantial error , as that they deny that the holy ghost proceedeth from the father and the son , they hold also baptism of fire to be necessary , yet they resist the authority of the bishop of rome . this greece that once had the empire of the world , the great mistress of arts and arms is degenerated into the like base servility of minde with their neighbours of sclavonia . here also the gospel shone in its first purity , the seven candlesticks being placed here , as we read in the beginning of the revelations ; and now is universally over-spread with the thick darkness of mahometisme . nothing left to comfort them in their condition , but their vines , and the proverb , the merry greeks : that arose from the wretchless stupidity and carelessness of their condition , which they know no better to put out of their mind than by making themselves beasts ; metamorphosing themselves from slavery , into brutality : nor are they falsly taxed with bestiality , that crying sin of sodomy . so that there is little hope left , of their recovering their liberty , who are fettered in the chaius of such abominable impieties . and thus now have i finished europe , the first part of the world. the names of the greatest , and most famous cities and rivers in europe . in italy the cities of genoa , milan , venice , florence , rome , bologne , and naples : the rivers most famous , are , arnus , tibur , and po. the cities in france that are most famous , are , amiens , roven , paris , troyes , nanles , orleans , diion , lyons , burdeoux , toulose , mars●…illes , grenoble , auvergne : the rivers that are most remarkable , are the loyre , the garone , the rhone , the seyne . the cities in spain that do most prefer themselves to observation , are , toledo , madrid , leon , pampelune , bilbo , priede , saint iames of compostella , lisbone , fax , siville , grenade , mursy , sarragosa , barcelona , and valentia : the rivers there most famous , are , the dower , the river of tagus , the gadian , and the guadelguiner . the cities in england that be most famous , are , london , york , bristol : the rivers most famous , are , the thames , the severn , the river of humber , and the ouze . the cities in scotland most famous , are edinborough , sterlin , aberden , and saint andrews : the most famous river is the river of tay. the most famous city in ireland is dublin , and the greatest river , is the river of shannon . the chiefest cities in the netherlands belonging to the catholicks , are metz , besancon , cambeyr , antwerp ; the chief city belonging to the united states , is amsterdam : the two most famous rivers are the river of scheld , and the river mosa . the most famous cities in germany , are strasb●…rough , colen , munster , norimberg , ausburgh , nuremberg , vienna , prague , dresden , berlin , stetin , and lubeck ; the chiefest rivers are the rhine , the weser , the elbe , the odor , and the 〈◊〉 . the most famous cities in denmark are coppenhague , and trondon ; the chiefest river is the wezer . the chiefest cities in swedeland are calmer , stockholm , ab●… , and riga , the last whereof is in livonia , but now in the possession of the king of sweden ; the most famous river , is the river of torn . the chiefest cities of russia , are muscow , woldimar , saint michael the arch-angel , cazan , and astracan ; the most famous rivers are the dwine , the volga , the don , or tana . the most famous cities in poland are , cracovia , warsovia , dantzick , vilna , di●…n , 〈◊〉 , and smolensc●… , which is part of muscovy , and now again in the possession of the great duke : the chiefest rivers in poland are the vistu●…a , or weisser , the nieper , the duna , or the niester , and the boresthenes . the chiefest cities in hungary , transylvania , valachia , moldavia , and little tartary , are buda presborough , hermonstade , tergovius , czucham , or sozow , craffa , and burgos : the chiefest rivers are the drin , the river of oxfeus , or a●…feus , the rivers of peneus , the vardax , the marize , and the danubius . the chief cities of transylvania , are weysenlurg , clausenburg , and waradin . the most famous cities in dacia , are trieste , and pedena . the most famous cities in bohemia , are prague , cuttenburgh , pilzen , and budrozis the most famous cities at this time in greece , buda , salonique , andrianopolis , scutary , durazzo , la valone , l armire , prevezza , larta , lepanto , setino or athens , stines or thebes , corinth , patras , misira or lacedemonia , which are all now in the possession of the turks . the most famous cities in bosnia , are iucyza , bagnalour , fruansaray : in croatia is the famous city of whitz . the chiefest cities in sclavonia , are nona , zara , nonigrad , tinu , sebenico , st. nicolo ; trau , spalato , salon●… , 〈◊〉 , starigrad , vesiechio , catara , buda , and dolcigno . the most famous city in walachia is called tergovis : and in moldavia , zaczow . in the land of sicily , there are the famous cities of messina , and palermo : in the island of sardinia , the city of calari : and in corsica , the city bastic . the renowned cities in romania , are , constantinople , and adrianopolis . asia . asia is now the second part of the world separated from europe by the floods , tanais and duina , and from africa , by the narrow part of lod de lakis , and the red-sea , bordering on aegypt . it is bigger then europe , or africa , and doth far exceed them in riches , as precious-stones and spices : this region hath been renowned by the first and second monarchs of the world : there was man created , placed in paradise , seduced by satan , and redeemed by our saviour . in this part , was done most of the histories mentioned in the old testament ; and many things also in the new : the eminent persons that have the rule of asia , are the kings of china , the king of persia , the great turk , the king of india or indosthan , the king of portugal , the king of iapan , and the emperour of russia . tartaria is bordered upon the north sea , eastward upon the sea of china , southward upon the provinces of china , and india , with the flood oxdo , and the sea mare caspium , and towards the west with the flood mare steneum , and moscovia . the tartarians , as they are divided into certain kingdomes , principalities , and commoalties or colonies , one from another , so they differ in manners , and trade of life : they are men of a square stature , broad and gross faces , their eyes sunk into their heads , and looking somewhat asquint ; they are strong of body , and hardy : they eat horses , and all other beasts except hogs , howsoever they are slain . the crim , or precopense tartar , is the greatest and most potent prince in this vast and uncultivated territory ; he is next heir to the ottoman family of the great turk , if the male-line should fail , to whose service he is alwayes ready bound to attend on the designs of the turks upon christendome . the other chief is called the czeremise tartar , of whom , came that famous conquerour , the great tamberlaine , who over-ran all asia . their greatest war now , is , either with the chinese , or with the russe ; but the crim tartar is wholly mercenary , being in the late war of poland ; employed , first by the pole , and then by the swede , and transylvanian prince ragotzki . china is bounded on the east by the east sea , on the west with india , and bramus , and on the north it is divided from tartaria with a wonderfull wall four hundred miles long , built between the mountains : it is divided into fifteen kingdoms , or great provinces , each having a peculiar prince , but all yielding obedience to their great king : it is reported that he may bring into the field three hundred thousand foot and two hundred thousand horse-men . the land is fruitful of grain , and beasts wild and tame , wines , of precious stones , gold , copper , iron , steel , pearl , and good store of silk : also very great cities well peopled : paqu'n is the royal city , of which , things be written that be incredible . the people are lively , witty , wonderous artists , they make waggons that sail over the land as ships do over the sea the art of printing , and making of guns , is more ancient with them than with us : they have good lawes according to which they do live ; but they want the knowledge of god , for they are heathens , and worship the sun , moon , and stars , yea , and the devil himself , that he may not hurt them . of this kingdome of china there is little writ either certain or true , because of its vast distance , which , if the north-west passage had been passable and not frozen , might have been throughly known . the last news from thence was , that the tartars had invaded that kingdome , and had thrown down part of that eminent wall abovesaid , that was built for a fence against their incursions , and defeated the chinese in several battels . it hath been travelled of late by some forraign friers , but our english ships seldome thriving in the voyage , is the reason no better account can be given of their government , lawes , and customes . from thence come the china dishes , called porcelane , which the fathers prepare 40 years under ground , and lay up for their sons , as an estate , before it be fit for use : its fineness and transparency requiring such a time of perfection . iapan aboundeth so with gold , that it is reported that the kings pallace was covered therewith , in the time of paulus venetius . these iapanneses are the best navigators and sailers of the nations of those parts of the world , for which they are beholding to the situation of their country , being an island , so that they are very frequent , and use commerce in all that quarter , and prove good auxiliary souldiers to the several princes . they are much entertained by the dutch , as may be seen in the business of amboyna . india , situated between persia and the tartars , sinca , and the indian sea , all writers account the best and goodliest land in the world : for it fills almost the whole world with precious jewels and pearls , medicinal drugs , and perfumes , that it may be called an earthly paradise . the king of this country , the great mogul , is certainly the richest and most magnificent prince in the world : which to shew to his subjects , at the several seasons of the year , as it grows hot or cold , he removes his court from city to city , of great distance , south and north , his countrey being very vast , and well peopled . but his chief imperial city is agra●… where , as most great cities of the east , lime trees and others of great shade , and sweet sent are placed along the streets , most beautifull and pleasant to behold . the mogul is altogether , if not more absolute than any of the eastern princes , all whose governments are monarchical tyrannies . every morning he shews himself in great ▪ state to his nobles and princes , who prostrate , and adore him ; and at the same time the elephants ( of which he keeps many hundreds ) are brought to salam , that is , to bow and bend their knee , which being taught , they will do very readily . to this mogul , king iames sent the earl of denbigh ambassador , to treat , or rather to complement about our trade in the east-indies , surrat being in his dominions , where constantly one of his chief nobles is resident as governour . the earl carried presents with him , but was most magnificently and costly re-presented by the mogul , even to an estate , and his ambassie civilly and effectually answered ; we count them barbarians , but they are a nation of extraordinary civility , as our commerce witnesseth : where they love , they love ardently and constantly , and where they hate , they hate furiously and deadly . at present , they are engaged in a civil war , for the mogul sultan coram lately dying , left his estate in dispute , though divided to his three sons , of whom , he most loved his youngest , who by the favour and practice of the chief of the nobility having gained the army which is alwayes kept standing , possest himself of most part of the empire , while his brothers were disputing with one another , about other the private limits and boundaries of their lands . both are now joyned against him , but with what successe is not yet known . the english trade is neverthelesse no way molested or impeached ( their governour now siding with the younger brother ) but is carried on as formerly : the chief merchants of that nation being the banians ( a sect and preciser sort of people than the rest , the most of them being mahometans ) who are just dealers and very rich , and negotiate in all the traffique of the east . the hollanders have some places of strength here also , and are in league with the mogul , though in war with some of the adjacent lesser princes . the king of portugal is possest of the kingdome of goa , and other large provinces and territories , which were formerly distinct kingdomes and principalities , but conquered and won by his sword ; but hath been disquieted and disturbed very often , as well by the natives as the dutch ; but yet he hath made a shift to keep the greatest part still in his hands : and consequently a very rich trade and traffique , which he manageth himself . there is alwayes resident at goa , his vice-roy one of the portugal nobility , who lives in great pompe and state in a very fair palace . the city is strongly fortified and several out-forts and guards circumjacent to prevent a sudden attempt of an enemy ; and other fortresses are erected in that kingdome , some whereof are put into the hands of the english , by agreement , the coast being beneficial to our navigation into the indies . the portugal inhabitants follow the habit and fashion of the indians , as all nations whatsoever trading thither , do their habit. persia is a mighty rich land , governed by the sophy : though he be a mahometist , yet he warreth against the turk for the religion of mahomet , concerning the expounding of the alcoran : out of persia are brought the bezoar-stone and other precious stones , pearls of great value , and many silk-works . this kingdom , once honoured with the universal empire , as absolutely lost it self under the turkish slavery , as before under the victorious arms of alexander the great , till the time of ismael some two hundred years ago ; justly as great , as he , considering the contemptiblenesse of himself and his forces ; he drove the turk●… out of all their conquests , and left persia to his successors , an entire and potent dominion . after many changes in his line and family , it devolved at last to as renown'd a prince as himself ; sultan abbas , but infamous for his unnatural fact. he had a hopeful son , his expected successor ; of whom , by the flatteries and surmises of some courtiers being jealoused , he resolved on his death , and communicated it , with his command of execution to his general ; and , being by him bravely refused , to another his confident , who likewise knowing the worth of the prince , offered his own head in lieu of his ; with which not yet disswaded , he procured one of his chams or commanders to perform the fact , which the innocent gentleman patiently suffered , being as he was riding , dragged off his horse and strangled . after the preparation of it , the tyrant was exceedingly sorrowful , and going to the relief of bagdat alias babylon , there besieged by the turk , after he had caused the executioner of his son to be put to death , and was returning home in triumph , he deceased , declaring his grand-son , whom he had named after his father mirza sefi or sofi , ( from whence the modern name of sophy ) to be his successour , and commanded his death to be kept secret till his inauguration . this injunction was duely observed , and the young prince , after three dayes perswasion to get him from his mother , who feared the like cruelty from the cunning tyrant , solemnly enthroned . it was reported he was born with his hands full of blood , but very true it was , he dyded with them full , in the year 1642. in the middle of his age when he began to be more considerate , having caused by his cruelties many of his chief lords to revolt to save their heads : his son sophy abbas now reigns in great splendor : at his return from bagdat to his city of issaphan , he passed to his pallace through the streets filled with roses up to the horses belly , and covered from the sun by carpets thrown upon cords tyed from the opposite windows , where in the middle hung great wax lamps and candles , which made an artificial day . the persian hath had a lazy peace of late , but a rupture with the turk or mogul is to be expected , for they are excellently active , and indefatigable warriours . as to our english trade thither , it is greatly improved within these few years , from some immunities they have above other nations traffiquing there , by reason of the assistance the persian had from them by shipping , without which he could never have taken ormus , the great mart of the east , from the portugals in 1620. but for all that destructive kindnesse to our selves , he hath saltered of his articles and agreement , in delaying that money which he was to pay to the english east-india company for the hire of the said ships . there is now two english factories in his dominions , one at gomeron a sea-port , and the other at 〈◊〉 o●… ispahan aforesaid , to the no less reputation than profit and advantage of the said company , and the whole nation . natolia or asia the lesse , wherein is that part of land formerly called canaan , by which lie the arabians : this asia is a good and fruitful country , and hath been eminent in the true religion ; for therein were written the most part of the new testament . it is almost divided from africa by the red and mediterranean sea , and is now a part of the turkish empire . the body of this huge empire is like a monster , that consists of several heterogeneal parts , and members : it hath large dominions in europe , larger in africa , but largest in asia ; all which were meer conquests , scarce a cottage belonging to the first founder of the ottoman greatnesse ; who was little better than an unruly shepherd , from whom are lineally descended twenty successive monarchs , terrible to all the world , being seated in the very midst and heart of it . mahomet the great , became terrible , by the subversion of the greek empire about anno christi 1400. when he took constantinople , and soon after that the empire of trebisand in asia minor ; since which time , selymus the first , conquered aegypt , and selymus the second , cyprus : to omit the seizure of dalmatia and epirus somewhat before , sultan solyman perfected their invasions , and secured their possessions in hungary , and made more absolute tributaries and vassals of the princes , and waywods of transylvania , and moldavia , advancing his ensignes and infidel crescents to the walls of vienna , but failed in his ambitious design upon the empire of the west . after his decease they stood at a stay ; not a martial prince succeeding , till sultan morat , in our memory , whose assumption to that imperial turbant , will not be unpleasant to relate . sultan achmat a voluptuary , and no way addicted to war , deceasing about 1615. left behind him two sons and a brother of his named mustapha , whom , contrary to the unnatural and cruel policy of that government , he had preserved alive , ( though once over-perswaded by his bashaws , he had sent for him to his presence , to strangle him : ) and after his decease appointed him to succeed him ; but he being of a book●…h and contemplative nature , the ianizaries weary of such a log and idle person , deposed him , and shut him up in a prison , and advanced the eldest son of achmat named osman a child , to his fathers throne ; and being alike weary of him , not onely laid him aside , but murthered him , and set up mustapha again , and then relen●…ing of their ungrateful dealing to osman , murthered mustapha , and proclaimed sultan morat , osmans brother , to be the grand seigniour . he , during these alterations and fatal changes , was grown to discretion , and perceiving that those distractions happened through the head-strong insolency of the ianizarics , ( insomuch that it was verily believed by others that a period was near set to the glory of the empire ) after therefore he had , as usually , destributed his donatives among them at his first assumption , and gained their affection ; he resolved with some private advice , to be rid of the whole order , and militia of those ianizaries , and to substitute a new standing force in their room . in prosecution whereof , he denounced a war against the persian , which hath alwayes been the sepulture of the turkish infantry , and against all disswasions , marched to the siege of bagdat , where in several assaults , on purpose to put them to the slaughter , he had well neer wasted the greatest part of them , when in the midst of his design , and in the flourishing years of his hope , by over-labouring himself he contracted a feaver , and dyed , but victorious , with the fortune of alexander , who dyed at the siege of the same place . being asked upon his death-bed whom he would name his successour , he started up and with indignation , replyed , what do you talk of successors ? will there be any more worlds when i am dead ? but by his death the race of ianizaries was preserved , and the crown placed on the head of his son sultan ibrahim , who continued it not long , before death transferred it to sultan mahomet an infant then , but now of age , and at this time regnant , a prince of hopeful valour and magnanimity , of which he gives great demonstrations in his preparation for war , which he intends to prosecute in transilvania , ( where he hath lately chastised and deposed two princes thereof , who disobeyed his command , and usurped the government after he had commanded them to quit it as we have said before in that territory ) and also in the isle of candia against the venetians , where for these two years last past , he hath had but slow success . the king lately sent to the port , that is , his court at constantinople , the earl of winchelsea his ambassador , to confirm and continue the treaty and friendship that hath been these many years betwixt us . the two chief residences of the english merchants who have factories at grand cairo and damascus , are at constantinople , by the turks called stamboly , and at aleppo in syrio in the bottome of all the straits , scanderoon being the port or key where the ships unload and take in their merchandise ; besides the morda . the emperor of muscovia hath for his share in these quarters of the world , the kingdomes of casan and astracan , formerly belonging to the tartar , but taken from him in this manner : he had made a terrible irruption into muscovia , and had carried all to before him to the very walls of musco , which at last too he entred , and made the great duke , upon certain articles , to become his tributary , and acknowledge him , as his supreme lord , and to hold his dominions under him , which was confirmed by an instrument in writing under the great seal of the empire . an. 1500. whereupon with great riches he departed , and in his return laid seige to a strong castle , and seeing the governour resolute ( as the russes are very good in maintaining places even beyond extremity to others ) he acquainted him with what had passed , and that the great duke had yielded him that place by agreement , and had further submitted , &c. whereupon the governour desiring to see the deed , and promising thereupon to surrender , the tartar over-credulously parted with his act of homage , but could never gain either the town or that back again . encouraged by this , the russe took heart and followed the tartar , but was sorely beaten , till the successour of that emperor , the tyrant evan vasilowich pursuing the quarrel , marched with fire and sword into those countries , and at last sate down before astracan , where in sundry attempts he was resisted , but being resolutely bent to lose his army , life , and honour , or take the city , he commanded a general , though most hazzardous assault ro be given , which lasted almost a whole day , when with a most bloody slaughter both of his own and his enemies he victoriously entred , and ever since , maugre all the force and attempts of the tartars , the great dukes have kept possession thereof , suffering no tartars to lodge in the city , or to wear any arms. both these kingdomes are parted with the river volga , where the cossacks do exercise frequent piracies and thefts , both upon the inhabitants and passenger-merchants which trade that way , and so by the caspian sea into persia fo : drugs and silks , which are brought by caravans to that sea-side in great quantity . the chief islands of asia are zellant , whose ground is alwayes green , and the trees laden with blossomes and fruits , as oranges , and lemmons , the cinamon grows here in whole woods , for it is the second rind of a tree , but being cut and laid in the sun , becomes red : the tree in three years space receives his rind again . besides many other beasts , here are a multitude of elephants . sumatra yieldeth besides other sorts of spices , abundance of pepper : here are also moneys of divers mettals , of which the inhabitants have learned to cast good ordnance ; very great elephants are found here , which being learned are serviceable in war. the rhinoceros , a deadly enemy to the elephant , is found here : for though he be less , yet he warreth with him ; having whet his horn on the rock , he therewith seeks to rip up the elephants belly . he is by many held to be the true unicorn : every part of him , especially his horn , being sovereign against all poyson . iava is very fruitful in several spices and indian fruits , especially pepper . benda a second island , but very famous , for herein are several islands whereabout grow all the nutmegs and mace which are in great abundance sent into all the world : the trees on which nutmegs grow , yield three times in the year fruit , viz. in august , and december , but the most and best in april . the islands of the mollucco's , though but sand , yet are known all over the world , by reason of the plenty of cloves which grow up here only , but are dispersed over all the world , they are five in number , ternate , tidon , matir , mantrian , and bachion . victuals are here scant , for there grows neither rice nor any other grain ; it hath no cattel , but a few goats and hogs : they make their bread of certain trees and roots . in these islands onely , are found the birds of paradise , which for the strangeness and fairness of feathers exceed all the birds in the world . most of these islands are in the occupation of the hollander or portugal , or so leagued to them by the natives , that the whole profit and trade thereof is as good as theirs , which formerly by articles of agreement , were equally parted ( to what the dutch possest ) betwixt them and us , witnesse that bloody story of amboyna , to the southward of the molucco's where the dutch had a castle and we a factory , but the trade arising from the island proving so beneficial , they conspired the ruin of the english by a pretended plot of theirs , upon the said castle , which by a violation of the articles on our part , if admitted true , would be a good warrant for their procedure against them , which in short was after this manner . they of a sudden as in imminent danger , seized and secured the principal english merchant and others on shore , and two japanese souldiers in the dutch pay , and put them to the torture , which was by hanging them stretcht out , upon planks broad as a door , and muffling up their chaps with napkins , and pouring in water continually till they had almost stifled them , and burnt their fingers ends besides , which grievious torment extorted a kind of confession of what they had designed , whereupon they were all sentenced to lose their heads , which was executed accordingly in the castle green , the poor wretches so cruciated with the pains they had suffered , that it was a courtesie to murther them . thus the dutch got the entire enjoyment of that trade , and keep it without giving that due satisfaction for the possession , or the blood the price of it . thus much touching the second part of the world. the chiefest cities of asia with the rivers . the chiefest cities in asia which belong unto the turks , are , in anatolia , burse , chioutai , angoure , trebisond , sattalie : the rivers there most famous are the rivers of alie , iordan , euphrates , and tigris . the most famous cities in syria are aleppo , tripoli , damas , said and hierusalem . the most famous cities in georgia are mosul , bagded , balsora , sanatopoli , stranu , derbent : the most famous rivers in georgia are the rivers of fazze and arais . the most famous cities in arabia , are herac , ava , medina , and mectra ; the most memorable river , is the river of cayban the chiefest cities in persia , are tauris , gorgian , coysolma , hispahan , erat , sus , schirae , and ortmutz : the chiefest rivers are the rivers of tirditiri , and bendimur . the chiefest cities of india , are amedabath , cambaia , gouro , diu , bengala , pangab , or lahor , agra , goa , calicut , visnagor , pegu , arracan , malaca , camboge , and facfo : the fairest rivers in india are , the river indus , ganges , and mecon . the most famous cities in china , are paguin , quinsay , caneun , macao , mancian , and nagaia , hordo : the greatest river , is the river of quinam , or iamsu quiam . the most famous cities in tartary are , zahaspe , samarcanda , thibet , cambalu , tatur , or tartar : the chiefest rivers are the tatar , the ieniscoy , the oby , the chezel , and the albiamu . the isles in asia in the ocean are the isle of iapan , where are the cities of bungo , meaco , and sacay . the phillipine islands , in which are the cities of lusor , manille , and mindanao . the molucco islands in which are the cities of gililo , mucasar , and aquen . not far from thence is sumatra and iava , where are the cities of candra , and columbo , near unto it is bornro , manur , and male. in the mediterranean sea , there are the islands of cyprus , rhodes , and scarpanto , in which are the famous cities of nicosia , famagusta , rhodes , and scarpanto . in the archipelago there are the islands of chios , and metelin , which have cities after their own names . africa . africa the third part of the world , is separated from europe by the mediterranean sea , and from asia by the red sea ; she yieldeth gold , balm , ivory , ebony , sugar , ginger , dates , aloes , myrrh , feathers : also madera , the countries in africa now follow . barbary is bounded by the mediterranean sea northward , on the east with egypt , on the south with the mount atlas , and westward with the atlantick ocean : the inhabitants are faithless , crafty in promising , and also in performing ; they are fraudulent , covetous , and beyond measure jealous of their wives : their countrey yields olives , figs , dates , oranges , and a certain kind goat , whose hair makes a stuff as fine as silk . this countrey , once famous for the strife of empire with rome , while carthage stood , and after that for the iugurthine war , is now canton●…zed and parted into several principalities and as many feuds , betwixt the kings of morocco , fez , tuny , and the dy of algier , the king of billedulgerid and others , to one of which sebastian king of portugal being invited , and inviting our countryman stukely and glorioso to partake with him in the enterprise , in favour of an expulsed prince , were all three of them killed in the plains of alcazar , upon the death of which sebastian issueless , hath risen a worse feud then that he engaged in about the crown of portugal . some while before charles the fifth , emperour of germany , invading this countrey , took the city of tunis , and the castle guletto : but the turks coming with supplies , and the unagreeableness of the climate to his europeans , joyned with the witchcrafts of the moors , for which they are infamous , made him quit his design and return home with loss . ever since they have continued their bold depredations and piracies at sea , countenanced by the grand seigniour , who receives therefore , or his bashaws for him , good part of the spoil . some kind of traffique they use here , but among such thievish companions it can scarce be call'd so , though there are good merchandises of the growth and manufacture of the countrey . so that it may properly be said of this place what we have in an english proverb , here is more cry then wooll , more complaint then commerce ; the captivity and slavery of people , and the rapine of their ships and goods , being the common lamentation of all christendom . our late general blake terrified them into a better comportment with the english , by his noble and brave exploit upon porto ferino , where he burnt their ships , and battered down their stone castles upon their heads ; but no longer pipe with the musick of the cannon , no longer would they dance to any agreement , though they willingly subscribed then to those termes . since the putting of tangier into english hands , and the attempt made upon algier , the very den and nest of these thieves , by the earl-of sandwich , they have again bethought themselves of the terrour and danger of the english power , and are agreed to new terms . this tangier is a notable fort in the mouth of the straits , and may serve as a bridle to their piracies . there hath lately an army presented it self before it , under one guyland , and some skirmishes have happened betwixt the garrison and them , but another army coming against him , he being but a rebel to his prince cidi ali benbucar , he drew off , and is marched to oppose him ; but what the event will be , will neither advance nor prejudice the english interest ; though the king , now rebelled against , seemes to court our friendship . egypt hath idumea on the east , and the bay of arabia ; on the west barbary , numidia , and part of lybia , on the north the mediterranean sea , on the south ethiopia superior , or the abassin empire . it containeth in length five hundred sixty two italian miles , and in breadth one hundred sixty ; situated under the second and fifth climates , so that their longest day in summer is not above thirteen houres and a half . the air is very hot and offensive ; the soil is fruitful , by the overflowing of nilus ; it hath rich pastures , wherein they feed great store of camels , horses , asses , oxen , greater of growth then usually in most places else : and by reason of the morishness of the country , they have also great store of fouls : it is furnished with great plenty of mettals , some precious stones , good wines , and fruits , as lemmons , oranges , pomgranets , citrons , figs , cherries , and such as these , excellent both for taste and colour : here grow the palm-trees , which alwayes grow in couples , the male and female : both thrust forth cods full of seed , but the female alwayes fruitful ; and that not except growing by the male , and having his seed mixed with hers : the pith of these trees is an excellent sallade , better then an hartichoke , which in taste it doth much resemble ; of the branches they make bedsteds , lattices , &c. of the leaves , baskets , mats , fans , &c. of the outward husk of the cod , cordage ; of the inner , brushes : the fruit it bears , is best known by the name of dates , which are in taste like figs : and finally it is said to yield whatsoever is necessary to the life of man : it is the nature of this tree , though never so ponderous a weight wereput upon it , never to yield to the burden , but still to resist the heaviness of it , and to endeavour to lift and raise it self the more upwards ; a fit emblem of the resurrection . the people are not black , but tawny or olive-coloured ; they weep and mourn over the bodies of their dead , daubed over with dung : they hold it a great impiety to burn or bury them , but having embalmed them they lay them in some inner room : the men keep at home for the houshold business , the women follow merchandise and affairs abroad ; the men carry burdens upon their heads , and the women upon their shoulders : a witty and ingenious people , the first inventers of geometry , arithmetick , physick , astronomy , necromancy , and sorcery , yea , they found out the very use of letters . the christians among them differ from all other christians ; first , using circumcision with baptism . secondly , conferring all orders under priesthood on infants immediately after baptism ; their parents till they come to sixteen years of age , performing what they promised in their behalf , to wit , chastity , fasting on wednesday and friday , and the four lents of the year . thirdly , reputing baptism not to be of any efficacy except ministred by a priest in the open church , in what extremity soever . fourthly , and yet not baptising any children till the fortieth day , though they die in the mean time . fifthly , giving the lords supper to infants as soon as christned . sixthly , contracting marriages in the second degree without dispensation . seventhly , not observing the lords day , nor any festivals , except in cities . eighthly , reading the gospel writ by nicodemus . they differ from the papists in these things : first , administring the lords supper in both kinds : secondly , with leavened bread : thirdly , admitting neither extreme unction nor the lords supper to those that are sick : fourthly , nor purgatory nor prayer for the dead : fifthly , nor using elevation in the act of administring : and sixthly , accounting the roman church for heretical , and esteeming the latines no better then the jews . this kingdom of aegypt , was a long while possessed by the mamalukes a kind of stratocracy or army-power , such as we had lately in england by red-coats and protector ; the sultan was always elected by the souldiery , who chose always one out of themselves ; the last of that dignity was tomombejus , who being defeated by sultan selymus some 260 years ago , was taken in grand cayro , whither he fled out of the field , and had made a brave defence by barricading the streets , for three days ; he continued not long in a condition of captivity , for he was hanged at his prison door , and exposed to the view of the egyptians , as a spectacle of the vanity of humane greatness . by this selymus this kingdom was reduced into a province , where one of the principal bashawes keeps court , in great state : his government being the richest in all the turkish dominions , from whence yearly many ships lading of wealth is brought to constantinople , which is alwayes way-laid by some gallies of malta or florence , but of late years with little success , they come so strongly guarded ; and if they fear any danger , have all the coast of cyprus , rhodes , and the continent to friend . the bashawes are sent thither as spunges , for when they have sucked an incredible treasure by pilling , fraud , and rapine ; they are sent for home and are squeezed to their skins , which sometimes they are forced to part with to boot . there hath been no change but of the governours ever since the conquest of this kingdom , which is usual with other bashawes , as namely those of aleppo , who do often rebel and threaten the grand seigniour , so that at present the egyptians continue in the same obedience and dumb slavery to which they have been so long accustomed , changing in this turkish tyranny , the names , not the nature thereof , from that they suffered under the mamalukes . mount atlas is a ridge of hills , of exceeding height , and of no small length : it is above the clouds , and is always covered with snow in the midst of summer , full of thick woods ; and against africa so fruitful , that it affords excellent fruits of its natural growth , not planted , grafted , or inoculated with the hand of man. lybia hath mount atlas on the north , by which it is parted from barbary and asrenaca , on the east with lybia , marmarica interposed betwixt it and egypt , and part of ethiopia superior , or the abassine empire , on the south with ethiopia inferior , and the land of negroes , and on the west with the main atlantick ocean ; the countrey abounds with dates , the chief diet of the people , which commonly rotteth out their teeth : their goats they feed with the stones , wherewith they grow fat , and yield store of milk ; the air is so sound , that it cureth the french pox without any physick ; the inhabitants are base and vile people , thieves , murderers , treacherous , and ignorant of all things , feeding most on dates , barley , and carrion , counting bread a diet for holidayes ; their garments of the coarsest cloth , so short , that they cover not half the body ; the richer sort wear a jacket of blew cotton with great sleeves , they ride upon camels without stirrup or saddle : a leather thrust through an hole made in the nose of the camel , serves them for a bridle , and to save spurs , they use a goade ; their religion is mahometisme . the land of negro's is bounded on the east with ethiopia superior , on the west with the atlantick ocean , on the north with lybia deserta , and the south with the ethiopick ocean , and part of ethiopia inferior : the country very hot by reason of the situation under the torrid zone , yet very well inhabited , full of people , and in some places alwayes grassy ; well watered , specially where the river n●…ger overfloweth ; well stored with corn , cattel , and garden ware , well wooded , having store of beasts wilde and tame ; they want fruit trees ; they have both gold and silver mines very pure ; the inhabitants are of little wit , and destitute of all arts and sciences , prone to luxury , and for the most part mahomeans . ethiopia superior is bounded on the east with the red sea , and the sinus barbaricus , on the west with lybia inferiour ; the realm of nubia in the land of negroes , and part of the kingdome of congo in the other ethiopia , and on the north with egypt , and lybia marmarica , and on the south on the mountains of the moon : it is in length a thousand five hundred miles ; in breadth half as much . the religion of the people is , they use to circumcise their children both males and females . secondly they baptise the males at forty , and the females eighty dayes after circumcision . thirdly , after the lords supper they are not to spit till the sun-set . fourthly , they professe but one nature and one will in christ. fifthly , they accept only the three first generall councils . sixthly , their priests live by the labour of their own hands , for they allow them nothing , nor permit them to beg . seventhly , they baptize themselves every epiphany in lakes and ponds , because that day they suppose christ to have been baptized of iohn in iordan . eightly , they eat not of those beasts which in the old law are reckoned for unclean . ninthly , and they keep the jews sabbath equally solemn with the lords day tenthly , they minister the lords supper to infants presently after baptisme . eleventhly , they teach the reasonable soul of man is derived from the parents by seminal propagation . twelfthly , that insants dying unbaptized , are sanctified in the womb by vertue of the lords supper received by the mother after her conception . and finally they shew a book of eight volumes , writ as they say , by the apostles assembled at ierusalem for that purpose ; the contents thereof they observe most solemnly , and they differ from the papists as the christians in egypt : they are under the government of prester iohn and the turk . i pass by ethiopia inferior , the people being pagans where we may observe the distinguishing goodness and grace of god , who by people under the same climate and region is known and unknown ; a peculiar kingdom , surrounded every where with pagans and mahometans , worshipping the living god , and believing in christ though erring in many circumstantials of orthodox doctrine , imputable chiefly to remedilesse tradition . this is the abassine empire , from whence the eunuch ( that was converted by st. philip ) the treasurer to queen candace came , and which is now the realm and dominions of prester iohn , a prince of large territory , but of scant and narrow fame for any atchievment , and may be supposed more beholding to credulous reports for his greatness than any real existence thereof . however he serves with others to fill up that great desart , and truly terra incognita of the world ( the curiosity of travel being no way competent to the danger among such inhospitable and savage people ) as that quarter does the map to idle or no purpose , and therefore it shall take up no further room for the description of it , we will only touch a little upon the southern coast , where we are concerned in matter of trade . guinea stretching all along the south-west shore of the atlantick sea , is bounded on the north and east with lybia , famous for mines of gold hidden in the bowells of some of its inland mountains , for which it is very much traffiqued by all the european nations , even the swedes , danes , and dantzickers , though lockt up by a dangerous sea at home : such is the sacred thirst of that mettal , that through all hazzards and difficulties it is attempted . the hollander , to secure his footing there , and to make a propriety , hath built several forts , and established a guinea-company in imitation of the english , who justly claim the right possession , being the first discoverers , and that made essay of the place , and are still better liked and entertained by the natives then the dutch are . since his majesties restitution they have quitted and delivered several forts built upon the passage into the countrey to the english fleet , sent thither to settle the trade and former factory according to its former regulation . here may not be omitted that little spot of earth lying in the mediterranean sea , the isle of malta , which by geographers is reckoned as part of africa , for no greater reason i suppose then st. pauls character of the inhabitants upon his shipwrack there in his voyage to rome , where he calleth them barbarians , a term appropriate to the adjacent continent ; for , this island is scituated south from sicily , from whence it is not half so far disjoyned as from the coast of africa ; and is the diamond to that large circumference . it is very notable for the famous repulse and defeat of the turkish armado about 1490. being besieged by sea by mustapha b●…ssa , when mounsieur de valette a frenchman , was grand master , in honour of whom and their deliverance , they have built and called their chief city valette . the knights that are called of this place , were formerly of rhodes ( which solyman the great , conquered ) and from thence setled here . to this order , none but gentlemen of three descents are admitted , and must be papists . the whole order consisted of seven colledges , french , spaniards , germans , italians , english , portugals , and s●…voyrards ; but since the reformation in england , we have had none of the order , which mindes me of a speech of queen elizabeth concerning forreign honours conferred on some of her subjects ; that she would have her sheep to be known by her own brand. it continues at present in statu quo , a great vexation and terrour to the turkish navigation , with whom they are to be at perpetual enmity by their vow of knighthood . and thus much may suffice to be spoken of africa , we will next enumerate the perticular cities and rivers . the chiefest cities of africa , with the names of the rivers , which are there most famous . in barbary which containeth the kingdoms of fez , morocco , tremiser , algeir , tunis , tripoli , and barca , there are the famous cities morocco , fez , tangier , telensin , oran , algeir , constantine , tunis , tripoli , and barca . the rivers there most famous are the tensife , the ommiraby , and the river of cebus , mulvia , rio major , and the magrida . in belledulgered , which containeth the kingdoms of suz , daza , sagelmosse , tegorarin , biledulgerid , and the desart of barca : there are these famous cities , taradante , dara , segelmoss , tegorarin , zeb , billedulgerid : the chiefest rivers are the river of sur , the river of darba , and the ghir . in egypt are the famous cities of sabod , cairo , alexandria , rascha , or rosesta , damiett●… , cosir , and surs : the renowned river is the river of nilus . in the desert of zaara are these memorable cities , zauhaga , zuenzera , targa , lemta , berdoa , gaoga and borno . in the country of the negroes , are these remarkable cities , gue , eata , gueneha , tombu , agados , cano , cassena , gangara , tula , catan , or senega , guinala , beria , melli , songo , gago , wuber , zegzog , and sanfara : the rivers here that are most famous , are , sernoga , gambaea , and rio degrand . in gniomy are these famous towns , serze-lionne , or cachieu , saint george de la mine , and benin . in nubia are these remarkable cities , gorham , cusam , nubia , dancala , iulac , bugiha , canfila , and dafila . in the upper ethiopia , which containeth the kingdomes of barnegus , tigremahon , amara , damont , cafatos , innari , gogame , baga , medri , meroe , ximenchi , and dambaea : there are these famous cities , barone , caxumo , amara , damont , gefates , narre , goyame , and adeghena : the rivers which are here most memorable , are , the rivers of zaire , and quilmanci . in that part which is called zanguebar , are these remarkable cities , dambea , mosambique●… , quiloa , monbaze , melinda . on the side of aian , are , brav●… , magadaxo , adea , adel. on the side of abex , erocco , or arquico , su●…quem , biafra . in the lower ethiopia , which comprehendeth congo , caffrare , and monomotepa , are the famous cities of banza loanga , s. salvador , cabazze , or dongo , safula , simbaos , or messapa , and butua , and tang , or tete : the rivers are cuana , spiritu sancto , and the river dos infantes . in africa are divers other islands besides malta : in the western ocean , the canaries , the cape verd , and the isle of saint thomas : the chiefest in the canaries is called saint iago ; and in saint thomas , panoasan . in the eastern ocean there is the isle of madagascar , or saint laurence ; and the isle of zocotora , which hath a city after her own name . america . the vain and ambitious lamentation of great alexander , had he extended his life to the same prodigious length as he did his victorious arms , might have found new worlds to conquer , when he might have past from his conquest of the sea of the east , to the shore of the west-indies . it hath been observed by those that have curiously calculated the rise , growth , and perfection of arts and learning , that they have alwayes followed the fortune of arms and empire , which having traversed the east , and verged westward to grecia setled in the roman greatnesse among the rest of those arts , astronomy , and geometry , and the product of those navigations , have been by the europeans highly improved , who scorning the pusillanimity of former ages , that crept in their vessels by the shore , have adventured into the dangerous main , and by skilfull presumption have discovered new lands , and so far advanced the knowledge of them by frequent voyages , that it is concluded , so far as sea and land is passable there can be no other countries undiscoverable . since which fortunate adventures , the course of the world and governments have been altered , for empire hath followed arts , to wit , the discovery of those treasures and mines which innocent nature had so long obscured , and hidden from these parts of the world ; for , the king of spain being possest of these mines , as we shall see presently , a wonder it is how formidable he grew , and to what greatness he arose , even to the aspiring ambition of an universal monarchy ; disdaining to be numbered the fifth ( the other four being indeed but partly so ) whereas this aimed to be one and all : and thomas de campanella , a learned iesuit , hath written a very elaborate tract , shewing the means and feisible wayes thereunto . the first discoverer of this fourth part of the world , was christopher columbus , a genoese ; who , having studied geometry , and been bred at sea , had more then strong imaginations , that there were great and vast regions to the westward of europe ; and thereupon communicated the project to several merchants : who , unwilling , or unable to hazard so much money as was requisite to such an undertaking , advised him to address himself to some prince , whose dominions were accommodated to the design , if it did succeed ; by whom he might be set forth upon the voyage : which he so importunately prosecuted , as it is natural with all men , who fancy to themselves a single and sure way to honour and profit . vvhereupon he addressed himself first to our king henry the seventh , and laid open to him and his council the fair possibilities of the design , and the advantages which would thence accrue to this crown , being so conveniently scituated for that navigation : king henry heard him , but gave little credit to his discourses , affecting a secure exchequer , which he had unknown wayes ( before ) to fill , beyond the uncertain hopes of unknown mines , which , like the philosophers stone might have no other existence than in projection . he then made offer of this his service to ferdinand king of arragon and castile , a wise and prudent prince ; who publickly weighing the small charge against the exceeding honour and gain , consented to his desires , and furnished him with fifteen ships , men , and victuals for the vovage , giving him commission and authority in his name , to pursue the adventure . our chronicles indeed report , that after this fruitless proffer , which was in the year , 1488. king henry gavea commission to one iohn canb●…t , and his three sons , sebastian , lewis , and santius ; iohn and sebastian setting sail , ranged a great part of this unknown land in one thousand four hundred ninety and seven , which columbus had only touched in 1492 , and it was 1498 ere he saw the continent . americus vesputius came long after , though the whole continent , at this day is called america after his own name . this sebastian discovered more than them all , and was therefore knighted by k. henry the eighth , who made him grand pilot of england , with a pension of 166 l. 13 s. 6 d. yearly , but the spanish seizure and landing prepossessing the countrey , we got nothing there , more then our pains for our labour till a great while after . for it was almost 100 years after , before we set footing in any part thereof . the first that promoted it was sir walter rawleigh in 1584. who with letters patents , assisted by sir richard greenvile , great unckle to the now earl of bath , and other gentlemen , set out two ships from the thames , who in less then three moneths time , by an undue course to the southward , passing the canaries , fell in with the coast of florida , and entring there into harbour ( after they had sailed an hundred and twenty miles in sight of land ) they took possession of it for the queens majesty , which from the tops of the hills beholding the sea on both sides , they reputed to be an island , which they named florida , by reason of its flowery green soyl , and flourishing herbage . the continent was then called by the salvages , wegan●…aca ; but afterwards upon the return of the fleet , her majesty was pleased to honour it with her own unmarried state , and to call it virginia , the first governour thereof being mr. ralph lane. hither , during the aboad of the english that were left , while the ships returned , came sir francis drake , and seeing the men in distress , lent the governour and them a ship to carry them home . the next were those in 1485 that came with sir richard greenvile from plimonth with seven sail , who in a months time came to st. domingo in hispaniola ; and within a fortnight after , anchored at florida ; and in 1586. sir richard greenvile came again , but the colony he had left were all killed : so he returned , and sent mr. white , who made a successeful voyage , and was governour there ; who , returning into england , and leaving another colony , they were all destroyed at his coming again : which so dis-heartned all further undertakings , that it was twelve years before another voyage was begun , under captain gosnol , in the year 1602. who , passing by the azores , made the voyage shorter by 500. leagues , which was also seconded by two barks from bristoll 1603. and another from london 1605. but still no convenient harbour for ships , nor security for the men that should stay there was yet found , till the arrival of capt. smith in 1606. virginia is seated between the degrees of 34. and 45. north latitude ; the bounds thereof on the east-side are the great ocean ; on the south lieth florida ; on the north nova francia : as for the vvest thereof the limits are unknown . the english plantations , as they were in that year 1606. were under the degrees of 35 , 38. and 39. the temperature thereof agreeing very well with the english constitution . the summer is as hot as in spain : the winter as cold as in france , or in england . the heat of summer is in iune , iu●…y , and august ; but the constant breezes at that time of the year , do much allay its vehemency . the extreme cold of the winter is , half december , ianuary , february , and half march. the winds are variable , but no such thunder or lightning as in europe : all the varieties of needful fruits which we have here , may , by the industry of men , be in great plenty there . there is but one entrance by sea into this country , and that is at the mouth of a very goodly bay , eighteen or twenty miles broad : the south cape is called cape henry : and the north , cape charles , in honour of those two princes . the land may have the prerogative over most places known , for large and pleasant navigable rivers , mountains , hills , valleys , and champion fields . in the bay which lieth north and south , are many isles , both great and small : the water floweth herein neer 200. miles , and hath a channel for 140. miles , of betwixt 6 , and 15 fathom deep , being in breadth some 10 or 14 miles . the mountains are of divers natures : for , at the head of the bay , the rocks are of a composition , like mill-stones , some of marble , &c. the colour of the earth did in some places resemble bole armeniac , tirra sigillata , fullers earth : but generally it is a black sandy mould : in some places again fat slimy clay , in others a very barren gravel : the whole country is neither mountainous nor yet low , but bestowed into pleasant hills , and fertile valleys , one prettily crossing another , and watered conveniently with fresh brooks and streams , no less commodions then delightful . there is little grass , for all the country is over-grown with trees , whose continual droppings causeth their grass to turn to weeds , by reason of the ranckness of the ground , which is now well amended by the plantations . the wood is commonly oake , and walnut ; many of their oakes so tall and streight that they will bear two foot and an half square of good timber for twenty yards long : there is also some ash and elm , mulberries , chesnuts which taste like damsons ; and vines , but they are wild and bear few grapes . there are also gums , cedars , saxafras-trees , berries , herbs and roots , pellitory and oranges . for beasts , there are deer , squirrells , beaver , otters , foxes , dogs , martins , pole-cats , and weasels . for birds , there are all sorts of hawks , partridges , turkeys , blackbirds , thrushes , and divers of our small birds . in winter there are great plenty of swans , geese , and such wilde foul ; as also parrots and pigeons . for fish , there is sturgeon , grampus , porcupisce , seal , mullets , white salmons , trouts , soales , plaise , herrings , pearch , crabs , stromps , eeles , lampreys , oysters , cockles and muscles . the inhabitants differ much in stature , but generally they are tall and streight , they are of colour brown ; or enclining to an olive when at age , but are born white . they are inconstant in every thing but what fear constraineth them to keep , crafty , timorous , quick of apprehension , and very ingenious . they are soon moved to anger ; and so malicious , that they seldome forget an injury . their buildings and habitations are for the most part by rivers , or not far distant from some fresh spring ; their houses are built like our arbours of small young twigs , bowed and tyed ; and so close-covered with mats , or the barks of trees , very handsomly , that notwithstanding either wind , rain , or weather , they are as warm as stoves , but very smoky , yet at the top of the house they have a hole to let it out . the men use fishing , hunting , and other manly exercises ; while the women sow and reap , and carry burdens , and do all the drudgery . their chief god they serve is the devil , whom they call okee , more out of fear then love . in their temples , which are houses 60. foot high , built arbour-wise , are placed the images of their devils and kings , and their tombes . they have a chief , and inferiour priests , but keep no day more holy then another . they use also divers conjurations , and have altars , but they stand from their temples . in some parts of their country they have yearly a sacrifice of children : upon some conference with them concerning their religion , although they could not be perswaded to forsake their false gods , yet they did believe , that our god as much exceeded theirs , as our guns did their bows and arrows . many encounters the english had with these natives , who , by treacheries and open assaults endeavoured to disturb their possession : but they were so frighted with the noise , and so terrified with the execution of the guns , that they were kept in some awe , while iames town was finished which by the constant supplies sent yearly by the council for virginia , was at last well built and fortified and pallisadoed , and the salvages awed into a good comportment , untill the comming of the lord de la ware , just as through want the english were resolved to qui●…t the country : a little before which time , as they had taken the same resolution , sir thomas gates , and sir george sommers prevented them by arriving from the bermudas , where they had been in great danger by a leaking ship. his lordship arrived the 9. of iune . 1610. accompanied with ferdinando waynman , captain houlcroft , captain lawson , and divers others in three ships well appointed with a years provision , who built fort charles , and fort henry , that were afore but bare capes ; and soon after good store of kine and swine were sent by sir thomas dale , who was governour after my lord de la ware was returned , who built a town called henrico , and portioned out the adjacent country into hundreds : as also he built another town , and called it the new bermoudas , about fifty miles from iames town , and the english collony fell to planting their corn , about april every year ; every man having been allotted three acres of ground , in the nature of farms ( the first farmer there being one william spence ) who were to supply their stores for it , with a small quantity of corn yearly , by which means it was wonderfull to see how in so short a time this colony was thriven in its reputation . but it advanced faster soon after , by the means of the standing lottery and a perfect peace , made with powhatan the king of the country ; whose daughter , being surprised , one mr. rolfe had married . she proved a very good christian and vertuous woman being christened rebecca . they begun also now to plant tobacco , every year changing their governour , and had a dispute with the french in their new plantations . a convention also in the nature of a parliament was called , and several gifts to charitable uses for bringing up the indian children , transmitted to the governour and council , so that they were by the year 1620 in a very flourishing condition , that year arriving no less than eleven ships , and 1216 persons , which were thus to be disposed , 80. for tennants to the governors lands , besider 50. sent the former spring for the companies land , and 150. for the colledge , 100. for the glebe-land , 90. young women to make wives , 50. servants for publique service , and 50. more , whose labours were to bring up 30. of the infidels children , the rest were sent to private plantations . the year before the lord de la ware had mainly promoted this good and great work , passing over thither , though he had hardly escaped before , dyed , to the great grief and discouragement of the plantation ; most of the nobility entred now also into the undertaking , and were treasurers for it to the further promoting of these good beginnings , by whose directions order was taken for suppressing the planting of tobacco , planting of corn : but all to little effect , the stream of the inclination of the planters , or good nature of the soyl to cherish that plant , preferring it before all grain whatsoever , to the incredible profit of that colony , as it afterwards proved . now also there was much suit for patents for plantations ; and several persons transported themselves upon their own accompts , bu , twe shall see , met with a miserable entertainment . for , on the 22 of march 1622. these perfidious infidels , though they had promised to hold the league inviolable , till the sky should fall , as they termed it , resolved upon a general massacre ; which , by reason of the english separating themselves , for the better soyl , and commodiousness of ground , no way in the least distrusting these miscreants ( whom , in hope of their conversion , they had used with all familiarity and civility imaginable , and therefore every way unprovided of defence , their guns never used but against deer or wild-foul ) they had very near effected , if it had not been discovered by one of their own nation that turned christian. there were murthered in this attempt 347 men , women , and children , all with their own weapons , they comming upon them in the disguise of the same familiarity , but hurting none that opposed them . by the discovery of the indian aforesaid , eleven parts of twelve of the english escaped , for it being revealed at iames town , most of the plantations dispersed thereabours among the indians ( who commonly keep not above a 100 or 200 in a division of ground ) took the alarm and stood upon their guard , which the indians perceiving fled , but the plantations far distant to a 140 miles , were most destroyed , which afterwards for more security , were reduced to five or six ; and these inhumane barbarians so severely dealt withal , that in a short time the country was wholly subjected to the english , and became very well peopled and of great trade , and continued so , proving a receptacle and good retreat for many families in our late confusions , and now yieldeth great emoluments to the inhabitants and planters ; and so we will leave it , and take a short view of the bermuda's islands . the islands of bermuda's . these islands lye in the main ocean , and 200 leagues from any continent , scituated in 32 degrees , and 25 minutes of northerly latitude , and distant from england , west , south-west , about 3300 miles , some twenty miles in length , and not past two miles and a half in breadth , environed with rocks , which make it naturally very strong , but infamous for shipwrack ; there being but two places , and those not very wel known , where shipping may safely come in , and those now are exceedingly well fortified , but within is room to entertain a fleet royal , the island is very uneven , distributed into hills and dales ; the mold is of divers colours neither clay nor sand , but a mean between both : under the mold two or three foot deep , and sometime less , is a kind of white hard substance which they call the rock , but trees will fasten root in it , being pumice like and spungy . the air is most commonly clear , and very temperate , and moist with a moderate heat , very apt to nourish all things , so as many things transported hence , yield a far better increase ; and if it be a living creature it becomes far better and fatter : by this means the country is replenished with hens and turkeys ; yet being , through their multitude not to be attended , they turn wild and forsake the houses . there seems to be a perpetual spring , which is the cause some things come not to that maturity and perfection which is requisite , and though the trees shed their leaves , yet are they alwayes full of green. the co●…n is the same they have in virginia , and the west-indies , of which , without plowing or much labour they have two harvests every year , in iuly and december ( it hath no grapes in perfection ) and the oranges and lemmons grow twice a year likewise . the sun every day in the year shines upon it , for the temperature is beyond all others the most admirable , no cold greater than we feel here in april , nor heat much greater than an ordinary may. frost and snow is never seen here , and stinking and infections mists very seldom by reason of the main ocean : the winter they have keeps time with ours , but the longest dayes and nights are shorter than ours by two hours . at its first discovery 't was all overgrown with weeds and plants of several kinds , many tall and goodly cedars , infinite store of palmito's and mulberries , and wild olive trees , with divers others unknown both by name and nature , there is also diversity of curious strange fowl , as also for game and diet , and likewise of fish ; the sea as well as the rest of the elemeets being abundantly liberal . it is uncertain how it came by this name of bermuda's , but that which is most noised for it , is the casting away of a spanish ship called by that name , carrying black hogs to the west indies , who swam ashore and were found there in great numbers , so that it was called the isle of devils , and shunned as the rock of perdition . one henry may an english man , being cast away in a french vessel by the presumption of the pilots , who said they were twelve leagues beyond it , with some frenchmen , got ashore , and making a new bark there , got to england in the year 1594. the next ship that was cast away , ( or indeed rather to be said saved ) was that of sir george summers , designed in 1609 for virginia , which by a hurricane being covered with water , and so leaking , that after three days the men gave over working , committing themselves to gods mercy , unexpectedly , as sir george was sitting at the steerage , guiding the ship to keep her upright , came within sight of land , to which they made , and ran her so even between two rocks that she poised her self , where he unladed the goods , the storm ceasing , and came on shore , where finding such unhoped for plenteous refreshments , ( though he went to virginia in a cedar-ship , in which he returned thither again and there died ) two of his men which staid afterwards behind two years , and one he left , when he was carried home dead , when as they were contriving their departure and committing themselves to the sea in a little bark , a ship appeared and stayed their resolutions . during their abode here , they found in one entire lump among the crevises of the rocks a piece of ambergreece , the greatest yet found , weighing 80 l. with other small crumbles , this with much adoe was secured for the company of these sumer-islands , who to the number of one hundred and twenty , had purchased a patent for the said isle , whom the news of the ambergreece much augmented . the first governour was mr. more , he departing , there was a monthly succession of six , till one should come from england , which was captain daniel tucker : in the mean time the fortifications were finished and the isle secured from any attempt of the spaniard , in whose time happened that memorable voyage of five persons , viz. richard sanders , william godwin a ship-carpenter , thomas harrison a joyner , iames barker a gentleman , and henry puet ; who making a boat under pretence for fishing , being hardly used and not suffered to depart in the ships , by the assistance of a compass , unknown to any person till they were gone , set to sea having provided themselves of victuals , and by a direct course , the wind favouring them , in five weeks time ( though a pyrat to whom they sailed hoping to be taken in , took away from them their compass and other necessary implements ) arrived in ireland , where the earl of thomond honourably received them , and hung up their vessel for a monument . it is now divided into eight tribes , each tribe having in it 50. shares , of which there are some for their publike charge . the names of the tribes are sandys southampton warwick paget pembroke cavendish smith hamilton , formerly bedford . and thus much for bermuda's . the swedes plantation . the swedes are seated between the dutch and virginia in a village by a fort , which lyeth eight miles within the river of delaware in virginia : on the northside of the river , they are few in number , and their principle business is , their commerce with the indians , for they have little or no cattle : they furnish the indians with guns and weapons , as the dutch do ; and once in a year are supplyed by a ship or two from swethland , that fetch away their merchandise . mary-land . this province is divided from virginia by the great river patomuck ; it lyeth on the north side of the great river , and the west side of the great virginia bay , it is more wholesome then the parts of virginia and seated better for the english grain . it is now better peopled than formerly , the inhabitants being papists and protestants , a like countenanced , the propriety by patent is vested in the lord baltimore , a catholick . new-holland . to the south-west of new-england , lyeth the dutch plantation : it hath good ground , and good air , but few of that nation inhabiting there which maketh that there are few plantations in the land ; they chiefly intending their east-india trade , and but one village , whose inhatants are part english and part dutch. here hath been no news , or any matter of war or state since the first settlement . there is the port orange , thirty miles up hudsons river ; they are mischievous neighbours to the english , for according to the european mode , they sell guns and ammunition to the common enemy the indians . new-england . this plantation was first undertaken in the year 1606. by patent from king iames , to several merchants of london , and the west-countries , with a special inhibition not to plant within 100 miles of the former colony of virginia , but never took effect till 1622 or thereabouts , after many losses and discouragements of several adventures . at last sir francis popham had the happinesse and fortune to establish it , though with much hazzard and difficulty by the treachery of the indians , and the unproportionablenesse of the after-supplies . the plantation beginneth about 44. degrees and is indifferently peopled with english as southwardly at 41. at this day it hath three divisions , the north , the middle , and the south . in the middle is boston , . the best seat and best inhabited ; the south is the government of new-plimouth . boston hath a street neer half a mile long , full of merchand●…ze . here is resident , a council , and a governour , which is yearly chosen , and accommodated with a very good port and castle , furnished with men and ammunition . near boston lyeth charles-town ; and five miles into the countrey , is cambridge an university of nonconformists to the church of england ; this country having alwayes been the receptacle of such religious male-contents . the land of all this region is generally barren and rocky , the commodities are these ensuing , pipe-staves , clabboard , fish , english grain and fruits , and iron works ; with these they drive a trade to most parts of europe , especially to spain , the canaries , and chariby islands . they are at present very numerous , and deserve their name , except their diversity in religion , which hath made them disgustful to old england . near adjoyning to this colony , the french have a plantation called canada or nova francia , not worth the mentioning save for some bickerings that have lately happened betwixt us and them , concerning limits ; wherein we have been successful , driving them out of some forts they unjustly possessed . new-found-land . this is the most septentrional land of america , but there is a straight of sea not yet throughly discovered , called hudsons straight , by which the north-west passage was concluded feasible , the lands adjoyning being called nova brittannia or nova franmurcia . this island stretcheth north and south from 46. degrees and a half to 50. and a half latitude . the natives of this place are few and savage . the commodity thereof is fish , which is mostly poor iohn , traded for in great quantity by french , biscayners , and english , chiefly of the west country , who for the profit hereof , endure the winter cold and summer heat of the climate , amidst other very great difficulties . this island lyes at the mouth of the river canada , distant from the continent at the north end near half a league and the south-west point is about a league from cape britton . martins-vineyard . this is a small island upon the coast of new-england , the governour thereof being appointed by the council of new-england . it is 20. miles long , and 10. miles broad , there is great plenty of fish in this coast. on the southwest of this island lieth long-island , in length 60. english miles , and in breadth 15 , inhabited by some english , who , for their sectary opinions have been put from new-england . they are claimed also by the dutch , but depend of , nor pay duty to either . as also there are divers other islands more particularly cape hatrash a part of island in 36 degrees , from whence till you come to the point of st ▪ helena , which is in 32 degrees , all the coast along are broken isles and uninhabited , the best whereof is roantke of 18 miles compasse . the islands of lucahos or bahama . these islands are southwest from the bermuda's , and to the north of portorico , hispaniola , and cuba ; the most emment is lucayneque in 27 degrees . there is likewise the islands of abacoa , and yuma of 12. and 20. leagues in 24. degrees , and a half . yuemela is in 23. degrees and a half , 15. leagues in length , and north from hispaniola lyeth samana 7. leagues each way . between which two former lyeth yalaque of 10 leagues in 22 degrees and a half . there are also three small islands that make a triangle . the islands of magaquana , quaqua , makre , and alreo in 20 degrees , not now inhated , and never but once sailed to by the english ; with losse too , although they go round them yearly . st. christophers , mevis , and montserat , and antego . this island is of ten leagues in length , and seated by english and french , each having a governour of their own nation , so peopled by both , that ground can hardly be obtained . the two nations are so mixed in their plantations , that no secret design upon one another can long be kept so . they make some sugar in this island , some india , and cotton wool , but most tobacco . mevis is 5. leagues in length , lying within a league of st. christophers . here is the best sugar of the chariby islands , some indico , but little cotton or tobacco : in 17 degrees lye barbada and redanda , in the hands of the cannibals . montserat is inhabited most part by irish , within 5 leagues of the redanda , planted with tobacco and some indico . antego lyeth between 14 and 15 degrees . it hath good air , and is planted by the english with tobacco , indico , cotton-wool , and sugar . the other chariby ilands , are , magelante , dominica , martinina , santa luca , guarde-lupa , todos santes , deseada , inhabited by caniballs , french , and spaniards ; and barbadoes , or barbudoes . barbadoes . this is a lee-iland , the wind usually blowing one way . it lyeth in 13 degrees , 30 minutes ; inhabited all with english , and negroes their servants , to such a number , that it hath more people and commerce than all the ilands of the indies . their principal commodity is sugar of the worst sort , indico very good , cotton , and little tobacco . they buy and sell here , and scarce any where else in english plantations , with pieces of 8. ready money . here are store of cattel , but horses are the most wanting , by reason of their great draught and trade from place to place . it is the worst place either to live in or to make a voyage or return . for what is here is as well in the rest of the ilands , and much more plenty : for here they have too many people , and in those there is too few , and grain more then enough . it s strength in men makes that they have no fortification yet perfect , the reason that induced my lord willoughby of parham sent thither governour for the king in 1651 , upon an attempt of sir george ayscoughs ( sent thither by the paliament to reduce those ilands to their subjection ) who had then declared for the royal interest , and proclaimed his present majesty to land some force upon the iland ) to hearken to a capitulation and agreement , and render it to him upon honourable terms . this plantation is now ready to be deserted , unless some expedient can be found for wood or other fuell to boyle their sugar ; divers having already transplanted themselves to surynam iaimaica . this iland oweth its name to columbus ; who in his first discovery of this part of the world , landed here , and seized it for the use of the king of spain , being sent out by him at the instance of his wife isabella , with 15. ships , whose dysasters it will be too tedious to relate . it will suffice to say , that for all his great services he was at last imprisoned in these countries , and sent home in chains , from which he was by the favour of the king released ; and himself afterwards honoured with the title of duke de la vega , a city in this iland he himself had so named , which city is now in being . after our unfortunate defeat at hispaniola in 1656. where a strange consternation had seized upon the spirits of the whole army ( none daring to shew their faces to the enemy , but major general hayns and three or four more with him , who honourably fell in fight with that negro , and devil-like molatto ) for lack of provisions , which would not have lasted the whole army in their resailing to windward to barbadoes , it was resolved the fleet should steer for iamaica , which was accordingly effected , and upon landing , proclamation made that it should be present death for any man to turn his back to the enemy . they landed without opposition and while they were marching up the country , the crafty spaniard , the old pocky governour , by a treaty and presents , so delayed the motion of the army , that they conveyed away their incredible wealth and riches into the woods and other coverts before it was possible to overtake them ; he himself remaining as hostage for the performance of some idle articles . so the english were peaceably at present possest of the country . but not long after came a reinforcement from the island of cuba adjacent thereto , ( divers spaniards and molatto's , still keeping in the woods and annoying the english ) and fortified themselves at rio novo , where though they were strongly entrenched , and twice more in number , the souldiers were so earnest to regain their lost honour ( being taunted to their hearing by the enemy with st. domingo , and undervalued for that cowardwice ) that they fell on with incredible fury and resolution , and forced their trenches , and made them accept of very hard conditions to depart with their skins . the like they did to other spaniards , who landed about the same time near poynt pedro ; so that there is little danger or expectation of another invasion ; the spaniard having such proof of our recovered valour ; though the island , if it were less fruitful , is worth the fighting for , though it should cost the spaniard his best blood , for it lyeth within his bowels , and in the heart of his trade . for all the treasure that his plate fleet brings home from cartagena , steers directly for st. domingo in hispaniola , and from thence must pass by one of the ends of this island to recover the havana , the common rendezvouz of the whole armado before it returns home through the gulf of florida ; nor is there any other way ( whereby to misse the island of iamaica ) because he cannot in any reasonable time turn up to the wind-ward of hispaniola , the which though he might with difficulty perform , yet he would thereby lose the security of his united strength , which at the havana , from all parts of the bay of mexico , new spain , and the riches from nombre de dios , and the south seas , accompany each other home from the said havana , and yet notwithstanding the private english men of war , snap up the straglers , as they lie crusing upon the coast of iamaica , being fifty leagues east and west , and north and south twenty . it is seated between the tropicks in seventeen and 18 degrees of northern latitude , and therefore twice every year subjected to the perpendicular beams of the sun , but proving as happy to the complexions and constitutions of english men , as virginia , new-england , spain , or portugal . the mortality that happened there at our first landing , proceeding either from the griping monopoly of some hoarding officers , or through want of timely recruits , or through some fatal conjunction of the superiour luminaries . it is by good experience found to be a temperate climate , for all 't is scandalized with the fiction of the torrid zone , the heat in the day time being alwayes allayed with the sea-breezes , which rise with the sun , and the nights are by an interchangeable and never-failing intercourse refreshed with land-breezes . nor is the fertility lesse propitious than the temperature , producing in as great abundance , as any where in the indies , sugar-canes , tobacco , cotton , maez or indian corn , potatoes , yaums , and coco-nuts ; the earth continuing its spring , and being green and florid , all the year long . here are store of hogs fatned by what drops from the trees , whole herds of beeves , which , before they were frighted by our unskilful method of killing them by shot , fed by 1000 in the savana's or large champion fields , but now sculk in the woods and coverts , and appear not but by night . here are also a number of wilde horses , well shaped , and very serviceable , being all bred of spanish gennets , which may be bought for 3 l. sterling , and will yield 6000 l. of sugar at barbadoes . there are likewise excellent plenty of choice timber trees , and wood for the dyers use , as fustick , brasiletta , and ebony , and a kind of logwood , china roots , gum , guaiacum , lignum vitae , cassia , &c. there are also abundance of cocoa trees , which the spaniard reckons one of his chiefest incomes , which may be yearly improved . there is one rarity more , which is the alligator or indian crocodile , some of them 6 or 7 foot long : but they cannot hurt a man if he be aware of them , their motion being slow ; and head and body must move together . there are no mines found out yet , but they are not to be despaired of , in the prosecution of the plantation the english have built a new town at cagway point , of about 600. houses , where at present the governour resides , having quitted the city of s. iago de la vega , the spaniards chief town , which is seated in a pleasant savana . this city was some 30 years ago , plundred by general iackson , who came with 500 men from st. christophers , and in spight of 2000 spaniards , in a readinesse to receive him and 7 barricadoes ( such was the mariners exceeding greediness of spoil ) forced the town and plundered it , and made the spaniard give him a great sum to boot , to spare it from the fire : it had formerly 2000 houses , and 16 churches and chappels , and now but 600 houses , the skeleton of two churches and an abbey . point cagway is very well fortified , and has guns in it , as good as any the tower had : there is also another plantation of the english , in one regiment at port morant , who have already made it considerable by planting several commodities . after venables left the island , the government was devolved to the eldest collonel ; and afterwards cromwel sent collonel brain to command them , who died there : and then it was conferred on collonel doyley , who hath been happily active in promoting this colony , and is yet governour till the arrival of the lord windsor , sent thither with a patent from the king , and grant of the whole island , under whose care it is likely to flourish . the king of spain's dominions in the west-indies . it will be unnecessary and of no use , to insist much upon the countries subject to the king of spain in america , because we have no traffique in those parts ; the king of spain forbidding and keeping all men from thence , with as much diligent watchfulness , as the dragon did the golden or hesperian apples . with much difficulty he obtained his mines , severall supplies being lost , and his colonies ready to depart : besides the frequent fights betwixt themselves in point of private advantages , several governours supplanting one another by tragical means , the principal whereof was columbus , that successeful captain , ferdinandus cortesius , marquiss of the valley , pizarro , almagrus , vasca ; and blasco : by cortesius , atabalipa king of peru was taken prisoner , in which are his mines of potossi , &c. who refusing a dangerous peace offered by the spaniard , by the fortune of the war was made a prisoner , and for his ransome , sending to his chief city of cuscon , and other places of his kingdome , filled his prison , being a reasonable hall , with gold and silver , and yet neverthelesse lost his life , being strangled by the deliberate advice of his enemies , who substituted his brother in his place . the indians upbraiding the spaniard with their cruelty and covetousnesse , and calling money their god , bidding them to eat it . it is reported when they first entred the country , they shooed their horses with gold and silver . to our discourse : this countrey is divided into mexicana and peruana . that part of america , which is called mexicana , is divided into three several parts , according to the scituation of the land , in plains , mountains , and lesse hilly grounds . out of these countries are brought over into europe , gold , silver , bezoar , and other precious stones , sarsaparilla , and sugar in abundance , brasil-wood , cotton , costly plumes , jackanapes , several sorts of curiously feathered birds , and many more drugs and merchandize . we will run over only the several countries , and so conclude . the first is the island of hispaniola , famous for our defeat before the chief city of st. domingo , though formerly sacked without much opposition by sir francis drake . it is seated in 18 , 19 , and 20 degrees of northern latitude , being 150. leagues long east and west , inhabited chiefly by negroes , which with the spaniards , make not in all above 500. the commodities are ginger , sugar , cotton , wool , &c. and tallow , and hides 100000. yearly , gotten of the wild cattel , which are the biggest in the world. the next is the i le of cuba , lying west from hispaniola 200. leagues long , east and west , the broadest part not 45 , the commodities the same with hispaniola , the land neither so pleasant nor wholsome . in it , is the town of havana , in 22. degrees , the great resort of the spanish fleet ; the harbour strongly secured by two castles . next porto rico 15 leagues from hispaniola , 45 leagues long , east and west , 23 broad ; then sancta crux in 16 degrees and a half , the virgins , virgin gorda , blances , anagada , sambrito , angula , st. martins , in 17 degrees and a half , once possest by the spaniards , now by the dutch , as is eustas likewise . more southwardly is trinidado i le , 50 leagues long , and 70 broad , margareta , tortuga , gardiner , caracute , calava , and tamasca . on the continent the spaniard hath florida , which begins in 34 degrees , the gulf hereof is notable having two entrances , the one between youcatan and cuba , where the stream cometh fiercely in ; the other is between cuba and the cape of florida , where it runneth more violently out . new spain . besides this province of florida , the king of spain in this nothern america , hath three great kingdomes . the first and principal is the kingdome of new-spain : the second is the kingdome of galisia : the third , the kingdome of gutemalia , and the province of varagua , that adjoyneth to the straight of darian , and is properly of the council of panama . the kingdome of spain hath in it a viceroy and council , intituled the viceroy of mexico . and within his government the province and bishoprick of mexico , that of tlascala , guaxa●…a , mechoachan , chiapa , yucatan , and panuco . the indians of this kingdome , are of two sorts ; the chickamecans , which are a sort of rogues , that live much after the manner of toriges , or ancient irish , by robbing and spoiling passengers on the way , towns and villages ; and the other live even as decently as the spaniard , and are of all trades and vocations , as they are ; of sharp wits , and of great agility of body , as appeareth by their extraordinary feats of activity on the rope , and tumblings . this kingdome is a high country , for the most part of it , and for riches , pleasantness , and wholesomeness , accounted one of the best in the world , as lacking nothing naturally that is to be had , excepting wine and oil , which they might also have , but that it is forbidden , to plant vineyards , or oliveyards by the king of spain , and it hath divers things not elsewhere to be had , both of trees , herbs , and drugs . new-galicia . this kingdome of new galicia , hath no viceroy , but is governed by a council , whose bounds is parted from new spain at the port of nativity on the south sea to the north north-west , and north-east . it hath no bounds , but may inlarge their territories , as they see occasion on the indians . it hath already these provinces . the first , guadalaica , xalisco , sacaticas , chiamerla ; culiacan , new-biscai , and sivaloa . and this kingdome is not much inferiour to new spain , and it hath the same sort of indians . gutamalia . this kingdome of gutamalia is governed as the other by a council , without a viceroy ; and is the southwardliest region of this north america , and hath within its bounds the provinces of gutamalia , from whence the kingdome taketh name ; soconusco , chiapa , suchi●…epoque , verapas , honduaras , and cacos . saint saviour , and saint michael , nievaraqua , chuluteca , taquesgalpa , and costarica , or the rich coast. the indians here are more warlike than the rest , and have more unwillingly submitted to the spanish yoke , and therefore they have had almost continual wars ; the most of the indians living , till very lately , after the manner of the chickamecians , though many of them are docible as the indians of mexico . this is a rich wholsome kingdome , not inferiour to galicia , but rather exceeds it . but when i come to each particular province , i shall name them as they adjoyn on the coast of the sea. panuco is a province near adjoyning to florida , and parted from it by the river of palms , which lyeth in 28 degrees of north latitude . that part of it that lyeth next to mexico , is the best , and hath the greatest plenty of victuals , with some gold : the other side , which is next florida , is poor and barren . the next to panuco , on the coast of the north sea , lyeth the province of talascalia or losangels . it hath abundance of flax , wheat , sugar , and ginger ; diversity of herbs , and fruits ; abundance of cattel , hogs , and horses , many silver mines , 200 chief indian towns , and at least 40 monasteries of friers . youcatan . the north part of this province adjoyneth to the south of talascalia . it is a peninsula , and in compasse 150 leagues . the temperature is hot and moist : it hath no rivers but is full of good willows . it is a woody country , nor will it bear english grain , neither hath it gold or other mineral . the province of honduras adjoineth unto the south part of youcatan : this coast stretcheth along the north sea as far as nicaragua , which is near 150 leagues . it is a hilly countrey , plentiful of all sorts of cattel , and store of wheat , and mines of gold and silver . nicaragua , lyeth next to the south-side of honduras : it is a plentiful countrey of coco , cotten-wool , millet , cattel , and much , gold . it hath five spanish towns , and abundance of peaceable indians , which are most expert in the spanish tongue . the province of costarica , lyeth between nickuragua , and caragua , between which it hath 90 leagues in length . it is a good land , and very fruitful in millet , wheat , flax , and sugar , plenty of mines , both of gold and silver , and it hath two spanish towns. the province of varagua lyeth between costarica and panama , adjoyning on the south part to the straight of dariana . the northerliest is in eleven degrees , it hath east and west 50 leagues , and in breadth 25 , and is washed as costarica , with the north and south seas . it is a mountainous country full of bushes , without pasture or cattel , wheat , or barley , but it hath some millet , and is full of rich mines of gold. the indians are few , and they be in continual wars with the spaniards . and at the end of this varagua beginneth the southern america . and therefore i shall return back to the other parts of this north america , which is not yet discovered . the province of cibloa is the most northerly province that the spaniards possess in america . it hath but one spanish town . here are store of all sorts of our cattel , and the ox of the countrey , which hath a bunch of flesh on his back , of the bignesse of a mans head , and his hair is shaggy and long , his horns smaller then our kines horns , but his body much bigger : this is an inland province , and lyeth from the sea many leagues . the province of new-biskay lyeth on the south-west of cibloa : it hath store of provision and cattel , and divers mines of silver . it hath two fair spanish towns , that is to say , sancta barbola , and the baro of saint iohn , with divers peaceable indians . it is an inland province but of much commerce , by reason of the silver mines . the province of chiamerla lyeth in more than two and twenty degrees of hight . it is ten leagues broad , and something more in length : it lyeth along the south sea , but hath no ports of name . the province of guliacan is the most northerly province the spaniards possesse on the coast of the south sea : it lyeth west of chiamerla , there are much cattel , seeds , and fruits of england . sacetas lyeth south-east from biscay , it is very wholesome in some parts of it , and as sickly and unwholesome in other parts , which causes that in some places there is much want , and in other places as much plenty . but to amend all defects , there are in most places rich silver mines . the province of xalisco hath the city of compostella , near the south sea in one and twenty degrees , nineteen minutes : there is the village of the purification south-west from gudalaria , thirty leagues : this land is hot and sickly , but hath mines of gold and silver , good store of provisions , and excellent horses , that are well bred for any service . guadalaira is the best of all the provinces of the kingdom of new-galicia , and the most southerly : it hath all sorts of grain , herbs , and fruits of new-spain ; and plenty of kine , horses , and swine : it is a wholesome good air ; and hath many silver mines : the chief city and head of the kingdom is guadalaira in twenty degrees . the province of mechoacan lyeth between the province of mexico , and the kingdom of new-galisia : it hath in breadth by the coast of the south sea fourscore leagues , and threescore within land . here are many good mines , and it is a fruitful land , and hath much wheat , millet , coco , all sorts of spanish fruits , cotton-wool , the rich drug of choconeel , store of cattel and fish , and the indians are industrious , and given to labour : the chief city is mechoachan : it stands in eighteen degrees , fifteen minutes , and forty and seven leagues from mexico . the province of mexico falleth between mechoacan and talasvalia : it hath in length north and south one hundred and thirty leagues , and in breadth eighteen . guaxcaca province , cometh to the coast of the south sea , and it lyeth between mexico and gutamalia province , along the coast of the south sea one hundred leagues . soconusco is the westerliest province of the kingdom of gutamalia , it joyneth to the province of guaxcaca , from whence it lieth on the southeast thirty four leagues and far into the land. it is plentiful of wheat , coco , millet , and cattel . the province of gutamalia , is the head of the kingdome of gutamalia ; it joyneth to the province of soconusco , and on the south sea , it stretcheth 70 leagues ; the country is of a good temperature , and plentiful of cotton-wool , wheat , millet and cattel , and other seeds and fruits ; the winds and rains in october are very furious . this province hath abundance of gold , some silver , store of balm , and liquid amber , copal , suchicopal , excellent liquors , and the gumme animi , with the beasts that breed the bezoar stone . but the volcans here , are very noysome to those that lie near them , for they often burst forth , casting out fire-stones and ashes . and here are more of those volcans or fire-pits , than in all india besides . the province of chiapa is an inland province , it is mediterrauean to soconusco , mexico , tabasco : and verapas , and in length forty leagues , and something less in breadth . it hath store of wheat , millet , and other grain and seeds , much cattel , but few sheep . verapas is also an inland province of gutamalia , and is mediterranean to chiapa , youcatan , honduras , and gutamalia of thirty leagues over : it is a moist country , and it hath plenty of millet and wheat , cotton-wool , coco , and much of that sort of fowls , whose feathers make the rare coloured indian pictures , and this is a great merchandise amongst them . panama hath a council that hath for jurisdiction no more then the province of panama , and the election of the governour of veragua , in regard they are appointed principals of the navigation for the dispatch of peru , and ordering the king of spains treasure , which is yearly transported to porto belio , over the straight of darien , and from thence to spain . it adjoyneth on carthagena , and popian , to the south-east , and south-west . the air at panama is extream unwholsome , and the place very sickly ; but it is mended and made durable , by the trade is brought in by the vast sums yearly brought there to carry to spain , of which the inhabitants get part . the countrey of carthegena lyeth on the north sea , and is parted from the province of panama , by the river of darian , from whence to the river magdalen is fourscore leagues . the land is mountainous and hilly , full of high trees ; this region is fruitful in some places , and in other some as barren . the seed of england will grow but in few parts of this countrey : but here are many cattel , horses , and swine . the temperature of this countrey is hot and very rainy , neither is their mines worked either of gold or silver , but much rozen and liquors , which they have from the trees , and sanguis draconis . granado . this kingdome lyeth from the sea , adjoyning on the south part of cartagena . it is a very rich countrey in mines of emralds , gold , steel , and copper , store of pastures , with all sorts of cattel , wheat , millet , fruits and herbs . the indians are great traders and able men of body , ingenious in the sciences of the spaniards . the merchandise cometh up the river magdalen , on which this land lyeth . the province of sancta martha , lyeth between cartagena and the river hacha , on the north sea . it is a plentiful country of millet , potatoes , much gold , emralds , and other rich stones , and copper . the province of venesiula , lyeth on the north sea , parted from sancta martha , by the river of hacha , on the east is the province of suava , or new andulesia , as the spaniards call it . the coasts of the sea is near one hundred and thirty leagues of length . in this land are veins of gold , of more than two and twenty caracts and a half . it is plentiful of wheat and other seeds , for there are two harvests in a year . it hath abundance of all kind of cattel great and smal , cotton , and salsaparilla . guana . this region comprehendeth all the land that lyeth between the province of venesiula and brasill , which beginneth at two degrees of south latitude ; this land is more famous for report , than for any certain knowledge of the riches thereof . the provinces of plate , take name from the river on which they lie : the passage to them is up the said river , but they are almost on the back of brazil . they are large and far wholsomer than brazil , plenty of sugar , ginger , wine , wheat , millet , all sorts of english fruits , store of cattel , swine , and horses , but no mines that are worked . they are subjected by the spaniards , and united to the council of peru , on the south sea , for nearness of lying to that kingdome , there is a common passage from these provinces thither by land over the mountains ; the most of the land is indifferently inhabited . the coast of chilia reacheth to twenty eight degrees of south latitude . this region is wholesome above all other in the indies , being of an excellent temperature , as neither too hot nor too cold . it is abundantly rich in gold and silver mines and all sorts of cattel and grain , fruits , and excellent and pleasant wine . the country men are strong and valiant beyond compare , which the spaniards know to their great cost : for they could never totally subdue this nation . the bounds of this council of charcas stretcheth from chilia to peru : it hath abundance of cattel of all kinds , great shag-haired sheep bigger than goats , that carry great burthens on their backs ; store of corn of all sorts , fruits and wine , much gold and the greatest mines of silver in the world. there are few spanish towns , and but one but port , in regard the spaniards get neat the hill of potosi , to the city imperial , which lyeth in nineteen degrees of latitude far from the sea , and delivereth that which is exported , and receiveth the merchandize imported at the city of arica . peru. this kingdom is governed by a council and viceroy . it hath to the north the council of quito , on the south charchas , and to the west the south-sea , and to the east without limits . this kingdom is well peopled with civil orderly indians , that are in great subjection to the spaniards . peru doth abound in all sorts of fruits , seed , cattel , horses , sheep , swine , rich mines of gold , silver , quick-silver , plentifull of wine , oil , and sugar . the andes runs through this province within ten leagues of the sea. in all which coasts it never raineth ; but on the said hills it raineth continually , and beyond as in other regions . the plains between the sea , and the said hills have few or no rivers , but the industry of the inhabitants draw , in trenches , ( which are artificially made ) the water either from those few rivers , or from the side of the said andes , which maketh that the said plain is mighty populous , fruitful and pleasant , even as a garden . the city of cusco is the head city of peru , by a title that it hath from the king of spain . it lyeth in 13 degrees and a half south of the equinoctial . it is a very great city , and hath four great streets that go to the four parts of the world. it hath many monasteries and nunneries , with a cathedral , and divers schools of indian children . quito . this kingdome is governed by a council , whose bounds lyeth between peru and panama . it hath two mighty countreys or provinces within his circuit , that is to say , first quits , and then popyan . quito lieth between peru and popyan on the south sea , and far into the land under the equinoctial line : and , contrary to the opinion of the ancients , it is a most wholsome temperate countrey , and rather cold than hot in most places of it . in those places where the snow continues all the year , it raineth from october to march , which they call winter : this province is rich in mines of emralds , and gold , silver , and quick-silver , plentiful of english grain and cattel , horse , and swine . this region is happy in the temperature of the air , there being neither extreme cold nor heat , as lying equinoctial to these extremes , and , which is more delightful to mans nature , always a clear skie . the province of popyan , lyeth between quito and panama ; the greatest part of it is inland , yet doth it for a good way lie on the south sea . the eastern part bordereth on the kingdom of granado and cartagena . the temperature of air , is very different in this place , for here are some places indifferent temperate and cool , other places are very hot and sickly . this province hath some indians peaceable , other some extraordinary savage , insomuch that about the village of arma and canarna , they eat not only those that they take in war , cutting off slivers , eating one part while the other liveth ; but sell their children , and the sons their fathers and mothers to the butchers , who keep shambles of mans flesh . this countrey is exceeding rich in gold mines , which maketh that the spaniards endure the other inconveniencies of the countrey with great patience . magellan-straight . this straight is famous for the troublesome passage of drake , candish , and haukins , three english men generals , each in a several fleet : drake and candish being the first that sailed along the coast of peru , and so to the east indies , and came home by the cape of bona speranza , circum-navigating the globe . the last being much over-matched was taken by the spaniards on the coast of peru , and conveyed from thence prisoner to spain . from whence with much difficulty he obtained his freedom , although solemn engagements passed from the general his taker for his freedome . the entrance into this straight is in 52 degrees , and the coming out into the south sea the same height . it is an extreme difficult passage by reason of the meeting of the north and south seas in the channell , driving each other back , prevailing as they are favoured by the wind , which commonly bloweth there exceeding boisterously and cold . there are divers caves and bayes in it , but no encouragement for a seaman to adventure that way . the inhabitants on this straight are few , and extreme savage , neither is this passage any more in use : for those that will go by the south of america to the east indies , or into the south sea , to any part of the west coast of america , have a more convenient passage south of this straight in an open sea . the entrance into it is called lamair , but the sea was discovered by sir francis drake , and sir richard haukins , both which were driven back by foul weather into those seas after they had passed the strait . on the coast of the south sea , which lyeth between the straight and chilli , there are no inhabitants save the wild natives , but it hath the bay of horses in 52 degrees , and the bay of saint iohn in 50. the cape of saint francis in 51. and 18 leagues before you come to port hearnan the bay of galago in 48 degrees 40 minutes : and north of it the bay of kings , and the isle of catilina ; then the cape of saint andrew in 42 degrees , where chilia beginneth there is a coast between the river of plate , and the straight of magellan . the straight lyeth southwest from the mouth of this river , and is distant thence 400 leagues . it hath on the said coast , first the point of saint helena in 37 degrees , the point of francis in 38 , the river of canobi in 45. and to the south the isle of ducks . and in 47 the river of seriani , and in 49 the port of saint iulian , the river of sancta crux in 50. and 12 leagues before you come to the straight of ilefonsus . but the land possest with no other but the natives , which are a giantly people . this magellanica belongs to the king of spain , which some geographers would have now the fifth part of the world , it is since found out to be a very little part , as consisting only of some few islands , on the southern side of the magellanick-straights , so called , by fredericus magellanicus , who discovered it in the year one thousand five hundred and twenty : writing moreover that there he had seen tall men about nine and ten foot high ; and he saw many fires which the inhabitants had kindled , doubtless by reason of the coldnesse of the weather : he named it the land of fire , or smoky , whereby he presumed the more that it must needs be a very vast great countrey , reaching east and westwards unto new guinney , according to which ghessing , it hath hitherto been delineated by the maps of geographers ; but since hath there instead thereof a large and wide sea been found out , both by iacob le mair , who in the year one thousand six hundred and sixteen , sayling about the southern coast of these islands , entred into the indies ; and by iohn davis , in the year one thousand six hundred forty two , who sailing towards the north , about on thousand six hundred forty , further than guinny , discovered divers lands , and passing on the south-side , sailed about the east coast of new guinny , and so going on westward he came to the indies ; whence we may certainly gather , that all the former descriptions and definitions of the magellanick and unknown lands are but mean abuses and certain devised fables . these lands and countries being subdued in the space of 60 years , with much blood and hazard , were settled as his dominions in the year 1550 , from which time they have continued without any remarkable alteration , setting aside some private inroads of the english , dutch , and french , till the business of iamaica , which now threatens some danger to the vast and potent body of the spanish empire . brazil . this province beginneth where guana endeth , at two degrees of south latitude , where there is a point called the cape of snakes , from whence it lyeth along the coast of the north-sea to twenty five degrees , and on the back-side west , lyeth the provinces of the river of plate . the air is the whole year through very hot , the winter ; which your summer , distinguished only with the rain that falleth at that season . here are many venemous worms , and great serpents ; 't is plentiful of pastures , cattel , and horses , little millet , and no english grain ; wherefore their bread is casabi or potatoes , which are in great plenty . there are great shews of silver and gold , but none gotten , nor mines certainly known . the chief commodity is sugar cotton-wool , bombast , and brazil wood . it hath near the sea-coast about 20. portugal towns , many ingeniowes , or sugerworks : the first town of the country is called tamerico , and five leagues to the south of that farnambuck or recif , then all saints a hundred leagues from farnambuck in fourteen degrees forty minutes . the town of the sure-haven in 16 degrees and a half , the holy-ghost in 20. there is another town on the river generio , in twenty three degrees , near which they cut much brasil-wood . there are on the coast eight or ten ports , more principal than the rest , which are the river saint dominick northeast of farnambuck , by the cape of saint augustine , which standeth in nine degrees . the island of tamerico before rehearsed , the river of saint francis in ten degrees and a half . it is very great . the bay of all saints is three leagues and thirteen up into the land . the river of trinidado and the river of canamon in 13 degrees and a half , and the river of the virgins in 16 , and portesceurae in 17. the river of parague in twenty near the town of sanctus spiritus , and in twenty three degrees cold cape beyond saint vincent . this province hath been in difference betwen the portugeses and west-india company of holland , and as the dutch got great footing there without right , so the portugals , since their falling from spain , have surprized them again ; and recovered them by the same slight they got the east-indies from us , but not with such vile murthers , as they committed on the english. this reconquest of it by the portugal from the dutch was in 1654 , the strong fort of recif which held out the last , being delivered to them , with the whole land , by certain articles , which contained the whole surrender , for which the dutch general there , sigismond schop , at his comming home into holland was tried for his life , but his friends , or the justice of his cause preserved him . and thus now god enabling me , i have finished the description of the world , and the four parts thereof : and leave my endeavours herein to the judgement of the reader . the chiefest cities of america , with the names of the rivers . in the northern part of america , are greenland , east-land , and iceland , in which are the towns of bearford , and scalbod . in canada or new france , are the towns of quebec , and port-royal , some degrees more southerly , are new-england , the new-low-countries , virginia , the isles of bermudes , and more southerly of them , the islands of barbadoes and saint christophers : in virginia are the towns of iames : in new-england the towns of plimmouth and boston : the rivers in canada that be most famous , are the river of canada , or saint lawrence : the river of chesseapeac , or powatan , trinity , and the river of may. the cities in new-mexico that are most remarkable , are the end , and the granado . in hispaniola is the city of domingo , in cubai the city called havana . in the isle of iamaica , the city called sevilla : in the island of boriquenrie , puerto-rico : in florida is saint augustino : in mexico , or new-spain , are these great cities , mexico , mechoacan , or wallodolid , saint estevan , del puerto , los-angeles , antequera de la vetoria , meroda , guadalaida , compostella , saint sebastian , saint miguel , gernada , and zacateca . there are also saint iago , de guatimala , guevetulan , cividad real , verapax , valadolid , or commagaiva , leoa de nicaragua , cartago , la conception , porto ello , and panama . the rivers here most famous , are north of new-mexico , spiritu sancto , towards the east , spiritu sancto towards the west ; econdido , panuco , barania , zacatula , and desaguadero , de nicaragua . in terra firma , are the famous cities of cartagena , saint martha , saint fe de bogatta , na sa de los remedios , veneznella , o cori , cordova , lannuen●… , o comana , manoa , o el dorado . in peru are these remarkable cities , cali popaian , saint francisco , de quito , bacca , saint iuan de las selinas , lima o los reyes , cusco , potosi , la plata , sancta cruz de la sierra , saint iago de chili , and l' imperiale . the rivers which are most famous in terra firma and in peru , the river grand , o de darien : the river grand o de santa martha , paria , orinoque , essequebe , and desaguedero de peru. in the south part of america , is terra magellanica , where is the city of del rey felippe , there are the magellan isles , and terra del foco. in brasil are these fifteen memorable cities para , maranhan , ciara , potenii , paraiba , tamaraca , olinda , seregippe , saint salvador , los isteos , porto seguro , spiritu sancto , sancte , sebastian , los santos , and farnambuck . the rivers in brasile are orelane , or des amazones , maragnan , o de mirari , tabacourn , the great river of potengi , the river zoyal . in ria de plata are the cities of saint iago , del festero , cordova , de tucuman , l. assumtion , cividad real o ontiveros . the river here that is most famous is called paraguay . finis . a catalogue of some plates , maps , pictures , and copy-books , that are printed and sold by john overton , dwelling at the sign of the white horse next door to little saint bartholomews gate , in little brittain . general maps . a map of the world. a most excellent map of england , scotland , and ireland . a map of france . a new map of england adorned and beautified with the chief cities and towns thereof more exact than hitherto . maps of shires . kent two sheets . essex . surrey . hartfordshire . norfolk . suffolk . staffordshire . warwickshire . worcestershire . leicestershire and rutland in one . cheshire . lancashire . virginia . pictures of men in quarto . the picture of oliver cromwell , sir tho. overbury . cardinal wolsey . sir tho. gresham . d. of buckingham . prince & princess of orange . prince rupert . prince maurice . e. of salisbury . mr. brightman . bish. usher . dr. eravius . m. shelton . gen. lashly . l. say. e. of pembrook . e. of manchester . great sheets . the pourtraictures of their most excellent majesties king charles 2d . and queen katherine , most excellently graven to the life beyond all draughts before ; in imperial paper . the pourtraictures of all the royal progeny . battel of nazeby 2 sheets with observations . dunbar-battel in 2 sheets . 4 plates of signs or badges for inns or taverns , 42. the city of london , gunpowder treason , and 88. the arms of the trades and corporations of london 74. a death jerusalem 2 sheets . collonel ludlow on horseback . x commandments . x persecutions of christians . orpheus . copy-books . some late copy-books by ed. cocker with several books of flowers , beasts , birds , flies , and worms , very delightful and useful to all naturalists . a book of flowers and fishes with the same curiosity of art. davis copy-book . billingsley in quarto . billingsley in octavo . one published by p. s. 2d . by lewis hews 2d . called hancocks 22. plates . and all other sorts of copy-books that are to be had in london . books for draughts of men , birds ; beasts , flowers , fruits , flyes , fishes , &c. 1 book of j. fullers drawings , 15. plates . 1 book of draughts of mr. hollars work , and mr. vanderburghs 18 plates . flora 13 plates , beasts , birds , &c. 1 book of birds sitting on sprigs 16 plates . 1 book of beasts . 1 book of branches 11 plates 1 book of flowers , 12 plates for cheese trenchers . pictures in sheets of their excellencies . rob. e. essex . tho. l. fairfax . also o. cromwell divers pictures of mr. payn , hollar , faythorn , pumbarp , gaywood , and other artists works . and all other sorts of maps , pictures , copy-books , &c. that are usually sold in black and white , and in colour . minerva and 7 liberal arts. finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a41246-e530 the earth . the air. the fruits . a most compleat compendium of geography, general and special describing all the empires, kingdoms and dominions in the whole world : shewing their bounds, situation, dimensions, ancient and modern names, history, government, religions, languages, commodities ... archbishopricks and universities : in a more plain and easie method, more compendious and (perhaps) more useful than any of this bigness : to which are added general rules for making a large geography, ... / collected according to the most late discoveries and agreeing with the choicest and newest maps by laurence eachard ... echard, laurence, 1670?-1730. 1691 approx. 302 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 105 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2003-09 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a37760 wing e148 estc r35670 15538401 ocm 15538401 103633 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a37760) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 103633) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1149:7) a most compleat compendium of geography, general and special describing all the empires, kingdoms and dominions in the whole world : shewing their bounds, situation, dimensions, ancient and modern names, history, government, religions, languages, commodities ... archbishopricks and universities : in a more plain and easie method, more compendious and (perhaps) more useful than any of this bigness : to which are added general rules for making a large geography, ... / collected according to the most late discoveries and agreeing with the choicest and newest maps by laurence eachard ... echard, laurence, 1670?-1730. [36], 168 p., [2] leaves of plates : maps. printed for tho. salusbury ..., london : 1691. an appendix concerning rules for making a large geography: p. 163-168. includes index. errata: p. 168. imperfect: stained, with print show-through. reproduction of original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy 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images 2003-07 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2003-07 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2003-08 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a most compleat compendium of geography , general and special ; describing all the empires , kingdoms , and dominions , in the whole world . shewing their bounds , situation , dimensions , ancient and modern names , history , government , religions , languages , commodities , divisions , subdivisions , cities , rivers , mountains , lakes , with their archbishopricks , and universities . in a more plain and easie method , more compendious , and ( perhaps ) more useful than any of this bigness . to which are added , general rules for making a large geography very necessary for the right understanding of the transactions of these times . collected according to the most late discoveries , and agreeing with the choicest and newest maps . by lavrence eachard , of christ's-colledge in cambridge . london : printed for thomas salusbury at the sign of the temple near temple-bar in fleet-street . 1691. to the reverend and truly learned dr. iohn covel , chancellour of york , and master of christ-colledge in cambridge . reverend sir , when you first find your name prefixed to this book , you will no less marvel at my boldness than folly ; but the right of dedication , which every scribler assumes to himself , may in some measure save me harmless ; and your goodness , which truly knows how to pardon the rash attempts of youth , has animated me to shelter this small trifle under the patronage of your name . i will not go about to extenuate my crime , by such fulsome panegyricks as dedications are usually stuffed withal ; for those are the common badges of mercenary pens , which too oft betray the wit as well as the integrity of such writers . i do not pretend in the least to better your understanding by this small compendium , or to add any thing to the knowledge of a person who is already so well acquainted with the world , and has seen so many famous countries : neither do i make use of your name to avoid ( the common fate of young writers ) envy , for to be thought worthy of that , shall be my greatest glory ; but chiefly because the name of so eminent a patron may give the greater encouragement to others , and that this science may be the more esteemed in our vniversity ; and lastly , that i may let the world know how much i am honoured by publishing my self your most humble and devoted servant , lau . eachard . the preface . there is no man , i believe , can with very much reason find fault with the subject of this book , being so noble and useful ; for this is a science which is most perfectly adorned with all the beauties that may create delight , and satisfie the curious , so that it needs no vindication . the book it self i am afraid will be condemned by the more nice sort of persons , when they first see it , who will perhaps look upon it as superfluous , and altogether useless , since there have been already so many excellent books both small and great of this kind . to answer this perhaps will not be thought so agreeable to true modesty ; but howsoever i shall take leave to say thus much of it , and that without any sort of vanity . that i have never met with any yet , that have used a more exact method , or have kept so close to their method as this , neither do i know of any that have been so particular in the sub-divisions and soveraignties as this . i am truly sensible that several worthy persons who heard of my design of putting out a geography , have censured me as to bold an vndertaker after so many accurate pens , but the iudgment of these persons may well be suspected , since they were so very little acquainted with my studies , and not at all with my book . for my part , i had so little esteem of it my self as to have kept it wholly for my own private use , for which it was first designed ; neither would i ever have ventured my reputation ( which as yet is very tender ) among so many criticks , if i had not two several times been encouraged by mr. neuton ( most deservedly ) our mathematick professor , ( a person whose judgment and skill is so well known as not to be disputed ) who approved of the method and brevity when it was much less perfect than it is now , and said , that he did not see how a general geography so full , could be easily brought into less room . the first time he saw it , he did me the honour to correct several faults with his own hand . as to the method in every country , i first begin with the bounds , situation , dimensions , from named places , ancient and modern names ; then the historical part , with the present government ; then i name the religion , language , and commodities , with the chief place of the whole . after this i come to the particular provinces . when they are over , i mention all the chief rivers , mountains , and lakes ; with the number of the patriarchs , arch-bishops , bishops , and universities . as for the provinces themselves , i have been very careful to set them in such order as they may be most easily found in maps , beginning with the most northern , n. eastern , or n. western province ( so likewise on the sub-divisions ) ; then naming that which lies next to it , so that one cannot well be mistaken . i have also given all their dimensions , situations , sub-divisions and soveraignties , and giving them their proper titles , as dukedom , earldom , &c. with all their chief towns , or cities . this method i have used in every particular country , as much as the subject would permit . i have all the way intermixed the old geography with the new , not only in every country , but in every province where i could , tho' it is done with so much brevity , it may easily be understood . i have been very curious in the distinguishing the one from the other , and giving the true extent of the old provinces , and have discovered several faults which are often committed by many geographers , as making hetruria the same with tuscany , latium , the same with campania de roma ; liguria the same with the state of genoa , helvetia the same with switzerland , &c. also some other faults , in not distinguishing the old albania from the new , the old persia from the new , &c. these are faults which by many others have been little observed , therefore i took the more care to correct them . as for the length and breadth of the countries and provinces ( the truth of which , i am afraid , will be scrupled by several ) they are made according to no book whatsoever , but wholly according to maps , and those the best and newest i could procure , which were for the most part de wits , vischer's , sanson's , and berry's , in these i have found no very considerable difference in the provinces of europe . i would not have the reader expect the true dimensions of every province to a mile , for no maps are so exact , especially in asia , africa , and america , where they are seldom without great faults : neither would i have him count it a fault , if by chance in measuring i have mistaken one mile in twenty . tho' these dimensions are designed ( i mean those of the inferiour provinces ) rather as an ornament to compleat this book , or rather to shew a way to others ; yet i have taken such care that there should be no considerable fault , but what must be attributed wholly to the maps . the miles that i have made use of are exactly the 60th part of a degree in the aequator , which are somewhat larger than our measured miles ( for those are found to be about the 69th part of a degree ) agreeing for the most part with our vulgar counted miles ; so that france , spain , italy , germany , &c. will be found to be somewhat less in this than in most other geographies . another thing i must advertize the reader , which is concerning longitude , mentioned in the situation of every country ; that in all the countries in europe and asia , i have reckoned the longitude from teneriffe , one of the canary isles , according to f. de wit 's maps ; but in africa and america , ( because sanson's and berry's maps were so , who were my chiefest guide in those parts ) i have reckoned the longitude from ferro , another of the canary isles , just two degrees west of teneriffe . i am afraid that i have made the preface too large for the book , yet before i make an end , i must desire the impartial reader to consider it throughly before he condemn it , and if it does not perform what it promises , i do with all modesty submit my self to the judgment of the ingenious ; for to those persons nature has commonly given a soul so truly noble and generous , as will never insult over the weakness of a yielding person , nor too much discourage the good intentions of a young writer . in short , if there be any person whatsoever that shall find half as much profit or pleasure in the reading of this book , as i have in the writing , i shall count it a reward much beyond the meanness of my deserts . advertisement . the reader is desired to take notice , that e. w. n. and s. stands for east , west , north , and south ; ch . t. for chief town or city ; l. and br . for long and broad ; m. for miles ; an . for anciently ; lon. and lat. for longitude and latitude ; k. d. mar. earl. prin. bar. bish. and ter. for kingdom , dukedom , marquisate , earldom , principalities , barony , bishoprick , and territory . these verses were sent to the publisher by one who , it seems , had seen my book , and says ( in his letter ) they were designed onely for a vindication . notwithstanding i had refused several copies of verses before , i should now prove my self very ungrateful to refuse the kind proffers of one who has shewn himself so modestly ingenious ; therefore i have published them , not out of vanity , but as a mark of gratitude . to his worthy friend , the author of this ensuing treatise . sir , expect not now those high-flown tow'ring strains ( which , as 't was , in a trance enslave mens brains ) t' enhance the useful art , your skill or pains : no ; what a stumbling muse , or love imparts led by the influence of your dear deserts , here you may find ; nor dare i hope to raise a brighter lustre to its native praise . as painful bees o're spatious fields do roam , with loaden sweets come to their welcome home , and there dispose them in the honey comb ; so you great volumes rack , to find what 's true , and in a method most concise , yet new , lay out those treasures to a publick view . drake's ship tho' bigger than this little spot , yet never past more seas , more knowledge got , tho' a far greater loss of time was there , for what 's an hour now , was then a year ▪ nay life perhaps fat trembling at death's door . whilst fearless here we ransack all your store : so what can grateful man desire more ? methinks geography would be inough , to give the snarling world a generous proof how it deserves ; for surely all would know the figure , form , and state of things below . but when with you so regular we pass , no cooling rub or'e all th' extended mass. good god! what brutish animals are those , would not such precious secrets here disclose , would not admire and praise the brave design , the world encompast in one small machine ? regiomontan's eagle could not vie , with your small landskip of geography ; and such like labours need a greater skill which are confin'd to rules not wrought at will. go on , dear sir , and as you have begun , o'review the world , like to the rising sun , enlight'ning still , whil'st we all ought to pray to your endeavours , a long plus ultra . yours , anonymus . an index of all the countries in this book , with the principal provinces and isles . a.   fig. pag. abex 1 137 abissina 9 134 africa iii. 115 africk isles   141 agades 4 130 agra 21 102 ajan 2 137 airach 5 95 aladuli 4 82 albania 14 75 alentejo 5 15 algarve 6 15 algiers 3 122 amara 6 136 amasia 3 82 amazon   154 america iv 142 american isles   160 andaluzia 13 13 angola 6 134 ango● 3 135 auzacana 3 133 arabia 3 90 aragon 5 12 arda 3 132 artois 9 41 arcerum 2 87 asia ii. 78 astracan 30 65 asturia 2 11 attock 3 101 austria 10 51 ayaman 3 92 b. bakar 27 102 bando 29 103 bankisk 5 101 barbary 2 120 barca 6 123 barca deserts 10 125 barma 1 107 barnegasso 1 135 barraab 2 91 bavaria 9 51 bechria 2 118 begamedri 4 135 beira 3 15 belejezoro 15 63 bengala 38 103 benin 4 132 berar 37 103 berdoa 5 126 beriara 1 91 bessarabia 10 74 biafara 1 133 bielski 18 64 biledulgerid 3 123 biledulgerid pr. 9 125 biscay 3 12 bisnagar 3 105 bohemia 11 52 borneo 4 113 borno 6 127 bosnia 4 73 brabant 12 41 brasil 8 156 bretagne 5 18 british isles 5 30 bukar 27 102 bulgar 29 65 bulgaria 11 74 burgundy 7 19 c. cabul 2 100 caffer●a 12 139 calafornia   148 camboje 5 108 canada 1 144 canada pr. 1 144 canary isles 2 141 candahor 1 100 candia 1 76 candis 36 103 canina 15 75 cano 5 130 caramania 2 82 caribana 11 154 caribe isles 7 161 carolina 7 146 cartagena 2 153 cassena 6 130 castile new 9 13 castile old 10 13 catalonia 6 12 cathay 5 98 cazan 28 65 celebes 1 113 ceilon 7 114 chaco 2 158 champagne 2 17 las charlos 6 156 chiamethan . 5 150 chiapa 15 151 chikiang 9 111 chile 10 159 chile pr. 1 160 china 9 109 chitor 34 103 chucuito 3 160 chur distan 6 95 chusistan 7 95 cinaola 1 149 cochin china 4 108 comania 1 89 comocusco 16 151 condora 4 62 congo 8 132 congo pr. 4 133 connaught 2 37 corassan 4 95 corsica 3 29 costa rica 21 152 crim tartary   76 croatia 3 72 cuba 3 161 culiacan 2 150 curdes 3 85 curland 1 67 cyprus 1 87 czeremisses 27 64 czernihow 37 67 d. dalmatia 5 73 dara 2 124 dauphine 11 20 decan 2 105 delly 22 102 denmark 8 54 dierbeck 4 86 dierbeck pr. 1 86 dwina 3 62 e. egypt 1 117 england 1 30 entre min. douro 1 15 erif 1 118 estremadura 4 15 europe i. 8 extremadura 12 13 f. fars 8 95 fenicia 2 84 fez 2 121 flanders 8 41 florida 3 147 finland 5 59 firmland 6 152 firmland pr. 1 153 fokien 11 111 france 3 16 franche comte 14 21 franconia 8 50 g. gago 11 130 gallicia 1 11 gangara 7 130 gaoga 7 127 genehoa 2 129 genoa 4 24 geergia 2 88 georgiens 2 85 germany 7 43 giaquer ● 134 gilan 2 94 golconda 1 105 gor 10 101 gothland 2 58 granada 14 13 gronigen 1 39 guadalajara 6 150 gualata 1 129 gualeo 20 102 guargara 8 125 guatamala 17 151 guaxapa 12 150 guayra 6 159 guiana 10 154 guienne 9 19 guinea 7 131 guinea pr. 2 132 guber 10 130 gurgistan 3 89 guzarat 33 103 h. hajacan 26 102 hainault 10 41 hendown 28 102 highland 1 35 hispaniola 5 161 holland 6 40 holy empire 13 41 holy-land 3 84 honan 3 110 honduras 19 151 hungary 1 72 huguang 2 111 i. iamaica 4 161 iamba 16 102 ianna 16 75 iapan 1 112 iava 5 114 ienupar 23 102 ieroslaw 23 64 ieselmire 30 103 iesual 14 101 imperial 2 160 india ex gangem 8 106 india in gangem 7 104 ingria 6 60 ireland 4 36 iseland 1 56 isle of france 3 18 italy 4 22 iucatan 14 151 iuhorski 5 62 iunnan 15 112 k. kachemire 4 101 kakares 6 ib. kanduana 11 ib. kargapol 2 62 kiangsi 10 111 kirman 9 95 l. languedoc 10 20 lapland russ. 1 62 lapland swed . 4 59 leinster 3 37 lemta 4 126 leon 11 13 liege 15 42 limburg 16 42 lionois 8 19 lithuania 3 68 livadia 17 75 liv●nia 7 60 loango 2 133 lorrain 13 21 low-c●untries 6 38 lowland 2 35 lucaies 2 161 luconia 1 113 luxemburg 17 42 m. macedonia 13 74 madagascar 1 141 magalanica   160 makran 12 96 malabar 4 105 malegvette 1 132 malvay 35 103 mandinga 12 130 mantua 8 26 st. martha 5 153 mary-land 5 146 massovia 6 68 mawrinalra 2 98 mechlin 14 42 mechoecan 1 150 melli 13 130 mengralia 2 89 merat 13 101 mexico 10 150 mezzab 6 125 mindano 2 113 milan ● 25 modena 7 25 magul's empire 6 99 moldavia 9 74 molucca 3 113 mongul 4 98 monomotapa 11 138 monomotapa pr. 1 139 monomugi 2 ib. montferret 3 24 morea 18 76 morocco 1 121 moscow 20 64 multan 25 102 munster 4 37 murcia 8 12 n. namur 11 41 nanking 8 111 naples 12 28 n●●●ar 19 102 natolia 1 81 natolia pr. 1 82 navarr 4 12 naugrecut 7 101 ney●oe land 6 128 negropont 2 76 new biscay 3 150 ne● england 2 145 newfoundland 1 160 new france 2 144 new granada 4 153 new iarsey 3 146 new scotland 3 144 new spain . 5 149 new york 2 145 nicaragua 20 151 normandy 4 18 north iuitland 1 55 norway 5 56 novogrod 14 63 novogrod nisi 26 64 novogrod sewerski 36 65 nubta 5 127 o. obdora 8 63 okraina 32 65 oriental isles 10 112 orleanois 6 18 overyssel 3 40 p. pacamores 3 155 panuco 9 150 paraguay 9 158 paraguay pr. 1 158 parana 5 159 parma 6 25 patna 15 101 pecheli 1 110 pegu 2 107 pengab 24 102 pensilvania 4 146 perm●ki 11 63 persia 3 93 peru 7 155 peru pr. 5 156 petzora 6 62 philippine isles 2 113 picardy 1 17 piedmont 2 24 pitan 9 101 pleskow 16 63 podolia 12 69 polachia 7 69 poland 11 66 poland pr. 5 68 pole 31 65 polesia 8 69 popayan 3 153 popedom 10 27 porto rico 6 161 portugal 2 14 posto 1 155 provence 12 21 prussia 4 68 q. quantung 12 111 quangsi 13 ib. queichen 14 ib. quito 4 156 los quixos . 2 155 r. rescow 17 63 rezan 34 65 rhine low. 5 48 〈◊〉 4 47 〈◊〉 6 153 〈◊〉 4 159 〈◊〉 12 74 〈◊〉 22 64 〈◊〉 10 61 〈◊〉 9 69 s. s●●●●s●an 10 95 salud 3 119 sambal 18 102 samvedes 7 63 samogitia 2 67 sardinia 2 29 sarra 4 125 savoy 1 23 saxony low. 2 45 saxony vp. 1 44 schonen 1 58 sclavonia 2 72 scotland ● 34 segelmessa ● 124 servan 1 94 servia 6 73 siam 6 108 siba 8 101 siberia 9 63 sicily 1 28 las sierra 7 156 sigistan 11 96 sleswick 2 55 smolensko 19 64 soret 32 103 spain 1 10 suabia 7 49 suchven 6 111 sumatra 6 114 susdal 24 64 sweden 3 59 〈◊〉 9 57 switzerland 12 53 syria 2 83 syria pr. 1 84 t. tobasco 13 151 taberistan 3 94 targa 3 126 tartary 5 96 tartary deserts 1 97 tatta 31 103 techort 7 125 tegorarin 4 124 tesset 1 124 tigremehon 2 135 tlascala 11 150 tombute 3 130 tralos montes 2 15 transilvania 8 74 tripoli 5 122 tucuman 3 158 tunis 4 122 tunquin 3 107 turchestan 3 98 turcomania 3 84 turcomania pr. 1 85 turky in asia 1 80 turky in europe 12 70 t wer 21 64 v. valencia 7 12 vdessa 12 101 venezula 7 153 venice 9 26 veraguay 22 152 vera pax 18 151 vkrain 11 69 virginia 6 146 vlster 1 37 v●lhinia 10 69 vraguay 7 159 vst●●ga 12 63 〈◊〉 5 40 w. 〈◊〉 7 73 〈◊〉 2 32 〈◊〉 2 39 〈◊〉 3 46 〈◊〉 10 63 〈◊〉 25 64 〈◊〉 13 63 world   1 worotiu 35 65 x. xalisco 7 150 xansi 4 110 xantung 2 ib. xensi 5 ib. y. yerack 3 87 yvica 3 14 z. zaca●icas     zanguebar 10 136 zanguebar pr. 3 137 zanfara 8 130 zanhaga 1 126 zeb 5 124 zegreg 9 130 zeland 7 40 zuenriga 2 126 zuiria 4 90 zutphen 4 40 books lately printed , and sold by tho. salusbury at the sign of the temple near temple-barr in fleet-street . a new art of brewing beer , ale , and other sorts of liquors ; so as to render them more healthful and agreeable to nature ; and to keep them longer from souring with less trouble and charge than generally practised , the second edition . to which is added , the art of making mault , &c. by tho. tyron , student in physick . arithmetical rules , digested and contracted for the help and benefit of memory . very necessary and useful , as well for gentlemen and tradesmen , as for youth and apprentices , in mercantile affairs . with examples illustrated upon the rules . by arthur leadbetter , schoolmaster in the whiting-street in bury st. edmonds in suffolk . the history of the late great revolution in england and scotland , with the causes and means by which it was accomplished . together with a particular account of the extraordinary occurrences which happened thereupon . as likewise the settlement of both the kingdoms under their most serene majesties , king william and queen mary . octavo . price five shillings . europa asia a most compleat compendium of geography , general and special ; describing all the empires , kingdoms , and dominions , in the whole world . geography is a science which teacheth the description and dimensions of the earth . the earth is situated , according to ptolomy and tycho , in the centre of the world , but according to copernicus , between the orbs of mars and venus ; its subsistance so wonderful , as may well express that unlimited power which performs things infinitely beyond what we can imagine . it is a sperical body , which , together with the water , make up one globe , of so perfect and exact a form , and so beautified and adorned by the god of nature , that from the eligancy and beauty thereof , it was called by the greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and by the latines mundus . it is in circuit 21600 miles , ( allowing 60 to a degree ) its diameter 6872 miles , its superficies in square miles 148510584 , and its sollid content just 169921796242 cubical miles . the earth may admit of a fourfold division , viz. 1. it 's imaginary parts . 2. it s real parts . 3. in respect of its inhabitants . and , 4. it s national parts . 1. imaginary parts . the imaginary parts are only supposed for the better understanding of this science , divided into 1. poles , 2. circles , 3. zones , and , 4. climes . 1. the poles are the extreme points of the axis , which is supposed to pass through the centre of the earth , and on which it is supposed to move daily about . they are the furthest distant from the aequator ; in number two , viz. the artick or north pole , and the antartick or south pole. 2. the circles are divided into the greater and lesser : the greater divide the world into two equal parts ; in number four , viz. 1. the aequator , compassing the earth equally between ( and furthest from ) the poles : when the sun is here , the days and nights are equal . 2. the zodiack , in which is the ecliptick cutting the aequator obliquely , through which the sun passes in a year . these two are immoveable . 3. the horizon , dividing the visible parts of the heavens from the invisible . 4. the meridian , dividing the horizon into two equal parts : when the sun is here , it is noon . these two are moveable . the lesser circles divide the world into two unequal parts ; they are 1. the tropicks , which terminate the sun's distance from the aequator , being 23 degr . and one half from it : when the sun is in these , it is either winter or summer . they are two , viz. of cancer on the north , and of capricorn on the south side of the aequator . 2. the polar circles , 66 degr . and one half of the aequator , and 23 and one half of the poles ; they are called the artick and antartick circles . 3. the parallels , which are parallel to the aequator , set in maps to shew the latitude , as the meridian lines are to shew the longitude of places . ( note , that latitude is the distance from the aequator , and longitude from the first meridian , made commonly to pass through the canary islands . ) 3. the zones are certain spaces of earth , included between two lesser circles . in number five ; viz. one torrid zone , which lies between the tropicks ; two temperate zones , between the tropicks and polar circles , and two frigid zones , between the polar circles and the poles . 4. a climate is a space of earth between two parallels , in which the longest day is increased half an hour : as for example , in the first climate the longest day is 12 hours and a half , in the second climate 13 hours , in the third climate 13 hours and a half , &c. 2. real parts . the real parts of the earth are such as have a real existance upon the superficies of the earth . didived into 1. water , and 2. land. 1. water is divided into 1. ocean , called a general collection or rendezvous of all waters , giving bounds to the four regions of the earth . 2. sea , a part of the ocean incompassed with earth , except and streight , such as the mediterranian and baltick . 3. streight , a part of the ocean , restrained into narrow bounds , opening the way to a sea , as those of magalanica and gibralier . 4. lake , a large space of water wholly incompassed with land , as parima and zaire . 5. creek or gulf , a crooked shore , thrusting forth as it were two arms to hold the sea , as those of venice and lepanto ; rivers , brooks , fountains , &c. are well known . 2. land , divided into 1. continent , a vast tract of land , where many nations are joyned together , as europe , asia , &c. 2. island , a space of land wholly incompassed with sea , as britain , madagascar , iapan , &c. 3. peninsula , a space of land very nigh incompassed with sea , as malacca , morea , &c. 4. is●●mus , is that space of land which joyns a peninsula to a continent . 5. promontory , or cape , or mountain shooting it self into the sea , as the cape of good hope , cape verde , &c. mountains , forrests , woods , &c. are well known . 3. inhabitants . the earth is divided , in respect of the inhabitants , into the right hand and left . 1. to the poets , the north was counted the right hand , and the south the left . 2. to priests , the south is the right hand , and the north the left . 3. to astronomers , the west is the right hand , and the east the left . and , 4. to geographers , the east is the right hand , and the west is the left . the inhabitants themselves are divided , 1. in respect of their sight . 2. according to their shadows . and , 3. according to their countreys . 1. those according to their sight are dividid into , 1. antaeci , which live under the same meridian and same latitude , but on different sides of the aequator . 2. periaeci , which live on the same side of the aequator and same latitude , but on opposite sides of the globe . 3. antipodes , that live diametrically opposite to each other . 2. those according to their shadows , are divided into , 1. amphiscii , which live in the torrid zone , whose shadows tend both ways . 2. perisscii , which live in the frigid zones , whose shadows are on all sides of them . 3. heterosscii , living in the temperate zones , whose shadows tend but one way . 3. those according to their countreys and nations they live in , shall be spoken of afterwards . 4. national parts . the earth , in respect , of its countreys , is divided into four great parts , viz. 1. europe , 2. asia , 3 africa , and , 4. america , to which are added , 5. terra borialis incognita , and , 6. terra australis incognita . these are divided into empires , kingdoms , regions , countreys , nations , &c. these again subdivided into provinces , governments , prefectures , circles , circuits , captainships , territories , districts , counties , sangiacks , &c. the chief empires are six , viz. turky , russia , persia , tartary , india , and abissina ; to these may be added three others , viz. germany , morocco , and monopotapa . kingdoms and other inferior provinces shall be more particularly treated of afterwards . countreys are mostly divided according to princes dominions ( but not always so ) seperated from each other , 1. sometimes by sea , as germany and denmark from sweedland . 2. sometimes by rivers , as natolia from turcomania . 3. sometimes by mountains , as france from spain . 4. sometimes by walls as china from tartary . and , 5. sometimes divided only according to the towns and forts of the princes , as france from the low-countreys . i. europe . europe has on the north , the frozen ocean ; on the west , the ducalidonian and western ocean ; on the south , the mediterranian sea ; and on the east , asia ; from which seperated by the archepelago , the euxine sea , and palus maeotis ; the rest is uncertain . situated between the 7th and 100th degr . of lon. and between the 34th and 72 degr . of lat. being in length , from cape st. vincent in portugal , to the mouth of the river oby in russia , about 3300 miles ; and in breadth , from matapan in morea , to the north cape in norway , about 2200 miles . it is the least part of the four , but far the more noble , being the most populous and civilized , adorned with many large and glorious cities , inriched with the most necessary commodities , and abounding with all the riches , pleasures and plenty , that the most voluptious man can hope or wish for . the arts peculiar to europe , and there invented , may be reckoned painting , printing , statuary , and divers particulars in the art of navigation and war , and most especially in all learned and scholastick sciences . the religions may be reduced to five heads , viz. 1. the reformed or protestant . 2. the roman catholick . 3. that of the greek church . 4. the mahomitan . and , 5. the jewish . the languages , divided into thr●● parts , viz. 1. the tutonick , divided into english , dutch and danish . 2. latin , corrupted into french , spanish and italian . and , 3. sclavonian , divided into russian , polish and turkish . there are several others of less note which shall be named afterwards . it is under the government of three emperours , viz. turky , russia and germany ; seven kings , viz. england , france , spain , portugal , denmark , sweedland and poland ; one pope ; six dukes , besides lorrain and those of the empire ; seven commonwealths ; besides many other inferior princes , earls , imperial cities ▪ and such like . rivers of principal note are six , viz. 1. danew , 2. wolga ▪ 3. dui●a , 4. bo●isthines , 5. rhine , and 6. loyre mountains of greatest note are four , viz. 1. the alpes , 2. pirenean , 3. dofrine hills , and 4. carpathean mountains . lakes of chiefest account are reckoned three , viz. 1. ladoga , 2. onega , and 3. wener . europe may be divided into twelve parts , viz. 1. spain , 2. portugal , 3. france , 4. italy , 5. british isles , 6. low-countrys , 7. germany , 8. denmark , 9. sweedland , 10. russia , 11. poland , and 12. turky in europe . 1. spain . the kingdom of spain lies on the w. of europe , and on the s. w. of france ; in form of a peninsula , being incompassed on three sides with sea. situated between the 7th and the 22 degr . of lon. and between the 36th and the 44th of lat. being in length from cape creus in catalonia , to cape finestro in gallicia 630 miles ; and in breadth from gibralter in andaluzia , to cape pennas in asturia 480 miles . together with portugal , it made up the roman diocess of spain , sometimes called iberia and hesperia , and afterwards mus arabia , and now spain ; by the natives , la espanna ; by the french , l'espagne ; by the italians , la spagna ; by the polanders , hispanska ; by the germans , spanien ; and by the dutch , spangien . it was first conquered by the carthaginians , then by the romans , then by the vandals , immediately after by the goths , after that by the saracens and moors , and divided into several kingdoms , till anno 147 b. ferdinand drove out the moor● and erected a monarchy , which still continues . so that the present government is under its own king , who has many dominions and more titles , particularly that of the catholick king. his royal seat is madrid . the inhabitants descend from the goths , moors , iews , and old spaniards , all roman catholicks . their language , the vulgar spanish or castilian ; a manly tongue , composed of french , latine , gothish , arabick and old spanish . in biscay they speak the old cantabrian , and the arabick in some of the mountains in granada . their chief commodities are sacks , sugars , oyl , metals , rice , silk , orenges , raisins , wool , cork , rosin and lamb-skins . it contains 14 provinces , which are as following . 1. kingdom of gallicia , but part of the old gallicia , the most n. w. province 170 m. l. and 140 br . ch . t. compostella , mondonedo , coranna and lugo . 2. province of asturia , part of the old gallicia ; on the e. of gallicia , 135 m. l. and 60 br . divided into two parts , viz. 1. asturia de oviedo , ch . t. oviedo ; and 2. asturia de santillina , ch . t. santillina . oviedo is ch . t. of both . 3. province of biscay , and cantabria , part of the old tarraconensis ; on the e. of asturia 120 m. l. and 74 br . divided into three parts , viz. 1. ipusco or guipuscoa , ch . t. placentia ; 2. biscay , ch . t. bilbo ; and 3. alava , ch . t. salvatierra . bilbo is ch . t. of the whole . 4. kingdom of navarr , part of old tarraconensis , on the s. e. of biscay ; 96 m. l. & 88 br . ch . t. are pampalune , estella , olita , and tudela . 5. kingdom of aragon , part of tarraconensis and carthagenensis ; on the s. e. of navarr . 180 m. l. & 120 br . ch . t. are saragossa , iacca , balbastro and huesca . 6. principality of catalonia , part of old tarraconensis , on the e. of aragon ; 180 m. l. & 130 br . ch . t. are barcelona , taragon , and tortosa . in this is the country of rousillon , under the french ; ch . t. peripignan . 7. kingdom of valencia , part of old carthagenensis ; on the s. w. of catalonia ; 178 m. l. and 70 br . ch . t. are valencia , alicant , segorbe , and origrella . 8. kingdom of murcia , part of old carthagenensis ; on the s. w. of valencia ; 96 m. l. & 70 br . ch . t. are murcia , cartegena , and lorca . 9. new castile , part of old carthagenensis with a little of lusitania ; on the n. w. of murcia 230 m. l. & 220 br . ch . t. are madrid , toledo , alcala de henares , cuenca and cividad real . 10. old castile , part of old gallicia and carthagenensis ; on the n. of new castile ; 190 m. l. & 145 br . ch . t. are burgos , valadolid , and segovia . in this lies the province of rioja ; ch . t. logronno . 11. kingdom of leon , part of old gallicia and lusitania ; on the w. of old castile ; 165 m. l. & 110 br . ch . t. are leon , salamanca , toro , and astorga . 12. extremadura part of old lusitania and betica ; on the s. of leon ; 194 m. l. & 120 br . ch . t. are placentia , alcantra , merida , and coria . this pr. by some is made in leon , and by others in castile . 13. kingdom of andalusia , or vandalitia , part of old betica , with some of carthagenensis ; on the s. of extremadura and new castile ; 286 m l. 140 br . ch . t. sevil , cadis , cordova , and iaen . 14. kingdom of granada , part of old betica ; on the s. e. of andalusia ; 220 m. l. & 70 br . ch . t. are granada , guadix , and malaga . the spanish isles lie in the mediterranian , on the s. of catalonia ; they are 1. majorca , 2. minorca , ( these were the old baleures ) and 3. yvica . ch. t. are the same again . rivers of chiefest note are five , viz. 1. tego ▪ 2. ebro , 3. douro , 4. guadiana , and 5. guadalquiver . principal mountains ( besides the pirenean hills ) are , 1. siera morina , and 2. nevada . archbishopricks 8 , bishopricks 45 , universities 16. 2. portugal . the kingdom of portugal , properly a part of spain , lying on the w. of leon , extremadura , and andalusia ; and on the s. of gallicia . situated between the 7th and 11th degr . and 10 min. of lon. and between the 36 & 50 min. and the 46 & 20 min. of lat. being in length from north to south 360 miles , and in breadth from east to west 136 miles . it contains a great part of the old lusitania , with part of old gallicia and betica . it is by our modern linguists falsly called lusitania . it was first conquered by the romans , and run the same fortune with the rest of spain , till anno 1139. it had its own kings , who were afterwards tributary to spain , till anno 1640. it revolted , and still remains independent under its own kings , who has also considerable dominions in asia , africa and america . his royal seat is lisbon . the inhabitants , as well as those of spain , are all roman catholicks . their language is the vulgar spanish , but has somewhat more of the french than that . their chief commodities are honey , allom , fish , wine , oyl , fruits , white marble and salt. it contains six provinces , which are as following . 1. entre minho douro , part of the old gallicia ; the most n. province ; 75 m. l. & 54 br . ch . t. are braga , porto and barcelos . 2. tralos montes , part of old gallicia and lusitania ; on the e. of entre minho douro ; 120 m. l. & 100 br . ch . t. are miranda , bragenza and villa real . 3. beira , part of old lusitania , on the s. of trolos montes , and entre minho douro ; 130 m. l. & 95 br . ch . t. are coimbra , viseu and lamego . 4. estremadura , part of old lusitania ; on the s. w. of beira ; 140 m. l. & 80 br . ch . t. are lisbon , leiria and alangver . 5. alentejo , or entre tejo guadiana , part of old lusitania and betica ; on the s. e. of estremadura ; 165 m. l. & 98. br . ch . t. are evowra , elvas and beja . 6. kingdom of algarve , part of old lusitania ; on the s. of alentejo ; 86 m. l. & 35 br . since united to portugal ; ch . t. are faro , lagos and silves . rivers of chiefest note are three , viz. 1. tego , 2. douro , and 3. guadiana . i find no mountains . archbishopricks 3 , bishopricks 10 , universities 2. 3. france . the kingdom of france is a famous country , lying on the n. e. of spain , and w. of germany , and part of italy , almost in form of a square . situated between the 13th and the 27th and 10 min. of lon. and between the 42 and 15 min. and the 51 and 6 min. of lat. being in length from the w. parts of bretagne to the e. parts of provence 650 miles ; and the breadth from the borders of biscay in spain , to the n. e. parts of lorrain 550 miles . it contains the greatest part of the old gaul , ( by some galatia , and celto galatia ) now called by the italians , franza ; by the portuguez , franzam ; by the germans , franckreich ; by the dutch , vrancryck ; and by the polanders , francukazemia . it was first conquered by the romans , afterwards by the francks , goths , and burgun●ians ; the chief were the francks , who erected a monarchy , which has continued in the succession of kings of three several races , which by little and little has made themselves as great as any in christendom . so that it is now under its own king , who has the title of most christian king. his royal seat is paris . the inhabitants are for the most part roman catholicks ; the rest are protestants . their language is the vulgar french ; a very soft language , composed of old gallick , german , and latine . in some parts of bretagne they use the old british or welch . the chief commodities are salt , fish , corn , wines , almonds , coral , canvas , oade , linnen , paper , wood , and skins . it contains twelve governments , besides the conquests . they are as following . 1. government of picardy , part of old belgica secunda , the most n. province ; 130 m. l. & 36 br . divided into , 1. higher picardy , containing four counties ; ch . t. are amiens , and st. quinten ; and , 2. lower picardy , containing four counties ; ch . t. are abbeville , calais , and boulogne ; amiens is ch . t. of both . 2. government of champagne , part of belgica 2 , and lugdunensis 1 , & 4 ; on the s. e. of picardy , 160 m. l. & 130 br . ch . t. are reims , troyes , chalon and sens. to this is joyned the d. of barrois , sometimes part of lorrain ; ch . t. barleduc . 3. government of the isle of france , part of belgica secunda and lugdunensis 4. on the w. of champagne 160 m. l. & 115 br . ch . t. is paris . in this are included , 1. d. of valois ; ch . t. senlis . 2. pro. of gastenois ; ch . t. montargis : and , 3. pro. of brie ; ch . t. meaux . 4. government and dukedom of normandy an . nestria , and lugdunensis secunda ; on the w. of the isle of france , and s. w. of picardy ; 175 m. l. & 80 br . divided into the higher and lower , and those again into twelve counties . ch. t. are roven , caen , alencon and coutance . 5. government and dukedom of bretagne an . armorica , part of lugdunensis tertia ; on the s. w. of normandy , being the most w. part of all france ; 180 m. l. & 110 br . divided into counties . ch. t. are rennes , nants , brest and blavet . 6. government of orleanois , part old lug. 3 & 4 , and aquitain ; on the e. of bretagne ; 210 m. l. & 200 br . it contains 13 provinces : viz. 1. earl. of main ; ch . t. mans. 2. earl. of perch ; ch . t. nogen . 3. beauce ; ch . t. chartres . 4. d. of orleanois ; ch . t. orleans . 5. d. of nivernois ; ch . t. nevers . 6. d. of berry ; ch . t. bourges ▪ 7. blaisois ; ch . t. blois . 8. d. of vendosmois ; ch . t. vendosme . 9. d. of tourain ; ch . t. tours . 10. d. of anjou ; ch . t. anger 's . 11. earl of poictu ; ch . t. poictiers . 12. d. of angoumois ; ch . t. angoumois : and , 13. aunis ; ch . t. rochelle . orleans is ch . t. of the whole . 7. government of burgundy , part of old lugdunensis prima ; on the e. of orleanois ; 180 m. l. & 130 br . it contains four parts ; viz. 1. d. of burgundy , the greatest part ; ch . t. dyon and autun . 2. bress ; ch . t. bourg . 3. challonois ; ch . t. challon . and , 4. dombres ; ch . t. trevoux . dyon is ch . t. of the whole . 8. government of lionois , part of old aquitain and lugdunensis prima ; on the s. w. of burgundy ; 208 m. l. & 138 br . it contains seven provinces , viz. d. of la marche ; ch . t. gueret . 2. d. of bourbon ; ch . t. moulins and bourbon . 3. low auvergne ; ch . t. clermont . 4. high auvergne ; ch . t. st. flour . 5. forest ; ch . t. roanne . 6. bar. of beau●alvis ; ch . t. beaujeu : and , 7. leonois ch . t. lions , the chief of the whole . 9. government of guienne and gascony , the greatest part of old aquitain with a little of narbonensis ; on the s. w. of lionois ; 270 m. l. & 230 br . first , guienne contains nine provinces , viz. 1. earl. of saintogne ; ch . t. saintes . 2. perigort ; ch . t. perigeux . 3. limosin ; ch . t. limoges . 4. quercy ; ch . t. cahors . 5. rovergue ; ch . t. rhodes . 6. agenois ; ch t. agen. 7. bazadois ; ch . t. bazas . 8. guienne ; ch . t. bourdeaux : and , 9. condonois ; ch . t. condom . secondly , gascony contains twelve provinces , viz. 1. les landes ; ch . t. dax . 2. d. of albert ; ch . t. albert . 3. gascony ; ch . t. aire . 4. armanack ; ch . t. aux . 5. gavre ; ch . t. verdun . 6. cominges ; ch . t. lombes . 7. conserans ; ch . t. bertrant . 8. prin. of bearn ; ch . t. pan. 9. bigorre ; ch . t. tarbe . 10. soule ; ch . t. mauleon . 11. base navarr ; ch . t. st. palais . and , 12. la bour ; ch . t. bayonne . bourdeaux is ch . t. of the whole . 10. government of languedoc , part of old narbonensis with a little of aquitain ; on the e. of guienne and gascony ; 238 m. l. & 148 br . it contains three provinces , viz. 1. higher languedoc ; ch . t. thoulousse : in this are included two others , viz. albigois , ch . t. alby ; and the earl of foix , ch . t. foix. 2. lower , languedoc ; ch . t. mompelier and nismes : and 3. serennes , which contains three provinces , viz. givandan , ch . t. mende ; velay , ch . t. la puy ; and viviers , ch . t. viviers . the ch . t. of the whole is thoulousse . 11. government of dauphine , part of old narbonensis , afterwards part of vianensis prima ; on the e. of languedoc ; 150 m. l. & 110 br . divided into , 1. higher dauphine ; ch . t. ambrun and pignerol : and , 2. lower dauphine ; ch . t. grenoble and vienna . grenoble is chief of both . 12. government of provence , part of old narbonensis , afterwards part of vianensis tertia and prima ; on the s. of dauphine , 160 m. l. and 98 br . ch . t. are aix , arles , marselles , and toulon . here is also the county of venascin , ( under the pope ) ch . t. avignon ; in which lies the prin. of orenge ; ch . t. orenge , by right belonging to our king. 13. to these are added two others , viz. the dukedom of lorrain , part of old belgica prima , now under the french. it lies on the e. of champagne , 128 m. l. & 98 br . divided into three baliwicks , viz. nancy , vandrevauge , and vauge ; ch . t. are nancy , me●z , toul , and verdun . here is also the prin. of salm ; ch . t. salm. 14. franche comte , or the county of burgundy , part of old lugdunensis quinta , formerly under spain . it lies on the s. of lorrain , 135 m. l. & 84 br . divided into three counties , viz. amoul , dole , and aval ; ch . t. besanson , dole , and salms . here is also the county of mombeliart ; ch . t. mombeliart . this and the d. of burgundy make up one of the 10 circles of germany . the conquests in the low countrys and alsatia shall be treated of afterwards . rivers of principal note are four , viz. 1. loyre , 2. seyne , 3. garond , and 4. rhosne . chief mountains ( besides the pirenean hills ) are those called sevennes in languedoc . archbishopricks 18. bishopricks 106. universities 20. 4. italy . ittaly , one of the most famous countrys in europe , lies on the s. e. of france , and s. of germany , incompassed on three sides with sea. situated between the 25th and the 40th , and 40 min. of lon. and between the 37th and 36 min. and the 46th and 10 min. of lat. it is almost in form of a mans leg , being in length from geneva to otranto 760 miles ; in breadth from nizza to trieste 380 , from ancona to civita vechia 134 , and from policastro to barletta but 75 miles . in this extent were comprehended the old diocess of rome , the greatest part of that of italy , and part of gaul . it was anciently called ausonia , latium , hesperia , saturnia , and oenotria ; now , by the germans , welschlandt ; by the danes , valland ; by the turks , talia ; by the poles , wolskazemia ; and by the sclavonians , vloska . it anciently had several governments , till conquered by the romans , who had their emperours till conquered by the goths , and soon after by the longobards , and after that by the french and germans , till the imperial power failing , it was reduced to several petty governments ; so that it is at present ruled by the king of spain , the pope , five dukes of the greater sort , four of the less , three common-wealths , with some other small governments . the chief city is rome . the inhabitants are roman catholicks , with some few protestants in the n. w. parts . their language , the vulgar italian , very courtly and fluent , composed of latine and old italian , with some lombardian in the north , some gothish in the middle , and a little greek in the s. east ; but in savoy they speak the french. their chief commodities are corn , wine , oyl , fruits , rice , silks , velvits , taffaties , grograms , sattins , fustians , allom and glasses . it contains 12 provinces , besides the isles , which are as following . 1. dukedom of savoy , part of old gallia norbonensis ; the most n. w. province bordering on france , 90 m. l. & 60. br . it contains seven parts , viz. 1. the commonwealth of geneva , ( free ) ch . t. geneva . 2. county of geneva ; ch . t. annecy . 3. proper savoy ; ch . t. chambery . 4. morienne ; ch . t. st. iean . 5. tarentess ; ch . t. moustiers . 6. fossigny ; ch . t. cluse : and , 7. d. of chablais ; ch . t. thonon . chambery is ch . t. of the whole . it is under its own independent dukes , except the state of geneva . 2. principality of piedmont , part of old narbonensis , with a little of liguria ; on the s. e. of savoy , 140 m. l. & 104 br . it contains nine provinces , viz. 1. d. of aoust ; ch . t. aoust . 2. signeuri of vercelli ; ch . t. vercels . in this is the prin. of masserino ( under its own princes ) ch . t. masserino . 3. mar. of susa ; ch . t. susa ( under the french ) . 4. prendi ; ch . t. turin . 5. mar. of iurea ; ch . t. iurea . 6. proper piedmont ; ch . t. conio . 7. asti ; ch . t. asti. 8. mar. of saluzzo ; ch . t. saluzzo . 9. nizza ; ch . t. nizza . turin is ch . t. of the whole . it is under savoy , except masserino and susa. 3. dukedom of montferret , that part of old liguria that was called cisapennina ; on the e. of piedmont , 65 m. l. & 45. br . it comprehends the ter ▪ of laughe , and is partly under the duke of savoy , and partly under the duke of mantua ; ch . t. under mantua , are casale and acqui ; ch . t. under savoy , are alba and trino . casale is chief of all . 4. the state of genoa , part of old liguria , an independent commonwealth , on the s. of montferret and e. of piedmont , 155 m. l. & 30 br . ch t. are genoa , savona , albenga and noli . in the bounds of this province lies , 1. the prin. of onegla , ch . t. onegla ( under savoy ) . 2. mar. of finale , ( under spain ) ch . t. finale . 3. town and mar. of torreglia , under its own prince : and , 4. prince of monaco , under france . 5. dukedom of milan , the greatest part of old gallia transpadana , with some of liguria ; on the n. of genoa , and e. of montferret and piedmont , 155 m. l. & 115 br . it contains eight parts , viz. 1. milaness , ch . t. milan . 2. novare , ch . t. novara . 3. lanmellina , ch . t. lanmellina . 4. alessandrino , ch . t. alessandria . 5. tortonese , ch . t. tortona . 6. pavese , ch . t. pavia . 7. lodigiano , ch . t. lodi : and , 8. cremonese , ch . t. cremona . it is now under the king of spain . 6. dukedom of parma , part of the old gallia cispadana , on the s. e. of milan , and n. e. of genoa , 60 m. l. & 55 br . it is divided into three parts , viz. 1. d. of parma it self , ch . t. parma . 2. d. of piecenza , ch . t. piecenza : and , 3. ter. of busetto , ch . t. busetto . all under the d. of parma . 7. dukedom of modena , part of old gallia cispadana ; on the e. of parma , 84 m. l. & 46 br . ch . t. are modena and regio . in the bounds of this dukedom are four other small provinces , viz. 1. ter. of carpi , ch . t. carpi . 2. ter. of corregio , ch . t. corregio . these two are under the duke of modena . 3. d. of mirandula , ch . t. mirandula . and , 4. prin. of novellara , ch . t. novellara . these two are under their own princes . 8. dukedom of mantua , part of the old cenomani ; on the n. of modena , 68 m. l. & 38 br . ch . t. mantua . in the bounds of this dukedom are four other soveraignties , ( besides the prin. of bozolo , under the d. of mantua , ) viz. 1. d. of sabionetta , ch . t. sabionetta . 2. d. of guastilla , ch . t. guastilla . 3. prin. of castiglione , ch . t. castillon : and 4. prin. of solfare . these are under their several princes . 9. commonwealth of venice , on the n. e. of mantua , 260 m. l. & 114 br . it contains the old venetia , carnia , istria , and part of cenomani ; now divided into 14 provinces , viz. 1. b●rgamasco , ch . t. bergamo . 2. cremense , ch . t. crema . 3. bressciano , ch . t. bresscia . 4. veronez , ch . t. verona . 5. vicentino , ch . t. vicenza . 6. paduano , ch . t. padua . 7. rovigino , ch . t. rovigo . 8. dogato , ch . t. venice . 9. marca trevigiano , ch . t. trevigio . 10. feltrino , ch . t. feltri . 11. belluness , ch . t. belluno . 12. cadorino , ch . t. cadore . 13. friuli , ch . t. vdine : and , 14. istria , ch . t. cabo d' istria . these nine provinces commonly go under the general name of lumbardy . 10. the state of the church or the popedom under the pope , on the s. of venice , 260 m. l. & 130 br . it contains the old pro. of vmbria , picenum , sabina , greatest part of latium , with part of gal. cispadana and hetruria , now divided into 12 provinces , viz. 1. d. of ferrara , ch . t. ferrara . 2. bologness , ch . t. bologna . 3. romagna , ch . t. ravenna . in this is the town and soveraign mar. of meldola . 4. d. of vrbine , ch . t. vrbine . in this are the county of citta de castello ; ter. of fano ; and the commonwealth of st. marino , ( independent ) ch . t. are the same . 5. mar. of ancona , ch . t. ancona . 6. d. of spoletto or vmbria , ch . t. spoletto . 7. perugiano , ch . t. perugia . 8. orviatano , ch . t. orvieto . 9. d. of castro , ( under the d. of parma ) ch . t. castro . 10. st. peter's patrimony ; ch . t. viterbo . in this are the d. of braciano ( under its own d. ) county of roncigliano ; and that of citta de castillana , ch . t. are the same . 11. sabina , ch . t. magliano . 12. campagna di roma , ch . t. rome . 11. great dukedom of tuscany , but a part of the old tuscia or hetruria ; on the s. w. of the popedom , 170 m. l. & 120 br . it contains , 1. the dukedom of florence , ch . t. florence . 2. ter. of sienna , ch . t. sienna . 3. ter of pisa , ch t. pisa and leghorn . these are under the duke of tuscany . 4. common-wealth of luca , ( independent ) ch . t. luca. 5. the state of presidii , ( under spain ) ch . t. orbitello . 6. duke of carrara and massa ( under its own duke ) . 7. prin. of piombino , ch . t. piombino : its prince is under the protection of spain . florence is ch . t. of the whole . 12. kingdom of naples , on the s. e. of the popedom , 340 m. l. & 120 br . it contains the old pro. of samnum , campania , apulia , messapia , lucania , brutium , with a little of latium ; now divided into twelve provinces , viz. 1. abruzzo the further , ch . t. aquila . 2. abruzzo the nigher , ch . t. lanciano and civita di chie . 3. molissa , ch . t. molise . 4. terra di lavoro , ch . t. naples , and capua . 5. further principate , ch . t. benevento . 6. nigher principate , ch . t. salerno . 7. basilicate , ch . t. cirenza . 8. capitinate , or puglia , ch . t. manfredonia . 9. terra di bari , ch . t. bari . 10. terra di otranto , ch . t. otranto . 11. calabria the nigher , ch . t. cosenze , and rossano . 12. calabria the further , ch . t. regio and st. severino . it is under the k. of spain . the italian isles are chiefly three ; which are , 1. kingdom of sicily , on the s. w. of naples , 200 m. l. & 148 br . under the k. of spain . divided into three provinces , viz. 1. val di demona , ch . t. messina and catana . 2. val di noto , ch . t. siracossa and noto : and , 3. val di mazera , ch . t. palermo and montreal . palermo is ch . of all . 2. kingdom of sardinia an . ichusua and sandaliotes , on the n. w. of sicily , 160 m. l. 94 br . ch . t. are cagliari , crestagni and sassari . it is under the k. of spain . 3. island of corsica , under the common-wealth of genoa , on the n. of sardinia , 115 m. l. & 55 br . ch . t. are bastia , corte , st. florence , and boniface . rivers of chiefest note are four , viz. 1. po , 2. adige , 3. tiber , and 4. arno. mountains of greatest note , are the alps and apennine . chief lakes are eight , viz. 1. garda , 2. como , 3. magjore , 4. iseo , 5. lugato , 6. perugia , 7. celano , and 8. bolseno . patriarchs three , viz. rome , venice , and aquileja . archbishopricks 78 , bishopricks 278 , universities 17. 5. british isles . the british isles , or the english dominions lie in the western ocean , on the n. of france , and w. of denmark and the low countries . situated between the 8th and the 20th , & 55 min. of lon. and between the 50 and 59th degr . of lat. under this name are comprehended , 1. england , 2. wales , 3. scotland , and 4. ireland . 1. england . the kingdom of england lies on the s. of scotland , in a triangular form , incompassed on three sides with the sea. in length from n. to s. about 325 miles , in breadth from e. to w. about 300 miles , containing about 30 millions of acres . it contains the greatest part of the ancient albion and britain , sometimes called lhoegria : now called by the french , angleterre ; by the italians , inghilterra ; by the spaniards , inglaterra ; and by the germans , engellandt . it was first conquered by the romans ; after that it had its own kings ; next by the saxons , dividing it into seven kingdoms , but afterwards united again ; then by the danes , again by the saxons ; at last by the normans , who erected that monarchy which still continues : so it is now wholly under its own king , who has the title of defender of the faith. his royal seat is at london . the inhabitants are of the reformed religion , here taught in its purity ; some few are papists . their language a branch of the tutonick , chiefly compounded of dutch , latine , and french ; in some parts of cornwal they use a sort of welch . their chief commodities are corn , cattel , metals , timber , coals , abundance of wool , cloth , stuffs , linnen , hides , tallow , butter , cheese , beer , &c. for the better methods sake , i shall divide it into the six circuits of the judges . 1. the northern circuit , the seat of the old brigantes and otalini , afterwards the k. of northumberland . now containing six counties , viz. northumberland , durham , york , cumberland , westmorland , and lancashire ; ch . t. are york , durham and new-castle . 2. midland circuit , the seat of the old corotani , and a few of the cornavii , afterwards part of the k. of mercia . it lies on the s. of the n. circuit , containing seven counties , viz. lincoln , rutland , northampton , nottingham , darby , leicester , and warwick ; ch . t. are , lincoln , peterborough , and nottingham . 3. oxford circuit , the seat of the old duboni , atrebati , greatest part of the cornavii , with some of the silures , afterwards part of the k. of mercia , and a little of the k. of w. saxons . it contains eight counties , viz. oxford , berks , gloucester , monmouth , hereford , salop , and stafford ; to these we may joyn ( for methods sake ) the county palatine of chester : ch . t. are oxford , chester , and gloucester . 4. norfolk circuit , the seat of the old iceni with some of the catvellani , afterwards the k. of east angles with a part of mercia . it lies on the e. of oxford circuit , containing six counties , viz. norfolk , suffolk , cambridge , huntington , bedford , and buckingham : ch . t. are norwich , ipswich , and cambridge . 5. home circuit , the seat of the old trinobant●s , regni , cantii , with a few of the catvellani , afterwards the k. of e. saxons , s. saxons , and kent . it lies on the s. of norfolk circuit , containing five counties , viz. surry , sussex , kent , essex , and hertford-shire , to which we may joyn middlesex : ch . t. are london , canterbury , and colchester . 6. western circuit , the seat of the old dummonii , belg●e , and durotriges , afterwards the greatest part of the k. of w. saxons . it lies on the w. of home circuit , containing six counties , viz. southampton , wilts , dorset , somerset , devon , and cornwal : ch . towns are bristol , exeter , and salusbury . chief rivers are three , viz. 1. thames , 2. severn , and 3. trent . mountains of greatest note , are ingleborough , pendle , and pennegent . archbishopricks 2 , bishopricks 22 , universities 2. 2. wales . the principality of wales , lies on the west of england , sometimes reckoned a part thereof ; seperated from it by the river dee , and a line drawn to the river wie . in length from n. to s. about 124 miles , and in breadth from e. to w. about 100 miles . it contains the greatest part of the roman britannia secunda , sometimes called cambria , and at this day by the french called galles . it was first conquered by the romans , and afterwards had a king of its own , and sometimes two together ; till at last the kings of england by little and little reduced them : so that it is at present under the kings of england , whose eldest son has the title of prince of wales . the inhabitants are most protestants ; their language very harsh , being the same with the old british , but the english tongue is used also in many places . their chief commodities are wool , metals , coals , cottons , bays , cloth , &c. divided into two parts , viz. 1. north wales , the seat of the old ordovices , afterwards the k. of guinedth and part of powisland . it contains six counties , viz. flint , denbigh , isle of anglesey , carnarvan , merioneth , and montgomery : ch . t. are st. asaph , montgomery , and denbigh . 2. south wales , the seat of the old dimetae and part of silures , afterwards the k. of debenbarch and part of powisland . it contains six counties , viz. cardigan , radnor , pembrook , carmarthen , brecknock , and glamorgan : ch . t. are pembrook , st. davids , and llandaff . principal rivers are those called , 1. wie , and 2. d ee . chief mountains are , 1. snowdon , and 2. plinlimmon . 3. scotland . the kingdom of scotland lies on the n. of england , from which seperated by the rivers tweed and solway and the cheriot-hills ; in length from dungisby-head to the s. parts of galway 250 miles ; in breadth from aberdeen to the isle of mule 150 miles . it was anciently called calidonia , and sometimes albania ; now by the french , l' escosse ; by the germans , schottlandt . it was for many ages governed by its own kings , till anno 1602. it was to our great content united to england , and still remains under that king ; but some of the northern parts are almost free : ch . t. is edenburgh , the seat of the former kings . the inhabitants are mostly protestants , inclining to presbytery . their language in the south parts is a corrupt english , and on the north and west a dialect of the irish. their chief commodities are cattel , cows , cloths , friezes , fish , tallow , hides , lead-oar . it is divided into two parts , which are , 1. highland , or north scotland . the seat of the old scots , 170 m. l. & 138 br . it contains thirteen counties , viz. loquebrea , braid albin , perth , athol , anguis , mern , mar , buquhan , murrey , ross , sutherland , cathannes , and strathnavern : ch . t. are aberdeen , perth , and dundee . 2. lowland , or south scotland , the seat of the old picts , 156 m. l. & 110 br . it contains twenty one counties , viz. tiffedale , merch , landien , liddisdale , eskadale , annandale , niddisdale , galloway , carrick , kile , cunhingham , arran , clivesdale , lennox , sterlin , fife , strathern , menteith , argile , cantire , and lorn : ch . t. are edenburgh , glasco , and st. andrews . principal rivers are two , viz. 1. tay , and 2. spey . chief mountains are , 1. cheriot hills , and 2. those of albany . archbishopricks 2 , bishopricks 12 , universities 4. 4. ireland . the kingdom of ireland , an island lying on the west of england and wales ; being in length from n. to south about 270 miles , and in breadth from e. to w. about 160 miles . anciently called scotia minor , iuverna , hibernia , iernia , and bernia ; now by the natives , erin , and by the welch , yverdon , and by the english , ireland . the people were formerly without law or government ; first conquered by the norwegians , then partly by henry the second of england , and not long after reduced to england . so that it is at present under the kings of england . governed by a vice-roy or deputy , whose seat is at dublin . the inhabitants are both protestants and papists . their language , a dialect of the old british , intermixed with norwegian , danish and english. the english is also frequently used among them . their chief commodities are cattel , hides , tallow , butter , cheese , honey , wax , furs , salt , hemp , linnen-cloth , pipe-staves , wool , friezes , rugs , mantles , &c. it is divided into four provinces , which are , 1. vlster , containing all the northern parts , the seat of the old rhobognii , darnii , volontii , vemenii , and erdini , 116 m. l. & 100 br . it contains ten counties , viz. dunnagal , fermanagh , tirone , londonderry or colerain , antrim , down , armagh , moneghon , lough , and cavan : ch . t. are londonderry , drogheda , and armagh . 2. connaught , on the s. w. of vlster , the seat of the old auseri , cangani , and nagnatae , 130 m. l. & 84 br . it contains six counties , viz. letrim , slego , majo , roscoman , galloway , and thomond or clare : ch . t. are galloway , killaloe , and athlone . 3. leinster , on the e. of connaught , the seat of the old menapii , cauci , blanii , and brigantes , 112 m. l. & 70 br . it contains eleven counties , viz. dublin , kildare , kings county , queens county , kilkenny , caterlaugh , wicklo , and wexford . the pro. of meath makes the other three , viz. east-meath , west-meath , and longford : ch . t. are dublin , wexford , and kilkenny . 4. munster , on the s. of leinster and connaught , the seat of the old velibori , vterni , vodii , and coriondi , 135 m. l. & 125 br . it contains six counties , viz. tipperary , waterford , lymrick , kerry , cork , and desmond : ch . t. are cork , lymrick , and waterford . rivers of principal note are , 1. shannon , and 2. awiduff , or black water . archbishopricks 4 , bishopricks 19 , university 1. the lesser british isles are , 1. orcades , 2. schetland , 3. the hebraides , 4. man , 5. wight , &c. these are of no considerable note , so i shall pass on . 6. low countries . the low-countries , a knot of provinces right against england , on the n. of france , and w. of germany . situated between the 49th and 16 min. and the 53 and 37 min. of lat. and between the 21st and the 26th and 28 min. of lon. being in length from the n. parts of groningen , to the s. parts of luxemburg 264 miles , and in breadth from the w. parts of artois , to the e. parts of luxemburg 192 miles ; containing about half of the ancient belgium , with some of old germany . sometimes at present called belgium , and the lower germany , and also the 17 provinces ; by the dutch , nederland . it was first conquered by the romans , afterwards by the french , then divided into several governments , till anno 1309 , reduced to one by philip d. of burgundy , till anno 1581 , some of the provinces revolted , declaring themselves free ; and since the french have gained several conquests : so that the present government is under the hollanders , spanish , french , and the b. of liege . the ch . t. of the vnited provinces is amsterdam , and that of the spanish provinces is antwerp . the inhabitants of the spanish provinces are mostly papists ; in the vnited provinces all religions are suffered , but most are calvinists . their language is the flemmish , or low dutch , a dialect of the german . in hainault , artois , and french flanders , they use the walloon , or a corrupted french. the chief commodities are linnen , scarlet , silks , velvits , armours , ropes , cables , butter , cheese , prepared buff , ox-hides , spanish leather , &c. it contains 17 provinces , which are , 1. barony of groningen , the most northern province , 45 m. l. & 30 br . containing six little parts , viz. hunsingo , westerquarter , fivelingo , goorecht , oldeamten , and westerwolt ; ch . t. are groningen , dam , and winschoten . 2. barony of west-friesland , on the w. of groningen , 36 m. l. & 32 br . containing three small parts , viz. oostergoe , westergoe , and sevenwolden : ch . t. are lewarden , and franaker . 3. barony of overyssel , on the s. e. of west-friesland , and s. of groningen , 62 m. l. & 46 br . it contains three little parts , viz. drente , sallandt , and twenthe : ch . t. are daventer , swoll , and campen . 4. earldom of zutphen , on the s. of overyssel , 32 m. l. & 26 br . ch . t. zutphen and grol . to which is united all the d. of gelderland that is under the hollanders , 56 m. l. & 36 br . ch . t. are nimmegen and arnhem . 5. barony of vtrecht , on the w. of gelderland and zutphen ; 42 m. l. & 20 br . ch . t. are vtrecht , amersfort , and duerstede . 6. earldom of holland , on the w. of vtrecht , 70 m. l. & 46 br . ( besides the islands ) divided into , 1. north-holland , ch . t. amsterdam , harlem , and alcamaer ; and , 2. south-holland , ch . t. rotterdam , hague , and leiden . 7. earldom of zeland , on the s. of holland ; containing seven islands , viz. schwoen , d●veland , tolen , n. beverland , s. beverland , wolferdicke , and walcheran : ch . t. are middleburg , and flussing . these are called the seven vnited provinces , one of the most considerable commonwealths in the world ; they contain a part of old germany , some of them being then a part of ancient saxony . 8. earldom of flanders , on the s. w. of zeland , 86 m. l. & 65 br . subject to the spaniards , french , and hollanders : ch . t. of the spaniards , are ghent and bruges ; of the french , are dunkirk and lille ; of the hollanders , are sluys and hulst . 9. earldom of artois , on the s. w. of flanders , 70 m. l. & 65 br . wholly under the french : ch . t. are arras and st. omers . to this may be joyned the b. of cambray : ch . t. cambray , also under the french. 10. earldom of hainault , on the e. of art●is , 68 m. l. & 60 br . it belongs mostly to the french. ch. t. of the spaniards , are mons and aeth ; of the french , are valenciennes and maubeuge . mons is ch . t. of both . 11. earldom of namur , on the e. of hainault , 34 m. l. & 30 br . ch . t. are namur , charlemont , and charleroy . a little part of it is under the french. 12. dukedom of brabant , on the n. of namur , 90 m. l. & 72 br . partly under the hollanders . ch. t. of the spaniards , are brussels and lovain ; ch . t. of the hollanders , are breda and boisleduc . 13. the marquisate of the holy empire , a small province in the bounds of brabant , yet makes one of the 17 provinces : ch . t. is antwerp . so is also , 14. the signeury of mechlin , or malines , another little province in brabant ; ch . t. is mechlin . 15. bishoprick of liege , on the e. of brabant , 74 m. l. & 35 br . ch . t. liege and maestricht ( under holland ) . it is under its own bish. who is elec. of cologn , and is part of the westphalian circle in germany . 16. dukedom of limburg , also a part of the westphalian circle ; on the e. of liege , 38 m. l. & 30 br . ch t. is limburg . it includes the ter. of valkenburg ( under the hollanders ) ch . t. valkenburg . 17. dukedom of luxumburg , on the s. of limburg , 82 m. l. & 72 br . partly under the french. ch. t. of the spaniards , are luxumburg and bastoigne ; ch . of the french , are thionville and monmedy . here is also the d. of buillon and ter. of st. hubert , both under the b. of liege . these ten provinces are called the spanish or catholick provinces , tho' at present not all under spain . the inhabitants under spain , are called flemmings , and those under france , walloons . they contain part of the old belgica prima and secunda , with all germania secunda . rivers of principal note are three , viz. 1. rhine , 2. maes , and 3. schold . mountains i find not . archbishopricks 3 , bishopricks 18 , universities 9. 7. germany . the empire of germany lies on the e. of the low-countries and france ; on the n. of italy ; and on the w. of poland and turky , in form of a square . situated between the 25th and the 39th and 30 min. of lon. and between the 45th and 12 min. and the 54 and 50 min. of lat. being in length from the n. parts of pomerania , to the s. parts of trent about 640 miles , and in breadth from the w. parts of triers to the e. parts of silesia about 550 miles . in these bounds are contained but a part of old germany , with part of gaul , illyricum , and some of old italy , now called by the inhabitants , teutschlandt , or teitschlandt ; by the french , almagne ; by the spaniards , almesia , by the italians , la germania , or l' allemagnia ; by the dutch , duistlandt ; by the poles , nicmieczka ; by the hungarians , nemes : and by the greeks , elmagi . it was a good part co●quered by the romans ; after they left it , it was divided among several nations , till anno 801 the french conquered it , and erected an empire , which still continues , but a great part was soon after dismembred into many petty governments ; so that it is now under the government of the emperour , the k. of sweedland , k. of france , k. of denmark ; six soveraign dukes ; three great bishops ; one great palatine ; one lantgrave ; with a great many inf●rior dukes , earls , bishops , as also many imperial cities and hance towns , so that there are above 300 soveraignties in germany . the imperial seat is vienna . the inhabitants are both papists and protestants , the later lutherans and calvinists . their language is the high dutch , an original tongue very harsh . in bohemia they speak the sclavonian ; the italian in tirol and part of switzerland ; the french in part of alsatia and wallisland ; and the cauchian ( among themselves ) in emden . their chief commodities are corn , metals , allom , salt , wine , flesh , linnen , quicksilver , saffron , armour , and iron-works . this empire is divided into ten circles , besides other provinces in these bounds . they are , 1. circle of the upper saxony , but a small part of the old saxony , the most n. e. province 380 m. l. & 210 br . it contains three parts , viz. first , the d. of pomerania , divided into , 1. ducal ( under the d. of brand. ) ch . t. camin and colberg . 2. royal ( under the k. of sweden . ) ch . t. stetin and stralsund : to these may be added the isle and prin. of rugen , ch . t. bergen ; and the isles of wolin and wedom , ch . t. the same . secondly , the marq. of brandenburg , divided into , 1. alt-mark , ch . t. stendal ; 2. middlemark , ch . t. berlin ; and 3. newmark , ch . t. lansperg . thirdly , the states of saxony , divided into six parts , viz. 1. d. of saxony ( under its own d. and elector ) ch . t. wittenburg . 2. prin. of anhalt ( under several little princes ) ch . t. bernburg . 3. earl of mansfield ( sequestred to the elec. of sax. ) ch . t. mansfield . 4. langravedom of thuringia , ch . t. erfurt ( under mentz . ) here is also another ter. under mentz and the d. of hall , weimar , gotha , and eisenach ; the earl of hoensten , schwartzburg , stolberg , and beichlingen , ch . t. the same ; all under their own princes of the house of saxony . 5. mar. of misnia , ch . t. dresden ( under the elec. of sax. ) in the bounds of these pro. are the d. of osterland or altemburg , with the b. of mersburg and naumburg , under their several princes of the house of saxony . 6. voitland , ch . t. plaven , this is under the elector of saxony . ch. t. of the whole circle is berlin . 2. circle of the lower saxony , part of the old saxony , on the w. of upper saxony , 240 m. l. & 220 br . it contains seven parts , viz. 1. d. of holstein , which shall be spoken of in denmark . 2. d. of mecklenburg ( subject to the two d. of gustrow and swerin ) ch . t. wismar . 3. d. of lawenburg ( belonging to saxony ) ch . t. lawenburg . 4. d. of breme ( subject to the sweeds ) ch . t. breme ; to which is joyned the prin. of verdun , ch . t. verdun . 5. d. of lunenburg ( under its own dukes ) ch . t. zell and lunenburg . 6. d. of brunswick , divided into two branches , viz. wolfenbuttel brunswick ( under its own d. ) ch . t. brunswick , and wolfenbuttel ; and hanover brunswick , containing the ter. of calenbury , ch . t. hanover ; d. of grupenhagen , ch . t. grupenhagen , with the ter. of gottingen and hamelin , all subject to the prince of hanover . within the bounds of this d. are the bish. of hildersheim ( under its own b. ) ch . t. hildersheim ; and the prin. of halberstat , ( subject to the d. of bran. ) ch . t. halberstat . 7. d. of magdeburg ( under the d. of bran. ) ch . t. magdeburg , chief of this circle . 3. circle of westphalia , on the w. of lower saxony , a great part of it was part of the old saxony , 220 m. l. & 156 br . setting aside limburg and liege , it contains about 31 provinces , viz. four dukedoms . 1. westphalia ( under the arch. of cologne ) ch . t. arensberg . 2. berg , ( subject to the d. of bran. ch . t. dusseldorp . 3. cleves ( under the d. of bran. ) ch . t. cleves . 4. iuliers ( subject to the d. of newburg ) ch . t. iuliers . one principality . 5. minden ( under the d. of brandenburg ) ch . t. minden . three bishopricks . 6. munster . 7. paderbone ( both under the b. of munster ) 8. osnaburg ( under the d. of brunswick ) ch . t. of these are the same . twenty two counties . 9. mark , ch . t. ham. 10. ravensburg ( both under bran. ) 11. oldenburg , under the k. of denmark ▪ 12. piremont , under the b. of munster . 13. schwaenburg , under the count of lippe . 14. hoya , under lunenburg and hassia . 15. diepholt , under lunenburg . 16. ritburg , under munster . 17. linge , under the prince of orange . 18. emden , partly under the hollanders . 19. lippe . 20. bentheim . 21. borchstenfort . 22. rheda . 23. tecklenburg . 24. vlots . 25. suga . 26. virnenberg . 27. mandoscheid . 28. wied and runckel . 29. branckhorst or gronsfeld . and 30. dilleborg , these twelve are under their own counts , ch . t. the same . 31. abbacy of corbey , ch . t. corbey , under its own abbots . ch. t. of this circle is munster . 4. circle of the upper rhine , on the s. of westphalia , containing some part of old belgium and franconia ; now may be divided into five parts , viz. 1. the lantgravedom of hassia ( under its own prince ) ch . t. cassel . in the bounds of this lies the county of waldick , ch . t. waldick ; and the abbacy of fuld , ch . t. fuld , both under their own princes . 2. the confederation of weteraw , which are weteraw , ch . t. dillenburg ; nassaw , ( under the prince of orange ) ch . t. nassaw ; solms , hanaw , eysenberg , sayn , witgenstein , &c. ch . t. the same ; all under their own counts . 3. county of erpach , by some put in franconia , ( under its own count ) ch . t. erpach , adjoyning to this is the lan. of darmstat or gerewar , ch . t. darmstat ; its prince is of the family of hassia . 4. bish. of spires , in the bounds of the palatinate , but of this circle , ( under its own b ) ch . t. spires ( free ) . 5. lan. of alsatia , ( under the french ) divided into three parts , viz. lower alsatia , ch . t. strasburg ; higher alsatia , ch . t. colmar ; and suntgow , ch . t. mulhausen . strasburg is ch . t. of this circle . 5. circle of the lower rhine , divides the upper rhine into two parts , being 180 m. l. & 145 br . it contains part of old belgium , and some of franconia . now divided into four parts , viz. 1. arch. of cologne , ch . t. cologn , and bonn. in the bounds of this lies the county of meurs ( under the prince of orange ) ch . t. meurs . 2. arch. of triers , ch . t. triers and coblentz . 3. arch. of mentz , ch . t. mentz . in the bounds of this lies the ter. of francford , usually set in franconia , ch . t. francford ( free ) . 4. palatinate of the rhine , divided into thirteen baliwicks , ch . t. hidelberg . in the bounds of this lies the bish. of worms , ( under its own b ) ch . t. worms ( free ) . to these we may add the d. zweybruken , or deux points ( under the french ) ch . t. zweybruck . these four provinces are all under their own princes , who are electors ; but the french have still some of the western parts . cologne is ch . t. of the circle . 6. as for the circle of burgandy , which lies next , has been already spoken on in france , and now has no votes in the diets , therefore i shall pass on to the next . 7. circle of suabia , or schwaben , an . suevia , on the s. e. of the circles of the rhine , 148 m. l. and as many br . some of it was part of the old vindilicia . it contains about eighteen parts , viz. one dukedom , 1. of wirtemburg , ch . t. stugart ; two bishopricks , viz : 2. constance , ( under the emperour ) ch . t. constance . 3. ausburg , ch . t. ausburg ; three marquisates . 4. baden , ch . t. baden . 5. burgaw , ch . t. burgaw . 6. ortnaw , ch . t. offenburg , ( these two are under the emperour ) two principalities . 7. furstemburg , ch . t. furstemburg . 8. hoen zollern , ch . t. hoen zollern . three counties . 9. oeting , ch . t. oeting . 10. rechberg , ch . t. gemund . 11. konigseck , ch . t. konigseck . three baronies . 12. waldburg , ch . t. waldburg . 13. limpu●g , ch . t. limpu●g . 14. iustingen , ch . t. iustingen . 15. state of the fuggers , ch . t. babenhausen . 16. state of vlm , ch . t. vlm. 17. abbacy of kempten , ch . t. kempten . these , besides some before excepted , are under their own princes . here is also , 18. the ter. of brisgow , ch . t. friburg , with several other nameless territories under the emperour , and also about 35 free towns. the ch . t. of this circle is ausburg . 8. circle of franconia , or franckenland , but a part of the old franconia ; on the n. e. of suabia , 134 m. l. and as many br . it contains about sixteen parts , viz. three bishopricks , 1. wurtzburg , ch . t. wurtzburg . 2. bamberg , ch . t. bamberg . 3. a●chstat , ch . t. aichstat , all under their own bishops . one dukedom of , 4. coburg , ( under the house of saxony ) ch . t. coburg . one principality , 5. henneberg , ch . t. smalkaden , part under the house of saxony , and part under hussia . two marquisates , 6. culemba●h , ( under the d. of bran. ) ch . t. culembach . 7. onspach , ch . t. onspach . the prince is a branch of the house of brandenburg . six counties , 8. wertheim , ch . t. wertheim . 9. holach , ch . t. oringen . 10. papenheim , ch . t. papenheim . 11. reineck , ch . t. reineck . 12. schwartzenberg , ch . t. schwartzenberg . 13. castel , ch . t. castel , all under their own counts . 14. bar. of sensheim , ch . t. sensheim , under its own prince . 15. state of nurenburg , ch . t. nurenburg . 16. state of the great master of the tutonick order , ch . t. margentheim . here are also about six free towns. the ch . t. of the whole circle is nurenburg . 9. circle of bavaria , on the s. e. of franconia , containing part of the old vindilitia and noricum , with some of old franconia . it is 215 m. l. & 154 br . and contains three parts , viz. 1. nortgow , or the palatinate of bavaria ; in which is the lantgravedom of leutchtenberg , ch ▪ t. leutchtenberg ; and the ter. of amberg , ch . t. amberg , both under the d. of bavaria . 2. dukedom of bavaria , ( under its own d. and elector ) ch . t. munchen . in this are the bish. of ratisbone , passaw , and freysingen ; and the abbaeies of waldhfassen , st. haimeran and keyssheim , ch . t. the same ; all under their own princes . 3. archbish. of saltzburg , ( under its own arch. ) ch . t. saltzburg . beside these , intermixed with nortgow and the d. of bavaria , lies the d. of newburg , ch . t. newburg . the duke is also elector palatine of the rhine . ch. t. of this circle is munchen . 10. circle of austria , on the s. e. of bavaria , 335 m. l. & 216 br . it contains part of the ancient noricum and panonia , with some of rhaetia , now belonging wholly to the emperour , as being of the house of austria . it contains six provinces , viz. 1. the archdukedom of austria , divided into the lower , ch . t. krems ; and the higher , ch . t. vienna and lintz . 2. duke of stiria , ch . t. gratz . 3. c●unty of cilley , ch . t. cilley . 4. d. of cara●●la , ch . t. laubach ; in this are included the 〈◊〉 of windishmark , ch . t. metling ; and the county of goritia , ch . t. goritz . 5. d of carinthia , ch . t. clagenfurt . 6. county of tirol , ch . t. inspruck , in which are included the bish. of trent , ( in some measure under its own b. ) ch . t. trent ; and the b. of brixen , ch . t. brixen ; and also the county of bregentz , ch . t. bregentz . vienna is ch . t. of this circle . 11. to these circles may be added the kingdom of bohemia , or b●hemerland , on the n. of austria . it is ( taking it in the largest extent ) 275 m. l. & 226 br . the seat of the old bojemi , marcomanni , and quadi ; now for the most part subject to the house of austria . under this name are comprehended four provinces , viz. 1. bohemia it self , ch . t. prage , kuttenberg and egra . 2. mar. of lusatia , ( under the elec. of sax. ) divided into the lower , ch . t. soraw ; and the higher , ch . t. pautzen and zittaw . 3. duke of silesia , divided into the higher , ch . t. troppaw ; and the lower , ch . t. breslaw and glogaw , with the d. of crossen , ( under the d. of bran. ) ch . t. crossen . 4. mar. of misnia , ch . t. olmuntz and brin . the ch . t. of the whole is prage . 12. also in the bounds of germany lies switzerland , a great commonwealth made up of many small ones , containing the ancient helvetia , part of rhaetia , gal. narbonensis , and transpadana . it lies on the s. of suabia , 220 m. l. & 140 br . consisting of three parts , viz. 1. the cantons , which are thirteen , viz. zurick , bern , basil , lucern , soluthern , freiberg , schafhausen , switz , zug , appenzel , glaritz , vnderwalden , ( ch . t. stantz ) and vri ( ch . t. altorf ) ch . t. of the rest are the same . 2. the states confederate , which are six , ( besides geneva , mulhausen and rotweil ) viz. the grisons , ch . t. coire ; wall●sland , ch . t. sion ; valatoline , ch . t. sundrio ; bish ▪ of basil with the ter. of biel , ch . t. biel ; ter. of st. gall , ch . t. st. gall ; ter. of neuenburg , ch . t. neuenburg . 3. the praefectures , which are the towns and countries of baden , bremgarten , mellingen , rapesvila , wagenthal , tergow , sangans , and walenstat ; the vallies of locarn , lugan ▪ mend●isi , and madia ; the bali●ges of belinzona , ●asteren , vlzenach , granson , morat , orbe , and schwarzimburg ; and the count verdemburg . basil is ch . t. of all . rivers of principal note are five , viz. 1. rhine , 2. danow , 3. elbe , 4. oder , and 5. weser . mountains of greatest note are , 1. fichtelberg , incircling bohemia , and 2. schwartzwald in suabia . archbishopricks 7. bishopricks 43. universities 30. 8. denmark . the kingdom of denmark lies on the n. of germany ( and setting aside norway and the isles ) is that peninsula which was anciently called cimbricus chersonesus . it is situated between the 27th and 5 min. and the 31st and 8 min. of lon. and between the 53d and 52 min. and the 58th degr . of lat. being in length from hamburg to scagen about 250 miles , and in breadth 90 , but in some places but 25 miles . sometimes reckoned a part of old germany ; now called by the natives , denemark ; by the italians and spaniards , danamarca ; and by the poles , dunska . how it was governed anciently it is uncertain , but it has had its own kings ever since anno 797 , and in the year 1379 norway ( which before had also its own kings ) was united to it . so that the government at present is under its own hereditary king , whose royal seat is at copenhagen . the inhabitants are protestants , and for the most part lutherans . their language a dialect of the german ; but in norway they speak it with more difference . their chief commodities are fish , tallow , furniture for ships , armours , oxhides , buckskins , firwood , and wainscoat . under this name are comprehended six parts ; the three first are in the peninsula . 1. north iuitland , the most n. pr. in the peninsula , 134 m. l. & 90 br . it contains four diocesses or provinces , viz. 1. aalborg , or burglave , ch . t. aalborg . 2. wiborg , ch . t. wiborg . 3. arhusen , ch . t. arhusen . 4. ripen , ch . t. frederickstat and ripen . ch. t. of the whole is wiborg . 2. dukedom of sleswick , or south iuitland , by the inhabitants , hertzogthumb sleswick ; on the s. of north iuitland , 80. m. l. & 48 br . it belongs to the duke of holstein , though not absolutely . ch. t. are sleswick , tonningen , and flensburg . 3. dukedom of holstein , on the s. of sleswick , part of the circle of the lower saxony , 90 m. l. & 52 br . partly under its own duke . it contains four provinces , viz. 1. ditmarch , ch . t. meldorp . 2. proper holstein , ch . t. kiel . 3. stormaria , ch . t. geluckstat . 4. wagerland . ch . t. lubeck . to these is added the ter. of hamburg , ch . t. hamburg ; free . 4. the islands in the baltick sea , lie on the e. of iuitland ; they are chiefly two , viz. 1. zeland , ch . t. copenhagen and roschild . 2. funen , ch . t. odense and middlefurt . here are also some others , as bornholm , falster , laland , langland , alsen , femeren , mone , aar , &c. 5. kingdom of norway , or norrick , on the n. of iuitland , part of the old scandinaria , 1200 m. l. & 240 br . it contains five governments , viz. 1. bahus ( under the swedes ) ch . t. bahus and marstrand . 2. aggerhus , ch . t. agger and opslo . 3. bergerhus , ch . t. bergen . 4. dronthemus ▪ ch . t. dronthem , 5. werdhus , the same with finmark , ( partly under the swedes ) ch . t. werdhus . ch. t. of the whole is bergen . 6. the islands in the frozen ocean are chiefly these , 1. iseland , a considerable isle , 400 m. l. & 180 br . ch . t. are skalholt and hola . 2. fresland , ch . t. fresland . 3. groenland , ch . t. bearford . 4. isles of fero , ch . t. strom. chief rivers are trave and stoer . i find no mountains . archbishopricks 2. bishopricks 13. universities 2. 9. swedeland . the kingdom of swedeland lies on the w. of russia , and e of norway . situated between the 30th and 30 min. and the 60th and 50 min. of lon. and between the 55th and 50 min. and the 68th and 52 min. of lat. being in length from gottenburg in gothland , to the e. parts of finland about 900 miles ; and in breadth from vsted in scania , to the n. parts of lapland ( in swedeland ) about 820 miles . not so large as it seems , by reason of the botner sea , which divides it in the middle . it contains the greatest part of old scandinavia , with part of sarmatia . now called by the inhabitants , swerie , swedenrick and sweriesryck ; by the germans , schweden ; by the french , swede ; and by the poles , szwecya and szwedzka ziemia . it was anciently sometimes under the danes and sometimes under the norwegians , but it has had its own kings ever since anno 800 ; they were sometimes kings of denmark also . so it is at present governed by its own hereditary kings , who have many dominions in germany , poland and other places . his royal seat is at stockholm . the inhabitants are protestants , and those chiefly lutherans ; in livonia they are both protestants and papists . their language is a corrupt dialect of the german or high dutch ; but in lapland and finland they use the old finnick ; and the estones in livonia have a peculiar tongue . their chief commodities are metals , ox-hides , goat-skins , buck-skins , and costly furs ; pine-trees , fir , oaks , tallow , tar , honey , &c. it is divided into seven provinces , which are , 1. the coast of schonen , or scania , sometimes south gothland ; the most s. w. province , 160 m. l. & 70 br . by most geographers set in denmark , but now a part of swedeland . it is divided into three parts , viz. 1. halland , ch . t. helmstat and laholm . 2. d. of schonen , ch . t. lunden and malmogen : and 3. bleking , ch . t. christianstadt and ahus . ch. t. of the whole is lunden . 2. gothland , on the n. of schonen , 240 m. l. & 200 br . divided into two parts , 1. east gotland , containing two provinces , viz. ostrogoth , ch . t. linkoping ; and smalland , ch . t. calmar . to this may be added two isles in the baltick , viz. oeland , ch . t. borkholm ; and gothland , ch . t. wisby . 2. west gothland , containing three provinces , viz. westrogoth , ch . t. gottenburg ; dalia , ch . t. daleborg ; and vermland , ch . t. carolstadt . ch. t. of the whole is calmar . 3. kingdom of sweden , on the n. of gothland , 360 m. l. & 250 br . divided into ten provinces , viz. 1. sudermania , ch . t. nikoping . 2. nericia , ch . t. orebro . 3. westmania , ch . t. arosia . 4. vpland , ch . t. stockholm and vpsale . 5. gestricia , ch . t. gevelia . 6. dalecarle , ch . t. hedemore . 7. helsingia , ch . t. hadswickwalt . 8. medalpadia , ch . t. selanger . 9. iemterland , ch . t. alsne . 10. angermanland , ch . t. hernosand . ch. t. of the whole is stockholm . 4. lapland ( that is that part which is subject to swedeland ) lies on the n. e. of sweden , 500 m. l. & 240 br . it is divided into five provinces , viz. 1. vma , ch . t. vma . 2. pitha , ch . t. pitha . 3. lula , ch . t. lula . 4. tornia , ch . t. tornia : and , 5. kimi , ch . t. kimi . tornia is reckoned the ch . t. of the whole . these four provinces , together with norway , make up the ancient scandia or scandinavia . 5. dukedom of finland , on the s. e. of lapland , 520 m. l. & 380 br . divided into eight provinces , viz. 1. cajania , or bothnia , ch . t. cajaneburg . 2. kexholm , ch . t. kexholm . 3. savolaxia , ch . t. nyslot . 4. tavastia , ch . t. tavastia or croneborg . 5. n. finland , ch . t. orneburg . 6. s. finland , ch . t. abo. 7. nyland , ch . t. borgo . 8. d. of carelia , ch . t. wiborg . abo is ch . t. of the whole . 6. lordship of ingria , on the s. of finland , 140 m. l. & 100 br . once part of russia , but now under swedeland , ch . t. are notteborg , iuanograd and coporio . 7. livonia , or lifeland , on the s. w. of ingria , once part of poland , 240 m. l. & 200 br . divided into two parts , viz. 1. estland , ch . t. narva and revel ; and , 2. lettenland , ch . t. riga and walmar . to this are added two isles , viz. oesel , ch . t. ausburg ; and dagho , ch . t. dagewoort . these three last provinces were anciently a part of sarmatia europea . rivers of chiefest note are four , viz. 1. meler , 2. dalacarle , 3. torne , and 4. angermania . mountains of greatest note are the dofrinehills , parting sweden from norway . principal lakes are four , viz. 1. ladoga , 2. wener , 3. weter , and 4. iende . archbishopricks 3 , bishopricks 15 , universities 2. 10. russia . the empire of russia is a vast country , bordering on tartary , and lying on the e. of swedeland and poland . situated between the 48th and the 102d degree of lon. ( according to f. de wit ) and between the 45th and the 71st degr . of lat. being in length from the s. parts of astracan , to the month of the riv. oby about 1660 miles , and in breadth from the borders of livonia to oby at the same lat. about 1530 miles . it contains the greatest part of the ancient sarmatia europea , called sometimes russia , alba , and muscovy ; by the inhabitants , rusz ; by the germans , rustandt ; by the poles , moskwa and russenlandt ; and by the turks , russ. the old inhabitants were the sarmatians , first conquered by the rossi , afterwards by the tartars , till at last they shook off their yoak , and erected a monarchy , which still continues . so that it is at present governed by its own emperors , commonly called the great tzar or duke of muscovy , the most absolute of any prince in christendom . his seat is at moscow . the inhabitants are chiefly of the greek church , but differing in many points , and some of the north parts are idolaters . their language a dialect of the solavonian , but much corrupted and mixt with others . in inhorski they use a corrupt hungarian , and in petzora , p●rmski , and czeremissans , they have one by themselves . their commodities are furs , sables , martins , wax , honey , tallow , train-oyl , cavier , hemp , flax , iron , slad , salt-petre , brimstone , &c. it is divided into 37 provinces , which are as following . 1. republick of lapland , the most n. w. province , 440 m. l. & 240 br . divided into tenskoy , mouramanskoy , and bellamores ; ch . t. are kola , warsiga , and kandolax . 2. province of kargapol , on the s. e. of lapland , 320 m. l. & 210 br . ch . t. is kargapol . 3. province of divina , on the n. e. of kargapol , 370 m. l. & 220 br . ch . t. are archangel and divina . 4. dukedom of cordora , on the e. of divina , 280 m. l. & 260. br . ch . t. is wirchatouria . 5. dukedom of inhorski , on the n. of condora ; ch . t. — 6. province of petzora , on the e. of inhorski , 330 m. l. & 120 br . ch . t. is petzora . 7. republick of samoedes , on the n. e. of petzora ; ch . t. — 8. dukedom of obdora , on the e. of samoedes ; ch . t. is berezow . 9. kingdom of siberia , on the s. of obdora and petzora ; ch . t. is tobalska . 10. dukedom of wiathka , on the w. of siberia , 420 m. l. & 310 br . ch . t. is oorloff . 11. dukedom of permski , on the n. w. of wiathka , 280 m. l. & 190 br . ch . t. is permaveleck . 12. province of vstinga , on the w. of permski , 330 m. l. & 240 br . ch . t. is vstinga . 13. dukedom of wologda , on the s. w. of vstringa , 300 m. l. & 190 br . ch . t. is wologda . 14. dukedom of novogrod weliki , on the w. of wologda , 340 m. l. & 240 br . ch . t. is novogrod weliki . 15. dukedom of belejezoro , between novogrod and wologda , 140 m. l. & 90 br . ch . t. belejesoro . 16. principality of pleskow , on the w. of novogrod weliki , 160 m. l. & 110 br . ch . t. is pleskow . 17. dukedom of rescow , on the s. e. of pleskow , 220 m. l. & 70 br . ch . t. is rescow . 18. principality of bielski , on the s. of rescow , 90 m. l. & 45 br . ch . t. bielski . 19. dukedom of smolensko , on the s. of bielski and resco , 230 m. l. & 80 br . ch . t. smolensko and mosaiske . 20. dukedom of moscow , on the n. e. of smolensko , 200 m. l. & 140 br . ch . t. moscow and olesko . 21. dukedom of t wer , on the n. w. of moscow , 120 m. l. & 75. br . ch . t. is t wer . 22. dukedom of rostow , on the e. of t wer and n. of moscow , 175 m. l. & 90 br . ch . t. is rostow . 23. dukedom of ieroslow , on the n. of rostow , 150 m. l. & 80 br . ch . t. is ieroslow . 24. dukedom of susdal , on the e. of ieroslow and rostow , 210 m. l. & 145 br . ch . t. is susdal . 25. dukedom of wolidimer , on the s. of susdal , 140 m. l. & 85 br . ch . t. is wolidimer . 26. dukedom of nisi novogrod , on the e. of susdal and wolidimer , 320 m. l. & 200 br . ch . t. is nisi novogrod . 27. republick of czeremissi lognoisenne , with czeremissi nagornoi , on the e. of nisi novogrod ; ch . t. — 28. kingdom of cazan , on the e. of the czeremissi , 340 m. l. & 320 br . once part of tartary ; ch . t. cazan . 29. d. of bulgar with pascater and besegert , on the s. e. of cazan , 550 m. l. & 210 br . taken from the tartars ; ch . t. is bulgar . 30. kingdom of astracan , on the s. of bulgar , 540 m. l. & 320 br . also taken out of tartary ; ch . t. astracan . 31. prov. of pole , on the n. w. of astracan ; ch . t. is icoritz . 32. prov. of okraina , on the w. of pole ; ch . t. biellogrod . 33. tartars of mordwits , on the n. e. of okraina ; ch . t. moruma . 34. dukedom of rezan , on the w. of the mordwitz and n. of okraina , 300 m. l. & 95 br . ch . t. rezan . 35. duke . of worotin or severia , on the w. of rezan and okrainia , 300 m. l. and 160 br . ch . t. is worotin . 36. d. of novogrod sewarski , on the w. of worotin , once part of poland , 160 m. l. & 110 br . ch . t. novogrod sewarski . 37. d. of czernihow , on the w. of novogrod sewarski , also once part of poland ; ch . t. is czernihow . rivers of principal note are four , viz. 1. wolga , 2. dwina , 3. tanais , or don , and 4. part of oby . mountains of greatest note are those which were called the hyperborean and riphean mountains . lakes of chiefest note are , 1. belejezor● , and 2. ilmen , with part of ladoga and onega . here is one patriarch , viz. moscow , 4 archbishopricks , 18 bishopricks , and no university . 11. poland . the , kingdom of poland lies on the w. of russia , on the e. of germany , and n. of turky in europe ; situated between the 35th and 40 min. and the 58th and 28 min. of lon and between the 57th and 25 min. and the 47th and 30 min. of lat. being in length from the borders of brandenburg , to the e. parts of vkrane about 880 miles ; the breadth from the n. parts of curland to the s. parts of russia rubra about 580 miles . it was part of the ancient sarmatia europea , and part of the old germany , sometimes called weonodland , now poland by the natives , poloska ; by the germans , die polen ; and by the french , pologne . it was anciently governed by dukes for about 400 years , and then by their kings , which government still continues . at present it is an aggregate body of several provinces united into one estate ; the king is elective , and must be of the roman catholick religion . part of this country is under the k. of sweden , d. of brandenburg , and d. of curland , ( who is tributary ) and some parts of vkrane is in a manner free . the king's seat is at warsaw , but the ch . t. is cracow . the inhabitants tolerate all religions , but the roman catholick is most predominant , next that of the greek church . their language is a dialect of the sclavonian or sarmatian , yet it differs much from it ; in some of the s. e. parts they speak the cosack or tartarian . their chief commodities are wax , linnen , boards , masts for ships , pitch , rich furs , salt , amber , ashes , soap , corn , milk , butter , cheese , rozin , &c. it is divided into twelve great provinces , which are , 1. dukedom of curland , the most n. pr. including the pr. of semigellin , 220 m. l. & 90 br . ch . t. are mittaw and godlingen , reckoned by some a part of livonia ; now under its own ( almost ) independent dukes . 2. province of samogitia , on the s. of curland , sometimes ( as were several of these provinces ) a part of russia , 195 m. l. & 120 br . divided into three counties ; ch . t. are rossienne and schovenden . 3. dukedom of lithuania , on the s. e. of samogitia , 440 m. l. & 280 br . it contains eleven provinces , the eight first being palatinares . 1. polockzkien , 2. braslawen , 3. wilna , 4. troki , 5. novogrod , 6. minskien , 7. witepskien , 8. mscislawen , 9. ter. of rzeczyca , 10. d. of sluczk , 11. ter. of rohaczow ; ch . t. are the same . wilna is ch . t. of the whole . 4. dukedom of prussia , on the n. of lithuania , 250 m. l. & 108 br . divided into , viz. 1. royal prussia , including pomerellia , subject to the swedes ; ch . t. are dantzick , ( free ) marienburg and culm . 2. ducal prussia , under the d. of brandenburg ; ch . t. koningsberg , elbing and memel . ch. t. of the whole is dantzick . 5. province of poland , part of old germany , on the s. of prussia , 320 m. l. & 270 br . divided into two parts , viz. 1. great poland , containing nine palatinates , viz. posna , kalish , wladislaw , dobrzin , plocksko , brzestye or cujavia , rava , lancicia , and siradia ; ch . t. the same . 2. little poland , containing three palatinates , viz. lublin , sandomir and cracow ; ch . t. the same . cracow is ch . t. of the whole . 6. dukedom of massovia , or the palatinate of czersko , on the e. of poland and s. of prussia , some of it was part of the old germany . it is 140 m. l. 114 br . ch . t. are warsaw , czersko and blonicz . 7. polachia , on the e. of massovia and w. of lithuania , including the palatinate of bielskien , 135 m. l. & 48 br . ch . t. are bielsko and augustow . 8. polesia , or the palatinate of bresisi , on the e. of polachia and s. w. of lithuania , 240 m. l. & 86 br . ch . t. are breste and olewsko . 9. russia rubra , on the s. w. of polesia , 226 m. l. & 175. br . it contains three palatinates , viz. 1. chelm , ch . t. chelm . 2. belz , ch . t. belz : and , 3. lemburg , ( in which is the pro. of pokatia , ch . t. halicz ) ch . t. lemburg or lwow , the ch . of the whole . 10. volhinia superior , or the palatinate of luceoria , on the e. of russia rubra and s. of polesia , 280 m. l. & 115 br . ch . t. are lucko and wlozimirz . 11. vkrane or volhinia inferior , or the palatinate of kiow , on the e. of volhinia superior , partly under russia , 280 m. l. & 180 br . ch . t. are kiow and czirkassi . in this province are the cossacks in a manner free . 12. podolia , on the s. of both volhinias , 350 m. l. & 112 br . containing , 1. the higher , or the pal. of kaminieck ; ch . t. kaminieck and bar. 2. the lower , or the pal. of braclaw , ch . t. braclaw and brailaw : ch . t. of both is kaminieck . rivers of principal note are four , viz. 1. nieper , 2. wiessel , 3. niester , and 4. divina the less . chief mountains are those called the carpethian hills , dividing this country from turky in europe . chief lakes are , 1. beybas , 2. briale , and 3. goldo . archbishopricks 4 , bishopricks 24 , universities 5. 12. turky in europe . under this name i comprehend ( for methods sake ) all those provinces which lie between poland , germany , the euxine , archepelago and gulf of venice . situated between the 36th and 56th degr . of lon. and between the 34th and 30 min. and the 49th and 20 min. of lat. being in length from the n. parts of hungary to cape matapan in morea about 1000 miles ; and in breadth from the w. parts of croatia to oczacow in bessarabia about 840 miles , comprehending the roman diocesses of macedonia , dacia , thrace , with most of illiricum . it was anciently some part of the macedonian empire , afterwards all under the roman ; then a great part of it was overrun by the goths , sclaves , huns , and bulgarians ; about anno 1450. the turks , driving out the eastern emperours , became masters of a great part of it . the rest is for the most part under the emperour , as of the house of austria and the venetians , and some parts are free . the imperial seat is at constantinople . the inhabitants are both christians and mahomitans ; the former divided into papists , protestants , and greek church . their language chiefly the sclavonian , or old sarmatian , and turkish . besides these are the epirotick , hungarian , illirian , and iazygian tongues spoken in many of the less conquered places , and in several places a corrupt greek . the chief commodities of these parts are metals , sulphur , vitriol , wines , oyl , velvits , damasks , turky grograms , &c. it contains eighteen provinces , the twelve first make the upper and the six last the lower turky . those parts that belong absolutely to the turks , are divided into four governments or beglerbegships , viz. 1. romellia , containing bulgaria , romania , macedonia , albania , canina , ianna livadia , and ( not long since ) morea . 2. bosnia , containing all bosnia , and part of sclavonia , croatia , dalmatia , and servia . 3. buda ( now much less than formerly ) containing the rest of servia , with part of hungary and sclavonia . 4. temeswar , containing only three or four counties in the upper hungary . the eighteen provinces are , 1. kingdom of hungary , the most n. w. province , containing part of ancient panonia , with some of sarmatia and dacia ripensis ; 330 m. l. & 200 br . mostly under the emperour . divided into , 1. upper , containing thirty three counties ; ch . t. are presburg and cascaw , ( under the em. ) temeswar and waraden ( under the turks ) . 2. lower , containing fourteen counties , on the s. side of the danow , ch . t. buda and gran ( under the em. ) alba regalis and sigeth , ( under the turks ) . buda is ch . of both . 2. sclavonia or windishland , anciently savia , on the s. of hungary , by some reckoned a part thereof . it is 225 m. l. & 52 br . it partly belongs to the emperour , and contains four counties , viz. zagrab , posega , valpon , and szrem . ch. t. of the turks are gradisca and sirmium ; ch . t. of the emperour are posega and zagrab . posega is ch . t. of all . 3. croatia , or crabaten , anciently liburnia , on the south of sclavonia , part of the old dalmatia ; 120 m. l. & 80 br . the greatest part belongs to the emperour . ch. t. of the em. are carolstat and esseck ; ch . t. of the turks are wihitz and dubits . here is also the province of morlakia ; ch . t. zeng . wihitz is ch . t. of all . 4. kingdom of bosnia , or bossen , on the e. of croatia , and s. of sclavonia , part of the old dalmatia , 120 m. l. & 70 br . ch . t. are iaicza and bagmaluck . it is but part of the turkish government of bosnia . 5. dalmatia , on the s. of bosnia , greatest part of old illiris , part of old dalmatia , 240 m. l. & 60 br . partly under the venetians . ch. t. of the turks are scardona and dulcigno ; ch . t. of the venetians are zara and sebenico . here is also the commonwealth of ragusa ; ch . t. ragusa , tributary to both turks and venetians . these four last named provinces , with part of hungary and germany , and a little of servia and albania , made up the roman diocess of illyricum . 6. kingdom of servia on the e. of dalmatia , containing the old maesia superior dardania and part of old dalmatia , 290 m. l. & 148 br . divided into , 1. rascia , ch . t. belgrade and widen ; and 2. hersegovina , ch . t. vscopia and nissa ▪ belgrade is ch . t. of both . 7. principality of walachia , on the n. e. of servia , part of the old dacia ripensis and alpestris , 260 m. l. & 130 br . ruled by its own prince , but tributary to the turks ; ch . t. targovisco , bucherest , and brascow . 8. principality of transilvania , on the n. w. of walachia , anciently called dacia mediterranea , 180 m. l. & 165 br . partly tributary to the turks ; ch . t. are hermanstat , wiessemburg , and clausemburg . here are a people called zecklers there ; ch . t. is newmark . 9. principality of moldavia , on the e. of transilvania and walachia , part of old dacia alpestris and sarmatia : 260 m. l. & 168 br . ruled by it's own prince . tributary to the turks . ch. t. are iazy , soczow and targorod . 10. bessarabia , on the e. of moldavia , 200 m. l. & 100 br . reckoned part of moldavia ; inhabited much by tartars . divided into , 1. oczacow , ch . t. oczacow : and , 2. budziack , ch . t. bialogrod . ch. t. of both . 11. bulgaria , anciently called maesia inferior , on the s. of bessarabia , moldavia and walachia , and e. of servia ; 340 m. l. & 144 br . ch. t. are sophia , silistra , and nigepoli . these five last named provinces , with the greatest part of servia and some of hungary , made the roman diocess of dacia . 12. romania , anciently called thrace , now by the turks , romeli . it lies on the s. e. of bulgaria , 290 m. l. & 116 br . ch. t. are constantinople or stamboul , andrianople and gallipoli . this was a roman diocess . 13. macedonia , but a part of the old macedonia , on the s. w. of romania , 240 m. l. & 140 br . divided into three parts , viz. 1. iamboli , ( an . migdonia ) ch . t. salonichi ; 2. proper macedon , ch . t. emboli ; 3. comenolitari , ch . t. vodena . ch. t. of the whole is salonichi . 14. kingdom of albania , the rest of the old macedonia with part of illiris ; on the w. of macedonia ; 190 m. l. & 100 br . a little of it is under the venetians . ch. t. of the turks are scutari and croia ; ch . t. of the venetians is va●ona . 15. canina , anciently called epirus , now sometimes the lower albania . it lies on the s. of albania ; 160 m. l. & 68 br . partly under the venetians . ch. t. of the turks are larta and bastia ; ch . t. of the venetians are prevesa and butrino . ch. t. of all is prevesa . 16. ianna , anciently called thessaly , on the e. of canina , and s. of macidonia , of which it has sometimes been reckoned a part ; 168 m. l. & 100 br . ch. t. are armiro and larissa . 17. livadia , on the s. of ianna and canina ; 235 m. l. & 56 br . anciently called achaia ; then divided into attica , megaris , bo●otia , phocis , locris , doris , and aetolia ; now a little under the venetians . ch. t. of the turks are setines ( an . athens ) and livadia ; ch . t. of the venetians is lepanto . 18. morea , anciently called peloponessus , on the s. of livadia , a peninsula ; 195 m. l. & 190 br . wholly under the venetians . divided into four provinces , viz. 1. d. of clarentia , ( an . achaia propria and syconia ) ch . t. patras . 2. sacconia , ( an . corinthia and argos ) ch . t. napoli . 3. tzaconia , ( an . arcadia and laconia ) ch . t. misisthra . 4. belvidera , ( an . elis and messenia ) ch . t. coron . misistthra is ch . t. of the whole . these six last provinces anciently made up that famous and renowned country of greece , sometimes the roman diocess of macedonia , and now the greatest part of the government of romellia . to these are added the islands . the principal are , 1. candia , ( an . crete ) 140 m. l. & 60 br . containing four provinces , viz. setia , retimo , canea , and candia ; ch . t. the same . 2. negropont , 120 m. l. & 28 br . ch . t. negropont . 3. stalamine . 4. nicsia . these , with a great many others of less note , are subject to the turks . the venetians have , 1. cefelonia , 2. corfu , 3. zant , 4. cerigo , &c. ch. t. are the same . under the name of turky in europe , i also comprehend crim tartary , sometimes taurica chersonessus part of old sarmatia . now ruled by its own prince , called the great cham , but tributary to the turks . it lies on the s. of russia , being about 600 m. l. & 300 br . ch. t. in the peninsula are kaffa and baccassarium ; in the midlands are azoph and nigropoli . rivers of chiefest note are five , viz. 1. danow . 2. niester . 3. drave . 4. save : and , 5. tyssa . principal lakes are , 1. balaton ; and , 2. newfidlersee , both in hungary . chief mountains are , 1. haemus , now balkan ; 2. athos , now holy mount ; and , 3. olympus , now lacha . here is one patriarch , viz. constantinople ; and i find the names of 38 archbishopricks , and 57 bishopricks . thus much for evrope . ii. asia . asia has on the east and south the oriental ocean ; on the north ( as it is supposed ) the frozen ocean ; on the west europe and the mediterranian sea ; and on the s. west africa , which seperated by the red sea , and an isthmus 110 miles long . it is situated between the 53d and the 180th degr . of lon. and between the first and 72d of lat. being in length from the dardanels in natolia , to the e. parts of china about 5300 miles , and in breadth from the south parts of india to the n. parts of tartary about 4200 miles . it is famous for the creation of man , for the place of paradise , for the confusion of tongues , for the assyrian and persian monarchies , for being the scene of the chief actions recorded in the scriptures , and more especially for the birth of our saviour christ . it now wants much of its ancient greatness . religions may be reduced to four principal heads , viz. 1. mahomitan , 2. pagan , 3. chri●stian , and , 4. iewish religion . the languages are chiefly four , viz. persian , 2. turkish , divided into turkish and tartarian , 3. arabick , and , 4. chinean . here are also many others of less note , as the syrian , sclavonian , and armenian tongues , with several others , ( especially among the indian provinces and oriental islands ) which are but little known to us . it is under the government of four great monarchs , viz. the grand seignor , the sophy of persia , the great mogul of india , and the great cham of tartary , who has also china ; besides several great princes in georgia , arabia , tartary , india , and the oriental islands . mountains of greatest note are , 1. those called by the general name of taurus , and , 2. imaus . rivers of principal note are six , viz. 1. efrate , 2. indus , 3. ganges , 4. oby , 5. kiang , and , 6. croceus . greatest lakes ( besides the caspian sea ) are , 1. kithay in tartary , and , 2. chiamay in india . it is divided into ten great parts , viz. 1. turky in asia , 2. georgia , 3. arabia , 4. persia , 5. tartary the greater . india contains three parts , viz. 6. empire of mogul , 7. the peninsula on this side ganges , 8. that on the other side , 9. china , and , 10. oriental islands . 1. turky in asia . tvrky in asia contains all the western parts of asia , lying on the w. of persia , between georgia and arabia , situated ( not taking in any part of arabia ) between the 53d and 15 min. and 81st and 35 min. of lon. and between the 29th and 40th min. and the 45th degr . of lat. being in length from the dardanels to the e. parts of yerack about 1530 miles , and in breadth from trebizond in natolia to natolia to the s. parts of the holy land about 780 miles ; containing all those countries which were anciently called asia minor , syria , palestine , armenia , chaldea , mesopotamia , with part of assyria and media . the turks use the mahomitan religion , which is composed of christian iewish and pagan religions , with some new fopperies of their own added . the vulgar turkish language ( for the better sort speak the sclavonian ) is originally tartarian , intermixed with many persian , arabick , grecian and italian words . the persian and arabick tongues are also in much esteem among them . it is governed by nineteen beglerbegs under the grand seignor , viz. six which are in natolia ; natolia , caramania , tarsus , maras , suwas , and trebizond ; three in syria , viz. aleppo , tripoli , and damas ; four in turcomania , viz. chisari or kars , arzerum , tchildir , and van ; and six in diarbeck , viz. dierbikir or caramitz , rixa , mosul , bagdad , schehereful , and balsora . they have under them about 198 sangiacks , or provinces , and 102 castles . ch. t. of the whole is aleppo . divided into four parts , viz. 1. natolia , 2. syria , 3. turcomania , and 4. dierbeck . 1. natolia . natolia is the most w. province washed on three sides with sea , being about 750 miles long from e. to w. and about 520 broad from n. to s. anciently called asia minor , then containing the roman diocesses of asia , pontus , with part of the orient , afterwards called by the name of anatolia , and now natolia , and sometimes naduli . it was first conquered by the persians , afterwards by the macedonians , then divided among several , then by the romans , who together with the eastern emperors held it for many ages , till at last it became a prey to the turks . the ch . t. is bursa . the inhabitants are both mahomitans and christians of the greek church . their language both turkish and sclavonian , and also a corrupt greek . their chief commodities are wine , oyl , silk , cottons , wool , camlets , grograms , linnen , fruits , pots , glasses , &c. it contains four provinces , which are , 1. natolia , the most w. province , 550 m. l. & 370 br . containing the old provinces of paphlagonia , galatia , bithinia , both phrigias , mysia , eolis , ionia , lydia , and caria : but these have lost their names . ch. t. are bursa , smirna and chiutale . 2. caramania , on the s. e. of natolia ; 380 m. l. & 250 br . containing the old pamphilia , with part of cilicia . ch. t. are cogni , satalia and tarso . 3. amasia , on the n. e. of caramania ; 350 m. l. & 170 br . containing the old capadocia , pontus and part of armenia minor . ch. t. are armasia , trebezond and suwas . 4. aladuli , on the s. of amasia ; 230 m. l. & 200 br . containing the greatest part of armenia minor , and part of cilicia . ch. t. are maras and acsar . rivers of principal note are four , viz. 1. ajala , 2. madre , 3. casalmach , and , 4. gensui . mountains of greatest note are , 1. those an . called ante taurus , and , 2. ida. the modern names i find not . 2. syria . syria lies along the mediterranian sea , towards the s. w. of natolia , be●ng about 500 miles long from n. to s. and about 340 from e. to w. it was once called aram , afterwards syria , then containing part of the roman diocess of the orient ; now called by the inhabitants , souristan ; by the french , souria ; by the italians , soria ; and by the turks , suristan . it was ( setting aside palestine ) first conquered by the assyrians ; then subject to the persians ; then by the macedonians , and soon after had its own kings ; then conquered by the romans , and possessed by the eastern emperours ; then by the saracens ; after that by the turks ; then by the tartars ; after by the aegyptians ; again by the tartars ; and lastly , once more by the turks . ch. t. is aleppo . the inhabitants are both mahomitans and christians ; the later divided into maronites , iacobites , and melchites . their language is the arabick , and in some places the syriack , composed of chaldea and hebrew . their chief commodities are wine , oyl , excellent balm and honey , with variety of fruits , cottons , wool , camlets , &c. it contains three provinces , which are , 1. province of syria , on the n. the greatest part of this country ; 410 m. l. & 310 br . containing the old provinces of syria propria , comogena and palmerine . ch. t. are aleppo , ham and scanderone . 2. fenicia , on the s. w. of syria ; 220 m. l. & 120 br . containing old phoenicia and coelo syria ; ch . t. are damas , tripoli and sydon . 3. holy land an . palestine and the land of canaan , on the s. of venicia ; 220 m. l. & 86 br . now divided into three principalities , viz. sayd , cossaria , and gaza . ch. t. are ierusalem and gaza . rivers of greatest note are three , viz. 1. dracone , 2. marsya , and 3. iourdain , now schierah . chief mountains are , 1. libanus , and , 2. lison . 3. turcomania . turcomania lies between persia and natolia , east and west and is almost square , being about 540 miles long and 430 broad , according to f. de wit 's maps . according to this extent it contains all the ancient armenia major , with some part of assyria and media . it was a good part of it for many ages under its own kings , till conquered by the romans ; afterwards by the sarazens ; then by the turks ; after that it had its own kings ; then subdued by the tartars ; after that it became a persian province , till conquered by the turks : the persians have still part of it . the ch . t. is erzerum . the inhabitants are mahomitans and christians of the greek church and sect of eutiches . their language in some places turkish , in others armenian ; a very harsh tongue , having some mixture of turkish and persian . their alphabet has 28 letters . the chief commodities are wine , fruits , silk , fine tapestries , grogram and worsted camlets . it contains three provinces , which are , 1. turcomania , on the w. parts ; 340 m. l. & 220 br . containing a great part of the ancient armenia major . ch. t. are arzerum , and chisari or kars . 2. georgiens or iran , on the e. of turcomania ; 340 m. l. & 180 br . containing part of old armenia and media . now mostly under the persians . ch. t. are derbent and atham . 3. curdes , on the s. of georgiens ; 340 m. l. & 300 br . containing part of old assyria and armenia major . ch. t. are van and bedao . rivers of principal note are three , viz. 1. eufrate , 2. tigre , and , 3. kurr . chief mountains are several branches of taurus . 4. dierbeck . dierbeck lies on the s. of turcomania and w. of persia , being about 780 m. l. & 400 br . it contains the ancient countries of chaldea , mesopotamia , with part of assyria . now called by the persians , yrakin ; by the arabians , iazeirey ; by the armenians , meredin ; and by the turks , dierbeck or diarbeck . it was first under its own emperours for about 1700 years ; conquered by the persians ; then by the macedonians ; after that by the romans ; again by the persians ; afterwards by the saracens ; next by the turks ; a third time by the persians ; and lastly , by the turks again . the ch . t. is bagdat . the inhabitants are both mahomitans and christians ; the latter divided into iacobites and nestorians . their language in some places arabick , and in others syriack , but mixt with some arabick and greek words . their chief commodities are wine , oyl , corn , fruits , cottons , wool , &c. it is divided into three provinces , which are , 1. dierbeck , the most n. w. province ; 560 m. l. & 315 br . containing the old mesopotamia and part of assyria , and sometimes part of the roman diocess of the orient ch. t. are dierbikir or caramitz , and vrphi● 2. arzerum or sarh , on the e. of dierbeck ; 260 m. l. & 150 br . containing a great part of the old assyria . ch. t. are mosul ( an . ninivie ) and scheheresul . 3. yerack , curdestan or keldan , on the s. of arzerum and dierbeck ; 350 m. l. & 210 br . the same with old chaldea or babylonia . ch. t. are bagdat , cufa and balsora . chief rivers are , 1. eufrate , and , 2. tigre . f. de wit comprehends both dierbeck and turcomania under the general name of armenia . besides these four provinces there are some islands . the chief of which are , 1. kingdom of cyprus or kibros , in the mediterranian sea , on the s. of natolia ; 170 m. l. & 80 br . anciently divided into salamina , amathusia , lapatha and paphia ; now into seven sangiacks . ch. t. are nicosia and famagusta . 2. those of lesser note are , 1. rhodes ; ch . t. rhodes . 2. cos ; ch . t. cos. 3. samos ; ch . t. samo . 4. nicaria ; ch . t. nicaria . 5. sio ; ch . t. sio . 6. metelino , ( an . lesbos ) ch . t. metelino ; with some others . 2. georgia . under the name of georgia is comprehended all that tract of land which lies between the palus meotis or the sea of zabache , and the caspian sea or the sea of bachu , and between the river don and turcomania . situated between the 63d and the 80th degr . of lon. and between the 42 and 40 min. and the 51st degr . of lat. being in length from the streights of kaffa to the caspian sea about 650 miles ; and in breadth from the river don or tanais to the borders of turcomania about 480 miles . in this extent are comprehended the ancient countries of colchis , iberia , albania , with part of asiatick sarmatia . it was partly conquered by the romans , and ever since had many several governments , till of late the turks and persians have got some footing amongst them . so that the present government is under several small princes , some of which are tributary to the turks , some to the persians and others are free . the ch . t. is teffles . the inhabitants are chiefly christians of the greek church , with some mahomitans ; the former in practice little differ from pagans . their language is in many places a kind of a sclavonian , in some places the turkish and tartarian , and in mengralia they have one peculiar . their chief commodities are honey , wax , leather , furs , silk , linnen thred , martins , beavers , box and slaves . it contains four provinces , which are , 1. comania or circassia , ( under the first f. de wit comprehends all georgia and crim tartary ) is the most n. province , by some made part of tartary , by others part of russia , being partly subject to it . in it are comprehended the provinces of petigori , sonska , and nagaiski or proper circassia ; as also the alanes , suanes , gigves , and caracherks or black circassians . the ch . t. is temruck . 2. mengralia , on the s. of comania ; 300 m. l. & 170 br . it contains four provinces , viz. 1. abassa or avogassa ; ch . t. st. sophia . 2. k. of mengralia or odischi ; ch . t. zugdidi . these two provinces make up the old country of colchis . 3. k. of guriel ; ch . t. varsti . 4. k. of imerete ; ch . t. colalach . these kingdoms are tributary to the turks . 3. gurgistan , on the e. of mengralia and s. of comania ; 260 m. l. & 175 br . it contains three provinces , viz. 1. k. of balatralu ; ch . t. cori or gorede . 2. k. of curduel ; ch . t. teffles . 3. k. of kacheti ; ch . t. zagain . these provinces make up the ancient iberia , and are for the most part under the persians . 4. zuiria , on the e. of gurgistan and s. of comania ; 240 m. l. & 180 br . it contains all the ancient albania . divided into two parts , viz. 1. nagaiski , reckoned by some a part of comania ; ch . t. terki . 2. dagestan ; ch . t. zittach , the ch . t. of both . this province is under several independent lords . rivers of principal note are three , viz. 1. kurr , 2. faze , and , 3. terka . chief mountains are several branches of taurus . 3. arabia . arabia is a very large country , lying on the s. of turky in asia , incompassed on three sides with the sea. situated between the 62d and the 94th and 40 min. of lon. and between the 12th and the 34th and 30 min. of lat. being in length from sues in egypt , to the most e. point in oman about 1700 miles , and in breadth from the mouth of the persian gulf , to the mouth of the red sea , about 1200 miles : called by the turks arabistan . part of it was subject to the assyrian and babylonian empires ; then to the macedonians ; then to the roman● ; after that it was wholly under its own emperours ; then ruled by the babylonian caliphs ; after that it was free , till at last the turks conquered part of it ; so that the present government is partly under the turks ; the rest under several princes . the ch . t. is medina . the inhabitants are all mahomitans , except some few christians in arabia petrea . their language is wholly the arabick , a very famous language , partly derived from the hebrew ; naturally spoke in many other countries . the chief commodities are gold , precious stones , balsam , myrrh , abundance of frankincense ▪ cassia , cinnamon , manna , benjamin , and such like . it contains three great parts , which are , 1. beriara , the most n. province , 500 m. l. & 320 br . anciently called arabia deserta and chus ( translated aethiopia ) ch . t. are anna and hit ; chiefly under the government of the turks : some parts are free , which are scarce worth looking after . 2. barraab , sometimes dase-lick arabistan , on the w. of beriara ; 400 m. l. & 230 br . anciently called arabia petrea , where the children of israel wandred forty years . ch. t. are herat and aylan . this province is for the most part under the turks , but very inconsiderable . 3. ayaman , anciently arabia foelix , on the s. of barraab and beriara ; 1590 m. l. & 1000 br . it contains seven provinces , viz. 1. hagia ( in which are the benduins ) ch . t. medina and mecca . it is under the turkish cheris of mecca . 2. iamama ( in which are the bengebres ) ch . t. iamama . 3. baharaim , or the government of labsa , under the turks ; ch . t. elkatif and labsa . 4. oman , containing three kingdoms , viz. mascate , mascalat and amanzirieden ; ch . t. the same : all under their own kings . 5. seger , containing two kingdoms , under their own kings , viz. alibinali , and gubelhaman ; ch . t. the same . 6. hadramut , or the government of yeman ; ch . t. aden and zibit , mostly under the turks ; it also includes the two kingdoms of fartach and caxem , under their own kings . 7. tehama , ch . t. dhafar , chiefly under its own king , and partly under the turks . rivers of principal note are four , viz. 1. prim. 2. chibar . 3. astan ; and , 4. nageran . chief mountains ( besides those mentioned in the scriptures ) are sciobam and ghazuan . 3. persia. the empire of persia is a very large and famous country , lying between india and turky e. and w. and between tartary and the ocean n. and s. situated between the 78th and 10 min. and the 118th and 15th min. of lon. and between the 24th and 35 min. and the 43d and 20 min. of lat. being in length from the n. w. parts of servan to the borders of india in makrun about 1620 miles , and in breadth from the river gehun or crus to the southern ocean 1070 miles . it contains the greatest part of the ancient persia with some of assyria . it was first called elam , and sometimes achamenides , now persia by the europeans , but by the inhabitants far or farsistan . it was first under the assyrian empire for about 1300 years ; then revolted and governed by its own kings ; then by its emperours ; after that conquered by the macedonians ; soon after by the parthians ; after that by the saracens ; then by the turks ; then by tartars ; and lastly , had its own emperours , which still remain . he is called the great sophy of persia , and has an absolute power , yet the government is less tyrannical than any other of the mahomitan kings . his imperial seat is at hispaam . the inhabitants are mahomitans , but differing in some points from the turks ; here are also iesuits and nestorians , with several iews . their language is the persian , very ancient , but have some mixture of arabick , greek and tartarian words , very soft and sweet ; spoken in the eastern country as the latine in the western ; it has 29 letters in the alphabet : the turkish language is also very much used here . the chief commodities are curious silks , carpets , tissues , manufactures of gold , silk and silver , seal-skins , goat-skins , alabaster , all sorts of metals , myrrh , fruits , &c. it contains twelve provinces , which are , 1. servan , or schirwan , the most n. w. province , bordering on turky ; 330 m. l. & 170 br . containing a great part of the ancient media ; ch . t. are tauris , servan and ardevil . 2. gilan , or hirach , on the e. of servan ; 460 m. l. & 340 br . anciently called hyrcania . it contains four provinces , viz. 1. dile●mon ; ch . t. dilemon . 2. mezandran ; ch . t ▪ mezandran . 3. rescht ; ch . t. rescht ; and 4. keskar ; ch . t. keskar . gilan is ch . t. 〈◊〉 the whole . 3. taberistan , or tocheristan , on the e. of gilan ; 470 m. l. & 340 br . anciently called margiana ; ch . t. amoul or taberistan , and asterebad . it contains two other pr. viz. 1. kuoemus ; ch . t. ferawar : and , 2. gorgian ; ch . t. gorgian . 4. corassan , on the e. of taberestan ; 760 m. l. & 540. br . anciently called bactria ; ch . t. herat. in this are comprehended three others , viz. 1. heri ; ch . t. heri . 2. chorassan ; ch . t. ariander : and , 3. cohasan ; ch . t. caim . 5. airach , or yerack agemi , on the w. of corassan ; 700 m. l. and 460 br . anciently called parthia ; ch . t. are hispaam , casbin and nehawant . 6. churdestan , on the w. of airach and s. of servan ; 280 m. l. & 160 br . it contains a good part of the ancient assyria and part of old media ; ch . t. are salmas and cor. 7. chusistan , or elveran on the s. of airach ; 400 m. l. & 320 br . anciently susiana ; ch . t. souster . 8. fars , on the e. of chusistan ; 460 m. l. & 310 br . anciently called persis ; ch . t. are schiras or shiras , and lar. 9. kirman , or cherman , on the e. of fars ; 600 m. l. & 510 br . anciently called carmania ; ch . t. is cherman . 10. sablestan , or calchestan , on the n. of kirman ; 390 m. l. & 160 br . anciently called parapamisus ; ch . t. is bost. 11. sigistan , or sitzistan , on the s. e. of sablestan ; 470 m. l. & 240 br . anciently called drangiana ; ch . t. is sigistan . 12. makran , on the s. of sigistan 500 m. l. & 250 br . ch . t. malran . this includes the two provinces of , 1. circan , ( an . gedrosia ) ch . t. gest ; and , 2. patan , ch . t. — rivers of chief note are four , viz. 1. gelum , or albius , ( an . oxus ) 2. ilment , 3. tiritiri , and , 4. bendimir . chief mountains are taurus , which pass through the length of this country , and go by several names . 5. tartary . tartary is the greatest country in the world , lying on the e. of russia and n. of persia , india and china . situated between the 83d and the 180th degr . of lon. and between the 39th and the 72d degr . of lat. being in length from the borders of astracan to the e. parts of cathay about 4000 miles , and the breadth from the s. parts of mawrinalra to the most n. parts of tartaria deserta , is about 2000 miles ; containing the ancient provinces of scythia , sacae , sogdania , and the greatest part of sarmatia asiatica ▪ with a little of old persia. it has remained unconquered under several governments , till anno 1162 , the tartars , an obscure people , over-ran this country , and erected a monarchy , which still remains , but a good part of it is fallen away . the emperour is called , the great cham of tartary ; who has also the famous country of china . some part of it is under the russians ; the rest under several independent princes . the imperial seat is at chambalu , as it is supposed . the inhabitants are both mahomitans and pagans ; in some places all mahomitans , in others all pagans , which seems to be in most esteem . here are also some christians of the nestorian sect. their language is the tartarian , very boisterous and clamerous , almost the same with the turkish , having some mixture of persian and scithian words . in some places they use the persian tongue . the chief commodities are sable , martins , and other furs , silks , camlets , flax , great store of rhubarb , musk , cinnamon , &c. it is divided into five great parts , viz. 1. tartaria deserta , the most w. province . bordering on russia ; about 1700 m. l. & 960 br . divided into , 1. kalmuki-buchar , or olgaria , ch . t. yem . in this are included ba●gle●tan , gazitae-chanaaket , with the n●garian tartars . 2. chabzag , or the k. of kasg●ar , ch . t. kasghar . 3. karakathay , or chaulachitae , ch . t. are charcan and cumbalick . in this are included samarique and al-aazas . here are also molgamazia , tingves , and lucumorio . ch. t. of the whole is charcan . this province contains the greatest part of old sarmatia asiatica . now chiefly under the russians . 2. mawrinalra , vsbeck or zagathay , on the s. of tartaria deserta ; about 1200 m. l. & 840 br . containing the old provinces of sacae , sogdania , and part of scythia and old persia. it is chiefly under its peculiar chams . ch. t. are samarchand , bokora , and istigias . in this are the provinces of belch , alsoyd , crowarezem , alshash , and targana . 3. turchestan , part of the ancient scythia , on the e. of mawrinalra , about 1400 m. l. & 850 br . ch. t. are thibit , cascar , and chotan . it contains many kingdoms , as cascar , chialis or turphan , chiartiam , cotam , thibit , camul , lop , tainfu , caindu , &c. 4. mongul or magog , the true old tartary , on the n. of turchestan ; about 1800 m. l. & 950 br . ch. t. are mongul , and tenduc . it contains many provinces , as sumogul or tartar , tenduc or mekrat , bargu or mekrit , iekmogul , carli , &c. 5. cathay or kin-tartary , on the s. e. of mongul , about 1650 m. l. & 1100 br . it contains four great provinces , viz. 1. cathay or naimens ; ch . t. cambalu or arab-chan-belich . 3. niuche or tenduc : and , 4. yupi . it contains the ancient serica and part of scythia . mountains of greatest note are those anciently called imaus , dividing tartary in the middle . rivers of principal note are four , viz. 1. oby , 2. ochanda , 3. chesel , ( an . iaxertes ) and 4. polisanga . most considerable lakes are four , viz. 1. kithay , 2. kithaiska , 3. coras , and , 4. amu. there is very much uncertainty of this country . 6. mogul's empire . the empire of the great mogul lies on the s. of tartary and e. of persia , situated between the 104th and the 139th degr . of lon. and between the 18th and the 41st degr . of lat. being in length from the w. parts of candabor , to the e. parts of kanduana , about 1750 miles ; and in breadth from the n. parts of cabul to the s. parts of guzarat 1240 miles . it contains the greatest part of the east-indies , with some of old persia ; now often called by the name of indostan . it was first conquered by bacchus , afterwards by alexander the great . we hear scarce any thing of it till of later ages it was conquered by the tartars , who then erected that monarchy , which still continues . so that it is now governed by its own emperours or moguls , who are absolute and have vast revenues , exceeding the persian and turk together . his imperial seat is at agra . the inhabitants are many of them mahomitans of the turkish sect , above two thirds are gentiles , banians or persees ; and here are also some christians , called christians of st. thomas , and several jews and jesuits . their language a kind of tartarian , and has a great mixture of the persian . in guzarate and bengala they speak the guzarate tongue ; the persian is also in much use . the chief commodities are all sorts of spices , aloes , musk , rhubarb , wormseeds , civits , indigo , lacque , borax , ogium , amber , myraboles , sal-armoniack , silk , cottons , calicoes , sattins , taffaties , velvets , carpets , metals , pocelline earth , &c. it is divided into 38 kingdoms , which are , 1. candahor , the most w. province , part of the old arachosa in persia ; 300 m. l. & 220 br . ch . t. is candahor . 2. cabul , on the n. e. of candahor , the rest of old arachosa ; 350 m. l. & 190 br . ch . t. are cabul and parna . 3. attock , on the s. e. of cabul ; 300 m. l. & 130 br . ch . t. attock . 4. kachemire , on the e. of attock ; 210 m. l. 150 br . ch . t. kachemire . 5. bankisk , on the e. of kachemire ; 190 m. l. & 150 br . ch . t. beishar . 6. kakares , on the n. e. of bankisk ; 580 m. l. & 150 br . ch . t. dankalor and purhola . 7. naugracut , on the s. of kakares and e. of bankisk ; 300 m. l. & 110 br . ch . t. naugracut . 8. siba , on the e. of naugracut and s. of kakares ; 340 m. l. & 180 br . ch . t. hardware and serenegar . 9. pitan , on the s. of siba , including rahia-radorou and rahia-mug ; 270 m. l. & 260 br . ch . t. pitan . 10. gor , on the e. of pitan ; 390 m. l. & 170 br . ch . t. gor. 11. kanduana , on the s. of gor , 320 m. l. & 130 br . ch . t. kanduana . 12. vdessa , on the s. of kanduana ; 240 m. l. & 160 br . ch . t. iehenat . 13. mevat , on the s. of vdessa ; 270 m. l. & 150 br . ch . t. mevat . 14. iesuel , on the n. of mevat ; 200 m. l. & 120 br . ch . t. rejapore . 15. patna , on the n. of iesuel ; 330 m. l. & 180 br . ch . t. patna . 16. iamba , on the w. of patna , including rahia-decamperga ; 240 m. l. & 170 br . ch . t. iamba . 17. bakar , on the s. of iamba ; 220 m. l. & 120 br . ch . t. bicanor . 18. sambal , on the s. of bakan ; ch . t. sambal . 19. narvar , on the s. of sambal ; 270 m. l. & 150 br . ch . t. are gehud and ouden . 20. gualeo , on the w. of narvar ; 160 m. l. & 90 br . ch . t. gualeo . 21. agra , on the n. w. of gualeo ; 340 m. l. & 170 br . ch . t. are agra and fetapore . 22. delly , on the n. w. of agra ; 360 m. l. and 120 br . ch . t. delly . 23. ienupar , on the n. w. of delly ; 300 m. l. & 90 br . ch . t. ienupar . 24. pengab or lahor , on the n. of ienupar ; 390 m. l. & and 130 br . ch . t. lahor . 25. multan , on the w. of pengab ; 220 m. l. & 150 br . ch . t. multan . 26. hajacan , on the w. of multan ; 300 m. l. & 120 br . ch . t. are ch●●zan and vche . 27. bukar , on the s. w. h●jacan ; 340 m. l. & 220 br . ch . t. bukar . 28. hendown , on the e. of bukar ; 240 m. l. & 160 br . ch . t. hendown . 29. bando or asmire , on the s. e. of hendown ; 240 m. l. and 170 br . ch . t. are bando and asmire . 30. ieselmere , on the w. of bando ; 300 m. l. & 220 br . ch . t. ieselmere . 31. tatta , on the w. of ieselmere ; 260 m. l. & 160 br . ch . t. tatta . 32. soret , on the e. of tatta , and s. w. of ieselmere ; 160 m. l. & 156 br . ch . t. are ianagar and pache. 33. guzarat , on the s. of soret and ieselmere , along the ocean ; 530 m. l. & 350 br . ch . t. are cambay and surat . 34. chitor , on the n. w. of guzarat ; 260 m. l. & 160 br . ch . t. chitor . to this is joined rahia-ranas , ch . t. gurchitto . 35. malvay , on the e. of chitor ; 300 m. l ▪ & 110 br . ch . t. sarampore . 36. candis , on the s. of malvay ; 190 m. l. & 170 br . ch . t. mandave . 37. berar , on the n. e. of candis ; 250 m. l. & 120 br . ch . t. shapor . 38. bengala , on the n. e. of berar ; 660 m. l. & 450 br . ch . t. bengala . in this extent are the pr. of patenaw , elebus and prurop . rivers of principal note are two , viz. 1. indus or pengab , and , 2. ganges , both very famous . chief mountains are , 1. imaus or bittigo , and , 2. sardonix . 7. india in t . gangem . india intra gangem , or the peninsula on this side the river ganges , lies on the s. of the mogul's empire ; situated between the 112th and 45 min. and the 120th degr . of lon. and between the 7th and 40 min. and the 23d degr . of lat. being in length from the n. parts of orixa in golconda , to cape comeri in malabar , about 1000 miles ; in breadth from narsingapatan to dabul 490 miles . we can find but little how it was anciently governed ; but it is at present under the government of about fifty several kings , of which three or four are greater than the rest , and some parts are under the europeans , as the portuguez , dutch , and english. the ch . t. of the whole is goa , under the portugals . the inhabitants are of several nations besides the natives ; they are both pagans and mahomitans , with some christians of st. thomas , besides the europeans . their language is that called talenga , in golconda ; the guzarate , in bisnagar ; and the malabar , with the bagadan , tamul and grandonique in malabar : the portugal is also in much use in some parts . chief commodities are metals , silks , cottons , pearls , drugs , ginger , cinnamon , cassia , &c. it contains four parts , viz. 1. kingdom of golconda , the most n. e. province ; 420 m. l. & 210 br . ch . t. golconda or bagnagar . in this extent are comprehended also the provinces of orixa , ch . t. orixa ; and talengand , ch . t. dalacata . it is under its own king , but tributary to the great mogul . 2. kingdom of decan , on the w. of golconda ; 380 m. l. & 280 br . it contains three provinces , viz. 1. decan , ch . t. kerky . 2. balgate , ch . t. bender : and , 3. cuncan , ch . t. goa , and visapor . these are chiefly the portuguez and king of visapor . 3. kingdom of bisnagar , on the s. e. of decan ; 570 m. l. & 330 br . it contains six provinces , viz. 1. bisnagar or narsinga , ch . t. bisnagar . 2. coromandel , ch . t. maliapour , ( under its own prince . ) 3. canara , ch . t. st. omar . 4. gingi , ch . t. gingi . 5. tanjanor , ch . t. tanjanor . 6. madure , ( in which is the pro. of coru ) ch . t. madure . it is chiefly under its own k. and others tributary to him . 4. malabar , on the e. of bisnagar ; 320 m. l. & 120 br . it contains the kingdoms of , 1. calicute , ch . t. calicute . 2. cananor , ch . t. cananor . 3. tanor , ch . t. tanor . 4. cranganor , ch . t. cranganor . 5. cochin , ch . t. cochin . 6. coulan , ch . t. coulan . 7. travencor , ch . t. travencor . all under their own naiques or kings , except some places possessed by the dutch , portuguez and english. calicute is the ch . t. of the whole . rivers of chief note are , 1. guengua , and , 2. mudora . chief mountains are those called balagatta . 8. india ex . gangem . india beyond the river ganges , is a knot of kingdoms lying between the mogul's empire and china ; between the 133d and the 151st degr . of lon. and between the first and the 34th degr . of lat. being in length from the s. parts of malacca to the borders of tartary about 2000 miles ; and the breadth from bengala to the borders of quantung in china about 900 miles : by this account it contains some of the old sina . as for the ancient government , we can give no certain account ; at the present it is a barbarous country , dismembred into a great many estates under their own kings and governours , of which four or five are of considerable note . besides these the portuguez and dutch have several places on the coasts . the ch . t. of all is pegu. the inhabitants are chiefly idolaters ; here are also some mahomitans on the coasts , and some christians converted by the jesuits . their language in siam and malacca is the malaize , in some places the chinean , in other places they have many different tongues little known to us . their chief commodities are gold , silver , precious stones , silks , porcelline earth , aloes , musk , rhubarb , alabaster , &c. divided into six great parts , which are , 1. kingdom of barma or brema , containing all the n. parts of this country ; ch . t. are brema and ava . it contains many small kingdoms tributary to the king of barma , as , 1. prom , 2. calam , 3. melinta , 4. sirole , 5. bacan , 6. miranda , 7. circangre , 8. brema , 9. caor , 10. ava , and 11. tangu . of these there is little certainty . 2. kingdom of pegu , on the s. of barma ; 600 m. l. & 350 br . it contains three provinces , viz. 1. kingdom of arrachan , ( under the great mogul ) ch . t. arrachan . 2. pegu , under its own king ; ch . t. pegu. 3. laos , under its own king ; in which are the provinces of iangoma , curroy , and leveu . 3. kingdom of tunquin ( in which is comprehended the pro. of ciracan ) on the e. of pegu and s. of china ; 540 m. l. & 300 br . under its own king. ch. t. is tunquin . here are said to be the kingdoms of ciucange or caubang , bao , and lao , and the people called maug , timocoves , and gueys , nigh china . 4. kingdom of cochin china , on the s. of tunquin ; 500 m. l. & 210 br . ch. t. are turon and haeso . it is partly under its own king and partly under the portuguez . here is also a province called the lays ; ch . t. — 5. kingdom of camboje or cambodia , on the s. w. of cochin china , about 510 m. l. & 210 br . ch . t. is camboje ; ruled by its own king. here lies also the kingdom of chiampa , said to be independent ; ch . t. puto-caceim . 6. kingdom of siam , on the e. of pegu , 1080 m. l. & 340 br . it contains three kingdoms , viz. 1. martaban , ch . t. martaban . 2. siam , ch . t. siam . 3. malacca , ( anciently aurea chersonessus ) containing malacca , ienasseri , iuncalaon , quedda , pera , ihor , puhang , patane , ligor , and burdelong ; ch . t. the same . all under the king of siam , portuguez and dutch. siam is ch . t. of the whole . rivers of principal note are four , viz. 1. menin , 2. ava , 3. cosmite , and , 4. caor . here is the famous lake of chiamay . principal mountains that i find here are those called kemois and rumoy . 9. china . china , lies on the e. of the indies , and on the s. of tartary ; situated between the 141st and the 165th degr . of lon. and between the 20th and the 41st and 40 min. of lat. being in length from the n. e. parts of leaotong , to the s.w. parts of iunnan about 1560 miles , and in breadth from the n. w. parts of xensi to the s. e. parts of chekiang about 1300 miles , containing the greatest part of old sina , now called by some mangi ; by the arabians , tzinin ; by the neighbouring countries , sanglai ; by the natives , taine , and taibinco ; and the inhabitants , tanges . it had its own king for many ages , ( some say above 3000 years ) till conquered by the tartars ; then again it had its own kings , till of late again conquered by the tartars , who still have it ; under which are 32 princes , or petty kings . there are also several princes ( saith gabriel magailans ) which own no superior . it is ( if we may credit the jesuits relations ) the most famous country in the world. the ch . t. is peking . the inhabitants are gentiles for the most part . here are also some few christians , converted by the jesuits , but hardly suffered . their language differs from all others , having but 300 words , and above 50000 letters ; by which they express their minds with much vivacity and efficacy : they write right down from the top to the bottom . their chief commodities are gold , silver , precious stones , quick-silver , porcelline dishes , silks , cottons , rhubarb , sugar , camphire , civet , musk , ginger , china-wood , &c. it contains 15 provinces , which are , 1. pecheli , or peking , the most n. province , bordering on tartary ; 320 m. l. & 240 br . ch . t. is peking , or xuntien . it is divided into 8 countries , and has 131 cities . 2. xantung , on the s. e. of pecheli ; 330 m. l. & 180 br . ch . t. are cinan and cungoha●d . it is divided into 6 countries , and has 51 cities . 3. honans , on the s. w. of xantung ; 320 m. l. & 270 br . ch . t. are caifung and honan . it is divided into 9 countries , and has 108 cities . 4. xansi , on the n. of honan ; 360 m. l. & 190 br . ch . t. are taiyven and fuencheu . it is divided into 5 countries , and has 86 cities . 5. xensi , on the w. of xansi and honan ; 580 m. l. & 480 br . ch . t. are sigan and socheu . it is divided into 8 countries , and has 180 cities . 6. suchven , on the s. of xensi ; 580 m. l. & 380 br . ch . t. are chingtu and queicheu . it is divided into 8 countries , and has 150 cities . 7. huquang , on the e. of suchven ; 550 m. l. & 320 br . ch . t. are vnchang and kiang . it is divided into 15 countries , and has 100 cities . 8. nanking , on the e. of huquang ; 390 m. l. & 360 br . ch . t. are kiangning and sucheu . it is divided into 14 countries , and has 110 cities . 9. chekiang , on the s. e. of nanking ; 280 m. l. & 260 br . ch . t. are hangcheu and ningpo . it is divided into 11 countries , and has 33 cities . 10. kiangsi , on the w. of chekiang , and e. of huquang ; 350 m. l. & 260 br . ch . t. are kienchang and nauchang . it is divided into 13 countries , and has 67 cities . 11. fokien , on the s. e. of kiangsi ; 350 m. l. & 300 br . ch . t. are foken , hingko and xu . it is divided into 8 countries , and has 60 cities . 12. quantung , on the s. e. of fokien ; 600 m. l. & 210 br . ch . t. are quangcheu , and chaoking . it is divided into 10 countries , ( the isle ha●an being one ) and has 80 cities . 13. quangsi , on the n. w. of quantung ; 400 m. l. & 250 br . ch . t. is queilin . it is divided into 11 countries , and has 98 cities . 14. queicheu , on the n. w. of quangsi ; 310 m. l. & 200 br . ch . t. is queiyang . it is divided into 8 countries , and has 81 cities . 15. iunnan , on the w. of queicheu and quangsi ; 400 m. l. and 220 br . ch . t. is iunnan . it is divided into 12 countries , and has 87 cities . besides these , here are the territories of leaotong , on the e. of pecheli , ch . t. leaotong ; and the peninsula of coreo , ch . t. kiangyvan . rivers of principal note are three , viz. 1. kiang , 2. croceus , and , 3. ta. 10. oriental islands . the oriental islands are a vast number of isles of all sorts , ( some say 150000 in number ) lying on the e. and s. e. parts of asia . the inhabitants are for the most part gentiles . the language in iapan is one of its own ; in sumatra , iava , and moluccoes , they speak the malaize . here are also several other tongues little known to us . they are under a great many of their own kings and princes : also the english , dutch , portuguez , spaniards , and french , have considerable shares in those parts . they may be divided into , 1. iapan , on the e. of china , distant from it 210 miles , being 710 m. l. & 200 br . it contains five provinces , viz. 1. iamaysoit , ch . t. naugalo . 2. ietzengo , ch . t. meaco . 3. ietzegen , ch . t. cauga . 4. quanta , ch . t. iedo . and , 5. ocliva , ch . t. ximosin . meaco is ch . t. of the whole . it is governed by its own king , who is a very great and potent prince . here are also many other lesser isles which belong to iapan ; as , 1. ximo , ch . t. figen . 2. xicoum , ch . t. xiowith ; and others of less note . 2. philippine islands , which are a great knot of isles lying on the s. w. of iapan , right a-against india extra gangem . the chief of them are , 1. luconia , 480 m. l. & 180 br . ch . t. are manilla and luconia . 2. mindanao , 420 m. l. & 150 br . ch . t. is mindanao . others are , 3. paragoa , 4. mindora , 5. tandaya , 6. ivan , with a great number of lesser not worth naming . these belong chiefly to the spaniards . 3. molucca islands , another knot of islands on the s. of the philippine islands . the chief are , 1. celebes , 580 m. l. & 260 br . ch . t. are celebes and macascar . 2. gilolo , ch . t. gilolo . 3. ceram . 4. timor . 5. flores . 6. the isles of banda . 7. proper moluccas . 8. amboyna . these are subject to the dutch , english , and several other princes that are natives . 4. borneo , a large island , on the w. of celebes , of a round form , being about 650 m. l. & 600 br . ch . t. are borneo , laus and bendermassin . it is divided chiefly between the two kings of laus and borneo . 5. iava , on the s. w. of borneo , 600 m. l. & 120 br . ch . t. are materan , batavia , and banr●m . it is under several kings , as materan , bantam , iapore , tuban , iottan , panarucan , and palambuam , most homagers to the k. of materan . 6. sumatra , on the n. w. of iava , under the aequator , as is borneo ; 900 m. l. & 200 br . ch . t. is achem. it is ruled by five or six as achem , camper ▪ iambi , menacabo , and palimban . achem is the principal . 7. ceilon , on the borders of india intra gangem , of a roundish form , 250 m. l. & 170 br . ch . t. are candea and chilao . divided between the dutch and several little kings , of which he of candea is chief . 8. the maldives , a vast number of very small islands on the s. w. of ceilon , chief of which is male. they are dispersed into thirteen provinces , or atollons , under its own king. thus much for asia . iii. africa . africa has on the north the mediterranian sea ; on the west , the atlantick or western ocean ; on the south , the ethiopian or southern ocean ; on the east , the oriental ocean ; and on the n. east , the red sea , which with an isthmus of 110 miles parts it from asia . it is a peninsula , and the greatest in the world ; situated between the 3d and the 83d and 30 min. of lon. and between the 35th and 30 min. of n. and the 35th and 10 min. of s. lat. being in length from cape verde in negroland , to cape guadafu in ajan about 4800 miles ; and in breadth from cape de boni in barbary , to the cape of good hope about 4200 miles ; anciently called hesperia olympia , ammonis , ortygia , escha●●ca , and eoriphe , and now africa ; by the aethiopians , alkabulam , and by the indians , besecath . it is greater than europe , and lesser than asia , but not so considerable as either , being in many places full of vast deserts and unhabitable places , some parts so little known , that we can give but an uncertain account of them . here are also many remarkable beasts and birds , not so common in other places , as elephants , crocodiles , lions , leopards , &c. the religions may be reduced to five general heads , viz. 1. mahomitan , 2. pagan , or gentilism , 3. iewish , 4. christian , and , 5. libertinism ; the two first are most predominant . the languages are chiefly six , viz. 1. arabick , 2. hitbissine , 3. egyptian , 4. that called aqueamerig , 5. that called sungai , and , 6. that called gubio . the iews speak the chaldean or syriack . it is under the government of three emperours ; viz. abissina , morocco , and monomo●apa ; many inferior kings ; the turks , who have a considerable part ; and several of the europeans , as portuguez , english , dutch , and french. rivers of principal note are four ; viz. 1. nile , 2. niger , 3. zaire , and , 4. zembre . greatest mountains are , 1. aiducal , or atlas , 2. christal mountains , 3. amara , 4. sierra leona , 5. mount table , and , 6. pike of tenneriff . lakes of chief note are , 1. zaire , 2. zafflan , 3. niger , 4. borno , and , 5. guarda . africa is divided into twelve parts ; viz. 1. egypt , 2. barbary , 3. biledulgerid , 4. sarra , 5. nabia , 6. negroland , 7. guinea , 8. congo , 9. abissina , 10. zanguebar , 11. monomotapa , and , 12. cafferia ; besides the isles . 1. egypt . egypt is the most n. e. country in africa , bordering on asia , and lying between barbary , biledulgerid , and the red sea ; situated between the 59th and 20 min. and the 67th and 30 min. of lon. and between the 21st and 30 min. and the 31st and 50 min. of lat. being in length from alexandra to buge about 730 miles , and the breadth from the borders of biledulgerid to zibeth about 380 miles . it was anciently called by the names of miseraim , the land of ham , aeria , potamia , ogygia , melampodus and osyria ; now by the turks , miser and el-kebit ; by the arabians , mesra and bardamasser ; by the inhabitants , chebili ; and by the italians and spaniards , l' egitto . it first had its own kings ; conquered by the persians ; soon after by the macedonians ; then again it had its own kings ; then conquered by the romans ; afterwards by the saracens ; then it had its own princes again , till at last wholly conquered by the turks , who still have it . governed by a beglerbog , residing at cairo . this , together with the greatest part of barca , make up that part of the turkish empire which is called the government of miser or cairo . the inhabitants are copti , moors , arabians , turks , iews and greeks , and are chiefly mahomitans . here are also some christians , called copti , iacobites in sect , but differing from them and all others in many points . their language is chiefly arabick and turkish , and in some places the egyptian or coptick , whose writing is little different from the ancient greek . their chief commodities are sugar , flax , rice , all sorts of grains and fruits , linnen cloth , salt , balsom , butargio , senna , cassia , &c. it is divided into four parts , which are , 1. erif , or the lower egypt , the most n. province , containing the old proper egypt and augusticana . divided into four caciefs or governments ; viz. 1. caliobeck ; ch . t. alexandria . 2. menofia ; ch . t. rosetta . 3. garbia , ch . t. dametta : and , 4. mansouria ; ch . t. mansouria . the ch . t. of the whole is alexandria . 2. bechria , demisor , or middle egypt , on the s. of erif , or lower eg●pt , containing the greatest part of the ancient arcadia ; ch . t. are cairo and sues . in this is included the cacief of vium ; ch . t. vium . 3. sahid , or upper egypt , on the s. of bechria , part of old thebais . divided into ●ive caciefs ; viz. 1. benesuef ; ch . t. benesuef . 2. cherkeffi ; ch . t. mansloth . 3. manfelout ; ch . t. manfelout . 4. girgio , or sahid ; ch . t. sahid , and asna . 5. minio ; ch . t. minio . ch. t. of all is sahid . 4. coast of the red sea , that part which borders on the red sea , on the e. of sahid , containing part of ancient thebais and arcadia ; ch . t. are cossir , zibith , and buge . the only river of note is nile , dividing this country in two , the most famous river in the world. chief mountains are those which were anciently called montes lybici . principal lakes are two ; viz. 1. mareotis , now antacon . 2. meeris , now buchiarea . 2. barbary . barbary is the most considerable country in africa , lying on the w. of egypt along the mediterranian sea , and together with it , contains all the n. parts of africa . situated between the 8th and the 60th degr . of lon. and between the 28 and 25 min. and the 35th and 30 min. of lat. being in length from the w. parts of morocco to the e. parts of barca about 2760 miles , and in breadth in the widest parts not 300 miles , and in several places but 60 miles . it was sometimes called africa , and contains those provinces which the romans called mauritania , numedia , africa propria , byzacenia , tripolitana , cyrenaica , and marmarica . it was anciently a great part of it under the state of carthage , till conquered by the romans ; afterwards by the vandals ; then again by the emperours , till conquered by the sarazens ; after that divided into several kingdoms , till at last the turk conquered part of it ; so that it is under several ; the xeriffs or emperours of morocco have the western parts ; the turks the eastern ; the spaniards and portuguez several towns on the coasts ; and some keep their freedom . the ch . t. of all is fez. the inhabitants are all mahomitans ( except the europeans ) and very zealous in their religion . their language is for the most part the arabick , but in fez and morocco , and in some few other places they use that called aquil-amerig or the noble language , the same with the punick or old african , intermixed with some arabick words . the chief commodities are honey , wax , oyl , sugar , flax , hemp , hides , marokins or cordavans , dates , almonds , mantles , alheicks , &c. it is divided into six parts , which are , 1. kingdom of morocco , the most w. province , 340 m. l. & 200 br . anciently called mauritania sitisensis . it contains seven provinces , viz. 1. sus , ch . t. taradant . 2. guzula , ch . t. guzula . 3. morocco , ch . t. morocco . 4. hea , ch . t. tednest . 5. hascora , ch . t. elmadin● . 6. tedles , ch . t. tefza . 7. ducala , ch . t. azamin . ch. t. of all is morocco . 2. kingdom of fez , on the n. e. of morocco , 360 m. l. & 230 br . anciently called mauritania tingitana . it contains seven provinces , viz. 1. temefs●●e , ch . t. rabat . 2. fez , ch . t. fez and salla . 3. asgar , ch . t. larache and cascar elkabes . 4. habat , ch . t. tanger , arzilla and ceuta . 5. errif , ch . t. iasaon . 6. garret , ch . t. melilla : and , 7. chaus , ch . t. tezza . ch. t. of all is fez. these two kingdoms are under the xeriffs of morocco , except the coasts which are chiefly subject to the spaniards and portuguez . 3. kingdom of algiers , on the e. of fez , 690 m. l. & 260 br . anciently called mauritania caesariensis , partly under the turks . it contains five provinces , viz. 1. telensin or tremisen , ch . t. tremisen and oran . 2. tenes , ch . t. tenes . 3. algiers , ch . t. algiers . in this lies the kingdom of couco , a seperate k. ch . t. couco . 4. bugia , ch . t. bugia . in this is lubez , a seperate estate , ch . t. calar . 5. constantina , an independent kingdom , containing three parts , viz. constantina , ch . t. constantina ; tebessa , ch . t. tebessa ; and bona , ch . t. bona. constantina and bugia made the roman numidia . 4. kingdom of tunis , on the e. of algiers , 300 m. l. & 200 br . anciently called africa propria ( in which was the famous city of carthage ) . it contains six provinces , viz. 1. biserta , ch . t. biserta . 2. goletta , ch . t. tunis and goletta . 3. sousa , ch . t. sousa . 4. elmadia , ch . t. elmadine . 5. beija , ch . t. beija : and , 6. cairoan , ch . t. cairoan . this province is under the turks . 5. kingdom of tripoli , on the e. of tunis , 690 m. l. & 150 br . anciently called tripolitana , ch . t. are tripoli , lebada and capis . in this is included the province of ezzaab , which contains another called mesurata , ch . t. mesurata . this province is also under the turks ; who have but little benefit as from algiers and tunis . 6. kingdom of barca , on the e. of tripoli , 700 m. l. & 150 br . it contains all the ancient cyranaica and lybia marmarica , ch . t. are barca , cairoan and tolomesa . part of it is now joyned with egypt , which together ( as i said before ) make up the government of miser or cairo . rivers of chiefest note are four , 1. guadebar , 2. major , 3. nachan , and , 4. ommiriboli . chief mountains are the mountains of atlas or aiducal , which part this country from biledulgerid . 3. biledulgerid . biledulgerid or the country of dates , is a large but inconsiderable country on the s. of barbary and w. of egypt ; situated between the 5th and the 60th and 30 min. of lon. and between the 21st and 45 min. and the 32d degr . of lat. being in length from the atlantick ocean to the borders of egypt about 3000 miles , and not 450 broad in the widest place , and in some places not above 100. it contains that part of the ancient lybia interior which was called ( not the roman ) numidia . it remained unconquered till anno 710. it was overcome by the saracens , but afterwards left again ; so that it is now under several petty princes and arabian chiefs , many of them pay some acknowledgment to the xeriffs of morocco ; in some places they have scarcely any government at all . ch. t. is dara . the inhabitants are for the most part mahomitans , brought in anno 710 , a great many are still idolaters . their language is chiefly the arabick , but in some places towards barbary , they use the punick or old african . the only commodities that i find are dates . it contains ten provinces , which are , 1. tesset or sus , the most w. province , 720 m. l. & 300 br . ch . t. are tesset and buzadora , chiefly under morocco . 2. dara , on the n. e. of tesset , 210 m. l. & 145 br . ch . t. dara . 3. segelmessa , on the e. of dara , 380 m. l. & 370 br . ch . t. segelmessa . it is under several small estates . here are included the pr. of taffilet and farcala . 4. tegorarin , on the e. of segelmissa , 220 m. l. & 240 br . ch . t. tegorarin . 5. zeb , on the e. of tegorarin , ch . t. teulachar . 6. mezzab , on the s. of zeb , ch . t. mezzab . 7. techort , on the s. e. of mezzab , 270 m. l. & 160 br . ch . t. techort . 8. guargala , on the e. of techort , 200 m. l. & 100 br . ch . t. guargala . this and techort have their own kings , but tributary to algiers . 9. biledulgerid , on the n. e. of guargala , 980 m. l. & 220 br . ch . t. caphesa . here are also , 1. the estates of fezzan , ch . t. fezzan . 2. gadenses , ch . t. gadenses : and , 3. teoreger , ch . t. teoreger . 10. deserts of barca , on the e. of biledulgerid , 760 m. l. & 450 br . ch . t. ( if there be any ) is ammon . the s. parts are called the deserts of lybia or eleocat . rivers of greatest note are , 1. dara , and , 2. zizus . mountains of chiefest account are those of atlas . 4. sarra . the deserts of sarra or zaara lies on the s. of biledulgerid , situated between the 4th and the 56th degr . of lon. and between the 12th and the 28th degr . of lat. being in length from the atlantick ocean to the e. parts of gaoga about 2840 miles , and in breadth from the n. parts of berdoa , to the s. parts of borno about 780 miles , in some places but 240 , in others but 120 miles . it contains that part of the ancient lybia interior , called deserta . we can hear little of it in former times concerning government , being so mean and inconsiderable : it has now several petty princes and inferior lords , with some arabian chiefs . the ch . t. of the whole is zuenziga . the inhabirants are mahomitans and gentiles with some libertines , who have not the least signs of religion or worship . their language , arabick and punick , and in some places that of the negroes . their only commodities are dates and cattel . it contains seven desarts , which are , 1. desart of zanhaga , ( which includes the desarts of azaod and araban ) the most w. province , 680 m. l. & 270 br . ch . t. tegassa . 2. desart of zuenziga , on the e. of zanhaga , 420 m. l. & 310 br . it contains three desarts , viz. 1. zuenziga , ch . t. zuenziga . 2. ghir , ch . t. ghir : and , 3 gogden . 3. desart of targa or zaghara , on the e. of zuenziga , 500 m. l. 390 br . it contains three desarts , viz. 1. targa , ch . t. targa . 2. hair , ch . t. hair : and , 3. ignid , ch . t. ignid . 4. desart of lemta , on the e. of targa , 720 m. l. & 450 br . ch . t. are lemta and suma . 5. desart and kingdom of berdoa , on the e. of lemta , 560 m. l. & 200 br . ch . t. berdoa . this prov. is ( as i take it ) under its own king. 6. desart and kingdom of borno , on the s. of berdoa , 680 m. l. & 600 br . ch . t. borno . this province is under its own king. 7. desart and kingdom of gaoga , on the n. e. of borno , 510 m. l. 280 br . ch . t. gaoga . this is also under its own king. rivers of greatest note are , 1. ghir , and , 2. rio de cavollos . principal mountains are those called girgiris . chief lakes are borno and targa . 5. nubia . the kingdom of nubia , is a considerable country on the s. w. of egypt , and s. of the desarts of barca , between sarra and abissina . situated between the 48th and 20 min. and the 65th and 40 min. of lon. and between the 10th and 5 min. and the 23d and 5 min. of lat. being in length from the borders of egyp● to the borders of biafara about 1080 miles and the breadth about 650 miles : according to this situation , it is a part of the ancient lybia . how it was in ancient times , we can tell b●● little . at present we hear it is governed by it own kings , who , as some say , have a very grea● power , and able to raise a vast number of soldiers . his s●at is at nubia . the inhabitants are both mahomitans and pagans , but yet retain some signs of christianity , as baptism in some places . they have a language which seems to be made up of arabick , chaldean and egyptian . the chief commodities are gold , civet sanders , sugar , ivory , arms , and a most subtile poison , an ounce of which is valued at 100 ducates . it is so little known to us , that i cannot find how it is divided , but i find the names of 8 provinces , viz. 1. gorham , ch . t. gorham . 2. cusa , ch . t. cusa . 3. nubia , ch . t. nubia . 4. dancala , ch . t. dancala . 5. ialac , ch . t. ialac . 6. bughia , ch . t. bughia . 7. canfila , ch . t. canfila : and , 8. dafila , ch . t. dafila . rivers of greatest note are nile and nubia . 6. negroland . negroland lies on the e. of sarra , and on the n. guinea . situated between the 3d and the 44th and 20 min. of lon. and between the 8th and 25 min. and the 23d and 30 min. of lat. being in length from cape verde to the e. parts of zanfara , about 2400 miles , and in breadth from the n. parts of gualata to the s. parts of melli 920 , and in some places but 400 miles . it is a part of the ancient lybia interior , now sometimes called nigritia and the land of blacks . we heard little of it till conquered by ioseph king of morocco , then by the five nations of lybia deserta , but the inhabitants again recovered their liberty , and instituted several kings of their own . so at present it is under many kings , but three or four have the greatest power , to which the rest are for the most part tributary . the portuguez and hollanders have some of the coasts . the ch . t. of the whole is tombute . the inhabitants are in some places mahomitans , in others very simple idolaters ; here are also some jews and christians in the european towns. their language is for the most part that which is called sungai , which has many idioms ; they use in some places that called gubeo ; in gualata they have one of their own . their chief commodities are ostridge feathers , gums , amber , gold , sanders , civet , &c. it contains thirteen kingdoms , which are , 1. gualata , the most n. w. province , 480 m. l. & 275 br . ch . t. gaudia . in this are comprehended two others ▪ viz. 1. azanagi , ch . t. arguin ; and , 2. hoden , ch . t. hodia . this province is under its own king. 2. genehea , on the s. of gualata , 320 m l. & 240 br . ch . t. genehoa . the king of this province is tributary to the k. of tombute . 3. tombute , on the e. of genehoa and gualata , 660 m. l. & 440 br . ch . t. tombute . it is under its own king who has considerable dominions . 4. agades , on the e. of tombute , 6oo m. l. & 330 br . ch . t. are agades and deghir . under tombute . 5. cano , on the e. of agades , 560 m. l. & 340 br . ch . t. is cano. under tombute . 6. cassena , on the e. of cano , 420 m. l. & 300 br . ch . t. is cassena . under tombute . 7. gangara , on the e. of cassena , 570 m. l. & 260 br . ch . t. gangara . it is under the k. of borno in sarra . these seven provinces lie on the n. side of the niger ; those of the s. side are , 8. zanfara , on the s. of gangara , 650 m. l. & 240 br . ch . t. zanfara . under tombute . 9. zegzeg , on the w. of zanfara , 320 m. l. & 220 br . ch . t. zegzeg . under tombute . 10. guber , on the w. of zegzeg , 420 m. l. & 115 br . ch . t. is guber . under tombute . 11. gago , on the w. of guber , 440 m. l. & 260 br . ch . t. gago . under tombute . 12. mandinga , on the w. of gago , 410 m. l. & 260 br . ch . t. mandinga . under its own king. 13. melli , on the w. of mandinga , 380 m. l. & 210 br . ch . t. melli. it is tributary to tombute , and includes the province of cantori , ch . t. cantori . besides these , between the branches of the niger , lie two or three little provinces , as , 1. gambia , ch . t. gambia , 2. biafares , ch . t. biafares , and , 3. ialofes , ch . t. budomel , and emboul . the only river of note is the famous niger , dividing this country into two parts . principal mountain is that of cape verde . lakes of greatest account are reckoned , 1. , gaurda , and , 2. borno . 7. guinea . gvinea lies along the sea , on the s. of negroland , by some counted a part thereof . situated between the 9th and the 33d . degr . of lon. and between the 4th and 40 min. and the 12th and 25th min. of lat. being in length from siera leona , to the e. parts of benin , about 1800 miles , and the breadth from north to south not 400 miles . the fortunes of it has been much the same with the rest of negroland ; so that the present government is under many petty lords , who are for the most part tributary to the kings of mandinga in negroland , and also to some of the europeans , as english , danes , dutch , and portuguez . the ch . t. is arda . the inhabitants are for the most part gross idolaters , every one making a god of their own . here are also some mahomitans and christians of the europeans . they most commonly use the language called gubeo . their chief commodities are gold , ivory , hides , wax , ambergrease , guinea pepper , red wood , sugar , civet , sanders , &c. it contains 4 parts , which are , 1. malegvette , the most w. province , 440 m. l. & 230 br . ch . t. are timau and bygos . 2. guinea , on the e. of malegvette , 830 m. l. & 360 br . ch . t. are st. george de mina , moure , and gr. acara . here are the k. of fetu , acania & sabou . 3. kingdom of arda , on the e. of guinea , 300 m. l. & 100 br . ch . t. are arda and daroera . under its own king. 4. kingdom of benin , on the e. of arda , 720 m. l. & 400 br . ch . t. are benin , cosfo , and iackeyn . rivers of greatest note are , 1. volsa , and , 2. seviriada . chief mountain is that of siera leona . principal lake is that called curamo . 8. congo . congo in the largest extent lies towards the s. e. of guinea , between abissina and the ocean . situated between the 33d and 20 min. and the 49th degr . of lon. and between the 13th and 20 min. of n. and the 14th and 40 min. of s. lat. the whole length from north to south is about 1750 miles , and the breadth from east to west about 840 miles . it is part of the ancient aethiopia inferior , sometimes called by the name of manicongo . how it was governed formerly we know not , but at present it is chiefly under the government of the king of congo , besides several other inferior governments ; some part is under the portuguez . ch. t. is st. salvador . the inhabitants are for the most part idolaters , unless some few christians converted by the portuguez . they commonly speak that tongue called gubeo , a language little known to us . the chief commodities are ebony , ivory and slaves . it is divided into 6 parts , which are , 1. kingdom of biafara , the most n. province , 1200 m. l. & 750 br . ch . t. are biafara and medra . under this name are comprehended , 1. biafara , 2. medra , 3. majuc , 4. gabon , 5. macoco , and , 6. giring bomba . these are little known . 2. kingdom of loango , on the s. of biafara , 400 m. l. & 240 br . ch . t. loango . under its own king. 3. anzacana , on the e. of loango , 330 m. l. & 210 br . ch . t. — it is a free estate . 4. kingdom of congo , on the s. of anzacana and loango , 600 m. l. & 400 br . it contains 8 provinces , viz. 1. pemba , ch . t. st. salvador . 2. bamba , ch . t. bamba , 3. songo , ch . t. songo , 4. cacongo , 5. batta , 6. sunda , 7. cangva , and 8. pango , ch . t. the same . it is partly under its own k. partly under the portuguez , and partly free . 5. giaquez , on the e. of congo , ch . t. zaire . 6. k. of angola , on the s. of congo , 54 m. l. & 360 br . ch . t. angola . it is under its own king. river of chiefest note is that called zaire , a very large river . chief mountains are , 1. christal mountains , 2. salt-petre hill , and , 3. mountains of the sun. chief lake , besides that famous one of zaire , is that called aqua lunda . 9. abissina . under the name of abissina i comprehend all those provinces which lie between congo , nubia , zanguebar and monomotapa . situated between the 48th and the 74th degr . of lon. and between the 20th of n. and the 14th of s. lat. being in length from the n. parts of barnagasso , to the borders of monomugi about 2100 miles , and the breadth from the borders of medra to the borders of adel about 1500 miles . it contains the greatest part of the ancient aethiopia superior , called sometimes ludim , aetheria , and atlantia , now abissina or abissinea ; by the italians , habascia ; by the french , habech , and by the germans , shabath or hhabash . it has been for many ages and is still subject to its own emperours , which are often called the emperours of prester iohn . it was partly conquered by the romans , and now of late very much impaired by the turks , arabians and the neighbouring princes on every side , several of the parts have their own princes , so that not above one half is under its own emperours . the imperial seat is supposed to be at chaxumo . the inhabitants are for the most part christians , ( which is much in africa ) having many iewish ceremonies , and differing from all others in many points . their language is the habassine , which is said to have much of the arabick in it . in some few places they speak the arabick . the chief commodities are gold , metals , some gems , corn , cattel , salt , flax , wines , sugar-canes , &c. the provinces are , 1. barnagasso , the most n. province , 420 m. l. & 340 br . ch . t. are barva and carna . here are three others , viz. cire , canfila and dafila , ( the two last said to be in nubia ) . 2. tigremahon , on the s. of barnasso , 380 m. l. & 300 br . ch . t. are chacumo and sabrain . 3. angot , on the s. of barnagasso , 500 m. l. & 460 br . ch . t. are angot and iugabella . 4. bagamedri , on the w. of angot , lying along the nile , ch . t. are coquette and temei . 5. belegvanse , on the e. of bagamedri , ch . t. belegvanse ▪ 6. amara , on the s. of belegvanse , ch . t. amara . here are also a great many others , as , 7. dobas , 8. faligar , 9. gamo , 10. xao , 11. gora , 12. gemen , 13. gazabela , 14. tirat , 15. fungis , 16. zet , 17. cafates , 18. quara , 19. agag , 20. nova , 21. ambiam , 22. damut , 23. dambea , 24. vangoe , 25. oxia , 26. ambiancantiva , 27. ximenche , 28. sova , ch . t. are mostly the same again . these are little known , neither is there are any country that i am so little satisfied withal as this . principal rivers are the nile and several others that fall into it . chief mountains are amara , and lamalmona . lakes of principal account are , 1. zaire , 2. zafflan , and , 3. niger . 10. zanguebar . zanguabar , taken in the largest extent , lies along the red sea and the oriental ocean ; on the e. of abissina , and reaches from the 22 degr . of n. to the 17th and 45 min. of s. lat. so if it be measured from the borders of egypt , to the most s. parts , it will be about 3000 miles but the breadth in the widest place is not above 360 miles , and in some places but 60 miles . it contains part of the ancient aethiopia , and a great part of it went by the name of barbary . some part of it was formerly under the aethiopian empire ; but the government at present is under divers petty princes , and some of the n. parts under the turks . the ch . t. of the whole is mosambique . inhabitants are for the most part idolaters , with some few christians and mahomitans . their language is chiefly the habassine , and in many places the arabick . their chief commodities are rice , mill , cattel , lemons , citrons , &c. divided into three principal parts , which are , 1. the coast of abex , the most n. province , lying along the red sea , 1080 m. l. & 200 br . ch . t. is erecco . the n. parts are under the turks , and go by the name of the government of habeleth ; in the s. parts is the kingd . of dangali , once part of abissina , ch . t. degbeldara . 2. the coast of ajan , belonging partly to the portuguez , on the e. and s. of abex , 1140 m. l. & 360 br . it contains , 1. the kingd . of adel , ch . t. adel. 2. k. of adea , ch . t. adea . these two are under their own kings . 3. k. of magadoxa , ch . t. magadoxa ; it has a mahomitan king. 4. common-wealth of brava , ch . t. brava , the ch . t. of the whole . 3. zanguebar , on the s. w. of ajan , 1120 m. l. & 340 br . it contains four provinces , viz. 1. melinda , ch . t. melinda . it contains the estates of lamon , ch . t. lamon and pata , ch . t. pata . 2. mombaze , under the portuguez , ch . t. mombaze . 3. quiloa , tributary to the portugals , ch . t. quiloa . 4. mosambique , chiefly under the portuguez , ch . t. mosambique . here are also some other provinces not well discovered . principal rivers are , 1. magadoxo , 2. iugo , and zambuze . 11. monomotapa . the empire of monomotopa , lies on the s. w. of zanguebar , and s. of abissina , being almost incompassed with cafferia . situated between the 43d and 45 min. and 62 degr . of lon. and between the 11th and 10th min. and the 31st degr . of s. lat. being in length from the n. e. to the most s. parts 1350 miles , and the breadth about 780 miles . it is a part of the ancient aethiopia inferior , sometimes called benemotana and benemotaxa . how it was governed formerly we know not , but it is now chiefly under its own emperour , who is the most considerable prince in all these parts , having many others tributary to him . the ch . t. is monomotapa . the inhabitants are chiefly idolaters , with some mahomitans , and ( as i take it ) some christians lately converted . their language , as far as i can understand , is that called gubio . their chief commodities are gold , silver , ivory , rice , milk , oyl , &c. divided into two great parts , viz. 1. kingd . of monumugi , on the n. 780 m. l. 570 br . it has , 1. chicova , ch . t. chicova . 2. moca , ch . t. luanza-feira . 3. inhabaze , ch . t. morango . 4. sacumbe , ch . t. estevan : and , 5. galas , ch . t. zembre , the ch . of the whole . 2. monomotapa it self containing all the s. parts , 1050 m. l. and 800 br . it contains , 1. monomotapa , ch . t. monomotapa . 2. butua , ch . t. butua : and , 3. manica , ch . t. matana-feira . rivers of chiefest note are four , viz. 1. zambre , 2. zambaze , 3. riode spirito sancto , and , 4. los infantos . chief mountains are those called magvice . the principal lake is that called lachaf . 12. cafferia . cafferia , or the land of libertines , contains the most southern parts of all africa , almost incircling monomotapa . it extends from zanguebar to congo along the coasts about 3600 miles ; the breadth in the widest place not above 400 miles , in some places not above 130. it is part of old aethiopia inferior . the caffers have not the least sign of religion or worship , living without both law and government . their language such as no man could ever understand but themselves , being so inarticulate , it resembles the clucking of hens and gabling of turkies . they have no town , so nothing is here remarkable but the cape of good hope , being the most southern point in all africa . under the name of cafferia , in the extent before mentioned , are included , besides cafferia it self , the kingdoms of , 1. quietera , ch . t. mongalo . 2. sofala , ch . t. sofala . 3. sodanda , ch . t. bocra . 4. chicanga , ch . t. milan . these lie on the e. of monomotapa . there are two others on the w. as , 5. malemba , ch . t. debzan ; and , 6. mataman . these are most of them tributaries to the emperour of monomotapa . ch. t. of the whole is sofala . rivers of chief note are three , viz. 1. zembre , 2. riode spirito sancto , and , 3. los infantos . principal mountain is that called mount table at the cape of good hope . islands . the africk isle are chiefly , 1. madagascar , or the isle of st. laurence , a famous isle against zanguebar , about 1050 m. l. & 300 br . divided among several princes little known to us . the french have some parts ; ch . t. that we know , are fanshere and caremboule . 2. canary isles , on the coast of biledulgerid , belonging to the spaniards , famous for their excellent wines : they are 7 in number , viz. 1. lancerota , 2. forte ventura , 3. canaria , 4. teneriff , 5. palma , 6. ferro , and , 7. gomera . 3. islands of cape verde , right against cape verde in negroland , under the portuguez ; in number 10 , viz. 1. st. iago , 2. st. anthony , 3. st. vincent , 4. st. luce , 5. st. nicolas , 6. isle of sale , 7. bonavista , 8. mago , 9. isle de fuego , and , 10. brava . 4. other isles are , 1. zocotara , nigh adel , ch . t. zocotara , 2. st. hellens , under the english , 3. annobon , 4. st. thomas , 5. princes isle , these three are under the portuguez , 6. funando , 7. st. matthews , 8. assention , with some others of less note . thus much for africa . iv. america . america hath on the east , the main atlantick or western ocean ; on the west , the pacifick ocean or mar del zur ; on the south , wherein ends in a cone the magalanick streights ; the nothern bounds are yet undiscovered . the known parts are situated between the 240th and 348th degr . of lon. and between the 63d of n. and the 55th of s. la● . being in length from huson's streights to those of magilanica about 7000 miles , and the breadth from the w. parts of peru to the e. parts of brasil about 3360 miles , in the middle not above 60 miles . it goes by the name of the new world , and also the west indies . it was found out by christopher columbus , a genoese , anno 1490. it is plentifully stored with all spices and fruits , and blest with such abundance of gold , that in many of their mines they found more gold than earth . it has also many rich commodities , and also many creatures of strange shapes and natures , altogether unknown in these parts . the religions and languages that are used here are mostly the same with the europeans that govern these parts , except the unconverted natives , who are most commonly gentiles , yet have some dark notions of the soul's immortality , and the rewards and punishments after this life . they have almost as many tongues as villages , but those of mexico and cusco are understood in almost all parts of america . i would not have the reader expect that i should speak of the religions and languages in particular countries , as i have done before , for it will be of no use . it is under the government of the europeans and natives . the europeans are spaniards , english , portuguez , dutch , french and danes . the natives have several small governments , and maintain their liberty as well in the known as unknown places . rivers of principal note are four , viz. 1. riodela plata , 2. river of amazons , 3. canada , and , 4. orenique . chief mountains are the andes , a vast ridge of mountains in south america . lakes of greatest account are , 1. parame , and , 2. that called fresh-water sea. america is divided into ten great parts , besides the islands , viz. 1. canada , 2. new england , 3. florida , 4. new mexico , 5. new spain , 6. firm land , 7. peru , 8. brasile , 9. paraguay , and , 10. chile . 1. canada . canada is a great country not well discovered , to the n. parts of america , and n. w. of new england ; it is of a large extent , but the true magnitude i find not . it sometimes goes by the general name of new france . the known parts were first discovered and are chiefly under the french , but of no great advantage to them . the ch . t. is quebeck . it is full of stags , conies , foul and fish. their chief commodities are beavers , mouse-skins , and furs . it contains three provinces , which are , 1. canada , the most n. province , in which there are 23 sorts of people , but no town . 2. new france , on the s. e. of canada , 950 m. l. & 100 br . ch . t. are quebeck , tadousack and brest . 3. new scotland or accadie , a sort of a peninsula on the s. of new france , 440 m. l. & 320 br . ch . t. are port royal and iuquehet . in this is the province of norembegve , ch . t. norembegve . chief river is canada , a vast river . principal lake is that called fresh-water sea. 2. new-england . under this name i comprehend all the english dominions , lying together in the continent , which as much as are found lie between the 290th and the 310th degr . of lon. and between the 30th and 35 min. and the 47th and 25 min. of lat. being in length from the n. parts of new-england to the s. parts of carolina about 1140 miles , and the breadth in the widest place is about 360 miles . it was first discovered by the two cabots , anno 1497 , now possessed by the english , and ruled by many petty governours under the protection of our king. the ch . t. is boston . the natives also in several parts have divers lords , whom they call weroans . the chief commodities here are tobacco , corn , fruits , cattel , deal-boards , iron , tar , beavers , furs , silks , cottons , indigoes , ginger , rozin , turpentine , copper , maize , &c. it comprehends seven provinces , which are , 1. new-england , properly so called , bordering on new-scotland , the most n. province , 370 m. l. & 270 br . ch . t. are boston , london , and warwick . 2. new-york , once new-nederland , on the s. w. of new-england , 270 m. l. & 130 br . ch . t. new-haven and milford : to this belongs two islands , viz. 1. long-isle , ch . t. ashford , and , 2. manhattens , ch . t. new-york . 3. new-iarsey , on the s. of new-york , 200 m. l. & 60 br . divided into two parts , viz. 1. west new-iarsey , ch . t. elsingburg , and , 2. east new-iarsey , ch . t. elizabeth-town . 4. pensilvania , on the w. of new-iarsey , as much as is known is divided into six counties , viz. philadelphia , buckingham , chester , new-castle , kent and sussex . ch. t. is philadelphia . 5. maryland , on the s. of pensilvania , 180 m. l. & 120 br . divided into ten counties , viz. st. mary's , charles , calvert , ann arundal , baltimore , somerset , dorchester , talbot , cecil and kent . ch. t. are baltimore , oxford and arundal . 6. virginia , on the s. of maryland , 360 m. l. & 240 br . divided into 19 counties , viz. northampton , norfolk , nausmund , isle of wight , surry , warwick , henrico , iames , york , charles , new kent , gloucester , middlesex , lancashire , northumberland , westmorland , rappahanook and hartford . ch. t. are iames-town , henry and wiccomoco . 7. carolina , once a part of florida , on the s. of virginia , containing two settlements , viz. albermarl and wando . it is about 460 m. l. & 300 ch . t. are charles-town and new-town . rivers of chief note are four , viz. 1. hudson's river , 2. delaware , 3. sasquabanagh , and 4. albermarl . chief mountains are the apalachian hills . 3. florida . florida is a large country lying on the s. w. of new-england , and on the n. of the gulf of mexico ; situated according to berry's maps between the 369th and 30 min. and the 294th and 40 min. of lon. and between the 25th and the 40th degr . of lat. so that the length from east to west is about 1200 miles , and the breadth from north to south about 600 miles . it was discovered by the english anno 1497 , but more fully by the spaniards anno 1527. the known parts are chiefly under the spaniards and french. the natives are distributed into several nations under the government of sagainoises or the eldest of their families . this country is extraordinary well stored with venison and fowl , having all sorts of excellent fruits , and inriched with divers considerable mines of gold and silver . here are a great many provinces ( some say 43 in number ) but little known to us . the ch . t. that i find in the midlands is coca , ch . t. in the peninsula called tegeste , are st. augustin's , st. mathea and vitacucho . rivers of greatest note are two , viz. 1. chucagoa , and , 2. holy ghost . chief mountains are those called apalachei . 4. new-mexico . under the name of new-mexico ( or as some call it new-granada ) are comprehended all the n. western parts of america , having a very large extent , but the true magnitude cannot well be given . these parts are very little known to us , those that are , are chiefly under the spaniards , discovered by them anno 1540 , but of no account , being poor and barren . ch. t. is st. fe or new-mexico . the natives have their governours , called caciques . here are a great many provinces and as many sorts of people , different in their language , customs and manners . the chief of these provinces are new-mexico , ch . t. st. acomo , cibola , quivera , marata and anjan . of these , but more especially of the last , there is much uncertainty . the island of calafornia comes also into this account , which ( if the vulgar maps be right ) is about 1650 m. l. & 450 br . but very little discovered . the n. parts go by the name of new albion , partly under the english. i find not the name of one town , but only some capes not worth the naming . chief rivers are , 1. the north river , and , 2. tecon . 5. new-spain . new-spain or mexico , lies on the s. e. of new-mexico , washed on two sides with sea ; situated between the 254th , and the 293d degr . of lon. and between the 7th and 20 min. and the 29th and 40 min. of lat. being in length from the n. w. parts of cinaloa , to the s. e. parts of veragua , about 2460 miles ; in breadth from cape de corientes in xalisco , to the mouth of the river palmas and pamico , about 760 miles , in some places but 150 , and in others but 80 miles . a great part of it was formerly under the kings of mexico , till anno 1521 conquered by the spaniards , and still continues under them , governed by a vice-roy . it is the most considerable country that they have in all these parts . the ch . t. is mexico . the chief commodities of this country are gold , silver and metals , all sorts of grains and fruits , wool , cotton , sugar , silk , cochenel , scarlet , feathers , honey , balm , amber , salt , tallow , hides , tobacco , ginger , with many medicinal drugs . it contains 22 provinces , which are , 1. cinaloa , the most n. w. province , bordering on new-mexico , 340 m. l. & 180 br . ch . t. is st. iuan. 2. culiacan , on the s. e. of cinaloa , 230 m. l. & 160 br . ch . t. is culiacan . 3. new-biscay , on the e. of culiacan , 440 m. l. & 200 br . ch . t. is st. barbary . 4. zacatecas , on the s. e. of new-biscay , 360 m. l. & 150 br . ch . t. zacatecas . in this is included the prov. of vxitipa , ch . t. st. lewis . 5. chiametlan , on the s. w. of zacatecas , 210 m. l. & 140 br . ch . t. is aquacara . 6. guadalajara , on the s. e. of chiametlan , and on the s. of zacatecas , 260 m. l. & 160 br . ch . t. are guadalajara and zaporuco . 7. xalisco , on the s. w. of guadalajara , 180 m. l. & 175 br . ch t. are xalisco and compostella . these seven provinces make up the audience of guadalajara , or the kingdom of new-gallicia . 8. mechoachan , on the e. of xalisco and guadalajara , 420 m. l. & 210. ch . t. mechoacan and collima . 9. panuco , on the n. e. of mechoachan , 300 m. l. & 220 br . it includes the provinces of aiotuxetlan and guastecan , ch . t. is panuco . 10. mexico , on the s. of panuco , 330 m. l. & 200 br . ch . t. are mexico and aquapulco . 11. tlascala , on lon angelos , on the e. of mexico , 380 m. l. & 200 br . ch . t. are lon angelos and villa rica . 12. guaxapa , on the s. e. of tlascala , 360 m. l. & 150 br . it contains seven provinces , viz. mistica , iutopeque , zapoteca , vale of guaxaca , guazacoalco , gueztaxata , and nixepa . ch. t. are antequera and aquatulco . 13. tabasco , on the e. of guaxapa , 260 m. l. & 50 br ch . t. port royal ( an english colony ) . 14. iucutan , a peninsula , on the n. e. of tabasco , 420 m. l. & 180 br . in which is included the province of chetumal . ch. t. are merida and valladolid . these seven provinces make up the audience of mexico , or new-spain , properly so called . 15. chiapa , on the s. of tabasco , 240 m. l. & 100 br . it contains three provinces , viz. chiapa , zeldales , and zoques . ch. t. are chiapa and st. bartholomew . 16. comocusco , or guevetland , on the s. w. of chiapa , 200 m. l. & 90 br . ch . t. guevetlan . 17. guatimala , on the s. e. of comocusco , 400 m. l. & 100 br . it includes the provinces of yzalcos , choutales and st. salvador . ch. t. are st. iago de guatimala , st. salvador and xeres . 18. vera pax , on the n. e. of guatimala , 210 m. l. & 140 br . ch . t. is vera pax. 19. honduras , on the e. of vera pax , and n. e. of guatimala , 550 m. l. & 210 br . ch . t. are valladolid and truxillo . 20. nicaragua , on the s. of honduras , 440 m. l. & 220 br . ch . t. are leon , granada and segovia . 21. costa rica , on the s. e. of nicaragua , washed on two sides with the ocean , 300 m. l. & 200 br . ch . t. are cartago and st. nicoya . 22. veragua , almost on the e. of costa rica , 180 m. l. & 95 br . washed with the sea on two sides . ch. t. are conception and st. fee. these eight provinces do make up the audience of guatimala . rivers of principal note are four , viz. 1. panuco , 2. esquitlan , 3. los yones , and , 4. yare . lakes of chiefest account are , 1. nicarqua , and , 2. that of mexico . these five great provinces make up that part which is called mexicana or north america . 6. firm land. under this name are comprehended all the n. parts of s. america , lying on the s. e. of new-spain ; situated between the 293d and the 328th and 25 min. of lon. and between the 10th and 40 min. of n. and the 2d and 40 min. of s. lat. being in length from the borders of new-spain to the mouth of the river of amazons about 2160 miles , and the breadth about 700 miles . it was first discovered by columbus himself , afterwards a great part of it brought under the power of spain , and now mostly under the vice-roy of mexico ; also the french and portuguez have some few places , and the natives maintain their freedom in many places . ch. t. is panama . the principal commodities of this country are gold , silver , balsom , rozin , gums , long pepper , emeralds , saphires , jasper , cassidoius , and such like . it contains 11 provinces , viz. 1. province of firm land , the most w. province , 280 m. l. & 100 br . it contains two provinces , viz. 1. panama , ch . t. panama and ponto bello ; and , 2. darien , ch . t. darien . 2. government of cartagena , on the e. of the proper firm land , 330 m. l. & 215 br . ch . t. are cartagena , st. sebastian , and st. maria. 3. government of popayan , on the s. of cartagena , 420 m. l. & 260 br . ch . t. are st. fe de antiochia and caramanta . 4. new kingdom of granada , on the e. of popayan , 420 m. l. & 380 br . ch . t. are st. fe de bagota and st. migvel . 5. government of st. martha , on the n. of new granada , 330 m. l. & 320 br . ch . t. is st. martha . 6. government of rio de la hacha , on the e. of st. martha , 220 m. l. & 170 br . ch . t. are rio de la hacha and rancheria . 7. government of venezula , on the e. of rio de la hacha , 440 m. l. & 380 br . ch . t. are venezula and st. iago de leon. 8. new andaluzia , on the e. of venezula , 320 m. l. & 250 br . ch . t. are corduba and morequinto . in this are several nations . 9. paria , on the e. of new andalusia , not well known , divided among several people and having several provinces ; ch . t. maluregvara . these nine provinces are often called by the general name of golden castile . 10. guiana , or wiapoco , on the e. of paria and new andaluzia , 840 m. l. & 220 br . it has several nations and provinces ; ch . t. are moapvere and waetali . 11. caribana , on the s. of guiana , comprehended sometimes under that name ; ch . t. manoa . rivers of chiefest note are , 1. orenique , and 2. st. martha . chief mountains are part of the andes . on the south of firm land lies the great country of amazons , according to the maps ; 1600 m. l. & 1000 br . in which are said to be 150 different nations , but so little known to us that i cannot find the name of one town , but only a vast river of the same name . therefore i shall say no more of this , but pass on . 7. peru. kingdom of peru lies on the s. of firm land , and on the w. of the country of the amazons along the pacifick ocean ; situated between the 292d and the 316th degr . of lon. and between the 5th and 40 min. of n. and the 26th degr . of s. lat. being in length from the n. parts of posto to the s. parts of los charcas about 1960 miles ; in breadth in the widest part 850 , in the middle but 390 miles . it had its own kings for above 300 years , till anno 1533 subdued by the spaniards , who still hold it . it is governed by a vice-roy , whose seat is at lima ; some parts still keep their freedom . it is the most considerable country in s. america . the chief commodities are vast quantities of gold and silver , cottons , tobacco , medicinal drugs , &c. it contains seven provinces , which are , 1. posto , the most n. province , bordering on firm land , 410 m. l. and 280 br . ch . t. are pasto and cali. 2. los quixos , on the s. of posto , 330 m. l. & 190 br . ch . t. are baesa and avila . 3. pacamores ▪ on the s. of los quixos , 370 m. l. & 230 br . ch . t. are valladolid and loyala . 4. quito , on the w. of pacamores , los quixos and posto , 600 m. l. & 300 br . ch . t. are quito , rio bamba and cuenca . 5. proper peru , on the s. of quito and pacamores , 1000 m. l. & 420 br . containing two provinces , viz. 1. lima , ch . t. lima , and 2. cusco , ch . t. cusco . 6. los charcas , on the s. of the proper peru , ch . t. are la plata and potosi . 7. las sierra , on the e. of los charcas , ch . t. st. cruex de nueva . these provinces have several peoples and provinces in them . rivers of principal note are two , viz. 1. maragnaon , and , 2. desenguedero . principal mountains are the andes . 8. brasil . brasil is seperated from peru by the country of amazons and part of paraguay , containing the most w. parts of all america , taking it in the largest extent it is situated between the 320th and the 348th and 13th min. of lon. and between the first and the 23d and 30 min. of s. lat. being in length from e. to w. about 1600 miles , and the breadth from n. to s. about 1500 miles , called first the country of the holy cross. it was discovered and possessed by the portuguez , who still hold it , but the greatest part is not yet found out , so that they have only the coasts . their ch . t. is st. salvador . their chief commodities are brasil-wood , abundance of sugar , amber , rozin , tobacco , train-oyl , &c. it is divided into fourteen captainships , their magnitude cannot well be measured . they are , 1. para , the most n. w. province , ch . t. is para. 2. maragnon , ch . t. maragnon . 3. siara , ch . t. siara . 4. rio grand , ch . t. reyes . 5. paraybach , ch . t. parayba . 6. tamaraca , ch . t. tamacaca . 7. parnambuco , ch . t. parnambuco . 8. bahia , ch . t. st. salvador . 9. ilheos , ch . t. ilheos . 10. segerippe , ch . t. segerippe . 11. porto seguro , ch . t. porto seguro . 12. spirito sancto , ch . t. spirito sancto . 13. rio ianetro , ch . t. st. sebastian : and , 14. st. vincent , ch . t. st. vincent . the inlands have a great number of different nations and people , but these parts are so little known , that i shall say no more of them . rivers of greatest note are , 1. maragnon , 2. siope , and , 3. rio de francisco . mountains i find not . 9. paraguay . paraguay is a very large country , on the s. w. of brasil , and on the e. of peru and chile ; situated between the 303d and the 338th degr . of lon. and between the 15th and the 27th degr . of s. lat. being in length from the w. parts of tucuman , to the e. parts of guayra , about 1900 miles , and the breadth from the n. parts of the pro. of paraguay to the mouth of rio de la plata about 1500 miles . this country , as much as known , was discovered by the spaniards , anno 1515 , afterwards possessed by them , and still remains under the vice-roy of peru. their ch . t. is assumtion . the chief commodities are some gold and silver , with brass and iron , corn , cattel , sugars and amethists . it contains seven provinces , whose magnitude i shall venture to set down as i find in berry's maps . they are , 1. paraguay , properly so called , the most n. e. province , 860 m. l. & 330. br . ch . t. are villa rica and marajacu . 2. chaco , on the w. of proper paraguay , 950 m. l. & 650 br . ch . t. is conception . 3. tucuman , on the s. w. of chaco , 1000 m. l. & 480 br . ch . t. are st. iago de estero and st. migvel . 4. rio de la plata , on the e. of tucuman , 800 m. l. & 300 br . ch . t. are assumption and buenos ayres . 5. parana , on the n. e. of rio de la plata , 540 m. l. & 240 br . ch . t. itapoa and acarai . 6. guayra , on the n. e. of parana , 800 m. l. & 360 br . ch . t. are ci●idad real , and villa rica . 7. vragua , on the s. w. of guaira , and s. of parana , 960 m. l. & 430 br . ch . t. are los reyes and conception . these have in them many other inferior provinces and people which own not the spaniards . principal river is rio de la plata or paraguay , the greatest river in the world. chief mountains are some branches of the andes . 10. chile . chile lies on the w. of paraguay and on the s. of peru , along the pacifick sea ; situated between the 297th and the 307th and 30 min. of lon. and between the 26th and 47th degr . of s. lat. being in length from n. to s. about 1260 miles , and in breadth from east to west about 450 miles . it was first discovered by the spaniards , anno 1544 , and still remains under the vice-roy of peru , but some parts are still free . the ch . t. is st. iago . the chief commodities are vast quantities of gold , with other metals , corn , maize , honey , &c. it contains three provinces , which are , 1. province of chile , the most n. province , 560 m. l. & 240 br . ch . t. are st. iago and sorena . 2. imperial , on the s. of chile , 730 m. l. & 270 br . ch . t. are baldivia and imperial . 3. chucuito , on the e. of imperial and chile , 560 m. l. & 220 br . ch . t. are mondoe and oramante . on the s. and s. e. of chile lies the country of magalanica sometimes chica , and the country of patagons , a poor country and very little known to us ; neither is there any town of note in it . it is according to the maps 1200 m. l. & 480 br . the islands are , 1. new-found-land , right against england , about 1800 m. distant from it and not far from new france , 400 m. l. & 300 br . it includes a province called avallon . it belongs to the english. i find no towns , but several excellent bays . 2. lucaies , about 24 small isles against florida , belonging mostly to the spaniards ; the chief of them are new providence and lucaies , under the english. 3. cuba , on the s. of lucaies , 680 m. l. & 100 br . under the spaniards ; ch . t. are havana and st. iago . 4. iamaica , on the s. of cuba , 150 m. l. & 60 br . under the english ; ch . t. are port royal , st. iago and sevil. 5. hispaniola , on the e. of iamaica , 440 m. l. & 120 br . belonging to the spaniards , and divided into several small provinces ; ch . t. are st. domingo and ilcotuy . 6. porto rico , on the e. hispaniola , 120 m. l. & 40 br . under the spaniards ; ch . t. porto rico. these four last , with some others of lesser note , are called by the name of antilles . 7. caribie islands , a knot of small isles , on the s. e. of porto rico , belonging to the english , spaniards and french. the chief are barbadoes , st. christophers , antego , mevis , dominica , monserat , anguilla , barbada , with a great many others of less note . here are also several other islands in many parts of the ocean , but of no great note . thus much for america . besides these four quarters , there are several less known parts , that go by the name of terra incognita . they may be divided into two parts , which are , 1. terra incognita borialis , which contains , 1. tasata , on the n. of asia , 2. nova zembla , and , 3. spitzberg or greenland on the n. of europe , 4. artick lands , 5. new denmark , 6. new north-wales , 7. new south-wales , 8. new britain , these lie on the n. of america , 9. iesso or zedso , on the n. w. of america , &c. 2. terra australis incognita , containing , 1. land of papous , 2. new holland , 3. land of fuego , 4. new guinea , 5. new zeland , 6. land of quir , with several others . an appendix concerning rules for making a large geography . setting aside the general geography , it may be convenient to follow these rules in every particular country , as much as the subject will permit . they may be divided into sixty several parts , which may , if the author shall think fit , contain so many paragraphs except three or four of the last . the first is its bounds , and how it is separated from all other provinces . 2. it s situation , between what degrees of longitude and latitude it lies ; and the distance in miles from the poles , tropicks , and aequator . 3. what climes and zones it lies under , with the longest days in the north , south and middle parts of it . 4. what remarkable stars pass over it , shewing their rising and stay above the horizan , with the quantity and celerity of their motion , according to copernicus hypothesis . 5. it s magnitude , and compared with other countries , as also its figure and number of inhabitants as well as can be told . 6. all the ancient names , with their etymologies , and how called by other countries at present . 7. what it was anciently famous for . 8. what famous men both for arms and learning it has produced , with their characters . 9. it s chief rivers exactly described , with all its best havens . 10. principal lakes described . 11. seas , bays , creeks , &c. described . 12. mountains described . 13. capes or promontories described . 14. forests described . 15. desarts described . 16. the nature of the soil , with its fertility and sterility . 17. what rains , tempests , meteors , &c. are most usual in it . 18. various grains it affords , compared with ours . 19. it s diversity of fruits , compared with ours . 20. sorts of trees its affords , compared with ours . 21. it s principal riches and commodities . 22. it s various beasts both wild and tame , describing them that are not common . 23. it s divers birds , described & compared with ours . 24. it s variety and number of fishes , described & compared with ours . 25. serpents and remarkable insects , described & compared with ours . 26. its wonders of art and nature . 27. the original of the inhabitants . 28. their shape , stature , beauty , &c. 29. the natural dispositions and humours of both men and women . 30. the peculiar customs in their salutations , drinking , and all other actions . 31. their vertues most naturally inclining to . 32. their vices most naturally inclining to . 33. their common diet and manner of eating , with their feasts and such like . 34. their inns and houses of entertainment . 35. the apparel both of men and women . 36. manner of educating their children . 37. their trades , imployments , and manner of getting their livelihood . 38. their buildings , gardens , orchards , &c. 39. their common sports and pastimes . 40. measures and weights of all sorts , compared with ours . 41. coins of gold , silver and brass , compared with ours . 42. laws and punishments of offenders . 43. their universities , shewing their number , fame , antiquity , &c. 44. their divers languages ; shewing their original , composition , dialects , characters , &c. 45. their peculiar arts and ingenuities they are most famous for . 46. their several religions there practised , with their principal points , ceremonies , &c. 47. the ecclesiastical government , with the number and names of all the archbishopricks , bishopricks , and such like . 48. marriages , shewing their number of wives , with all the customs belonging to the solemnity . 49. burials , with all the ceremonies and customs . 50. orders of knighthood , with the number and names of the hereditary dukedom● earldoms , &c. with other places of honour . 51. particular priviledges belonging to persons of every rank . 52. present government and fundamental constitutions , with the several rulers . 53. the extent of the kings or states dominions in other countries . 54. the king's titles . 55. his arms. 56. the revenues , and all the several ways of raising them . 57. forces by sea and land , which way raised , with the martial discipline . 58. a general history of it in short , with a catalogue of the kings , governours , &c. with a short account of the best historians that writ of it . 59. all the ancient divisions , shewing all the old provinces , their bound● and extent , and how called at present . 60. the modern division , shewing the present provinces in their bounds , situation , dimensions , divisions , subdivisions , cities , towns , castles , governments , &c. this i could well divide into many other parts . these have i set in as good order as i could , binding no man to follow them any more than his own reason shall guide him , but howsoever , i presume that they are not wholly to be despised . the most considerable writers of geography were ptolomy , pliny , strabo , dionysius , mela , &c. among the ancients . the later are mercator , munster , ortelius , maginus , heylin , bleau , iohnson , cluverius , the authors of the english atlasses , with a vast number of less note . the chief travellers are morison , sandys , herbert , tavenor , thevenot , charden , brown , with several others of less note , as lassels , blunt , ray , burnet , magallans , &c. the most approved maps are sanson's and duval's , french-men ; de wit and visscher , dutch-men ; and berry , an english-man . finis . errata . here are some faults committ●d ●y reason of my distance from the press , the chief are here set down , which the reader ought to correct before he reads it . pag. 4. line 24. for and streight , read one streight . p. 6. l. 2 , & 5. for sight r. site . p. 7. l. 9. for monopo●apa r. monomotapa . p. 12. l. 3. for and r. anciently . l. 25. for origrella r. origvella . p. 14. l. 1. for beleures r. beleares . l. 16. for 46. r. 42. p. 18. l. 11. for nestria r. neustria . p. 20. l. 12. for pan r. pan. l. 25. for serennes r. sevennes . p. 29. l. 8. for corest●gni r. orestagni . p. 36. l. 12. for 270 r. 285. p. 41. l. 10. for 65 r. 40. here are i believe some few others , but of so little concern as will do no great injury . a briefe description of the whole world wherein is particularly described all the monarchies, empires, and kingdoms of the same, with their academies, as also their severall titles and scituations thereunto adjoyning / written by the reverend father in god george abbot ... abbot, george, 1562-1633. 1664 approx. 371 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 172 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a26435) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 101299) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 830:7) a briefe description of the whole world wherein is particularly described all the monarchies, empires, and kingdoms of the same, with their academies, as also their severall titles and scituations thereunto adjoyning / written by the reverend father in god george abbot ... abbot, george, 1562-1633. the fifth edition. 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wherein is particularly described all the monarchies , empires and kingdoms of the same , with their academies . as also , their severall titles and scituations thereunto adjoyning . written by the reverend father in god , george abbot , late archbishop of canterbury . the fifth eddition . london , printed for margaret sheares , at the blew bible in bedford-street in coven-garden , and john play●…ere at the white-beare in the upper walk in the new-exchange . 1664. a briefe description of the whole world. the globe of the earth doth either shew the sea or land. the sea general , is called by the name or ocean , which coasteth all the world , and taketh his name in speciall , either of the place neare which it commeth , as oceanus britanicus , mare germanicum , sinus perficus , mare atlanticum , of the hill atlas , in the west part of africke : or of the finder out , as fretum magellanicum ; or of some other accident , as the red sea , because the sand is red , mare mediterraneum , because it runneth between the lands of europe and africke , mare icarium , because icarus was drowned there , or the like . there be some few seas which have no intercourse with the ocean , as mare mortuum , neare palestina , mare caspium sive hircanum , not far from armenia : and such a one is said to be in the north part of america . the straits or narrow seas , are noted in the latine by the name of fretum , as fretum britannicum . the english narrow seas , fretum herculeum , the straights between , barbary and spaine ; fretum magellanicum , &c. the earth is either islands , which are those which are wholly compassed by the sea , as britannia , sicilia , corsica ; or the continent , which is called in the english , the firme land , in the latine , continens . the old known firme land was contained only in asia , europe , and africa . europe is divided from africa by the mediterranean sea ; from asia by the river tanais : whereby appeareth , that the north parts of asia and europe in old time were but little known and discovered . africa is divided from europe by the mediterranean sea ; from asia by the river nilus : and so asia by tanais and nilus , is severed from europe and africke . of spaine . to say nothing of england and ireland , the most westerne country of europe , is spaine , which is bounded on the south with the mediterranean , on the west with the atlanticke , on the north with oceanus cantabricus , or the spanish seas , on the east with france , from which it is severed with certaine mountaines , called montes pyrenei , or the pyrenay hils . if we should enquire into the times that were before the comming of the carthaginians and romans into spaine , we shall find nothing but that which is either fabulous , or neare to sables : here it was first called iberia , ab ibero flumine , afterwards hispania , ab hispane , we may take as a tradition : but their gargoris their ha bis , their geryon exceed beleefe of any , but those that will take all reports on trust . it is certain that the syrians planted a colony there in the isle of gades , corruptly now called cadiz , or cales : these troubled by their neighbours desired aid of the carthaginians , a flourishing neighbour common-wealth , descended of the syrians , as well as themselves , who sent first to defend the gaditanes against their neighbours , afterwards heartned on by their successe in their first expedi tion ; these carthaginians succes sively sent thither three captaines , hamilcar , hasdrubal , and hanibal who for the most part subdued the province and held it , till by scipio's and the romans forces they were dispossessed of it : yet for many years after the fortunes of the romans stuck as it were in the subduing of that ▪ province , so that from the time of ●…he second punick war , untill the time of augustus , they had businesse made them in that country continually , nei●…her could they till then bring it peaceably into the forme of a province . it continued a province of the roman empire untill the time of honorius the emperour , in whose dayes the vandals came into it , conquering and making it theirs ; then the goths ( the vandals either driven out , or called over into africk ▪ ) entring erected there a kingdome , which flourished for many yeares , till by the comming of the saracens and moores , their kingdome was broken , who setling themselves in spaine , erected it a kingdome , changed the names of many places and rivers and gave them new names , such as they retaine to this day , and continued for the space of some hundred of yeares mighty in that countrey , till they were first subdued by ferdinand : afterwards , and that now lately utterly expelled by philip the third . after the comming in of these africans in this country , there were many kingdomes , as the kingdome of portugall toward the west ; the kingdome of granado toward the south ; the kingdom of navarre and arragon toward the east ; and the kingdome of castile in the middle of the land : but the whole dominion is now under the king of spaine . as damalanus à goes doth write in the treatise intituled , hispania , there were in times past twelve severall kingdomes in spain , which he nameth thus : castellae antiquae & novae , leonis , aragoniae , portugalliae , navarrae , granatae , valentiae , toleti , galitiae , algarbi●…rum , murtiae , cordubae : which is not to be wondred at , since in england , a farre lesse country , there were in the time of the saxons seven severall kingdoms and monarchies . in the best maps of spaine , the armes of these severall kingdomes do yet distinctly appeare : where for the armes of leons is given a lion , which manifestly argueth , that whereas by some it is called regnum legionis , that name is false , for it is leonis , surable thereunto : for the armes of castile is given a castle , which was the cause that john of gaunt , son to edward the third , king of england , did quarter with the armes of england , the castle and the lion , as having married constance daughter to peter king of castile ; and at this day the first and chief coat of the king of spain is a castle quartered with a lion , in remembrance of the two kingdomes of castile and leons . in corduba ( as in times past it was called ) standeth andaluzia , neare unto which the island called properly gades , but since ; by depravation of the word cadiz , and commonly cales , which was lately surprized by the english. the kingdome of granada , which lieth nearest to the mediterranean , was by the space of seven hundred years possessed by the moores and saracens , who do professe the re●…igion of mahomet : the reason whereof rodericus toletanus in the third book of history doth shew to be this ; that whereas the sarazens after mahomets time , had spread themselves all along africke , even unto the westerne part of barbary , a king of spaine called rodericus , employed ( in an embassage to them ) one julian , a nobleman of his , who by his wise demeanour , procured much reputation amongst the moores ; but in the time of his service , the king rodericus defloured the daughter of the said julian ; which the father took in such indignation , that he procured those saracens to come over into spaine , that so he might be revenged on his king ; but when those barbarous people had once set foot in there , they could never be removed , untill the time of ferdinando and elizabeth , king and queen of spaine , about a hundred years since . the author before named writeth , that before the comming of those moores into spaine , the king rodericus would needs open a part of a palace which had been shut long before , and had by descent from hand to hand been forbidden to be entred by any : yet the king , supposing there had been great treasure therein broke into it , but found nothing there , saving in a great chest , the pictures of men , who resembled the proportion , attire , and armour of the moores , and a prophecy joyned therewithall , that at that time , when the palace should be entred , such a people as was there resembled , should invade and spoyle spaine , which fell out accordingly . the spaniards that now are , be a ▪ very mixt people , descended of the goths , which in former times possessed that land , and of those sarazens and jews , which are the basest people of the world. the kingdome of portugall d●…d containe under it regnum algarbi●…rum , but both of them are now annexed unto castile by the cun●…ing of the k ng of spaine , philip he second , who took the advantage after the death of sebastian , who was slaine in barbary ; in the year 1578. then after him raigned henry who sometimes was cardinall , and uncle to sebastian ; in whose time , although shew was made that it should be lawfully debared , unto whom the crown of portugal did belong , yet philip meaning to make sure worke , did not so much respect the right , as by maine force invaded , and since ( to the great griefe of the portugals ) hath kept it . the chief city of portugal is lisbone , called in latine olysippo , from whence those navigations were advanced , by which the portugals discovered so much of their south part of africk , and of the east-indies , possessed by them to this day . the city from whence the castilians do set forth their ships to the west-indies is sevill , called in latine hispalis . another great city in spain is toledo , where the archbishoprick is the richest spirituall dignity of christendome , the papacy only excepted . in the time of damianus à goes , there were reckoned to be in spain foure archbishopricks of great worth , three other inferiour , and forty bishopricks ; as also in portugal , three archbishopricks , and eight bishopricks . he reckoneth up also in spaine ( besides the great officers of the crown ) 17 dukes , 41. marquesses , 87. earles or counts , and 9. vicounts : as also in portugal ( besides the officers of the crown ) fix dukes , four marquesses , nineteen earles , and one vicount . in spaine he saith are seven universities . the country is but dry , and so consequently barren , in comparison of some other places . what commodities it doth yeeld , it may be seen in a treatise of damianus à goes , which he calleth his hispania . not only this great and large country heretofore divided into so many kingdomes , is now under one absolute king , but that king also is lord of many other territories : as namely , of the kingdome of naples in italy and the dutchy of millain , of the isles of sicily , sardinia , majorque , minorque , evisa , in the midland sea ; of the islands of the canaries in the atlantique , besides divers strong towns and goodly havens in barbary , within and without the straits on the back side of africk he commands much on the frontiery , besides the islands adjoyning to the maine land. in the westerne indies , he hath mexico , brasil , large territories , with the islands of the south , and the north sea. and philip the second getting portugall as a dowry to that so●…ct marriage , got also all the dependances of that crown in africke the east-indies , and the atlantique sea , the towns of barbary , and the east-indies , willingly submitting themselves unto him , but the terceras he won by force at the first and second expedition : so if we consider the huge tract of ground that is under the kings dominion , we will say that the empery of the king of spaine is , in that respect , the largest that now is , or ever was in the world. of france . the next country is france which is bounded on the west with the pyrenay hils , on the north with the english seas , on the east with germany , on the south-east with the alpe-hils , on the south-west with the mediterranean sea. the kingdome of france is for one entire thing , one of the most rich and absolute monarchies of the world , having both on the north and south side the sea standing very convenient for profit of navigation , and the land it selfe being ordinarily very fruitful . the consideration whereof caused francis the first king of france , to compare this kingdome alone to all the dominions and seigniories of charles the fifth emperour ; for when the herauld of the said charls , bidding defiance to the king francis , did give his majesty the title of emperour of germany , king of castaile , arragon , naples , sicily , &c. francis commanded his herauld to call him so often king of france as the others had titles by all his countries ; implying that france alone was of as much strength and worth as all the countries which the other had . concerning this argument , see the warlike and politick discourses of monsieur de la nove. he who writeth the commentaries of religion , and state of france , doth shew , that when there had been of late in france , in the daies of francis the second , and charles the ninth , three civill wars , which had much ruinated the glory and beauty of that kingdome , when a little before the great massacre , in the yeare one thousand five hundred seventy two , there had been peace in that countrey scant full two yeares , yet so great is the riches and happinesse of that kingdome , that in that short time , all things were renewed and repaired again , as if there had never been any such desolation . the revenue of the crowne of france is exceeding great , by reason of the taxes and impositions , which through the whole kingdome are laid upon the subjects : for their sizes and toules do exceed all the imposts and tributes of all the princes of christendome ; in as much as there are few things there used , but the king hath a commodity issuing out of them ; and not only for matters of luxury , as in other states , but from such things as be of necessity , as flesh , wood , salt , &c. it is supposed at this day , that there be in the kingdome thirty thousand men , who are under-officers , and make a good part of their living by gathering of the kings tribute : this is much increased no doubt in these latter times : but yet of old it was in so great measure , which caused that speech of maximilian the emperour , as iohannes eventinus witnesseth , de bello turcico , who said , that the emperour of germany was rex regum , meaning that his princes were so great men . the king of spaine was rex hominum , because his people would obey their prince in any reasonable moderation . the king of england was rex diabolorum , because the subjects had there divers times deprived their kings of their crowns and dignity . but the king of france was r●…x asinorum , in as much as his people did beare very heavy b●…thens of taxes and impositions . in this kingdome of france is one great misery to the subjects , that the places and officers of justice are ordinarily bought and sold , the beginning whereof was this : lewis the twelfth , who was called a father of the country began to pay the debts of his predecessor , charls the seventh , ( which were very great ) and intending to recover unto france the dukedome of millain , and minding not to burden his people further than was need , thought it a good course to set at sale all the offices of the crown ; but with the places of justice he did not meddle . but his successors after him took occasion also to make great profit of them , witness the author contra machiavel . l. 1. c. 1. by the customes of that country , the king of france hath not that absolute power to muster and presse out souldiers as in england , and some other places of christendome the princes have : but the manner is , when the king will set forward any military service , he sendeth abroad his edicts , or causeth in cities and good towns , the drum to be strucken up , and whosoever will voluntarily follow , he is enrolled . notwithstanding he wanted few souldiers , because the noble and gentlemen of france do hold it their duty , and highest honour , both to attend the king unto the wars , and to beare their own charges yearely for many months . the person of the king of france hath in former times been reputed so sacred , that guicciardine saith of them , that their people have regarded them in that respect of devotion , as if they had been demi-gods . and machiavel in his questions upon livie , saith , that they doted so much upon their kings , that they thought every thing did become them which they did , and that nothing could be more disgracefull , than to give any intimation , that such or such a thing was not well done by their king. but this opinion is much now decayed , the princes of the bloud are in the next ranke under the king himself . there be many and very rich goodly cities in france , but the chiefest of all is paris , called lutetia , quasi luto sita , as some have merrily spoken : which place is especially honoured , first by the presence of the king , most commonly keeping court and residence there . secondly , by the great store of goodly houses , whereof part belong to noblemen , and part are houses of religion . thirdly , by the university which is incomparably the greatest , most ancient , and best filled of al●… france . fourthly , in that it is the chiefe parliament city of that kingdome , without the ratification of which parliament at paris , edicts and proclamations coming from the king are not held authenticall . fifthly , by the great traffique of all kind of merchandize which is used in that place . the parliament cities in france , are places where their termes are kept , and in severall provinces are seven , unto which the causes of inferiour courts within their distinct provinces . may be brought by appeale ; but the parliament of paris hath that prerogative , that appeales from all courts of the kingdome do lie there . that which we call our parliament in england , is amongst them tearmed conventus ordinum , or the states . france in ancient time ▪ ( as caesar reporteth in the first of his commentaries ) was divided into three parts ; aquitania , which was towards the west ; celtica towards the north and west ; and belgica which is towards the north. belgium is sometime called gallia inferior , and sometime germania inforior , but we commonly call it the low-countries : the government whereof at this day , is not at all under france , but gallia celtica , and aquitania , are under the french king. the ancient inhabitants of this country , were the gaules , who possessed not only all that we now call france , being the greatest part of that the romans called gallia transalpina , but also a good part of italy , which they call gallia cisalpina , a people whose beginnings are unknown : this of them is certaine , that they were a nation of valour●… for they not only sackt rome , bu●… also carried their conquering arme●… into greece , where they sate down●… and were called by the name o●… gallogrecians , or galathians . some report also , that they en●… tred into spaine , and subdued an●… inhabited that part which was cal●… led lusitania , now portugallia ; bu●… howsoever their former victori●… and greatnesse , they were by iuli●… caesar subdued , and made a provin●… of the people of rome , and so co●… tinued under the romane empi●… till about four hundred yeares af●… ter christ , when in the ruine an dismembring of the roman empir●… the french invaded gaule , and er●… cted a monarchy , which hath co●… tinued to this day in the successio●… of sixty four kings , of three sev●… ral races ; that is to say , the mer●… vingians , carolovingians , and cap●… vingians , about twelve hundre years , and now flourisheth unde●… lewis the 13. the now raigning k●… of france . although the french have done many things worthily out of their own countrey , in the east against the saracens , although they have ●…or a while held sicily , the kingdome of naples , and the dutchy of millaine , yet it hath been observed of them , that they could never make good their footing beyond the alpes , or in other for reign regions ; howbeit in it self , france is one of the strongest kingdomes in all europe at this day . that which we commonly call the low-countries , containeth seventeen several provinces , whereof the most part have several titles and governours , as the dukedome of brabant , the earledome of flanders , &c. of which the inheritance at several times , did fall on daughters , who being married unto the heire of some of the other provinces , did in the end bring the whole country into one entire government , which was commonly called by the name of the dukedome of burgundy ; and yet so , that in the uniting of them together , it was by composition agreed , that the severall provinces should retaine their severall ancient laws and liberties , which is the reason yielded , why some of those provinces in our age , thinke themselves freed from obedience unto the king of spain , unto whom by inheritance they did descend , because he hath violated their liberties , to the keeping whereof , a●… the first composition , he was bound . when this whole country did be ▪ long unto the crown of france , the ▪ dukedome of burgundy was bestowed by philip de valois , k. of france , unto john de valois , a younger so●… of his , from whom by descent i●… came at last to charles the bold , otherwise proud duke of burgundy , who left one only daughter , and she was married to maximilian the emperour , of the house of austria , from , whom the inheritance descended unto charles the fifth , emperour , who yeelding it over to his son philip the second , did charge him to intreat that people well ; which he forgetting to do , under pretence of rooting out the profession of religion did intangle himselfe , and all that countrey with a very long , bloudy , and wearisome warre . there is no part of europe , which for the quantity of the ground doth yeeld so much riches and commodities , as the low-countries do , besides their infinite store of shipping , wherein they exceed any prince of christendome . they were in time past accounted a very heavy dull people ; and unfit for the wars , but their continual combating with the spaniards , hath made them now very ingenious , ful of action , and managers of great causes appertaining to fights , either by sea or land . the 17 provinces are these ; brabāt , gelderlād , artois , valencois , luxenburg flanders , henault , lile , namurce , holland , zeland , tornabū , tornacetium , mechlin , utrecht , and the east and west freezeland . france hath many petty governments that do border upon it ; as the dukedome of savoy , the state of the switzers , the dukedome of lorraine , the burgundians , or walloons , against all which , the king is forced to keep his frontier towns. there is nothing more famous in this kingdome then the salique law , whereby it is provided , that no woman , nor the heire of her ( as in her right ) shall injoy the crown of france , but it goeth alwaies to the heire male. the author of the commentaries against machiavel , reputeth it a great blessing of god , that they have the salique law in france , and that not so much ( saith he ) because woman by the infirmity of their sex , are unfit to govern , for therein many men , who have enjoyed kingdomes , have been , and are very defective : but because by that meanes the crowne of france is never endangered by marriage of a forraigner , to come under the subjection of a stranger . and this is the opinion of philip de comines , in the 8 booke of his commentaries , this law is very ancient among them , so that it cannot certainly be defined when it was enacted , but by vertue thereof , edward the 3. king of england , and his heires , were cut off from inheriting the crowne of france , whereunto by marriage of a daughter , he was heire in generall . and by reason of this law , henry the fourth , late king of france , rather injoyed that dominion , than the sonne of the duke of lorraigne , who-was neerer of blood by descending from the elder daughter of king henry the second . the switzers are a people called in old time , helvetii , who have no noblemen , or gentlemen among them , but only the citizens of their townes , the yearely officers whereof , and their council , do govern their state. there are in switzerland 23 cities or towns , which they call their cantons ; although some rather think that name properly doth signifie the rulers of those towns , and of them some do retain to this day the romish religion , but some others have embraced the gospel . the country where they live , is not very fertile , and being farre from any seas , they have no vent for their people , but by sending them forth as hired souldiers , which for their pay do fight oftentimes in italy and france , and sometimes in germany . neare unto one part of them , standeth geneva , which is challenged by the duke of savoy , to have heretofore belonged to his dominion ; but they pretend themselves to be a free city ; and by the help of protestant princes , but especially by some of the helvetians , do so maintain it . in this place there is a rare law , that if any malefactor who hath fled out of his own country , be convinced of any grievous crime he suffereth there , as if he were in his own country : which they are forced to do , because their cities would be full of all sorts of runnagates , in as much as they stand on the confines of divers princes and states . of germany . the next countrey unto france , on the east side , is germany , which is bounded on the west with france , and the low-countries ; on the north with denmark , and the danish seas , on the east with prussia , polonia , and hungary ; on the south-east , with istria and illyricum ; on the south with the alpe-hils , and with italy . the governour general of this country , is called the emperour of germany , who is chosen by three spiritual princes ; the archbishop of collen , called coloniensis , the archbishop of ments , called moguxtinus , and the archbishop of trevers , called treverensis ; and three temporall princes , the duke of saxony , the marquesse of brandenburgh , and the count palatine of rhene ; which if they cannot agree , as to make a major part in their election , then the king of bohemia hath also a voice , whereof it commeth to be said , that there be seven princes electors of the empire . the manner of the choice of the emperor , was established by a decree , which is commonly called bulla aurea , which was made by charles the 4 emperor of germany , and king of bohemia , wherein he doth set down all the circumstances of the election of the emperor , and appointeth the king of bohemia to be sacri imperii archipincerna , which is the cup-bearer . the 3 bishops of colen , ments , and trevers , to be the arch-chancellours , of the three several parts of the empire ; the count palatine of the rhene , to be sacri imperii , archidapifer , which should have the setting on of the first dish , the duke of saxony to be sacri imperii archimariscallus , whose office is to beare the sword , and the marquesse of brandenburgh to be sacri imperii archi-camerarius , or great chamberlaine ; all which offices they supply on the day of the emperours coronation . it appears by all the romane stories , that in times past , the empire went sometimes by succession , as unto the sons of constantine and theodosius , sometimes by election , and that either of the senate , or of the souldiers , who oftentimes also in mutiny did elect men unworthy , yet such as fitted their purpose : but now of late , the electors do choose some prince of christendome , who hath otherwise a dominion of his own , which may helpe to back out the empire , and therein of late hath appeared the great cunning of that which we call the house of austria ▪ whose greatest title within this 300 yeares , was to be a mean count of a mean place , namely the county of haspurg . but since that time , they have so planted and strengthened themselves , that there have been 7 or 8 emperours lately of that family ; but the empire is not tied unto them , as may appeare by the possibility , which the duke of saxony , and francis the great king of france , had to ascend to that dignity . when charls the fifth was chosen emperour , one of the meanes whereby the possession hath been continued to that house hath been the electing of some one to be rex romanorum , whilest another of his family was emperour , which charls the fifth effected in his life time for his brother ferdinandus , who after succeeded him ; and that hath been the attempt of albertus late cardinal , and now arch-duke of austria , that he might be established in the hope of the empire , during the life of his brother 〈◊〉 the second , now emperour and king of bohemia : rex romanorum is he , who is f●…rre already invested in title to the empire , so that upon the death , resignation , or deposition of the then being emperour , he is immediately to succeed . he who is , now emperor of germany , is called caesar , or romani imperii imperator , but very improperly , in as much as the case is farre different from that which was when the romane empire did flourish ; for then the territories thereof were very great , all under the regiment of one man , unless it pleased him to associate to himself some other . but theodosius did divide the empire into two soveraignties , which were called the east and west empires , & made constantinople to be the chief seat of arcadius , one of his sons , and rome to be the principal city , of honorius , the other ; which westerne empire continued in his glory but a while ; for the gothes and lombards , and other barbarous people , did both over-run it , and as good as extinguish it ; in the which case it continued to the dayes of charles the great , who revived it again : but although there was some shew of dominion , belonging unto him in italy , yet his principal residence was in france , and his successours after him , removed it into germany ; so that properly he is now to be called imperator germanorum . it was a great policy of the bishops of rome , that the emperour was wrought to leave italy , and keep himselfe in germany ; for the popes did not like to have a strong neighbour so near , who might at his pleasure chastise or depose them , if he saw good . and the eunning of those popes was such also , that they weakned the state of the emperor exceeding much in germany , by giving great exemptions to the princes thereof , insomuch , that munster rightly complaineth . the emperor beareth the spread eagle with two heads , noting the east and west empire ; but ( saith he ) one of the heads is quite pulled off ; and so be almost all the feathers , and in the other head , although life remaineth , yet there is little spirit or vigour . surius in his commentaries of the year 1530. reporteth , that to the emperour of germany belongeth three crownes : the one of silver , which intendeth the kingdome of germany : the second of iron , which is for the kingdome of lombardy : and the third of gold , which is for the sacred romane empire . in germany all are at a kind of commandement of the emperour : but most of the princes otherwise take on them as absolute governours in their dominions : so that they have liberty of religion ; they do make lawes , they do raise souldiers , they do stampe money with their own pictures , as absolute princes ? so doth the duke of saxony , the arch-bishop of colen , and the rest . the princes of germany came to that great strength of theirs , by meanes of a base and inferior man , who aspiring to the empire ( whereof he was unworthy ) was content to release unto the princes , almost all kind of their service and duty ; so that their subjection since that time , is little more then titulary , yielding only very small maintenance to the empire , either in tribute , souldiers , or otherwise : and albeit sometimes they refuse not to come by themselves , or their agents to the diets , and parliaments , holden by the emperour , yet that is as much for the safeguard of themselves from the invasion of the turk , who is not farre from them , as for any other respect ; and the pay which they allow in such cases , is rather held by them to be a contribution , than any imposition to be admitted by duty : & yet there is extant a book where the particulars are mentioned , how the princes and free cities are bound to maintaine upon their own charge , three thousand eight hundred forty two horses , and sixteen thousand two hundred foot , for the service of the emperour , when he shall see cause ; but how smal a trifle is that , in respect of the strength of so huge a country ? the princes themselves are so strong many of them , that they dare encounter with any who oppugn them , insomuch , that whereas charls the fifth , was doubtless the greatest emperour that had been from the daies of charles the great , yet the duke of saxony , and the lantsgrave of hassia , with some few cities which were confederate with them , did dare to oppose themselves against the said charles : and entring the field with him did oftentimes put him to great inconveniences : yea , it is supposed by some , that howsoever he had a hand upon these two , yet his inability to match the rufling of some of those princes , was not the least cause , why he resigned the empire to his brother ferdinando . the manner of germany is , that the title of nobility which is in the father , commonly is imparted to all the sonnes : so that every sonne of a duke of saxony , is called duke of saxony ; and every child of the count of mansfield , is honored by the name of count or countes●…e of mansfield : but in the eldest house the chief livelyhood doth remaine , for keeping upright the dignity of the family . there are also free states and cities , which have the same authority , as argentine , franckeford , and others . this is to be noted of the germanes ; that they may boast this above other more westernly nations of europe , that they are an unmixed nation : for whereas the lombards and gothes at severall times , have set down in italy , and mixed themselves with the people thereof , the gothes , vandals , and saracens in spaine , the francks in gaule or france , and the normanes also ; the saxons , angles , danes and normanes , in great britaine ; they have been free from such inundation and mixture ; yea , many of the people that have afflicted and inhabited these other nations , have come from thence , so that therein germany hath an advantage of these other nations that have been subject hereunto . of italy . on the south side of the alpes and germany , lyeth italy , stretching it selfe out at length toward the south and east . it hath on the south side , the iland of sicilia ; on the east that part of the mediterranean which is called mare adriaticum , or mare superum , which severeth italy from grecia : on the west side that part of the mediterranean , which is called mare tyrrhenum , or mare inferum ; and the upper or more northen part of it neer liguria , mare ligusticum . this country for the figure thereof , is by some likened unto a long leafe of a tree . it hath in the middle of it , which goeth all in length a mighty mountain , named mons apen●…inus , which is likened unto the spina , or ridge-bone of the back . out of this hill spring divers rivers , which run on both sides of it , into the adriaticke , and tyrrhene , or tuscane seas . as in other countries , so in italy in times past , there were divers severall people , and severall provinces , like our shires in england , and so there be at this day : but the main division of italy , is properly into four parts , as in our age we doe account it . the first lombardy , which lyeth to the north. the second tuscane , which boundeth toward the mediterranean sea , which way corsica the iland lieth . the third is the land of the church , which is the territory of the bishop of rome , and containeth in it that which is called romania . the fourth is naples , and in this division , now is all italy comprehended . the north part of this italy , is that , which in ancient time was called gallia togata , or gallia cisalpina , inhabited then by french men . it is now called longobardia , or lombardia , wherein stand many rich governments , as the dukedome of millain , of mantua , of florence , & others . it is for the pleasantness thereof , in respect of the soile , aire ▪ waters , and great variety of wines , and fruits , likened now by some to paradice , or the garden of god. in this italy , which was heretofore one entire government , in the flourishing estate of the romans , are now many absolute states and princedomes , by the great policy o●… the bishop of rome , who thought it the best way to make himselfe great , to weaken the empire . so he hath not only driven the emperor out of all italy into germany ▪ but ●…ath diminished his majesty in both by making so many petty governments , which hold themselves soveraigne rulers , without relation to any other . as there are many states in italy , so one of the chiefest are the venetians , called resp venetorum , or the state of venice , because they are not governed by any one , but by their senate and gentlemen , although whey have a duke , with those stampe their mony is coined , and in whose name all their executions of justice are done . but this duke is every way limited by the state. this city of venice which joineth to a corner of lombardy , standeth in estuarium , or shallow of earth , in the north part of the adriaticke sea , so safely , that it is held invincible . there is in it but one street of firme land ; into the other , the sea doth flow at every tide . they have been a great and rich state , not only possessing much in italy , as padu●… their university , and other things which still they do , but a great part of illyricum , and many rich ilands in the mediterranean , as candy called commonly creta , cyprus , zazinthus , and others . but cyprus was taken from them a little before that fight at sea , wherein don john of austria , together with the venetians , had so renowned a victory against the turke , at the fight neer lepanto . the impoverishing of their state , hath partly been by the incroaching of the turk , but especially by the decaying of that traffick which they had to alexandria in egypt for their spices , and other riches of persia , arabia , and the east indies since the course of the portugals to those eastern countries hath been by sea , by the backside of africa . these venetians , which in times past were great warriours , do now altogether decline enmity or hostility with all other princes adjoyning , and therefore by all meanes do take up quarrels , and cease controversies , by wisdome and patience , temporising with the turke , the king of spaine , and the emperour , who are most like to offend them . the manner of their government and the excellent course which they have in chusing their duke is written by contarenus , and some others of their country-men . when they do make any warres , they seldome send forth any general of their own but entertaine some prince of italy , who is renowned for the wars . in lombardy standeth also the dukedome of millain , a most rich and pleasant thing , which sometime had bin govern'd by a duke of their own , but of late hath been possessed by the spaniard & sometime by the french , and is now in the government & possession of the k. of spain . in tuscany the chiefe city , and commander of all the rest , is florence , where is supposed to be the best language of italy , called the vulgar italian , and the most circumspect policy of all the governments of christendome , which hath much bin increased since the time of machiavel , who was secretary or recorder to that state. this was in times past ●… free city , but of late by the policy of the family of the medices , it is brought under the subjection of a duke , which raig●…eth as an absolute prince , and by little and little , hath so incroched on his own citizens and neighbours round about him , that he hath gotten to be called ( and that not unworthily ) magnus dux hetruriae , or the great duke of tuscany . a great part of the rising of the family of the medices , which are now dukes of florence , may be ascribed to the cunning carriage of themselves ; but it hath been much advanced forward by their felicity , in having two popes together of that house , which were leo the tenth , and clement the seventh , who by all means labored to stablish the governments of their country , upon their kindred ▪ and it made not the least accesse thereunto , that affinity was contracted by them with the kings of france , when k●…erine de medic●…s neece to pope clement the seventh , was married to the younger sonne fo francis the first , whose elder brother dying , that younger came to be king of france , by the name of henry the 2d. for as in the time of her husband she laid the foundation of her aspiring , so after the death of the said husband , when she bare the name of the queen mother . this queen mother swayed all at her pleasure in france , during the successive reigne of her three sons , francis the second , charls the ninth , and henry the third : in all which time no doubt , she promoted florence , and the florentines to her uttermost . a good part of italy is under the bishop of rome , which is commonly called , the land of the church : where the pope is a prince absolute , not onely spiritual as elsewhere he claimeth , but also temporall , making lawes requiring tribute , raising souldiers , and executing justice as a monarch . the bishops of rome do pretend , that constantine the great , did bestow upon them the city of rome , together with divers other cities and towns , near adjoyning and the demeans of them all to be as the patrimony of saint peter , as many times they do tearme it . but laurentius , valla , in his set treatise of this argument , hath displaied the falshood of that pretence ; and i●… truth , the greatness of the popes hath risen first by phocas , who killing his master the emperour of rome , and being favoured by the bishop of that sea , and so aspiring himself to the empire , did in recompence thereof , suffer the bishop of rome to be preclaimed universal bishop , and of likelyhood gave unto him somewhat to maintaine his estate . and afterward king p●…pin o●… france , and charls the great his son , getting ( by means of the s●…d bishop ) the kingdome of france , and the one of them to the empire , did bestow good possessions upon the papacy ; and since that time the popes have had so much wit , as by destruction of the princes of italy , by encroaching on the favour of others , the great monarchs of europe and by their waries and other devices , to keep and encrease that land of the church . which in our time is well inlarged by the policy of clement the 8. late pope ▪ who hath procured that the dukedome of ferrara , is , or shall be shortly added to his dominion . the chief residence of the bishop of rome , is rome it self , which was first founded by r●…mulus , and afterward ; so increased by others who succeeded him , that it was built upon ▪ 7. hils , and hath had onely raigning in it 7. kings , and hath been ruled by 7. severall sorts of chiefe government : that is , kings , consuls , dec●…m-viri , tribunes of the people , dictators , emperours and popes . they first incroached on the neighbours about them in italy , afterward ; on all italy , sicily , & some of the ●…ands , till at length it proved to be the lady and chiefe mistress of the world : whose incredible wealth and greatness in men , treasure , shipping and armor , was so huge , that it did eve●… sink under the weight of it self . whereupon after divers civill wars , as between marius and sylla , pompey and caesar , with o●…hers , it was at length revoked unto one absolute and imperiall government . the majesty whereof notwithstanding , was afterward somewhat impaired by the building of constantinople , which was erected , or rather inlarged by constantine the great , and called nova r●…ma . but when the division was made of the east and west empire , it received a greater blow , yet the maine overthrow of it was , when the gothi and vandals entred italy , sacked it , and possessed it at their own pleasure ; so that it was ( for a time ) almost quite forsaken and had no inhabitants , till the bishops of rom●… did make means to gather together some to people it again : and since those times , a good part of the old building upon the hils , hath bee●… quite decaied and rui●…ated , and th●…t , rome , which now may be called ( in comparison of the old ) new rome is built on a lower ground , where the place was , which in times past was termed campus martius , very neer unto tyber the river , which too well appeareth by the sudden inundation of that tyber ; destroying and spoiling , men , cattell and houses , as very lately to their great losse was experimented . the bishops of rome , as sometimes for their pleasure or profit , they do withdraw themselves unto 〈◊〉 , or some other townes of italy : so the time was when they removed their court unto avignon a city in france , standing near the mediterranean sea , and not far from mersiles in province , where continuing for the space of seventy years , they so afflicted the city of rome , for l●…cke of resort ( which is very great when the pope is there ) that the italians to this day , do remember that time by the name of the captivity of babylon , which continued ( as appeareth by the scripture ) for seventy years . who so looketh on the description laid down by the holy ghost in the revelation , shall see that the whore of babylon there mentioned ; can be understood of no place but the city of rome . in the south part of italy , lyeth the kingdome of naples , which is a country very rich , and full of all kind of pleasure , abundant in nobility ; whereof commeth to be said that proverb ▪ naples for 〈◊〉 , rome for religion , millain for beauty , florence for policy , and venice for riches . this was heretofore ruled by a king of their owne , till the time of joan queen of naples , who by deed of gift , did first grant that kingdom to the kings of arragon in spaine ; and afterwards by will , with a revocation of the former grant , did bequeath it to the house of anj●…u in france . since which time the kingdome of naples hath sometimes been in the hands of the spaniard , sometimes possessed by the french , and is now under the king of spaine : unto this is annexed also the dakedome of calabria . this kingdome of naples lieth so neare to some part of graecia , which is now in possession of the turke , that i●… may justly be feared , lest at some time or other the said turk , should make an invasion thereinto , as indeed he hath offered divers times , ●…nd sometimes hath landed men to the great terror of all italy ; but for the preventing of that mischief , the king of spaine is inforced to keep a good fleet of gallies continually at otranto , where is the neerest passage f●…om italy into greece . this part of italy was it , which in times past was named magna graecia , but in ●…ter ages it hath been unproperly called one of the sicilies , which was reproved long since by aeneus silvius in his twelfth epistle ; and yet till of late time , the kings of spaine have been termed kings of bo●…h ●…he sicili●…s ▪ there be moreover in italy many other princedomes and states , 〈◊〉 the dukedom of ferrara , the dukedome of mantua , the dukedome of urbine , the dukedome of parma and placentia , the state of luca , the state of genua , commonly called the genowaies , which are 〈◊〉 by their senate , but have a d●…ke , as they have at venice . there be also s●…me others , by which meanes the gl●…ry and strength of italy is decayed . of denmarke , sweden , and norway . as italy lie●…h on the s●…uel side of germany , so denmarke lieth on the north , i●…to the middle of which land , the sea breake●…h in by a place called the sound . the impost of which pass●…ge 〈◊〉 g●…eat riches , as an ordinary tribu●…e unto the ki●…g of denmarke . this is a kingdome , and ruled by an absolute gove●…nour . o●… the north and east side of denmarke , lieth suezia , commonly ca●…led sw●…den or swethe●… ; which is also a kingdome of it self : where the king professeth himself to be rex suecorum , gothorum & vandalorum : whereby we may know that the g●…thes and vandals , which in times past did waste italy , and other nations of christendome , did come out of this countrey . this whole countrey which containeth in it , 〈◊〉 su●…zia , and some part of denmarke is peninsula , being very much compassed about with the sea : and this is it , which in ol●…s magnus , & joannes magnus , is termed archiepisco●… us upsalensis ; as also in some of the 〈◊〉 ancient writers , is called s●…ādinavia : on the north a●…d we●…t side of sweden , lieth nor●…egia , or norway , which is at this day under the governme●…t of the king of denmarke , al●…hough heretofore it hath been a ●…ee kingd●…me of it self . beyond norway toward russia on the northern sea , lieth ●…via , beyond that biarmia , then happia or hapland , a poor and cold countre●… , neare sin●…s b●…ddicus : whereof there is little to be spoken but that it is said to be subject to the great kn●…z , or duke of moscovie . but of these afterwards . within the sound , on the east part of the sea , lieth dantzicke , about which are the towns of the haustmen , confederates and allies unto the king of denmarke . these are very rich towns by reason of merchandize , which down the rivers they rece●…ve out of polonia , and transport into other parts of christe●…dome , through the sound of the king of denmarke . they li●…e ●… f●…ee pe●…ple keeping amity and 〈◊〉 with the kings of sweden and denmarke , and with the empe●…our of germany : but within these late years , stephen bacour , the king of polon , doth challenge them to be members of his crown and dignity , and by war●…e forc●…d them to cap●…tulate ●…ith him . there is no great thing to be noted in these countries , but that from denmark commeth much corn , to the supply of other parts of christendom ; and that from all these countries , 〈◊〉 brought great furniture for warre , or for shipping , as masts , c●…bles , steele , saddles , arm●…ur , gunpowder , & the l●…ke : and that in the seas adjoyning to these parts , there are fishes of much more monstrous shape than el●…e-where are to be found . the people of those countries are by their ●…rofession lutherans for religion . of russia , or moscovia . on the east side of sweden , beginne●…h the dominion of the em●…eror or r●…ssia , although russia or moscovia it self , do lye somewhat more into the east , which is a great and mighty monarchy , extending it selfe even from lapland , and finmarke , m●…ny thousand miles in length , unto the caspian sea : so that it containeth in it a great part of europe , and much of asia also . the governour there , calleth himselfe emperour of russia , great duke ●…f m●…scovia , with many other titles of princedomes and cities , whose dominion was very mu●…h inlarged by the emperor not long since dead , whom in russia they ●…ll ivan vasiliwich , in the latine , iohannes basilides , who raigning long , and being fortunate in warre , did ve●…y much inlarge this mighty dominion . this man , ●…s in his younger 〈◊〉 he was ve●…y fortunate , and added very much unto the glory of his ancestors , winning something from the tartars , and something from the christi●…ns in livonia , and litua●…ia , and o●…her confines of his countrey : so in his latter age growing more unweld●… , and lesse beloved of his subjects , he proved as unfo●…tunate , whereby it came to passe , that stephen bacour , king of 〈◊〉 , had ●…very great hand of him , winning from him ▪ large provinces , which he before had conquered . greg●…ry the thirteenth bishop of rome , thinking by his in●…reaty for peace , between those two princes , to have won the whole russian monarchy , to the subjection and acknowledgment of the papacy , sent rober●…us possevi●…us , a jesui●…e ( but yet a great states-man ) as his agent to take up controve●…sies ▪ between the moscovit●… , and the king of polone , who prevailed so farre , as that ●…e d●…ew them to torlerable conditions , for both parties ; but when he began to exhort him to the accepting o●… the romish faith , the 〈◊〉 being therefore informed by the english embassadors ( who he very much favoured , for his lady , and mistresse , queen elizabeths sake ) that the bishop of rome was ●… proud pr●…late , and would exercise his pretended authority so far , as to make kings ▪ and princes hold his stirrop , yea to kisse his very feet ; he utterly and with much scorne rejected all obedience to him . whereunto , when possevinus did reply , that the princes of europe indeed in acknowledgement of their sub●…ection to ●…im , as the vi●…ar of christ , & successor of s. peter , did offer him that service , as to kisse his feet , but that the pope remembring himselfe to be ●… mortall man , did not take that honor as due unto himself b●… did use to have on his part●…phie the caucifix , or picture of christ , hanging upon the crosse , and that in truth he would have the reverence don●… thereunto ; the emperor did grow into an exceeding r●…ge , reputing h●…s pride to be so much th●… greater , when he would put th●… cruci●…ix upon his shooe ; in as much as the russians do hold , that so h●…ly a thing as that is highly prophaned , if any resemblance of it be worn above th●… girdle . possevinus in a treatise written of his embassage into that country where he discourseth this whole matter , confesseth that he was much afraid , lest the emperor would have strucken him , and beaten out his brains with a shrewd staffe which then he had in his hands , and did ordinarily carry with him : & he had the more reason so to fe●…r , because that prince was such a tyrant , that he had not only ●…laire , and with cruel torture put to death very many of his subjects , and nobility before , shewing himselfe more brutishly cruel to them , than ever nero and caligulu were among the romanes ; but he had with his owne hands , and with the same staffe , upon a small occasion of anger , ki●…led his eldest son , who should have succeeded him in his whole empire . the people of this countrey are rude and unlearned , so that there i●… very little or no knowledge amongst them of any liberall or ingenious art : yea , their very priests & monks ( whereof they have many ) are almost unlettered ▪ so that they can hardly do any thing more then read their ordinary service : and the rest of the people are , by reason of their ignorant education , dull and uncapable of any high understanding ; but very superstitious , having many ceremonies , and idolatrous solemnities ; as the consecrating of their rivers by their patriarch at one time of the yeare , when they think themselves much sanctified by the receiving of those hallowed waters ; yea , and they bathe their horses and cattell in them ; and also the burying of most of their people with a paire of shooes on their feet , as supposing that they have a long journey to go , and a letter in their hand to st. nicolas , whom they reverence as a speciall st. and think that he may give them entertainment , for their readier admission into heaven . the moscovites generally have received the christian faith ; but yet so , that rather they do hold of the greek and the eastern , then of the western romane church . the doctrines wherein the greek church differs from the latine , are these . first , they hold that the holy ghost proceeds from the father alone , and not from the sonne . secondly that the bishop of rome is not the universall bishop . thirdly , that there is no purgation . fourthly , their priests do marry : and fifthly , they do differ in divers of their ceremonies , as in having 4 lents in the yeare , whereof they do call one lent , their great lent. at the time of the councill of florence , there was some shew made by the agents of the greek church , that they would have joyned in opinion with the latines : but when they returned home , their countrey-men would in no sort assent thereunto . in the northern parts of the dominion of the emperour of russia , which have lately been joyned unto his territories , as specially lapland , biarmia , and thereabouts , they are people so rude and heathenish , that ( as olaus magnus writeth of them ) looke whatsoever living thing they doe see in the morning at their going out of their doors , yea , if it be a bird , or a worm ▪ or some such other creeping thing , they do yield a divine w●…ship , and reverence thereunto for all that day , as if it were some inferiour god. damianus à goes h●…th written a pretty treatise , describing the manner of those lappians : the greatest part of the country of russia , is in the winter so exceeding cold , that both ●…he rivers are frozen over , the land covered with snow , and such is the sharpnesse of the aire , that if any go abroad bare-faced it causeth their flesh in a short time to rot , which befalleth to the fingers and toes of divers of them : therefore for a great part of winter , they live in stoves and hot-houses , and if they be occasioned to go abroad , they use many furs , whereof there is great plenty in that country , as also wood to make fire ; but yet in the summer time , the face of the soyle and the aire is very strangely altered , insomuch , that the countrey seemeth hot , the birds sing very merrily , and the trees , grasse and co●…n , in a short sp●…ce do appear so chearfully green , and pleasant , that it is scant to be beleeved , but of them which have seen it . their building is most of wood , even in the chiefe city of mosco , insomuch , that the tartars ( who lie in the north-east of them ) breaking oft into their countries , even unto the very mosco , do set fire on their cities , which by reason of their woodden buildings , are quickly destroyed . the manner of government which of late years hath been used in russia is very barbarous , and little less than tyrannous : for the emperour that last was , did suffer his people to be kept in great servility , and permitted the rulers and chief officers at their pleasures , to pil and ransack the common sort ; but to no other end , but that himself might take occasion when he thought good to call them in question for their misdemeanor , and so fill his own coffers with flee cing of them : which was the same course the old roman empire did use , calling the deputies of the provinces , by the name of spunges , whose property is to suck up water , but when it is full , then it selfe is crushed , and yi ldeth forth liquor for the behalfe of another . the passage by sea into this country , which was wont to be through the sound , and so afterward by land , was first discovered by the english : who with great danger of the frozen seas , did first adventure to saile so far north , as to compass lapland , finmark scricfinia & biarmia , and so passing to the east by nova zembla , halfe the way almost to cathaio , have entred the river called ob , by which they disperse themselves for merchandize both by water and land , into the most parts of the dominion of the emperor of russia . the first attempt which was made by the english , for the entrance of moscovia , by the north seas , was in the daies of king edw. the sixt , at which time the merchants of london procuring leave of the king , did send forth sir hugh willoby , with shipping and men , who went so far toward the north , that he coasted the corner of scricfinia & biarmia , and so turned toward the east : but the wheather proved so extream , the snowing so great , and the freezing of the water so vehement , that his ship was set fast in the ice ; and there he & his people were frozen to death , and the next year some other comming from england , found both the ship , and their bodies in it , and a perfect remembrance in writing of all things which they had done and dis covered ; where amongst the rest , mention was made of a land which they had touch'd , which to this day is known by the name of sir hugh willobies land. the merchants of london did not desist to pursue this discovery , but have so far prevailed , as that they have reached one halfe of the way toward the east part of chyna and cathaio ; but the whole passage is not yet opened . this empire is at this day one of the greatest dominions in the world , both for compasse of ground , & for multitude of men ; saving that it lyeth far north , and so yieldeth not pleasure for good traffick , with many other of the best situated nations . among other things which do argue the magnificence of the emperour of russia , this one is recorded by many who have travelled into those parts , that when the great duke is disposed to sit in his magnificence , besides great store of jewels , and abundance of massie plate , both of gold and silver , which is openly shewed in his hall , there do sit as his princes , and great nobles , cloached in very rich and sumptuous attyre , divers men , ancient for their yeares , very seemly of countenance , and grave , with white long beards , which is a goodly shew , besides the rich state of the thing . but olaus magnus , a man well experienced in those northern parts , doth say ( how truely i cannot tell ) that the manner of their sitting is a notable fraud and cunning of the russian , in as much as they are not men of any worth , but ordinary citizens of the gravest , and seemliest countenance , which against such a solemnity , are picked out of mosco , and other places adjoining , and have robes put on them , which are not their own , but taken out of the emperours wardrobe . of spruce and poland . in europe , on the east and north corner of germany lyeth a countrey called prussia , in latine most times borussia , in english , pruthen , or spruce , of whom little is famous , saving , that they were governed by one , in a kinde of order of religion , whom they call the grand-master : and that they are a meanes to keep the moscovite , and the turke from some other parts of christend me . this country is now grown to be a dukedome , and the duke thereof doth admit traffick with our english , who going beyond the hance townes , do touch upon his country ; and amongst other things , doe bring from thence a kinde of leather , which was wont to be used i jerkins , and called by the name of spruce-leather-jerkins . on the e●…t side ●… germany , between russia and germany , ●…eth polonia or poland , which is a ●…gdome diffe●…ing from others 〈◊〉 europe ; because the king there is ●…osen by election out of some of the princes neere adjoining , as la●…ely henry the third king of france . these elections often●…mes doe make great factions there , so that in taking parts , they grow often there into civill warre . the king of polonia is almost continually in warre , either with the moscovite , who lyeth in the east and north-east of him ; or with the turke , who li●…th on the south and south e●…st , and some●…imes also with the princes of germany ; whereupon the poles doe commonly desire to chule warriours to their king. in this country are none but christians : but so , that liberty of ●…ll religion is p●…rmitted , insomuch , ●…hat there be papists , coil●…dges of 〈◊〉 , bo●…h 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 i●… opinion , 〈◊〉 , ar 〈◊〉 , and di●…ers others but of 〈◊〉 years there 〈◊〉 been 〈◊〉 ea nest m●…tions in their par 〈◊〉 , that their co ledges of j●…suites sh●…uld be dissolved , and they ban●…shed our of that k●…ngdome , as of la●…e they were from france . the ●…eason of i is , because that under colour of religion , they doe secretly deale in 〈◊〉 causes , and many times sow sedi ●…ons . and some of them have given cou●…sell to murther princes : and ●…ever they be , they are the only in telligencers for the pop●… , besides that , many of the papi●…s , but especially their fryars and orders of religion ) do hate and envye them : first , for that they take upon them with such pride to be called jesuits , as if none had to do with jesus but they , and are more inward with princes then the rest are . secondly , because many of them are more learned then common monks and fryars . and thirdly , because they professe more strictly and severely , than others do , the capushins only accep●…ed . this is that country , which in times past was called sarmatia , the chiefe city whereof is named cracovia . of hungaria and austria . on the south-east side of germany , lyeth hungaria , called in the latine pannonia , which hath been heretofore divided into pannonia superior , & pannonia inferior : it is an absolute kingdome , and hath been heretofore rich and populous . the christians that do live there , have among them divers sorts of religion , as in poland . this kingdome hath been a great obstacle against the turkes comming into christendome ; but especially in the time of john hunniades , who did mightily with many great victories repulse the tu●…ks . here standeth bunda , which was heretofore a great fortresse of christendome : but the glory of this kingdome is almost utterly decaied , by reason that the turk who partly by policy , & partly by force , doth now possesse the greatest part of it ; so that the people are fled from thence , and the christians which remaine there are in miserable servitude : notwithstanding some part of pannonia inferior doth ye●… belong to christendome . the turks for the space of these forty or fifty years last past , have kept continuall garrisons , and many times great armies in that place of hungary , which yet remaineth christned ; yea , and sometimes th●… great turks themselves have come thither in person with huge hosts ▪ accounting it a matter of their re ligion , not only to destroy as many christians as they can , but also to win their land , by the revenue●… whereof , they may maintain some religious house , which they think themselves in custome bound to erect : but so , that the maintai ning thereof is by the sword , to be wonne out of the hands of some of those whom they hold enemie●… to them . hungary is become the onely cockpit of the world , where the turkes doe strive to gain , and the christians at the charge of the emperor of germany ( who entituleth himselfe king of hungary ) doe labour to repulse them : and few summers do passe , but that something is either wonne or lost by e●…ther party . that corner of germany which lieth neerest to hungary or pannonia inferior , is called austria , or pannonia a superior , wh●…ch is an arch-dukedome . from which house ( being of late much sprung ) come many of the princ●…s of germany , and of other parts of europe : so that the crown imperiall of germany , hath lately oft besallen to some one of this house . in this country standeth vienna , that noble city , wh●…ch is now the principle bulwarke of christendome against the turke : from whence s●…liman was repelled by ferdinandus king of hungary , in the time of the emperour charles the fift . it was in this country , that richard the first , king of england , in his return from the holy land , was taken prisoner by the arch-duke of austria , and so put to a grievous ransome . there were lately divers brothers of the emperour rodolphus the second , which were all called by the name of arch-dukes of austria ●…ccording to the manner of the germans , who give the titles of the fathers nobility to all the children . the names of them were matthias , ernestus , & the youngest albertus , who for a good space held by dispensation from the pope the archbish oprick of toledo in spaine , although he were no priest , and had then also the title of cardinall of austria , and was imploied for viceroy of portugall , by philip the 2d . king of spain : but after the death of the duke of parma , he was sent as lievtenant general , & governor of the low-ciuntries for the k. of spaine , where since he hath attained to the marriage of the infanta isabella eugenia clara , eldest daughter to k. philip the second , and last king of spaine , and by her hath he the stile of duke of burgundy , although peaceably he cannot enjoy a great part of that countrey . thorow both austria and hungary , doth runne the mighty river danubius , as through germany doth runne the rheinc : whereon groweth vinum rhenanum , com monly cal●…ed rhenisir wine . of greece , thracia , and the countries neere adjoining . on the south side of hungary , and south-east , lieth a country of europe , called in old time dacia , which is large and wide , comprehending in it transylvania , walachia , moldavia , & servia . of which little is famous , save that the men are warlike , and can hardly bee brought to obedience . they have lately been under the k of hungary . these countries of transylvania , walachia , and moldavia , have certaine monarchs of their owne , whom they call by the name of v●…gnode , which do rule their countries with indifferent mediocrity , while they have the sway in their own hands , but confining upon the turke , they are many times oppressed and overcome by him , so that often they are his tributaries : yet by the wildnesse of the country , and uncertaine disposition of the rulers and their people , he never hath any hand long over them , but sometimes they maintain warre against him , and have slain down some of his bassaes , comming with a great army against them ; by which occasion it falleth out , that he is glad now and then to enter confederacy with them : so doubtfull a kind of regiment is that , which now adaies is in those countries . the river danubius doth divide this dacia from mysia , commonly called bulgaria and russia , which lyeth on the south from danubius , and is severed from graecia , by the mountaine haemus . this mountain is that , whereof they reported in times past , though but falsly , that who so stood on the top thereof , might see the sea four severall waies , to wit , east , west , north and south : under pretence of trying which conclusion ( not philip alexanders father , but a latter philip king of macedonia ) did go up to that hill , when in truth his meaning was secretly to meet with others there , with whom he might joine himself against the romans , which was shortly the overthrow of that kingdome . it should seem , that about this mountaine it is very cold , by reason of that jest which athenaeus reported stratonieus to have uttered concerning that hill , when he said , that for eight months in the yeare it was very cold , and for the other foure it was winter . from haemus toward the south , lieth grecia , bounded on the west by the ad iaticke sea , on the east 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thracian●… sea , and ma●…e a●…geum , on the south by the main mediterranean sea . this contained an old time four speciall parts , peloponnesus , achaia , macedonia , and epirus . adjoining whereunto was illyricum , peleponnesus , which is now called moreah , in the south part of grecia , being peninsula , or almost an iland , for that it is joined by a little strait called ist●…es , unto the rest of graecia . herein stood sparta , and the ancient state of lacedemon ; the lawes thereof were made by lycurgus ; by the due observation of which , tullie could say in his time , that the title of sparta in lacedemon , had continued in the same means and behaviour , for the space of 700. yeares . this sparta was it which so often made warre against the athenians , and this and athens were called the two edges of grecia . neare the isthmos , or straits , stood t●…e famous city of corinth , which was in old time called the key of greece , and whether st. paul wrote two of his epistles . aereus sylvius in his cosmograph call treatise , de europa , cap. 21 saith , that the straits which divide moreah from the rest of grecia , are in bredth but five miles ; and that divers kings and princes did go about to dig away the earth , that they might make it to be an iland . he nameth king demetrius , julius caesar , caius caligula , & domitius nero ; of all whom he doth note , that they not onely failed of their purpose : but that they came to violent and unnaturall deaths . from the isthmos , which is the end of pelopennesus or moreah , beginneth achaia , and spreadeth it self northwards but a little way , unto the hill othris , which is the bounds between achaia and macedonia : but east and west ▪ much more largely , as eastward even unto the island eu●…oea . with a great promontory , and westward bounding unto epirus . the inhabitants of this place , were they which properly are called achivi ; which word is so oft used by virgil. here towards the east part stood beotia , and upon the sea-coast , looking south-ward towards moreah , was athens , which was famous for the lawes of solon , for the warres against sparta , and many other cities of grecia ; and for an university of learned men , which long continued there . in this part of greece , stood pernassus and helicon , so much talked of by poets , and phocis , and thebes , and briefly all the cities whereof livie speaking , doth term by the name of achai , or 〈◊〉 archaeorum . the third province of graeci●… , c●…lled epirus , lyeth westward from achala , and ex●…en s it self for a good space that ●…av ; but toward the north and south it is but narrow , lying along the sea-coast , and looking sou●…hward on the islands of conegra and cephalonia . this was be coun●…ry wherein olympias wife unto philip of maced●…nia , and mother unto alexander the g●…ea , was born . this also was the kingdome of that noble pyrrhus , which made such great warres against the romans ; and in our l●…tter age it was made re●…owned by the valiant scand rberg , who was so great a scou●…ge unto the turke , whose life is so excellently written by martinus partesius . from the east part o●… epiru●… northward , lyeth a country , which was never noted by an●… famous name ; but as it should seen was sometime under epirus , from which it lieth northward : some imes under macedonia , from which it lyeth westward ; and sometime●… under illyris , or dalmatia , from which it lyeth southward ; and i may be that there was in old time divers free cities there . illyricum which confineth upon graecia to●…ard the north and west , near un ●…o the top of the adriatick sea , and not far from venice , is for a good part of it at this day under the vene i●…s . the so●…rth and greatest part o●… ●…ld grecia , was maced●…nia , which is fa●…sty by the maps of the r●…man emp●…re , placed on the west side of g●…aecia ; for in truth it ●…yeth on the east side , looking toward asia the lesser , being bounded on the east side by the sea called mare egeum on the south side by achaia , and the hill othris , and part of epirus : and on the west side , by certaine great mountains : but on the north by the hill haemus . this was the kingdome so famous in times past for philip and alexander his son , who conquered the whole world , and caused the name of the third empire to be attributed unto this place . here stood the hill athos , whereof part was digged down by the army of xerxes the great king of persia , who warred against the grecians . here was the hill olymp●…s , the city of philipai , 〈◊〉 he e the philippians dwelt , to whom sr. paul wrote . here was ampollonia , amphipolis , ed●…ssa , pella , thessalonica and b●…rea ; yea , and the whole cou●…try of thessalia , lay on the south side of this part o●… greece . in this country of grecia , were in ancient times many kingdomes and states , as at this day there are in italy : as the maced●…nians , the kingdome of epirus , the state of athens , the government of sparta●…he ●…he city of thebes , and very many other places ; insomuch that almost every town had a peculiar government : but now it is all under one●… monarchy . from grecia ( in old time ) did almost all famous things come . these were they that made the wa●… against troy ; that resisted xerxes the mighty king of persia , that had the famous law-makers , as solon in athens , and lycurgus of lacedemon ; that took away the monarchy from the persians , that brought forth the●… famous captaines , as themistceles , mil●…iades , alexander , and many others that were the authours of civility unto the western nations , and to some in the east ; as asia the lesse : that gave to italy and to the romans , the first light of learning : because from them arose the first poets , as 〈◊〉 hesiodus , sophocles , and divers others . the great ph●…losophers , socrates , pla●…o , aristotle , and all the sects of the academicks , stoicks , peripateticks , epicure●…ns , and almost all their scholars . the great oratours , demosthenes , and aeschines , and in one word ( the mathematicks excepted , which came rather from the chaldeans and the egyp●…ians ) the wh●…le flowers of arts and good learning . on the north-east part of graecia standeth thracia , which tho●… here●…ofore it hath been distinguished , yet now is accounted as the chiefe part of greece . here on the edge of the sea-coast very near unto asia , st●…deth the city called bizantium , but since constantinople , be cause constantine the great did new build it , and made it an imperiall city . this was the chiefe residence of the emperour of graecia , sometimes called new rome , and the glory of the east ; where the generall council was once assembled ; and one of the seas of the patriarks , who was called the patriark of constantinople . but by the great discord of the christians , all graecia , and this city are fallen into the hands of the turk , who now maketh it his place of imperiall aboad . it was won 〈◊〉 the time of constantine the last emperor ; so that by constantine it obtained his honour , and by constantine it lost it . in this city lyeth resident with the turk , an ambassadour or agent for the king of england . the christians that do now live in grecia , are in miserable servitude unto the turke . they disagree in many things from the doctrine of the church of rome . of the sea running between europe and asia . if there were no other argument , that the northern parts of the world were not discovered in times past , by any that travelled that way , yet this would sufficiently avouch 〈◊〉 , that there was never thought upon an●… land between asia and europe , higher than the river tanais ; which doth not extend it selfe very fa●… into the north , but is short of the uttermost bounds that was by the space of foure thousand miles ; but this river which by the tartarians is now called don , where it doth run , it leaveth asia on the eastside , and europe on the west , but going forward towards the south , it disburtheneth it self into a dead lake or fen ( for so it seemeth ) which is called meotis palus , spoken of in the second book of justine , and not forgotten by ovid de ponto : and at this day in the dead of winter , it is usually frozen , that the scythians and tartarians neer adjoining , do both themselves and their cattel , yea , sometimes with sleads after them , passe over , as if it were dry land . on the southern part of this meotis is a narrow strait of the sea , which is commonly called by the name of bosphorus cimmerius , because ( as it is thought ) sometime oxen have ventured to swim crosse there from asia to europe , or backward . when the water hath run for a pretty space i●… so narrow a passage , there beginneth ●… great and wide sea , named pontus euxinus , whether ( as josephus reporteth ) the whale did carry the prophet jonas , and there did disburthen himselfe of his carriage , by casting him upon the land . at the mouth of this sea , is a very great strait , knowne by the name of thracius bosphorus , where the breadth of this sea is not above one mile , serving asia and europe . o●… the side of europe standeth constantinople . on the side of asia , the city called pera or galatae , which for the neerenesse is by some , reckoned a part of constantinople . when any of the turks janizaries have committed ought worthy of death , the custome is , is to send the same party in the night time over by boat from constantinople to pera , whereby the way he is thrown i●… to the water with a great stone about his neck , and then there is a piece of o●…dnance shot off , which is a token of some such execution . the turke is forced to take this course , lest the rest of his janizaries should mutiny when any of their fellowes is put to death . by reason of the standing of asia and europe so neare together , and the sea running between them , which serveth each place with all manner of commodities , it appeareth that constantinople is marve●…lously , richly , and conveniently sea●…ed , a●…d therefore a fit place from whence ●…e turke may offer to atc●…ieve att●…mps . after this st●…ait , the sea openeth it self more large toward he 〈◊〉 , & ●…is called by the name o●… 〈◊〉 but then it groveth again into a ●…other stra●…t , which they write to be 〈◊〉 b●…ead 〈◊〉 two in 〈◊〉 : this is called h●…ll sp●…ntus having on the one side 〈◊〉 in asia , on the otherside s●…stus on the side of eu●…pe . this is that place where ●…rxes the great king o●… persia , d●…d ●…ike his bridge over the sea , so mu●…h renowned in ancient history ; which was not impossible , by reason of the narrownesse , the foundation of his bridge being rested on ships . here also may appeare the reason of the story of leander and hero : which leander is reported for the love of hero , to have often times swum over the sea , till at last he was drowned . from this stra●…●…outhward , the sea groweth more wide , and is called afterwards by the name of mare aegeum , and so descendeth to the full mediterranean . of asia , and first of tartary . on the south side of asia , 〈◊〉 unto the domini●… the emperour of r●…ssia , is tartary , in ancient time 〈◊〉 scy●…hia , the bou●…ds whereof did then extend them●…es into a good part of europe ; and therefore was called scythia europea : but the greatest part of ●…t lyeth in asia , a mighty large country , extending it self on the north to the uttermost sea , on the ●…ast to the dominion of the great cham , or prince of cathaie ; on the south down to mare caspium . the tartarians which now inhabit it , are men of great stature , rude of behaviour , no christians but gentiles ; neither do they acknowledge mahomet , they have few or no cities among them , but after the manner of the old scythians , do live in wildernesses , lying under their carts , and following their droves of cattell , by the milke whereof they do nourish themselves . they sowe no corne at all , because they abide not long in any one place ; but taking their direction from the north-pole-starre , they remove from one coast of their countrey , unto another . the countrey is populous , and the men are great warriours , fighting alwaies on horseback with their bow , arrowes , and a short sword . they have amongst them infini●…e store of horses , whereof they sell many into the countries neere adjoining . their ordinary food in their warres is horse-flesh , which they use to eat raw , being chafed a little by hanging at their saddle . they have great wars with the countries adjoining , but especially with the moscovite , and sometimes with the turke : from hence came tamberlain , who brought 700000. of the tartarians at once into the field , wherein he distressed and took prisoner bajazet the great turke , whom he afterward forced to feed as a dog under his table . they have now amongst them many princes and governours , as those have one , whom they call the crim tartars : and those have ano ther , which are the tartars of ma gaiae , and so divers others . the english have laboured ( to their great expences ) to finde out the way by the north seas of tartaria ; to go into cathay and china ; but by reason of the frozen seas , they have not yet prevailed : although it hath been reported , that the flemmings have discovered that passage : which would be ( very likely ) to the great benefit of the northern parts of christendome ; yet that report doth not continue , and therfore it is to be thought ; that the flemmings have not proceeded so farre . of cathaie and china . next beyond tartaria , on the north-east part of asia , lyeth a great country called cathaie , the bounds whereof extend themselves on the north and east , to the uttermost seas ; and on the south to china . the people are not much learned , but more civill then the tartars ; and have good and ordinary traffick with the countries adjoining . this country hath in it many kings , which are tributaries , and do owe obedience unto one , whom they call the great cham or can of cathaie , who is the chief governor of all the land , and esteemed for multitude of people and largenesse of dominion , to be one of the greatest princes of the world : but his name is the lesse famous , for that he lyeth so far distant from the best nations , and the passage into this country is so dangerous , either for the perils of the sea , or for the long space by land. his chief imperiall city is called cambalu . on the south side of cathaie , and east part of asia , next to the sea , lyeth china : and the people thereof , osorius describeth by the name of sina , and called their countrey synarum regio . this is a fruitfull countrey , and yieldeth as great store of rich commodities , as almost any country in the world. it containeth in it very many severall kingdomes , which are absolute princes in their seats . the chief city in this countrey is called quinsay , and is described to be of incredible greatnesse , as were wont to be the ancient cities in the east , as babylon , ninive , and others . this countrey was first discovered by the late navigation of the portugals into the east indies . the people of china are learned almost in all arts , very skilful workmen in curious fine workes of all sorts , so that no country yieldeth more precious merchandise then the workmanship of them . they are great souldiers , very politick and crafty , and in respect thereof , contemning the wits of others using a proverbe , that all other nations do see but with one eye ; but they themselves have two . petrus maffaeus historiographer to the king of spaine for the eastern indies , doth report of them , that they have had from very ancient time among them , these two things , which we hold to be the miracles of christendome , and but lately invented : the one is the use of guns for the wars , and the other is printing ; which they use not as we do , writing from the left hand unto the right ; or as the hebrewes and syrians , from the right hand unto the left : but directly downward , and so their lines at the top do begin again . of the east indies . on the south side of china , toward the molucco llands , and the indian sea , lyeth the great country of india , extending it self from the south part of the continent , by the space of many thousand miles westward unto the river indus , which is the greatest river●… in all the country , except ganges , one of the greatest rivers in the world ; which lyeth in the east part of the same indies . this is that country so famous in ancient time , for the great riches thereof , for the multitude of people , for the conquest of bacchus over it : for the passage thither for alexander the great , throughout all the length of asia ; for his adventuring to go into the south ocean with so mighty a navy , which ●…ew or none had ever attempted before him . and certainly thither it was that solomon did send once in three yeares for his gold and other rich merchandise : for the scripture saith , that he sent his fleet from ezion-geber , which stood upon the mouth of the red sea , and it was the directest passage which he had unto the eastern indies ; whereas if his purpose had been to send to peru , as some lately have imagined , his course had been thorow the mediterranean sea , and the straits of g●…lbraltar . this countrey had in ancient time , many absolute kingdomes and provinces : as in the time of alexander , porus , taxiles , and divers others . in it were many philosophers , and men of great learning , whom they called gymnosophistae , of whom was calanus , who burnt himself before alexander . the men of the south part of india are black , and therefore are called men of inde . the cattell of all sorts that are bred there , are of incredible bignesse , in respect of other countries , as their elephants , ap●…s , monkies , emets , and others . the riches hereof have been very great , with abundance of gold , insomuch that the promontory , who is now called malacha , was in times past named aurea chersonesus . the commodity of spice is exceeding great that comes from thence . the portugals were the first , which by their long navigations beyond the equinoctiall , and the farthermost part of africke , have of late yeares discovered these countries to christendome : as heretofore to the use of the king of portugall , so now of the king of spaine , who is reputed owner of them . the portugals did finde divers kingdomes at their first arrivall in those parts , as the kingdome of cal●…cut , the kingdome of cambaia , the kingdome of cananor , the kingdome of cochin , and very many other , with the kings whereof they first entring league and traffick , and having leave given to build castles for their defence , they have since by policy incroached into their hands a great part of the countrey , which lieth neer unto the sea-coast , and are mighty now , for the space of many thousand miles together . the k. of spain hath there a vice-roy , whose residence is commonly in the imperiall city called goa . they do every year send home great store of rich commodities into spaine . the people of the country when the portugals came first thither , were for the most part gentiles , beleeving in no one god : yea , at this day there are divers of them who do adore the sunne as their god , and every morning at the rising thereof , do use very superstitious ceremonies , which our mer chants , who do trade to aleppo do oftentimes see ; for divers o these indians do come thither wit●… merchandize but the saracens wh●… reverence the prophet mahomet from the bayes or gulphes of persia , and arabia , do traffick much thither , so that mahomet was known among them : but in one town called granganor , they found certain christians dissenting in many things from the church of rome , and rather agreeing with the protestants , which christians had received ( by succession ) their religion from the time of thomas the apostle ; by whom ( as it is recorded in the ancient ecclesiasticall history ) part of india was converted . in this countrey of india , are many great and potent kings and kingdomes , which had been alto gether unknown and unheard of in our part of the world , but that we were beholding to the portugals for their discovery , and before their navigation thither , by the back side of africk●… , to some relations that we had from the venetians , who traded and travelled thither by land out of turkie . the 〈◊〉 of these kings and kingdomes are these ; the king of b●…arme , the great mogol , the king of narsing , pegu , siam , the forenamed king of calecut , and others . of persia. there be divers countries between india and persia ; but there are not famous . persia is a large country , which lyeth far west from india : it hath on the north , assyria and media , on the west syria and the holy land , but next unto it mesopotamia : on the south the main ocean , which entreth in notwithstanding by a bay called sinus perficus . this is that countrey , which in ancient time was renowned for the great riches , and empire thereof . these were they that tooke from the assyrians the monarchy , and did set up in their countrey the second great empire , which began under cyrus , and continued unto that darius , who was overthrown by alexander the great . in this countrey reigned the great kings , cyrus , cambyses , darius the son of histaspes , the great xerrxes , artaxerxes , and many others , which in prophane writings are famous for their wars against the scythians , egyptians and grecians , and in the scripture , for the delivery of the jews from babylon by cyrus , for the building of the 〈◊〉 . temple at jerusalem , and for many things which are mentio ed of them in the prophency of daniel , the 〈◊〉 of this nation , although they were in former times very riotous , by reason of their great wealth ; yet after they had lost their monarchy by the macedonians , they have grown great souldiers : and therefore as they did ever strongly defend themselves against the old romans ; so in the time of constantine , and the other emperours , they were fearefull neighbours to the romane government : and of late time , they have strongly opposed themselves against the turkes , ever making their party good with them . and yet notwithstanding , in the daies of amurath the third , father to mahomet the turke now reigning , the turke had a great hand upon the persians ; going so farre with his army , as that he took the strong city taunus standing within the persians dominions , neer unto the caspian sea , but this losse was to be attributed partly to the great dissentions which were among the persians themselves , and partly to the multitude of the turke his souldiers , who by fresh supply did overthrow the persian , although he slew down many thousands of them . they fight commonly on horseback , and are governed as in time past by a king , so now by an absolute ruler , and a mighty prince , whom they terme the shaw or sophy of persia. he hath many countries and small kings in assyria and media , and the countries ad joning , which are tributaries . among other the sophies of persia , about a hundred years since , there was one of great power , called ismael the persian , who procured unto himself great fame by his many and valorous attempts against the turk surius in his commentaries , writting upon him , saith that upon some fond conceit , the jewes were strongly of opinion , that he was that messias , whom unto this day they expect ; and therefore hoped that he should have been their deliverer and advancer : but he addeth in his report that it fell out so clean contrary , that there was no man who more vexed and grieved them , than that ismail did . the persians ▪ are all at this day sarazens in religion , beleeving in mahomet : but as papists and protestants do differ in opinion , concerning the same christ , so do the turks and persians about their mahomet : the one pursuing the other , as herericks , with most deadly hatred , insomuch that there is , in this respect , almost comin●… all war between the turk and the persians . of parthia and media . on the north-east side of persia ; lieth that countrey which in old time was called parthia , but now named arach ; of whom , those great wars of the romans with the medians or armenians , in tacitus , and ancient histories are true . this country aboundeth on media by the west , and it was in ancient time very full of people : whose fight as it was very much on horseback , so the manner of them continually was for to give an onset , and then to return their waies , even to return again like to the wild-irish , so that no man was sure when he had obtained any victory over them . these were the people that gave the great overthrow to that rich marcus crassus of rome , who by reason of his covetousnesse ( intending more to his getting of gold , than to the guiding of his army ) was stain himself , and many thousand of the romanes : the parthians with exprobration of his thirst after money , poured molten gold into his mouth after he was dead . against these , the great lucullus fought many battles ; but the romanes were never able to bring them quite to subjection . on the west side of parthia , ( having the mare caspium on the north , armenia on the west , and persia on the south ) lyeth that country , which in time past was called media , but now shirvan or sirvan ; which is at this day governed by many inferiour kings and princes , which are tributaries , and do owe subjection to the sophi of persia. so that he is the soveraign lord of all media , as our english men have found , who passing through the dominion of the emperour of russia ; have crossed the mare caspium , and merchandized with the inhabitants of this media . this nation in former times was very famous ; for the medes were they that removed the empire from the assyrians unto them : which as in themselves it was not great , yet when by cyrus it was joyned to that of the persians , it was very mighty , and was called by the name of the empire of the medes and persians . here it was that astyages reigned , the grandfather of cyrus and darius ▪ of the m●…des . the chief ▪ city of this kingdome , was called ecbatana , as the chief city of persia was babylon . it is to be observed of the kings , of media , that in the summer time they did use to retire themselves northward unto ecbatana , for avoiding of the heat ; but in the winter time they came down , more south unto susis , which as it seemeth was a warmer place : but by this meanes they were both taken for imperiall cities , and chiefe residences of the king of media ; which being known , takes away some confusion in old stories . the like custome was afterward used also by the kings of persia. of armenia and assyria . on the west side of the mare caspium ; and of media , lyeth a countrey called by a generall name , armenia ; which by some is distinctly divided into three parts . the north part whereof being but little , is called georgia ; the middle part turcomania ; the third part , by the proper name of armenia . by which a man may see the reason of difference in divers writers ; some saying , that the countrey whence the turkes first came , was armenia , some saying turcomania , and some georgia ; the truth being , that out of one or all these countries they did descend . these turks are supposed to be the issue of them whom alexander the great did shut up within certain mountaines neer to the mare caspium . there is this one thing memorable in armenia , that after the great flood , the ark of noah did ●…est it self on the mountaines of armenia , where ( as josephus witnesseth ) it is to be seen yet to this day , the hils whereon it resteth , ●…re called by some n●…ae montes . the people of this nation have retained amongst them the chri●…tian faith , as it is thought from the ●…ime of the apostles ; but at this say it is spotted with many absurdities . among other errors which the church of armenia hath been noted to hold , this is one , that they lid bathe their children ; waving them up and down in flames o●… fire , and repute that to be a necessary circumstance of baptisme : which errour ariseth by mistaking that place of john the baptist , where he saith , that he that came after him ( meaning christ ) should baptize them with the holy ghost , and with fire . in which place the word doth not signifie materiall fire , but expresseth the lively and purging operation of the spirit , like to the nature of fire . on the south part of armenia , bending towards the east , lieth the country of assyria , which is bounded on the west with mesopotamia . this country was that land wherein the first monarchy was setled , which began under ninus whom the scripture calleth nim rod , living not long after noahs flood , and it ended in sardanapalus continuing a thousand and three hundred yeares . the king of this country was senacherib , of whom we read ●…n the book of the kings ; and here reigned nebuchadnezzar , who took jerusalem , and led the jewes away prisoners unto babylon . in this countrey , is the swift river tygris , near unto the which was paradise . upon this river stood the great city ninive , called by prophane writers , ninus ; which was almost of incredible bignesse , and exceeding ▪ populous , by the nearnesse of the river , and marvellous fruitfulnesse of the soil ; which , as herodotus writeth , did return their corn sometime two hundred , and sometimes three hundred fold , and did yield sufficiency for to maintain it . this city for a long time , was the imperiall seat of the monarchy ; but being destroied ( as god foretold it should be by the chaldeans ) the residence of the king was afterwards removed unto babylon , a great city in chaldea , first built by semiramis . of chaldea . next unto assyria lye●…h chaldea , having on the east side assyria ; on the west , syria , or palestina ; on the north , armenia ; on the south , the desart of arabia . this countrey is often called by the name of mesopotamia , which name it hath , because it lieth in the middle of two great rivers , tygris and euphrates . it is called also by the name of babylonia , which word of it self properly taken , doth signifie only that part of the countrey which standeth about babylon . the chief city whereof was babylon , whose ruines do remain unto this day . it was a rich and most pleasant city for all kind of delight ; and was in the latter time of that monarchy , the imperiall city of the assyrians , where nebuchadnezzar , and other their great kings did ●…ye . it was to this city that the children of israel were carried captives , which thereof was called the captivity of babylon . the kings of persia also did keep ●…heir residence here , it was built upon the river euphrates , some part of it standing on the one side , and some part on the other , having for its foundresse , semiramis , the wife of ninus . ammianus marcellinus reporteth one thing of this countrey , wherein the admirable power of god doth appeare ; for he writeth that in these parts are a huge number of lyons , which were like enough to devour both men and beasts throughout the countrey ▪ but withall he saith , that by reason of the store of water and mudd thereof , there do breed yearly an innumerable company of gnats , whose property is to flye unto the eye of the lyon , as being a bright and orient thing ; where byting and stinging the lyon , he ●…eareth so fiercely with his clawes , that he putteth out his own eyes , and by that meanes many are drowned in the rivers , others starve for want of prey , and many the more easily killed by the inha bitants . it is supposed by divines , that in this mesopotamia , between the river tygris and euphrates , paradise did stand . this was the country wherein abraham the patriarch was born : unto which the romanes could very hardly extend their dominion : for they had much to do to get the government of any thing beyond the river euphrates . from this people it is thought the wise men came which brought presents to christ , by the guiding of the starre . for as in india , and all the eastern parts , so especially in this country , their noblemen and priests , and very many people , do give themselves to all arts of divination . here were the great southsayers , enchanters , and wise men , as they call them . here were the first astrologians , which are so described and derided in the scripture : and against the inhabitants of babylon and chaldea were the lawes of the romans made , which are against divining mathematicians , who in tullie de divinatione , & cornelius tacitus , as also in the lawes of the emperors , are ordinarily collected by the name o●… chaldeans : and indeed from these and from the egyptians , is supposed to have sprung the first knowledge of astronomy . it is thought that a great reason whereof these chaldeans were expert in the laudable knowledge of astronomy , was partly because the countrey is so plain , that being without hils , they might more fully and easily discover the whole face of the heaven , and partly , because the old fathers which lived so long not only before , but in some good part also after the flood of noah , did dwell in , or near to these parts , and they by observation of their own , did find out and discover many things of the heavenly bodies , which they delivered as from hand to hand to their posterity : but as corruption doth staine the best things , so in proces of time , the true astronomy was defilled with superstitious rules of astrology ( which caused the prophets , isaiah and ieremiah , so bitterly to inveigh against them . ) and then , in their fabulosity they would report , that they had in their records , observations for five and twenty thousand yeares , which must needs be a very great untruth , unlesse we will qualifie it as some have done , expounding their yeares not of the revolution of the sun but of the moon , whose course is ended in the space of a moneth . of asia the lesse . on the north-west side of mesopotamia , lyeth that countrey which is now called natolia , but in times past , asia minor , having on the north side pontus euxinus , on the west , the hellespont , and on the south , the maine mare mediterraneum . in the ancient writings both of the grecians , and of the romans , this is oftentimes called by the single name of asia , because it was best knowne unto them , and they were not so much acquainted with the farther places of asia the great . this countrey in generall , for the fruitfulnesse of the land , standing in so temperate a climate , and for the convenience of the sea every way , and so many good havens , hath been reputed alwaies a very commodious and pleasurefull countrey . it is wholly at this day under the turke . the mountaine taurus goeth along from the west unto the east part of it . the greatnesse of this countrey is such , that it hath comprehended many kingdomes and large provinces , besides cities of great fame . on the south-east part thereof , neare to palestina lyeth cilicia ; the chiefe city whereof is tarsus , the countrey of saint paul , the place whither solomon sent for great store of his gold , and provision for the temple , whither jonas also fled , when he should have gone to niniveh . in the straits of the cilicia , neare to the mountaine taurus , did alexander give a great overthrow in person to darius , in the joining of their first battell . this place seemes to have been very fortunate for great fights ; in as much as there also neare unto the straits , was the ba●…ell fought out between severus the emperour and niger ; who being governour of the romanes of syria , would needs have aspired to the empire , but in a battell which was very hardly fought out , he was overthrown in the straits of cilicia . in the very corner where cilicia is joined unto the upper part of syria , is a little bay , which in times past was named sinus isicus , near unto which alexander built one of his cities , which he called by his own name . but howsoever in times past it was named alexandria , it is now by the venetians and other christians , called alexandretta ; who should say , little alexandria , in comparison of the other . in egypt the turkes do call ▪ it scandarond , and it is a petty haven , where our merchants do land most of their goods , which are afterwards by camels carried up to aleppo . at this day the city is so decayed , that there be onely a few houses there . westward from cilicia , lieth the province called pamphylia : wherein stands the city seleucia , built by seleuchus , one of the foure great successours of alexander the great . on the west of this pamphylia , standeth lycia , and more west from thence confining upon the i le of rhodes , is caria ; one of the sea-townes whereof , is halicarnassus , which was the countrey of herodotus , who is one of the most ancient historians that is extant of the gentiles , and who dedicated his nine bookes to the honour of the muses . here also was that dionysius borne , who is called commonly dionysius halicarnassus , one of the writers of the romane story , for the first three hundred yeares after rome was built . the whole countrey of caria is sometimes signified by the name of this halicarnassus , although it was but one city ; and thereupon artemisia , who in the dayes of xerxes , came to aid him against the graecians , and behaved her selfe so manfully in a great fight at sea , when xerxes stood by as a coward , is intituled by the name not of queen of caria , but of halicarnassus . also in the daies of alexander the great , there was another queen , named ada ; who also is honoured by the title of queen of halicarnassus . we have thus farre described those cities of asia the lesse , which do lie from that part that joineth unto syria , along the sea coast westward ; but being indeed the southern part of asia minor . now upwards towards the north , standeth ionia , where those did dwell , who had like to have joined with xerxes , in the great battell at sea , but that themistocles by a policy , did winne them from him , to take part with the gr●…cians . diodorus siculus writeth , that the athenians , who professed to be of kin to those ionians , were on a time marvellous importunate with them , that they should leave their own country , and come and dwell with them : which when the ionians , hardly , but yet at length did accept , the athenians had no place to put them in , and so they returned with great disgrace to them both . a little within the land , lying north and east from ionium , was lydia , which sometimes was the kingdome of croesus , who was reputed so rich a king ; when he was in his prosperity , making best of his happinesse , he was told by solon , that no man could reckon upon felicity so long as he lived , because there might be great mutability of fortune , which he after ward found true : for he was taken prisoner by cyrus , who was once minded to have put him to death , but hearing him report the advertisement of solon formerly given to him , he was moved to thinke that it might be his own case , and so took pity on him , and spared his life . these lydians being inhibited afterward by cyrus , to use any armour , and give themselves to bathes and stewes , and other such effeminate things . upon the sea-coast in ionia standeth the city ephesus , which was one of the seven cities , unto which john in his revelation did write hi●… seven epistles : and saint paul also directed his epistle to the ephesi ans , unto the church which was in this place . this was one of the most renowned cities of asia the lesse , but the fame thereof did most arise from the temple of diana , which was there built , and was reputed for the magnificence thereof , one of the seven wonders of the world . this temple was said to be two hundred yeares in building , and was burnt seven severall times , whereof the most part was by lightning , and the finall destruction thereof came by a base person , called herostratus ; who to purchase himself some fame , did set it on fire . this was the place of which it is said in the acts of the apostles , that all asia , and the whole world doe worship this diana . tully reporteth , de natura deorum , that tin●…us being asked the reason , why the temple of diana was on fire that night when alexander the great was born , gave that jest thereof , that the mistresse of it was from home ; because she being the goddesse of midwives , did that night wait upon olympias the mother of alexander the great , who was brought to bed in macedonia . another of the seven cities unto which john did write , is smyrna , standing also in ionia , upon the sea coast , but somewhat more north then ephesus ; which is the place where polycarpus was bishop , who sometimes had been scholler unto iohn the evangelist , and living till he was of great age , was at l●…st put to death for christs sake , when before he had been moved by the governour of the countrey to deny his sa viour , and to burn incense to an idoll : but he answered that ●…ourescore and six yeares he had served christ jesus , and in all that time he had never done him harm : and therefore now in his old age he would not beginne to deny him . the third city unto which the epistle is directed in the apocalyps , is sardis : which standeth within the land in lydia , as is described by the best writers ; and it was a city both of great pleasure and profit unto the kings in whose dominion it stood : which may be gathered hereby , that when once the grecians had wonne it , durius histaspis , or xerxes , who were kings of persia , did give charge , that every day at dinner , one speaking aloud , should remember him , that the grecians had taken sardis , which intended , that he never was in quiet till it might bee recovered again . there stood also in the in-land , philadelphia , thyatina , laodicea , and most of all to the north pergamus : which were the other foure cities , unto which st john the evangelist did direct his epistle . going upward from ionium to the north , there lyeth on the sea-coast a little country called eolis : and beyond that , although not upon the sea , the two provinces called mysia major , and mysia minor ; which in times past , were so base and contemptible , that the people thereof were used in speech as a proverb , that if a man would describe one meaner then the meanest , it was said , he was mysiorum postremus . on the west part of mysia major , did lye the countrey called troas , wherein stood ilium , and the city of troy , against which as both virgil and homer have written , the grecians did continue their siege for the space of tenne yeares , by reason that paris had stollen away helena , the wife of menelaus , who was king of sparta . eastward both from troas and mysia major , a good space within the land was the countrey called phrygia , where the goddesse which was called bona dea , or pessinuntia , or cybele , the mother of the old gods , had her first abiding , and from thence ( as herodia●… wrteth ) was brought to rome , as implying that good fortune should follow her thither . in this countrey lived that gondius , who knit the ●…ot called for the intricatenesse thereof , nodus , gordianus ; and when it could not be untied , was cut in sunder by alexander the gre●…t , supposing ▪ that it should bee his fortune , for the loosing of it so to be the conquerour , and king of asia , as by a prophecy of the same gordius had been before spoken . yet north-ward from phrygia , lyeth the countrey of bythinia ; which was sometimes a kingdome , where perusias raigned , that had so much to do with the romanes . in this countrey standeth the city nicea , where the first general councill was held against arius the hereticke by constantine the great , thereof called the nicene council●… ▪ here standeth also chalcedon , where the fourth generall councill was held by the emperour marcianus , against the heretick nestorius . from bythinia eastward , on the north side of asia the lesse , standeth the countrey of paphlagonia , where was the city built by pompey the great , called by his name , pompeiopolis . on the south of paphlagonia , toward the iland of asi●… minor , di●… stand the countrey of galatia , whereunto saint paul wrote his epistle to the galathians . and this also was one of those countries where the iewes were dispersed , unto which saint peter wrote his first epistle ; as also unto them which were in pontus , cappadocia , and bythinia , from whence southward lyeth the province termed lyeaoni : and from thence , yet more south , bordering upon pamphylia , which touches the mediterranean sea , lyeth pisidia , concerning which countries we find oftentimes mention made in such stories as do touch asia the l●…sse . from these sourthern parts , if we returne back againe unto the north and east of asia major , lieth the kingdome of pontus , confining upon that which is named pontus euxinus . in this pontus did reigne mithridates , who in his younger daies had travelled over the greatest part of asia , and is reported to have been so skilfull , that he could well speak more then twenty languages . his hatred was ever great towards the romans , against whom , when he meant first to put his malice in practise , he so combined with the naturals of those parts , that in one night they slew more than threescore and ten thousand of the romans , carrying their intendment so close , that it was revealed by none till the execution was done . pompey the great was the man who distressed this mithridates , and brought him to that extremity , that he would gladly have poisoned himselfe , but could not ; in as much as his stomack had been used so before unto that kind of treacle ( which by reason of his inventing of , unto this day is called mithridate ) which is made of a kinde of poyson allaied , that no venome would easily work upon him . southward from this pontus , standeth the old kingdome of cappadocia , which in times past was observed to have many men in it , but little money : whence horace saith , mancipiis locuples eget aris cappadocum rex . eastward from this cappadocia , as also from pontus , is armenia minor , whereof the things memorable are described in the other armenia . and thus much touching asia the lesse . of syria , and palestina , or the holy land. southward from cilicia and as●…a the lesse , lyeth syria ; a part whereof was called palestina : having on the east mesopotamia , on the south arabia , on the west , tyre and sidon , and the end of the mediterranean sea. the people of this syria were in times past called the ardmites . in their language is the transl●…ion of the new testament , called syriacke . in this countrey standed an●… , which was sometimes one of the ancient 〈◊〉 see , and is a city of reckoning unto this day . here also standeth now the city of aleppo , which is a famous m●…rt towne for the merchandizing o●… the persians , and others of the e●…st , and for the turks , and such countries as be adjoining . here standeth ●…th also tripolis . the south part of syria , lying downe toward egypt ▪ and arabia , was the place where the children of israel did dwell , being a country of small quantity , not 200. italian miles in length : it was so fruitfull flowing with milke and honey , ( as the scripture calleth it ) that it did maintaine above thirty kings and their people , before the comming of the children of israel out of egypt , and was sufficient afterwards to relieve the incredible number of the twelve tribes of israel . it is noted of this countrey , that whereas by the goodnesse of the climate wherein it stood , and the fertility of the soyle ( but especially by the blessing of god ) it was the most fruitfull l●…nd that was in the world : now ou●… travellers by experience do finde the countrey , in respect of the fruitfulnesse , to be changed , g●…d cursing the land together with the iewes , the inhabitants of it . it is observed also for all the easterne parts , that they are not so fertile as they have been in former ages , the earth ( as it were ) growing old , which is an argument of the dessolution to come by the day of judgement . through this countrey doth run the river jordan , which hath heretofore been famous for the fruitfulnesse of the trees standing thereupon , and for the mildnesse of the aire , so that ( as josephus writeth ) when snow hath been in other places of the land , about the river it hath been so calme , that men did go in single thin linnen garments . in this countrey standeth the lake , called lacus asphaltites , because of a kinde of slime called bitumen , or asphaltum , which daily it doth cast up , being of force to joine stones exceeding fast in building : and into this lake doth the river jordan runne . this lake is it which is called mare mortuum , a sea because it is salt ; and mortuum , or dead , for that no living thing is therein . the water thereof is so thicke , that few things will sinke therein , in so much , that josephus faith , that an oxe having all his legges bound will not sinke into that water . the nature of this lake ( as it was supposed ) was turned into this quality , when god did destroy sodome and gomorrah , and the cities adjoining , with fire and brimstone from heaven : for sodome and the other cities did stand near unto jordan , and to this mare mortuum : for the destruction of whom , all that coast to this day is a witnesse , the earth smelling of brimstone , being desolate , and yielding no fruit saving apples , which grow , with a faire shew to the eye , like other fruit ; but as soon as they are touched , do turn presently to soot , or ashes , as besides josephus , solinus doth witnesse in his 48 chapter . the land of palestina had for i●…s inhabitants , all the twelve tribes of israel , which were under one kingdome , till the time rehoboam the sonne of solomon ; but then were they divided into two kingdomes , ten tribes being called israel , and two iudah , whose chiefe city was called ierusalem . the ten tribes after much idolatry , were carried prisoners unto assyria , and the kingdome dissolved , other people being placed in their roome in samaria , and the country adjoining . the other two tribes were properly called the iewes , and their land iudea ; which continued long after in ierusalem , a●…d thereabout , till the captivity of babylon , where they l●…ved for seventy-ye●…es . they were afterward restored , but lived without glory , till the comming of christ : but since that time for a curse upon them and their children , for putting christ to death they are scattered upon the face of the earth , as runnagates , without certaine country , king , priest , or prophet . in their chiefe city ierusalem , was the temple of god , first most gloriously built by solomon ; and afterward destroied by nebuchadnezzar . by the commandement of cyrus king of persia , was a second temple built ▪ much more base than the former . for besides the poverty , and smalnesse of it , the●…e wanted five things which were is the former , as the jewes write . first , the arke of the covenant : secondly , the pot of manna : thirdly , the rod of aaron : fourthly , the two tables of the law , written by the finger of god : and fifthly , the fire of the sacrifice , which came down from heaven . herod the great , an edomite stranger , having gotten the kingdome , contrary to the law of moses , and knowing the people to be offended therewithall , to procure their favour , he built a third temple , wherein our saviour jesus christ and his apostles did teach . the city of jerusalem was twice taken , and utterly laid desolate ; first by nebuchadnezzar at the captivity of babylon : and secondly , after the death of christ , by vespasian the roman ( who first began the warres ) and by his sonne titus , who was afterward emperour of rome , who brought such horrible desolation on that city , and the people thereof , by fire , sword and famine , that the like hath not been read in any history . he did afterwards put thousands of them ( on one some day ) to be devoured of the beasts , which was a cruel custome of the romans magnificence . although numbers and times be not superstitiously to be observed ( as many foolish imagine ) yet it is a matter in this place , not unworthy the noting , which josephus reporteth in his seventh booke and tenth chapter , de bello judaico , that the very same day whereon the temple was set on fire by the babylonians , was the day whereon the second temple was set on fire by the romanes , and that was upon the tenth day of august . after this destruction , the land of iudea , and the ruines of jerusalem . were possessed by some of the people adjoining , till that about six hundred yeares since , the saracens did invade it : for expelling of whom from thence , divers french men and other christians , under the leading of godfrey of bullen , did assemble themselves , thinking it a great shame , that the holy land ( as they called it ) the city of jerusalem , and the place of the sepulchre of christ , should be in the hands of infidels . this godfrey ruled in jerusalem by the name of a duke : but his successours after him , for the space of 87. yeares , called themselves kings of jerusalem : about which time , saladine ( who called himself king of egypt and asia the lesse ) did winne it from the christians . for the recovery whereof , richard the first , king of england , together with the french king , and the king of sicilia , did go in person with their armies , to ierusalem ; but although they wonne many things from the infidels , yet the end was , that the saracens did retaine the holy land . roger hoveden , in the life of henry the second king of england , doth give this memorable note , that at that time when the city of ierusalem and antioch , were taken out of the hands of the pagans , by the meanes of godfrey of bullen , and others of his company , the pope of rome that then was , was called urbanus ; the patriach of ierusalem , heraclius ; and the roman emperour fredericke ; and at the same time when the said ierusalem was recovered again by saladine , the popes name was urbanus ; the patriarke ierusalem , heraclius , and the roman emperour fredericke . the whole countrey and city of jerusalem , are now in the dominion of the turke , who notwithstanding for a great tribute doth suffer many christians to abide there . there are now therefore two or more monasteries and religious houses , where fryars do abide , and make a good commodity of shewing the sepulchre of christ , and other monuments , unto such christian pilgrims as do use superstitiously to go in pilgrimage to the holy land. the king of spaine was wont to call himselfe king of jerusalem . of arabia . next unto the holy land , lieth the great country of arabia , having on the north part , palestina , and mesopotamia ; on the east side the gulph of persia ; on the south , the maine ocean of india , or ethiopia : on the west egypt , and the great bay , called sinus arabicus , or the red sea. this countrey is divided into three parts : north part whereof is called arabia deserta , the south part , which is the greatest is named arabia foelix : and the middle betweene both , that ( which for the abundance of rocks and stones ) is called arabia petrea , or petrosa . the desart of arabia , is that place in the which god after the deliverance of the israelites from egypt , by passing thorow the red sea , did keep his people under moses , for forty yeares , because of their rebellion ; feeding them in the mean time with manna from heaven ; and sometimes with water miraculously drawn out of dry rocks : for the country hath very little water , almost no trees , and is utterly unfit for tillage or corne . there are no towns nor inhabitants of this desart : in arabia petrosa are some , but not many . arabia foelix , for fruitfulness of ground , and convenience standing every way toward the sea , is one of the best countries of the world : and the principall cause why it is called foelix , is , for that it yieldeth many things in abundance , which in other parts of the world are not to be had ; as frankincense especially , the most precious balmes , myrrhe , and many other both fruits and spices , and yieldeth withall , store of some precious stones . when alexander the great was young , after the manner of the macedonians , he was to put incense upon an altar ; pouring on great store of frankincense one of the nobility of his countrey told him , that he was too prodigall of that sweet perfume ; and that he should make spare , untill he had conquered the land wherein the frankincense did grow . but when alexander afterward had taken arabia , and had possession thereof , he sent a ship load of frankincense to the noble man , and bad him serve the gods plentifully , and not offer incense miserably . this is that countrey wherein mahomet was borne , who being of mean parentage , was brought up in his youth in the trade of merchandise ; but afterward joyning himself with thieves and robbers , his life was to rob such merchants as passed thorow arabia ; and to this purpose having gotten together many of his own countrey-men , he had afterward a whole legion or more of the roman souldiers , who being offended with heraclius the roman emperour , for want of their pay , joined themselves to him ; so that at length he had a great army , wherewith he spoiled the countries adjoining : and this was about the yeare of christ 600. to maintaine his credit and authority with his own men , he fained that he had conference with the holy ghost , at such times as he was troubled with the falling sicknesse : and accordingly he ordained a new religion , consisting partly of jewish ceremonies , and partly of christian doctrine , and some other things of his own invention , that he might inveigle both jewes and christians , and yet by his own fancy distinguish his own followers from both . the booke of his religion is called the alcaron . the people which are sectaries ( whereas indeed they came of hagar , the hand-maid of sarah , abrahams wife , and therefore should of her be called ishmaelites or hagarens ) because they would not seeme to come of a bond-woman , and from him whom they suppose a bastard ; they terme themselves saracens , as comming from sarah ; they are called by some writers , arabians instead of saracens , their name being drawn from their first countrey . mahomet did take something of his doctrine both from the jewes and christians : as that there is but one god ; that there is a life eternall in another world ; and the ten commandements , which they do admit and beleeve ; but from the jewes alone , the false prophet did borrow divers things , as that all his males should be circumcised , that they should eate no swines flesh ; that they should oftentimes bathe , purge and wash themselves ; which divers of their people , which are more religious than the ordinary sort , do five times in the day , and therefore they have neare to their churches and houses of devotion divers baths ; whereinto when they have entred and washed themselves , they do perswade themselves that they are as cleare from sinne , as they were the first day they were born . in this country of arabia standeth a city called mecha , where is the place where mahomet was buried , and in remembrance of him there is builded a great temple , unto which the turkes and saracens yearely goe on pilgrimage , ( as some christians doe to the holy land ) for they account mahomet to be the greatest prophet that ever came into the world ; saying that there were three great prophets , moses , christ , and mahomet : and as the doctrine of moses was better by christ , so the doctrine of christ is amended by mahomet : in this respect as we reckon the computation of our yeares from the incarnation of christ , so the saracens account theirs from the time of mahomet . the turkes , whose fame began now about 3000 yeares since , have imbraced the opinions and religion of the saracens , concerning mahomet . some of our christians doe report , that medina a city , standing three daies journy from mecha , is the place where mahomet was buried , and that by order from himself , his body was put into an iron coffin , which being carried into a temple , the roofe or vault whereof was made of adamant , or perhaps of the loadstone , is attracted unto the top of the vault , and there hangeth , being supported by nothing . but there is no certainty of this narration . this false prophet ( as lodovicus vives , de veritate fidei , doth write ) being desirous in some sort to imitate christ jesus , who foretold that he should rise again within the space of 3. dayes , did give out that himself should rise again ; but he appointed a larger time , that was after 800. yeares , and yet that time also is expired , but we heare no newes of the resurrection of mahomet . as the deviil hath ever some device to blinde the eyes of unbelievers , so he hath suffered it to be reported and credited among the turkes , that as moses did allude to the comming of christ , so christ did foretell somewhat of the appearing of mahomet . whereupon it is ordinarily received among them , that when christ , in st johns gospel , did say , that although he departed , he would send them a comforter , it was added in the text , and that shall be mahomet : but that the christians in malice to them , have raced out those words . their own bookes do mention that . mahomet ( while he lived ) was much given to lasciviousnesse , and all uncleannesse of body , even with very beasts ; and his followers are so senslesse , that in imitation of him , they think no such wickednesse to be unlawfull : for they are utterly unlearned , and most receive whatsoever is delivered unto them out of the alcaron , mahomet having made it a matter of death to dispute , sift , or call in question any thing which is written in his law. on the west side of arabia , between that and egypt , lieth the gulph called of the country , sinus arabicus ; by some , mare erithraeum , but commonly the red sea , not from the rednesse of the water , but because the land and bankes thereabout , are ( in colour ) red . this is the sea , through the which ( by moses the people of israel were led , when they fled out of egypt from pharaoh , god causing by his power , the waters to stand on both sides of them , that they passed through as on dry land . this is that sea , through which the spices of the east indies were in times past brought to alexandria in egypt , and from thence dispersed into christendome by the venetians : which spices , and apothecaries drugs , are found to be farre worse than before time they were , by reason of the great moisture which they take on the water , by reason of the long navigation of the portugals , by the back parts of africa . this is the sea , through the which solomon did send for his gold , and other precious merchandise unto the east indies , and not to the west-indies , as some lately have disputed . whereout the vanity of that opinion may appeare that america , and the west indies , were known in the time of solomon . for if he had sent thither , his course had been along the mediterranean , and through the straits of gibraltar , commonly called fretum herculium , between spain & barbary : but the scripture telleth , that the navy which solomon sent forth , was built at ezion geber , which is there also said to stand on the red sea. so his course might be east-ward or south-ward , and not west-ward . in the desart of arabia , is the mount horeb , which by some is supposed to be the same that is called mount sinai , where they think it was that abraham should have offered up his sonne isaac . but this is certaine , that it is the place where god in the wildernesse did give unto the people of israel his law of the ten commandements , in thundering , lightning , and great earth quake , in most fearefull manner . of africke and egypt . from arabia and palestina , toward the west 〈◊〉 a fricke , having on the north side , from the one end of it to the other , the mediterranean sea . the greatest p rt of which coun try , although it hath been guessed at by writers in former time , yet because of the great heat of it , lying for the most part of it under the zona torrida , and or the wildernesses therein it was in former time supposed by many , not to be much inhabited : but of certainty by all , to be very little discovered , till the portugals of late began their navigation on the backe side of africa to the east indies . so exact a description is therefore not to be looked for , as hath been of asia and europe . joining to the holy land , by a little istmos , in the countrey of egypt , which is a land as fruitful as any almost in the world , although in these daies it doth not answer to the fertilty of former times . this is that which in the time of joseph did relieve canaan , with corne , and the family of jacob , which did so multiply in the land of egypt , that they were grown to a huge multitude , when god by moses did deliver them thence . this countrey did yield exceeding abundance of corne unto the city of rome , whereupon egypt as well as sicilia , was commonly called horreum populi romani . it is observed from all antiquity , that almost never any raine did fall in the land of egypt . whereupon the raining with thunder and lightning , and fire running on the ground was so much more strange when god plagued phara●…h in the daies of moses : but the flowing of the river nilus over all the countrey , their cities onely , and some few hils excepted , doth so water the earth , that it bringeth forth fruit abundantly . the flowing of which river yearly , is one of the greatest miracles of the world , no man being able to yield a sufficient and assured reason thereof ; although in herodotus and diodorus siculus , many probable causes and opinions are assigned thereof . that there doth not use any rain to fall in egypt , besides other heathen testimonies , and experiences of travellers , may be gathered out of the scripture , for in the 10 chapter of deuteronomy , god doth make an antithesis between the land of canaan , and egypt , saying that egypt was watered as a man would water a garden of herbes , that is to say , by the hand : but they should come into a land which had hills and mountaines ▪ and which was watered with the raine of heaven : and yet some have written , that ever now and then ▪ there is mists in egypt , which yield , though not raine , yet a pretty dew . it is noted of this river , that if in ordinary places it doe flow under the height of fifteen cubits , that then for want of moisture , the earth is not fruitfull , and if it doe flow above seventeen cubits , that there is like to be a dearth , by reason of the abundance of moisture , the water lying longer on the land than the inhabitants do desire . it is most probably conjectured , that the falling and melting of snow from those hils which be called lunae montes , do make the increase of the river nilus . and the custome of the people in the southerne parts of arabia is , that they do receive into ponds and dams , the water that doth hastily fall , and the same they let out with sluces , some after some , which causeth it ordinarily to come down into the plaines of egypt . for the keeping up of these dammes , the countrey of egypt hath time out of mind paid a great tribute to prester-john ▪ which when of late it was denied by the turke , prester john caused all the sluces to be let go on the sudden ; whereby he marveliously annoied , and drowned up a great part of the countrey of egypt . in egypt learning hath been very ancient , but especially the knowledge of astronomy and mathematicks , whereof before the time of tully , their priests would report , that they had the discent of 1500 yeares exactly recorded with observations astrological ; which as it is a fable , unlesse they do reckon their yeares by the moone , as some suppose they did every month for a year , so it doth argue knowledge to have been among them very ancient . their priests had among them a kinde of writing and describing of things by picture , which they did call their hieroglyphica . this in times past was a kingdome , and by the kings thereof were built those great pyramides , which were held to be one of the seven wonders of the world , being mighty huge buildings , erected of exceeding height , for to shew the magnificence of their founders . there is part of two or three of them remaining unto this day . divers learned men are at this day of opinion , that when the children of israel were in egypt , and so oppressed by pharaoh , as is mentioned in the beginning of the booke of exodus , their labour in burning of bricke , was partly imployed to the erecting of some of those pyramides , but the scripture doth onely mention walling of cities . the founders of these pyramides were commonly buried in , or under them : and it is not unfit to remember , that the kings , and great men of egypt , had much cost bestowed upon them after they were dead . for in as much as arabia was neare unto them , whence they had most precious balmes , and other costly spices , they did with charge embalme their dead , and that with such curious art , that the flesh thereof and the skin , will remaine unputrified for divers hundred years : and all learned men think thousands of yeares : whereof experiments are plentifully at this day , by the whole bodies , hands , or other parts , which by merchants are now brought from thence , and doth make the mummia which the apothecaries use : the colour being very black , and the flesh clung unto the bones . moses doth speak of this , when he saith , that jacob was embalmed by the physicians ; after the manner of embalming of the egyptians . but this manner of embalming is ceased long since in egypt . in egypt did stand the great city memphis , which at this day is called caire , one of the famous cities of the east . here did alexander build that city , which unto this day is of his name , ca led alexandria : being now the greatest city of merchandized in all egypt : of which ammianus marcellinus doth observe , that there was never any , or almost have ever been , but that once in the day the sun hath been ever seen to shine over alexandria . this city was one of the four patriarchall seas . which were appointed in the first ni●…ene councill . this countrey was governed by a king , as long agoe as almost any countrey in the world. here reigned amasis , who made those good lawes spoken of by herodotus , and diodorus sioulus : in whose writings the ancient customes of the egyptians are worthy to bee read . after alexanders time , ptolomeus one of his captaines , had this kingdome , of whom all his successors were called ptolomeis , as before time all their kings were called pharaohs , they continued long friends , and in league with the people of rome , till the time of julius caesar , but after wards they were subjects to the romanes , till the empire did decay . when they had withdrawne themselves from the romanes government , they set up a prince of their owne , whom they termed the sultan or souldan of egypt ; of whom , about 400 yeares since , saladine was one . but when the race of these were out , the mamabucks ( who were the guard of the sultaine , as the janizaries be to the turke ) appointed a prince at their pleasure , till that now , about an 100 yeares ago or lesse , the turk solimus possessed himself with the sole government of the countrey : so that at this day egypt is wholly under the turke . there be christians that now live in egypt , paying their tribute unto the turke , as others do now also in graecia . aeneas sylvius doth report in his history , de mundo universo , cap 60. that divers did go about to dig through that little istmos or strait , which at the top of the red sea , doth joyne egypt to some part either of arabia , or of the holy land ; imagining the labour not to be great , in as much as they conceived the space of ground to be no more then one thousand five hundred furlongs . sesostris the king of egypt ( as he saith ) did first attempt this . secondly , darius , the great monarke of the persians . thirdly ptolomy , one of the kings of egypt , who drew a ditch a 100. foot broad , 30. foot deep , and 37. miles and a halfe long ; but when he intended to go forward , he was forced to cease , for fear of inundaiton , and over-flowing the whole land of egypt ; the red sea being found to be higher ( by three cubites ) than the ordinary plaine of egypt was . but pliny affirmeth , that the digging was given over , lest the sea being let in , should marre the water of nilus , which alone doth yield drinke to the egyptians . pet. maffaeus in his indian story , doth tell , that there was a portugal also , that of late yeares , had a conceit to have had this work finished , that so he might have made the third part of the old known world africa , to have been an iland compassed round with the sea. men commonly in the description of egypt , do report that whole country to stand in africk , but if we will speake exactly , and repute nilus to be the bound between asia and africa , we must then acknowledge that the easterne part of egypt , from nilus , and so forward to the red sea , doth lye in asia ; which is observed by peter martyr in that pretty treatise of his delegatione babylonica . although this country of egypt doth stand in the selfe same climat that mauritania doth , yet the inhabitants there are not black , but rather dunne , or tawny . of which colour cleopatra was observed to be ; who by inticement , so won the love of julius caesar , and antonie . and of that colour do those runnagates ( by devices make themselves to be ) who go up and down the world under the name of egyptians , being indeed but counterfets and the refuse of rascality of many nations . of cyrene , and africke the lesse . on the west side of egypt , lying along the mediterranean , is a country which was called in old time cyrene , wherein did stand that oracle which was so famous in the time of alexander the great , called by the name of the temple or oracle of jupiter hammon , whither when alexander did repaire , as to take counsell of himselfe , and his successe , the priests being before taught what they should say , did flatteringly confesse him to be the sonne of god , and that he was to be adored : so that as the oracle of delphos , and some other , were plaine delusions of sathan , who did raigne in that darke time of ignorance : so this of jupiter hammon , may be well supposed to be nothing else but a cousenage of the priests . in this countrey , and all neare about where the oracle stood , are very great wildernesses : where did appeare to alexander for foure daies journy , neither grasse , tree , water , man , bird , nor beast , but onely a deep kind of sand : so that he was enforced to carry water with him for himself and his company ( and all other provision ) on camels backs . at this day , this countrey hath lost his old name , and is reckoned as a part of egypt , and lieth under the turke . in dry countries , as in africa , and the wildernesse of arabia , they have much use of camels . first , because they can carry a huge burthen of water and other provision . secondly , because that themselves will go a long time without drinke travelling ( as solinus writeth ) foure daies together without it , but then drinking excessively , and that especially of muddy and puddle water : and thirdly , because that in an extremity , those that travell with them do let them blood in a veine , and sucke out the blood ; whereby as the owner is much relieved , so the camell is little the worse . westward from this countrey , along the mediterranean , lieth that which in ancient time was called africa minor : for as in asia one part above another , was by an ex cellencie called asia or asta the lesse , so this part of africa , was termed by the romanes , sometimes africa simply , some africke the lesse . in this countrey did stand that place so famous mentioned by salust , under the name of philionorum aroe ; which was the bound in that time , betweene africke and cyrene . on the north and east part , hereof , in the sea neere unto the shore , was the quick-sand , which in times past did destroy so many ships , and was called syrtis magna as also on the north and west part , was the other sand called syr t is parva . some part of this country was heretofore under the sultan of egypt , whose dominion did extend it self so farre to the west , and there was divided from the kingdome of tunis : but it is now wholly under the turke , and is commonly reputed as a part of barbary . for now , by a generall name , from the confines of cyrene unto the west , as farre as hercules pillar , is called barbary ▪ though it containe in it divers kingdomes , as tunis , fessa and morocco . of mauritania and caesariensis . a part of that countrey , which by a generall name is called at this day barbary , hath in old time been called mauritania , which was divided into two parts : the east part whereof next to africa minor , was called by the romanes , mauritania caesariensis , as the other was called mauritania tingitania . in mauritania caesariensis was the countrey of numidia , the people whereof were used in the warres of the carthaginians , as light-horse-men , and for all nimble services were very active . in the east part of this countrey standing in the sea , was that famous city of carthage , supposed to be built by dido , who came from ty●…us . this city was it , which for the space of some hundred yeares contended with rome for the empire of the world . in the romane histories are recorded the great warres which the people of rome had with the city of carthage . in the first war of the three , the contention 〈◊〉 the iles of sicilia , corsica , and sardinia : when the victory fell to the romans , and the carthaginians were glad to redeem their peace with the leaving of those ilands . the second warre was begun by hanniball , who brake the league , and after he had taken same part of spaine from the romanes , and sacked sagantum , a city of their friends , came first over the pyrena hils to france , then over the alpes to italy , where he overthrew the romanes in three great battels , and much endangered their estate ; he continued in italy with his army , sixteen yeares , till scipio attempting on carthage , forced hanniball to return to rescue his own countrey . there was hanniball overthrowne , and his city put to a great pension by scipio , who for his victory there , was named africanus . in the third warre ( because the people of carthage still brake the league ) their city was razed to the very ground by the earnest and continuall counsell of cato the elder , fearing evermore so dangerous a neighbour , though scipio nasica counselled to the contrary ; fearing lest if the dread of that enemy were taken away , the romanes would grow either to idlenesse , or civill dissention ; which after they did . it is reported of cato , that he never spake his judgement of any thing in the senate , but his conclusion was thus : thus i think for this matter , and withall , that carthage is to be razed down . and scipio nasica would reply in his conclusion : thus i think for this matter , and withall that carthage is not to be razed down . livy reporteth , that the way whereby cato prevailed that carthage should be razed down , was this ; while the question was very hot , he bringeth into the senate-house green figs , and let the senators understand , that the same day three weekes , those figs were growing in carthage town : whereby he made mannifest unto them , that it was possible that an army might be conveied from carthage to rome in so short a time , as that they would not be able ( on a sudden , to resist , and so rome might be surprized : whereby they all concluded , that it was no safety for their city , to have so bad a neighbour so neare unto them . in this countrey toward the west , not farre from carthage stood utica , whereof the younger cato was termed cato uticensis , because he killed himself there in the civill warres betwixt caesar and pompey , because he would not come within the hands of his enemy caesar. not far from thence westward standeth hippo , which was the city where s. augustine was b shop . this whole countrey ( at this day ) is called the kingdome of tunis ; the king whereof , is a kind of stipendary unto the turke : the people that inhabit there , are generally saracens , and do profess mahomet . some do write that tunis standeth in the very place where old carthage was ; which is not so , but is si●…ua ed very neare unto the old ruines of the other . against the king of tunis , charles the fifth had some of his warres by sea. of mauritaniā tingitania . the other part of barbary that lyeth along the mediterranean , farthest into the west , was called in old time mauritana tingitana . the people of which country were those which almost in all the old histories were called by the name of mauri ; those of the other mauritania being rather termed numidia . into the northwest part thereof did hercules come , and there set up one of his pillars , which answereth to the other in spain , they both being at the straits of gilbralter , in times past called fretum herculeum on the south part thereof , lay the kingdome of bocchus , which in the tia●… of marius had so much to do with the romans . in the west part of this mauritania standeth on the hill called atlas minor ; and on the south part is the great hill called atlas major ; whereof the maine ocean which lyeth between mauritania and america is called mare atlantum . this hill is so high , that unto those who stood on the bottome of it , it seemed to touch heaven with his shoulders . this country hath been long inhabited by the saracens ; who from thence finding it to be but a short passage into spaine , did goe over ( now seven hundred yeares ago ) and possessed there the kingdome of granado , on the south side of spain , till they were thence expelled by ferdinandus , and elizabeth , or izabell , king and queen of castile . in this countrey since that time , have the spaniards taken some cities and holds ; and so also have the portugals : which by the divers event of victory , have often been lost and won by them . here it was that the emperour charles the fifth , had divers of his great warres against the moores , as well as in the kingdome of tunis : for the assistance of one who claimed to be king of a part of this country , did sebastian the king of portugall , go with all his power into africa , in the year 1578. where unadvisedly bearing himself , he was slain , together with two other the same day , who claimed to be kings ; so that there it was that true battell was fought , whereof it was said , that three kings died in one day : which battel is called the battell of alcazar , and was the ruine of the kingdome of portugall , and the cau●…e of the uniting it to the crowne of spaine astrologers did purpose , that the blazing starre which appeared the ●…eare before , did signifie that i●…l e●…ent . this whole countrey doth mais●…aine in it , besides some imperia●… government , two absolute kingdomes : the one of fezza or fez , which lyeth on the north part toward the mediterranean and spain : the other is the kingdome of morocco , which lyeth from above the hill atlas minor ▪ to the south and west part of mauritania . these are both saracens , as be also their people ; holding true league with the turke , and with some other christian princes ; a league onely for trafficke and merchandize . it may be doubted whether it was in this mauritana tingitana , or rather but near unto it , in mauritania caesoriens●… , that which saint augustine in his book de doctrina christiana , doth of his own knowledge report , that in a city of that countrey was this brutish custome , that once in the year ( for certaine dayes ) the inhabitants of the place did assemble themselves into wide and large fields , and there divided themselves each from other , so that perhaps the fathers were on one side , and the children or brother on the other ; and did throw stones with such violence that many were hurt , and divers killed with the fury of that assault . but s. augustine relleth , that he de●…esting the brutishnesse thereof , d●…d make a most eloquent and elaborate o●…ation , or sermon unto them ; whereby he did prevaile with those of the city where he was , that the●… give over that foolish and rude exercise : yet leo ass●…icanus , who lived about a hundred yeares since , and in his owne person travelled over the greate part of africke , doth write in his description of africke , that in one place of the kingdome of fez , this barba ●…us custome is yet retained . of the other countries of africke , lying neare the sea. from beyond the hill atlas major , unto the south of africke , is nothing ( almost it . antiquity ) worthy the readiag : and those things which are written for the most part , are fables : for towards the south par●… of africke , as well as towards the north part of europe and asia , be supposed to be men of strange shapes , as some with dogs heads , some without heads , and some with one foot alone , which was very huge , and such like : which that counterfeit fryer ( who write that book which is counted saint augustines , ad fraetres in eremo ; and who would gladly father upon saint augustine , the erecting of the augustine fryers ) doth say , that he saw travelling down from hippo , southward in africa : but as the asse in aesope , which was cloathed in the lyons skin , did by his long ears shew himself to be an ass , and not a lyon ; so this foolish fellow , by his lying , doth shew himself to be a counterfeit , and not saint augustine . in the new writers there are some few things to be observed : as first , that all the people in generall to the south , lying with the zona torrida , are not onely blackish like the moor , but are exceeding blacke . and therefore as in old time by an excellency , some of them are called nigritae , so at this day they are named negro's , as then whom no men are blacker . secondly , the inhabitants of all these parts which border on the sea coast , even u●…to caput bonae spei , have been gentiles , adoring images and foolish shapes for their gods , neither bearing of christ , nor beleeving on mahomet , till such time as the portugals comming among them , having professed christ for themselves , but have won few of the people to embrace their religion . thirdly , that the portugals passing along africa to the east indies , have setled themselves in many places of those countries , building castles and townes for their own safety , and to keep the people in subjection , to their great commodities . one of the first countries famous beyond morocco , is guinea , which we call ginnie , within the compasse whereof , lyeth the cape , called the cape verde , and the other , the cape of the three points ; and the towne and castle named si●…rta li●…na , at which place ( as commonly all travellers do touch , that do p●…sse that way for fresh ●…er and ●…ther sh●…p-provision ●…ur english men have found tra●… icke into the parts of this countrey , where th i●… greatest comm●…dity is gold , and elephants teeth ; of both which there is good store . beyond that , toward the south , not ●…arre from the equinoctiall , lyeth the k●…gdome of congo , com monly called mani-congo . where the portugals at their first arrivall finding the people to be heathens without g●…d , did induce them to a profession of christ , and to be baptized in great abundance , allowing of the principles of religion , untill such time as the priest did ▪ teach them to lead their lives according to their profession ; which the most part of them in no case enduring , they returned back again to their gentilisme . beyond mani-congo so fare to the south , as almost ten degrees beyond the tropicke of capricorne , lyeth the lands end ; which is a promontory , now called caput bonae spei , which vascus gama the portug●…l did discover , and so called it , because he had there good hope that the land did turn to the north ; and that following the course th●…reof hee might bee brought to arabia and persia , but es●…ecially to calecut in india . which course , when himself and other o●… his countrey-men after him did follow , th●…y fou●…d on the coast up towards arabia , the kingdome of mosambique , melinda , magadazo , and others ? whose people were all gentiles , and now are in league with the portugals , who have built divers holds for their safety . of which countries , and manners of the people , he that listeth to read , may finde much in the history of oso 〈◊〉 ▪ and petrus maffaeus ; but there is no matter of any great importance . beyond the cape toward the north , before you come to mosumbique , between the rivers of cuama , and sancto spirito , lyes the kingdome of monomotapa , where the portugals also have arrived , and so much was done there by the preaching of gonsalvo de silva , a jesuite , that the king and queen of that countrey with many others were converted from gentilisme to christiani●…y , and baptized : but certaine mahumetans incensing the king thereof afterwards against the portugals , made him to revolt from his religion , and to put to death this jesuite and divers others . which fact of his the portugals assavi●…g to revenge with an army sent for out of portugall , they profited little against him , but were themselves ▪ consumed by the discommodities of the countrey , and the distemperature of the a●…e . there are also other kingdomes sin this part of africke , of whom we know little besides their names and site in generall , as adel , monomugi , angola , and therefore it shall be sufficient to have named them in a word . of abissines , and the empire of prester john. in the inland of africke , lyeth a very large countrey , extending it self on the east , to some part of the red sea , on the south to the kingdome of molinda , and a great way farther , on the north to egypt ; on the west to manicongo . the people whereof are called abissini , and it self the dominion of him , whom we commonly call in english prester john ; but in latin some terme him prestiosus johannes , but the most part presbyter johannes , writing of him . as he is a prince absolute , so he hath also a priest-like or patriarchall function and jurisdiction among them . this is a very mighty pr●…nce , and reputed to be one of the greatest emperors in the world . what was known of this countrey in former time , was knowne under the name of ethi●…pia , but the voyages of the portugals in these late daies , have best described it . the people therefore are christians , as is also the prince , but differing in many things from the west church ; and in no sort acknowledging any supreme prerogative of the bishop of rome . it is thought that they have retained christianity even from the time of our saviour , being supposed to be converted by the chamberlaine of candace the queen of ethiopia , who was instructed concerning christ , by philip the evangelist in the acts of the apostles . eusebius 〈◊〉 his ecclesiasticall story doth make mention of this . but they do to this da●… retaine circumcision : whereof the reason may be , that the 〈◊〉 ( their converter ) not having any fu●…ther conference with the apostle , nor any else with him , did receive the ceremonies of the church imperfectly , retaining circumcision : which among the jewes was not aboli shed , when he had conference with philip. within the dominion of prester john , are the mountaines commonly called lunae montes : where is the first well-spring and rising of the river nilus : yet there are that fetch the head of this river out of a certaine great lake toward the south , called zembre : out of which toward the west , runnes the river of zaire , into the kingdome of mani-congo ; the r●…ver of zuama or cuama , towards the south , to the kingdome of monomo●…apa , or benomotapa , as the river nilus towards the north , through the kingdome of the abissines to egypt , which river running violently along this countrey , and sometimes hastily increasing by the melting of much snow from the mountaines , would over-runne and drown a great part of egypt , but that it is slaked by many ponds , dammes and sluces , which are within the dominion of prester john. and in respect hereof , for the maintenance of these the princes of egypt , have paid upto the governour of the abissines , a great tribute time out of mind : which of late the great turke supposing it to be a custome needlesse , did deny ; till the people of the abissines by commandement of their prince , did breake downe their dams , and drowning egypt , did enforce the turke to continue his pay , and to give much money for the making of them , very earnestly to his great charge , desiring a peace . in this countrey also of prester john , is the rising of the famous river nigar , supposed to have in it the most and the best precious stones of any river in the world , which rising likewise out of a great l●…ke out of that mount , after it hath runne a good space hideth it self for the space of 60. miles under ground , then appearing again after it hath runne somewhat further , makes a great lake , and again after a great tract , another ; and at last after a long course , fals at cape verde , into the atlantick sea . ortelius in his larger maps , describes it falling into the sea , like nilus in egypt , with seven streames or ostia : but those that travell these parts say , that there are only some bayes , but there is no river in those parts running into the sea , but 〈◊〉 . there be other countries in africke , as ag●…simba , libia interior , nubia , and others , of whom nothing is famous : but this may be said of africke in generall , that it bringeth forth store of all sorts of wild beasts , as elephants , lyons , panthers , tygers , and the like : yea , according to the proverbe , africa semper aliquid oportet novi ; oftentimes , new and strange shapes of wild beasts are brought forth there ; the reason whereof is , that the countrey being very hot , a d full of wildernesses , which have in them little water , the beasts of all sorts being enforced to meet at those few watering places that be , where oftentimes contrary kindes have conjunction the one with the other : so that there arifeth a new kind of species which taketh part of bo h. such a one is the leopard , begotten of the lyon , and the beast called pardus , and somewhat resembling ei her of them . a d thus farre of africke . of the northern ilands . the ilands that do lye in the north , a●…e in number almost infinite : the chiefe of them only shall be briefly touched . very farre to the north in the same climate also with sweden , that is , under the circle articke , lyeth an iland called in old time thule , which was then supposed to be the farthest part of the world north ward , and therefore is called by virgil , utima thule . the countrey is cold , the people barbarous , and yielde h●… li●…tle commodity , saving hawkes ; in some part of the yeare there is no night at all . unto this land divers of our english nation do yearely travel , and do bring from thence good store of fish , but especially our deepest and thickest ling , which are therefore called isl nd ●…ings . it hath pleased god , that in these latter times , the gospell is there preached , and the people are instracted in christianity , having also the knowledge of good learning , which is brought about by the meanes of the king of sweden , unto whom that iland is now subject . there is lately written by one of that nation , a pretty treatise in latine , which describeth the manner of that countrey ; and it is to be seen in the first tome of master hackluits voyage . southward from thence , lyeth frizeland , called in latine frizlandia ; whereas the frizeland joyning to germany , is in latine called frizia . on the coast of germany , one of the seventeene provinces , is called zealand , which continueth in it divers ilands ; in whom little is famous , saving that in one of them is flishen o●… flushen , a town of war , and middleburge is another , a place ●…f good mart. livinus limnius , and some of the low germans , be of opinion , ●…hat this city was fi●…t built by metellus the roman ; and that which now is called middl●…burge , was at the first termed metolli burgum . the states of the low-countries , do hold this province against the king of spain these ilands have been much troubled of late with inundation of water . the iland that lyeth most west of any fame is ireland , which had in it heretofore many kings of their own ; but the whole land is now annexed to the crowne of england . the people naturally are rude and superstitious ; the country good and fruitfull , but that for want of tillage in divers places , they suffer it to grow into boggs and deserts . * it is true of this countrey ( which solinus writeth of some other ) that serpents and adders do not breed there ; and in the irish timber , of certaine experience , no spiders web is ever found . the most renowned island in the world is albion , or britania , which hath heretofore contained in it many severall kingdomes ; but especially in the time of the saxons . it hath now in it two kingdomes , england and scotland , wherin are four several languages ; that is , the english , ( which the civill scots do barbarously speake ) the welch tongue ( which is the language of the old britains ; ) the cornish ( which is the proper speech of cornewall ; ) and the irish ( which is spoken by those scots which live on the west part of scotland ) neer unto ireland . the commodities and pleasures of england are well known unto us , and many of them are expressed in this verse : anglia , mons , pons , fons , ecclesia , foemina , lana . england is stor'd with bridges , hils , and wooll ; with churches , wels , and women beautifull . the ancient inhabitants of this land , were the britaines , which were afterward driven into a corner of the countrey , now called wales ; and it is not to be doubted , but at first this countrey was peopled from the continent of france , or thereabout , when the sons of noah had spread themselves from the east to the west part of the world . it is not strange to see why the people of that nation do labour to fetch their pedigree from one brutus , whom they report to come from troy ; because the original of that truth began by galfridus monumentensis , above 500. yeares agone , and his book containeth great shew of truth , but was noted by nubringensis , or some author of his time , to be meerly fabulous : besides that , many of our english nation have taxed the saying of them , who would attribute the name of brittannia unto brutus , and cornubia to corynaeus : aeneas sylvius . epist. 1. 3. hath thought good to confirm it , saying ; the english people ( saith he ) do report , that after troy was overthrown , one brutus came unto them , from whom their kings do fetch their pedigrees : which matter there are no more historians that deliver , besides a certaine english man , which had some learning in him , who willing to aequall the blood of those iflanders unto the roman stock and generosity , did affirm and say , that concerning brutus , which livy and salust ( being both deceived ) did report of aeneas . we do find in ancient records and stories of this island , that since the first possessions which the britains had here , it was over-run and conquered five several times . the romans were the first that did attempt upon it , under the conduct of julius caesar , who did onely discover it , and frighted the inhabitants with the name of the romans , but was not able to sarre to prevaile upon it , as any way to possesse it ; yet his successours afterwards did by little and little , so gain on the country , that they had almost all of it ; which is now called england ; and did make a great ditch or trench , from the east to the west sea , between their dominion here , and scotland . divers of the emperours were here in person , as alexander , severus , who is reputed to be buried at york . here also was constantius , father unto constantine the great , who from hence married helena a woman of this land , who was afterward mother to the renowned constantine . but when the romans had their empire much weakned , partly by their owne discords , and partly by that decay which the irruptions of the gothes and vandals , and such like invaders did bring upon them , they were forced to retire their legions from thence , and so leaving the countrey naked , the scots , and certaine people called the pictes , did breake in , who most miserably wasted and spoiled the country . then were the inhabitants ( as some of our authors write ) put to that choise , that either they must stand it out and be slaine , or give ground , till they came to the sea , and so be drowned . of these pictes , who were the second over-runners of this land ; some do write , that they did use to cut and pounse their flesh , and lay on colours , which did make them the more terrible to be seen with the cuts of their flesh . but certaine it is , that they had their name for painting themselves , which was a common thing in brittaine in caesars time , as he reporteth in his commentaries , the men colouring their faces with glastone or ode , that they might seem the more dreadfull , when they were to joyn battell . to meet with the cruelty and oppression of these barbars , the saxons were in the third place by some of the land called in , who finding the sweetnesse of the soile and commodiousnesse of the countrey every way , did repaire hither by great troops , and so seated themselves here , that there were at once of them seven several kingdomes , and kings within the compasse of england . these saxons did beare themselves with much more temperance and placability towards those few of the countrey that remained , then the pictes , had done : but yet growing to contention , one of their kings with another , partly about the bounds of their territories , and partly about other quarrels , they had many great battels each with other . in the time of these , religion and devotion , was much embraced , and divers monasteries , and rich religious houses were founded by them partly for pennance which they would do , and partly otherwise ; because they thought it too meritorious : insomuch , that king edgar alone , is recorded to have built above foure severall monasteries . and some other of their kings were in their ignorance so devoted , that they gave over their crownes , and in superstition did goe to rome , there to lead the lives of private men . these seven kingdomes in the end , did grow all into one ; and then the fourth and most grievous scourge and conquest of this kingdome , came in the danes ; who lording it here divers yeares , were at last expelled ; and then william duke of normandy , pretending that he had right thereunto by the promise of adoption , or some other conveiance from harald , did with his normans passe over into this land , and obtained a great victory in sussex , at a place which he caused in remembrance thereof to be called battell , and built an abby there , by the name of battell abby . he took on him to winne the whole by conquest , and did beare himselfe indeed like a conquerour : for he seised all into his hands , gave out barons , lordships , and mannors from himself : reversed the former lawes , and customes , and instituted here the manners and orders of his own country ; which have proceeded on and been by little and little bettered ; so that the honourable government is established which we now see at this day . it is supposed , that the faith of christ was first brought into this land in the days of the apostles by joseph of arimathea , simon , zelotes , and some other of that time : but without doubt not long after it was found here ; which appeareth by the testimony of tertullian , who lived within lesse then 200. yeares after christ ; and there are records to shew , that in the daies of eleutherius , one of the ancient b shops of rome , king lucius received here both baptisme and the gospel ; insomuch that it is fabulous vanity to say , that austin the monk was the first that here planted the christian faith ; for he lived 600. yeares after christ , in the time of gregory the great bishop of rome : before which time gildas is ( upon great reason ) thought to have lived here ; of whom there is no doubt , but that he was a learned christian : yea , and that may be perceived by that which beda hath in his ecclesiasticall story , concerning the comming in of austin the monk , that the christian religion had been planted here before , but that the purity of it in many places was much decaied ; and also that many people in the island were yet infidels : for the conversion of whom , as also for the reforming of the other , austine was sent hither , where he behaved himselfe so proudly , that the best of the christians which were here , did mislike him . in him was erected the archbishoprick of canterbury , which amongst old writers , is still termed dorobarnia : the archbishops do reckon their succession by number from this austine . the reason whereof gregorie the great is reported to have such care for the conversion of the ethnicks in britaine , was because certain boyes which were brought him out of this countrey ; which being very goodly of countenance ( as our country children are therein inferior to no nation in the world ) he asked them what country-men they were ; and it was replyed that they were angli ; he said they were not unfitly so called , for they were angli tanquam ▪ angeli , nam vultum habent angelorum . and demanding further , of what province they were in this island ; it was returned that they were called deires : which caused him again to repeat that word , & to say that it was great pitty , but that by being taught the gospel they should be saved de ira dei. england hath since the time of the conquest , grown more and more in riches ; insomuch that now more then 300. years since , in the time of king henry the third , it was an ordinary speech , that for wealth , this countrey was puteus inexhaustus , a well that could not be drawn dry . which conceit the king himself , as matthew paris writeth , did often suggest un●…o the pope ; who there upon took advantage , abusing the simplicity of the king , to suck out inellimable summes of money , to the intolerable grievance of both the clergy & temporalty . and among other things to bring about his purpose , the pope did perswade the king , that he would invest his young son in the kingdome of apulia ▪ which did contain a great part of all naples ; and for that purpose had from thence many thousands , besides infinite summes which the king was forced to pay for interest to the popes italian usurers . since that time it hath pleased god more and more to blesse this land , but never more plentifully then in the daies of our late , and now raigning soveraigne , whose raigne continuing long in peace , hath peopled the land with abundance of inhabitants : hath stored it with shipping , armour , and munition , hath fortified it many waies , hath encreased the trafficke with the turk and muscovite , and many parts of the earth farre distant from us , hath much bettered it with building , and enriched it with gold and silver , that it is now ( by wise men ) supposed , that there is more plate within the kingdome , then there was silver when her majesty came to the crowne . some writers of former times , yea , and those of our owne countrey too , have reported that in england have been mynes of gold , or at the least some gold taken out of other mynes : which report hath in it no credit , in as much as the country standeth too cold , neither hath it sufficient force of the sun to concoct and digest that metall . but truth it is that our chronicles do witnesse , that some silver hath been taken up in the southerne parts , as in the tin-mines of devonshire and cornwall , and such is sometimes found now ; but the virtue thereof is so thin , that by that time it is tried and perfectly fined it doth hardly quit the cost : notwithstanding , lead , iron , and such basers metals , be here in good plenty the same reason which hindreth gold ore from being in these parts , that is to say , the cold of the climate , doth also hinder that there is no wine , whose grapes grow here . for although we have grapes , which in the hotter and warm summers do prove good , but yet many times are nipped in the frost before they be ripe , yet notwithstanding they never come to that concocted maturity as to make sweet and pleasant wine ; yet some have laboured to bring this about , and therefore have planted vineyards , to their great cost and trouble , helping and aiding the soil by the uttermost diligence they could ; but in the end it hath proved to very little purpose . the most rich commodity which our land hath naturally growing , is wooll , for the which it is renowned over a great part of the earth . for our clothes are sent into turkie , venice , italy , barbary , yea as farre as china of late , besires moscovie , denmarke , and other northerne nations : for the which we have exchange of much other merchandize necessary for us here ▪ besides that , the use of this wooll doth in several labours set many thousands of our people in worke at home , which might otherwise be idle . amongst the commendations of england , as appeareth in the place before named , is the store of good bridges : whereof the most famous are london bridge , and that at rochester . in divers places here , there be also rivers of good name , but the greatest glory doth rest in three : the thames , called in latine of tame and isis , tamesis : servene called sabrina : and trent , which is commonly reputed to have his name of trente the french word , signifying thirty , which some have expounded to be so given , because thirty several rivers do run into the same : and some other do take it to be so call'd , because there be thirty several sorts of fishes in that water to be found , the names whereof do appear in certain old verses recited by master camden , in his booke of the description of england . one of the honourable commendations which are reputed to be in this realme , is the fairnesse of our greater and larger churches , which as it doth yet appear in those which we call cathedrall churches , many of them being of very goodly and sumptuous buildings ; so in times past it was more to be seen , when the abbies , and those which were called religious houses , did flourish ; whereof there were a very great number in this kingdome , which did eate up much of the wealth of the land ; but especially those which lived there , giving themselves to much filthiness , and divers sorts of uncleannesse , did so draw downe the vengeance of god upon those places , that they were not only dissolved , but almost utterly defaced by king henry the eighth . there are two archbishopricks , and 24 other bishopricks within england and wales . it was a tradition among old writers , that britaine did breed no wolves in it , neither would they live here ; but the report was fabulous , in as much as our chronicles do write ▪ that there were here such store of them , that the kings were enforced to lay it as an imposition upon the kings of wales , who were not able to pay much mony for tribute , that they should yearly bring in certaine hundreds of wolves ; by which meanes they were at the length quite rid from wolves . the country of wales had in times past a king of it self ; yea , and sometimes two , the one of north-wales , and the other of south-wales , between which people at this day there is no great good affection : but the kings of england did by little and little so gain upon them , that they subdued the whole country unto themselves ; and in the end king henry the 8. intending thereby to benefit this realme and them , did divide the country into shires , appointed there his judices itinerantes , or judges of the circuit to ride ; and by act of parliament , made them capable of any preferment in england , as well as other subjects . when the first newes was brought to rome , that julius caesar had attempted upon britain , trully in the elegance of his wit ( as appeareth in one of his epistles ) did make a flout at it , saying , that there was no gain to be gotten by it . for gold here was none , nor any other commodity to be had , unlesse it were by slaves , whom he thought that his friend to whom he wrote , would not look to be brought up in learning or musick . but if tully were alive at this day , he would say , that the case is much altered , in as much as in our nation is sweetness of behavior , abundance of learning , musick , & all the liberal acts , goodly , buildings sumptuous apparel , rich fare , and whatsoever else may be truly boasted to be in any country near ad joining . the northern part of britaine is scotland , which is a kingdome of it self , and hath been so from very ancient time , without any such conquest , or maine transmutation of state , as hath been in other countries . it is compassed about with the sea on all sides , saving where it joyneth upon england : and it is generally divided into two parts , the one whereof is called the highland , and the other the low-land . the low-land is the most civill part of the realm , wherein religion is more orderly established , and yieldeth reasonable subjection unto the king , but the other part called the high-land , which lyeth further 〈◊〉 the north , or else bendeth towards ireland , is more rude and savage , and whither the king hath not so good accesse , by reason of rocks and mountaines , as to bring the noblemen , which inhabite there to such due conformity of religion , or otherwise , as he would . this countrey generally is more poor then england , or the most part of the kingdomes of europe : but yet of late yeares the wealth thereof is much encreased by reason of their great traffick to al the parts of christendome ; yea unto spain it self , which hath of late years been denied to the english , and some other nations : and yet unto this day they have not any ships but for merchandize ; neither hath the king in his whole dominion any vessel called a man of war. some that have travelled into the northerne parts of scotland , do report , that in the solstitium aestivele , they have scant any night , and that which is , is not above two houres , being rather a d mnesse then a darknesse . the language of the countrey is in the lowland a kind of barbarous english . but towards ireland side , they speak irish : which is the true reason whereof it is reported , that in britain there are four languages spoken that is , irish in part of scotland , english for the greatest part , welch in wales , cornish in cornwall . in the confines between the two kingdomes of england and scotland , which are commonly called the borders , there lye divers out-laws and unruly people ; which being subject to neither prince by their good wits , but so far as they list ; do exercise great robberies and stealing of cattell from them that dwell therabout : and yet the princes of both realmes , for the better preservation of peace and justice , do appoint certain warders on each side , who have power even by martiall law to represse all enormities . the queen of england had on her side three : whereof one is called the lord warden of the east marches , the other of the west marches , the third , the warden of the middle marches , who with all their power cannot so order things , but that by reason of the outrages thereabouts committed , the borders are much unpeopled ; whiles such as desire to be civill , do not like to live in so dangerous a place . it hath been wondred at by many that are wise , how it could be , that whereas so many countries , having in them divers kingdomes and regiments , did all in the end come to the dominion of one ( as appeareth at this day in spaine , where were wont to be divers kings , and so in times past in england , where the seven kingdomes of the saxons did grow all into one ) yet that england and scotland , being continuate within one iland , could never till now be reduced to one monarchy ; whereof in reason the french may be thought to have been the greatest hindrance . for they having felt so much smart by the armes of england alone ; insomuch that sometimes all that whole country almost hath been over run and possessed by the english , have thought that it would be impossible that they should resist the force of them , if both their kingdoms were united & joined into one . the custome theresore of the kings of france in former times was , that by their gold , they did bird unto them the kings and nobility of scotland , and by that means the kings of england were no sooner attempting any thing upon france , but the scots by and by would envade england : whereupon the proverb amongst our people grew , that he who will france win , must with scotland first begin . and these french-men continuing their policy ▪ did with infinite rewards breake off the marriage which was intended and agreed upon between king edward the sixth , and mary the late unfortunate queen of scotland , drawing her rather to be married with the dolphin of france , who was son to king henry the second : and afterward himself reigned by the name of king francis the second : but this was so ill taken by the english , that they sought revenge upon scotland , and 〈◊〉 them a great overthrow in that 〈◊〉 which was called musselborough field . the people of this country were in times past 〈◊〉 barbarous , that they did not refuse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 flesh : which , as s. hierom doth 〈◊〉 of them , he himsel●… saw some of 〈◊〉 to do in france , and the 〈◊〉 hereof went so far , that chrysostome in one place doth allude to such a matter . there be many little islands adjoining unto the great island bri tain : as at the very north point of scotland the orcades , which are in number above thirty , the chiefe whereof is named orkney , whereof the people are barbarous . on the west side of scotland towards ireland , lie the islands called hebrides , in number 4. where inhabite the people ordinarily called the red-shankes . not farre from thence is the isle mona , commonly is called the isle of man , the peculiar jurisdiction of the earls of darby , with homage notwithstanding reserved to the crowne of england . on the north part of wales , is the island of anglisey , which is reputed a distinct shire . towards france side , on the south part of england , is the isle of wight , in latine called victis : which is a good hold in the narrow seas against the french. more neer france are the isles of gernsey and jernsey , where they speak french , and are under the crown of england . there are also many other , but of small account : as the isles of thanet and sheppy , on the side of kent , the sorlings or sull●…y , at the end of cornwall , in number ( as it is said ) 145. caldey , lunday , and the flatholns , with others in the mouth of severn : holy-farn , cocket , ilands on the side of northumberland . and thus much of great britaine , and the islands thereunto adjoining . of the ilands in the mediterranean sea. there be many ilands in the mediterranean , renowned in all the old writers ; but the chiefe of them onely shall be touched . from the pillars of hercules going east-ward , are two islands not fa●…re from spaine , which in times past were called insulae baleares , for that the people of them did use ( both for their delight and armor ) s●…ings ▪ which they continually ( almost ) carried about with them : and whereunto , as pliny writeth , they did traine up their children from their youngest years , not giving them any meat , till they had from some post or beam cast it down with a s●…ing . of these were those fonditors , or sling-casters , which the carthaginians and spaniards did use in their wars against the romans . the lesser of these , which lyeth most west , was called in the old time minorica ; the bigger , which lyeth more east , was called majorica ; and now minorica and majorica are both under the domi●…ion of the king of spaine . more eastward in the sea , called mare inferum , or tyrrhenum , ●…ieth the iland of corsica , over against genua : and direct southward from thence lieth the great ●…sland sardinia , for the quiet possession of which two , the warres were oftentimes revived between the old carthaginians and the romans : for these two islands lie in the middle very fitly . the island of corsica is subject to the state of genua ; whither the genoes do transport things out of the maine ; and are ruled by their governours , as the venetians do candy . this island is but barren , either in respect of some other that lye neere unto it , or of the country of italy ; but yet yeeldeth profit , ease , and honour unto the states of g●… nua , which hath little land besid●… it . the island of sardinia also is n●… way so fruitful as sicily , but it is under the government of the king of spain , and was the same which was promised to anthony the king of navarre , father to henry the fourth king of france , in recompence of 〈◊〉 ▪ and the rest of the kingdome of navar , then and now detained from him and his heires by the spaniard . but this was the device onely of the cardinall of lorain , who intending to draw him to papistry , and to order his politick purposes , did make shew of this , which was no way meant by the spaniard . further to the east , at the very point of the south p●…rt of italy , lyeth the great iland sicilia , which some have supposed to have been heretosore a part of the continent : but by an earth-quake and inundation of water , to have been rent off , and so made an iland . the figure of this country is triquetra , triangle , or three square . justin in his 4 book doth seem to suspect that sicily was in times past fastned unto italy . but seneca in consolatione ad martian , cap 97. doth say plainly , that it was sometimes a piece of the continent . there was also a great contention for this countrey between the carthaginians and the romans : but the romans obtained it , and had from thence exceeding store of corn yearly : whereupon sicily was called horreum pope rome . here stood the goodly city called siracusa , which was destroyed and sac●…ed by marcellus the roman . when , as livy writeth of him , he being resolved to set on fire that city , which was then one of the goodliest places of the world , could not choose but breake forth into teares , to see how vain and transitory the glory of worldly things is here . at that time lived archimedes , who was a most admirable ingenious engine-maker , for all kind of fortifications : of whom it is said that by burning glasses which he made , he did set on fire divers ships which the romans had lying in the haven . when the city was taken , he was making plots , and drawing figures on the ground , for to prevent the assaults of the romans , and being unknown , he was slaine by some of the souldiers which did break in upon him . some think that it was he , and not architas , which made the dove , of which it is written , that it was so equally poised , that being thrown up into the aire , it would hover or flutter there , and in a good space not fall down . this was in times past a kingdome , where the two tyrants , the elder and the younger dyonisius did reigne ; where gelo also , that great friend to the romans , did remain . it was afterward made a province , and gover●…ed by a praetor , or deputy of the romans : whereof verres was one , who was so inveighed against by tully . it grew afterward to be a kingdome again , in so much that tancredus was king of sicily , which entertain'd our richard the first , when with philip the king of france , he went to the conquest of the holy land. here was likewise phalaris the tyrant so famous , king of agragentum . the tyrannies which were used in sicily , were in times past so famous , that they grew into a proverb ; as , invidi â siculinon invenêre tyranni tormentum majus ; but they who were the causes of all , did oftentimes speed very ill themselves ; as appeareth by the elder dionysius , who being driven out of his dominion , did flee into italy , and was glad there to teach children , that so he might supply his necessity . his son grew more tyrannous then the father , and stood so farre in fear of his own people , that many times he caused himself to be shut up in a tower , and his guard to keep the door , that nobody might come at him ; he durst not trust his barber to shave or clip him , for fear of cutting of his throat ; but that which was done he caused his daughters to do , who with the thin innet skin of walnuts being set on fire , are said to have taken off the hair of his face . this was he , whose felicity when damocles a flatterer did seem marvelousty to admire , he caused him to be set one day at dinner in his royall seat , with dainty fare before him ; plate , rich hangings , musick , and all other matters of delight ; but withall , a naked sword , which was onely tyed with a single haire of a horses mane , to be hanged directly over him ; the feare whereof did so feare the flatterer left it should fal upon him , that he continually looked upwards , and about him , and took no joy of that which was before him : whereby dyonisius did evidently teach him , that the state of some princes , howsoever it seem glorious unto others , yet it doth bring little contentment unto themselves , by reason of the continual dangers which hang over them . it is reported of this man , that when all the people of this country did for his cruelty continually curse him , there was one woman which daily did go to the churches , and prayed the gods to lengthen his life ; where withall when dionysius was acquainted , marvelling himself at the reason of it , he sent for her , and asked what good thing he had done unto her , that she was so careful evermore to pray for him ? but the woman answered , that it was not for love , but for feare , that she begged these things of the gods : for ( said she ) i am an old woman , i do remember when your grandfather lived , who being very hard unto his people , was much maligned by them , and they prayed that they might be rid of him : which falling our , afterward your father came in place , and he was worse than the former : which when the subjects could not endure , they prayed also that he might dye , hoping that the next would be better : then came your self in place , who have much exceeded the cruelty of your father : and whereas others wish that you were gone also trusting for amendment in the next , i that have lived so long , and see that things grow worse and worse , do pray that you may continue ▪ because that if we should have one that should succeed you , if he walke in the steps of his predecessors , he must needs be as bad as the devill himself ; for none else in tyranny can go beyond you . phalaris of agrigentum was he who proposed rewards unto him who invented new torments : which caused perillus to make a bull of brasse , into the which if offenders should be put , and fire should be set under , then it would make them roare like a bull : but when upon the terror thereof none would so offend as to deserve that torment , phalaris took perillas , the authour thereof , and to try the experience , put him into it , whereby perillus lost his life . this countrey is now also under the king of spaine , who among other titles was wont to call himself king of both sicilies , reckoning this island for one , and that part of italy for another , which is now called calabria , and was in the romane h stories named magna graecia . there is nothing more renowned ▪ in all sicilia , either with new or old writers , then the mountain aetna : which being on the outside oft covered with snow , yet by a sulphurous or brimstony matter , doth continually burn within : yea , so that whereas it was supposed in the ages last before us , that the matter being consum'd , the fire had ceased , twice in our age it hath broke forth again , to the incredible loss of all the country adjoining , the ashes thereof destroying vines and fruits , which were within the compass of many m●…les about . agatheas in his history doth tell , that in his one time there was an incredible deale of ashes which did fall about constantinople , and the places neer adjoining , insomuch that the ground was covered with the same : which he reputeth to have been brought from the hill in sicily : but b●…din in his method . hist. doth reprove this as a fable , which can have no shew of truth , by reason of the great distance of the place : notwithstanding it is certaine , that sometimes when it doth strongly break out , the fields and vineyards , and all the fruits within the compasse of some miles , àre much hurt therewithall . the reason of this fire was laid down by justine in his 4. books ; and is since approved both by historians and philosophers : which is , that within the ground there is great ●…ore of sulphu●…e & brimstony matter , which having once fire in it , is apt to keep it . and whereas all the whole country is full of chinks and chaps , and hollowness within the ground , the matter which entreth there , doth minister substance to the continuance of that ●…me : as we see that water cast on coales in the smiths forge , doth make them burn more servently : and then into the chin●…es ▪ and ch●…ps the wind doth also enter , which by blowing and 〈◊〉 , d●…th both cause the fire never to extinguish ; and sometimes ( according unto the strength of the blast ) doth make flames break out either more or lesse . there are in the hill aetna , two principal places which are like unto two furnaces with tunnels on the top of them , where divers times ( but especially in the evening and night ) the flame doth appear , mounting upwards ; and it is so strong , that oftentimes it brings up with it burnt & scorching stones & pieces of hard substances , which seem to be rent out of some rocke , to the great terrour and danger of any that do come near . this is that place whither empedocles threw hims●…lf , that he might be reported a god . this was it whereof virgil doth make his tract called aetna : which the poets did report to be the shop of vulcan , where cyclopes did frame the thunder-bolts for jupiter . and to conclude , that is it which some of our grosse papists have not feared to imagine to be the place of purgatory : as they have been so foolish to think , that there is also another place , called the mount vidu in iseland , where soules have another purgatory to be punished in , but there by cold , which surius in his commentaries is so absurdly grosse as to report an ●…allow . the papists have shew for their purgatory in aetna , out of that book which is commonly called by the name of the dialogues of gregory the great ; for in that booke there are divers things to that purpose . but our best writers of late have discovered that that same treatise is a counterfeit , being made by a later pope gregory , and not by the first of that name , ordinarily called gregorius magnus : who although he have in his works divers things tending to superstition ; yet he was never so absurd as to write things so unprobable , foolish , and grounded upon so bare reports as these were . such another hill as the mountain of aetna is , was in time past . vesuvius , a hill in campania , which is part of italy ; but this never had the like continuance as that of aetna , although in the time of pliny the fire did breake forth there , and so strongly , as that the elder pliny , who spent all his time in discovering the secrets of nature , pressing neer to behold it , was stifled with the flame , smoak , ashes or that he died in the place , as is most excellently described in the book of his epistle 〈◊〉 his nephew the yonger pliny . not farre from sicily on the ●…outh lieth the little isle called in old ●…ime melita : whence those dogs come which are so much desired under the names of canes melitenses . this was the place where s. paul was cast up after his ship-wrack in his journy to rome , where the viper hanged on his hand , and did not hurt him . this country is now called malta , and is one of the places most renowned in the world for repelling of the turks : when soliman the emperour of them did send against it a most mighty arm ; it was then defended by them , who are called the knights of malta , which by sea do great spoile to the gallies of the turk that passe that way ▪ there were in times past diver●… orders of knights , and men that ●…ad vowed themselves to adventure their lives and whole state , for the maintenance of christs religion and some places of the earth , against the infidels and sarazens . the most ancient of all those were called the templers , who were a great corporation or society , consisting of divers gentlemen yonger . brothers for the most part , out of all the realms of christendome : their chiese charge was to defe●…d the city of jerusalem , and the reliques or remainder of the temple there , and sepulchre of christ : for the preservation of which places , together with the rest of the holy land , they had given unto them ▪ and purchased for their mony , very rich and ample possessions , in england , france , spaine , italy , and other places of europe ; insomuch that in the daies of matthew paris , he reporteth that they had under them many thousands of mannors . they had also in every kingdome where their order was permitted a great and ample house , where some chief of their company did lye , who received the rents within that kingdome . and caused the money to be transported into the holy land , and other ordinances to be made and executed belonging unto their order : of which houses the temple , that is now in london was a chiefe one , which had in former times belonged to the jewes , but was afterwards translated to that use , when the holy land was quite taken by saladine , and could never be recovered into the hands of the christians since the society of these templers ceased : the pope and the king of france conspiring their ruines , and their land , were dispersed into divers mens hands . in the same time when the timplers were in their strength , there was another sort called the hospitallers , whose condition and im ployment was very like unto the other ; both of them fighting for the preservation of palestina , we read that sometimes these two companies had great jarrs between themselves , whereby grew much hinderance to the wars against the infidels . all these were accounted as orders of religion , and therefore it was forbidden them at any time to marry , without dispensation from the pope ; because not being entangled to wife and children , they might be more resolute to adventure their lives . after them grew up the order of ▪ the knights of rhodes , who since they could not live in the holy land , yet would abide as near unto it as possibly they might : and therefore partly to preserve pilgrims which should go to visit the sepulcher of chirst , and partly to infest the turke and saracens ; but especially to keep the enemies of christs faith from encroaching further upon christendome , which most earnestly they did , and do desire , they placed themselves in the island of rhodes , where daily doing grea f●…th to the turk soliman the great warriour could not endure them , but with a mighty army so ove l●…id them , that he won the island from them . after the losse of rhodes , the iland of malta was given unto these knights by charles the 5. emperour ; whereupon they are now called the knights of malta : for the great master after he came from rhodes went into candy , and from thence into sicily , and so into italy , from thence he made a voyage into england and then into france , and hastly in●…o savoy , from whence he departed with the religion into this island , and there they continue and behave themselves as in the former iland ; and offering no violence unto christians ; they much hinder the courses of the turkes from graecia and asia , and of the other sarazens from fez and morocco . they are very valiant men , fit to do great service , either by land or sea , as appeared when soliman did think to have surprised them and their iland ; the description of which war is dilipently laid down by caelius s●…undus curio , in a treatise dedicated to elizabeth queen of england . there have been divers other orders of knights , yea , and some of them reputed to be a kinde of religion , in portugal , france , england burgundy , and some other places of christendome ; but because their service hath not been emploi'd purposely , as these , which are before mentioned , we do not touch them in this place . neer unto graecia and peloponnsus , on the west side towards italy , is the isle of corcyra , now termed corfu : and not far south from that , is cophalenia ; & from thence south is zon , called by virgil nemerosa zacynthus : all which ilands are at this day under the venetians . the greatest commodity which that countrey doth yield , are corans , which are gathered of a kind of small grapes ; and for the making whereof , they commonly one time every summer , for the space of three weekes , have a continuall drought day and night , in which time the currans are laid abroad in the open aire , and may not be taken in ; insomuch that if the season do continue hot and dry , their merchandize is very good ; but if there fall any raine untill the time be expired of their full drying , the currans are not good , but do mould and change their colour to be somewhat white like meale . the state of venice , under whom this iland is , doth make a great commodity of the impost , or taxation , which is laid upon this merchandize , calling the tribute which is paid for them , the revenue of saint mark : for unto that saint is the city of venice dedicated , and they hold him for their patron . in this iland ( besides the merchants who repaire thither ) are divers italians , who be there in garison for the venetians , in one special castle , which commandeth the whole iland . there are also divers fryars of that nation , who perform nnto their country men such exercises of religion as are convenient . they will not fuffer any of our merchants to have christian buriall among them , unlesse at his death he be confessed after the romish fashion : whereupon some have been forced to convey over some of their dead bodies into morea , ( which is not farre distant ) to be buried there among the greekes , and after their fashion . the naturall inhabitants of zant are greeks , both by language and religion , and observe all fashions of the greekish church : in whose words ( being now much corrupted & depraved ) there may yet be found some tokens and remainders of the old , pure , and uncorrupted greek . there are in this countrey great store of swine kept , whereof the inhabitants do feed , and carry them into morea : but the turks there ( by their mahumetane profession ) will taste no swines flesh . in zacynthus our english merchants have an house of abode for their traffick . south-east from moreah , lyeth the great island creta , where minos sometimes did reign , so famous for his severity . this countrey was then called hec●…tompolis , as having in it a hundred towns and cities . here stood the labyri●…th which was the work of dedalus , who conveighed the house so by the manifold turnings , infiniteness of pillars and doors that it was impossible to find the way ; yet theseus ( by the help of ariadne the daughter of king minos ) taking a bottome of thred , and ●…ing the one end at the first doore , did enter and sl●…y the minotaur which was kept there , and afterwards returned safe out again . the ancient inhabitants of this country were such noted lyars , that ( beside the proverbs which were made of them , as , crettenscmendacium , & cretisandum est cum cretensibus ) the apostle paul in his epistle to titus , who was left there by him as bishop of that island , doth cite a verse out of the heathen poet epimenides , that the cretians are ever lyars , evil beasts , & slow bellies . this island is in our daies called candy , being the place from whence our sugar of candy is brought . it is under the venetians , and repute a part of their seigniory ; although the turks , when they had taken cyprus , did think also to have surprised it , but that it pleased god by the meanes of don john of austria , in the behalf of his brother the king of spaine , and the venetians to give the turke that great overthrow at sea , in the sight near unto lepanto . yet since that time ( no doubt ) the turks have a greedy eye upon the sland of canay . between creta and peloponnesus lyeth cithera : there was the fine temple of venus ; who thereof by the poets is called citherea . the islands , are many which lye in the sea called mare aegeum , from the bottome of greece , unto the top of the hellespont , as all the cyclades , euboia , and the great iland samos , and chios ; so seyres , where achilles was born , and was king of that coutrey ; there is also lesbos , and cemnos , mytilene , and ithaca , ( where ulysses was king , and andnos , whither themistocles was sent by the athenians for tribute , as plutarch layeth down the history : themistocles did tell them , that he came to demand tribute , or some great imposition upon them , being ' accompanied with two godd●…sses ; the one was eloquence , to perswade them ; and the other , violence , to enforce them . whereunto the andr●…ans made answer , that they had on their side two goddesses as strong ; whereof the one was necessity , whereby they had it not ; and the other was impossibilitie , whereby they could not part with that which they never possessed . of these places something may be read in the old history of the greekes . divers of these did strive that homer was borne in them ; but of certain many of those kings which homer saith came with agamemnon to the siege of troy , were kings but of those small ilands . eastward from thence , not farre from some part af natolia , or asia the lesser , is the iland of rhodes , the friendship of the inhabitants , whereof was in ancient time very much desired by the princes that had to do that way : so that alexander first , and the romans afterwards , did embrace their league . here was that huge and mighty image of the sun , which was called colossus rhodius . this country was long defended by those who were called the knights of rhodes , against the power of the turke ; and it was a great bulwarke to defend christendome , till that in the yeare one thousand five hundred twenty and one , soly●…an the great turke did win it from the christians by force . from thence southward is the isle carpathus : but in the farthest end of the east part of the mediterranean is cyprus , which about 300. yeares since was a kingdome , and did afford great aide unto the christians ▪ that went to conquer the holy land ; but it is now under the turke . the chief city thereof is ●…amogusta , which is an archbishops sea : for christians for their tribute do yet live there . in this countrey in old time was venus much honoured , and therefore she was called cypria ▪ as also paphia , because she had a temple in a city there called paphos . neer unto syria stood the island tyrus ; against the pride whereof the prophets doth much speak : this was a rich city for merchandise and navigation in old time ; and is the place from whence dido and the builders of carthage did come . the destruction of it is most famous by alexander the great . of the rest of the small islands we do say nothing . of the islands in the indian sea. the islands are very many that do lye in the sea adjoining to the east indies ▪ but the most famous among them shall onely be touched . among old writers , as especially appeareth by solinus , was well known that which was then called t●…probana , which lieth neer the equinoctiall line . it was in that time a monarchy , where the kings reigned not by succession , but by election : and if any of them did grow intolerable , he was deposed and enforced to dye , by withdrawing from him all things necessary . this is now called sumatra , and hath in it divers kings . not far from thence l●…e eastward the two islands called java major and java minor ; which were also known to the old writers , as in general may be noted , that all the east part , either in the continent , or in the ilands have very many smal kings and kingdomes . from whence yet more east lieth a great number of ●…les , which are now called the molucco's , which are places as rich for their quantity as any in the world : from these it is that the spaniards have yearly so great quantity of all kinds of spice ; neither is there any place of all the east-indies , that doth more richly furnish home their carracts , than do these molucco's . the islands which are called by that name , are by some of our writers accounted to be at least four & twenty or five and twenty ; and some of them which are the bigger , have in them two or three kings apiece ▪ and some of them which are lesse , are either the several dominions of several kings , or else two or three of them do belong to some one prince . when sir francis drake did compasse the whole world , he came near unto these , but did not touch at any of them ; but master candish taking as large a journey , was in one or more of them , where he found the people to be intelligent and subtill , and the kings of the country to take upon them as great state as might be convenient for such petty princes . some of these islands the spaniards in right of the portugals have got into their own possession ; with the kings of some other they have leagued ; and a third sort utterly detest them . more northward , over against china , lyeth a country consisting of a great many islands called japona , of japan ; the people whereof are much of the same nature with the men of china : this country was first discovered by the ●…esuites , who in a blind zeale have travelled into the farthest parts of the world , to win men to their religion . this island is thought to be very rich . about the parts of japan there are di●…ers people , whose most ordinary habitation is at the sea , and do never come into the land , but only for their necessities , or to furnish themselves with new vessels , wherein they may abide , but lying not farre from the land they have ducks , and other fowls swimming about them , which sometimes they take into their boats and ships , & in such sort do breed them , to the maintenance of them and their children . into this iapan of late daies have our english also sail'd , as into other parts of the east indies , and there erected a factory . the rest that be either neer unto asia or africa , because there is little written of them , we passe over , onely naming them : as the philipin●… , borneo , banda●…a : as also on the side of africke , the island of saint laurence , called by the inhabitants madagas●…ar , 〈◊〉 and others of lesse note : and yet we do find in solinus and pliny , but especially in pomponius mela , that it was known in old time that there were many islands neer unto the east-indies , which as it might be first discovered by the trafficking of the islanders into the continent ; so no doubt that navy which alexander sent out to india , to des●…ry and coast thorow the eastern seas , did give much light thereunto , partly by that which themselves did see , and partly by those things which they heard in such places , and of such persons as they met with in their travell . of the islands in the atlantick sea. there be many islands which he westward from africa , and from europe : as those which are called the gorgades , that lye in the same climate with guinea , which are four in number , not inhabited by men ▪ but they are full of goats . peter martyr in his first decade , the sixth book , saith that the admirall colonus , in the year of christ 1498 sailing to hispaniola with eight ships , came to the isle of madera , from whence sending directly the rest of his ships to the east indies , he in one ship with decks and two carayels , sailed to the equinoctiall betweene which and the isle madera , in the middest way lye 13. islands of the portugalls , in old time called hesperides , now cabonerde , two daies sailing distant from the inner parts of ethiope : one whereof is called bonavista . northward from thence , in the same climate with the south part of morocco , lye those which are called canari●… , or the fortunate islands , which are seven in number , being most fruitful , and very pleasant , and therefore called by that name , fortunate insulae , this is famous in them , that it hath pleased all cosmographers to make their meridian to be their first point where they do begin to reckon the computation of their longitude ; and unto them , after three hundred and threescore degrees to return again . from these islands it is , that those strong and pleasant sacks , which are called canary wings are brought ; and from thence are fetched those that they call canary birds . these islands are under the crowne of spaine : the heat of the countrey is very great and therefore fitter for concoction ; but besides that , the sayle of it self is accommodated thereunto , and by reason of them , both these islands do bring forth a grape , which is sweeter in taste then any other grape , and hath that property with it , that the wine which is made thereof , doth not ●…ume into the head , like other sack , but doth help the stomacke , and exercise the force of it there . the slips of their vines have been brought into spaine , and some other places of europe , but they have not sorted to the same purpose as they do in their native countrey ... there do grow also in these isles good store of sugar-canes , which yeeldeth plentifully that kinde of commodite unto spaine , either for marmelets ( wherein they much delight ) or for other uses . peter martyr in the beginning of his decades which he hath written de orbe novo ; doth particularly touch the names , and some other things of these islands . on the backside of africa also , just under the equinoctial ; is the isle ▪ of saint thomas , inhabited by the portugals ; which island was taken in the later time of queen elizabeth by the dutch : it is reported that in the midst of this iland is an hill ; and over that a continual cloud ; where with the whole island is watered , ( such a like thing as this is reported of the isle of cloves : ) the aire of this island is unwholsome , and there is hardly seen any portugal or stranger that comes to dwell there , which lives till he be above forty years of age . more northward from africke ▪ lye those islands which are called azores insulae , being six or seven in number ; of which tercera is one of the chief : of whom , the rest by some are called tercera's , which are farre inferiour in fruitfulnesse unto the canaries . these were first under the crown of portugal , and one of them was the last which was kept out from the king of spaine , by the prior don antonio , who afterward called himself king of portugal , but the spaniard at last took this terrera from him , and doth possesse all these islands , together with the rest of the dominion , which did belong to the portugall . he who list to see the unadvised proceedings of don antonio , both in parting with lisbon , and the rest of portugall , as also in losing these islands which last of all held out for him , let him read conestagio of the union of portugall to the crown of castile . but these azores have in times past yeelded much oade , which thereupon in england was called island oade ; but now they are the place where the spaniards do commonly touch ▪ and take in fresh water , both going and comming to and from america , finding that to passe directly without turning on either hand towards america is very hard , by reason of the strong current of the water from the gulph of mexico , and so forward to the east : and therefore they are enforced either to go lower to the south , and so to water in some part of guinea , or thereabout , or else to keep up as high as these islands . of america , or the new world. although some do dispute out of plato and the old writers , that there was not only a guesse , but a kind of knowledge in ancient time , that besides europe , asia and africa there was another large country lying to the west , yet he that shall advisedly peruse the conjectures made thereupon , may see that there is nothing of sufficiencie to enforce any such knowledge , but that all antiquitie was utterly ignorant of the new found countries towards the west . whereunto this one argument most forcible , may give credit ▪ that at the first arriving of the spaniards there they found in those places , nothing shewing trafficke , or knowledge of any other nation ; but the people naked , uncivill , some of them devourers of mens flesh ▪ ignorant of shipping , without all kind of learning , having no remembrance of history or writing , among them ; never having heard of any such religion as in other places of the world is known , but being utterly ignorant of scripture , or christ , or moses , or any god , neither having among them any token of crosse , church , temple , o●… devotion , agreeing with other nations . the reasons which are gathered by some late writers out of plato , seneca , and some other of the ancient , are rather conjectural , that it was likely that there should be some such place , than any way demonstrative , or concluding by experience ; that therewas any such countrey : and the greatest inducement which they had to perswade themselves , that therewas any more land towards the west then that which was formerly known , was grounded upon this , that all asia , europe and africke , concerning the longitude of the world , did containe in them but 180 , degrees : and therefore it was most probable , that in the other 180. which filleth up the whole course of the sun to the number of 360 degrees , god would not suffer the water only to possesse all , but would leave a place for the habitation of men , beasts , flying and creeping creatures . i am not ignorant that some ; who make too much of vain shewes out of the british antiquities , have given out to the world , and written something to that purpose , that arthur sometimes king of britain , had both knowledge of these parts , and some dominion in them : for they find ( as some report ) that king arthur had under his government many islands , and great countries towards the north and west : which one of some special note hath interpreted to signifie america , and the northern parts thereof , and thereupon have gone about to entitle the queen of england to be soveraigne of those provinces , by right of descent from king arthur ▪ but the wisedome of our state hath been such , as to neglect that opinion , imagining it to be grounded upon fabulous foundations , as many things are which are now reported of king arthur ; only this doth carry some shew with it , that now some hundreds of years since , there was a knight of wales ; who with shipping and some pretty company did go to discover those parts : whereof as there is some record of reasonable credit amongst the monuments of wales , so there is this one thing which giveth pregnant shew thereunto ; that in the late navigation of some of our men to norumbega , and some other northern parts of america , they find some tokens of civility and christian religion ; but especially they do meet with some words of the welch language ; as that a bird with a whitehead should be called pengwiun , & other such like : yet because we have no invincible certainty hereof , and if any thing were done , it was only in the northern and worse parts : and the entercourse betwixt wales and those parts , in the space of divers hundred years , was not continued , but quite silenced : we may go forward with that opinion , that these westerne indies were no way known to former ages . god therefore remembring the prophesie of his son , that the gospel of the kingdome should before the day of judgement be preached in all coasts and quarters of the world , and in his mercy intending to free the people ; or at the least some few of them , from the bondage of satan ( who did detaine them in blockish ignorance ) and from their idolatrous service unto certain vile spirits , ( whom they call their zemes , & most obsequiously did adore them . ) raised up the spirit of a man worthy of perpetual memory ( one christopherus columbus , born at genua in italy ) to set his mind to the discovery of a new world ; who finding by that compasse of the old known world , that there must needs be a much more mighty space ( to the which the sun by his daily motion did compasse about ) then that which was already known and discovered ; and conceiving that this huge quantity might as wel be land 〈◊〉 sea , he could never satisfie himself till he might attempt to make proof of the verity thereof . being therefore himself a private man , and of more vertue than nobility , after his reasons and demonstrations laid down , whereby he might induce men that it was no vain thing which he went about , he went unto many of the princes of christendome , and among others to henry the seventh , king of england , desiring to be furnished with shipping and men fit for such a navigation : but these men refusing him , partly because they gave no credit to his narration ; and partly lest they should be derided by their neighbour princes , if by this genoe-stranger they should be cousened ; but especially , for that they were unwilling to sustaine the charges of shipping : at last he betook himself unto the court of ferdinandus and elizabeth , king and queen of castile , where also at the first he found but small entertainment ; yet persisting in his purpose without weariness , & with great importunity , it pleased god to move the mind of elizabeth the queen to deale with her husband to surnish forth to ships , for the discovery only , and not for conquest : whereupon columbus in the year thousand four hundred ninety and two , accompanied with his brother bartholomeus columbus , and many spaniards , sayled farre to the west , for the space of three score daies and more , with the great indignation & often mutinies of his company , fearing that by reason of their long distance from home , they should never return again ; insomuch that the general , after many perswasions of them to go forward , was at length enforced to crave but three daies , wherein if they saw not the iland ; he promised to return ; and god did so blesse him ; to the end that his voyage might not prove in vain , that in that space one of his company did espye fire , which was a certain argument that they were near to the land : as it fell out indeed . the first land whereunto they came , was an island ▪ called by the inhabitants haity , but in remembrance of spaine from whence he came , he termed it hispaniola : and finding it to be a countrey full of pleasure , and having in it abundance of gold and pearle , he proceeded further ▪ and discovered another bigge isle , which is called cuba : of the which being very glad , with great treasure he returned unto spaine , bringing joyful newes of his happy successe . when columbus did adventure to restraine the time of their expectation within the compasse of three daies , engaging himself to return , if in that space they saw no land ; there be some write , that he limited himself not at all adventures , but that he did by his eye discerne a difference in the colour , of the clouds which did arise out of the west , from those which formerly he had seen : which clouds did argue by the clearnesse of them , that they did not arise immediately out of the sea , but that they had passed over some good space of the land , and thereby grew clearer and clearer , not having in them any new or late risen vapours : but this is but conjectural . the spaniards , who are by nature a people proud ; have since the death of columbus , laboured to obscure his fame , envying that an italian or stranger should be reported to be the first discoverer of those parts . and therefore have in their writings since given forth , that there was a spaniard which had first been there ; and that columbus meeting with his cards and descriptions , did but pursue his enterprize , and assume the glory to himself . but this fable of theirs doth savour of the same spirit wherewithall many of them in his life time did reproach him , that it was no matter of importance to find out these countries , but that , if that he had not done it , many other might , and would . which being spoken to columbus it a solemne dinner , he called for an egge , and willed all the guests one after another to set it up on end . which when they could not do , he gently bruising the one end of it , did make it flat , and so set it up , by imitation whereof each of the other did the same : whereby he mildly did reprove their envy towards him , and shewed how easie it was to do that which a man had seen done before . to go forward therefore : columbus being returned to castile , after his welcome to the princes , was made great admirall of spain , and with a new fleet of more ships was sent to search further : which he accordingly did , and quickly found the maine land , not farre from the tropick of cancer . which part of the countrey , in honour of spain , he called hispania nova , in repect whereof at this day the king of spaine doth entitle himself hispaniarum rex . some there be which write , that columbus did not discover further then the islands ; and that he spent the greatest part of his former labours in coasting cuba and hispaniola , to see whether they were ▪ islands , or a continent ; and that some other in the meane time did thrust themselves forward and discryed the firme land : among whom americus vespucius the chiefe , of whose name a great part of the countrey is called at this day america . they found the people both of the maine lands and islands very many in number , naked , without cloaths or armour ; sowing no corn , but making their bread of a kinde of root , which they call maiz. men most ignorant of all kind ▪ of learning , admiring at the christians , as if they had been sent downe from heaven , and thinking them to be immortall , wondring at their ships , and the tacklings thereof ; for they had no ships of their own , but big troughs , which they call their canoes , being made hallow ( or the ●…ody of a tree ) with the sharp bones of , fishes : for yron and such like instruments they have none . although it do appear , that by the warres of one of their petty princes , or kings , whom they call cassickes , had against another , many thousands of the inhabitants of those countries were continually wasted and spoiled : yet the number of them was so great in every part of the west-indies , that in hispaniola alone there were supposed to be by computation of the spaniards first arriving there , not so few as 2000000. which yet by the cruelty of the spaniards were so murthered , and other ways made away , that within fifty years after ( as their writers report ) there were scant any thousands in that island remaining of them . the like is to be said of the populousnesse of other coasts and quarters there . the armour which those people did weare when they entred into the warres , was nothing but some sleight covering , either made of wood , or s●…els of fishes , or of cotton-wooll , or some such foolish matter . for thèy had no use at all of iron or steele , but the most part of them came without any kinde of cloathing , or covering , yet armed with bowes and arrowes , which were made sharp at the end with the scraping of fish-bones , or with fish-bones themselves put on the end ; like an arrow-head ; and that oftentimes they dipped in a kind of most venomous poyson : some other of them had for their weapons great clubs , wherewith they did use to beat out the braines of those with whom they did combate . they had amongst them no good or wholsome food , for even that maiz whereof they made their bread , had in the root thereof a most venomous kinde of liquor , which is no better than deadly poyson ; but they crush out that juice , and afterward do prepare the roo●… , so that it maketh them a kinde of bread. there was no sort of good literature to be found among them : nay , they could not so much as distinguish any times the one from the other , but by a blockish kind of observation of the course of the moon , according to which they made their computation , but without any kind of certainty , saving for some few moneths which were lately past : but for the set calcula●…ing of ought which was done divers years before , they could do nothing therein , but onely grossely aime at it . but that in all ages it hath appeared , that satan hath used ignorance a●… one of the chiefest meanes whereby to increase idolatry , and consequentlie to enlarge his kingdome ▪ it were other wise incredible , that any who have in them reason , and the shape of men , should be so brutishly ignorant of all kind of true religion , devotion , and understanding . for the adoration which they do give , was only unto certain foule spirits , which they call b●… the name of their zemes. in remembrance of whom , divers of them did keep in their houses certain things made of cotton wooll , in the manner of puppets , or like childrens babies , and to these they did yeeld a reverance , supposing some divine nature to be in them , because sometimes in the evening ; and in the night time they had such illusions offered unto them , as that they saw these their puppets to move and stirre up and down in their houses , and sometimes to utter voices , and give divers s●…gnifications of such things as they would have to be done , or not to be done : yea , and that with such effect from the devill also , that if their wills and commandements we●…e not fulfilled , there was some vengeance orpunishments executed upon them or their children , the more to keep them in awe & servility , to the great enemy of mankind . not long after the spaniards entred those parts , there were in divers of the islands , and some parts of the main , such incredible tempests , and disturbances of the aire , by winde and rain , thunder and lightning , as that the like had never been seen nor heard of in the memory of man : which are ordinarilie interpreted to be the speciall work of the devill : who not unfitly is termed by saint paul the prince of the aire , as having a liberty given him of god there sometimes to do strange executions : and of likelyhood , he did make these stirs , either grieving that the name of christ was at all brought into those parts , or else seeking to fright the inhabitants from associating themselves with those who brought ( although but superstitiously ) the knowledge of god , and the redeemer , being desirous that they should look for more such distemperatures and vexations , if they would confederate themselves with them . the people were so ignorant of all humane and civill conversation , and trafficking into those parts , at the first comming of the christians thther , that they thought they could never sufficiently admire their persons , their shipping , or any other thing which they brought with them : whereupon they without ceasing gazed on the manner of their ships , seeing them to be so great , and consisting of divers planc●…es : but they were never satisfied with staring upon their mastes , sayles , cables , and other ropes and tacklings , whereunto they had never beheld any thing like before : and yet nature and necessity had taught them to make unto themselves certain vessels for the sea , of some one tree , which they did use to get down , not with cutting , but with fire : and when it lay along upon the ground , they did use also fire , either to burn away that which was tough and unfit without , or to make it hollow within : although they have also the shels and bones of fishes , whereby they made smooth ▪ but some of these troughes or canoes were so great , that sometimes above twenty men have been found rowing in one . the trees of america , but especially in brasilia , being so huge , that it is reported of them , that several fam●…les have lived in several arms of one tree , to such a number as are in some petty villages , or parish in christendome . among other strange opinions which they conceived of the spaniards this was one , that they were the sons of some god , and not born of mortall seed , but sent down from heaven unto them : and this conceit was the stronger in them , because at the first , in such conflicts as they had with them , they could kill few or none of them : the reason whereof was , partly the armour of the spaniards , and partly the want of iron and steele upon the arrowes which the americans did shoot : but they were not very long of that opinion , that they were immortal , but reformed that errour , both by seeing the dead corps of some of the christians , and by trying an experiment upon some of them also : for they took of them , and put their heads under the water , and held them till they were choaked ; by which they knew them to be of the same nature as other men . among other points which did shew the great ignorance and unlettered stupiditie of these indians , this was one , that they could not conceive the force of writing of letters ; insomuch that when one spaniard would send unto another , being distant in place , in india with any provision , and would write a letter by him , what the fellow had received from him ; the poor indian would marvell how it should be possible that he to whom he came should be able to know all things which either himself brought or the sender directed : and thereupon divers of them did think that there was some kind of spirit in the paper , and marvellously stood in fear of such a thing as a letter was . this country yeelds great abundance of strange herbs , the like whereof are not to be found in other parts of the world : as also some very rare beasts , as one among the rest , who by peter martyrs description , hath some part like an elephant , some part like an horse , and divers other parts like divers other beasts ; nature having studied to expresse a great many several creatures in one . there are also found at the sea or within some rivers , crocodiles , but not of that hugenesse as those that breed in aegypt in the river nilus , whereof some are described by pliny to be at the least 24. cubits in length ; which argues the crocodile to be the greatest creature in the world that comes of an egg. there are also thereabout some extraordinary stones growing in the land ; as above others the blood stones , whereof there are great store : but especially there is one thing of great beauty and worth , that is , the abundance of pearles , which are taken in shell-fishes , and are of a great quantity , as any that be in the seas near to the east-indies : ●…o that the true cause of the plenty of pearle in europe , in this our age , beyond that incomparably which hath been in the dayes of our forefathers , is to be ascribed to the discovery of these new-found lands there are also here divers trees which are not to be found elsewhere : and many roots , which serve for divers purpose●… . among other things ( whereof there is great plenty in those westerne parts ) is the abundance of kine and buls : whereof they report , that there is such store in guba and hispaniola , that there are killed ●…own divers thousands every year , whereof the spaniard maketh no other use , but to take the tallow , or the hide ; which serveth them in their shipping , and for divers other purposes ; but the flesh , or the most part of them , they suffer for to putrifie , as making little account of it : partly because of the heat of the country , wherein they eat little flesh , and partly because they have store of hens , and other more dainty meat , whereupon , together with fish , they do very much feed it may seem a kind of miracle , unto him who looketh no higher than the ordinary rules of nature , and doth not expect the extraordinary and unlimited power of god , that whereas a great part of america doth lie in the zona torrida , in the self same climate with aethiopia , and the hottest parts of the east-indies , where the inhabitants are not only tawny , as all be in aegypt , and in mauritania , but also coale-black and very negroes ; here there should be no man whose colour is black , except it be those which are brought out of africa , but that the people should be o●… a reasonable fair complexion ; which is to be ascribed only unto gods peculiar will , and not to that which some foolishly have imagined , that the generative seed of those people should be whi●…e , and that other of the aethiopians black ; for that is untrue ▪ in as much as the aethiopians case doth not differ from the quality of other men . the spaniards did find the people to be here most simple , without fraud , giving them kind entertainment , according to their best manner ; exchanging for knives and glasses , and such like toyes , great abundance of gold and pearle . it is certain , that by the very light of nature , and by the ordinary course of humane shape , there were among this people very many good things , as affabilitie in their kind , hospitalitie towards strangers , which had not offended them , according to their ability , and open and plaine behaviour , yea and in some parts of these west indies , there was an opinion in grosse , that the soul was immortall , and that there was life after this life : where beyond certain hils ( they know not where ) those which dyed in defence of their countrey , should after their departure from this life , remain in much blessednesse : which opinion caused them to bear themselves very valiantly in their fights , either striving to conquer their enemies , or with very good contentment , enduring death ( if it were their hap to be taken , or slain ) in as much as they promised themselves a b●…tter reward elsewhere : but withall , as it could not chuse but be so , there were many other grievous sins amongst them : as adoration of devils , sodomie , incest , and all kind of adultery ; ambition in very high measure ; a deadly hatred each of other : which proceeded all from the fountain of ignorance wherewith satan had blinded their eyes : yet there were among them some , which by a kind of blind witch-craft had to evil purpose , acquaintance , and entercourse with foule spirits . the manner of their attire , or beautifying themselves , which divers of these people had severally in severall parts , did seeme very strange unto them who came first into that country . for some of them did adorn themselves with the shells of fishes , some did weare feathers about their heads , some had whole garments made of feathers , and those very curiously wrought , and placed together of divers colours : to which purpose they did most use the feathers of peacocks or parrots , or such other birds , whose colouring was of divers colours . yea , in very many places they had their lower lips bor'd thorow with a great hole , and something put into them , as also into the upper parts of their ears , being pierced in like manner : which as it seemed to themselves to be a point of beauty , so it made them appear to other men to be wonderful ugly . the quantity of gold and silver which was found in those parts was incredible , which is the true reason wherefore all things in christendome ( as bodin de rep. observeth ) do serve to be sold at a higher rate then they were in the daies of our forefathers , when indeed they had not so : for as he noteth , it is the plenty of gold & silver which is brought from this america , that maketh money to be in greater store , and so may more easily be given , then it could be in the daies of our predecessors . but for the thing it self , it is testified by all writers , that there were in those ▪ parts very great mines of the most precious metals , that in the banks of rivers , with the washing of the water , there was divers ●…i mesfretted out very good and big pieces of gold , which without melting and trying ; was of reasonable perfection ; and the like was to be found in many places of the land , when the people did dig for their husbandry , or for any other use . this made the inhabitants there ( for the commonnesse of it ) to account gold and silver but as a vile thing ; and yet by the reason of the colour of it , for variety sake , to be mingled with the pearle , divers of them did wear it about their necks and about their arms . and yet we do find , that in some part of the west indies , the kings did make some reckoning of gold , and by sire did try it out to the best perfection ; as may appeare by attabaliba , who had a great house piled upon the sides with great wedges of gold ready tryed , which he gave to the spaniards for a ransome of his life ; and yet they most perfidiouslie did take his life from him . but the meane account ordinarily which the people had of gold , did cause them very readily to bring unto the spaniards at their first arrivall great store of that metall , which they very readily exchanged for the meanest trifies and gewgawes which the other could bring , even such things as wherewith children do use to play : but there was nothing more acceptable unto them then axes and hammers , knives , & all tooles of iron , whereof they rather make account to cut down their timber to frame it , and to do other such necessaries to their convenient use belonging , then to fight , or to do hurt each to other : and therein may appear the great variety of gods disposition of his creatures here and there ; when in all that maine continent of america , but especially in that which lieth between or near the tropicks , there is no iron or steel to be found ; which without doubt gave great way to the conquest of the strongest places there ; as of mexico by name , when armed men with gunnes , and other instruments of warre , were to fight against them which were little better then naked ; and it was rightly upbraided by one of his country-men to ferdinandus cortesius upon one of his returnes from america , having made exceeding boast of his great victories in those parts , and comming afterwards in service into africk , where he being hardly laid unto by the moores , and shewing ●…o valour at all , it was remembred unto him , that it was an easie thing for him to do al those exploits which he craked so much of in the west-indies , in as much as the people there had nothing to resist . there was nothing more dreadfull to those unarmed men , then the fight of horses and men riding upon them , whereof a very few did quickly over-bear many thousands of them , even almost in the beginning of the discovery of those parts . ferdinandus and elizabeth , then king and queen of castile , and after them charles the fifth the emperor , who succeeded in their right , partly to stir up their subjects to action , and partly to procure unto themselves the more treasure with lesse expence and trouble of their own , did give leave unto divers of their subjects , that by speciall commission they might passe into those parts , and there have severall quarters and countries allotted unto them , where they might dig and try out gold and silver , on condition , that they did allow cleare unto the king , the fifth part of such commodities as did arise unto them ; and therefore neere unto every mine and furnace ; the king had his speciall officers , which did daily attend and take up his tribute . and to the end that all things might the better be ordered , both there , and in spaine ( concerning the affaires of those countries ) the king caused a councell and councell house to be newly erected at sivill , where all things should be handled that did grow to any controversie : and where the intelligences and advertisments might be laid up as in a place of record , which should from time to time bee brought out of america : of this councell peter martyr ( who wrote the decades ) was one , and continued there till he was very old ; and therefore might upon the surest instructions set down these things which he committed to story . the desire of gain caused the spaniards to seek further into the countries : but the tyranny and the covetousnesse of the spaniards was such , in taking from them their goods , in deflowing their wives and daughters ; but especially , in forcing them to labour in their , gold mines without measure , as if they had been beasts , that the people detesting them , and the name of christians for their sakes , did some of them kill themselves , and the mothers destroyed their children in their bellies , that they might not be born to serve so hate full a nation : and some of them did in war conspire against them ; so that by slaughter and otherwise the people of the countrey are almost all wasted nowwithin a hundred years , being before many millions : and those which remain are as slaves , and the spaniards almost only inhabite those parts . it is not unknown to all the parts of europe , that the insolencie of the spaniards is very great , even over christians , tyrannizing and playing all outrages wheresoever they get men in subjection ; and this maketh them so hatefull to the portugals at home , to the italian in milluin and naples , but especially to the low-countrey-men , who have therefore much desire to shake off the yoke of their governour . besides tha●… , they are men immoderately given to the lust of the flesh , making no conscience ( even at home ) even to get bastards in their young dayes , and reputeth it no infamy unto them to frequent harlots and brothel-houses : but when they are abroad , especially in warlike services , they are very outragous , impudently and openly deflouring mens wives and daughters . it may easily then be guessed , what disorder they kept in the west-indies , where the countries are hot , and the women were not able to resist their insolencies ; and how they did tyrannize over the poor unarmed people , making them to drudge for them , not only like slaves , but bruit beasts : which gross over-sight of theirs was at the first so apparent , that all of good minds did complaine thereof , as appeareth by peter martyr himself , who in his writing to the pope , and other princes , doth much deplore the ill usage of them who in name were christians , towards those simple infidels . and certainly it caused many of them to blaspheme the name of god , and of christ , and to renounce their baptisme , whereunto they were either forced or intreated , when they measured the god of the christians by the actions of his servants , whom they sound to be blasphemers and swearers , riotous and great drunkards , ravenous tyrannous , and oppressors , unsatisfied , covetous , fornicators , beyond measure given to incredible wantonnesse , and exercising even among themselves , all kind of envie , contention , murthers , poisonings , and all sort of inhumane behaviour . not long after the arrivall of the spaniards there , there were certain fryars and religious men , who moved with some zeale to draw the people there to the christian faith , did travell into those parts , that so they might spread abroad the gospel of christ , and when they came there , beholding the intemperance of their country-men , which turned many away from the profession of religion , they were much moved in their hearts , and some of them by writings , and some other of them by travelling personally backe againe into spaine , did informe the king and his court , how dishonorable a thing it was to the name of christ , that the poor people should be so abused : and how improbable it was that those courses being continued , any of them would hardly embraced the faith . the earnest petition of these , caused charles the fifth , the emperour and king of spaine , by his edict and open proclamation published in the west-indies , to give liberty unto the inhabitants and naturals of the place , that they should be in state of free-men , and not of bond : but his subjects were so inured proudly to domineere over them , that this did little amend the condition of the people . since these daies notwithstanding the blind zeal of the spaniards hath been such , as that the kings have been at some cost , and other men also have been at a great charge to erect divers monasteries and religious houses there , and many have taken the pains to go out of europe ( as they think for christs sake ) to reside as monks and friars , in america . there be established some bi●… shopricks there , and other governments ecclesiastical , and the mass is there published , and latine service , according to the custome of the church of rome , labouring to root out their infidelity , but mingling the christian religion with much popish superstition . by reason that the country is exceeding rich and fruitful , the spaniards with great desire did spread themselves towards the north , where they found some more resistance , although nothing incomparison of warriours : but the greatest of their labour was to conquer the kingdome of mexico ; which mexico is a city very great , and as populous almost as any in the the world ; standing in the midst of a great marsh or fen. the conquerour of this , was ferdinandus cortesius , so much renowned in spaine unto this day . if there were any thing at all in these west-indies which might savour of civility , or any orderly kind of government , it was in the kingdome of mexico : where it appeared unto the spaniards , that there is a certain setled state , which was kept within compasse by some degrees and customes of their own : and which was able to make some resistance ( as it may be termed ) if it be compared with the other inhabitants of america ; although little , if it be conferred with the courses of christendom : but the policy of the spaniards was , that by private means they came to understand of a king that confined neer upon mexico , who as he was of good strength , so was he of exceeding malice towards these his borderers , and by his forces and intelligence , ferdinandus cortesius and his company came to have their will upon mexico . in this countrey there standeth a very great lake , which at the one end is very large , and almost round ; but towards the other end doth contract it self again into a narrow room , and then spreadeth wide again and round , onely about the third part of the compasse of the greate●… end . in the lesser of the two , their are set some houses in four or five severall places , which represent our villages : but in the greatest pan of the lake standeth mexico it self , being a city built of bricke , to ●… good and elegant proportion , where the water issueth into divers streets of it , as it is in venice , and from some part whereof there are diver bridges unto the main land , mad also of brick , but from the other ●…des , men do come by boats , where of there is abundant store continually going in that lake . the writers do record , tha●… there is to be found in this city , a bundance of all kind of provision , but especially fruits , and other delightfull things , which are brought in from other parts of the countrey . this was the chief city of all those quarters , before the arrivall of the spaniards there , and in subjection thereunto were many large provinces , extending themselves every way : so that the king of this place was a prince of great estate . and accordingly thereunto , the spaniards at this day have made it their chiefe and royall city , where the king keeps his vice-roy of mexico for the west-indies , as he hath his vice-roy at goa for the east-indies : and from thence have all the parts of america ( but especially that which they call hispania nova ) their directions ; and hence they fetch their laws , ordinances , and determinations , unlesse it be such great causes as are thought fit to be referred to the councell of spaine . the sea which confineth neerest unto this city is called the gulph of mexico ; where , as in divers other bayes or gulphes , the stream or current is such , that ships cannot passe directly to and fro , but especially out of the gulph , that they are forced to take their course either high to the north , or low to the south . in and neer unto this gulph are divers iland , conquered and inhabited by the spaniards ; as the forenamed cuba and hispaniola , where the spaniards were visited by our english , in the time of queen elizabeth , and their towns of sancto domingo , and saint jago taken by sir francis drake ; as also jarvaica and boriquen , otherwise called the iland of saint phu , where the earle of cumberland took the town of porto-ricco , and many other islands of lesse note . in the sea coasts of all this nova hispania , the king of spaine have built many towns and castles , and therein have erected divers furnaces and forges , for the trying and fining of their gold. they that do write of the discovery of the west-indies , do report , that when columbus at the first went thitherward , in their greatest distraction and doubtfulnesse of minde , whether to go forward or backward ; and columbus had begged only two or three daies respite , there was one of his company , who after the sea manner going up to discover the land , did espie some fire : for the which being so happy and lucky a token , he did hope to receive at the hands of the king of spaine , some bountiful reward : but when he returned home , there was nothing at all given unto him , which he took with that malecontentednesse and disdaine , that he fled over into africa , and there among the moores did apostate and renounce the christian faith ▪ so that he became a saracen . of the parts of america towards the north. the rumor of the discovery of these parts being blown over christendome , and the great quantitie of the land , together with the fruitfulness thereof , being reported abroad , some other nations did enterprize to set foot therein : as namely , the frenchmen , who sent certain ships to a part of this country , lying north from hispania nova , some few degrees without the tropick of cancer ; into which when they had arrived , because of the continuall greennesse of the ground and trees , ( as if it had been a perpetual spring ) they called it florida : where after some few of them had for a time setled themselves , the spaniards took notice of it , and being unwilling to endure any such neighbours , they came suddenly on them , and most cruelly slew them all , without taking any ransome . and the french in revenge of this deed of the spaniards , came in again afterwards into this country , and slew those that were the slaiers of their country men : yet the syaniards for want of men , are not able to inhabite that countrey , but leave it to the old people . the french had built in florida , upon the river of mayo , where they were visited by our sir john hawkins , a fort which they called fort carolin , and had reasonably assured themselves for their defence against the natives : but some malicious spirits amongst them fled to the spaniards , with whom they return again into florida ▪ to the murther and overthrow of their own country-men . he who list to see both the attempt of the french-men for the inhabiting of that part , and the usage of the spaniards towards them , let him read the expedition into florida , which is the end of benzo's story , concerning the new found world ; and there he shall find both the covetous and infatiable nature of the spaniards ; who would not endure the french neere unto them , although there was land sufficient , and much to spare for both of them ; also their perfidiousnesse in breaking of oaths , and promises , and their unchristian cruelty , whereby they massacred all . the spaniards also to the number of three hundred foot , and two hundred horse , under the conduct of ferdinando de sota , entred florida , about the year of our lord , 1550. and there conquered a thousand miles wide and large , and after four or five yeares continuance in that country , betook themselves again from thence , and went to new spain , landing at panuc in ships and vessels that they had built in florida . and in all that time notwithstanding many conflicts with the natives , and divers discommodities ▪ and wants which they sustained in the countrey , they lost but two hundred men . after this departure of the spaniards out of florida , brought thither by ferdinando de sota , who died in the country ; after the defeat of the french , and their revenge again taken on the spaniards , the king of spaine sent thither some small forces to take possession of the country , and sit down there ; for no other end , as it is thought , but to keep out other nations from entring there : the one half whereof set down on the river of saint augustine , and the other , half a dozen leagues from thence , to the northward , at a place by them called saint helena . in the year 1586. as sir francis drake came coasting along from cartagena , a city in the main land to which he put over , and took it , after he departed from sancto domingo , when the mortality that was amongst our english , had made them to give over their enterpri●…e , to go with nombre de dios , and so over land to panama , there to have stricken the stroake for the treasure : he was on the coast of florida in the height of thirty , our men discryed on the shore , a place built like a beacon , which was made for men to discover to sea-ward : so comming to the shore , they marched along the rivers side , till they came to a fort built all of whole trees , which the spaniards called the fort of saint john , where the king entertained halfe his forces that he then had in the countrey , which were an hundred and fifty souldiers ; the like number being at saint helena , all of them under the government of petro melendez , nephew to the admirall melendez , that fifteen or sixteen years before had been to bring with onr english in the b●…y of mexico ; this fort our english ●…ook , and not far from thence the town also of saint augustine upon the same river , where resolving to umdertake also the enterprize of saint helena , when they came to the havens mouth where they should enter they durst not for the dangerous shoals : wherefore they sorsooke the place , coasting along to virginia , where they took in mr. ralph lane and his company , and so came into england ▪ as you shall heare when we speak of virginia . in these northerne parts of america , but especially within the main continent , some have written ( but how truly i cannot tell ) that there is a sea which hath no enter course at all with the ocean : so that if there be any third place beside the mare caspium , and the mare mortuum in palestina , which retained in it self great saltnesse , and yet mingleth not with the other sea , it is in these countries . there is also in new spain a great salt lake , as big or bigger than the dead sea of palestine , in the midst of which stands ▪ the great city of tenustitan , or mexico , the mistris cr●…imperiall city of those parts : and on the bankes or sides ▪ of that lake many other cities also beside , which though they are but little in comparison of the greatnesse of tenustitan , yet of themselves are geeat . this tenustitan is supposed to consist of 60 thousand houses , as you may read in the third chap. of the fifth of the decades : and this city standing in the midst and center of this salt lake , go which way you will from the continent to the ●…ity , it is at least a league and an half , or two leagues on the lake unto it : some of the other cities are said to be thirty , some of forty thousand houses ; the names of these are , mesiquail●…ingo , coluacana , wiohilabasco , iztapalapa , and others : the lake , though it be in the midst of the land , hath his fluxus and refluxus , his ebbing and flowing , like the sea , and yet seventy leagues distant from the sea. but certain it is , that towards the south of these parts , which is the northern part of hispania nova , above mexico , there is a burning hill , which often times breaketh out into flames , as vesuvius in campania , did in the daies of the elder pliny , and as aetna hath done many ages since and before . peter martyr his his fifth of his decades , saith , that eight leagues from tenustitan or mexico , as ferdinando cortes went thither from the chiurute calez , where is a hill called of the inhabitants popecatepeque , as much as to say , a smoakie mountaine , at the top whereof there is a hole of a league and a halfe wide , out of which are cast fire , and stones with whitl-winds ; and that the thickness of the ashes lying about the hill is very great . it is reported also elsewhere of this hill , that the flames and the ashes thereof oft times destroy the fields and gardens thereabouts . when cortes , went by it , he sent ten spaniards , with guides of the countrey , to see and make report thereof unto him ; two of which ten venturing further than the rest , saw the mouth of this fiery gulph at the hils top : and had they not happily soon returned towards their fellows , and sheltered themselves under a rock on the side of the hill , such a multitude of stones were cast out with the flame , that by no meanes they could have escaped . the english-men also desirous by navigation to adde something unto their own countrey , as before time they had travelled toward the farthest north part of america , so lately finding that part which lieth between florida and nova francia , was not inhabited by any christians , and was a land fruitfull and fit to plant in , they sent thither two severall times , two severall companies , as colonies to inhabite that part , which in remembrance of the virginity of their queen they called virginia . but this voyage being enterprized upon by private men , and being not throughly followed by the state , the possession of this virginia for that time was discontinued , and the country left to the old inhabitants . there were some english people , who after they had understood the calmnesse of the climate , and goodnesse of the soyle , did upon the instigation of some gentlemen of england , voluntarily offer themselves , even with their wives and children , to go into those parts to inhabite ; but when the most of them came there ( upon some occasions ) they returned home again the first time : which caused that the second year there was a great company transported thither , who were provided of many necessaries , and continued there over a whole winter , under the guiding of m. lane : but not finding any sustenance in the country ( which could well brooke wi●…h their nature , and being too meanely provided of corn and victuals from england ) they had like to have perished with famine ; and therefore thought themselves happy when sir francis drake , comming that way from the westerne indies , would take them into his ships , and bring them home into their native country . yet some there were of those english , which being left behind , ranged up and down the country ( and hovering about the sea-coast ) made means at last ( after their enduring much misery ) by some christian ships to be brought back again into england . while they were there inhabiting , there were some children born and baptized in those parts , and they might well have endured the country , if they might have had such strength as to keep off the inhabitants from troubling them in tilling the ground , and reaping such corn as they would have sowed . again in the daies of our now raigning soveraigne , in the year of our lord 1606. the english planted themselves in virginia , under the degrees 37 , 38 , 39. where they do to this day continue , and have built three towns and forts , as namely james-town and henrico , fort henricke , & fort charls , with others , which they hold & inhabite ; sure retreats for them against the force of the natives , and reasonable secured places against any power that may come against them by sea. in the same height , but a good distance from the coast of virginia , lieth the iland called by the spaniards la barmuda , but by our english the summer ilands , which of late is inhabited also by our country men . northward from them on the coast lieth n●…rumbega , which is the south part of that which the french men did without disturbance of any christian for a time possess . for the french-men did discover a larg part of america , towards the circle articke , and did build there some towns , and named it of their own country nova francia . as our english men have adventured very far for the discovery of new-found lands : so with very great labour and diligence they attempted to open something higher than nova francia : and therefore with some ships they did passe thither , and entred upon the land , from whence they brought some of the people , whose countenance was very tawny and dusky ; which commeth not by any heat , but the great cold of the climate , chilling and pricking them : but the digestion and stomack of these people is very good , insomuch that like unto the tartars , and some other norther nations , their feeding was ( for the most part ) upon raw meat , their manners otherwise being barbarous and suitable to their diet . they had little leatherne boats , wherein they would fish neare the brinks of the sea , and at their pleasure would carry them from place to place on their backs . notwithstanding all their pains there taken , it was a great errour and ignorance in our men , when they supposed that they should find good store of gold-mines in those quarters : for the country is so cold , that it is not possible to find there any full concoction of the sun , to breed and work such a metall within the ground ; and therefore howsoe ver they brought home some store of earth , which they supsed to be ore , and of shining stones ; yet when it came to the triall it proved to be nothing worth , but verified the proverb , all is not gold that glisters . in very many parts of these northern countries of america , there is very fit and opportune fishing some pretty way within the sea , and therefore divers nations of europe , do yearly send fishers thither , with shipping and great store of salt : where when they have taken fish ; and dried it , and salted it at the land , they bring it home into christendome , and utter it commonly by the name of new found-land-fish . the english about the year 1570 did adventure far for to open the north parts of america , and sayled as far as the very circle articke , hoping to have fonnd a passage-by the north to the moluccoes , and to china , which hitherto neither by the north of asia , nor by the north of america , could be effefected by them , by reason of the very great cold and ice in the climate . the rest of the iland ( being a huge space of earth , ) hath not hither to by any christian to any purpose been discovered ; but by those near the sea coast it may be gathered , that they all which do there inhabite , are men rude and uncivill , without the knowledge of god. yet on the north west part of america , some of our english men going through the straights of magellane , and passing towards the north by hispania nova , have touched on a countrey , where they have found good entertainment , and the king thereof yeelded himself to the subjection of the queen of england : whereupon they termed it nova albion . sir francis drake , who toucht upon that country and for some pretty time had his abode there , doth report in his voyage , that the country is very good , yeelding much store of divers fruits delightful , both to the eye and taste : and that the people are apt enough by hospitality to yeeld favour & entertainment to strangers : but it is added withall , that they are marvellously addicted to wichcraft , and adoration of devils ; from which they could not be perswaded to abstain even in the very presence of our country-men . of peru and brasile . vvhen the portugals had first begun their navigation by africk into the east-indies , some of them intending to have held their course eastward unto catut bonae spei , were driven so far westward by tempest , that they landed in a large and great country , which by a general name is called brasilia , where they began to enter traffick , and with towns and castles to plant themselves , before that the spaniard had discovered peru , which is the south part of america . so that at this day whatsoever ▪ the king of spaine hath in brasilia , it is in the right of the crown of portugal . we may read in guicciardine , how when the spaniards towards the west , and the portugals towards the east , had descried many new-found-lands , there grew great contention between them , what should be appropriated unto the one , and what might be seized on by the other : therefore for the better establishing of peace amongst them , they had both recourse unto alexander the sixt , who was pope in the year 1492 , and somewhat before and after : and he taking on him ( after the proud manner of the bishops of rome ) to dispose of it , which belonged not unto him , did set down an order between them ; which was that all the degrees of longitude , being 360. in the globe being divided into two parts , the spaniards should take one , and the portugals the other : so that in this division they were to begin in those degrees , under which some of peru standeth ; from the which they counting forwards towards the east , did allow brasilia , and 180 degrees to the portugals eastward , and so from brasilia westward to the spaniards as many : so that he had in his portion all america accept brasilia . this country is large , having in it many people , and several kingdoms , which are not all possessed by the portugals ; but so , that other christians , as namely the frenchmen being driven out of their country for religion , have set foot in there , though afterwards again they have abandoned it . what the portugal do at this day in brasilia , i know not : but it is likely now , that whatsoever there is held by the christians is reputed to be under the spaniards , as many other parts of brasile promiscuously are : yet certaine it is , that now almost forty yeares since some of the french-men , which professed sincere religion , and could not then be suffered quietly to live in france , did provide certain shipping , and under the conduct of one villagagno a knight of malta , but their own country-men did go thither & continued there the space of one year , having ministers and preachers among them , and the exercise of the word and sacraments : but after by the evill counsell of some of the chief rulers in france , which were addicted unto the pope , the heart of villagagno was drawn away , insomuch that he contumeliously using the pastors , and chiefe of that company , did force them to retire into france : so that the habitation there was then utterly relinquished , and hath not si●…ce been continued by any of the french. there is a learned man one johannes lyreus , who was in their voyage , and hath written a tract called navigatio in brasiliam , which is very well worth the reading , not only to see what did befall him and his company , but what the manners of that people , with whom they did converse . the inhabitants here are men also utterly unlearned ; but men more ingenious than the common sort of the americans ; goodly of body , and straight of proportion going alwaies naked ; reasonable good warriours after their country fashion , using to fat such enemies as they take in the wars , that afterwards they may devour them , which they do with great pleasure . for divers of the people of those quarters , as the caribees , and the cannibals , and almost all , are eaters of mans flesh . in this country groweth abundance of that wood , which since is brought into europe , to die red colours , and is of the place whence it commeth called brasil wood ; the trees whereof are exceeding great . the people of brasil , where lyrius and his fellows lived , are called by the name of tauvaupinambaltii , by description of whose qualities , many things may be learned concerning the rest of the inhabitants neere thereobout . first then , they have no letters among them , and yet seem to be very capable of any good understanding : as appeared by the speech of some of them , reproving the frenchmen for their great greedinesse and cove●…ousness of gain , when they would take so much pains , as to come from another end of the world to get commodities there . their computation is onely by the sun and moon , whom they hold to be of a divine nature : and although they know nothing truly concerning god , yet they have a dark opinion that the soule doth live after the seperation from the body . the men and women throughout the whole countrey do go starke naked , even very few of them having any thing on to cover their privities ; onely some of them do pull some kind of ornaments thorow their eares , and the most of them have their lower lip boared thorow with a great hole , therein putting some device or other . they look very disguisedly , but they are wonderful straight of limb and proportion , insomuch that the author writeth that in all the time wherein he lived among them , he saw not one crooked backt or mis-shapen in any part : whereof seeking to give a reason , he ascribeth it to this ; that their children are never swathed , or bound about , with any thing when they are first born , but are put naked into the bed , with their parents to lie : which beds are devised of cotton wooll , and hung up between two trees not far from the ground , in the which flagging down in the middle , men and their wives and their children do lie together . but whether this be the true reason of the straightnesse of their bodies , it may be doubted , from the authority of s. hierom , who in one of his treatises mentioning that the children of the noblest and ▪ greatest romans in his time were very crooked , when other which were breed of meaner parents were not so , imputeth it to this cause , that the gentlewomen of rome , in a kind of wantonness did not suffer their infants to be so long swathed as poorer people did , and that thereby their joynts and members not being tied and restrained within compass , did flye out of proportion . certainly , howsoever there may be some reasons naturally given of these things , it is much to be ascribed to the immediate will of god , who giveth and taketh away beauty at his pleasure . the men of these parts are very strong , and able of body , and therefore either give sound strokes with their clubs where with they fight , or else shoot strong shoots with their bows , whereof they have plenty : & if any of them be taken in the wars ( after they have been cramed of pur pose to be eaten of their enemies ) they are brought forth to execution , wherein marvellous willingly they do yeeld themselves to death , as supposing that nothing can be more honourable unto them , then to be taken , and to die for their country . he therefore who is to kil the other , doth with very much insolency and pride insult , over him which is to be slain ; saying , thou art he which would'st have spoyled and destroyed us and ours , but now i am to recompence thee for thy pains : and the other without all fear replies , yea , i am he that would have done it , and would have made no spare , if i had prospered in mine intent ; and other such sutable words , shewing their resolution to conquer , or willingly to die in the common cause of themselves and their people . it is strange to see the inhumane and unatural custome , which many of the people of the west indies have ; for there are whole islands full of such canibals as do eat mans flesh ; and amongst the rest these 〈◊〉 are famous that way ; who when they are disposed to have any great meeting , or to have any solemne feast , they kill some of their adversaries , whom they keep in store for that purpose , & cutting him out into collops , which they call boucan , they will lay them upon the coals , and for divers dayes together make great mirth in devouring them : wherein they have this fashion , very strange , that so long as they are in their eating banquet , although it continue divers daies , they do never drink at all , but afterwards , when they are disposed to fall to drinking of a certain liquor which they have amongst them , they will continue bousing at it for two or three dayes , and in the mean time never eat . in many parts both of hispania nova , and peru , as also in the islands neer adjoyning , they have an herbe whereof they make great use ; of which some is brought into divers parts of europe , under the name of tobacco , paetum , or nicosiana , although we have also much conterfeit of the same : the people of those parts do use it as physick , to purge themselves of humours , and they apply it also to the filling of themselves , the smoak of it being received through a leafe , or some such hollow thing ▪ into the nostrils , head , and stomack , and causing the party which receiveth it , to lie as if he were drunk or , dead for a space , needing no food or nourishment in the mean while . whereof it cannot be denied , but that it is possible that by prescript of physick it may by serviceable for some purposes among us ; although that also it be very disputable , in as much as they who speak most highly of it , must and do confess that the force of it is obstup●…factive , and no other , whereby it produceth his own effects , and wise men should be wary & sparing in receiveing of such a thing . but when we do consider the vaine and wanton use which many of our country-men have of late taken up , in receiving of this tobacco , not only many times in in a day , but even at meat , and by the way ▪ to the great waste both of their purse and of their bodies , we may wel deplore the vanity of the nation , who thereby purpose themselves as ridiculous to the french , and other our neighbours . and certainly , if it were possible that our worthy , warlike , and valiant progenitors might behold their manners ( who do most delight therein ) they would wonder what a generation had succeeded in their rooms , who addict themselves to so fond , and worse than effeminate passion . benzo , who lived among them of the west indies doth call the smell of it a tartarus and hellish savour : and whatsoever looketh into those books , which our christians travelling thither have written concerning those west indies , shall find that the inhabitants there do use it most as a remedy against that which is called lues venerea , whereunto many of them are subject , being unclean in their conversation ; and that not only in fornication and adultery with women , but also their detestable and excrable sin of sodomy . after that the spaniards had for a time possessed hispania nova , for the desire of gold and pearle , some of them travelled towards the south , and as by water they found the sea westward from peru , which is alwaies very calme , and is by them called the south sea , as the other wherein cuba standeth ' is termed the north sea , so by land they found that huge and mighty country ; which is called peru , wherein the people are ( for the most part ) very barbarous , and without god ; men of great stature , yea , some of them far higher than the ordinary sort of men in europe ; using to shoot strongly with bows made of fish-bones , and most cruel people to their enemies . our english people who have travelled that way , do in their writings confess that they saw upon the south of peru very huge & tall men , who attempting upon them when they put to land for fresh water , were much frighted with their guns , or else doubtless had offered violence unto them ; which our men fearing , got them away as speedily as they could . there was one petrus de cieca , a spaniard , who when he had travelled two and twenty years , returned back again into europe , and wrote an excellent book of the discovery of that whole country . and he amongst other things doth record , that there are found in some parts of peru , very huge and mighty bones of men that had been gyants , who dwelt and were buried there . amongst these the spaniards ( partly by force , but especially by perfidious treason ) did get infinite sums of gold and pearls , wherewith being allured , they hoped for more , by reason that a great part thereof hath under the zona torrida , and that caused them to spread themselves here and there , as far as they durst in the country , where in some places they digged gold out of the ●…rth ; and in some other they found it ready digged and tried unto their hands , by the people of the country , which had used that trade before their comming thither . amongst other creatures which are very famous in this peru , there is a little beast called cincia , which is no bigger than a fox , the tale whereof is long , the feet short , and the head like a very fox , which hath a bag hanging under her belly , whereinto she doth use to put her yong , when she seeth them in danger of any hunter or passenger . that petrus de cieca ( of whom mention was made before ) telleth that himself saw one of them , which had no less then seven young ones lying about her : but as soon as she perceived that a man was comming neer unto her , she presently got them into her bag , and ran away with such incredible swiftness as one would not have imagined . after the spaniards had conquered mexico , they discovered peru , travelling towards the south , and as they prevailed against the mexicans , taking part with an enemy neighbour ; so finding two brothers striving in peru , guas●…ar & atabaliba , they so demeaned themselves in their difference that they ruined both , and got their incredible store of gold. the first that attempted against the peruvians , and destroyed their kings , were james of almagra and the two brothers of pizarres : but dealing treacherously and cruelly with the peruvians , they long enjoyed not their victory , but all of them died a violent death . the people of peru are in many places much wiser than those of cuba , hispaniola , and some others parts of the continent where the spaniards first landed , and therefore they have some orders and solemne customes among them ; as among the rest , they do bury their dead with observable ceremonies , laying up their bodies with great solemnity into a large house prepared for that purpose . they have also in one province there a custome of carrying news & messages veryspeedily , to the end the king and governor of the country may presently take advertisement of any thing which falleth out , and this is not on horse-back , or by the dromedary or else , as they use in other places , but only men who pass over rocks and thorow bushes the next way , and in 〈◊〉 set places there be alwaies fresh posts , to carry tha●… further which is brought unto them by the other . the spaniards have here and there scatteringly upon the sea-coasts , set up some towns and castles , but are not able to possess almost any thing of the land : neither have they as yet discovered the inward parts thereof ●…hough daily they spread themselves more and more : insomuch th●…t it is supposed , that within these seven years last past they have gotten into guiana , where in former time no ●…ranger of that nation hath been . guiana is a country which lie●…h to ●…he north sea in the same height , as peru to the south ( as it is discribed ) ●…bout five degrees from the aequin●…ctial , and that ( as i take it ) toward the south . the country is supposed to be exceeding rich & to have in it many mines of gold ( which have not yet been touched , or at least but very l●…tely , & to be exceeding fertile , and delightful otherwise , although it lie i●… the heat of zona torrida : but there is such store of rivers & fresh waters i●… every part thereof , and the soile it self hath such correspondency thereunto , that it is reported to be as green and pleasant to the eye , as any place in the world . some of our englishmen did with great labour and danger pass by water into the heart of the country , & earnestly desire that some forces of ●…he english might be sent thither , & a colony erected there : by reason of the distance of the place , & the great hazard , that if it should not succeed well , it might prove dishonourable to our nation ; and withal , because the spaniards have great companies and strength , although not in it , ye many wayes about it , that intendment was discontinued . in divers parts of this peru , and near unto guiana ; there are very many great rivers , which as they are fi●… for any navigation that should be attempted to go up within the land , so otherwise they must needs yeeld health and fruitfulness to those that i●…habit there . the greatest of these rivers is that which some call oregliana , or the river of the amazones . and next is the river maragnone & down towards . magellane straights rio de la plata : and our english men do speak of the river orinoque ▪ in the greatest of which this is famous ; that for a good spece after they have run into the main sea , yea , some write 20. or 30. miles , they keep themselves unmixt with the salt water , so that a very great way wi●…hin the sea . men may take up as fresh water , as if they were neer the land. the first o●… our nation that sailed to guiana , and made report thereof unto us , was s. walter raleigh , who ●…ravelled far up into the country upon the river orinoque : after him , one or two voyages thither did captain kemish make , and now lately ▪ captain h●…recourt , with others , have visited ●…hat country , ▪ where our men con●…inued the space of 3. or 4. year●… ▪ being kindly intreated of the natives , who much desired them to come and make some plantation amongst them hoping by them to be defended : against the spaniards , whom they greatly hate and fear ▪ when sir walter raleigh come to guiana , ●…he overthrew the spaniards that were in trinidado , and took bereo their captain or general prisoner : he loosed and set at ▪ liberty four or five kings of the people of that country , that bereo kept in chains , and sent th●…m ▪ home to their own : which de●…d of his did win him the hearts of the people , them and make much to favour our english at this day . divers also of that country , which ●…mongst them are men of note , have been brought over into england , & here living many years ▪ are by our men brought home to their-own country , whose reports and knowledge of our nation is a cause that they have been wel entreated of these guiancans , and much desired to plant themselves amongst them . our men that travelled to guiana , amongst other things most memorable , did report , and in writing delivered to the world , that near unto guiana , and not far from those place ; where themselves were , there were men without heads ; which seemed to maintain the opinion to be true which in old time was conceived by the historians and philosophers , that there were acephali , whose eies were in their breasts , and the rest of their face there also scituated : and this our english travellers have reported to be so ordinarily , and 〈◊〉 mentioned unto them in those parts where they were , that no sober man should any way doubt of the truth thereof . now because it may appear that the matter is but fabulous , in respect of the truth of gods creating of them , and that the opinion of such strange shapes and monsters as were said to be in old time , that is ▪ men with heads like dogs , some with eares down to their ankles , others with one huge foot alone , whereupon they did hop from place to place , was not worthy to be credited although sir john mandevile of late age fondly hath seemed to give credit and authority thereunto ; yea , and long since he who took upon him the name of s. augustine , in writing that counterfeit book ad ▪ frates in ermo : it is fit that the cerainty of the matter concerning these in peru should be known : & that is that in quinbaia , and some other parts of peru , the men are borne as in other places , & yet by devises which they have , after ▪ the birth of children , when their bones and gristles , and other parts are yet tender , and fit to be fashioned , they do crush down the heads of the children unto the breasts and shoulders , and do with frames of wood , & other such devices keep them there , that in time they grew continuate to the upper part of the trunke of the body , and so seem to have no necks or heads . and again , some other of them thinking that the shape of the head is very decent , if it be long and erect after the fashion of a sugar-loaf , do frame some other to that form by such wooden instruments , as they have for that purpose , and by binding and swathing them to keep them so afterwards ▪ and that this is ▪ the custome of those people , and that there is no other matter in it , petrus de cieca , who travelled almost all over peru , and is a grave and sober writer , in his description of those countries ▪ doth report . there be in some parts of peru , people which have a strange device for the catching of divers sorts of fowls , wherein they especially desire to take such as have their feathers of p●…ed , orient , and various colours , and that not so much for the flesh of them , which they may eate , as for their feathers , whereof they make garments ; either short , as cloaks , or as gowns , long to the ground , and those their greatest nobles do wear , being curiously wrought , and by order , as appeareth by some of them being brought into england . and here by this mention of feathers it is not 〈◊〉 to specifie , that in the sea , which is the ocean lying betwixt europe & america , there be divers flying fishes yet whose wings are not feathers , but a thin kind of skin , like the wings of a bat or rearmouse : and these living sometimes in the water , and flying sometimes in the aire , are well accepted in neither place : for below , either ravenous fishes are ready to devourt them : or above the sea-fowls are continually beating at them . some of the spaniards , desirous to see how far this land of peru did go towards the south , travelled down , till at length they found the lands end , and a little strait or narrow sea , which did run from the main ocean toward africk into the south-sea . one magellanus was he that found this strait , and although it be dangerous , passed through it , so that of his name it is called fretum magellanicum , or magellans straits . and this is the way whereby the spaniards do pass to the back-side of peru and hispania nova , and whosoever will compass the whole world ( as some of our english men have done ) he must of necessity ( for any thing that is yet known ) passe through this narrow strait . ferdinandus magellanus having a great mind to travel , and being very desi rous to go unto the molucco islands by some other way than by the back side of africk , if it might be , did in the year 1520 ▪ set forth from sivill in spain with five ships , and travelled toward the west indies , & went so far towards the south , as that he came to the lands end , where he holding his course , in a narrow passage towards the west , for the space of divers daies , did at the length peaceably pass through the straights , and came into a great sea , which some after his name do call mare magellanicum , some others mare pacaficus , because of the great calmness and quietness of the waters there ; but most comonly it is termed the south sea ; the length whereof he passed in the space of three months and 20. daies , and came unto the moluccoes , where being set upon by the east indian people himself and many of his company were slain : & yet one of his ships ( as the spaniards do write ) called victoria ▪ did get away from those moluccoes , and returning by the cape bonae spei on the south side of africk came safe into spain ▪ so that it may be truly said , that if not megellanus , yet some of his company were the first that did ever compass the world , through all the degrees of longitude . johannes lyrius , in the end of his book de navigatione in brasiliam , doth tell that sir francis drake of england , when he passed through magellane straights , and so to the molucco ilands , and then homeward from the east by africk , did in a device give the globe of the earth , with this word or motto , primus m●…●…ricumdedisti : which is not simple to be understood that never any had gone round the world before him , but that never any of fame ; for magellane himself was slain ( as before is noted : ) or else he did doubt of the truth of that narration , that the ship called fictoria did return with safety into spaine . the maps which were made at first concerning america and peru did so describe the western part of peru , as if when a man had passed . magellane straits , and did intend to come upward towards nova hispania , on the further side , he must have born west , by reason that the land did shoot out with a very great promontory , and bending that way . but our english men which went with s. francis drake , did by their own experience certainly find that the land from the uttermost end of the straits on peru side , did go up towards the south directly , without bending to the west , and that is the cause whereof all the new maps and globes , especially made by the english , or by the dutch , who have taken their directions from our men , are reformed according to this new observation . when the spaniards had once found an ordinary passage from the south sea towards the moluccoes , they never ceased to travel that way , and discovered more and more , and by that means they had found out divers islands not known in former ages ; as two for example sake : a good distance from the molucco's , which because they be inhabited by men which do steal not only each from other , but do pilfer away all things that they can from such strangers as do land there abouts , they are called insulae latronum . they have also descried some other neerer unto the east indies , which they now term insulae salomonis . but the most renowned of all are those to whom the name is given philippinae , in remembrance of philip the second king of spaine , at whose cost they were discovered . these philippinae are very rich , and from thence is brought abundance of costly spices , and some other rich merchandize , yea , and gold too . there were also some other islands descried by magellanus himself , which he called insulas infortunatas , as being of quality contrary to the canaries , which are termed the fortunate islands : for when he passing through the south sea , and meaning to come to the moluccoes , ( where he was slain ) did land in these islands , thinking there to have furnished himself with victuals and fresh water , he found the whole place to be barren and not inhabited . of the countries that lie about the two poles . having laid down in some measure the description of the old known world , asia africa , and europe , with the islands adjoyning unto them ; & also of americk ▪ which by some hath the title of new found world : it shall not be amiss briefly to say some thing of a fift and sixt part of the earth : the one lying neer the south pole , and the other neer the north : which are places that in former times were not known , nor though of . when magellanus came down to the southern end of peru , he found on the further side of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 main and hugh land lying towards the south pole , which some have of his name called since regio magellanica , and that so much the rather , because he touched upon it again before he came to the moluccoes . since his time the portugals trading towards calec●… and the east indies , there hath some of them been driven by tempest so far as to that which many now call the south continent ; and so divers of sundery nations have there by occasion touched upon it . it is found therefore by experience , for to go along all the degrees of longitude , and as in some places it is certainly discovered to come up so high towards the north , as to the tropicke of capricorn ; so it is conjectured , that towards the south it goeth as far as to the pole. the ground whereof is , that never any man did perceive the sea did passe through any part thereof , nay , there is not any great river which hath yet been described to come out o●… i●… into the ocean : whereupon it is concluded , that since somewhat must fill up the globe of the earth , from the first appearing of this land unto the very pole : and that cannot be any sea , unless it should be such a one as hath no entercourse with the ocean ( which to imagine is uncertain ) therefore it is supposed that it commeth whole out into the land to the antartick pole : which if it should be granted , it must needs be acknowledged withal , that this space of earth is so huge , as that it equalleth in greatness not only asia , europe , and africa , but almost america being joyned unto them . things memorable in this country , are reported to be very few : only in the east part of it , over against the moluccoes , some have written that there be very waste countries & wildernesses ; but we find not so much as mention whether any do inhabite there or no. and over against the promontory of africk ; which is called caput bonae spei , there is a country which the portugals called p sittacorum regio , because of the abundant store of parrets , which they found there . neer to the magellane straits , in this south part of the world , is that land the spaniards call terra delfuego : those also which have toucht at it in other places , have given to some parts of it these names , beach , lucath , & maletur , but we have no perfect description of it , nor any knowledge how or by whom it is inhabited . about this place the said portugals did at one time saile along for the space of 2000. miles , and yet found no end in the land . and in this place they reported that they saw inhabitants , which were very fair and fat people , and did go naked : which is the more to be observed , because we scant read in any writer , that there hath been seen any ▪ people at all upon the south coast . more towards the east , not far from the muluccoes , there is one part of this country , as some suppose , although some doubt whether that be an island or no , which commeth up so high ▪ towards the north , as the very aequinoctial line , and this is commonly called nova guinea , because it lieth in the same climate , and is of no other temperature then guinea in africk is . i have heard a great mathematitian in england find fault both with ortelius and mercator , and all our late makers of maps , because in describing this continent , they make no mention of any cities , kingdoms , or common-wealth which are seated and placed there : whereof he seemed in confidence of words to avouch that there be a great many , and that it is as good a countrey as almost any in the world : but the arguments why he gathered it to be so he did not deliver ; and yet notwithstanding it may be most probably conjectured , that the creator of the world would not have framed so huge a masse of earth , but that he would in his wisdome appoint some reasonable creatures to have their habitation there . concerning those places which may be supposed to lie neer unto the northern pole , there hath in times past something been written , which for the particularity thereof might carry some shew of truth , if it be not throughly lookt into . it is therefore by an old tradition delivered , and by some written also , that there was a friar of oxford , who took on him to travel into those parts which are under the very pole : which he did partly by negromancy ( wherein he was much skilled ) and partly again by taking advantage of the frozen times , by meanes whereof he might travell upon the ice even so as himself pleased : it is said therefore of him , thàt he was directly under the pole , and that there he found a very huge and blackrock , which is commonly called nigra rupes , and that the said rock being divers miles in circuit , is compassed round about with the sea ; which sea being the breadth of some miles over , doth run out into the more large ocean by four severall currents , which is as much to say , as that a good pretty way distant from the nigra rupes , there are foure several lands of reasonable quantity : and being scituated round about the rock , although with some good distance , are severed each from other by the sea running between them , and making them all foure to be islands almost of equall bignesse . but there is no certainty of this report , and therefore our best mathematicians in this latter age have omitted it . our travellers of later years have adventured so far , to their great danger in those cold and frozen countries , that they have descried groinland , which lieth as far , or beyond the circle artick : but whether it go so far out as unto the pole , they cannot say : which is also to be afirmed of the northern parts of america , called by some estote-land ; for the opening whereof our english-men have taken great pains , as may easily appeare by the ●…ew ●…lobes and maps , in which all the capes , sounds and furlongs , are called by english names . their purpose was in attempting this voyage , to have found out a passage to china and cathaio , by the north parts of america : but by the snows which fell in august and september , as also by the incredible ice there , after many hazards of their lives , they were forc●…d to return , not knowing whether there be any current in the sea , that might lead to the east-indies , or how far the land doth reach northward . in like sor●… , some of our english merchants , to their great charges , set forth ●…eets to descry the seas towards the east : yet going by the north , and there have found many unknown countries ; as nova zembla , sir hugh willoughbies land , and other m●…re : but of certain what is very near unto the pole they could never find . they have also so far prevailed , as to reach one half of the way toward cathaio by the north , going eastward : insomuch that by the river ob , and by the bay of st. nicholas they bring the merchandize downwards into russia : but whether the sea do go throughout , even to the fatherest eastern parts ; or whether some great promontory do stretch out of the main continent unto the very pole , they cannot yet attain to know . these things therefore must be left uncertain , to further discoveries in fature ages . universities . in england . 1 oxford 2 cambridge . universities in spaine . 1 toledo , latitude 40. 10. longitude 16. 40. 2 sivill , lat ●…7 . ●…0 . long . 14. 20 3 valencia lat 39. 55. long . 21. 10 4 granada , lat , 37. ●…0 long . 17. 1●… 5 s jago ▪ lat . ●…0 . 5 long . 15. 40. 6 valindolid , lat ●…2 5. long 15. 45. 7 alcalade henaros , lat . 40. 55. long . 17. 30 8 salamanca , lat . 14. 10. long . 24 4 9 caragoca , lat , 4●… 22 long . 22. 20 10 signenc●… , lat , ●…4 . 35. 20. long . 18. ●…0 . 11 lerida , lat . 42 20 long 18. 10 12 huesca , lat . 12 50. long . 2●… . 20 13 lisbon lat . 38. 50. long 0 50 14 coimbra , lat 40. long . 11. 2●… . 15 ebora , lat . 37 , 38 long . 20 in the isle majorica . 1 majorica . in polonia . 1 c●…acovia . 2 posne . in prussia . 1 koningsberg in lituania . 1 wild in france . 1 paris , lat 48. ●…0 . long ●…3 2 poictiers , lat . 46. 10 long 1●… . 1●… . 3 lyons , lat . 44. 30 long . ●…5 . 40 4 anger 's , lat . 47. 25. long 18. 10 5 avignon , lat . 42. 30 long . 25 50 6 orleans , lat . 47. 10 long . ●…2 7 〈◊〉 lat . 46. 20 long . 22. 10 8 cacn , lat 40. 45. long 1●… . 20 9 reims , lat 48 , 30 long . 25 , 25 10 burdeaux , lat 44 , 30 , long 17. 50 11 tolouse , lat 43 , 5 , long 20 30. 12 nismo , lat 42 , 30 , long , 25 13 montpelie●… . lat . 42 , long 24 , 30 14 bisant●…n . lat . 46 , 3●… , long . 27 , 48 15 lole , lat , 46 , 10 , long 27 in italy . 1 rome , lat 41 , 20 , long , 38 2 venice , lat , 44 , 50 , long , 37 3 padna , lat , 44 , 45 , long , 32 , 10 4 bononia , lat , 43 , 33 , long , 35 , 50 5 ferrara , lat , 44 , long , ●…6 6 millan , lat 44 , 40 , long , 33 7 pavia lat , 44 , long . 33 , 5 8 turin , lat , 43 , 45 , long , 31 30 9 florence , lat , 42 35 , long , 35 , 50 10 pisa , lat , 42 , 40 , long , 35 11 sienna , lat , 42 , 20 , long , 36 , 15 12 modena , lat , 13 , 50 , long , 35 , 40 in bohe●…a . 1 prague in germany . 1 collen , lat . 51 , long . 30 2 basil , lat . 47 , 40 , long . 31 3 alents , lat 50 long . 31 4 witzburg , lat . 50 5 triers , lat . 49 , 50 6 heidleberg , lat 49. 25 , long 33 7 tubinge , lat . 49 , 50 8 ingolsted , lat 49 , ●…0 9 erfurt , lat . 50 10 leistgige , lat 51 , 10 11 wittenberg . lat . 51 , 50 12 frankford in oder . 51 , 10 13 rostoch , lat 53 40 14 grislwald lat 53 , 10 15 friburg . lat . 48 16 marburg , lat . 50 , 40 17 viena , lat 43 40 18 diling in suitzerland neate d●…yaw . in germania inferiori . 1 lovain , lat . 50 , long . 23 2 doway , lat 50 , 30 , long . 29 3 liege , lat 50 30 , long 29 4 leiden , lat 5●… , 10 , long . 27 , 20 in denmarke . copenhagen , lat . 56 , 50 , long 34 , 30 in moravi●… . 1 olmues in scotland . 1 saint andrews 2 abe●…don of england . in england are contained s●…ires 52 bishopricks 26 castles 186 rivers 555 chases . 13 forrests 68 parkes 781 clties 25 parish-churches 9725 bridges . 956 finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a26435-e190 of the seas . the divers names given to the seas , and the reason why . of the straits or narrow seas . of the earth . how spain is bounded . the original name of the country of spaine . carthaginians sent to defend the gaditanes . spaine once a province of the roman empire sarazens and moores erected it a kingdome . they were utterly expelled by philip the t●…ird . spaine in ●…ormer time twelve several kingdomes . granada 700. yeares possessed by the moores sarazens . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . a strange and unexpected prophesie . portugal added to the kingdome of spaine . lisbone the chiefe city of portugal sevill . toledo . the magnificent greatness of spaine and portugal . the empery of the kingdome of spain the greatest in the●…●…an world . france how bounded . france one of the most absolute kingdoms of the world . civill wars in france . revenue of the crown of france exceeding great . in france the offices of justice bought and sold. the custom of france for mustering and pressing souldiers . paris the chief city france . the kingdome of france divided into three parts . gaules , the ancient inhabitants of france . note . the riches of the states in general . the names of the 17 provinces . by this law ed. the 3 ▪ k of england , was put by the crown france . the switzers government . 23 cities or cantons in switzerland . geneva : a rare and excellent law. germany how bounded . the emperor governor of germany . who be the seven electors . his manner of election . the empire went sometimes by succession and sometimes by election . ferdin em●…eror . caesar , or romani imperii imperator . the empire divided by theodosius . a great policy in the bishops of rome . munsters complaint . most of the princes of germany , take onthem as absolute governours how they came by a great strength . the strengh of the princes of germany . the titles of their nobility . free states and cities ▪ a note worthy of observation . scituation of italy . italy divided into four parts . lombardy the garden of god. the policy of the bishop of rome . the states of venice . the venetians impoverished . the ex ●…llency of their government . tuscany . florence . the great duke of tuscany . a great part of italy under the bishop of rome . the manner of the rising of the popes greatnesse . denmarkes 〈◊〉 . 〈◊〉 . riches of denmarke . their religion . russia s●…tuate . emperor of russia . possevin . a iesuit sent by the pope to the emperor . a fine excuse for the popes pride ●…he emperours rage 〈◊〉 the p●…pe . possevinus fear of the emperor . difference between the greek and latine church . the people of lapland very heathenish . the passage by sea into this country . the first attempt . sir hugh willobies land. this empire one of the greatest in the world . prussia hew scituated . spruce leather . p●…lands sci tu●… ion . their ii ves reti gons . they hate the iesuites th●…ir chief city . cracovia . hungary 〈◊〉 . bunda . austria . vienna . arch duks of austria . the river of 〈◊〉 . scitu●…tion of dacia transylvania , walachia moldavia , servia . the mountain hamus grecia bounded . moreah . sparts . corinth . achaia . euboea . beotia . athens . pernassus & helicou . epirus . illyricum ▪ macedonia . many fam●…us things from greece famcus laws . famous captaines . the firstpoets . the great oratours . thracia . constantinople . northerne parts were not discovered in times past . meotis palus iustine ovid. bosphorus cimmerius . pontus euxinus . thracius bosphorus . a strange custome among the turks . hellespon ●…us x●…rxes b●…idge . mare aegeum . tartary b●…unded . their religion . their manner of wars tamberlain the great , ●… tartarian . scituation of cathaie . the great can of cathaie . cambalu the chiefe city of china . a very rich country . quinsay the ●…hiefe city . the people skilfull in ar●…s . their proverbe . two rare wonders invented in chinai , guns and printing . the situ●…tion of the indies . in india are many kingdomes their cattle v●…ry big . their richs the portugals first discovered the indies . four kingdoms by the portugals discovered . the city of goa . the indians religion . six kingdomes . 〈◊〉 of persia. the great and famous kings of persia. persians great souldiers . sophy of persia. their religion . scituation of parth●…a . their manner of fight . great wars of the perthians against the romanes . a famous nation . situation of armenia . divided into three parts . a memorable note . bathing of th●…ir children . assyria bounded . kings of assyria . the swift river tygris . the city ninive . situation of chaldea . babylon be chief city of chaldea . the admirab●… power of god in prese●…ving the pe●…ple . note . here were the fi●…st a strologians . cilicia . the city tarsus . alexanders overthrow of darius . the city of alexandria pamphylia . ●…he city of seleuchus . lycia . caria . halicarnassus . ionia . lydia . croesus overthrowne by cyrus . ephesus . the temple of diana . city of smyrna . polycarpus , scholar to st john the evangel st . city of sardis . four cities of ●…ote . eolis . mysia major , & ▪ mysia minor . the city of troy. phrygia . gordianus knot . bythinia . ci●…y of nice . chalcedon . paphlagonia pompciopolis . galatia . lyeaonia . pisidia . the kingdome of pontus . mithridates pompey brought mithridates to distresse . cappadocia . armenia minor . sy●…ia bounded . their ●…ient ●…ames . ci●…y of 〈◊〉 . al●…ppo . tripolis . thirty kings . note . the river iordan . asphaltites mare mornum . twelve tribes of israel . ierusalem . twelve tribes divided . the iews . ierusalem destroied . note . jerusalem twice destroied . 1 by nebuchadnezzar . 2. by vespasian . jerusalem in the turks dominion . arabia bounded . arabia divided into three parts . of the desart of arabia . mahomet born in arabia . the turks alcaron . the turks religion . the city mecha . the blasphemous prophecy of mahomet . mahomet a lascivious person . the red sea mount horeb. situation of africke . the country of egypt . in fertility . the flowing of nilus . learning very ancient in egypt . their pyramides one of the wonders of the world . the city memphis . good laws made by the king of egypt . the country of cyrene . carthage a famous city the kingdome of bocchus . atlas minor atlas major . the kingdome of morocco . a brutish custom●…uled in this coun●… . their religion . the portu gals have there setled themselves . the country of guinea . their commodities for trade . the kingdome of congo . their religion the kingdom of monomotapa . their religion . the kingdome of adel , &c. the situation of the empire of prester john. one of the greatest in the world . lunae montes . the abissines drowned egypt . the river nigar . their commodities . their religion . frizeland . zealand , in it standeth flushen & middleburge . ireland . * a rare & admirable note . of britain four languages there spoken . their originall . the bri●…taines five times conquered . first by t●…e romans . secondly , the pictes who used to paint , or pounse their faces . thirdly ▪ the saxons . their religion and devotion . fourthly the danes . king lucius the first that here received baptism & the gospel . note . no country like england . the riches of the countrey . the rich commodity of wooll . bridges . rivers . faire and large churches . 2. archbishopricks , and 24. other bishopricks . note . of scotland . scotland very poor in formertimes ▪ the reason why it is said that in britain are foure languages . borderers great robbers and stealers . lord warden of the marches . note . a proverb the policy of the french. musselborough field . the barbarousnesse of the scots in former times the orcades the people barbarous . the redshankes . the isle of man. the isle of anglisey . the isle of wight . the isles of gernsey & jernsey . divers other ilands insulae baleares . the iland of corsica . the iland of sardinia note . the iland of si●…lia . the city siracusa . note . arthimides the famous engine-maker . sicily once a kingdom ▪ two famous tyrants in it . the tyrant . phalaris . the tyrannies of sicily were very famous . note that cruelty is alwaies attended with scar. damocles the flatterer note how the poor woman prayed for this tyrant . a good note for all inventers of tortures & cruelty , and likewise for time flatterers . the mountian aetna the reason of the fire in the mountain aeina ▪ note . the papists purgatory is the fiery aeana the death of pliny the elder . note . malta the only place for repelling the turks . the society of the knights templers . the pope & the king of france . conspiring their ruine . hospitallers the knights of rhodes . the knights of malta . the isle corsu . cephalenia . zon. the commodities of the countrey . the impost laid on this island , called , the revenue of st mark. zant the inhabitants greeks . creta ▪ the labyrinth of de dalus . the most noted lyars . the island candy . cithera , where was the siue temple of venus . divers smal islands . note . the island of rhodes . the isle carpathus . the isle cyprus . the city ●…amogusta . the city paphos . the island tyrus . the island of sumatra two ilands iava major and iava minor . the islands of molucco's the great richs which the king of spaine receives from hence yearly note . the island of iapan . diverssmal ilands onely named . the ilands of gorgades the isle madera . hesperides . bonavista . canary ilands . from hence she best canary sacks . from hence great store of sugar-canes . the isle of st. thomas . the isle of cloves . the ilands of azores . note the unadvisedness of don antonio . the people of america utterly void of all manner of knowledge of god ▪ or goodnesse . the reasons conjectual of a new found world. some have entituled the queen of england soveraigne of these provinces . their religion . columbus ▪ the first discoverer of america . in the year 1492. america discovered by columbus . the island haity . the richs of the country : the island cuba . the pride of the spaniard , labouring to obscure the fame of columbus . hispania nova . of whom this country had its name . manner of the people . the cruèlty of the spaniards ▪ their armour . note their bread . no good literature amongst them note how the devill did strangely delude these people . note the malice of satan . the admiration of the people at the approach of the men and shipping . the mighty bignesse of the trees of brasile . they conceiv●…d them to be some gods . they admired and feared a letter . some very rare beasts . the s●…a crocodiles . some rare stones . divers tree not elsewhere found . the abun dance of kin and buls . the condition of the people of america . the religion . yet many grievous sins by them committed . their attire infinite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gold and silver in america . precious mines . attabaliba his ransome the country people exchanged it for babl●… they dreaded men on horse-back . the king had the fist part for his tribute . a councel at sivill for the government of america . note the spaniards cruelty . his insolency and tyrannising pride . their beastly bassness . note their inhnmanity the friars complaint of their cruelty note . mexico described . a great lake . mexico the chief city of all those quarters . the gulph of mexico . divers islands in the gulph of mexico . note . and named it florida . the river mayo . note the spaniards unchistian cruelty . sir francis drakes voyage . four cities 〈◊〉 in america . the burning hill in americs . a strange fire . of virginia the first plantation . the second planta ion . the third plantation . of the summer ilands the fish of new found , land . nova al bion . the portugals discovery of brasile . a large countrey , and much inhabited . note . the abundance of brasile wood . their religion . their apparell . the proportion of the inhabitants note . the canibals or man eiters , which is the country custome . their great use of tobacco . note . note this ye tobacconists ▪ a discription of the people of peru. the riches of the country of peru. a strange story of the beast cincia . the first attempters against the peruvians . guiana . the rich ness an●… 〈◊〉 os the ▪ cuntry . the river of the amazone . ●…ir walter ●… . leigh lid first 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it to the engl●…sh . they : ha●…e he ▪ spani●…rds , and ●…ove the english. a strange story . note . their strange devises to take fowls . divers flying fishes . magellanus straits . the south sea. the moluccoes . magellane the first that evercompased the world . insulae latornum . insulae salomonis philippinae . their riches . infulas infortunatas . regio m●…gellanica . psittacorum regio . terra del fuego . a description of the people . mov●… guinea . note . nigra rupes . groin-land nova zembla , s hugh willonghbies land . the trauellers breuiat, or, an historicall description of the most famous kingdomes in the world relating their situations, manners, customes, ciuill gouernment, and other memorable matters. / translated into english. relazioni universali. english botero, giovanni, 1540-1617. 1601 approx. 406 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 93 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2004-11 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a16482 stc 3398 estc s115576 99850794 99850794 16021 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons 0 1.0 universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a16482) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 16021) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1475-1640 ; 1090:18) the trauellers breuiat, or, an historicall description of the most famous kingdomes in the world relating their situations, manners, customes, ciuill gouernment, and other memorable matters. / translated into english. relazioni universali. english botero, giovanni, 1540-1617. johnson, robert, fl. 1586-1626. [4], 179, [1] p. by edm. bollifant, for iohn iaggard, imprinted at london : 1601. by giovanni botero. translator's dedication signed: i.r., i.e. robert johnson; a variant has translator's name spelled out. translation of: le relazioni universali. the last leaf is blank. title page has printers' device (mck. & ferg. 293). errata on a3v, final printed leaf. some pages marked. reproduction of the original in the harvard university. library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early 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corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng geography -early works to 1800. 2004-06 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2004-06 apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images 2004-07 emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread 2004-07 emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the travellers breviat , or an historicall description of the most famous kingdomes in the world : relating their situations , manners , customes , ciuill gouernment , and other memorable matters . translated into english. imprinted at london by edm. bollifant , for iohn iaggard . 1601 to the right honorable edward earle of worcester , lord of chepstoll , ragland and gower , knight of the most noble order of the garter , and master of the horse to the queenes most excellent maiestie . right honorable , hauing with an vnskilful hand taught this booke to speake english , i thought that i should be like an euill player marring the last act of the tragedic , or a carelesse pilot drowning the ship in the hauen , if i ventured it to the diuers censures of men , before it were entrusted to the patronage of some such authoritie , as might restraine and binde the ouerflowings of other mens more hard opinion . for although the worthines of the subiect might worke in me an ouerweening hope of his kinde entertainment ; yet i cannot satisfie my selfe , vnlesse it passe vnder the tutele & protection of some one , whose fauour may ( like the verticall sunne ) abate all shadowes , either of enuy or disgrace , which are in this ( still woorse & woorse ) age of the world readie to discountenance the fruites of any mans labour . wherefore considering with my selfe , where to bestow it , i was emboldened by the inducement of diuers reasons to presume on your lordship , ascertaining my selfe , that the honorable vertues , which haue wound you into the liking of all men , haue setled so good an impression , as is forcible ynough to make that seeme commendable , which is graced by your honors name onely . and for this respect amongst infinite others here for speciall reasons silenced , in hope of fauorable acceptance , i most humbly present it to your honor , challenging to my selfe nothing but the imperfections in the harsh composure , and conueiance of the stile , retaining yet ( as i trust ) the former strength and substance . if your l. vouchsafe to receiue it , it may be that ( although in the perusall it cannot enforme your honor any thing , which you were ignorant of ) yet it may confirme that , which otherwise your honor doubted ; or make it cleerer by deliuering the circumstances in more particular termes . onely thus much ( vnder leaue of a better iudgement ) i dare say , that there is no booke extant touching the same argument , which can aequalize it , either for soundnes in iudicially censuring ; truth in sincerely relating ; or compendiousnes in briefing such varietie of matter to so small a volume . and here although i could according to the vsuall forme of epistles indeuor a draught of your most honorable praises ; yet knowing , that it is but tediousnes , where vertue is loued for the onely inner contentment , i put a period to these lines , and most humbly crauing pardon take leaue . your honors deuoted in all humble seruiceablenes , i. r. a generall description of the world. as touching the description , diuision and inhabitation of the partes of the earth most commonly described in vniuersall maps , you shall vnderstand that the ancient cosmographers , not knowing then the west indies , nor many other places situated both northward and southward , and sithence discouered , diuided the whole earth into three partes , europe , asia and afrike , and the world into fiue zones , two cold , two temperate , and one extreme hot , affirming three of those zones to be vnhabitable , the one for extremitie of heate , the other two for extremitie of cold : but because a new and whole world hath been found out since those times , our moderne cosmographers haue added a fourth part called america ; so called from americus vespuccius a florentine , which did first discouer it ; which againe is subdiuided by our later trauellers into three partes , viz. mexicana , peruana , and magellanica , hauing found by good experience ( as in this discourse shall be fully manifested ) that these three partes are well inhabited and woonderfully replemshed with people of sundry languages . of all these sixe partes because europe is far lesse then all the rest , and yet exceedeth all others in noblenes , magnificence , multitude of people , in might , puissance and renowne , we will first begin with the description thereof . it is bounded on the north with the north ocean sea , on the south with the mediterranean , on the east with the flood tanais , & on the west with the west ocean . in measuring with a right line from the furthest part of ireland on the west vnto the flood tanais on the east , both places hauing 52. deg . of latitude , hath in longitude 2166. miles , and in measuring with a right line from the furthest part of morea on the south , whose latitude is 35. degrees vnto the north side hauing 72. degrees of latitude , hath in latitude 2220. miles . it containeth more then 28. christian kingdoms , at this day as far excelling the residue of the prouinces in religion , artes , valour and ciuilitie , as in elder age it did surpasse them in power and reputation . the principall prouinces are spaine , france , germanie , italic , slauonia , greece , hungarie , poland , litnania , moscouia , and that toward the north called scandia , wherein are denmarke , norwey , swethland , and gutland . the ilands are brittaine , containing the kingdoms of england and scotland , and ireland , in the north ocean : in the mediterranean are sicill , can●ie , corsica , sardima , maiorica , minorica , nigropont , malta , corfu , stalamine , mitilin , sciro , & many other in the archipelago . the aire is passing good , holsome , temperate , and the soile exceeding fertil . therein are many goodly cities , famous mart townes , and learned vniuersities . the people haue in all ages excelled all other nations ●n courage , artes , sharpnes of wit , and all other gifts of nature . in times past it commanded asia and afrike by the armes of the greekes and romanes , and at this day it is of great force by the power of the turks and moscouites , and by the nauigations of the spaniards and portugals : so as it seemeth that nature hath created this people fit to rule and gouerne others , as men far surpassing all other nations in wisedome , courage and industrie . next vnto europe succeedeth asia , renowned by writers for the second part of the world , in regard of the monarchies of the persians , medes , assirians and babylonians : but indeed most celebrated in holy writ for our creation , fall , and redemption , as the region wherein in a manner all the histories and acts mentioned in the old testament , and a great part of those in the new , were wrought and accomplished . it is bounded on the north with the north ocean , on the south with the red sea , with diuers other gulfes and seas appeering in our moderne maps : on the east with the east indian ocean , and the streight of anian . on the west it hath the flood tanais , and the fenne meotis , with diuers other seas , as bosphorus cimnereus , mare euxinum , the bosphorus thracius , propontis , part of the mediterranean , and part of the red sea or gulfe of arabia , which diuideth afrike from arabia foelix . in measuring with a right line from the flood tanais to the promontorie tamos , both places hauing 50. degrees of latitude , hath in longitude 4284. miles , and in measuring with a right line from the 150. degree of the equinoctiall vnto the promontorie tabin , it hath in north latitude 76. degrees , which being multiplied by 60. maketh 4560. miles . the ancients diuided it into diuers parts , but at this present it is best diuided into fiue , according to the chiefe and principall empires therein : the first whereof confining with europe is gouerned by the great duke of moscouie , the second belongeth to the great cham , the third is commanded by the turke , the fourth is the kingdome of persia , the fift comprehendeth that which hath alwaies been called india and gouerned by diuers princes for the most part vassals , feodaries or tributaries to other kingdoms . the principall ilands are iapan , luconia , mindanao , burneo , sumatra , zeilan and cipres : gilolo , the moluccae , banda and celebes belong to magelanica . afrike is bounded on the north with the streight of gibraltar and the mediterranean sea , on the south with a sea which diuideth afrike from the south lande not yet fully knowen , and on the east with the red sea : on the west with the great atlantike ocean . in measuring with a right line from gambra on the west vnto the cape guardafu on the east , both places hauing tenne degrees of north latitude or thereabout , hath in longitude 4155. miles : and in measuring with a right line from the 50. degree of the aequinoctiall vnto the mediterranean sea ; it hath in north latitude 32. degrees , which being multiplied by 60. maketh 1920. miles . in south latitude measuring with a right line from the 50. degree of the aequinoctiall to the cape of good hope , it hath 35. degrees , which being multiplied by 60. maketh 2100. miles . by the ancients it hath been diuided into many parts , but at this day into eight , aegypt , barbary , biledulgarid , sarra , aethiopia , nubia , the large prouinces of the abassines and monomotapa . of whose riches , lawes , customes , natures and forces you shall reade hereafter in their seuerall places . the chiefe ilands are socotora , madagascar , s. thomas , capo verd , and the iles of canarie and madera . mexicana is on al sides enuironed with the sea , sauing that nigh vnto nombre de dios it is ioined by a necke of land to peruana . the chiefe prouinces are noua hispania , florida , norumbega , noua francia , estotiland , and many others . the chiefest iles lying on the north and northeast part are groinland , crokland , island , freesland , bacalaos and cuba . peruana is also enuironed on all sides with the sea , saue whereas the foresaide land-streight doth ioine the same to mexicana . the chiefe prouinces are brasil , tisnada , caribana , carthagena , peru , charchas , chili , chicam , and the land of the patagones . the most renowned iles are hispaniola , boriquen and margarita . this sixt part of the world as yet is but little knowen , notwithstanding it is thought to containe many large prouinces , amongst the which beach is supposed to be very rich and abounding in gold . the chiefe iles are iaua maior and iaua minor , timor , banda , the moluccos , romeros and the iles of solomon . thus much in generall , now of the particulars . the kingdome of france . the kingdome of france hath for his bounds the alpes , which diuide it from italie , the rhodanus which separates it from sauoye ; sagona , which parts it from the sebusiani , and burgundians : and the riuer mosell , which diuides it from lorraine and the dutchie of lucemburge . it hath on the east the riuer aa ; on the south , the mediterranean sea , and the pyrenean mountaines ; on the. west , the great ocean ; and on the north , the english ocean . it contayneth from lorraine on the south side to caleis on the north side , two hundred french leagues , and little lesse from east to west from the riuer varo to paurus . the neerer the north the narrower it is , & narrowest betweene caleis and the brittish promontorie . the figure thereof is betweene round and square , and therefore bigger then a man would take it . it contayneth most large prouinces , as picardie , normandie , brittaine , the isle of france , champaigne , burgundie , auerne , dalphenye , prouince , bry , blois , turin , the dutchie of aniou , zantoin , burdeaux , and many others . the beginning thereof standeth in fortie two degrees , and in●oyeth such diuersitie of aire , that , that part which lieth toward the mediterranean sea ( where stands languedoc and prouince ) bringeth foorth all sorts of fruits like italie ; that which is towards the english ocean ( where stands brittaine , normandie , and part of pieardie ) bringeth foorth no wine ; the residue of the kingdome aboundeth aboue beleefe with all kindes of fruits which europe affoordeth , except oliues , figs , and such like . the gentlenes of the aire , with the fertilitie of the ground , and the situation of the riuers is so propitions and naturall for the increase of fruit , and euerie other liuing creature , that france aboue all the other regions of europe may best boast of these prerogatiues . betweene the mountaines of auerne , dalphenie , and the mediterranean sea , the aire is so temperate by reason of the coldnes of the hils ( alwaies almost couered with snow ) and the gentle blasts comming from the sea , that a man being in this place , would thinke he were vnder the climate wherein genua is seated . and againe , the pyrenean hils standing as a bulwarke to breake and beat backe the fiercenes of cold and tempests , giue the like moderation to another quarter of the countrey . these mountaines are full of bathes and veines of warme water ; and the northern windes , which according to most opinions make the aire cold , are not heere so cold as in other places . for windes participate of the nature of the place by which they passe : if by snowie mountaines , then bring they with them the cold of those mountaines ; if by marishes , contagion ; if by woods , they are broken ; if by sandie plaines , they are warme ; if by lakes or seas , they are sharpe and cold . hence commeth it that the windes panormi in sicill are extreme hot ; for before they pierce thither , they scoure thorow the plaines of sicill , and taking heat from the sands , carrie it into the citie . the south winde is cold at genua because it passeth the sea , and taketh coldnes thereof without touching the lande before it arriue . but the north winde which bloweth thorough france , commeth from the sea , and taking some measure of heat of the saltnes thereof , and finding no mountaines couered with yee or snow in his passage , augmenteth his heat by passing ouer the fields of normandie , champaigne , the i le of france , and other prouinces , euen to the hils of auuergne : which being moderately heated by the south winde on the one side , and the north wind on the other , bringeth foorth euerie where excellent pastures , and feedings for cattell and sheepe , besides diuers sorts of medicinable plants and most perfect simples . amongst many branches of those mountaines , there is one which is called the golden-hill for the noblenes of the simples and abundance thereof . of these experiments england may be a sufficient proofe , which although it lye more northerly then france , yet because it hath few mountaines , and is enuironed on euerie side with the sea , the aire is verie milde and temperate euen there , yea much more temperate then france , which is farther distant from the pole : as you may perceiue by the vines wich neuer ripen in england , and yet yeeld most perfect wines in france . likewise it happeneth verie often that the northren or western winde rising from the sea , bringeth springtide in the winter season , decking the fields with flowers , and the gardens with herbes , that the inhabitants of turon , poictou , and the isle of france , enioy as forward a sommer , as those of prouince or lago di garda . the whole lande of france is fertill and fruitfull , and euerie where plentifull of all good things . and as the apennine spreading almost ouer the fourth part of italy , for the most part is barren , & yeeldeth small store of fruit ; so on the cōtrary in the mountaines of auuergne ( being but few ) stand many good townes and rich places where cloathing is exercised , and from whence a good part of the kingdome is serued with flesh , butter , and excellent cheese : the rest of the kingdome almost is plaine , heere and there garnished with fruitfull hils and greene valleies : in euerie place plentie doth ( as it were ) contend with varietie , fertilitie with delicacie , commodiousnes of situation with beautious cities . herein without all controuersie italie giueth place to france : for although some one corner thereof affoordeth exquisite pleasure and delightfull situation , as riuiera di salo , campania , the territorie of croton , tarentum , and some other cities of calabria : yet these are singular and few in italy , common and frequent in france , especially in burgundie , brie , the isle of france , turon , aniou , zantoin , and languedo● : in each of which prouinces it should seeme that nature her selfe hath diuided , and as it were dedicated by allotment some places to ceres , some to bacchus , some to pomona , and some to pallas . but there is nothing in france more worthie the noting then the number and pleasure of the nauigable riuers , whereof some ( as it were ) gird in the whole realme , as sagona , rhodanus , mosell . some others cut thorough the middle , as sequano , loire , garonne . into these three riuers fall so many other riuers ; some from the vttermost bounds ; some from the inmost parts of the realme , that it maketh the whole countrey commodious for trafique and exchange of each others wants : insomuch that by this facilitie of carriage & entercourse of merchandize , all things may be saide to be in common to the inhabitants of this kingdome . in aniou onely are fortie riuers , great and small ; whereupon katherin de medicis was woont to say , that this kingdome contayned more riuers then all europe beside . truely this was a hyperbolicall speech , yet not much more then truth : for the goodnes of the soile , and easie transporting of commodities , is the cause that there are so many cities and so many townes , and those most commonly seated vpon the bankes of the riuers . and although it haue many goodly hauens , yet the vpland townes are fairer and richer , then those that stand neerer the sea : which argueth that their wealth is their owne , and not brought from forreine countries : for there the sea townes excell the land townes , where more benefit and prouision is reaped by the sea , then by the land , as genua , venice , ragusi : but where the state and prosperitie of cities dependeth wholy vpon the land , there the vplandish townes far surpasse the sea townes , as millaine , and many other in flanders , germanie , and hungarie . all this notwithstanding although like goodnes of soile be proper to the whole realme of france , as likewise the situation of the riuers commodious , yet , paris except , whose largenes proceedeth from the kings court , the parliaments , and the vniuersitie , the townes there for the most part are but small and meane , beautifull , commodious , and verie populous . iohn bodin writing a description thereof in the time of henrie the second saith , that there were seuen and twentie thousand villages hauing parish churches , not comprehending burgundie among them . in another description written in the raigne of charles the ninth , it is saide , that the number of the inhabitants exceeded fifteene millions . and as the cities and townes of france may boast of their riuers , so the castles and villages of the noblemen , are no lesse fauoured with the pleasure and strength of lakes and marishes , which although they may not be compared to the lakes of italy and swizerland , yet are they so many , and so full of excellent fish , that the numbers of the one may equallize the largenes of the others . the same may be spoken of woods , that they are not so spacious as plentifull : out of these woods in times past the greatest part of the kings reuenues did arise , and the noblemen do make great profite by selling great quantities thereof for firewood , but greater , by sales of timber trees : for , for want of stone , the greatest part of their buildings consist of timber . in regard of the commodious situation of these riuers seruing so fitly for the transportation of vittailes from one place to another , this kingdome is so abundantly furnished with all plentie of prouision , that it is able to nourish any armie in the fielde how populous soeuer . when charles the fift entred france , first by prouince , and afterward by champaigne , it maintained more then one hundred & fiftie thousand soldiers , besides garrisons . in the raigne of charles the ninth , and in our times also , there were maintained in this kingdome 20000. horse , 30000. footemen strangers , and of french 15000. horse , and 100. thousand footemen , neither did the kingdome for this feele want or scarcitie . there are in france ( as a man may terme them ) fower loadstones to draw riches from forreine nations ; corne caried into spaine and portugall ; wines transported into england , flanders , and the inhabitants of the balticke sea ; and salt wherewith the whole kingdome & the bordering nations are plentifully stored . this salt is made in prouince of the salt water of the mediterranean sea , and at bayon in zantoine , where the heate of the sunne ceaseth his vertue of getting , making and boiling salt ( of sea water ) not daining to yeeld so great a fauour any farther northward . i said of sea water , because further north there may be salt found also , but is made either of some speciall spring water , as in lorraine , or compound of some minerals mixt with fresh waters , as in poland , england , and germanie , or else it is taken foorth of some salt mines : and such in times past were in sweueland ; but they are now decaied . the fourth loadstone is canuasse and linnen cloth , whereof what profit ariseth , a man will hardly beleeue , vnlesse he hath seene what abundance thereof is carried into spaine and portugall , to make sailes and cordage for the furnishing of shipping . there growes also woad , saffron , and other merchandize of smaller value , which though they equallize not the abouesaid commodities , yet rise they to a round summe , yea such as may enrich a kingdome . by reason of these neuer-dying riches , lewes the eleuenth was woont to say , that france was a continuall flourishing ●eadow , which he did mowe as often as he list : and maximilian the emperour termed the french king to be pastorem ouium , cum velleribus aureis , which he sheared at his pleasure . it is vndoubtedly true , that if the kings of france were as wise and politike , as they are powerfull in armes and riches , the affaires of europe would much stand at their deuotion . but force and wisedome seldome keepe companie : therefore the poets fained hercules furious : ariosto fained orlando sottish : virgill describeth dares to be insolent : and the graecians termed all those people barbari which wanted arts and learning : homer bringeth in achilles as one vnable to bridle his owne furie : and mars so vnaduised , that he suffred himselfe vnawares to be caught in vulcans net . for what state can be more dreadfull , or what power can seeme more terrible , then the maiestie of that kingdome , which is able of it selfe to feede fifteene thousand millions of people , and yet hath sufficient remaining for the nourishing and maintenance of any puissant armie besides ? for the abundance of people and plenty of vittailes are the strongest sinewes of all kingdomes , and therefore the romaines highly prized the rusticke diuision for their numbers and prouision . as touching their reuenues , lewes the eleuenth gathered a million & an halfe : francis the first attained vnto three millions : henry the second to sixe : charles the ninth to seauen : henrie the third aboue tenne : lewes the twelfth left his kingdome full of golde and siluer , and therefore was called pater populi : francis the first , though he managed great wars , and made infinite expences , left notwithstanding eight hundred thousand crownes in his treasurie : but henry the second his sonne , enuying the greatnes of charles the emperour , and coueting to surpasse him , tooke vp money of euery one at 16. per centum , left his sonnes indebted 30. millions of crownes , and without credite amongst the merchants to the value of a farthing : insomuch that charles the ninth and henry the third his sonnes ( the last more then the first ) were inforced to laie heauie impositions , not onely on the people , but also on the clergie . whereby the world may see , that the riches of a prince consist not in the abundance of reuenues , but in the good gouernment thereof ; for francis the first made greater warres with lesse reuenues , left his credite sound with the merchants , and readie money to his sonne ; where on the contrarie hemy made farre lesse warre , and yet left the kingdome deepely indebted , and the people poore and miserable . with the foresaid reuenues the former kings maintained 1500. lanciers , & 4500. crosbowes ( in report 4000. lanciers and 6000. crosbowes continually paide : ) which troupes of horse were accounted the strongest in all christendome . euerie lancier brought with him one crosbowe and an halfe , so that one companie of lanciers had another of crosbowes , seruing both vnder one ensigne , commonly called a guidon , and one captaine gouerned both companies , consisting in the whole of 100. lanciers , and 150. crosbowes . one million and three hundred thousand crownes were yeerely spent vpon these companies . a lance receiued 250. crownes , a crosbowe eightie , the guidon 300. the lieutenant 380. the captaine 820. charles the seuenth reduced these ordinances to perfection , made the number certaine , appointed their wages , trained them in exercise , and placed them vpon the frontiers vnder captaines , lieutenants , ensignes and guidons . he likewise deuided these ordinances into men at armes and archers , adioined to them targatiers , harbengers , muster-masters , pay-masters , and commisaries , committing them to the charge and gouernment of the constable , marshall , and greatest lords of his kingdome : they did not much inure their naturall subiects to serue on foote , for feare of mutinies and rebellions : but charles the eight considering how necessarie footemen were , instituted a squadron of fiue thousand french foote : that number francis the first augmented to fiftie thousand : howbeit at this day they are casheerd for their euill carriage and behauiour . lewes the eleuenth that at his pleasure he might sheare or rather fleece the people of france , and make them vnapt for seruice , waged the swissers : which example francis and henry his successors following , continually hired great number of germaines . but whosoeuer he be , that goeth about to make his people vnwarlike , and entertaineth forreine soldiers , greatly ouershooteth himselfe . for by the exercise of armes and the occurrences of warres , courage is increased , and the commons by practise and experience will become hardy , and vpon occasions of necessitie able like soldiers to maintaine their actions : for as conuersing with good men makes men good ; so the company of soldiers makes others couragious . besides , many occurrences may happen , which may not be committed to the experience of strangers , because they know not the situation of places , neither may many matters , for the weight of the busines , be trusted to their fidelitie . wherefore it is very expedient , that that people be entertained vnder military discipline , in whose prouinces warre is like to continue , either by reason of situation , or other casuall accidents : as it happened to france , where after peace was concluded with the spaniard , and the swiffers & almaines departed to their owne homes , yet by remaining full of french soldiers all things were turned vpside downe . as concerning munitions , there is no kingdome wherein is greater plentie then there ; whereof are many : one , for that whereas the kingdome is deuided into many regalities and principalities , as burgundie , britaine , aniou and normandy ; euery one of these strengthneth his frontiers : besides , the plentie of their munitions hath beene increased by the warre of the english , which commanded a great part of france . secondly , the scituation and nature of the places fit for fortifications , as also the willingnes and readines of the people , hath euen with ease ouercome the labour of these affaires . for there is no nation more industrious in fortifying , and more prodigall in expence vpon these workes : neither are the bowels of the kingdome lesse fortified then the frontiers , beauois , trois , orleans ; angiers , bourdeaux , lymosin , san florum , carcassona , soissons , are not inferior to calais , perone , narbone , or other the frontiers , in strength and fortification ; so that euery part thereof may stand in steed of a frontier to any border of the whole kingdome . the kingdome of england . amongst all the ilands of europe , england ( which the ancient called britannia ) without all controuersie for circuit and power challengeth the chiefest prerogatiue . it containeth in circuit 1800. miles , diuided into two kingdomes , england and scotland . the naturall strength of scotland ( being barren , full of mountaines , lakes , and woods ) is the cheefest cause of this diuision ; in so much that the armies of the romaines could neuer bring it wholy in subiection ; the emperour seuerus lost there a great part of his armie . the kings of england , though they farre excell them in strength , and haue ouerthrowne them in many battailes , could neuer bring them vnder their iurisdiction . the lakes , the woods , and the marrishes ( which euen in plaines make great pooles ) being vnto them a naturall wall & trench against all incursions . on the tops of mountaines are manie fruitfull plaines , plentifull and fit for the feeding of ●at●le , and thicke woods full of wilde beasts : these rockie and mountainous places abounding notwithstanding with woods and pastures , doe so strengthen the countrey , that they neither feare to be forced by inuasion , nor to be constrained with hunger : for the dangerous accesse of the mountaines , and the thicknes of the woods , secureth them against the assaults of their enimies ; and in beseegings they doe sustaine themselues by cattle and wilde beasts , which can neuer faile them . to this helpeth the abundance of people , fierce of courage , & excellent in the vse of their armes : for necessities sake being able speedily to assemble 25. or 30. thousand men against the inrodes of their enimies ; and trusting to the strength of situations of places and practise of their armes , they indeuour not to fortifie their ci●●e● , nor hauens , which are so thicke in this countrey , that by reason of the inlets of the sea , there is not almost one house distant aboue twentie miles from the ocean . the king of scotland gouerneth the hebrides , being fortie two , and the orchades thirtie two in number . but since , neither scotland nor the saide ilands , are better stored with plenty of corne , more then sufficeth for their owne prouision , and the people are neither giuen to artes , or abounding in wealth , few merchants do resort thither . but england , whereof we now treate , is diuided into three great prouinces : england , cornwall , and wales . england stretcheth to the germaine sea ▪ cornwall is right against france : wales against ireland . this most florishing kingdome conteineth two archbishopricks , canterburie and yo●ke , 24. bishopricks , & 136. walled townes . in the reigne of king henry and his son edward , there were reckoned fortie thousand parishes , but now there are onely 9725. cornwall & wales in comparison of england are barren , & in the vpland places the people liue vpon white meates and oaten bread ; especially in wales : yet hath nature placed an iland commonly called anglesey so neere vnto it , abounding with corne and cattle , that it niay woorthily be called the mother of wales . cornwall is exceeding rich in mines of tinne and lead . england farre surpasseth both these prouinces in largenes , riches , and fertilitie : and though it stand somewhat more northerly , notwithstanding by the benefite of the sea , or some vnknowne influence of the starres , the aire there is so gentle and temperate , rather thicke and moist , then sharpe and colde , that it token thereof , the bay tree and the rosemarie are alwaies greene . and it is most certaine , that flanders and brabant are more vexed with cold and ice then england : wherein for the most part the land is plaine ; yet now and then so garnished with fruitfull and delightfull hilles , and those rising so pleasantly by little and little , that they which see them a farre off , can scant discerne them fro●● the plaine . the cheefest prouision of the kingdome is corne , cattle and fish , so stored therewith for plenty , goodnes , and sweetnes , that it needeth neither the helpe of france , no nor of any neighbour bordring countrey . among other things the flesh especially of their swine , oxen , and veales haue the best relish of any part of christendome , and of fish their pike and oysters . it bringeth not foorth mules nor asses , but of horse infinite store . the wealth thereof consisteth in neuer decaying mines of tinne and lead : there are also found veines of copper and iron , and in cornewall is digged tinne of such excellent finenes , that it seemeth little inferiour to siluer in qualitie . heere the wools are most fine , by reason of the hils , whereof the kingdome is full . on these hils groweth a finall and tender kinde of grasse , neither dunged , nor watred with spring nor riuer , but in winter nourished with the moisture of the aire , and in sommer with the deaw of heauen , which is so gratefull and pleasing to the sheepe , that it causeth them to beare fleeces of singular goodnes and exceeding finenes . the iland breedeth no wolues nor any other rauening beasts , and therefore their flockes wander night and day by hils , dales , and fields , as well inclosed as common , without feare or danger . most delicate clothes are wouch of this wooll , which are transported in great abundance into germanie , poland , denmarke , sweuqland , and other prouinces , where they are in high request . there grow all sorts of pulse , great store of saffron , and infinite quantitie of beere transported from thence into belgia , as also pelts and sea-coale . the iland is so commodiously seated for the sea , that it is neuer without resort of portugall , spanish , french , flemish , and easterling merchants . the trafique betweene the english and the flemish ariseth to an inestimable value for gui●ciardin writeth , that before the tumults of the low-countries they bartered for twelue millions of crownes yeerely . there are other ilands subiect to the crowne of england , as ireland , wight , man and anglesey , the ancient dwelling of the druides , syllyes , gernsey , iersey and alderney . ireland is not much lesse then england in bignes , for it is three hundred miles long , and ninetie broad , mountainous , woodie , full of bogs , apter for pasture then corne , and abounding with milke and butter . it sendeth foorth great store of butter , ski●nes and saffron . it is full of riuers and lakes abounding with fish . it hath two archbishoprickes , armach and cassels : the chiefe seat is dublin , and that part which lieth towards the east and the south is best peopled . the prouinces of vlster , conaught and mounster situated to the west and north , are lesse fruitfull , and more sauage . the other three ilands are about one bignes : of them anglesey is the ●●st , and therefore called the mother of wales : it is well replenished with cattell and plentie of corne . man is fiue and twentie miles distant from england : it hath one bishopricke and two hauens : the land is not verie fertill . wight is a hilly countrey : in it is newport a towne strongly fortified : it incloseth the whole channell of south-hampton , which is ouer against it , and the fairest hauen in that sea . in strength of situation no kingdome excelleth england : for it hath these two properties , which aristotle wisheth in the building of a citie : one is , that it be difficult to besiege : the other , that it be easie to co●uey in and out all things necessarie : these two commodities hath england by the s●● , which to the inhabitants is as a deepe trench against hostile inuasions , and an easie passage to take in or sende out all commodities whatsoeuer . on the west is the irish ocean , a sea so shallow and so full of rockes & flats , that it is verie dangerous for great ships , and on the south the flowing and ebbing of the brittish ocean is so violent , and the remoouing of sandes and shelues so vncertaine , that vnlesse the mariners be skilfull in taking the opportunities of winde and ●ydes , they can hardly bring in their ships in safetie . the sea coast is on euerie side cliffie and inaccessible , except in some certaine places which are strongly fortified , as barwicke , douer , dertmouth , plymmouth , falmouth , bristow , milford , &c. so that the whole ilande may be taken for one impregnable castell or bulwarke . to this strength of situation may be ioyned their sea and lande forces . as touching their sea-forces ( besides the nauie royall ) the kingdome hath so many faire hauens , and those so frequented with merchants , that two thousand ships are reported to trafique there . be this as it may , it is vndoubtedly true , that vpon necessitie they are able to put to sea aboue fower hundred ships . edward the third at the siege of caleis , and henrie the eight at the siege of bullen , waisted ouer with a thousand faile of all sorts : and therefore to inuade that iland , whose hauens are hard to approch , and worse to enter , by reason of the fortifications , and which haue so many ships at commaund , i account a most difficult and dangerous enterprise . and to this dangerous difficultie may be added another , which is , that the english people are maruellous expert in maritime actions , then whom at sea there is not a valianter and bolder nation vnder heauen . for in most swift ships , excellent well furnished with ordinance ( wherewith the kingdome aboundeth ) they goe to sea with as good courage in winter as in sommer , all is one with them . they trade into moscouie , cathay , alexandria of egypt , constantinople , liuonia , barbarie and guinea . anno 1585. with a fleete of fiue and twentie ships , whererein were 2500. souldiers , they sayled into the west indies , and tooke saint iago , saint domingo in hispaniola and cartagena on the continent , saint augustines a citie built of timber , and by them destroyed with fire . in the time of warre they continually ve●e the terceraz and the coast of brasill . two of their captaines haue sayled round about the world , with no lesse courage then glorie and good fortune . their force at land is nothing inferiour to that at sea ; for the kingdome is diuided into two and fiftie shires , in one onely whereof ( commonly called yorkeshire ) it is thought seuentie thousand footmen may be leuied . euerie shire hath a lieutenant , who seeth to the election and trayning of soldiers when necessitie requireth . in choosing of soldiers , they take the names of all the inhabitants of the countrey from aboue sixteene yeeres of age to sixtie , and out of these they choose the likeliest and ablest for seruice . the taller and stronger are chosen for footmen , and these diuided into fower kinds . the first are archers , by whose dexteritie they conquered the greatest part of france , tooke king iohn captiue , and held paris sixteene yeeres . the arrowes of the parthians were neuer more dredfull to the romaines , then the bowes of the english to the frenchmen . the second sort vsed light staues well headed with iron , with which they would strike a man from his horse . the other two , vse and experience of latter times hath taught them : the one is the harquebuse , the other the pike , a fit weapon for their constitution , by reason of their tall , strong and manlike stature . for their seruice on horsebacke , they choose the men of small stature , but wel set , actiue and nimble . these horsemen are of two sorts ; some heauie armed , and those for the most part are gentlemen ; other lighter armed , some riding after the manner of the albannesses ; some after the fashion of italy , vsing a scull , a iacke , a sword and long light speares . and although they are able to bring to the field two thousand lanciers , and infinite troupes of light horsemen ; yet their horsemen neuer carried like reputation to their footemen : for edward the third which made so many iorneies into france , and obtayned so many famous victories , to shew what confidence he reposed in his infanterie , euer left his horse and put himselfe into the battell of his footemen : whereas the french kings not daring to inure their commons to warfare ( least leauing their manuell occupations and trades , they should grow insolent in the warres , to which humour they are greatly addicted ) alwaies put themselves and their hopes in the fortune of their caualerie , being all almost gentlemen . but for as much , as the french mantaine no good races of horse , and to purchase them from other places is a matter of great charge , and good cannot alwaies be gotten for money ; for these reasons , and for that horsemen are nothing so seruiceable in the fielde as footemen , i thinke the french haue so often beene ouerthrowen by the english. to shew what force the king of england is able to bring into the field , let this one example stand for many . henrie the eight passed to bullen with an armie diuided into three battallions : in the vantgard passed twelue thousand footemen , and fiue hundred light horsemen , clothed in blew iackets with redde gardes . the middle ward ( wherein the king was , and passed last ouer ) consisted of twenty thousand footmen , & two thousand horse , cloathed with red iackets and yellow gards . in the rereward was the duke of norfolke , and with him an armie like in number and apparell to the first , sauing that therein serued one thousand irishmen , all naked saue their mantles and their thicke gathered shirts : their armes were three darts , a sword and a skeane . they drew after them one hundred great pieces , besides small . they caried vpon carts an hundred mils , which one horse would turne and grinde . their carriages were so many , that therewith they intrenched their campe , as with a wall . and for the carriage of their ordinance and their baggage , and for drawing of their prouision , they transported into the continent aboue fiue and twentie thousand horse : and besides all other kinde of prouision , they brought with them fifteene thousand oxen , and an infinite number of other cattell . the quantities of ladders , bridges , shot , powder , and other furnitures following so royal an armie , what pen can number ? in england the nobilitie possesse few castels or strong places inuironed with wals and ditches , neither haue they iurisdiction ouer the people . the dignities of dukedomes , marquesses , and earldomes are no more but bare titles , which the king bestoweth on whom he pleaseth , and peraduenture they possesse neuer a penie of reuenue in the place from whence they take their titles : where on the contrarie the nobilitie in france possesse some absolute , some mixt gouernment with the hereditarie titles of lords , barons , earles , marquesses , dukes and princes . they are lords not of townes onely , but of great and goodly cities ; receiuing homage and fealtie of their tenants : but acknowledge the soueraignty of the king & the parliaments . netherland . of all the three parts of gaule , belgia , which we commonly cal netherland , is the noblest by the authoritie of casar , strabo and other approoued authors , not only for the nobilitie and excellencie of the people of the countrie , but likewise for the greatnes and woorthines of those things that haue been inuented there , and the accidents that there haue happened . they inuented the art of printing , restored musicke , framed the chariot , deuised the laying of colours in oile , the working of colours in glasse , the making of tapestrie , saies , searges , wosteds , russets , frisadoes , and diuers sorts of linnen cloth , with innumerable other small trifles : all sorts of clocks and dials , and the mariners compasse . it is diuided into 17. prouinces , viz. the dukedomes of brabant , limburg , lutzemburg and guelders : the earledomes of flanders , artois , henault , holland , zeland , namure and zutphen , the marquisat of the sacred empire , the seigniories of friesland , mechlin , vtrecht , ouerissel and groningen , all territories rich , plentifull and exceeding populous . in them are 208. walled townes , stately and magnificent , besides 3230 townes hauing priuilege of walled townes , and 6300. villages with parish churches . it hath manie mines of lead , copresse , and cole , and quarries of excellent good stone . the emperor charles had an intention to erect it into a kingdome , but the difficultie consisted herein , that euerie of these prouinces being gouerned by peculiar customes , prerogatiues and priuileges , would neuer haue yeelded vnto one royall law common to all , especially those that had the largest priuileges ; for which cause he gaue ouer his determination . it is seated commodiously for all the prouinces of europe , and containeth in circuit about 1000. italian miles : the aire of later times is become much more holsome and tempelate then in times past , whether it be by reason of the increase of inhabitāts , or the industry of the people , who spare no charge to amend whatsoeuer is amisse . the beeues of holland & frieslād are very great , & weigh some of thē 1600 pound , of 16 ounces to the pound : the ewes in these prouinces and some part of flanders bring foorth three and fower lambes at a time , and the kine often two calues at once . it bringeth foorth great quantitie of mather , very perfect woad , but no great store ; but of flaxe and hempe great abundance . whosoeuer shall consider what commoditie they raise by their fishing and traffike only , may well say , that no nation thorough the whole world may compare with them for riches . for guieciardine writeth , that of their he ring fishing they make yeerely 441000 pound sterling ; their fishing for cod 150000. pound sterling ; and of their fishing for salmon more then 200000 crownes , which is of sterling money 60000. pound . the continuall riches that groweth to the countrie of other sorts of fish takē all the yeere is infinite . the value of the principall merchandize yeerely brought in and caried out is likewise infinite ; the foresaid authour esteemeth it to about 14. millions , one hundred and thirtie fiue thousand crownes : whereof england onely bringeth to the value of fiue millions , and two hundred and fiftie thousand crownes . it is a woonder to see , how that the inhabitants of all these prouinces ( especially of brabant and flanders ) vnderstand & speake two or three languages , and some fower or more , according to their entercourse with merchants and strangers , yea in anwerpe you shall heare the women speake dutch , french , italian , spanish and english. the kingdome of spaine . since the first time that man began to acknowledge a superior authoritie , and submit himselfe to the behests of a ruler , there was neuer a more spacious seigniorie , then that which the spanish enioieth at this day : especially hauing vnder a colorable and defensible title embezeled the crowne of portugall . for 〈◊〉 the large and faire prouinces in europe , the goodly regions of asia , and rich countries in africa , he enioyeth in peaceable quietnes & securitie , being not disturbed or contested by any riuall or competitor , the newe worlde , in circuite more spacious then either europe or africke . in europe he is the sole soueraigne of spaine , holding it whole and intire , a thing woorthie obseruation ; because for the space of these 800. yeeres before this age , it neuer obeied any one prince , but was dismembred , and peece-meale claimed by diuers seigniors : he hath very much shaked belgia , and lordeth it ouer the kingdome of naples , containing in bignes 1400. miles : and retaineth insubria otherwise called the duchie of millaine , comprehending three hundred in circuite . of the ilands he holdeth maiorique , minorique , and huisa : the first of three hundred miles space ; the second of 150. the third of eight . sicill is reported to be of 700. sardinia 562. in africa he holdeth the great hauen called masalquiuir , the most secure and safe harbor in the whole mediterranean sea . he hath also oran , melilla , and the rocke commonly called the penion of velez : and without the streights he possesseth the canarie ilands , twelue in number , and the least of seauen containing 90. miles . in the right which he pretendeth to the crowne of portugall , he keepeth the woorthie places of septa and tangier , which may rightly be surnamed the keies of the streights ; yea of the mediterranean , and atlantique ocean : without the streights he holdeth the citie of mazaga : and by the same title in the vast ocean , he retaineth the terceraz , porto santo , and madera , the ladie-like iland of the atlantique sea , containing by estimation 160● miles in compasse : then the ilands of cape verd , seauen in number . vnder the aequinoctiall he holdeth the iland of saint thomas , somewhat more spacious then madera , but most plentifull in sugar , and rangeth ouer that huge tract of land , which tendeth from cape aguer to cape guardafu . lastly he is lord of all the traffique , merchandize , negociating , and nauigation of the whole ocean , and of all the ilands which nature hath as it were inameled the ocean withall , and scattered in the seas , especially betweene the cape of good hope and promontories of guardafu . in asia in the aforesaid right of the crowne of portugall , he ruleth the better part of the westerne coasts , viz. ormus , diu , goa , and malaca . ornius for his commodious satuation , is growne so rich , that it is a common prouerbe among the arabians ; si terrarum orbis , quaqua patet , annulus ●sset , i●●ius armusium ge●●●ia decusque foret . a great portion of arabia foelix belongeth to the principalitie of ormus , as likewise baharem , the iland-queene within that gulfe ; both for the most plentifull circuite , abounding in all varietie of fruites ; as also for the rich fishing of pearle . in this sea the portugals possesse damain , bazam , tauaan , and goa ; which citie ( to omit ohial , canora , cochin , and colan ) is of so great esteeme , that it is thought to yeeld the king as great reuenue , as many prouinces in europe do their lords : and finally the portugals hold all that sea coast which lieth betweene the citie damain , and malepura : wherein no prince ( except the king of calecure ) challengeth one foote of land . the iland of zeilan , wherein they possesse a strong hauen and castle , commonly called columbo , may rightly be called the delight of nature ; and they enioy also malaca , which in those places is the bound and limite of their empire , and also the key of the traffique , and nauigation of the east ocean , and of all those ilands , which are so many and so spacious , that in circuite of land they may be well compared to all europe . for trade with the chinois , and ilands of tidore , and for their safe merchandizing with molucca and banda , they are so secure of their welfare , that they count it an vnnecessarie charge to erect any castles or fortifications of defence , but onely inhabite dispersed in weake cottages . certainly it would amaze and bewoonder a man to thinke , how many puissant kings and fierce nations are brideled and yoked by the armes of twelue thousand portuguezes ; ( for in so huge atract of land and sea , there are , nor euer were a greater number inhabiting ) and not onely to haue discouered and conquered the atlanticke , indian , and east sea , but also to defend it against all forrein inuasions or inrodes vpon their confines ; for it is 90 yeeres since they fortified those places with an ouerlasting memoriall of their valiancie . neither can any man to ecclipse or detract from their iust commēdation , obiect vnto them the facilitie of subduing a naked and vnarmed people , altogither raw and vnexperimented in the feates of armes ; if he will recall to his remembrance , how by the vertue of their armes they tooke the kingdome of ormus from the vassall and confederate of the king of persia , as also that they drowned and defeated at diu the nauie of the sultane of egypt , fully furnished with mammelukes , a kinde of soldier no lesse famous for their armes and discipline , then the praetorian turkish soldiers , called ianizaries : as also that they made good the saide place against the leaguer of the turkes and guzarits : and in the red sea they haue often forced the turkish gallies to retire , with a most dishonorable foile . in the yeere 1552. they defeated his whole fleete at ormus : in trapoban they affronted and contested with the kings of decan , cambaia , calecute , and achem ; princes both fauored , and also aided with the forces of the turkish emperour : yea such haue beene their expeditions in cambaia , india , the whole ocean , and along the coasts of asia , that in desart of glorie and admiration , they are to be censured nothing inferior to the victorious praises of alexander the great ; yea so much the rather to be preferred , because neither in circuit of territorie , nor numbers of people they were euer comparable to the macedonians ; for with nineteene ships they ouerthrew the egyptian nauie , farre greater in number and furniture : with two thousand soldiers they forced goa , and recouered it being lost with 1500. with 800. they wonne malaca , and not with many more ormus . another member of the spanish dominions lieth in the new world , wherein because be hath no corriuall able to make head against him ; he challengeth as his owne , whatsoeuer either by discouerie or conquest he attaineth vnto . this new worlds dominions is diuided into the continent and ilands . in the north sea are so many ilands , most of them of forty miles compasse , that their number can hardly be ascertained or knowne ; some of them so rich and spacious , that they might suffice to erect a magnificent and stately soueraigntie . of these boriq●en is 300 ●iles long , and threescore broad : cuba is 300 miles long , and twentie leagues broad : hispaniola is 1600 miles in compasse . as for the continent he is absolute lord of all that sea coast which watereth florida , noua hispania , iucatan , and that spacious south erly , promontorie to the cape of california and quiuira . for euen so farre the discoueries and nauigations of the spaniard haue proceeded . the coast of noua hispania counting his beginning at the towne of santa helena , and cutting by panama to quiuira , containeth about 5000. and 200 miles in length , to which if you please to adde the vpland regions coasting towards the north , you shall finde no lesse then 9000. miles . peru beginning at panama , containeth by the maritimate coast 12000. and 600. miles , of which three thousand lying betweene the riuer maragon , and argenteum , and including brasile , do acknowledge the supremacie of portugall . in the continent are many kingdomes and seigniories , amongst which these of mexico and peru ( once most powerfull and wealthie dominions ) were counted chiefe , and as it were the two imperiall seats . the kings of mexico did not claime by inheritance from their ancestors , but were chosen by sixe electors ; him whom they iudged yoong , valiant , and wise , of an able bodie , and fit for the warre , they crowned : and one of their kings , because he prooued a coward , slothfull , and irresolute , they poisoned . there was a senate of sages continually resident about his person , which consisted of fower degrees of nobilitie and magistracies ; without whose authoritie and consent , no matters of consequence or weight could be determined or put in action . they regarded nothing so seuerely , as the good education of their youth , their ceremonious superstitions , & their orders of soldiarie . amongst them there was a most woorthie chiefetaine called tlacaellell , so expert in militarie prowesse , that he subdued the greatest part of the mexican seigniorie : and of so great and admired spirit , that he obstinately refused and forsooke the kingdome being offered him ; saying , that it was auaileable and commodious for the common-weale , that another should weare the crown , and he attend vpon him as a minister and counseller ; and that his shoulders were too weake to sustaine so weightie a burden : adding moreouer , that he would no lesse endeuour with a carefull and warie foresightfulnesse the safetie of the common-weale , then if he himselfe were inuested in the soueraigntie . these kings liued in great maiestie , inhabited sumptuous palaces , and maintained a mightie troupe of their vassals for the guard of their persons . on one quarter they enlarged their bounds ; and planted their religion and language to the skirts of teguante-pecum , two hundred leagues remote from mexico : and on another quarter as farre as guatimall 300. leagues distant . in these places they made the north and south seas their bounds ; but mecoican , tascalan , and terpeacan , they could neuer bring vnder their yoke . their differences and troubles with the citie of tascala , incouraged the spaniards to inuade their dominions : and being entred , made their victories easie without any difficult resisting or hinderance from the pursuite of their cōquest , which happened in the yeere of our lord 1518. the mexicans ( diuided into seauen tribes ) came into those regions , from that part of the north ; where of late yeeres the spaniards discouered a most wealthie and populous prouince , which at this day they call new mexico . the most respected honor which doth ennoble their men , is purchased by alacritie & couragious forwardnes to armes . matezuma their last king instituted certaine orders of horsemen , surnaming them lions , eagles , and leopards . these he priuileged to weare gold and siluer , and a silken cassock after the arabian fashion ; to go shod , and occupy gilded and painted vessell ; which things were prohibited to the vulgar , and forbidden all such , who had not inwoorthied himselfe by some noble seruice . the empire of peru , whose king was surnamed inga , is found to be larger and more magnificent : when it was in the prime and highest , it reached from pasto to chile 1000. leagues in length , and 100. in bredth , euen from the south ocean to andi in the east . the mercilesse furie of the waters in some places standing , and moorish , in other running , haue gainesaid and put a period to their further progresses ; when without any colorable or iust cause they inuade their confining neighbours . they most ridiculously pretend , that in the vniuersall deluge , mankind was preserued in their countrey , and so by tradition haue been nuzzeled in the true & ancient religion , which ( as they say ) they are bound in conscience to sowe and disperse in the mindes of all men , either by faire meanes or foule . their chiefe gods are viracoca , that is to say , the creator of all things , and the sunne . inga pacacuti , who instructed them in their superstitions , when he had beautified the temples with offrings and sacrifice , assigned none to the temple of viracoca , alleaging that forasmuch as he is the maker of all things , he needeth not any thing . amongst other memorable ordinances by him instituted in the winning of countries ; one was , that the conquered land should be diuided into three parts : the first dedicated to the gods , and maintenance of the charge of their ceremonies : the second and greatest portion was giuen to inga , therewith to maintaine his estate , the expences of his court , parents , barons , and garrisons : the third was distributed amongst the soldiers : no man could claime propertie in any thing , to say this is mine ; but by the fauour and sufferance of inga ; neither might that descend by inheritance . the landes belonging to the people and comminaltie were yeerely limited , and so much allotted to euery man as might be thought sufficient for the sustentation of his family ; some yeeres more , some lesse , without exaction of any rent : in liew whereof , they conditioned to manure the lands of inga , and the gods : the increase they stored in most ample garners thereunto appointed , from whence in time of scarcitie it was shared amongst the people ; the like they did with their cattel , diuiding them by head : which point of gouernment in mine opinion farre exceedeth either the partitions of lyeurgus , or the agragrian lawes of the romaines . besides merchandize , incredible treasures of gold and siluer are transported out of noua hispania and peru : of those treasures commonly peru yeeldeth two parts , and noua hispania the third ; which is more rich in commodities then mexico . amongst the rest it giueth cochinella , a merchandize of inestimable value ; and infinite store of hides . the ilands affoord plentie of hides , cotten , wooll , sugar , cannafistula , hard waxe and pearles . amongst these riches and treasures of peru two things are woonderfull ; one , that in the siluer mines which were discouered in potosie , in the yeere 1545. there is , and hath beene found so huge a masse of bullion , that the fift part ( which is the kings ) in the space of fortie yeeres amounted to one hundred and eleuen millions of pezoes : neither yet did two third parts pay their due to his maiestie . the other is the quick-siluer mines in guancaualcan , found in the yeere 1567. out of which the king hath receiued 40000. pezoes , all charges defraied . it is a strange thing to note , that whereas mother nature hath interlaced so riotously her golden and siluer veines in the bosome and wombe of peru , it hath bestowed no such blessing vpon her neerest daughter brasile ; but in stead thereof hath inriched her with a most temperate and holsome aire , with many pleasant springs and large riuers , not without sufficiencie of wood : she hath diuided the land into fruitefull plaines and delightsome hils , clothed it with the beautie of continuall greenenesse , abounding about beliefe with sugar-canes , which the portugals there planted , and now transport in infinite numbers into forreine regions . the philippinae may well be termed the appendances to this new world ; and although in respect of their site by reason of their proximitie , they may be thought a part of asia ; yet the discouerers thereof trauelled through new spaine , before they could discouer them ; of which ilands more then 40. are subiect to this soueraigntie , and by them haue been reduced to a ciuill kinde of life and policie . now bauing generally run ouer the spacions ( i will not say boundlesse ) members of this empire , let vs diuide the discourse thereof ( as much as concernes the strength and policie ) into fower particulars : the first whereof shall intreate of his pieces in europe ; the second of his dominions in the newe world ; the third of his territories of the west and south coast of africke ; the fourth of his principalities in india and asia . the prouinces which he hath in europe are of the most puissant & powerfull sort , that are comprehēded in this limitation . spaine it selfe hath bin alway acknowledged for so wealthy , so puissant , and so spacious a kingdome : that not without good cause it may challenge the primacie of all the prouinces , and of the continent , if not in any consideration else , yet in regarde that the romaines & carthaginians continued so long and so cruell wars for the possession and royalty thereof . the gothes and vandals when they had with the streames of their ouerflowing multitudes swarmed ouer the greatest part of the romaine empire , here sat them downe , and made it the place of their inhabitation . trebellius pollio termeth it and france the iointes and sinewes of the romaine empire . constantine , when he diuided the empire , preferred it before italie : and in the diuision when england , france , spaine and italie fel to his lot , he little esteeming the last , and voluntarily leauing it to his competitor , contented himselfe with the three formost . who knoweth not that the kingdome of naples is the flower of the italian prouinces ? who seeth not , that nature hath confined and heaped into this territorie , as if it were into her closet , all those delightfull happinesses , which with her owne hands she hath here and there scattered and dispersed through the other of the european prouinces ? what can we say otherwise of the duchie of millaine ? and for sicil , it may be compared to any , yea it surpasseth all the ilands of the mediterranean for fertilnes , for the concourse of merchants , for artizans , singular for populous townes and for stately edifices . the gouernment of spaine is absolute and kingly , : in their regiment we may see that they haue attained to such perfection of aduisednes , that all things are purposely discussed and questioned in seuerall counsels , before they are put in execution . where the graue and considerate counsels of fabius are receiued , when the rash and headie precepts of marcellus are reiected . innouations and change of ancient customes are auoided , in regard whereof , innocent the eight was woont to say , that the spaniard was so compleat in gouernment , that in this respect he neuer erred or miscarried , and by this policie he gouerneth nations different in natures , and dissonant in lawes and fashions , castilians , arragons , biskaines , portuguezes , italians , dutchmen , indians , christians and gentils with such peaceable vnion , as if they were his owne naturall subiects . and whereas some obiect , that this empire cannot long remaine in this flourishing estate , bicause it is disiointed and dismembred . to such men this may be answered : that spacious dominions are easily secured from any inuasiue attempts ; but not so safely preserued from intestine and home-bred dissensions , as the kingdomes of smaller compasse are . but in a state thus diuided , there is an vnion both of amplenes , and a measurable mediocritie ; the first is apparant in the whole bodie compounded of seuerall members ; the second in the greatest parcell of the members . for seeing that the portions thereof , as spaine , peru , mexico are so great and goodly states of themselues , they cannot be but stored with all those good things which are necessarie either in greatnes or mediocritie , viz. both with a puissant powerablenes to frustrate forreine attemptes , and sufficient inwarde forces to prouide against all domesticall discontentments . and it is as cleere as day , that by meanes of sea-forces all these members may strengthen one another , and stand as it were vnited , euen as casar augustus , by maintaining one fleete at rauenna , and another at messana , awed the whole romaine empire , and kept it in assured concord : and also we haue seene the portugals , by reason of their sea-forces , which they maintained in persia , cambaia , decan , and other parts of the indies , not onely to haue giuen the lawe to those famous princes , but maugre the force of their enimies to keepe it , and peaceably enioy it . some wise and experienced commanders in discoursing this point , oppose the iealousie and aemulation of the turke , and affirme , that , if the king should imploy those treasures , which now he spendeth , in the erecting of fortresses vpon the increase of his nauie ; ( an expence sufficient for the furnishing of 150. gallies ) it would be an occasion , that the turke , whose nauie now exceedeth not the number of 130. gallies , would augment it to the number of 200. to the intent , that he may be superior and maister of the sea : and that so the king would be inforced to vndergoe an excessiue charge , without gaining any reputation thereby . but this their subtiltie is meere booke-wisedome : and it is very agreeable with reason , that there is nothing so dangerous in action , and so readie to imbarke a man in an irrecouerabe disaduantage , as an ouer-weening conceite , which commonly draweth with it an headdie wilfulnes flexible to nothing . but they ought to consider , not what the turke will doe , but whether it be in his power to surmount such a nauie : and although the turke be lord of a larger sea coast then the king , yet he cannot compare , either in furniture or mariners . along all the coast of africke he hath not an harbour , where he can build , or keepe a couple of gallies , except algier and tripolie . in the euxine sea what place of name is there besides capha and trapezond ? what better report can we giue of the coast of asia ? more implements then a spatious sea-coast are incident to this busines : he must haue plentie of timber and cordage ; he must be furnished with a people practised in sea affaires , able to endure the labour and working of the waters ; delighting in traffique and nauigation ; cheerefull in tempests & rough weather , which dare dwell as it were amongst perils , and expose their liues to a thousand dangers : as for the turkish subiects the better part neuer saw sea , and those that haue vsed it , are not to be compared to the biskains , catalonians , portugals , and genowais . ( i adde this people for their many good seruices done at sea in the behalfe of this crowne . ) to conclude , in two things the king excelleth the turke ; the first is , that although the turke can command more men , yet the best and greater part of them being christians , he dare hardly trust against vs ; the second is , that the sea coasts of the king are neerer conioyned , then those of the turke , and in that regard are sooner assembled and prouided . by this commoditie experience hath prooued that the eastern nauies haue beene often ouerthrowen by the western , the southern by the northern , the carthaginian by the romaine , the asian by the grecian . octauius caesar with the nauie of italy defeated the fleete of aegypt ; and in our times the armada of the christians , the fleete of the turkes . the turkes themselues confesse , that in sea-fights the christians excell , and are vnwilling to deale with those forces . as often as charles the fife rigged foorth his nauie , it was so puissant , that the turke neuer durst leaue the harbour . in his iourney of algier he rigged fiue hundred vessels ; in his tunis voyage sixe hundred . andrew doria conducted so gallant an armada into greece , that the turke not daring to mooue out of his place , he tooke patras and corona in morea . his land-forces consist in cauallerie and infanterie : the best footeman of all the germaine nations is the wallon : to say nothing of the naturall spaniard , it is well knowne that in all ages it hath beene accounted one of the most valorous nations of the world . the french in nine yeeres were subdued to the romane yoke ; the spaniards held out zoo . the power and person both of augustus caesar were requisite to the subduing of the cantabrians . they not onely deliuered their countrey from the subiection of the moores , but inuaded africke , and tooke therein many strong places . the portugals inuaded barbarie , tamed the coast of guinea , ethiopia and cafraria , they conquered india , malaca and the moluccas . the castilians sayling through the atlantike sea subdued the new world , with all the kingdomes , prouinces and people therein : they droue the french from naples , sicill and millan . the fortune of this nation doth consist in discipline and dexteritie : for no people can readier finde the occasion , and sooner take it or refuse it when it comes : in celeritie , for through slothfulnes they let nothing slip ; in loue and concord , for they were neuer knowen out of their owne borders to strike stroke amongst themselues : at a word , in suffring of hunger , thirst , heat , cold , labour and extremities , they will lay vp any nation whatsoeuer . by these vertues they haue atchieued the glorie of so many victories , and though sometime they haue beene ouercome , notwithstanding they haue vanquished their vanquishers , as it fell out at rauenna . they neuer suffred any famous defeature , but in the iournies of algier and england ; the one by the casualtie of tempests ; the other by the skilfull prowesse and seafaring dexteritie of the english . three or fower thousand of them turned topsie tur●●e the better part of germanie , and made way euerie way with their swords thorough the thickest of their enimies . these were they that at the iourney of caruen in barbarie being fower thousand foote souldiers of great valour , made a braue retraict the space of fower or fiue miles , be set and charged with twentie thousand horse by the king of the moores at least fiue or sixe times , with the losse onely of 80. men , and the slaughter of 800. of the enimie . as concerning their cauallerie , it cannot be gainsaid , but that the spanish genet is the noblest horse in christendome , far excelling the courser of naples , or the horse of burgundie so much esteemed of the french ; or the frieslander in so great request with the germans . it should seeme that nature hirselfe hath armed this people , in giuing them the iron mines of biskay , guipuscua and medina , with the temperature of bayon , bilbo , toledo and calatajut , the armories of millan , naples and boscoducis , the corne and prouision of the inexhaustible garners of apulia , sicill , sardinia , artesia , castile and andeluzia , with the plentifull vintages of soma , calabria , san martin , aymont , and sundry other places . to conclude , this prince is so mightie in gold and siluer , that therewith ( to spare his owne people , ingaged in the defence of so many territories , prouinces and frontires , from vndoubted destruction ) he is able to wage what numbers of horsemen and footmen of the germaine and italian nations it pleaseth him . the princes , whose dominions are bordering , and in regard of their forces are any way able to indanger his dominions , are the venetians , the kings of france and england , and the turke . the venetians ( long since the duchie of millan came to the possessiō of this crowne ) haue sate them downe in great quietnes , rather looking to the strengthning and keeping of their owne townes and pieces , then to the winning of others from their neighbours . and good reason it is , sithence peace is the surest ankor-hold of their cōmon wealth , that they should eschue all occasions of war with their friends and allies . for we haue seene the spanish in fauour of the venetians when their state stood dangerously ingaged with the wars of baiazet , soliman , and selin the second , cheerefully and resolutely to haue entered into the action at cephalonia , preuisa and lepanto , when at the same instant they had at their owne doores , algier , tunis and aphrodisium their dangerous enemies , neerer affronting spaine , sicill , sardinia , the baleres , and the kingdome of naples , then ciprus or the ilands of the ionian sea . concerning france , they are not to be blamed if by wishes and iesuiticall sedition they could annex it to their crowne : but saith one of their owne writers , they may long enough desire it , before they shall be able to effect it . and sithence the french haue put an ende to their ciuill discontents , what trophee , or what triumph can the spaniard boast to haue carried from them . indeed it cannot be denied , but in elder daies the warines of the spaniards hath turned the furious attempts of the french to matter of too-late repentance . for the great captaine surprising barletta , and then incamping vpon the bankes of gariglano , first tooke from them the possession of the kingdome of naples , and afterwards all hope of regaining it againe . by the same temporizing anthonie leua wearied king francis at ticinum , and prosper collonna cleered the duchie of millan . in assaulting of townes and fortresses , i confesse furie to be of great moment ; i confesse likewise that by this vertue the french preuailed at ioious , momedium and caleis , but in set battels , as at graueling , saint quintins , and siena , most commonly they haue had the foile : for in the field good order and skilfull conduction doth more preuaile then valour and furious resolution : in assaults , furie and resolution , more then counsell or temporizing . since their falling at variance with the english , at their hands they haue receiued more dishonour , then in the wars of any other nation . as to detract from the fame and well deseruing glory of any christian nation , argued rather an enuious humour , then an vnpartiall writer : so to passe the bounds of modestie in any action deserueth no lesse a reprehension . for who acknowledgeth not their discoueries of the indies to be woonderfull ; their conquests therein maruellous ; their treasures inestimable ; their continuance in wars long , as being nouzeled therein since the infancie of charles the fifth : the braue prouinces of italy and flanders annexed to their crowne to be matter of goodly consequence . but let vs marke and consider their fortunes , sithence they vnsheathed their swords against the christian world , as we shall soone see , that their treasures , their armadas , their long experienced infanterie , and their conquered prouinces , haue little or nothing augmented ; nay haue they not discountenanced their reputation in these parts ? by the expence of infinite millions of gold , and effusion of so much christian blood , what hath he gained in france ? what in netherland ? the world seeth more cleere then day light , that for all their great boasts , their large territories , and infinite treasures , sithence the english haue dealt with them , held them at the staues ende , and discouered their weaknes ; euerie birde hath pulled a feather ; their credit is broken with the bankers of germanie ; holds giuen ouer for want of pay ; their sea forces foyled ( if not as they say discomfited . ) in the yeere 1586. sir francis drake forced the towne of saint domingo in hispaniola , saint augustines , and carthagena on the continent . and when in reuenge of like pretended iniuries they entred the english channell with their inuincible armada of 150 , sailes , by the fauour of god and valour of the english , they were driuen home without doing any thing worth remembrance , through vnknowen seas , with the losse , taking and sinking of one hundred of their best and tallest vessels . to requite this brauado , and to teach this proud nation that the english ( contrarie to their opinion ) were as well able to offend as defend : in the yeere 1589. they shewed their victorious nauie of 126. ships before the groin in galizia , assaulted the base towne , woon it , and with 6000. soldiers at the bridge of berges discomfited sixteene thousand : thence weighing ankor , and sayling alongst the coast and sight of spaine , landed at length at pincche in portugall , woon the castell , marched fiftie miles into the lande , kept their courts of guard in the suburbs of lisbon , and thence returning to caskaies without any great fight or skirmish tooke the castell , set sayle for england , and in their returne landing at vigo , tooke the towne and wasted the countrey . now sithence their great and considerate care of future preuention both for spaine and the indies ; their ships burnt and taken ; their galleies put to flight , porto rico woon by assault , cales sacked , and the flemish by our trauels incouraged to strip him of his trade of spicerie , may well put them in remembrance what they haue receiued at the hands of the english , sithence their first ambitious apprehension of the western emperie . what the turke is able to performe , you may read hereafter in the discourse of turkie . let vs now intreat of those countreis which the spanish hath , as appertayning to the portugall crowne . this kingdome which is not aboue 320. miles long , and sixtie broad , not very populous , and but meanely rich in essentiall reuenues , yet by reason of the commodious situation for nauigation and acquisition , it hath equalized these wants with surplusage with the most famous prouinces of the whole world : yea , this good fortune hath so elated their mindes , that they haue vndertaken diuers famous expeditions into barbarie , ethiopia , india and brasile . within these 90. yeeres they haue taken and fortified the principall places and harbours of those prouinces , chalenging vnto themselues the peculiar traffike of the atlantike and east ocean . they seised vpon the terceraz , knowing that without touching at those ilands no ship could safely passe into ethiopia , india , brasil , or the new-world . returning from those countries towards spaine or lisbone , they put in to releeue their wants , and sicke passengers , and outward they touch to take in fresh water , and fetch the winde . in africke they are lords of those places which we spake of before in the description of spaine . in persia they haue ormus : in cambaia , diu , damain and bazain : in the hither india , chaul , goa , and the neighbour fortresses of cochin , colan , the iland mauar , and the hauen columbo in the iland zeilan . amongst these goa is the chiefest , as the place where the viceroy keepeth his court . ormus famous for the iurisdiction of the sea , and the traffike of the persian and cambaian gulfes . cochin and colan for their plentie of pepper . mauar , for the pearle-fishing . columbo , for the abundance of cinnamon . damain and bazain , for fertile prouision . in these quarters they haue some princes their confederates , others their feodaries . the chiefe and wealthiest of allies , is the king of cochin , sometime tributarie to the king of calecute , but now by the intercourse and traffike with the portugals , he is growne so rich and mightie , that the other princes do enuie his prosperitie . the king of colan is likewise their confederate . their chiefe force consisteth in situation and strength of their places , and in the number & goodnes of their shipping . as concerning situation , this people wisely considering that in regard of their contemptible numbers , they were not of power to make any famous iourney into the inland regions , neither to match the persians , the guzarits , the princes of decan , the king of narsinga , and other barbarous potentates in campania , turned all their cogitations to immure themselues in such defensiue places , that with small forces they might euer haue hope to diuert great attempts , and make themselues lords and commanders of the sea and nauigation : which when they had done , they intertained and maintained so strong a nauie , that no prince in those parts was able to wrong them , yea , they furnished those vessels so thoroughly , that one single ship would not refuse to cope with three or fower of the barbarians . with this armada of one and twentie ships , francis almeida defeated the mamelucks neere the towne of diu. alfonse alburquerck with thirtie great ships woon calecute : with one and twentie he tooke goa , and regained it with fower and thirtie : with three and twentie he tooke malaca : with sixe and twentie he entred the red sea ; and with two and twentie recouered ormus . in processe of time , as their mightines increased , lopes zuarezius made a iourney into the red sea with seuen & thirtie galleons . lopes sequeira with twentie fower ships , but with greater number of soldiers then euer before , laid siege to gnidda in the red sea . henry menesius wasted patane with fiftie ships . lopes vazius sampaius left in the arsenal 136. ships of war , for the greater part all excellent well furnished . nonius acunia vndertooke a iourney to diu with 300. ships , wherein were three thousand portugals , and fiue thousand indians , besides a great number of his guard and seruants , which ordinarily follow the viceroyes in those countries . besides his confederates and feodaries , he is confined with most mightie princes , his enimies , as the persian , who chalengeth ormus as holden of him in vassalage : the king of cambaia , who maketh title to diu and other places , which were once vnder his iurisdiction : nizzamaluc & idalcam ( for so the portugals call the two princes of decan ) & the kings of calecute & narsinga . as for the kings of persia & narsinga , they neuer waged warre against the portugals , because they haue alwaies had to do with more dangerous enimies : other princes though they haue enterprized to their vttermost to regaine diu , chial , goa , and other places , and haue left no meanes vnattempted to bring their desseignes to effect , yet their abilitie could not worke any prosperous successe to their laborious indeuors , by reason of the places situate so commodiously for the transportation and receit of continuall succours from the sea . and though they haue vndertaken the like actions in the deepe of winter , hoping by tempests and other casualties to barre the portugals from their sea succours , yet they neuer preuailed , because the ships and courages of the portugals , the one resolute to indure the siege , and by patience to ouercome , the other determining ( hap what may ) neuer to forsake their distressed countrey-men , haue set all vpon hazard , and exposed their fortunes to the mercy of the winde & waues of the sea . their woorst , greatest , and fiercest enimie is the turke , who being backed with the like aduantage of situation , which the citie of aden affoordeth him , sometime pricked by his proper enuie , emulation , and ambition , sometime egged on by the perswasions of the king of cambaia , hath often indeuored to dispoile them of the soueraigntie of the red sea , and finally to driue them out of the east india . the greatest nauie that euer he sent against them was to recouer diu , consisting of sixtie fower ships , and by them defeated . afterwards he sent a nauie of greater ships to the conquest of ormus , and that likewise was almost wholie beaten , bruised , and drowned . in the further indies they hold nothing but malaca and the moluccas . in times past malaca was far greater then now it is : for it lay scattered three miles alongst the sea coast , but the portugals , that they might the better defend it , haue brought it into a round forme , containing not aboue a mile in compasse . heere the king hath two puissant enimies , ior and achem , the one mightie at land , the other farre mightier at sea , by whom the towne not without great danger hath more then once beene besieged , but by the aide sent from india alwaies releeued , with great slaughter of the enimie . at length paulus lima defeated king ior , and raced the castle built by him neere malaca , wherein besides other spoiles he found 900. brasen cast peeces . this territorie is subiect to great danger , by reason of the puissance of this king of achem , bending all his cogitations to the rooting and finall destruction of the portugals out of this prouince , and therefore the king of spaine of late yeeres sent matthias alburquerk with a great power into india , with authoritie to secure the territorie of malaca , and to fight with the king of achem. to secure their trade of spices and nutmegs in the moluccas and banda , they built a castle in the iland ternate , of late yeeres for want of succours deliuered vp to the mahumetans , and the portugals reculed into the iland of tidore , there establishing their trade and factorie . the great turke . vnder the empire of the turkes is comprehended the better part of the ancient threefold diuision of the earth . he holdeth in europe the whole sea coast , which from the borders of epidaurus stretcheth it selfe to the mouth of tanais : whatsoeuer lieth betweene buda and constantinople , and from the euxine sea to the banks of savus , is his . in that perambulation is contained hungarie , all bosnia , seruia , bulgaria , macedon , epire , greece , peloponnese , thrace , and the archipelago with the ilands . he holdeth in asia and afrike all that is betweene velez de la gomera and alexandria in egypt , betweene bugia and guargula , betweene alexandria and the citie siene : and from the citie suez as farre as swachen . the hugenes of this territorie may be imagined by the circuit of some of the parcels . palus meotis ( which is wholy his ) spreadeth it selfe one thousand miles into the land : two thousand and seuen hundred miles do hardly incompasse the euxine sea . the coast of the mediterranean sea , as much as is subiect to him , containeth in circuit 8000. miles . egypt , wholy his , is esteemed fiue hundred miles long . from tauris to buda is 3000. and 200. miles : so far it is from derbent vpon the caspian sea , to aden vpon the red sea ; and from balsara vpon the persian gulfe , to tremissen in barbarie , is accounted little lesse then 4000 ; miles . in the sea he is lord of the most noble ilands of ciprus , euboea , rhodes , samos , chio , lesbos , and many other in the archipelago . in this progresse are contained many most puissant kingdomes , abounding with all sorts of sustenance for the vse of man. what prouince is richer in corne then egypt , africko , syria and asia ? what region more flowing with all good things then hungarie , greece and thrace ? in these prouinces hath the turke fower cities of inestimable wealth , constantinople , cair , aleppo and tauris . constantinople exceedeth all the cities in europe in populousnes : for it is thought that there are therein more then 700. thousand persons ; which if it be true , it is twice as much as may be said of paris . aleppo is a great citie in syria , and the staple of the whole traffike of asia . tauris was the seate of the kings of persia , but taken from them in our daies , and thought to containe more then 200. thousand persons . amongst all the cities of africke , cair by many degrees may challenge the principalitie , though some men compare cano to it for greatnes . it may well be called the garner , not onely of egypt , but of the greater part of africke and india , whose treasures being conueied by the red sea , and from thence to cair vpon the backs of camels , are at length distributed through all the regions of the mediterranean sea . this empire from finall beginnings hath risen to such greatnes , partly by their owne armes , partly by the discords of the christians , that at this day it is the onely terror of the christian commonwealth . it hath been their hereditarie practise , to stand vpon their garde , and to preuent their enemies ; in their iourneies to vse admirable celeritie ; to keepe their forces readie , and to haue them at hand ; not to haue many irons at one time in the fire ; nor long to manage warre with one nation , least by practise they become better warriors then themselues ; not to spend their time and treasure in voyages of base account ; nor at one cast to set at all , but to proceede leisurely and aduisedly ; and , which is not the least policie amongst many , that their princes march in person in most of their actions . diuers other lessons they obserue , by which in the space of 300. yeeres they attained vnto a most mightie dominion , and that too , since the yeere 1500. to this day , they haue almost doubled . their gouernment is meerely tyrannicall : for the great turke is so absolute a lord of all things contayned within the bounds of his dominions , that the inhabitants doe account themselues his slaues , not his subiects : no man is master of himselfe , much lesse of his house wherein he dwelleth , or of the field which he tilleth , excepting certaine families in constantinople , to whom for some good seruice , immunitie was graunted by mahumet the second . neither any man be he neuer so great , standeth secure of his life , his goods or estate , longer then durante beneplacito of the grand-seignior . by two policies he establisheth this tyrannicall gouernment ; by disfurnishing the people of weapons , and by putting all commands into the hands of renegados , whom he taketh as tithe from their parents in their childhood . by this subtilty he gleaneth the prouinces of the flower & sinewes of their strength , ( for the likeliest and ablest springals are chosen : ) and secondly , with the same meanes he armeth himselfe and secureth his estate . for these ianizars being taken from the laps of their parents , and deliuered to the trayning of this or that schoolemaster , are made mahumetans before they perceiue it , and so by reason of their yoong yeeres forgetting their father and mother , depend wholy vpon the pleasure of the grand-seignior , yeelding him all dutifull and acceptable seruice , as their maintainer and aduancer to honor and riches . his forces consist in horsemen , footemen , shipping , corne and treasure . as touching his treasure , it is generally receiued , that he inioyeth little lesse then eight millions of ordinarie reuenue . and where some men thinke , that out of so large a dominion a greater reuenue may be raised , therein they deceiue themselues ; for not calling to remembrance , that the turkes giue their minds to nothing but warre , nor take care of any thing else but prouision of armour and weapons : courses fitter to destroy and waste , then to preserue and inrich prouinces . hereupon to maintaine their armies , and to continue their expeditions , they doe so pill and spoile the people , that they hardly leaue them wherewith to hold life and soule together . and therefore the poore men not sure of so much as their houshold prouisions ; much lesse of their wealth ( which by time and industrie they may gather ) take no more paines about their husbandrie and traffique , then they needs must ; yea no more then their owne necessitie , as neere as they can , shall inforce them to make cleere at the yeeres ende . for say they , why should we sow , and another reape ? or why should we reape , and another deuoure the reward of our labours ? this is the cause , that in the ottaman dominions , you shall see admirable huge woods , all things laide waste , few cities well peopled , & especially the better part of the fields lie vnmanured . in our countries by the abundance of people ariseth the decrenes of victuals , and in turkie through the scar sitie of inhabitants . the greatest number of the husbandmen perish with carrying prouision and other necessaries to the remote places , through which their armies are to trauell . in their galleies likewise falleth most commonly so great mortalitie , that of ten thousand rowers haled from their houses , scant the fourth part returneth againe . this the rather happeneth , because the turkes in winter time moring their galleies , do not inure their mariners and gally-slaues to the change of aire and discommodities of the tempestuous seas . the whole trade of merchandize for the most part is in the hands of iewes , or christians of europe , epidaurians , venetians , frenchmen and englishmen . in so large a territorie as the turke hath in europe , there is neuer a famous mart-towne but constantinople , capha and thessalonica : in asia , but aleppo and damasko , tripoli and adena : in africke , cair , alexandria and algier . although the ordinarie reuenues are no greater then aforesaid , yet the extraordinarie arise to a greater reckoning , and that by confiscations and presents . for the bassas and great officers , as it were harpyes , sucke the verie bloud of the people , and after they haue heaped vp inestimable riches , for the most part they escheat to the coffers of the grād seignior . it is reported that imbrain bassa carried from cair sixe millions , and mahomet visier a farre greater masse . ochiali besides his other riches had three thousand slaues . the sultana , sister to selim the second , receiued daily two thousand fiue hundred chechini ; and for the ease of pilgrims & trauellers iournying from cair to mecha , she began to trench a water-course all alongst the way : an enterprise surely great and maiesticall . to raise his donatiues to a high reckoning , it is a custome that no embassador may appeere before him emptie handed : no man may looke for any office or honorable preferment , if money be wanting : no generall may returne from his prouince or iourney without his presents ; and you must thinke that so magnificent a prince will not swallow small trifles . the vaiuods of valachia , moldauia and transiluania hold their estates by vertue of this briberie , and yet they are often changed . for the estates are giuen to the best chapmen , who againe to make good their daies of paiment , oppresse the people , and bring the commons to extreme pouertie . notwithstanding all this , we haue seene the persian warre to haue drawne drie his coffers , and emptied his treasuries . not long sithence , both at constantinople and through the whole empire , the value of gold was raised aboue beleefe , insomuch that a chechin of gold was double his value , the allay of gold and siluer was so much abased , that the ianizars finding themselues agreeued thereat , brought great feare not onely vpon the inhabitants , but also to the grand seignior , in threatning that they would set fire on constantinople . in aleppo 60. thousand ducats were taken vp of the merchants in the name of the grand seignior . although his reuenues are not so great , as the spatious firtil apprehension of so mighty an empire may seeme to obiect ; yet hath he an assistance of greater value then his surest reuenues , and that is his timars or stipends . for the ottaman princes seize vpon all the land which they take from their enimes , and assigning a small parcell , peraduenture none at all , to their ancient lords , diuide the residue into timars , to euerie gallant seruitor a portion ; but vpon condition , to finde so and so many seruiceable horse for the warre . therein consisteth the chiefest preseruation of the ottaman empire : for vnlesse vpon this consideration the care of manuring the land ●ere committed to the soldiers , and they againe set it ouer to others for their vse and lucre , all would lie waste through the whole empire : themselues affirming that wheresoeuer the grand seignior once treadeth with his horse hoofe , if it were not for this course , there neuer after would grow grasse againe . with these timars he mantaineth 150. thousand horsemen , excellent well armed , and alwaies readie at their owne charges to march whither their leaders will command them . so great a cauallery can no other prince maintaine with the yeerely expence of fowerteene millions of gold . which maketh me woonder , that some writers comparing the turkish receits with the christians , neuer speake word of so huge a member of the turkish reuenues . it is reported , that in the warre of persia , the turke conquered so much land , that thereof he erected fortie thousand timars , & a new exchequer at tauris , from whence he receiueth yeerely a million of gold . the institution of these timars , and the choosing of the azamogli ( for so they terme the yoong lads whom they meane to make ianizars ) are as it were the verie arches or pillars of the ottaman empire . and heerein they seeme to haue imitated the romane policie . for the romane emperors did alwaies inure their citizens to the warre , and of them consisted the pretorian cohorts , which neuer departed from the empires person . tacitus saith , that the election of the yoong men which was made in this manner , gaue the occasion of the eatanian reuolt . in the romane empire timars or stipends were giuen to the soldiers in vse , as rewards of their good seruice , and they were called beneficta , and the lessees , beneficiarij . alexander seuerus confirmed them to the heires of his soldiers , but vpon condition , that they should be alwaies readie to serue , otherwise not . constantine the great made them hereditarie without exception or limitation . by these infinite troups of horse the emperor worketh two exceeding politike effects through the whole empire : by the first he so aweth his subiects , that they can no sooner stirre , but as so many falcons these timarots are presently on their necks ; and this is the drift of dispersing them through the prouinces : the second is , that one part of them are alwaies ready at the sound of the trumpet vpon al occasions to march , while the other stay at home to keepe the inhabitants in duty and obedience . besides this cauallery , he entertaineth in pay a great number of horsemen diuided into spachi , vlufagi , and caripici : these are as it were the nurserie from whence springeth the degrees of bassas , beglerbeis and sangiaks . then hath he his auxiliaries , the alcanzi , the tartars , the walachians and moldauians . the other pillar of his estate is his infantery , consisting of ianizars . in them two properties are to be noted ; their birth-place and practise . as concerning their birth-place , they are not chosen out of asia , but europe : for they alwaies accounted the asians effeminate and cowardly , alwaies more readie to flie then willing to fight ; but the europians , hardy , couragious and good men of warre . the asians they terme after their owne name , turkes , the europians rumi , that is , romans . as concerning their practise , they are taught when they are yoong ; and therefore no maruell if as they grow in age , so they increase in strength , actiuitie and courage ; for these three vertues make a perfect soldier . the tithing of springals is made euery third yeere , vnlesse occasion constraine a quicker election , as it happened in the persian warre , wherein they were forced not onely to make more haste then ordinarie in their elections , but also compelled to take vp turkish azamoglani , that is , yoong men ; which was neuer put in practise before . when these yoong lads are brought to constantinople , they are suruiewed by the captaine of the ianizars , who registreth their names , their parents & country in tables . from thence some are sent into natolia and other prouinces to learne their law and language , where being nouzeled in the superstitions and customes of them with whom they conuerse , they turne mahumetans , before they be of discretion to discerne good from euill . another sort is distributed in the offices of the seraglio ; the third sort of the fairest complexions and comliest proportion are appointed to seruices in the port of the grand seignior . during the time that they are accounted azamoglani , they haue no certaine gouernour , nor trained vp in prescript orders , but some are set to keepe gardens , some to manure the fields , others to learne manuell occupations , and dispatch houshold businesse . at riper and abler yeeres they are called into the schooles of the azamoglani , ( for so they are still termed till they are inrolled in the scroule of ianizars ) and then deliuered ouer to prescribed schoolemasters , who traine them vp in exercises of labour and trauell , allowing them spare diet and thinne clothing : they sleepe in spacious lodgings , not vnlike the celles of religious persons , where likewise they haue their ouerseers , without whose licence they dare not depart from their appointed places . here they learne to shoote in the bow and harquebuse , or to handle any weapon they haue most minde vnto , and when they haue well profited in any profession , they are inrolled in the roll of the ianizars , or spachy . for their maintenance the one sort are allowed no lesse then fiue aspers , nor more then eight a day , the other , ten . being inrolled for ianizars , immediately they enter into action , to garrisons , or to wait in the port. the latter sort haue three most spacious houses like monasteries appointed them for their abiding place , and there euery one liueth vnder the gouernment of his superior of the same order , the yoonger seruing the elder in buying and dressing his prouision , and such like seruices with obedience , good will , and incredible silence . those of one order eate at one table , and sleepe togither as it were in long cloisters . if any one vpon occasion chance to be out of his lodging but one night , the euening following he is well bastinaded , and that with so great seueritie and patience , that after correction he holds it no disgrace to kisse the hand of his gouernour . in their iournies and expeditions , they account it religious seruice to spoile the cottages and houses of the christians , who must not finde fault with any outrage : whatsoeuer they bargaine for they must carrie it at their owne prices . they are subiect to no iudge , but their age , and he neither can giue iudgement of life and death vpon any of them , but in cases of sedition and mutinies , and that seldome , and very secretly . they inioy manie immunities and pruileges , they are croched to , and feared of all men , some of them are appointed to conuerse with ambassadors , others to accompanie trauellers , especially those of honest reputation , for their securitie throughout the turkish dominions . the election of the emperor is in their power ; for vnlesse they approoue and proclaime the election , the instalment and inuesture is of no force . euery emperor comming to the crowne giueth them some donatiue , and augmenteth their pay . in any dangerous warre , part of them go foorth with their aga , or his lieutenant , but these are the last men that come to blowes . there is not amongst the turkish honors , an office more subiect to enuie and ielousie then this captainship ; for he and the begler-bey of greece may not choose their lieutenants , but the grand seignior onely : the generall fauour of the ianizars is his assured destruction . their number commonly is fower and twentie thousand , but in our times they carrie not their woonted reputation , because both turkes and asians are inrolled for ianizars , whereas in former ages none were admitted but the europian christians : besides , contrary to their ancient custome , they marrie wiues , and that without restraint or limitation . by their long residence about constantinople ( then which there is not a more effeminate citie in the whole world ) they are growne vile , base , and men of small seruice , yea lazie , insolent , and proud aboue measure . it is a common saying , that in their prowesse and discipline consisteth the florishing estate of their empire , but the argument were easie to disproue that opinion . besides his ianizars he hath the azapi , a base besonio , fitter for the spade then the sword , intertained rather with numbers to tire , then by prowesse to defeat armies , opposing them to all dangerous seruices , yea to fill trenches with their carcases , and to make bridges of their slaughtered bodies for the ianizars to passe ouer to the breaches . as the romans had their legions and auxiliaries ; the one the flower of their chiualrie , the other as an aide or augmentation : euen so the turke accounteth his stipendarie horsemen and timarots the sinewes of his armies ; the alcanzi ( such as he presseth out of townes and villages ) scarcrowes , and for ostentation : the ianizars as the pretorian legions , and the azapi as a rabble of pedants . now a word or two of his sea forces : there is no prince furnished with better meanes for building of ships then this prince : for not onely the woods of epire and cilicia , but also of nichomedia and trapezond are so huge , so thicke , and full of tall trees , fit for all sorts of buildings , that a man would take the trunkes falling by violence of storme from the banks of the woods of nichomedia into the euxin sea , to be triremes alreadie built and framed . they want no workemen to fit and square their timber ; for vile couetousnes hath drawne whole flocks of christian shipwrights into their arsenals . the yeere after his defeature at lepanto , he shewed his nauie whole and intire , yea itching to cope with the christian armada . neither can he want a competent number of expert mariners : for out of the gallies which he maitaineth in lesbo , rodes , ciprus and alexandria , and from the hauens of tunis , bugia and algier , he is able to draw a sufficient proportion of sea-men and gally-slaues , as often as occasion requireth to furnish his royall armie . the experience hereof we haue seene at malta , at lepanto , and goletta . of warlike furniture his store is infinite ; his ordinance innumerable : out of hungarie he carried fiue thousand : in ciprus he woon fiue hundred : at goletta fewe lesse . the siege of malta , wherein they discharged 60. thousand pellets , may well declare their abundance of powder and shot : at fanagusta they discharged 118. thousand : at goletta in 39. daies they raced with their vncessant vollies of shot , a fortification which was fortie yeeres in building by our people : in the last persian warre osman bassa drew after him fiue hundred field peeces . where euer they come , they neuer cease playing with their munition , till they haue laid all leuell with the ground ; if that preuaile not , they fall to mining ; if that faile , they go to worke with spade and pickaxe ; if that too , they will neuer giue ouer till they haue filled the ditches with the bodies of their slaughtred soldiers . they haue three things wherewith they terrifie the whole world : multitudes of men , vnconquerable : militarie discipline , vncorrupted : corne and prouisions , store infinite . multitudes in times past haue bred confusion , and commonly we haue seene great armies ouerthrowen by small numbers , but the turkish multitudes are managed with so good order , that although it be farre more easie to range a small armie then a great , yet euen in order haue their great armies excelled our small ; so that i must needs conclude , that they goe far beyond vs both in discipline and numbers ; herein giuing place no not to the ancient romanes ; much lesse to any moderne nation how warlike soeuer . and this their due commendation consisteth not only in armes , but in thirst , patience , & hard diet : as for wine , by their law they are vtterly forbidden it . in the field euerie ten soldiers haue their corporall , to whom without any grudging they dutifully obey . you shall neuer see woman in their armies ; their silence is admirable , for with the becke of the hand and signe of the countenance they vnderstand without words what they are to doe : rather then they will make any noise in the night , they will suffer their slaues and prisoners to escape . they punish theft and quarrelling extremely . they dare not for their liues step out of their ranks to spoile vineyard or orchard . they feare not death ; beleeuing their destinies to be written in their foreheads ineuitable . the valiant are assured of preferment ; the cowards of punishment . they are neuer billetted in townes , nor suffred to lodge one night within them . to keepe them in breath and exercise , their princes are alwaies in action with some neighbour or other , being verie iealous of the corruption of their discipline . the princes adioyning . toward the east from tauris to balsara lie the persians ; toward the south and the persian gulfe the portugals ; toward the red sea prester iohn ; vpon the west the xeriffe and the kingdome of naples ; on the north border the polonians and the germans . without all question the turke excelleth the persian in militarie discipline : for mahumet the second tooke vssuncassan , selim the first ; and after him his sonne soliman defeated ismael and tamas . amurath the third by his lieutenants tooke from them all media , the greater armenia , and their chiefe citie tauris . their batallions of footemen , and the vse of great ordinance , which the persians want and know not how to manage , haue beene the chiefest occasions of these good fortunes . and although they haue sometime ouerthrowen them in horse-fights , yet alwaies with the losse of ground , not to themselues onely , but to their confederates . selim the first , tooke from the mamelucks siria and aegypt . amurath the third almost wholy extinguished the nation of the georgians their surest allies . to the portugals he is far inferiour ; for in sea-fights and sea forces there is as great inequalitie betweene them , as betweene the ocean and the persian gulfe . the portugals haue in india hauens and castels , territories and dominions plentifull in timber , prouision , and all sorts of warlike furniture for the sea , not without many great princes their allies and confederates ; whereas the turke hath no one place of strength in the persian gulfe , but balsara . the tract of the sea coast of arabia , which may seeme to stand him insteed , hath but fower townes , and those weake and of small esteeme : which are reasons sufficient to induce , that in this gulfe , as likewise in the red sea , he hath small meanes to rig out any gallant armada . besides , the soile is vtterly barren of timber fit for the building of galleies : for which scarcitie whensoeuer he had occasion to set foorth a nauie in those seas , he was constrained to send downe his stuffe from the hauens of bithinia and cilicia by nilus to cair , and from thence to conuay it vpon camels backes to his arsenal at suez . what successe his fleetes haue had in those parts you may read in the discourse of portugall : for the portugals take great care to preuent him of setting foote in those seas , yea as soone as they doe but smell that he is preparing any sea forces , they presently looke out and spoile whatsoeuer they light vpon . for captaines , soldiers , armes and munition he is better prouided then prester iohn : for this prince hath a large territorie without munition , and infinite soldiers without weapons . bernangasso his lieutenant lost all the sea coast of the red sea , and brought the abissine into such extremities , that to obtaine peace , he promised the payment of a yeerely tribute . in africke he hath a greater iurisdiction then the xeriffe : for he is lord of all those prouinces which he betweene the red sea and velez de gomera , but the xeriffe hath the richer , the stronger and better vnited . neither of them for the neighbourhood of the king of spaine dare molest one another . the residue of his neighbours are the christians , and first the king of poland : what either of these princes can effect the one against the other , hath beene manifested by their forepassed actions . in some sort it seemeth that the turke feareth the polaques : for vpon sundrie occasions being prouoked ( as in the raigne of henrie the third ) in the warre which iuonia voyvod of walachia made with the turkes , wherein great numbers of polaques serued . and ( in the raigne of sigismund the third ) notwithstanding the incursions of the kosacks , and the inrodes of iohn zamoseus generall of polonia , he stirred not , neither with woontlike disdaine once offered to reuenge these indignities . againe since the infortunate iourney of ladislaus , they neuer enterprised iourney against the turkes , no nor at any time aided the walachians their neighbours , their friends and confederates , but suffered whatsoeuer they held vpon the euxin sea to be taken from them . this vile part i rather attribute to the base minde of the king , then to any want of good will in the gentlemen or nobilitie . sigismund the first being by leo the tenth mooued to war vpon the turke , answered , few words shall serue ; make firme peace betweene the christian princes , then will i be nothing behinde the most forward . sigis●und the second bore a minde so far abhorring from warre , that he not onely neuer made attempt against the turke , but being iniuried by the moscouite , let him doe what he would vnreuenged . king stephen a great politician , thought the warre of turkie full of danger , notwithstanding discoursing with his familiars , he would often say , that if he had but thirtie thousand good foote●en ioyned with his polonian horsemen , he could haue found in his hart to trie his fortune with this enimie . the princes of austrich are borderers by a far larger circuit of land then any other prince , and being constrained to spend the greatest part of their reuenues in the continuall maintenance of twentie thousand footemen and horsemen in garrisons : they seeme rather to stand content to defend their owne , then any way minded to recouer their losses or inlarge their bounds . ferdinands iourney to buda and possouia was rather couragious then prosperous : the reason was , not because his soldiers wanted strength and courage , but skill and discipline . for numbers he was equall to the enemie , and reasonably well furnished with necessaries , but his troupes consisted of germans and bohemians , nations by influence heauy , slow , and nothing fit to cope with the turkes skilfull and readie in all warlike affaires . the venetians likewise are borderers for many hundred miles space by sea and land : but they maintaine their estate by treaties of peace , by traffike and presents rather then by open warre , prouiding very strongly for their places exposed to danger , and auoiding all charges and hazard of warre , yea refusing no conditions , if not dishonorable , rather then willing to try their fortune in battell . the reason is not , because they want money and sufficiencie of warlike furniture , but soldiers and prouision incident to so great a warfare . his last neighbour is the king of spaine , betweene whom there is no great difference : the kings reuenues ( i meane those of europe onely ) exceed the turkish : for he receiueth more then fower millions out of his prouinces of italy and sicil : two and vpward out of portugall , and three from the indies one yeere with another . in these onely he aequalizeth the turke , and in the ordinarie reuenues of castile , arragon and belgia , he farre exceeds him . but what can you finde ( say some men ) to compare to his timars ? first i answere , that the kings reuenues are farre greater then the turks , next his subsidies which he leuieth extraordinarily ( of late times for the most part ordinarily ) as his croisados , do amount to as much as the intire profits of some whole kingdome . his tenths of the spiritual liuings are able to maintaine one hundred strong gallies : his escheats in spaine and naples bring more into his cofers then a man would thinke for . his beneuolences and presents sent him from naples , sicil , sardinia , millan , and the new-world are infinite and magnificent . not long since castile granted a contribution of eight millions of gold to be paid in fower yeeres , which summe amounteth to the turkes whole reuenue of one yeere . what should i speake of his commendams of the orders of montegia , calatrauia , alcantara , and s. iames , which were inough if he had naught else to suffice him : he is great master of the said orders , and thereby hath meanes to aduance and inrich his seruants , whomsoeuer he pleaseth , as freely as if he were king of france or poland . in spaine he keepeth three thousand horsemen , as many in flanders , in millan fower hundred men at armes , and 1000. light horse : in naples 1500. men at armes , and a greater companie of light armed italians . the number of his soldierie in sicill is one thousand fiue hundred . neither are his feodaries lightly to be esteemed , who vpon necessitie are bound by their tenures at their owne charges to serue personally in the field , especially if you consider their numbers , wherein are reckoned 23. dukes , 32. marquises , 49. vicounts , 7. archbishops ( for they likewise in this case are bound to contribute as the great lords ) 33. bishops . and in naples 14. princes , 25. dukes , 37. marquises , 54. earles , 448. barons , to speake nothing of portugall , sicill , sardinia , millan . lastly you must note , that these troupes to whom the turke granteth these timars , are not so renowmed for their valour as for their numbers : for the timars and profits of the villages and possessions , togither with the greedie desire of inriching themselues with the demains of their farmes , hath bred such loue of ease and peace in their minds , that they are growen cowards and base minded ; by their good wils hating the trauails of warre and innouations . they are drawne from their houses with an ill will , and they march with a greater desire of returning home , & inioying the pleasures of their gardens , and the plentie of their granges , then stomacks to cope with their aduersaries , or inriching themselues with their enimies spoiles . for if by a little pillage fierce and valiant soldiers haue become cowards and men of small seruice , what will faire possessions , a pleasant seat , a rich dairy , and wife and children left behinde , bring to passe ? i may well say , & say truly , that these timarots are fitter to bridle and keepe vnder the subdued prouinces , then to fight in field against armed nations : and to this vse it is good policie to maintaine them . for who knoweth not that the turkish subiects do hate his gouernment , his religion and tyrannie ? for religion onely , the moores and arabians , who differ in opinion , and for religion and tyranny , the christians who make more then two third parts of his subiects . for iealousie heere of he is inforced to keepe the greater part of those troupes at home , vnlesse he should lay naked his estates to infinite casualties . to speake in a word , his caualarie is so farre and wide dispersed throughout the prouinces , that they can not easily be drawen vnto any famous iourney in great numbers , without losse of long time , neither are they able to staie long from their houses , but they will fall into diseases and extremities ; so that if the grand seignior had no other aides but these timarots , he might happen to make many vnfortunat iourneies . the experience of forepassed exploits , do well shew the difference of these two prouinces forces . the losse of the spanish fleete at zerby , may be put in the ballance against the turkish flight from malta . the losse of goletta against the taking of the rocke of velez . tunis is alwaies to be taken at his pleasure that hath a liking thereto . the spanish king neuer enterprised any sole iourney against the turke , but he hath valiantly defended his owne at malta and oranum . i wil speake nothing of the defeature at lepanto , for other princes had their shares therein . there was a treatie of truce motioned betweene both princes , not many yeeres since , and equally accepted of both parties . for the one was inuested in the warre of persia , the other in the commotions of the low countries . these warres by reason of their remote distances were extreme chargeable to both princes , but woorser to the king then the turke : for though persia be farre from constantinople ( from whence the principall sinewes of the warre were to be drawne ) yet it bordereth vpon mesopotamia , and other subdued prouinces , from whence his armies are supplied with prouisions and treasure : but belgia is farre distant from any part of the spanish dominions . the turke had to doe but with the persian ( a state without any mightie confederate woorth speaking of ) but the king was ingaged in a warre of greater difficultie , fauoured by the english , the french and the germains , nations equall in all points to the persians . the romane empire . the romane empire in his greatest glorie , euen in the time of traian , stretched from the irish ocean , beyond tigris : from the atlantike ocean , to the persian gulfe , and from catnes at the calidonian wood to the riuer albis and beyond the danubie . it began first to decline by the ciuill warres of galba , otho and vitellius . for in those times the legions of britannie were transported into the continent : holland and the bordering countries reuoked , and immediately after the sarracens finding the frontires of the empire without garrisons , passed ouer danubius . the alani woon the streights of the caspian hils ; the persians indeuoured to get them a name and reputation ; the gothes wandered throughout moesia and macedonia ; the frenchmen entred gallia . but constantine the emperor restored it to the former glorie , made an end of ciuill warre , and tamed the barbarous and cruell nations : and had he not committed two faults , the romane empire might long haue flourished . the first was , the translating of the imperiall seate , from rome to constantinople , which action weakened the west , and ouerthrew the empire . for it is more cleere then day , that as plants remooued out of their naturall soile and transported into regions contrarie in temperature and aire , retaine small vigour of their naturall vertue : so humane actions , but especially cities and kingdomes , loose their glorie and splendour by these great alterations . and for this cause the romane senate would neuer consent , that the people should leaue rome and dwell at veij , a citie far more pleasant and commodious then rome , especially after the sacking thereof by the frenchmen . the seate of constantinople is so pleasant , so commodious , and so fertile , that it is hard to iudge whether humane wisedome or nature shewed most industrie in the situation thereof . there is no citie vpon the face of the earth better serued by land and sea : on one side lie the most beautifull meadowes ; on the other side the pleasant vallies : here rise the fruitfull hillocks ; there floweth and refloweth the plentifull sea , yeelding all sorts of needfull and delicate prouision to the inhabitants thereof . he that did see it would say , that here stroue bacchus with ceres , pomana with flora , magnificence with plentie , who should be most bountifull to this citie . after the sea hath made many gallant bayes and safe roades , whereof bospherus onely in the space of fiue and twenty miles yeeldeth thirtie , it runneth by the citie and countrie , with so quiet and gentle a streame , that the great ships bringing corne from siria and egypt , and the riches of trapezond from capha doe seldome miscarrie . here is euermore haruest , which now and then faileth in thrace and asia . here sholes of fish frisking and playing hard vnder the wals of the citie , swim in such woonderfull abundance , that he which hath not seene it , will hardly beleeue it : but he may easily be perswaded hereof , that considereth how in the winter time the fish flying the cold places , ascend by pontus euxinus , euen in the view of constantinople , towards propontus : then shunning the heate of summer , returne againe by the same way , which they went before . at these two seasons of the yeere , the inhabitants as well for their profit as delight , store themselues with great quantities thereof . at this day on the northeast part of the citie on the other side of the water is the towne of pera ; on the north part is the arsenall , where the gallies are built and doe remaine ; and on the south side is all the ordinance , artillerie and houses of munition . to speake in a word , there is no place fitter seated for plentie of all things for weakning mens valors , for corrupting vertue with vice , then this great and most stately citie of constantinople : prooued by the sloth and delicacie of the greatest number of the greeke emperors and their armies . for if the pleasures of tarent , and the soile of the siberites were inchantments sufficient to make men effeminate , and quite alter the nature of the inhabitants : if the delights of capua could soften and quench the fierce courages of hannibal and his soldiers : if plato deemed the cyrenians incapable of discipline , by reason of their long prosperitie , what may wee thinke of constantinople , for situation proud , for buildings sumptuous , especially of their temples , & for beautifull and commodious hauens pleasant and delightsome aboue any other citie through the whole world ? to conclude , when nothing can be more dangerous to a state then innouations , what could be more hurtfull ( i may say desperate ) to the romane empire then that great , so daine , and vnlooked for mutation ? that good wel meaning emperor , in this did neither more nor lesse , then as a man endeuouring to adde a greater grace to his bodie , should place his face on his knees , and his hart on his heeles . the second fault of constantine was the diuision of the empire to his children , ann . dom. 341. by this diuision of one empre he made three , and withall a memorable diminution of his authoritie and force . for when his sonnes fell to ciuill dissention , they consumed one another so cruelly , that the empire resembled a bloodlesse yea liuelesse bodie . and though sometime vnder some one prince it stood on foote againe , yet it remained alwaies subiect to diuision , and departed into two empires , the east and the west , till the comming of odoacer king of the herules and turingi , into italy with a mightie host : by which inuasion augustulus was brought to such a narrow pinch , that for despaire he cast himselfe into the protection of the east empire . this happened in the yeere of our lord , 476. and about this time the huns passed danubius : alaricus king of the gothes tooke rome : the vandals first spoiled andoluzia , afterwards africke : the alans woon portugall : the gothes conquered the greater part of spaine : the saxons , britaine : the burgundians , prouince . iustinian restored it somewhat to a better staie , driuing the vandals out of africke , and the gothes out of italy by his captaines , anno 556. but this faire weather lasted not long . for in the yeere 713. the armes and heresies of the mahumetans began to vexe the east empire , and shortly after 〈◊〉 the sarracens wasted syria , aegypt , the archipelago , africke , sicill , & spaine . in the yeere 735. they vanquished narbon , auignion , tolouse , burde●● , and the bordering regions . thus by little and little went the westerne empire to ruine . as for the easterne , it stood so weake and tottering , that with all the force it had , it was scarce able to defend constantinople against the armes of the sarracens , much lesse to minister aide to the westerne prouinces . but in the yeere of our lord 800. charles the great , king of france , obtained the title of the westerne empire , which ado bishop of vienna remembreth in these words ; vpon the holy feast day of the natiuitle of our lord , assoone as the mightie king charles had made an end of his praiers , leo the pope set the imperiall crowne vpon his head , whereat all the people with one voice cried : c●●ol● augusto , 〈◊〉 deo coronat● , magno , pacifico . imperatori romanorum , vita ● victoria . the westerne empire was diuided from the easterne in this sort : that naples and sipont eastward with sicill should belong to the greeke empire : bonon●a should remaine to the lombards ; the venetians were neuters ; the popedome free : the rest charles should possesse . bloudus saith , that the empresse iren gaue the first counsell to this diuision , which afterwards was confirmed by nicephorus . thus the beginning of the imperiall diuision began at the translation of the seate from rome to constantinople , increased by renting it into many principalities , and tooke perfection at the coronation of charles . for before him there was one forme of gouernement , lawes , magistracies and ordinances tending to the good and honor of both empires , ●●to members of one body ; and if one emperor died without issue , the whole empire remained to the suruiuor . but when charles the great was chosen emperor of the west , there was no more regard taken of the east empire , neither the emperor of the east had to do with the west , nor the west with the east . the empire of the west continued in this line aboue 100. yeeres , and failed in arnolpho the last of that house . in the yeere 1453. mahumet prince of the turkes tooke constantinople , and vtterly extinguished the succession of the easterne empire . in the yeere of christ 1002. all claime of inheritance reiected , the creation of the emperor was granted to the free election of seuen princes , termed electors . the reason why the empire became electiue , which had so long continued hereditarie in the house of charles , was , because otho the third left no issue male . after whom the westerne empire was maruellously curtald and diminished : for nothing was left but germanie and a part of italy . the pope helde romagnia ; the venetians liued free , possessing great dominions ioyned to their state : the normans taking naples and sicil from the greekes , held them in fee of the church , first vnder clement the antipope , then vnder nicholas the second and his successors , who for their priuate gaine ratified the former grant of the antipope . in tuscane and lombardy partly by the quarrels betweene henry the fourth , henry the fift , frederike the first , and frederike the second with the romane bishops : partly by reason of the valour of the inhabitants , the emperor reaped more labour then honor , more losse then profite . and therefore rodulphus terrified with the misfortunes and crosses of his predecessors , had no great minde to trauell into italy , but solde them their libertie for a small matter . they of luques paid ten thousand crownes , the florentines but sixe thousand . and so euery state by little and little forsaking the emperor , no part of italy remained but the bare title . the dukes of millan , and so euery other state , vsurped what they could catch , without leaue asking , onely they desired their inuestiture of the empire . but frances after the conquest of millan , did little regard this inuestiture , saying , that he was able to keepe it by the same meanes that he had got it . the princes beyond the mounts also withdrew their obedience ; so that now the empire is inclosed in germanie : and why the prouinces of germanie are not all vnder one gouernment , i will now describe . some prouinces are as it were members of the empire , yet seperated ; for they neither doe , nor will acknowledge that they belong to the empire ; as the kings of denmarke and sweathland , the duke of prussia , the swissers , the neatherlands . others confesse the emperor for their soueraigne prince ; but they come not to the diets of the empire , nor wil beare the taxe and tallages of the empire ; as the dukes of sauoy , loraine , and the princes of italie . other come to the diets , and pay all impositions ; those are the princes and cities of germanie . but the king of bohemia by the grant of charles the fourth is exempted from all contributions . other places doe not onely pay contribution , but likewise a peculiar tribute to the emperor : those are the cities , termed imperiall . some of the princes of germanie haue to doe both in the diets , and at the election of a new emperour : those are the sixe electors ; three churchmen , and three laymen , to whom vpon equalitie of voices the king of bohemia is ioyned : and though he come not to the diets , yet hath his voice in the elections . to speake in a word , those are properly termed the cities and princes of the empire , who haue to doe in the diets , and as members of one bodie , participate of good and euill , aduantage and disaduantage throughout the empire . these liuing after the manner of a commonwealth vnited together , haue the emperor for their head for their common safetie , who ruleth not absolutely , but by the diets , and cannot call them without the consent of the greatest number of the electors . the ordinances of these diets cannot be frustrated , but by another diet : but of putting the decrees in execution , the emperor hath full and sole authoritie . and therefore as touching preheminence and dignitie , he is chiefe of the christian princes , as he vpon whom the maiestie of the romane empire resteth , and ought to defend the church of god , the catholike faith , and procure the peace and welfare of the whole christian common wealth . now seeing it is manifest that the glorie of the westerne empire consisteth in germanie , it is good reason to say somewhat of this most ample and flourishing prouince . it lieth betweene odera and mosa ; betweene vistula and aa ; and betweene the germaine and balticke ocean and the alpes . the forme therof is fower square , equall in length and bredth , stretching 650. miles euery way . it aboundeth with corne , cattell and fish , which experience sheweth . for charles the fifth had vnder his ensignes at vienna 90. thousand footemen , and 35. thousand horse ; maximilian the second at iauerin almost 100. thousand footemen , and 35. thousand horse , and yet no man complained of deerenes or scarcitie . in the warre betweene charles the fifth and the protestants , for certaine moneths 150. thousand men sustained themselues abundantly in the field . it is rich in mines of gold , siluer , and all sorts of mettal , and therein surpasseth the residue of the prouinces of europe . nature also hath bestowed vpon the vpland countries many springs and pits of salt water , of which hard salt is boiled . neither is it lesse stored with merchandise ; for the inhabitants more then any other nation do excell in curious workmanship and admirable inuentions : and it is so watred with nauigable riuers , that all sortes of merchandise and wares are with ease conuaied from one place to another . the greatest of them is danow , next the rhene , which runneth cleane thorough the countrie from the south to the north , as the danow from west to east . albis riseth in bohemia , passeth by misnia , saxonie , marchia , the ancient marquisat . odera springeth in morauia , watereth silesia , the two marquisates , and pomeran . then follow wesara , neccarus , mosa , mosella , isara , oenus , varta , moenus . this diuideth germanie into two partes , the high and the lowe . the high stretcheth from the mase to the alpes : the lowe from the mase to the ocean . it is diuided into many prouinces , the chiefest whereof ( i meane the true members of the empire ) are alsatia , sweuia , bauaria , austria , bohemia , morauia , silesia , lusatia , the two marquisates , saxonic , misnia , thuringia , franconia , hassia , westphalia , cleueland , magunce , pomeran . in these prouinces besides belgia and heluetia are esteemed to be ten millions of men . the people is diuided into fower sorts : husbandmen , and they beare no office , citizens , noblemen , and prelates . the last three sorts make the assemblies and states of the empire . of prelats , the archbishops electors haue the chiefest place . the archbishop of ments is chancelor of the empire ; the bishop of coloin is chancelor of italy , and the bishop of treuers is chancelor of france . the archbishop of saltzburg is of greatest iurisdiction and reuenue . the bishop of maidburg writeth himselfe primate of germanie . breme and hamburg had great iurisdictions : next follow aboue 40● other bishops , the great master of the dutch order , and the prior of the knights of ierusalem : then 7. abbots , and they likewise are states of the empire . of secular princes the king of bohemia is chiefe , who is chiefe taster : the duke of saxonic , marshall : the marques of brandeburg , high chamberlain : the earle palatine , sewer . besides these princes there are thirtie other dukes , amongst whom the archduke of austria holdeth the highest place , and of these dukes the king of denmarke by reason of his dukedome of holsatia , is reckoned to be one . then the marquises , lantgraucs , earles and barons innumerable . the free cities ( which in times past haue beene 96. and are now but 60. gouerning themselues by their peculiar lawes ) are bound no further then to pay two fiue parts of whatsoeuer contribution is granted in the assemblies . the cities imperiall , because ( as we said before ) they pay tribute to the emperor , pay 15. thousand florens . the cities haue suffiçient reuenue of their owne , for the most part amounting aboue the value of the contributions . it is thought that the empire receiueth euery way aboue 7. millions , which is a great matter : yet besides this ordinary , the people not ouerpressed as in italie , do pay other great subsidies to their princes in times of danger . the empire is bound ( at leastwise accustomed ) to furnish the emperor when he goeth to rome to be crowned , 20. thousand footemen , and fower thousand horse , and to maintaine them for eight moneths , and therefore it is called romanum subsidium . the reuenues of the cities and lay princes haue beene greatly augmented since the suppressing of poperie , and bringing in of new impositions , which taking their beginning from italy , ( for euill examples spread farre ) quickly passed ouer to france and germanie . in times of necessitie great taxes are laid vpon the whole empire , and leuied extraordinarily , and that they may be gathered with the greater case , germanie is parted into ten diuisions , which haue their particular assemblies for the execution of the edicts made in the generall diets of the empire . as concerning the multitude of people , it is thought that the empire is able to raise two hundred thousand horse and foote , which the warres before spoken of may prooue to be true , as likewise the wars of france and belgia : for since the yeere of our lord 1566. the warre hath beene continued in those two prouinces for the most part with germane soldiers ; and yet to this day great and continuall inrolements are taken aswell of horsemen and footemen through the whole empire . at one time wolfang duke of bipontled into france an armie of twelue thousand footemen and eight thousand horsemen in the behalfe of the protestants , and at the same time the count mansfield was leader of fiue thousand horsemen of the same nation in behalfe of the catholikes . william of nassow had in his armie eight thousand germane horsemen , and ten thousand footemen : the duke of alua had at the same instant three thousand . what should i speake of the numbers that entred flanders with duke casimere ? or those that entred france vnder the same leader in the yeere of our lord , 1578 ? or to what end should i make mention of that armie , where of part serued henrie the fourth , part the league , but to prooue that this nation must be very populous , seeing that warres are continually open in some one or other part of christendome , and no action vndertaken therein , wherein great numbers of germans are not waged and entertained . to speake nothing of the netherlands , who in times past haue resisted the whole powers of france with an armie of fower score thousand men , or of the swissers who in their owne defence are thought able to raise an armie of 100. and twentie thousand men : i will onely put you in minde of that expedition which they made out of their owne territories into lumbardy , in defence of that state against francis the french king , with an armie of fiftie thousand footemen . the best footemen of germanie are those of tiroll , sweuia , and westphalia : the best horsemen those of brunswick , cleueland , and franconia . of weapons they handle the sword and the pike , better then the gunne . in the field they are very strong , as well to charge as to beare the shot ; for order is of great effect , which is as it were naturall to them , with a stately pace and firme standing . they are not accounted for the defence of fortresses , and for their corpulent bodies i hold them not fit for the assault of a breach . and therefore they are to be accounted rather resolute and constant , then fierce or couragions ; for they will neuer come to the seruice , wherein courage and magnanimitie is to be shewed . after the victorie they kill all whom they meete , without difference of age , sex or calling : if the war be drawen out at length , or if they be besieged , they faint with cowardnes . in campe they can endure no delaies , neither know they how to ouercome by protracting . if their first attempts fall not out to their mindes , they are at their wits ende and lose courage ; if they once begin to runne , they will neuer turne againe . but in delaying and temporising , the spanish passe all other nations . he that retaines them must be at extraordinarie charges & great trouble , by reason of their wiues consuming so much prouision , that it is a hard thing to prouide it , almost vnpossible to preserue , and without this prouision they stand in no steed . their horses are rather strong then couragious : and because of ten which goe to the warre , eight are prest from the plough , they are of small seruice , and when they see their blood their hart quaileth : but the spanish genits in this case waxe more fierce . in sea forces they are not much inferiour to their land forces , although they vse not the sea fights ; yet the cities of hamburg , lubecke , rostoch and some others are able to make a hundred ships ; some one hundred and fiftie , equall to the forces of the king of denmarke and sweathland . when these strong and ●nu●cible forces are vnited together , they feare no enimy ; and in imminent perill they are sure of the aide of the princes of italy , sauoy , and lorraine : for these princes neuer forsooke the empire in necessitie . to the zigethan-warre emanuel duke of sauoy sent sixe hundred argoliteers . cosmo duke of florence three thousand footemen paide by the state. alphonsus the second duke of ferara was there is person with 1500. horsemen : better horsemen were not in the whole campe . william duke of mantua was there also with a gallant troupe offootmen : and henrie of lorraine duke of guise had there three hundred gentlemen , with the aide of these princes . pitu the fift , maximilian the second , had in the field one hundred thousand footemen , and fiue and thirtie thousand horse . the emperor fortie thousand footmen , and eight thousand horsemen for eight moneths ; and twentie thousand footemen and fower thousand horsemen for three yeeres next following . the bishop of rome . the state of the pope consisteth in two things : the one is his temporall dominion , the other his spirituall authoritie , his temporall dominion is either immediate and of himselfe , without relation to another ; or else mediate , and by substitution , as representing anothers person . as touching his temporal dominion immediate , he is lord of a great part of italy , of all that lieth betweene the riuer flore and caietta : betweene preneste and the truentian streights ( except the duchie of vrbin . ) in that compasse are contained the prouinces of bonnonia and romandiolia , marchia , vmbria , the duchie of spolet , saint peters patrimonie , and tuscan . for situation it is seated in the verie hart of italy , stretching from the adriatique to the tirrhene sea . and in regard of this situation it is comparable to any state of italy , as also in abundance of prouision , especially of corne , wine and oyle : for romandiola imparteth great store thereof to their neighbours , the venetians and slauonians . in some yeeres marchia hath supplied the wants of the venetians , with many thousand measures of corne , and great quantitie of oyle . and although spoletum is not so plentifull of graine , as to spare for their neighbours , yet is it able to maintaine it selfe without buying of others , and in steed thereof it is abundantly stored with wines , cattell , and some saffron . tuscan hath often releeued genes , and at some seasons naples . this territorie bringeth foorth fierce and warlike soldiers : and herein it is reported to excell all the residue of the italian prouinces . bonnonia , romania & marchia , are able to leuie twentie thousand footmen , and the other prouinces as many . in the time of pope clement , marchia alone aided him with one thousand soldiers . the chiefe seat is rome , once the ladie of the world , and at this day inhabited with one hundred thousand people . the defensible places are the castle & borough of rome , ouietta , terracine , &c. it is a great credit and commendation to this state , to haue many noble men therein so excellent in negotiation of peace and warre , that the residue of the states and princes doe most commonly choose their leaders and lieutenants out of these prouinces . if the prince thereof were secular ; for people and power it might well be compared with any state of italy . besides these dominions , the pope hath the territorie of auignion in france , wherein are fower cities and fowerscore walled townes . in naples he hath beneuent . as touching his temporall soueraigntie , 〈…〉 mediate lord of the kingdomes of naples and sicill , and of the duchies of vrbin , ferrata , parma , placentia , and many others . where his authoritie is maintayned , he hath supreme gouernment of all religious orders , and bestoweth the ecclesiasticall benefices at his dispose . hauing thus many strings to his bow , he hath so many meanes to raise money , that xistus the fourth was woont to say , that the popes should neuer want money , as long as their hands were able to hold a pen. paul the third in the league betweene him , the emperor and the venetians , against the turke , bore the sixt part of the charges of the warre . against the protestants , and in aide of charles the fift he sent twelue thousand footemen and fiue hundred horsemen , bearing their charges during the warre : this was he that aduanced his house to that honor , wherein it continueth to this day . pius the fift aided charles the ninth king of france with fower thousand footemen , and one thousand horse . xistus the fift in fiue yeeres and an halfe of his pontificie , raked together fiue millions of crownes , and spent bountifully notwithstanding in bringing conduits and water-pipes into the citie , and in building pyramides , palaces and churches . the dukedome of austrich . because the westerne empire hath long continued in the most noble familie of the house of austrich , and seuen emperors haue successiuely succeeded one another of that line ; for the delight of the reader we will speake somewhat thereof . this house grew famous almost about the same time that the ottoman prince began his empire , and ( as it may seeme ) raised vp of god to stand as a wall or bulwarke against the turks and infidels . philip the first , king of spaine , archduke of austrich , &c. had two sonnes , charles the fift , afterward emperor , and ferdinand the first , king of romanes . to charles as to the eldest fell belgia and spaine , with the dependancies ; ferdinand succeeded him in his lordships of germanie , as austrich , boheme , tirol and other prouinces , whereunto by the marriage of his wife anne , hungarie was adioyned . this ferdinand left three sonnes behind him , who although they diuided their inheritance into three parts , yet their successors euen to this day , did and doe gouerne them as one intier gouernment ; their counsels are one ; their mindes one , their deseign●●●nts one , most liuely representing the ancient gerion , where for the common safetie , if any part be afflicted euerie member runneth to the succour of the other , as if it were to their proper tranquillitie . their dominion stretcheth so large , and is of such force , that if by reason of the great tract of land lying betweene the carpathy mountaines and segonia , they did not border vpon the great turke ( who alwaies constraineth them to looke to their safetie , and to be at excessiue charges ) no prouince throughout the christian world could goe beyond them , for numbers of people , for wealth and treasure , or for magnificent cities . any man may perceiue this to be true , that considereth the distance from tergiste , to the borders of lusatia : from tissa , to nabus : from canisia , to constantia vpon the lake podame . in this progresse is contained lusatia , silesia , bohemia , morauia , austria , and a great part of hungarie , territories large and ample , abounding with people , corne and riches . then follow stiria , carinthia , carniola , the counties of carinthia , tirol , cilia , the princedomes of sweuia , alsatia , brisgouia , and constantia . amongst these prouinces bohemia is the largest , stretching in length 140. miles , and reported to containe 780. castles and walled townes , and 32. thousande villages . morauia , silesia , lusatia , are as large as bohemia , but in strength and numbers of people far inferiour . these three prouinces are fower hundred miles long , and 120. broad : they abound with excellent good horsemen and footemen . the inhabitants of lusatia ( where twenty thousand men fit for the warre may be gathered ) are accounted as good footemen , as any other : stiria rich in mines of siluer and iron is 60. miles broad , and 110. long : carinthia , a hillie and wooddie countrie , is 75. miles long , and 55. broad : carniola with the bordering countries vp to tergiste is 150. miles long , and 45. broad . they are plentifull of corne , wine , flesh and wood . the countie of tirol is full of mines of siluer and salt pits , and is eighteene german miles long and broad . the territories of sweuia , alsatia , and rhetia doe pay little lesse then two myriades and an halfe of ordinarie reuenue , & so much extraordinarie : besides the 18. cantons of rethia , are vnder the same iurisdiction . they are so well peopled , that vpon occasion , they are able to leuie 100. thousand footemen , and 30. thousand horse . i know no other prouince in europe able to say the like . and therefore the emperor is not so weake a prince , as those who are ignorant of the state of kingdomes doe suppose him , reporting his territories to be small , vnprouided of necessaries , poore in monie , and barren of people . but this is certaine , that as he is a lord of a large dominion , fertile , rich , and infinite people ; so let euery man thinke that by the neighborhod of the turke bordering vpon him , from the carpathie mountaines to the adriatique sea , the forces of a mightier prince may seeme small and ouerlayed . for what prince bordering vpon so puissant an enemie , but either by building of fortresses , or by intertaining of garrisons , is not almost beggered , i will not say , in time of warre , but euen during the securest peace ? considering that the forces of the turke are alwaies readie , strong and cheerefull , yea better furnished in the time of peace , then any other nation in the hottest furie of warre . wherefore it standes him vpon , that is a borderer vpon so powerfull an enemie , either for feare or iealousie to be euer watchfull , and to spare no charges as doth the emperor ; retaining in wages continually twenty thousand soldiers , keeping watch and warde vpon the borders of hungarie . these aske great expences , and yet lesse then these , are not to be defraied for the strengthening of other places ; besides other expences not meete here to be spoken of . wherefore , seeing the turke like an vnsatiable dragon , hath ouerwhelmed so many noble prouinces , and so many flourishing kingdomes , yea hath brought vnder his yoke those cities which were thought impregnable ; and those bulwarks which the world deemed could neuer be forced , let vs not shut both our eares , and say , lie is farre from vs , when he stands at our doores , yea close by our sides . denmarke . although it may seeme needlesse to make any mention of sweuelād , because it is as it were situated in another world ; and with whom there is no great entercourse of trading , yet for the spatious largenes thereof , it may well deserue a place amongst other kingdomes spoken of in these relations . it is situate in that part of europe which some terme scandia , others scandania , or balthia ; from whence issued the gothes and vandales , the verie treaders downe of the romane empire . it is subiect both to the danish and sweuian crowne . the king of denmarke besides the cimbrian chersonese ( where helsatia , theutomarsia , the dukedome of slesia , flensburge , friesland , and iuthland , regions fruitfull , replenished with store of cattle and wilde beasts , doe lye ) retaineth other spacious ilands , the best whereof stand in the entrance of the balticke sea , being 15. in number , all comprehended vnder the name denmarke . the chiefest of them is sclandunia , containing 60. miles in length , and little lesse in bredth . it excelleth the rest in woorth , both for the number of villages , the mildenes of the aire , and because it hath beene and is the seate of their kings . he hath also gothland in his iurisdiction , which is placed right ouer against gothia . one of his kinsemen hath the gouernment of osilia , a pretie iland in the greater gulfe of liuonia ; and ruleth those fat and plentious countries which lie in the continent of liuonia . scania likewise acknowledged his soueraigntie ; and he holdeth the kingdome of norway ; which from the confines of scania extendeth and stretcheth northward 1300. miles to the castle of wardhouse , vpon whom border the lappians . the iles adioining therto , sania , setland , and faria ( lying in the maine sea ) are in his tenure . in times past the people of norwey haue beene of great puissance : they afflicted england , scourged france , and therein obtained a prouince called to this day normandie . in italie they conquered the kingdome of sicill and appulia . and in the holy warre , boemand leader of the normans , woon the principalitie of antioch . in the north ocean ( besides that of friesland , and the sea coast of island , and gromland ) he holdeth the dominions of the foresaid ilands of shetland and faria . the orchades acknowledge the kings of norwey for their lords , although they are subiect to the scottish crowne . sithēce the kingdome of norwey became electiue , & turmoiled with ciuill wars and intestine discords , it came to the possession of the danish kings , who , that he may hold it surely , intreateth the inhabitants cruelly , spoiling them of their substance , and to leaue no hope of better fortune to this miserable people , he holdeth fortified all the creekes and hauens of the sea coast . the wealth of the kingdome consisteth in the abundance of cattle and sea fish , whereof there is such store , that of the herring fishing onely , a mightie masse of money is yeerely gathered ; so huge is the number of all sort of fish , that at sometimes of the yeere a ship can make but slowe way in this sea ; and the marishes & meadowes adioining thereunto are verie pleasant and sauorie to the feeding cattle . scania is rich in corne , and pasture , and well replenished with people : norwey hath no riches of any moment , except timber fit for the erecting of houses , and framing of ships ( from thence transported into holland and flanders ) and cattle , and great store of cheese and milke . some profite also ariseth of a kinde of fish dried in the winde , which the dutchmen call stockfish . it is taken in ianuarie , and laid in the winde and cold , vntill it be indurate and hardened like wood , and then carried into diuers regions as a kinde of sustenance . the greatest matter of gaine to the king of denmarke is that narrow sea or streight betweene cronburg & eltzenburg , commonly called the sound , which is a passage so narrow , that no shipping can passe that way , without the licence and fauour of the watchmen , keeping garrison there to receiue the impostes , and customes of the arriuing vessels : it is easily gathered to what some of money that impost amounteth , by the infinite number of shipping of holland , zealand , france , england , scotland , norwey , and the baltike sea , that saile in those seas , and of necessitie must passe the iawes of that narrow streight . the inhabitants are as needie of rhenish , french , spanish wines , the spices of portugall , or the fruits of andoluzia , as they againe are greedie of the waxe , honie , skins , and corne , which are brought thither from prussia , liuonia , moscouia , and the bordering nations . touching his powerablenes in land seruice , it was neuer seene that he enterprised any iourney of reputation , but that against the theutomarsi , vpon whom king valdemar laid the yoke of subiection : but falling againe into rebellion , after many chances of warre , beginning in the yeere 1500. they were vtterly vanquished by frederick the second , in the yeere of our lord 1558. before that time they discomfited iohn the sonne of king christian the first . what this king of denmarke is able to performe at sea , may be gathered by the names , which vpon occasions he hath rigged to sea at the intreatie of henrie the second king of france . christian the second sent a nauie of 100. ships into scotland against the english , and in them ten thousand land soldiers . but for as much as it is apparent that he is lord of so ample a sea coast , & possesseth so many hauens in denmarke , sca●●a , norwey , and so many ilands without the baltike sea , it is most likely that he is able to assemble a mightie fleete of ships if money were not wanting : which as i take it , cannot but often faile him , considering that in his whole kingdome there is growing no merchandise of value ( excepting seafish ) neither is there any famous mart towne , which is able to draw , or long to maintaine traffike with other nations . the greatest matter is his customes of the sea townes , the profite of certaine mines in scania , the horses & cattle of the danish chersonesse , the timber and fish of norwey , and the ilands . it hath beene obserued , that fiftie thousand oxen hath beene driuen out of these prouinces into germanie ; for which , tole hath beene paid at gutthorpe . he reapeth some profit likewise of wardhouse , whither the english of late yeeres haue sailed betweene norwey and groenlant ; some to colmogro , others to stockholme , not farre from s. nicholas , where they traffike with the russies for waxe , honie , and flaxe : thither resort likewise hollanders , scots , and frenchmen . almost in the middle of this baie is an iland and towne called wardhuis , which frederick the second caused to be strongly fortified , and here the merchants pay their custome . sweueland . the king of sweueland raigneth in scandia , which is larger then denmarke , for it is accounted a iourney of fiue and fortie daies from the borders of scandia to lapland , and the coast of the balticke sea is little lesse then 400. miles long , and his tract of land is esteemed larger then france , and italy . in liuonia this king possesseth riualia , the narue , danouia , and other peeces of good esteeme , the iland vlander , alandes , and many other places ( not woorthy speaking of ) situated in the sweuian and finland sea . these regions besides liuonia are diuided into three kingdomes , gotland , sweueland , and vandalia , which againe are subdiuided into eleuen prouinces , and twelue counties ; among the which the lappians are not accounted , because this people ( though inhabiting a larger countrey then sweueland ) cannot be termed to liue vnder any certaine dominion , because of their miserie , pouertie , and wandring from place to place through woods and mountaines ; but they , who haue anie manner of certaine abode , or setled habitation , are vnder the sweuish dominion , and pay rich skins for their tribute . of the three kingdomes whereof we spake , gotland bordereth vpon scandia , and is diuided into east and west , both bounded with the lake weret : in the midst whereof the king ( delighting in the pleasantnes of the place ) keepeth his court . twenty fower riuers do run into this lake , yet it emptieth it selfe but by one mouth . the inhabitāts for the excessiue noise of the waters , call it in their toong , the diuels head. the word gothia signifieth a heauenly countrie , which doth wel agree thereto for the abundance of sustenance : no region being comparable vnto it in fertilitie of flesh , fish , and corne . next followeth sweueland , larger then norwey and gotland both togither . in sweueland is vpsalia their chiefe city , and stockholme ( the kings seate . ) stringa , enuecopia , orogundia , arboia , arosia . then comes finland situate betweene the balticke and finland bay , where stand abo the chiefe citie , raugina and augo both famous mart townes : vames , viburge , and castlehome in the alandian ilands . the husbandmen inhabite without the townes ; and by reason of the plentie of timber , the woods , vallies , and other places defended from the furie of the northren winde , they liue here in verie good sort , keepe in their houses flockes of cattell , and instruments to digge , to build , or to make any thing necessarie for the life of man : and this is the reason , that townes here are neither so faire nor so frequent , as in germanie or england . ouer and aboue cities and villages , there are accounted 1433. parishes ; in some of which a thousand people , or ( as they terme it ) a thousand housholds or fires doe inhabite : but there are few of these parishes , in which at the least there are not an hundred families . by this a man may iudge the number of this people , especially if he consider the fruitfulnes of their generation : for the women of finland by a secret operation of their beere ( as some thinke ) become exceeding fruitfull . the men liue here verie long , chiefly in the most northerly parts ; neither is it miraculous amongst them to see a man liue aboue an hundred and thirtie or fortie yeeres . this long liuing is the true cause of their propagation : for where men liue shortest liues , there the vertue of generation must needs soonest decay : and therefore our lord god in the beginning of the world did permit mankinde to liue seuen hundred yeeres and more , that the world might the sooner be peopled , and the act of generation ( which now for the shortnes of our liues is determined within fortie yeeres ) was then more vigorous at one hundred and vpward , then in this our age , at ten . the riches of this kingdome consisteth in the plentie of victuals , which this word , gothia ( signifying an heauenly region , as we said before ) and finland ( signifying a good countrey ) do well witnes . their prouision is flesh , fresh fish , salt fish , fish dried in the smoke and sunne , corne and beere : whereof there is so great abundance , that it is a hard thing to see a begger amongst them , and trauellers are there freely entertained . it is so rich in mines of lead , copper , siluer , and some gold , that no prouince in europe may compare therewith . and these mines are to be found in euerie place , if the countrey people ( bound to carrie wood to the mines , and to other seruile workes ) did not hide and hinder the discouerie thereof as much as in them lyeth . most fine siluer is found in the prouince of vestros ; and more would be , were it not for the enuy of the inhabitāts , who though they know not the vse of trying of mettals , doe notwithstanding murmur that any strangers should imploy their labours therin . and this their frowardnes toward strangers ariseth not of hatred , but vpon a iealousie that they should be ouerreached , or otherwise abused by thē : for by nature they are simple and well meaning , not giuen to ambition , nor infected with auarice . the kings reuenue consisteth in fower things ; the tenths of ecclesiasticall liuings , in mines , tributes & customes . the profits of the church liuings amount to a good summe of money : for in this kingdome there were seuen cathedrall churches , threescore monasteries of men and women endowed with most rich reuenues . first gustan , and after his sonne eric seised the greatest part thereof into their possessions . some of the foresaid mines are wrought at the kings charges ; some at the charge of priuate persons , allowing onely the tenth part . of three copper-workes i haue knowne the tenth part ( which is the kings ) to amount to the value of three thousand dolars yeerely : hereby estimation may be made of the siluer and lead . but his taxes do far surpasse all other things : for he leuieth the tenth of rie , wheat , barley , fish , oxen , skins and such like . of the tenth of oxen at some times he hath gathered 18. thousand , and with them maintayneth his court , his officers , his nauie , and his armies : for in the time of warre , either with the dane or moscouite , he alloweth his soldiers victuals , and by this meanes prouideth it at verie easie rates , as well offending as defending . the marriage of the kings daughters is at the disposition of the people , & they allow them besides siluer , plate and other gifts one hundred thousand dolars for a dowrie . of the vplandish people and others which pay not the imposition of victuals , the king is accustomed to exact of euerie poll according to his ability , fiue dolars or more yeerely . the customes are paide in the hauen townes ; the chiefe where of are calma●e , lod●●is , and stockholme ( where a● some times three hundred ships of burthen are to be seene ) abo , auge , reualia , parnouia , narue . it is thought , that the king doth lay vp in his treasuries sixe or seuen hundred thousand dolars , besides the expences vpon the fortresses of reualia and viburgh . there are maintained in sweueland and gothland about thirtie two troupes , euerie one consisting of fiue hundred or six hundred soldiers , al harquebusiers , alwaies ready to march , whither occasion calleth . bicause of the thicknes of the woods , the horsemen serue with petronels , and seldome vse pikes or lances . the footemen are most excellent ; for euerie soldier is able to make and furnish himselfe with any furniture whatsoeuer , euen to the making of his owne flaske and tuchboxe ; as likewise the common people in per●●ia , and the neighbouring prouinces , being contented with a little , haue alwaies accustomed to make all implements for their houses and bodies ; to build , to weaue , to play the taylors , to sow , to reape , and to forge tooles fit for their busines . and as for those trades , which are neither common nor necessarie , as to paint , to worke in siluer , and such like , there are notwithstanding found among them verie good workemen , wanting rather matter then art to worke vpon . the sweuian horsemen are diuided into thirteene companies : sweueland and gothland maintaine eleuen , and finland two ; and vpon necessitie they can raise a greater force : for the dukedome of vermeland ( as report goeth ) is able to furnish better then ten thousand men with horse . in marchland there is such plentifull breede of horse , that there they are sold at a verie low rate : both these prouinces are in gothland . their horse is not so bigge bodied as the frieslander , but exceeding strong , hardy , actiue , able to endure trauell , and fed with a little . i will not omit to speake of two noble vsages of the king of sweueland towards his soldiers : one is , that if a soldier be taken prisoner , he is ransomed at the kings charges : the other , that if his horse be slaine , the king bestoweth an other vpon him . he giueth yeerely to his captaines , and those which serue on horsebacke , in part of payment of their wages , a garment , which the romanes termed idolis , and may be taken for a cassocke . as touching their sea affaires by reason of their huge sea coast , and infinite hauens , the kingdome swarmeth with marriners and shipping , which the king may arrest in his dominions , as other princes are accustomed to doe : he maintaineth commonly fiftie ships of warre , whereof euerie one carrieth fortie pieces of ordinance , more or lesse . king gustan brought in the vse of galleies . in the warre which king iohn waged with the danes ( before the peace treated on at stetin was agreed ) he put to sea seuentie great ships , besides others of smaller burthen , in which were 22000. fighting men . in the sommer time they warre at sea ; in the winter at land : for then the riuers are frozen , as likewise the sea neere the shore for a great space . seeing i haue spoken of guns , i will adde this much , that the king is thought to haue about eight thousand great pieces , the most part of brasse , and that he could cast many more if he had more store of tinne . in the castle of stockholme onely are numbred fower hundred . vpon the west side of sweueland is denmarke ; on the east moscouie , with both which he hath had long warre . the sweuians haue suffered much losse by the denmarkes : for king christian the second besieged stockholme , and forced it , committing all kinde of crueltie against the inhabitants , filling the citie with blood and dead carcasses . the title which the dane pretendeth to the crowne of sweueland , is the cause of their enimities . the hauens , the situation of the countrey , and especially gotland ( which is a member of gothia , and therefore the sweuian claimeth it as his right ) affoordeth the dane this facilitie of inuading it at his pleasure . after gustan recouered the kingdome , he and his sonne henrie and iohn raigned successiuely : and although blood enough hath beene shed in the wars betweene gustan and the danes , yet the kingdome hath retained her honor : and the citie of lubecke ( the mightiest state in that sea ) sometimes by confederating with the one , sometime with the other , doth in so euen a ballance pease the differences of these two nations ; as it suffereth not the one to practise against the other , vpon the perill that may ensue to the offender . in warring with the moscouite the sweuian hath the most aduantage , because finland ( which bordereth vpon russia ) by reason of the great lakes & marishes , wherof it is full , yeeldeth hard & perillous passage to the enimie , oftentimes swallowing vp whole armies in those congealed waters : there he keepes the castles of viburge , narue , reualia & other piles and peeces vpon the borders of the great duke of moscouia , excellent well fortified , as bridles to stoppe his violent courses . in which , he doth very wisely ; for those pieces which lie in the territories of our enimies are to be regarded most carefully , because they bring foorth two notable effects : first , they defend what is ours , and offend what is the enimies . the further they are distant from our borders , the better they stand vs in steed : for while the enimy is occupied in besieging thereof , our owne state standeth in quiet , and time affoordeth meanes for rescue , or deliuerie thereof at leysure , and that without spoile to our owne people , or losse of our proper reuenues . they grieue the enimie with so much the more dammage , by how much the neerer they are situated vnto them . of this effect was cale is in the possession of the english , & the places which the spaniards & portugals hold in africke . but the fortresses built in our owne borders , serue to no other end then to defend what is alreadie ours , & that to our great disaduantage : for as often as they are inuaded , all things are done at a sudden , and it cannot be auoided , but somewhat will fall to the spoile of the enimie . to ende with the king of sweueland , he is so much better able then the moscouite to defend his territories , by how much sea-forces ioyned to land-forces are able to preuaile against a state furnished with land-forces onely . poland . the kingdome of polonia was neuer so great as at this day ; the great dukedomes of lituania and liuonia being ioyned thereto . it stretcheth from the flood notes , and obra ( which diuideth it from marchia , and odera which seperateth it from silesia ) to ber●say and boristhenes , which two parteth it from moscouia . it reacheth from the balticke sea , to the riuer niester , which parts it from moldauia ; and to the mountaines carpathie , which diuide it from hungarie . by this limitation ( from the borders of silesia to the frontires of moscouia , betweene the west part and the east ) it containeth 120. germain miles ; and from the vtmost bounds of liuonia , to the borders of hungarie , not much lesse . so allowing the forme thereof to be round , it is far larger then a man would take it to be . it containeth many and goodly large prouinces , as polonia the great and the lesse , massouia , prussia , russia , volinia , liuonia , and lituania . among these prouinces poland was found inhabited of the polonians ; but pr●se , part of pomeran , podalia , volinia , masouia and liuonia haue been obtained and gained by armes . lithuania and sa●otgathia ( prouinces of russia ) were the inheritance of the house of iagello . for in the yeere 1380. iagello then duke of lithuania , tooke to wife the princesse hedinge the last of the blood royall of polonia , and was installed king on three conditions : the first , that he should become a christian ; the second , that he should cause his people to do the like ; the third , that he should vnite his principalities to poland . these couenants were accomplished in our age , when the race of iagello ended . for when the people were vnwilling by depriuing the heires ( which had right to the empire of their iust inheritance ) to subiect it to election , they alwaies called vpon the performance of the conditions , hoping that the nobilitie and people of lituania would not loose their honor and dignitie by this mixture : yet at last on the one side , when they considered the issue of their princes to faile ( for sigismund augustus was the last heire male , ) and on the other side , fearing the force of the moscouite , they agreed to vnion and election . in times past liuonia was the seate of the dutch knights , and they had therein their chiefe gouernor , whom they termed the great master : but in the yeere 1558. being spoiled of the greatest part of their territorie by the great duke of moscouie , they fled to sigismund king of poland , who tooke them into his protection , and vntill the raigne of king stephen 1582 the prouince was neuer regained . for the most part , poland is a plaine countrie , and ( but for certaine mountaines ( rather hils then mountaines ) situated in the lesser poland , and diuiding it from prusland ) all the residue of the countrie stretcheth it selfe into most ample plaines , wherein are very many woods , especially in lithuania . the greater and the lesser poland are better inhabited then any other prouince of the kingdome . the like may almost be spoken of russia , for the neerenes of the sea , concourse to the hauens , and situation of the riuers . prussia and liuonia haue fairer cities , goodlier buildings , and by traffike and concourse of merchants greater plentie of riches . for , when the dutch knights were lords of the countrie , they builded cities like those of germanie , and all alongst the sea coast for the space of fowerscore miles many castles and places of good esteeme . they haue many faire hauens of good woorth , and are lords of all the traffike between poland and the balticke sea : which is a thing of great value and consequence . for the riuer vistula arising in the extremest bounds of silesia , watereth all poland the lesse , and part of the greater , and mazouia and prussia , and falleth into the baltike sea below danske , whither it transporteth the greatest quantitie of rie , corne , hony and waxe of the whole kingdome , a iourney of fower hundred miles . from another coast the most famous riuer duina arising out of the lake ruthenigo , & parting liuonia into euen portions , falleth into the sea about riga , a citie of great concourse . there are in prussia and liuonia many lakes , amongst which one is called the new sea , one hundred miles long : in liuonia is a lake called berhas , more then 400. miles long : from thence spring the riuers , which running by pernouia and narue , make two notable hauens for traffike . betweene these two cities standes riualia , giuing place to neither in beautie . samogithia is more rude and barbarous then the other prouinces , and podalia more barren : which is not to be attributed to the nature of the soile ( for it is most plentifull of those commodities which the climate vnder which it lieth can affoord ) but to the crueltie of the tartars , which so vexe it with continuall inrodes , that the inhabitants are driuen either to flie for feare , or to be ledde away captiues of the barbarous tartars . the riches of poland are the abundance of corne , and all sorts of graine , which grow there in so plentifull sort , that in the yeere 1590. and 1591. it releeued not onely the bordring nations , oppressed with famine and scarcitie , but also yeelded some portion of releefe to the wants of the genowaies , tuscane , & rome . it floweth with honie & waxe , & whereas in all these northerly nations of poland , lithuania , russia , muscouia , there are no wines growing , insteed thereof , nature hath bestowed vpon them incredible quantities of honie , whereof these people doe brew an excellent kinde of beuerage . the bees make honie either in the woods where they finde the trees made hollow by rottennes or mans industrie , or in hiues set in the open field by the countrey people , or in holes of the earth , or in any place where they can finde neuer so small a liking . it aboundeth with flaxe and hempe , with sheepe , cattle , and horses . amongst the beasts of the wood are found wilde oxen , and wilde horses , and the bufle , which cannot liue out of the wood of nazouia . the riches of the land consist in the salt-pits of bozena and velisca , in the territorie of cracouia . the reuenues of the kingdome for the most part are equally diuided betweene the noblemen and gentlemen ; for no man is left so rich by inheritance , that he may excel others aboue measure ; and the greatest reuenue exceedeth not 25. thousand dukets . only the dukes of curland and regimount exceede this meane . for although they are feodaries of the kingdome , & acknowledge the king as their superior , yet are they not as liuing members of the state ; they come not to the diets of the kingdome , they haue not their voices in the election of the prince , neither are they accounted as naturall lords of the kingdome ; but for strangers , ( as in truth they are : ) the duke of curlan being of the house of ketleri , and the duke of regimount of the family of brandenburge . all prussia did belong to the dutch knights , who had their great master resident there , who when he was not able to withstand the forces of the polonians , yeelded himselfe feodarie to king cassimere : afterwards when albert of brandenburge their great master became a protestant , he was created duke of prussia ; and the countrey diuided into two parts ; the one regall , immediately holden of the crowne , the other ducall , allotted to albert , and his successors to hold by fealtie . in the kings partition stand marieburge , torouia , gulma , varnia and danske : in the duchie ( which yeeldeth 120. thousand ducats yeerely ) the chiefe towne is regimont : the germans call it conningsburgh , and there the duke keepeth his court . the gouernment of polonia representeth rather an aristocracie then a kingdome , because the nobility ( who haue great authoritie in the diets of the kingdome ) choose the king , and at their pleasure limite him his authoritie . they haue neither law nor statute , nor forme of gouernment written , but ( by custome from the death of one prince to the election of an other ) the supreme authoritie resteth in the archbishop of gesne , who is president of the counsels , appointeth the diets , ruleth the senate , and proclaimeth the new elected king . before king stephen erected new bishops , palatines , and castellanes in liuonia , few other besides the archbishop of leopolis , and his 13. suffragans , 28. palatines , and thirtie of the chiefest castellanes , were present at the election of the newe king . in the time of their diets , these men assemble in a place neere vnto the senate house , where they choose two marshals , by whom ( but with a tribunelike authoritie ) they signifie vnto the councell what their requests are . not long since their authoritie and reputation grew so mightie , that they now carie themselues as heads & gouernors , rather then officers & ministers of the publike decrees of the estates . there was one of the councel , that after the maner of clodius , refused his senators place to become one of these officers . when a new king is to be chosen , these men do more and more limit his authoritie , not suffring it to stretch one iot farther then accustomed . but although the crowne of poland be at the disposition of the nobilitie , yet was it neuer heard that they reiected or ouerslipped the kings successor , or transferred the kingdome into any other line more then once , when deposing ladislaus ( whom notwithstanding they afterward restored ) they elected weneslaus the bohemian . likewise , they haue alwaies a regard to the kings daughters , as of hedinge , maried by them to iagello ; and in our times of anne giuen in mariage to king stephen . it was no smal cause of the aduancement of sigismund the third , to the crowne of polonia , that he was the sonne of katherine sister to sigismund the emperor , and of the foresaid anne : and although the kingly authoritie be electiue , yet after he is chosen , his power is absolute in manie things , as to call the diets , to appoint the times and place at his pleasure , to choose laie councellors , and nominate the bishops , and whom he will haue to be of the priuie councell ; he is absolute disposer of the reuenue of the crowne , and lord of those which hold of him immediate ; but ouer the tenants of the nobilitie he hath no iurisdiction : he is absolute establisher of the decrees of the diets , and soueraigne iudge of the nobles in criminall causes ; it is in his power to reward and aduance whom pleaseth him : to speake in a word , such as is his valor , dexteritie , and wisedome , such is his power , authoritie , and gouernment . as the polanders say , the decrees of the king indure but three daies , & they conuerse with him not as cosins , as in france , but as brethren . and as the king hath absolute authoritie ouer them , which immediately hold of him , so the nobilitie dispose absolutely of their vassals , vpon euerie of whom they exercise more then kingly authoritie , in manner as vpon slaues . in establishing their kingdome , they haue done one thing woorthie the noting , which is , that as the romanes increased their names and dominion , by communicating the lawes and honors of italy , and the citie of rome to other cities , yea whole prouinces : so the kings of polonia haue enlarged , vnited and strengthened their estate , by participating the priuileges of the polish nobilitie to those prouinces , which either they haue conquered by armes or otherwaies purchased , gracing the nobles thereof with fauours equall to any bestowed on the polish nobilitie . by this equallyzing , king ladislaus strongly vnited russia and podalia to poland : sigismund augustus , lithuania : stephen , liuonia : for equalitie in offices & promotions knitteth affections in peace and warre . the force of this kingdome ( as of others ) consisteth in graine , coine , footemen , horsemen , armour and munition . of graine we haue spoken alreadie . in coine it is not verie rich : for excepting danske they haue neuer a mart towne woorthie estimation ; and the wares that are brought from prussia & liuonia , do not inrich the kingdome with ready money ; yea they do hardly suffice to barter with the english & flemmish for cloth , silks & wools : or with the spanish and portugals for sugars , spices , fruits & malues●ies . for when the countrie is not giuen to traffike , nor the cities to buy & sell , nor the people to labour , and the nobilitie is very gallant , prodigall in expences , spending more then their reuenues in diet and apparell , and the seasoning of their meates ( for the polanders vse more spices then any other nation : ) and their wine , their silke , and the greatest part of their woollen cloth is brought from forren nations , how can the kingdome be rich in siluer ? for in transporting of rich ware , and returning of little , consisteth the wealth of euery kingdome ; gathering together ( by venting home-bred commodities ) the coine of forren countries , and keeping it once brought in , from passing abroad againe . in this practise consisteth the wealth of naples and millan : for naples sendeth to sea great store of corne , wine , oile , silke , woad , horses , fruits , and such like , which bring in huge masses of forren coine : millan supplieth the want of other prouinces with corne , rice , clothes , iron works , and wares of all sorts ; and returneth little againe . if the kingdome of naples and sicill were as well stored with artificiall workmanship , as they are prouided with corne and wealth , no other kingdome could compare with them . to returne to poland : notwithstanding , their riches are not so small as some thinke they are ; for the reuenues of the crowne raised of the mines of salt and siluer amount yeerely to sixe hundred thousand ducats . true it is that sigismund augustus pawned part of his reuenues , and king henry a moneth before his flight ( to binde some part of the nobilitie fast vnto him ) sold vnto them more then three hundred thousand ducats of yeerly rent . it is lawfull for the king by sales of escheats falling to the crowne , to purchase liuings for himselfe , and of the said reuenues to retaine great portions to his proper vse , and spare his owne expences : for when the king with his court abideth in lithuania , the lithuanians defray the charges : the like is done in most places of poland . he that waieth with himselfe that the reuenues of scotland , nauarre , and sardinia exceed not yeerely one hundred thousand duckets , nor the kingdome of aragon to yeeld aboue one hundred thousand crownes euery three yeeres ; cannot lightly esteeme of the reuenues of this kingdome : yet the king might raise his reuenues to a higher reckoning , if he were lesse bountifull to his palatines and castellanes : for most commonly he bestoweth on them two parts , and three parts , yea now and then the whole profits arising in their gouernments ; but in the time of war and dangerous occurrences ( yet by the decree of the assemblies of the kingdome ) the king doth lay greeuous impositions and taxes on the people , which are either leuied of the prouinces , or of the as●ise of bread : and these tallages haue amounted to such a reckoning , that therewith king stephen sustained the burden of a most heauy three-yeeres warre against the great duke of moscouie ; yea the gentlemen for the defence of the kingdome , are bound to serue at their own charges . these serue on horsebacke , some armed as our men at armes , some lightlier armed , some like the tartars , and those they terme cossaches or aduenturers , trained vp to steale , to depopulate , to waste , to turne all things vpside downe . these gent. serue in the field gallantly furnished , attired in cassocks and hose shining with gold & siluer , & thousand other colours : they adorne themselues with plumes and feathers of eagles , with the skins of leopards and beares , and with many banners and partie-coloured ensignes . these and such like furnitures do cause them to be discerned of their fellowes , make them seeme terrible to their enimies , and incourage their mindes to fiercenes and prowesse : their horse are small , but nimble , and farre more couragious then the dutch. it is thought that vpon necessitie , poland is able to raisean hundred thousand horse , and lithuania 70. thousand , but far inferior in goodnes to the polish . they haue so great confidence in the great number of their horse , that nothing fearing the power of any enimies , they regard not the building of fortresses , but resolue that they are able to defend their countrey , their wiues and children , their libertie and goods , in the open field against any prince whatsoeuer ; boasting that in either chance of warre , they neuer turned their backes to their enimies . sigismund augustus labored , that in the diets of the kingdome order might be taken for the fortifying of cracouia , because of the neighbourhood of the emperor : but he could neuer effect it , partly because it should not giue their kings opportunity of absolute authoritie , and tyrannicall emperie , partly because they thinke themselues by noble courage sufficiently able to defend the kingdome . they haue no infanterie ; for all the people of the kingdome is diuided either into merchants and artificers ( which inhabite the cities ) or labourers and husbandmen which liue in the countrey , in such subiection as we spake off before : and this is the reason that the gentlemen onely go to the warre , and will not in any case serue on foote ; but when occasion serueth , they wage germaine and hungarie footemen : and of these , king stephen in his iourney into liuonia , entertained vnder his colours little lesse then sixteene thousand , to conuey their great ordinance : for pioners they vse the tartars , and their owne vplandish people . the kingdome is sufficiently stored with great ordinance and all furniture belonging thereto , of which it can suffer no manner of scarcitie : first , because the noblemen keepe many in their castles ; next , for the neighbourhood of germanie , which is rich in mettall to cast great ordinance ; and plentifull of artificers to forge any thing belonging to the vse of warre . and though it is not vsuall to se● many castles in polonia , yet the fortresses of leopolis and camentzie in russia , the castle of cracouia in the lesse poland , polocensis in the frontiers of moscouia , marienbourge and some other townes in liuonia , are peeces of no small strength . these forces of polonia ( which we haue spoken of ) are such in quantitie and qualitie , that few nations in europe can equall them , none surpasse them : one thing they want , and that is celerity : for to the sure strengthning of euery kingdome , fower things are required : that is to say , that their force be of their owne subiects , that it be populous , valiant , & quick : their owne , because it is dangerous trusting a stranger ; populous , because of reenforcements after checks or ouerthrowes ; valiant , because number without courage little auaileth ; yea it bringeth forth tumult and confusion : quicke , that they may lightly mooue , and speedily be drawen whither necessitie enforceth . the last of these fower vertues the polands want , that is , celeritie : which commeth two waies , one by the authoritie of the prince , the other by readie money . the king hath not power to determine any thing ; to denounce warre , to impose taxes , or to gather treasure without the consent of the parliament , and this parliament ( where it is necessarie that many be present ) is like an engine made of many peeces , which without long delaies and losse of time can neuer readilie be ioined togither , or mooued forward . for in warlike affaires those princes make best speede , which are best able to command , and haue most money in readines ; otherwise in appointing and ordring the diets , and deuising that the actions may answere the counsels ; then in executing , and lastly in prouiding of money there happeneth such losse of time , that litle is left for the beginning of the iourney , much lesse for the accomplishment . besides the barons and nobles are at such charges in trauailing to the diets , and make such long tariance when they are there , that at their departure they haue little left wherewith to maintaine the war. it may be that for the defence of the state , quicker and readier resolution would be taken , because of the imminent danger fatall in generall . but for the conquest of any place , i beleeue they would proceed with like slownes and irresolution , for the hope of good doth not so much mooue vs , as the feare of euill : yet hath our age seene ( in the raigne of sigismund augustus ) the moscouite to haue conquered the prouinces of moloch & smolock , and that without resistance or reuenge ; a cowardize ill beseeming so high a king , & so mightie a state : as likewise he inuaded liuonia without impeachment , which had shadowed it selfe vnder the wing & protection of the said sigismund . in the daies of henrie of aniow , iohn prince of moldauia ( euen he that with an vndaunted spirit and famous victorie ) held war against the turke , was shamefully forsaken of them , contrary to the couenants of confederacy betweene him and sigismund augustus concluded . yet must we needes confesse , that such as is the courage , valour , and reputation of the prince ; such is the resolution , alacritie , and forces of the polands : of themselues populous , valiant , and couragious . stephen bathor gaue good testimonie heereof , in whose time polonia not onely maintained the honor and glory of a kingdome , sufficient to defend it selfe from forraine armes , but also to make conquests of great matters , from most potent enimies . and seeing we haue spoken of celeritie , a vertue most necessarie for euerie state , it shall not be amisse to speake of the causes of this celeritie , which ( as is aforesaid ) are two : viz. the reputation of the prince , which giueth it life ; and store of coine , which preserues it in action : for we haue seene in most mightie armies , the body by the slownes of the head , to haue spent the time most idly , and very famous victories for want of money , to giue continuall motion to the armie , to haue brought forth small or no effects . besides , the disposition of the soldier is a great helpe hereunto : for no man can truly praise the germane and bohemian footemen for celeritie ; but this commendation without doubt is proper to the italian , spaniard , and frenchmen , not onely for that they are of better constitution of body , but for that ( which in warre is all in all ) they are better contented to liue with a little : though they want coine they are not discouraged , neither waxe sicke with fruites , if flesh be wanting ; and happen what may , they longer and better can indure hardnes and scarcitie . their riding light armed is of more execution then armed at all peeces , and their argoletiers more seruiceable then lanciers : for which cause the french also in their late broiles haue giuen ouer their lances , wherin of old did consist the glory of their armes , and betaken themselues to the pistoll . but to what aduantage they haue thus done , let another dispute , for i say not , that a light armed man is absolutely to be preferred before a man at armes in chances of warre , but onely affirme , that he is more actiue and more readie : yea the goodnes of the horse is of great consequence . for the flanders horse farre excelleth the frieslander and germane ; the hungarie horse , the polonian ; the turkie horse , the genet : the barbarie horse is more speedie then any of the rest : betweene both is the courser of naples , who though he be not so swift as the spanish genet , yet he is better able to indure trauell , and to beare the waight of armour , not becomming ouer●low therewith . to speake truth , experience manifesteth the germane horse , by reason of their slow pace to worke small effect , either to pursue the fleeing enimie , or swiftly to flie from their executing aduersarie : for if the wallachian , hungarian , polish , turkish , moorish , or barbarie horsemen should breake the germans , they are not able to flie ; and if it happen the german to ouerthrow them , they are as vnable speedily to pursue : for they charge slowly , & retire heauily . so in fights at sea , ships of burden are of small seruice , because if winde want , they can neither be mooued nor turned : the great galleons are somwhat better , yet performe little more , but the best of all is the galley for his swiftnes . and for proofe hereof , we haue seene the nauy of the christians consisting of great ships to haue spent the better part of sommer and warlike season in preparations onely , and on the contrarie , the turkish fleete soone furnished , and speedily put to sea ; of such aduantage is spare diet , and needfull prouision to the turkish affaires , and so discommodious is gluttonie to the proceedings of the christians : for wine and other delicates onely are as troublesome to the christians , as the whole prouision for a campe , to the turkish armie . therefore let no man maruell if they march in all their iorneies excellently well furnished with ordinance , shot , gunpowder , and all necessaries : for at land they haue their carriages laden onely with prouision , at sea their ships , and not with wine , pullets , and such needlesse vanities . at a word , they go to the warre to fight , and not to fill their bellies . the great duke of moscouia . the great duke of moscouia is lord of a most large territorie , and within the limits of his iurisdiction are contayned many regions . northward his scepter stretcheth to the north ocean from the bay of granico to the riuer of ob : on the south all alongst the riuer volga to the caspian sea : westward it reacheth to the borders of liuonia , and almost to the riuer boristhenes , and eastward to volga . some write , that it containeth in length three thousand miles , in bredth 1500. wherein are contained fifteene dukedomes , sixteene prouinces , and two kingdomes . they were once subiect to the tartars , whose prince roydo in the yeere 1140. conquered all moscouie ; but iohn the first great duke ( incouraged by their ciuill dissentions ) denied them tribute . in processe of time , when ammetes the last successor of roydo , ( who died at vilua ) had ouercome the tartars precopenses , the great duke adioyned to his empire , permia , veatia , and iugria , prouinces subiect to ammetes . from this time the forces of the great duke increasing , basilius casan , and iohn the second conquered the prouinces of citrahan , which are called kingdomes . to confesse truth , the great dukes haue mightily enlarged their bounds , and haue taken the great duchies of seuerin and smoloncke , bielchese , prescouia , nouogrod , iaroslaue , roscouia , some from the polands , & some from other prouinces : they possessed part of liuonia , and made their armes feareful to their neighbours . the chiefe citie of the kingdome is mosco , where the patriarch resideth , roscouia and nouogrode are the seats of the archbishops : cortisa , resania , columna , susdelia , casan , vologda , tueria , and smolonck , are bishopricks : plescouia , porcouia , staritia , sloboda , ieroslaue , volodomer ( from whence the kings seat was translated to the citie mosco , by iohn the second ) mosayco , saint nicholas , sugana , vstiud , cargapolia . the emperor abideth in the citie mosco , which taketh his name of the riuer mosco , rising fourescore & ten miles higher into the countrey . the citie hath beene greater then now it is , & was nine miles compasse : but since that in the yeere 1570. it was sacked and burnt by the tartars precopie ; it contayneth not aboue fiue miles . according to posse●inus a writer of good iudgement and industrie , there are housed in this citie thirtie thousand people , besides oxen and other cattell . nouograde hath the name of great , and yet the same author alloweth it not aboue twentie thousand inhabitants ; as likewise smolonck and plescouia . this seemeth most incredible to me , if it be true as some write , that plescouia when king stephen of poland besieged it , had within it fiftie thousand footemen , and seuen thousand horse . truly this is a great number , and though they were not all moscouites , yet this reckoning asketh a great proportion of inhabitants : for if the king thrust in 57. thousand fighting men , it must needs be that the inhabitants were verie many moe . some will haue it , that in times past the countrey was better replenished with people , and that afterwards it became desolate for three causes : the first , the plague ( a new disease in moscouie ) which gleaned away many thousand people : the second , the tyrannie of their emperors , who haue put infinite numbers to death , especially of the nobilitie : the third , the incursions and robberies of the tartars precopie , and negaians , which neuer cease vexing their bordering neighbours . these tartars harrie not onely the countrey , but lead away captiue whole cities , selling them to the turks and other nations . these inrodes haue laid waste many and far remooued prouinces . the wisedome of a prince is not liuelier discerned then in his good foresight , whether his enterprises are likely to prooue hurtfull or profitable to his estate ; and when he suffereth not himselfe to be carried away with the vaine hope of atc●ieuing some conquest , which can neither continue to him sure nor certaine , but rather draweth after it a continuall disquiet to his owne safetie . for that prince that is led with such an ambitious humor to inlarge his estate , doth but weaken himselfe in people and riches , and in mine opinion is like the man that minding to raise the wals and roofe of his house higher , taketh away the foundation of the building . it is the greatest glorie well to keepe what wee haue got ; but those gettings which are made with future losse and diminution of our proper strength , are contrarie to that maxime . and seeing these acquisitions are as it were incisions or graffings , they ought to better , not to impaire the estate of our affaires : for as these incisions are vsed to make sower trees sweet , or vnfruitful plants fruitfull : so the enterprises of princes ought to be such , as bring foorth assured honor and profit , otherwise they are labours vnprofitable , pulling downe more then they build , and heaping to themselues more harme then honor , more trouble then safety . of this kinde are those wars , which are waged to conquer kingdomes farre distant , hauing nothing neere vnto vs , but are so disioined , that they aske greater garrisons then reason , or our abilities are able to affoord , to defend them . therefore let the resolution of euery expedition be laid on three groundes : first , that the quarrell be iust ; secondly , what hope and facilitie of conquest ; thirdly , what gaine wil arise of victorie . for warre vndertaken without hope of assured fruit , is meere madnes : and many great captaines haue enlarged the bounds of their empires , but not increased their owne quiet and safeties . no prince made longer iournies and greater expences then the great duke iohn : he vanquished the kingdome of casan to volga , and astrachan vpon the caspian sea : he subdued a great part of liuonia . but what honor , what profit , or what continuance of securitie gained he by these victories ? what was the end of this warre ? in these expeditions perished infinite numbers of men , in iourneying , in assaults , with the sword , with sicknes , with hunger and other extremities . when he had ouercome them , he was forced to maintaine great garrisons , yea to bring thither whole colonies : and besides , when men were so farre from their homes , either busied in getting other mens goods , or in keeping what they had got , their wiues staied at home like widowes without issue , and the inward parts of the realme remained emptie , as a hart void of blood , wanting his necessarie nutriment , whilest the inhabitants were wasted on the skirtes of the kingdome . and therefore when it was inuaded by king stephen of poland , these farre and remote forces were wanting to make resistance , and through this ouersight ●e lost againe pozouia , and other peeces of good reckoning , yea and inforced to leaue the whole possession of liuonia to the polander . to returne to our purpose ; moscouie for the most part is couered with woods & lakes : these woods are the branches of hercinia , spreading it selfe through all the north , and perhaps more in this prouince then in any other . here grow the goodliest and tallest trees of the world , through which for their thicknes the brightnes of the sunne beams can hardly pearce . an vnspeakable quātity of rosin & pitch distilleth out of these trees , and here is the neuer-wasting fountaine of waxe and honie . for without any industrie of man the bees themselues build their hiues in the barks and hollownes of trees . here is all plentie of cattell and wilde beasts , beares , martins , beastes called in latine zibellini , and woolues : whose skins be are high prices . of the timber of these trees are squared all necessaries , as well for buildings as all other vses : the wals of their cities are framed of beames cut fowersquare , fastened together , filling the chinkes and vacant places with earth . of these beames likewise they build platformes of such height and thicknes , that they be are the weight of great ordinance how massie soeuer : they are subiect to fire , but not easily shaken with the furie of batterie . some men maintaine great disputation , whether fortresses built of stone , chalke or earth be of greatest validitie . for the last these be their reasons : they are sooner built , with lesse charge , and make best resistance : when a breach is made , they are easiest repaired , and any part thereof ( if chance , occasion or necessitie require ) lightlier changed . but all these reasons notwithstanding , in my minde fortresses built of stone carrie the credit : for , seeing there are fower meanes to ruinate a fortresse , ordinance , mining , fire and digging , peraduenture the stone wall may auaile as much in resisting , as the earthen in receiuing and deadding the bullet ; but against mining , fire , the spade and pickaxe , without comparison the stone worke excelleth : and to raise platforms on the inside of the wall is all you can inuent either defensiue or praise woorthie to a fortresse built of timber and earth . for waters , moscouie is the mother of riuers and lakes , witnes dunie , boristhenes , volga , desna , onega , moscua , volisca , and the famous tanais , the lakes of ina , vpon which standeth the great nouograde , voloppo , and many others . the abundance of these waters do make the aire colder then is requisite for the increase of cattle , or growth of plants , and although cold is thought more wholesome then heate , yet are their cattle of small growth thereby , and many times their fruits come not to ripening : the earth drowned with the waters for the most part becommeth light and sandie , and then either with too great drouth , or too much moisture , it destroieth the fruit . winter lasteth nine moneths , litle more or lesse , & yet the soile bringeth foorth plenty of graine & feeding for cattle , and by consequence abundance of cattle ●ame and wilde . it bringeth foorth apples , nuts , and filberds : other kinds of fruits they scarcely know . of fish they raise their greatest gaine , as hauing greatest abundance of that commoditie ; they drie them in the frost and winde , as in norwey and other northerly nations , and they lay it vp for store as well in their townes of warre , as for their priuate families . the kingdome is not full of merchants , because by nature th● inhabitants are idle , and that prouince cannot abound with merchandise , where arts and artificers are not established . they haue not the vse of the sea , because it is not lawfull for a moscouite to trauell out of his princes dominions : such , and such store of wares as they haue , as skins , rosin and waxe they barter for cloth and other commodities , which the armenians bring to astrachan by the caspian sea , and the english to saint nicholas in the bay of graduic●or . the gouernment of the great duke is more tyrannicall then of any other prince in the world ; for he is absolute lord and disposer of the bodies and goods of his subiects . therefore mahumet the visier was woont to say , that the moscouite and the great turke amongst all princes of the earth were onely lords of their owne dominions , and in that regard thought the iourney of king stephen of poland would prooue full of danger and difficultie . to preserue his maiestie and reputation he vseth incredible policie and seueritie : first , it is not lawfull for any of his subiects to depart the realme vpon paine of death ; and therefore no man there dare go to sea , no not speake to an ambassador , or vse the counsell of a forteine phisition without licence . he weareth apparell of inestimable value , ioyning the ornaments of a bishop to the maiestie of a king , by wearing a miter on his head , shining with diamonds and most rich stones : when he weareth it not on his head , he placeth it before his chaire of estate , and oftentimes changeth it , in boast of his riches : in his left hand he beareth a most rich crosier , apparelled in a long garment , not much vnlike to that which the pope we areth when he goeth to ●●ss● : his fingers are full of gold rings : and the image of christ and his blessed mother the virgin , are ouer the chaire wherein he sitteth . the priuie chamber and great chamber are full of men clothed in cloth of gold downe to the foote . in ceremonies of religion he vseth great deuotion & reuerence : at the table as often as a dish is changed , or he hath a desire to drinke , he maketh many signes of the crosse : he beareth singular regard to fasts , & in the church he kisseth the ground with his forehead , euen as others doe : that no man should prooue a better scholler then himselfe , he suffereth no schoole but of writing and reading to be kept ; they read nothing but the euangelists , some historie , the liues of saints , a homily of iohn chrysostome , or some such like , yea they would hold him for an heretike , that should go about to professe himselfe better learned , and assure himselfe , he shall not escape punishment . which is the reason that their notaries , nay the secretaries themselues commonly can neither write , nor answere ambassadors of forreine princes no farther then they are taught of the great duke : when they negotiate , they no sooner name the great duke , but all of them rise vp with great reuerence : the like is done at his table , when he drinketh or carueth to any man , and so in a thousand like casualties : they are taught euen from their cradles to beleeue and talke of their great duke as of god : vsing these phrases in their ordinarie talking , god onely and our great seignior knoweth this : our great . lord knoweth all things . all●●e inioy health and riches ; all proceedeth from our great duke . for his subiects seeing such state and magnificence in their prince , and knowing no more then they are taught at home , reuerence and obey him as slaues , not as subiects , accounting him rather a god then a king . he hath not vnder him lords graced with titles as we haue , dukes , earles , barons , &c. but he bestoweth vpon one a hamlet , vpon another a farme , and these not hereditary , vnlesse he confirme it : and when he hath confirmed it , the farmers notwithstanding pay him a portion of their fruits , and owe him villaine-seruice : which is the cause that euery man dependeth on the will of the prince , and looke by how much the richer , by so much the deeper is he indebted vnto him . to preuent rebellion , he transferreth whole families and towneships from one prouince to another , and sendeth the one and the other into garrisons , as into exile : so farre away are the miserable people carried from their owne homes . by this a man may gesse of his wealth and riches : for seeing he is absolute lord of all , he vseth the seruice of their bodies at his pleasure , and what portion of their goods him listeth . of the skins of wild beasts he challengeth what portion he liketh ; and of euery sort of fish , euen what he will. the skins are sold or giuen , as pleaseth him : the fish dried in the winde is kept for vittailing the garrisons . in the market no man may sell his wares before the king hath sold. he hath not any mines of gold or siluer . the best mart townes from whence he gathereth the greatest part of his reuenues , are astrachan at the caspian sea , whither the wares of the persians and armenians are brought ; and saint nicholas , whither the ships of the english and hollanders doe arriue laden with cloth and other merchandize , which from thence are transported to vologda . when his ambassadors returne , he taketh from them the presents giuen them by forrein princes , and insteed thereof bestoweth vpon them some other reward , and many times nothing at all . to speake in a worde : he gleaneth whatsoeuer is good or ought woorth through his whole kingdome : it is thought that he hath great store of treasure in his castles of mosco , ieroslane , and the marishes of albi , which may be true : for the great duke iohn wasted in a manner all liuonia , sparing neither relique , chalice , crucifixe , nor any ornament of siluer : and of thatwhich is once brought in , he suffereth no part thereof to be transported out of his dominions , vnlesse it be for the ransome of soldiers taken in the warre , or of other poore people carried into captiuitie . this is most true , that when he lost liuonia , which king stephen of poland reconquered in the yeere of our lord 1582. he lost the richest prouince of his dominions for the traffike of the baltike sea , and the best , for the strength of 34. castles standing therein . the strength of the kingdome consisteth in the manifold numbers of riuers and marishes , and in the thicknes of woods . besides , they vse to lay waste the parts neerest their enimies ; that there the woods may grow thicker , which for the moisture of the soile quickly commeth to passe , & are as auailable as a wal or trench to the defence of the next townes . this policy brought great trauel to the polanders , for they were constrianed to loose much time in cutting down the woods before they could come to the inhabited places of their enimies . they haue a few fortresses , some built of stone , some of bricke after the italian fashion , but without strength of moderne diuises or cunning workmanship . such are the castles of mosco , nouograd , plescouia , porcouia , sloboda : some are wrought with twigs & earth wel troden downe , as smolonck . but commonly the wals of strong places are built of great beames stuffed with turffe or mosse , leauing loopholes for their shot . this fortifying is very auailable against great ordināce , but exceeding subiect to ●●ri●g . they serue in the field ( as we told you before treating of his gouernment ) rather bearing themselues valiantly for feare of punishment , then of their owne natures shewing alacritie or willingnes to the seruice . he hath his captaines at a becke ; his soldiers suffer all extremities patiently ; they care not ●or●●ost or raine ; they indure hunger & scarcity with incredible contētment ; they liue with a little ; better able to defend a fortresse , then fight in field : for here courage and agilitie ; there constancie and resolution are most seruiceable , whereas the polanders are better to fight in the field , then to keepe a castle . and therefore the great duke iohn finding by experience the vnaptnes of his soldiers , & the readines of the polonians in skirmishes and assaults , was wont to say , that his men had need of a spur to driue them forward , & the polonians wanted a bridle to hold them back . his chiefest force is in his horse , but what number he can raise , who can shew ? for i doe not beleeue that he is able ( as some say ) to arme three hundred thousand , because though his empire be large , yet for the greatest part it lieth vnmanured , as the many-daies iourney betweene cazan and astrachan , and scarce meeting with one village in the way , may well witnes . in the war which king stephen waged against him ( being not aboue 60. thousand foote and horse strong ) he was not able to raise so great a force , i will not say , to meete him in the open field , yea , not to hinder him from the forcing of pozouia , vilocoluc , and other pieces , no , nor to diuert him from the siege of plescouia . in the yeere 1570. the prince of the tartars with fourescore thousand soldiers pierced euen to the bowels of his kingdome , and set fire on his imperiall seat mosco . therefore i thinke that they that report , that the great duke can leuie three hundred thousand men , and the king of polonia two hundred , do rather meane heads of horses then riders : for there may be so many thousand horse , and yet euerie one is not to be accounted a horse of seruice , no more then euery horseman a rider , or able to finde himselfe armour . one hath his hart in his hose ; another wants abilitie ; a third wants strength of bodie ; a fourth both courage and strength : yea admit he could raise so many horse and men , as these men speake of , yet would it be a hard matter , perchance impossible , for him to assemble them in one place ; or if he could , where would wages , or victuals be found sufficient to sustaine them . for 200. horsmen in moscouie , require 300. packhorses , and so many tenders , who must all befed ; as likewise the victualers , the merchants , the artificers , and such seruants as can hardly be spared in warlike enterprises : to performe this , whole moscouie must of necessitie be gathered into one place , and then it were to be feared , least in so great a iourney from one part of the kingdome , the other part opposite would run to ruine & decay . likewise although such a proportion of horse , as hath beene spoken of , might be raised : it were not wisedome for the state to strip the borders of their garrisons ; the prouinces of their sinewes ; the cities of their magistrates ; & the countrey of husbādmen . therefore i conclude , that prince whose kingdome is able to affoord him 150. thousand horse , to be brauely furnished , if he can bring into the field but the third part : i speake of warre and not of incursions . some more modest in writing affirme , that the moscouite could leuie 150. thousand horse , if necessitie to defend himselfe , should constraine him thereto , and that iohn the third in the voyage of astracan entertayned 120. thousand horse , and twentie thousand foote . the same king inuading liuonia in the time of king alexander , leuied a mightie armie , and kept another vpon the borders of the kingdome . the great duke iohn adioyned to his troupes of horse certaine thousand of shot , most strangers , which yeelded him notable seruice in the defence of his cities . euerie second or third yeere he renueth his soldierie throughout the prouinces , and keepeth a register of the sonnes of noblemen , and the number of his seruants and horses . the wealthier horsemen vse a curasse of brasse , a helmet light and thin ; bucklers brought out of persia , and lances : others are armed with iacks quilted with bombast to resist arrowes . these handle the bow , and many of them the harquebuse , all the sword and dagger . the germanes serue them in the field , and the italians in their fortifications . to the duke of moscouie are adioyning the tartars precopenses , the taurici , the chersonesi , the circassi , and the tartars negayans . these people inhabite a countrey seuen daies iourney distant , and are gouerned by dukes after the manner of the heluetians . he hath receiued great iniurie of the precopenses without hope of amends , because they are confederate with the great turke : and by him furnished with harquebusiers & ordinance ; and haue in their kingdome many strong places fortified with turkish garrisons ; & therefore he thinketh it hard and dangerous to inuade them , being backed by the turke , whose power he should stir vp likewise against him . it is the custome of the precopi often vsed , to make inrodes into the prouinces of the great duke , as likewise of the polonian : and to carrie away whatsoeuer comes to hand . if the great duke haue vanquished the tartars of cassan and astracan , let him attribute the conquest to his great ordinance , which they wanted . this duke led against the cassani , an engine deuised on this fashion : he fastened to the sides of charriots a broad and large planke , bored full of holes , and fitted for the shooting of harquebusiers and musketers ; with the which they did grieuously wound their enimies , and could not be hurt againe by the arrowes of their aduersaries . by these helpes it was no masterie to vanquish and subdue them . but the precopi haue the vse of gunnes , and ( woorth all the rest ) the fauour and protection of the turkish emperor , who thirsting to open a way into moscouie , or the caspian sea , assaied not many yeeres since to dig a trench from tanais to volga : but his forces were put to flight by the moscouites with the aid of the tartars , who feared their vtter destruction if the turke had brought that designement to passe . this was a deuise of greater courage then wisedome : for the moscouites not onely defeated his nauie , taking part thereof , but put his land-forces to the sword , consisting of fourescore thousand tartars , fiue and twentie thousand turkes , and amongst them three thousand ianizars . as we said before , the circassi liue after the manner of the swissers , they endeuour not to enlarge their owne bounds , but serue for wages , sometime the turke , sometime the persian , & somtime the moscouite , from whose dominion they are so farre disioyned , that they stand in no feare of their seuerall mightines . the tartars negayans are more to be dreaded for their sudden inrodes , & furious incursions , then for ielousie of their forces , or that they are able to raise , or vndertake any voyage royall . of late times they threatned the moscouite , but their furie was appeased by sending them presents . it is the best course to hazard our money , rather then our forces against the thefts & spoiles of these barbarous natiōs : for when they haue nether city nor strong place to subdue , to keepe them in subiection : what can you terme the warre made against them , but a labour with losse , a charge without profit ? the great duke is constrained to keepe great troupes of horse in citrachan , casan , and viatca , against these nagaij : as likewise a great garrison in culagan vpon danais against the precopi . the next bordring neighbour by finland side is the king of sweueland . of late times this king holding a long war against him , tooke from him by force the castles of sorenesco , & pernauia the great & the lesse in liuonia on the one side , whilest king stephen cruelly vexed him with war on the other . in the vttermost bounds of the fioland bay , the sweuian to his great charges possesseth the fortresse of viburge , maintaining therein a great garrison to resist the attempts of the russies , and the great duke . likewise in that sea and the coast adioyning , he maintaineth ships of warre , as well to be readie at all assaies against the approches of this great duke ; as likewise to forbid the easterling the bringing of any munition or warlike furniture into any part of his dominions : neither doth he suffer other ships to saile in those seas , without a speciall placard signed with his owne hand . by the benefit of this nauie and sea force , the king of sweueland wheresoeuer he findeth meanes to vse it , becommeth master of the field , & by vertue thereof ceaseth vpon many places on the coast of liuonia , and the bordering territories : but where the dukes horse and his great numbers of footemen may stand him in steed , as in the open field or places remooued from the sea , there he maketh his part good enough , and most commonly putteth the sweuian to the woorst . the best is , nature bath placed betweene them such rough mountaines , such cold , such yce , and such snowes , that they cannot greatly endammage one another . the last neighbour is the king of poland , betweene whom and the great duke this is the difference : the moscouite hath more territories ; the polonian better inhabited and more ciuill : the moscouite more subiects , and more subiect ; the polonian better soldiers and more couragious : the moscouites are apter to beare the shoke then to giue a charge ; the polonians to charge : the moscouite is fitter to keepe a fortresse ; the polonian to fight in the open field : the moscouites forces are better vnited ; the polonian more considerate and better aduised : the moscouite lesse careth for want and extremities ; the polonian death and the sword : yea either nation is of the greater woorth , when either of their princes is of greatest valour and magnanimitie ; as it happened when basilius conquered the great duchie of smoloncke and poloncke , and the large circuite of liuonia ; and againe , when stephen king of poland in his last warre against iohn ( basilius sonne ) reconquered polonck , with diuers other places of good reckoning , besieged the citie of plesko , and forced the moscouite to leaue all liuonia : whereby i conclude : such as is the valour and wisedome of the prince , such is the force and courage of his people . the great cham. as our ancestors were ignorant of the regions situated vpon the east side of the caspian sea , which they imagined to be a branch of the ocean : euen so as yet little or nothing knoweth this age , what regions lie , or what people inhabite beyond that sea , & the mountaines , commonly called dalanguer and vssont . marke paule venetus was the first that broke the ice in describing of those countries , and of him haue we receiued what we know of the tartars . for the great distance of countries , the difficultie of the iournie , and the inaccessible situation of places , hath hindered the discouerie of those prouinces : for the great duke of moscouie ( by whose dominions we may easiest trauell thither ) will suffer no stranger to passe thorough his kingdome : the caspian sea , a passage no lesse fitting for the iournie , is not frequented : and by the way of persia infinite mountaines and vast deserts , diuiding both prouinces , oppose themselues against vs. and to the further hinderance of this discouerie , neither the great cham , neither the king of china , nor the duke of moscouie will suffer any of their subiects to trauell out of their dominions , nor any stanger to enter in , vnlesse he come as an ambassador , neither ( in this case ) is it lawful for him to conuerse freely or range at his pleasure . they liue vnder diuers princes , the principall whereof are those that weare greene on their turbants . these inhabite shamarcand , and are at continuall enmitie with the persians . next are those of bochan , mahumetans : then those of mogor , of whom you shall heare hereafter ; and lastly those of cathay , whereof we now intreat . neuer was there any nation vpon the face of the earth , that enioyed a larger emperie then they doe , or haue vndertaken haughtier exploites : and i would that they had had some , who might haue recommended by writing their doings to the world . m. paule venetus writeth , that this people once inhabited ciurga and barge , prouinces situated vpon the scythick ocean , without citie , castell or house , wandering like the arabians from place to place , according to the season of the yeere . they acknowledged vncham ( whom some interprete prester iohn ) for their soueraine lord , to whom they gaue the tenth of their cattell . in processe of time they multiplied to such numbers , that vncham being iealous of their neighborhood , began to lessen their number & forces , by sending them , now hither , now thither , vpon most long and desperate voiages , as occasion offered . which when they perceiued , they assembled themselues , resoluing to leaue their naturall soile , and to remooue so farre from the borders of vncham , that neuer after he should haue cause to suspect their numbers : this they performed . after certaine yeeres they elected amongst them a king , called changis , to whom for the greatnes of his glorie and victories , they added the sirname of great . this changis , departing from his owne territories in the yeere of our lord 1162. with a most fearfull armie , subdued partly by force , partly by the terror of his name , nine prouinces . at last , being denied the daughter of vnchan in marriage , he made warre vpon him , and ouercomming him in battell , cast him out of his kingdome . after the death of changis , his successors afflicted europe : in the yeere 1212. they droue the polosochi from the banks of the euxine sea . in the yeere 1228. they inuaded and spoiled russia . in the yeere 1241. they raced kiouia the chiefe citie of the rutheni , and battu their captaine wasted polonia , silesia , morauia , and hungary . innocentius the fourth amazed with the tempest of these inuasions , in the yeere 1242. sent certaine friers of the orders of dominicke and francis , to the court of the great cham , to intreate a peace for christendome . the circuit of this empire in the times aboue spoken of , stretched from the vtmost bounds of asia to armenia , and from bengala to volga , yea their incursions pierced euen to nilus and danubius . the macedonian and roman empires were neuer so large . but bicause they were rather runnagates then men of warre , wanting politike gouernment and militarie discipline , sometime ruling one prouince , sometime another , they rather wrought spoile and terror to the conquered nations , then feare of bondage or subiection , and at last seated themselues beyond the mountaine caucasus . after it became diuided into many principalities , yet so that the title and maiestie of the empire , remained alwaies to the great cham , who ( as we said before ) tooke the originall of his name from the great changis . at this day , this empire reacheth from the desert lop on the one side , and the lake kicauia on the other , to that famous wall of china situate betweene 43. and 45. degrees , which leadeth from mountaine to mountaine , till it end at the ocean , and diuideth the tartars from the chinois : and from the scythian ocean , to the confines of tipura and the bordering regions . in the foresaid compasse are contained many and mightie kingdomes , and many puissant prouinces , as tangut , wherein are the cities succuir and campian , built after the manner of italie , ergimul , carazan , tebet and caindu , the chiefe cities of prouinces . in the middest of the empire is tenduch , which in the time of paule venetus was in the iurisdiction of prester iohn , but now subdued by the great cham. the greater part of the people were christians but nestorians , the rest mahumetans . here is the citie cambalu the imperiall seate , containing in compasse 28. miles , and neere vnto it taiduc situated vpon a lake , & containing in compasse 24. miles . then xaindu the palace of the great cham , being foure square ; euery square containing eight miles , and fower gates . within that square , is another palace , sixe miles square ; in the middest whereof are three gates towards the south , and as many towards the north ; from whence , as likewise from euery corner you may behold the imperiall pallace . and within this circuit is yet an other square of one mile , hauing sixe gates like the former . betweene euery wall you may see meadowes and woods , and within this square is the imperiall pallace , of whose pleasures , riches and magnificence , neither of his chases , fowlings and fishing am i able to write . this whole region for the most part is very populous , full of townes , rich and ciuill , which you may the rather beleeue ; first , for that the tartars choosing this for their seate and countrie , beautified it with the spoiles of asia , china , and that part of europe which they harried , and were neuer woon or taken from thence againe to this day : next , for that the prouinces are most commodiously situated for traffike and negotiation , partly by reason of their admirable plaines and huge lakes , amongst which are cazaia ( whose waters are salt ) guian , dangu , xandu , & catacora : partly by reason of their large riuers , which with a long course do run by the prouinces of curato , polisango , zaiton , and mccon . paul venetus calleth it quion . a great helpe hereunto likewise is the variety of fruits , and the aboundance of graine , rice , wooll , silk , hempe , reubarbe , muske , and excellent fine chamblets wouen of camels haire . paule writeth , that it affoordeth ginger , cinnomom , & cloues , which for my part i hardly beleeue . in many riuers are found graines of gold . their coine is not all of one value . in cathaia a coine is currant made of the blacke rinde of a certaine tree , growing betweene the bodie and the barke . this rinde being smoothed , rounded & tempered with a gummie substance , is stamped with the image of the great cham. in the kingdomes of caiacan & carazan , certaine sea shels are currant , which some men terme porcelline . this kinde of money is frequent in many places of india and aethiopia . by this meanes the princes get vnto themselues all the gold and siluer of the prouinces , which they cause to be molten and laid vp in most safe places , without euer taking any thing from thence againe . in like sort prester iohn is thought to be lord of an inestimable treasure , while he maketh graines of salt and pepper to passe for currant coine amongst his subiects . they brew an excellent beuerage of rice and spices , which sooner procureth drunkennesse then wine . as the arabians , so they delight in sower milke , or cosimus , a kinde of charmed sower mares milke very forcible to turne the braine . his force consisteth first ( as we told you ) in situation , in spacious territorie , in magnificent cities , in plentie of prouision , & in rich reuenues : for amongst many other things , he taketh the tenths of wooll , silke , hempe , graine , cattell , and is absolute lord of all : but the chiefest sinewes of his state consisteth in his armed troupes which he keepeth in continuall pay and action . these liue alway in the field , foure or fiue miles remote from the cities . ouer and aboue their salary , they are allowed to make profit of their cattell , milke & wooll . when he goeth to warfare , according to the custome of the romanes , he mustereth part of that soldierie which lyeth dispersed through the prouinces . for the most part all the nations of the tartars except the varcheni , who are not subiect to the great cham , fight on horsebacke . their weapons are the bow and arrow , which they vse as desperately in their flight , as in the charge . they are verie swift ; their tents are made of wouen wooll , with which they shelter themselues from foule weather . their chiefest sustenance is milke dried in the sunne after the butter is queased out , yea the blood of their horses , if famine inforce . they fight not pel-mel with their enimes , but somtime on the front , sometime on the flanke , after the parthian maner they ouerwhelme them , as it were with a showre of arrowes . whosoeuer carrieth himselfe valiantly , stands assured of reward , and are graced with honor , immunities & gifts . twelue thousand horsemen are appointed for the guard of the prince , and it is said that of this kinde of force , he is able to leuie a greater power then any other potentate . howsoeuer it be , two things in his kingdome are woorthie consideration : the one is , numbers which may be imagined by the spaciousnes of his dominions : the other , their discipline , because he keepeth them in continuall pay . for as discipline rather then furie is to be wished in a soldier ; so in armies , a few trained and experienced soldiers , are more woorth then many strong , huge of stature and raw . the one may well be compared to eagles , lions and tygres , which obtaine principalitie amongst other beasts ; not because they exceed them in hugenes of bodies , for then should they be a pray to the elephant , horse , and bufall ; but because they excell them in swiftnes and nimblenes ioyned to the strength of their bodies . beside these things which marke paul writeth , certaine englishmen sayling by the moscouite sea , and the bordering regions haue pierced euen to cathaia , and haue set downe many memorable matters of this prince , whom the moscouite termeth the caesar of cathay , and the turke vlucham , that is , the great prince . and not without reason , for in magnificence of courts , amplenes of dominion , abundance of treasure , & number of soldiers , he goeth far beyond all the kings and potentates of asia , and raigneth in such maiestie , that his subiects foolishly call him the shadow of spirits , and the sonne of the immortall god. his word only is a law , wherein consisteth life & death . he maintayneth iustice with admirable seueritie , except for the first fault : for which the offender is grieuously whipped : for euerie other fault , he is cut in pieces by the middle : herein it should seeme they immitate the opinion of the stoikes , concerning the equalitie of offences . a theefe is likewise slaine , if he be not able to repay ninefold , as well for a farthing as a pound . the first begotten sonne is heire to the crowne , and installed with these ceremonies . the chiefe of their seuen tribes clothed in white ( which is their mourning colour , as likewise of the iapans ) cause the prince to sit vpon a blacke woollen cloth spred vpon the ground , willing him to behold the sonne , and to feare the immortall god ; which if he doth performe , he shall finde a more plentifull reward in heauen then in earth ; if not , that piece of blacke cloth shall scarcely be left him , whereupon to rest his wearied bodie in the field , besides a thousand other miseries that shall continually attend him . then set they the crowne vpon his head , and the great lords kisse his feete , sweare fealtie , and honour him with most rich giftes . then is his name written in golden letters , and laide vp in the temples of the metropolitan citie . he hath two councels , the one for warre , wherein twelue wise men consult : the other of state matters , consisting likewise of as many counsellers . these manage all things belonging to ciuill gouernment , rewarding the good , and punishing the euill , taking especiall care to see those preferred , who haue done any good seruice , either in warre or peace , to his countrie and emperor , and others seuerely punished , who haue borne themselues carelesly and cowardly in the charges committed to their discretion . in these two points , ( that is , in rewarding & punishing ) consisteth so high a policie of good gouernment , that it may well be said , the greatest part of the barbarous princes by these two vertues only , imprint so maiestical a reuerence in the harts of their barbarous subiects . for what other face of good gouernment see you in the turke , persian , mogor or iariff ? whom reward they but captaines and soldiers ? where vse they liberalitie , but in the field amongst weapons ? surely they built the foundation of their state vpon no other ground-worke , nor hope for peace and qutetnes , but by victorie and strong hand : yea they haue no meane , in disgracing base mindes and cowards , and in honoring high spirits and valiant soldiers . neuer was there common wealth or kingdome , that more deuised to honor and inrich the soldier , then these barbarians , and the turke more then all the rest . the tartars , arabians , and persians , honor nobilitie in some good measure ; but the turke rooteth out the families of noble men , and esteemeth of no man , vnlesse he be a soldier , committing the fortunes of the whole empire to the direction of slaues and base borne , but with an especiall consideration of their fitnes and sufficiencie . let vs returne to the tartar , and his forme of gouernment . astrologians are in great request in those prouinces ; for m. paul writeth , that in the citie of cambula are fiftie thousand : and when cublay c ham vnderstood by them that that citie would rebell against him , he caused another to be built neere vnto it , called taindu , contayning fower and twentie miles besides the suburbs . there are also great store of fortune-tellers and nigromancers in the kings palace of xandu , as also in china they are in high esteeme . ismal king of persia enterprised few matters without their councell , and it is no woonder that it carrieth such reputation in those places : for betweene the caldeans and assirians it tooke the first originall in those countries . the turkes cannot abide it . the roman emperors did more then once banish it , and the professors thereof , out of their gouernments . i would to god the like might be done amongst vs christians , for it is nothing else but a branch of paganisme . to ende with the nature of this people , in outward shape they are vnlike to all other people ; for they are broader between the eies , & bals of their cheeks then men of other nations be : they are of meane stature , hauing flat & small noses , little eies , broad faces , and eie-lids standing streight vpright , swartie of complexion , strong of constitution , patient of extremities , excellent horsemen , and verie good archers . and as part of the arabians inhabite cities , and are called moores , part liue in the fields and mountaines , and are termed baduini : so some of these tartars dwell in cities , as the cathaians , bochars , and those of shamarcand : others wander through the plaines , and are diuided into hords , and they are fiue in number , zauolen●ses , cossanenses , praecopits , nagaians and kossacks . the great mogor . it hath beene alwaies beleeued , that the territorie lying betweene ganges and the riuer indus , hath beene euermore subiect to great and mightie monarchs . for ( to be silent in matters of more ancient memorie ) about the yeere of our lord 1300. there raigned in the kingdome of delos an arabian prince of the sect of mahumet , named sanosaradin ( as iohn barros reporteth ) of so great power and strength , that he enterprised the conquest of asia . vpon which resolution forsaking those regions , in which indus and ganges take their beginnings , with a huge and mightie armie , by little and little he subdued those princes and people which did oppose against him , vntill he pierced to the bounds of canora , where it beginneth at the riuer bate aboue chaul , and stretcheth betweene bate and the gulfe of bengala to cape comorine . when he had woon so large and famous a territorie , resoluing to returne into delos , he left abdessa his lieutenant in canora . this man incouraged by the victories of his master , and presuming vpon his owne good fortune , bereaued the gentiles of the greater part of canora : and hauing gathered a most mightie and populous armie compacted of gentiles , mahumetans and christians , after he had raigned twentie yeeres , he died in the height of his prosperitie , leauing his son mamudza behind him ; whom the king graced with his fathers regencie , vpon condition to pay him a yeerely tribute : which payment the yoong man neither regarded , nor shewed himselfe loyall to his soueraigne in many things besides . it happened that sanosaradin dying in the warre which he made against persia , left behind him a sonne of such pusillanimitie and so base a spirit , that mamusda hereupon tooke courage to intitle himselfe king of canora , calling the countrey decan , and the people decaini , that is , illegitimate . after this , he erected eighteene captainships , and diuided his dominion amongst them , assigning to euerie one his limites , only with this penaltie , to finde alwaies in readines a certaine number of footemen and horsemen . to preuent future rebellion he did choose these captaines , not out of the orders of his nobilitie , but from the number of his slaues . nay more then this ( to be assured of their loyaltie ) he commanded that euerie one of them , should build him a house in his royall citie bider , in which their children should remaine : and that once euerie yeere at least , they should make their appearance in his court . but because all authoritie , which is not as well vnderpropped with his proper vertues , as grounded vpon the affections of the people , is of small continuance ; so happened it to this prince : for his slaues and vassals hauing soueraigne authoritie put into their hands , made no more account of him then of a cipher , stripping him poore prince without respect or reuerence of all his dominions , sauing his chiefe citie bider , with the territorie adioyning . for euerie one of a lieutenant , became an vsurper of those states which were committed to his trust ; the mightier alwaies oppressing the weaker : so that all in the ende became a pray to a few . two of them are famous at this day : the one of them stretching his dominion to the borders of cambaia ; the other to the skirts of narsinga : the first called by the portugals nissamalucco , the other idalcan ▪ either of them is so puissant , that in the yeere 1571. idalcan belegred goa with an armie of thirtie fiue thousand horse , threescore thousand elephants & two hundred and fiftie pieces of ordinance . nissamalucco besieged chaul with lesse forces , but better fortune : for though he did not force it , yet he brought it to an hard pinch , with the slaughter of twelue thousand moores . in those countries in which sanosaradin began his empire , not aboue 70 yeeres agone , a great prince ( whom the east people call the great mogor ( in the same sense as we call the great turke ) laid the foundation of a mightie empire ; for as the king of biarma in our times greatly hazarded the states of pegu and siam , and the bordering regions ; euen so the mogor turned topsie turuie the kingdomes lying on this side the riuer ganges . the receiued opinion is , that they tooke their originall from tartaria , and that they came from that coast , where the ancient mossagetae , a people accounted inuincible in armes , did once inhabite , and liuing as it were lawlesse , and vnder no gouernment , by inuasion of their neighbours , procured vnto themselues the soueraigntie of most spacious kingdomes . by the riuer oxus they border vpon the persians , and are at continuall enmitie with them , sometimes for religion , sometime for inlargement of the bounds of their empire . their chiefe citie is shamarcand , from whence came tamarlan , and of whose bloud these mogor princes do boast that they are descended . the predecessor of him ( who is now prince of the mogors ) was very famous in the east ; for in the yeere 1536. being sollicited by king mandao of the north ( from whom badurius king of cambaia had taken his kingdome ) to aide him against the cambaian , he is reported to haue brought with him an infinite number of soldiers , which we may coniecture out of that which maffeus writeth of the armie of king badurius : to witte , that this king had vnder his standard one hundred and fiftie thousand horse , whereof fiue and thirtie thousand were barbed : the number of footemen was 500. thousand . amongst these were fifteene thousand forreine soldiers , and fower-score christians , french & portugals : at which , by what meanes or by what way they should come thither , i do mightily woonder . their galleon ( which they called dobriga ) suffered shipwracke in the chanell of cambaia . i know , that if these preparations and prouisions for warre , be compared with our forces of christendom , they will hardly be taken for true : but we haue alreadie declared the causes , why the princes of the east and south may gather greater armies then we can , & consequently that those things which are spoken of their incredible store , and woonderfull prouision of furniture , may be answerable to their leuies and proportions of soldiery . and as they are able to leuie millions of men ( for arming and feeding them they take no great care ; ) so likewise do the prouinces affoord great plentie of prouision , and an inestimable multitude of warlike engines : for they carry nothing with them saue that which is necessarie and needfull for the warres : wines , cates & such like , which cannot but with great expence , labour and trouble be carried along with armies , are by these men wholy omitted and vtterly reiected . all their thoughts tend to warlike prouisions , as to get brasse , iron , steele , and tinne , to forge peeces , and cast great ordinance ; iron and lead to make bullets ; iron and steele to temper cymitars ; oxen and elephants to draw their artillerie ; graine to nourish their bodies ; mettals to arme them , and treasure to conserue them . they are all tyrants , and to preserue their estates , and induce submissiue awednes , they hold hard hands ouer the comminaltie , committing all gouernment into the hands of soldiers . and to make these men faithfull and loyall , they ordaine them lords of all things , committing vnto their trust , townes , castles , & expeditions of great waight : but the expectation of the prince is often deceiued by the rebellion of these vassals , for sometimes they vsurpe whole prouinces , and impose vpon the people all kinde of miuries . but let good princes thinke it as necessarie to build their safetie vpon the loue of their subiects , as vpon the force of the soldier . feare admitteth no securitie , much lesse perpetuitie : and therefore these tirants expecting no suretie at the hands of their subiects , trust wholy vpon their men of warre , flattering them with promise of libertie , and bestowing vpon them the goods of their subiects , as rewards of their seruice . so with vs the turke strengthneth his estate with ianizars , and as he coueteth to be beloued and fauoured of them ( to that end bestowing vpon them the riches and honors of the empire ) so they againe acknowledge no other lord and master , i may very well say , father and protector . and so many of the malaber princes vsing and accounting the people but as beasts , lay all their hopes and fortunes on the nairs : the kings of ormus , cambaia , decan and achan lay all vpon the shoulders of these slaues . in a word , as a lawfull and iust prince hath a great regard and singular care to haue the liking and loue of the people , by which being guarded and inuironed ( as with a strong rampire ) he is able to withstand all attempts : so contrariwise tyrants knowing themselues hatefull to the people , imploy their whole studie how to winne the fauour of their soldiers and slaues , thereby to represse innouations at home , and inuasions from abroad . seeing therefore the safetie and foundation of their greatnes is built vpon the intertainment of their soldiers , as their nairs , their ianizars , free or bond , strangers or subiects , yea whatso-soeuer they be , it must needes follow that onely actions of warre be the end and scope of all their cogitations , as likewise that they be very prodigall to keepe their estates very well furnished and appointed with soldiers and prouisions . and this reason i take to be a sufficient inducement to beleeue these reportes of the king of cambaia , and these other barbarous indian princes . for ( besides that i spake of before ) it is reported , that with this armie did march a thousand pieces of ordinance , amongst which were fower basiliskes , euery one drawen with an hundred yoke of oxen : fiue hundred waggons laden with gun-powder and bullets , two hundred armed elephants ; fiue hundred vessels full of golde and siluer to pay soldiers wages ; many princes and petie lords with their courtiers and followers , merchants , vittailers , artificers , and their seruants numberlesse . notwithstanding this incredible preparation , hee was twise ouerthrowen by marhumedio : once in the territorie of the citie of doce , another time at mandao , from whence disguising his apparell to saue his life , he fled to diu. being out of danger and feare , he sent ambassadors to soliman , with a present esteemed woorth six hundred thousand crownes , desiring his aide and assistance in these warres . but afterward weighing in his minde , that his affaires required speedier succours , hee contracted a league with those portugals , which were neerest adioyning : to make them his friends and partners of the warre , the composition was , that he should permit them to build a castell in the iland of diu. now to speake of marhumedius . his fortunes were not much vnlike to those of tamerlane : for as this prince brought terror and feare vpon the inhabitants of persia and asia ; so did that , no lesse innouation and trouble vpon india and the orient : this defeated in battell baiazet emperor of turks , that ouerthrew badurius king of cambaia , and his armie farre greater then his owne : both of them had the sirname of great . when the mogors vnderstood of the riches of india , and the fertilitie thereof , they neuer ceased by a continued course of victorie their armes and inuasions , vntil they had made themselues lords of all the prouinces lying betweene caucasus and the sea , ganges and the riuer indus : in this tract are contained 47. kingdomes . for adabar the successor of marhumedius woon madabar , with the better part of cambaia . of what goodly consequence this prouince is , may be magined by the famous cities of madabar campana ( so called for the situation vpon the top of an high hill rising in the middest of a spacious plaine ) and cambaia ( a citie consisting of one hundred and thirtie thousand houses ) as likewise by the populous host of king badurius , his warlike prouision for such an armie , and plentie of graine to sustaine such a multitude . i assure you the world affoords not a soile for all necessaries for the life of man ( as rice , corne , pulse , sugar , oxen , sheepe , pullen of all sortes , and silke ) more richer or plentifull then this prouince , wherein also there are reported to be sixtie thousand borroughes : which number certainly is very great and admirable . guicciardine writeth , that in netherland within the territorie of the 17. prouinces are contained 208. walled townes , and 150. borroughes , enioying the rights and priuileges of cities , and 6300. villages hauing parish churches . in naples are 1800. of these some are townes , some but castles . in bohemia are 780. townes , and 32. thousand villages . in france ( as iohn bodine writeth ) there are 27. thousand borroughes hauing churches and bels , besides those in burgundie , which in those times were not numbred amongst the townes of france . i write not this to induce a true and absolute iudgement of the power of any prouince by the number of parishes , for i knowe that ought to be made according to their greatnes , but yet their number maketh much to the purpose , as in both which , cambaia may carrie the credite and esteeme of a most spacious , populous and puissant kingdome . acabar also conquered the rich kingdome of bengala ; so that a man may truly say , that in this part of the orient there are three emperors : one in cambaia , the other in narsinga , the third in bengala : whereof cambaia and bengala farre exceed all the other prouinces in fertility of soile , & concourse of merchants : both riotously abounding in sugar , cotten wooll , cattell , elephants and horses : in bengala also groweth long pepper and ginger . the first , is watered and cut as it were into two halfes by the riuer indus , the other by ganges , hauing two famous mart townes , satagan and catagan . the great mogor doth likewise possesse the kingdomes of citor , mandao and delly , wherein he keepeth his court . he hath infinite store of horses , elephants and camels , as also all sorts of artillerie and warlike furniture , by meanes whereof , he is growen fearefull to the whole inhabitants of the east . it is written of him , that he is able to bring into the field 300. thousand horse , and that there are within his dominions fiftie thousand elephants . some man perhaps will aske , how it commeth to passe that this prince ( being so mightie , and his neighbours so naked , vnarmed and poore ) doth not get into his possession the dominion of the rest of india and the orient ? in this as in the former vnlikelihoods , the wisest man is soonest answered . there are many obstacles : one is , that as the spirit and bodie of man cannot endure in continuall trauell and motion ( for that onely is proper to god and nature : ) so a continued and open passage is not euermore giuen to the ambitious reaches of kings and princes . great empires seldome feare forreine inuasion , yet oftentimes faint they vnder their owne weight . it is not destined vnto great things to stand alwaies at the highest , much lesse to increase : they haue their flood , but vpon a condition , that there follow an ebbe . they are lifted on high , but by the irreuocable decree of nature , that a fall succeed : yea & that themselues by themselues decline . the greater they are , the more subiect to mutabilitie : the larger the harder to hold and manage : they mooue but slowly , and of what effect celeritie is in warre , who knoweth not ? the greatest conquest carrieth the greatest enuie with it , and greatest care to conserue what is got , and yet not care but long continuance perfecteth these actions : and while time passeth , the neighbouring nations prouide ( if not infest ) for their owne safetie , yea most commonly by losse of time proceedeth the losse of victorious opportunitie . he that hath ouercome his enimie , standeth oftentimes in feare of his friend , yea of such as haue bin fellowes & partners with him in all his fortunes : so that to secure himselfe of these , & such like infinite casualties , he is constrained euen in the course of victory to sound the retraict , & surcease his designements . againe , continuall victory make leaders insolent , soldiers mutinous , refusing to passe forward at the command of their generall , as it happened to alexander & lucullus . great enterprises euen brought to their wished ende , enrich the purses of certaine priuate men , but leaue the princes cofers emptie , who neuerthelesse must be at the charge to maintaine continuall companies , and keepe them in continuall pay ; without which course , the cashed soldier is euer readie to follow any faction whensoeuer it shall be offered . moreouer , this numberlesse armie , which marhumedius led against the king of cambaia , did not only waste the regions where through it passed and encamped , but likewise by deuouring all things that the face of the earth yeelded , bereaued itselfe of the meanes , which nature in measure affoorded to euerie one to maintaine his life : and so it often happeneth , that those armies which in apprehension seeme inuincible for their hugenes , are most commonly ouerthrowen by famine , the forerunner of pestilence . for proofe hereof we haue seene the inundations of attila , tamerlan , and those barbarous nations stand on foote but a little space , whereas the grecians , macedonians , carthaginians , romanes , spaniards and english , haue done great matters with meane armies . for things that are moderate last and indure , as small riuers , which what they cannot doe in one yeere , in two or more they finally accomplish ; whereas immoderate and violent , are like vnto torrents , making more noise and furie then hurt or hinderance , violently comming , and violently carrying themselues away . therefore against such mightie impressions , the surest safetie is , to draw the warre out in length , and onely to stand vpon the defensiue : for let such armies rest assured , that they cannot so long hold out , but they will wauer , either for want of prouision , scarcitie of coine , infection of the aire , or infirmities of their owne bodies . the other thing is , that prosperitie blindeth the winner , making him carelesse ; aduersitie ripeneth the looser , and maketh him warie and industrious : so fortune changing her copie , the affaires of the winner decline , and the good successe of the looser groweth euerie day better then other . besides , conquests are not perfected but by processe of time , and in processe of time old age creepeth vpon the persons of princes , and how fit a crasie bodie , and a vigorous spirit nummed with olde age , is for the consummation of a conquered estate , the liues of iulius caesar and charles the fift , may stand for examples . lastly to answere those , who vnlesse they be ere witnesses , will neuer be answered , let them know that nothing so much hindereth the inuasiue ambition of this prince , as the nature of places . for caucasus stretching it selfe into a thousand branches in those parts , incompasseth whole kingdomes with some parcels thereof : by some it runneth by the sides ; to others , it is more defensiue then any artificiall rampire : sometime it wholy shutteth vp passages , sometime it meaketh them inaccessible . these difficulties are more iniurious to the mogor then to any other prince , because the strength and sinewes of his forces consist in horse ; which as they are of great consequence in campania , so amongst hils and rocks they are of no seruice . of this qualitie are the frontires of persia , and the kingdome of sablestan , on euerie side he●d in with that part of caucasus , which the grecians call paropanise . segestan is likewise so inuironed , that the riuer il-mento ( were it not for searching out infinite windings and turnings through naturall vallies ) could hardly finde passage to pay his tribute to the famous ganges . in cambaia it selfe , where the mogors are of such fearefull puissance , liue the resbuti , not dreading them one whit , by reason of the strength of the mountaines . these resbuti are the remainder of the gentiles , that betooke themselues to the mountaines betweene cambaia and diu , when the mahumetans first entred these countries ; and since that day by strong hand they haue preserued their libertie , infesting verie often the plaine countrey with their incursions . other prouinces there are vtterly barren , not onely wanting water , but all necessaries else : of this kinde is dolcinda , vpon the skirts of cambaia , thorough which it is impossible to lead an armie . to these discommodities you may adde the losse of time , which princes ( being lords of ample and spacious dominions ) are constrained to make in their voiages . for the better part of sommer is spent before they can arriue at their rendeuous with their horses halfe dead through trauell , and the armie halfe in halfe in number and courage diminished , yea winter ouertaketh them , commodious for their enimies , and disaduantagious for them . for they must lie in the field and open aire amongst mire & frosts , their enimies vnder a warme roofe , & holesome harbour . whereupon wise princes , which haue beene to make long land-iourneies through diuers prouinces of diuers natures , for feare of such like discommodities , haue thought it best to prouide shipping , and to vse the oportunitie of riuers or sea , as did caesar germanicus in the warre of germanie , after he perceiued that in the protracting of time ( which was requisite for the marching of his armie ) the greater part of his men and horses were idlie consumed by infirmities , labour , and the length of iourneies . but the mogor is vtterly destitute of this aduantage : vpon one side he hath no hauen , on an other the portugals are his iealous neighbours , who with two castles of great strength , at din and damain , haue shut vp the whole gulfe of the cambaia● sea . finally , the puissance of their neighbours hath beene as great a controule to their furious inuasions , as any other naturall cause : viz. the king of barma , who is nothing inferior in power and riches : for he is lord of so many kingdomes , and so fierce and warlike a people , and can bring such swarmes into the field , that he is fearelesse of any his tartarian neighbours . and as the mogor ruleth fare and wide betweene ganges and indus , so doth this king betweene ganges and siam . as the one deuiseth to offend ; so by little and little the other waxeth wise to defend . for by nature man is more prone to procure his owne safety , then ready by wrong to oppresse others , being alwaies more carefull to conserue , then forward to destroy . it cannot be expressed how ful of subtiltie , shifts , deuises , & industrie man is to defend him and his : for he vseth for his owne safegard , not that only which is properly defēsiue , but euen that also which may be any way offensiue . neither euer was there any instrument inuented for offence , but that the same might be turned to defence ; of which kind are castles built of later times , and the deuises of moderne fortification . and therefore the closest castles are neuer accounted the best , because they which are forced to guard such places , are depriued of the facilitie of offending the enimie by sallies , shot , wilde-fire , and such like : all which , and many other stratagemes were easily performed in an open hold . but of all inuentions , there is none more admirable then that of fortification : for euen the termes thereof ( as curtains , counterscarps , parapets , trenches , vamures , mines , and countermines , casemats , and such like phrases ) are verie ingenious and misticall : for by this arte fewe soldiers haue resisted great armies ; and a small place made tenable , hath wasted the forces and treasures of a mightie emperour : as well witnessed the fortunes of 800. portugals at damain vpon the coast of cambaia , who by this arte scorned and deluded the whole forces and attempts of this mightie mogor . the kingdome of china . in times past the kingdome of china hath beene farre larger then now it is . for it appeereth by their histories ( containing the annales of 2000. yeeres and vpwards ) and by other of their manuscript cronicles written in their owne language , ( whose fragments are yet to be seene ) that their kings were lords almost of all the sea coast of asia from the streight of anian , to the kingdome of pegu : the prouinces of meletai , bacam , calan , boraga , and other territories , situated vpon the north side of pegu : where their monuments with their epitaphes & deuises are to be seene at this day . for in all the foresaid regions , the reliques of their ancient ceremonies , ( whereby the knowledge of the mathematiques , as the diuision of the yeere into monethes , the zodiake into twelue signes , true testimonies of their emperie ) are obserued and taught by tradition . neither is the time long , sithence all those kingdomes accoūted the king of china their soueraigne , sending their ambassadors with presents to his court euery third yeere . these ambassadors ought to be fower at least , for before they could arriue at their iourneies end , some of thē either by remotenes of place , difficult accesse of audience , or delay in dispatch , could not but surely die ; those whose chance it was to scape , the chinois in some set banquet would poison , & erect vnto them stately tombes , with the inscription of their names , the place from whence they came , & with the title of ambassadors : thereby ( say they ) to commit to eternitie the remembrance of the bounds of their empire . they inlarged their dominions no lesse vpon the ocean , then vpon the continent . for they first of all inuaded the iles of the orient ; next them followed the giau● ; then the malaccans and moores , and lastly the portugals and castilians , who hold them at this day . but none of these nations were of equall power and magnificence to the chinois : for besides the conquest of the bordering iles ( which in regarde of their numbers , their spaciousnes and fertilitie , were of great reckoning ) they became lords of the greatest part of all the inhabitable places in that vast archipelago , euen to zeilan , where they left their speech & caracters , as also they did the like vpon the opposite continent . we read also in the papers of certain iesuits , that in one quarter of the iland of s. laurence , they found white people , which said that they descended of the chinois . they first discouered the moluccas , gaue names to the spices , & planted colonies in many of them , which to this present keepe their old names , as batta china a muar , batta china , mauri : batta signifieth a towne , batta china , a towne of the chinois . it is likewise thought that the inhabitants of iaua descended of them , & to speak truth , there is no great difference between their maner of liuing , clothing , building , industrie , traffik , & manuall occupations . but after the shipwrack of 80. vessels , and the losse of their people in the sea of zeilan , comparing their profit with their losse , they resolued to trie no more such hazards , but to containe thēselues within their owne bounds . and to cause this edict to be inuiolably obserued , they enact ed , that none thereafter vpon paine of the losse of his head should offer to saile into those parts : the kings themselues did euer after abstaine from future inuasions . for sithence they enioy a very earthly paradise , where nature and arte are at strife to content the inhabitants , where no good thing is wanting , but much superfluous and to spare ; what mad men would consume their bodies and treasures in getting those things , which are more chargeable to get , then profitable to keepe ? polibius writeth , that vpon the same reasons the olde carthaginians forsooke part of those things , which before they had conquered . the romanes after they had suffered a greenous losse of their best vessels in the second punicke warre , in meere dispaire bid nauigation adieu ; but afterwardes perceiuing that they who were commanders of the sea , were likely to prooue lords of the land , built a new nauie , and at length saw the successe answere their latest opinions . therefore can we not but ascribe this resolution of the chinois rather to good conscience and aduisednes , then to wisedome or good policie . for seeing there can be no greater follie then to hazard our owne goods , vpon hope to gaine anothers , to waste the borders of our owne dominions to inuade our neighbours , to shed our owne blood vpon desire to spill a strangers : it is more honorable and worthie the office of a king , to content himselfe with his owne right , rather then by wrong to possesse anothers . content breedes stabilitie , conquest brings care to see to the conquered : therefore why should any prince weare out himselfe to inlarge his dominion , if inlargement doe not onely doe no good , but euen spoileth that which was good before , making that vncertaine which before was certaine , and weakening that which before was strong . let a wise prince vtterly refraine such iournies ; if they bring not assured securitie , and more then common profit . for securitie is one scale wherein a state hangeth , which , if the beame stand true , must onely aime at that which is likely to breede greater securitie , and that is , the seising vpon streights , sconces , passages , and fit places to remooue the enemie far away : in the other scale should hang profit , & that is , by conquering those prouinces which are rich or able to yeeld all kinde of prouision for liuing creatures and furniture for warre and shipping . but to returne to the chinois . when this surrender was resolued in full counsell , they set the people whom they had vanquished , free ; yet some of their good wils remained feodaries , shadowing their estates vnder the wings of their puissance , as the kings of corea , lequi , canchinchina and siam . and notwithstanding their retrait within their owne bounds , yet possesse they a dominion little lesse then all europe : for from the north towards the south , it reacheth from 17. to 52. degrees , from the east to the west are 22. degrees . pacquin , wherein the king keepeth his court is situated in 48. degrees . the empire is diuided into fifteene prouinces , sixe maritime , cantan , foquem , chiqueuan , pantora , nanquij , the rest inland , quichiu , iuana , quancij , suiuam , fuquam , cansij , xianxij , nonam , sancij . the prouinces of quinci , cantan , and foquem are diuided from the vplandish , with mountaines like the alpes , but not aboue two daies iourney asunder . thomas perez the king of portugals ambassador made fower moneths iourney from cantan to nanquij , alwaies bearing northerly . it is not so spacious , but it is as fertil : for it yeeldeth not only what is fitting for humane life , but whatsoeuer the delicate and effeminate appetite of man may lust after . many plants yeeld fruit twice or thrice a yeere , and that not onely by the temperature of the aire , but by the number of riuers and plentie of waters , which doe both cause traffike through euery corner of the region , and so water it on all sides , that it resembleth a most pleasant and delectable garden plot . of this plentie there are two causes : one , the prodigall expences of the king in digging of trenches through the whole land ; sometime cutting through rockie mountaines , sometime damming vp deepe vallies to make them leuell with high mountaines , & to draine the waters of lakes and marishes : the other , for that the whole region is situated vnder the temperatre zone , and in no place , either by nature or mans industrie , wanteth moisture ; so that all creatures taking nourishment of heate and moisture must needes here wonderously prosper : in no place plants may take larger scope to spread their branches , nor cattell larger walkes to wander in , then in this countrie . the last reason is , for that the idle are neither seuerely punished , nor altogether tolerated , euery one is forced to doe somewhat , no foote of land is left vnhusbanded , nor dram of stuffe cast away vnwrought . amongst all admirables , one thing is woorthie consideration , that in cantan they keepe fower thousand whales to grinde corne and rice . in china euery one is set about somewhat , according to his yeeres and strength , one laboureth with his hand , one with his foote , one with his eie , another must be dooing with his toong , those onelie who are impotēt in their limes , & haue no friends liuing to succour them , are prouided for in hospitals . that none may excuse themselues , in saying he can do nothing , euery one is bound to learne his fathers occupation , which is the reason that the children ( borne as it were tradesmen ) learne their fathers occupations before they perceiue it , becomming in time most artificiall mechaniques . he that can not liue at lande , seeketh his maintenance at sea , ( for that is no lesse inhabited then the land , ) yea infinite housholds liue vpon the riuers in boats without comming to land for a long season . some of these liue by ferrying ouer people , some by transporting passengers and their merchandise : others keepe shops , other vessels of lodgings for merchants and trauellers . whatsoeuer is needfull for clothing , for foode or nourishment , delight or case of a ciuill life , is to be found in the midst of great riuers . many nourish all sorts of poultrie , especially ducks in their vessels . to hatch the egges and nourish the yoong ones , they vse not the dams , as we do , but an artificiall heate , in a manner as they do in egypt , especially at cair . all night he keepeth them in his boat , & at morning sendeth them to feede in the fields sowed with rice , whence all day long hauing fed vpon the weeds , to the great good of the husbandman , they returne towards euening to their cages , at the sound of a little bell or cimball . many liue by carrying fish , both salt and fresh , into the high countries : for in the spring , when the riuers rise through thawes and land-flouds , so incomparable quantities of sea fish do abound in the hauens or creekes , that the fishermen depart rather wearied then wanting . this fish the skippers buy for a small matter of the fishermen , and keeking them aliue in certaine vessels made for the purpose , they transport them into prouinces farre remote from the sea . there they are sold and preserued in pooles and stewes neere cities and great townes to serue the markets and tables of the chinois all the yeere long . because it is forbidden any inhabitant to passe out of the land without leaue , and therewith neither but for a time limited , it must needs be that by the daily increase of people , the countrey be euen pestered with inhabitation . it hath beene obserued amongst themselues , that for euery fiue that haue died , seauen haue beene borne . the climate is so temperate , and the aire so wholesome , that in mans memorie any vniuersall pestilence hath not beene knowen to infest the countrey . notwithstanding least any man should thinke this people to enioy all sweetes without some mixture of sower , you must note , that their earthquakes are more dreadfull to them then any pestilence to vs : for whole cities haue beene swallowed , and prouinces made desart by this punishment . they choke vp the course of ancient chanels , and make new , where were neuer any before , they lay mountaines leuell with the ground , making hauocke of the people . in the yeere 1555. a deluge breaking out of the bowels of the earth , deuoured 180. miles of firme land , with the townes and villages standing thereupon : those which scaped the floud , lightning and fire from heauen destroied . there are saide to be in china 150. cities , 235. great townes , 1154. castles , and 420. boroughes without wals , wherein soldiers are quartered : of villages and hamlets ( some of them conteining a thousand housholds ) the number is infinite ; for the countrey is so couered with habitation , that all china seemeth but as one towne . they haue two metrapolitan cities , nanquin and panquin . in nanquin towards the north the king keepeth his court ; vnder the iurisdiction of the one are seuen prouinces , vnder the other eight . both of them are so spacious , that it is a daies iourney for a horseman to ride from one end to the other . of the number of inhabitants no certainty can be produced , but according to manuscript relations , and report of trauellers , it is said , that the kingdome containeth 70. millions of liuing soules . this is an admirable report , and not to be beleeued , if it be compared with the prouinces of christendome , but surely something aboue conceite is to be credited to these spacious , populous , and barbarous nations . let vs set the largenes of their prouinces , the circuite of their cities , their plentie and aboundance of all things , and in all places , either prospering by nature or mans industrie , with their numbers and inhabitation , and we shall finde a countrey like inough to affoord such a reckoning , cities and dwellings able to containe them , and nourishment sufficient to maintaine them . italy exceedeth not nine millions : germany ( excluding the swissers and netherlands ) not ten , and with the foresaid prouinces not aboue fifteene , which number peraduenture france may reach vnto . spaine is farre inferior to italy : sicilie hath but one million , and three hundred thousand : england three millions , and belgia as many , if by the continuance of the war in those countries that number be not much decaied . the italians conceiting marueilous highly of themselues , thinke no prouince vpon the face of the earth for wealth and people comparable to italy , but they forget , that as it is long , so it is narrow , and nothing wide or spacious , neither that two third parts haue not one nauigable riuer ( a want of great consequence ) neither that the apenine , a mountaine rockie and barren , doth spred itselfe ouer a fourth part . let them not deceiue themselues , nor condemne others plentie , by their owne wants , nor measure others excesse by their handfuls . for fertilitie , doth france in plentie of graine or cattle giue place to italy ? or england , for cattle , wooll , fish , or mettall ? or belgia , for number or goodlines of cities , excellencie of artificers , wealth or merchandise ? or greece for delectable or commodious situation , hauens of the sea , or pleasant prouinces ? or hungarie for cattle , wine , corne , fish , mines , and all good things else . but i will not stand vpon these discourses , onely let me tell you , that lumbardie containeth the thirde part of italy , a prouince delightsome for battell plaines , and pleasant riuers , without barren mountaines , or sandie fieldes , and to be as full of people as the whole halfe of italy besides . yea , what may be said of italy for profite or pleasure , that may not be spoken perticularly of france , england , netherland & both the pannonies ? wherefore sithence the countrey is not onely large , mightie , and spacious , but vnited , populous , plentifull and rich , at least let it be beleeued and accounted for one of the greatest empires that euer was . the gouernment is tyrannicall : for throughout the kingdome there is no other lord but the king . they knowe not what an earle , a marquesse or a duke meaneth . no fealtie , no tribute or tole is paid to any man but to the king . he giueth al magistracies and honors . he alloweth them stipends wherewith to maintaine their estates , and they dispatch no matter of weight without his priuitie . his vassals obey him , not as a king , but rather as a god. in euery prouince standeth his portraiture in gold , which is neuer to be seene but in the newe moones , then is it shewed and visited of the magistrates , and reuerenced as the kings owne person . in like manner the gouernours and iudges are honored , no man may speake vnto them but vpon their knees . herein the people shew their base mindes , making themselues the slaues ( not the subiects ) of the prince . strangers are not admitted to enter into the kingdome , least their customes and conuersation should breede alteration in manners , or innouation in the state . they are onely permitted to traffike vpon the sea coasts , to buy and sell vittaile , and to vent their wares . they that doe traffike vpon the land , assemble many together , and elect a gouernor amongst them , whom they terme , consul . in this good maner strangers enter the kingdome , but alwaies awaited on by the customers and kings officers . the inhabitants cannot trauell but with licence , and with that neither , but for a prefixed season : and to be sure of their returne , they grant no leaue , but for traffikes sake , and that in ships of 150. tun and not aboue : for they are iealous , that if they should goe to sea in bigger vessels , they would make longer iourneis . to conclude , it is a religious law of the kingdome , that euerie mans endeuours tend wholy to the good and quiet of the common wealth . by which proceedings , iustice the mother of quietnes , policie the mistresse of good lawes , and industrie the daughter of peace , doe flourish in this kingdome . there is no countrey moderne or ancient gouerned by a better forme of policie , then this empire : by this gouernment haue they ruled their empire two thousand yeeres : and so hath the state of venice flourished 1100. yeeres , the kingdome of france 1200. it is two hundred yeeres since they cast off the yoke of the tartars , after their ninetie yeeres gouernment . for their arts , learning and policie , they conceiue so well of themselues , that they are accustomed to say , that they haue two eies ; the people of europe , one ; the residue of the nations , none . they giue this good report of the europeans , because of their acquaintance with the portugals , with whom they trafficke in macao and other places , and the renowme of the castilians , who are their neighbours in the philippinae . by the multitudes of people ( before spoken of ) you may imagine the state of his forces , for herein all other prouisions take their perfection . but to speake somewhat in particular . the power of this prince ( remembring his contentment , and nature detesting all inuasion ) is more readie and fit to defend then offend , to preserue rather then increase . his cities for the most part are builded vpon the bankes of nauigable riuers , enuironed with deepe and broad ditches , the wals built of stone and bricke , strong aboue beleefe , and fortified with caualiers , and artificiall bulwarks . vpon the borders toward tartarie ( to make sure worke against such an enemie ) they haue built a wall beginning at chioi a citie situate betweene two most high mountaines , and stretching it selfe towards the east sixe hundred miles betweene mountaine and mountaine , vntill it touch the cliffes of the ocean . vpon the other frontires you may behold many , but small holds , so built to stay the course of the enemie , vntill the countrie forces be able to make head , and the royall armie haue time to come leisurely forward : for in 400. great townes he keepeth in continuall pay forces sufficient vpon the least warning , to march to that quarter whither occasion calleth . euery citie hath a garrison and guarde at the gates , which at nights are not only fast locked but sealed , and may not be opened before the seale at morning be throughly viewed . to speake truth , their soldiers , horsemen and footemen , by land or sea , are more famous for their numbers , their gallant furniture , and plentie of prouision , then for strength and courage . for the inhabitants partly by their effeminate and wanton kinde of life , partly by their forme of gouernment , whereby they are made vile , base and vmbragious , haue little valour or manhood left them . they vse noforren soldiers , except those whom they take in warre : these they send into the inland countries , where being marked ( to distinguish them from other ) they serue more like slaues then soldiers , yet haue they pay , with rewards for their good seruice , and punishment for their cowardize : true motiues to make men valorous . the rest , which are not inrold , are not suffered to keepe weapons in their houses . their sea forces are nothing inferior to their land forces : for besides their ordinarie fleets lying vpon the coastes for the safetie of the sea townes , by reason of the abundance of nauigable riuers , and so huge a sea-tract full of hauens , crecks and ilands , it is thought that with ease they are able to assemble from fiue hundred to a thousand great ships , which they terme giunchi . to thinke that treasure can be wanting to leuie so great a number of ships , soldiers , and mariners , many men affirme , that the kings reuenues amount to 120. millions of gold , which value although it may seeme impossible to him that shall make an estimate of the states of europe with the kingdome of china ; yet may it finde place of beleefe , if he do but call to minde , first the nature and circuite of the empire , being little lesse then all europe ; next the populousnes of the inhabitants , accompanied with inestimable riches , then tho diuersitie and plentie of mines of gold , siluer , iron , and other sorts of mettall , the vnspeakable quantitie of merchandise , passing from hand to hand by so many nauigable riuers , so many armes and inlets of the sea , their vpland cities and maritime townes , their toles , customes , and subsidies . for he taketh the tenth of all things which the carth yeeldeth , as barly , rice , oliues , wine , cotton wooll , flaxe , silke , all kinds of mettall , fruits , cattle , sugar , hony , rubarbe , campher , ginger , woad , muske , and all sorts of perfumes . the custome onely of salt in the citie canto ( which is not of the greatest nor the best traffike ) yeeldeth 180. thousand crownes yeerely : the tenth of rice of one small towne and the adiacent territory yeeldeth more then 100. thousand crownes . by these you may coniecture of the rest . he leaueth his subiects nothing , saue foode and clothing . he hath vnder him no earles , lords , or nobles of any degree , no nor priuate persons indowed with great wealth . wherefore sithence this empire is so huge , and all the profits thereof are in his hands , and at his disposition , how can the former assertion of so great a yeerely reuenue , to men of reason seeme any thing admirable ? there are two things moreouer which adde great credite to this reckoning , one is , that all his impositions are not paide in coine , but some in haie , some in rice , corne , prouender , silke , cotton wooll , and such like necessaries : the other is , that the king of 120. millions which he receiueth , disburseth againe three parts thereof . and so sithence it goeth round from the king to the people , it ought to seeme no woonder , if the people be able to spare it againe for the princes vse at the yeeres end . for as waters do cbbe as deepe as they flow , so impositions easily leuied suffice for the expences of the state , and the people receiue againe by those expences as much as they laide out in the beginning of the yeere . the king of china feareth no neighbour , but the great cham of tartaria : all the rest acknowledge vassalage . against this enimie the ancient kings built that admirable wall , so much renowmed amongst the wonders of the orient . towards the sea he bordereth vpon the iaponians and castilians . the distance betweene iapan and china is diuers . from goto one of the ilands of iapan to the citie liampo is threescore leagues : from cantan 297. the ilanders of iapan doe often spoile the sea coasts of china by their incursions , descending on land and harrying the countrey , more like pirats then men of war. for in regard that iapan is diuided into manie ilands , and into diuers seigniories ( ill agreeing amongst themselues ) though they excell the chinois in armes and courage , yet are they not of sufficient power to performe any action of moment against them . vpon another frontire lye the spaniards , of whom the chinois not without good cause are verie iealous , because of the situation of the philippinae ( commodiously seated for the inuasion of china ) and the fame of their riches well knowen to the spanish . but the king of spaine wisheth rather to plant christianitie peaceably amongst them , whereof there was once good hope that god had opened a passage thereunto . for though the chinois will suffer no stranger to enter within their dominions : yet certain iesuits ( zealous in the increasing of the christian religion ) in a territorie , so spatious as that is , entered with great secrecie and danger , and obtayning the fauour of certaine gouernors , obtained a priuilege of naturalization , especially frier michaell rogerius , who in the yeere 1590. returned into europe to aduise what course were best to take in this busines . about the same time intelligence was brought from two friers remaining there , that after diuers persecutions they were constrained to forsake the citie wherein they soiourned and had conuerted many , and to make haste to sea-ward . the portugals are likewise eie-sores vnto them , but by the report of the iustice and moderation of ferdinand andrada , which he shewed in the gouernmēt of the iland of tamo , & by the traffike which they exercise in those seas , they can better digest their neighbourhood , then that of the spanish . this was the first portugal that arriued in the citie of cantan , and set a land thomas perez iegier for emanuell king of portugall . but other captaines being there afterwards disimbarked , behaued themselues so leudly , that they occasioned the said embassador to be taken for a spie , and cast in prison , where he died most miserablie : the residue were entreated as enimies . at last it was permitted the portugals for traffike sake to settle a factory in macao , where againe before they had strongly fortified their colony , they were cōstrained to submit to the limitations of the chinois , to whom in short time for their strength , wisedome , friendship and allians with the castilians , they became suspicious : & therfore they do daily more & more bridle their libertie of traffike , carrying so heauie a hand towards them , that they would faine giue them occasion to leaue macao of their owne wils , and retire backe againe into india , from whence they came . the kingdome of siam . vpon the borders of china , ( to speake nothing of cauchinchina because we know nothing woorth relation of that territorie ) ioineth the countrey of siam , accounted amongst the great kingdomes of asia . it tooke his name of the citie siam , situated vpon the entrance of the riuer menan : it is also called gorneo . it stretcheth by east and west from the citie campaa , to the citie tauai , in which tract by the sea coast are conteined 500. leagues . of which the arabians once vsurped 200. with the cities patan , paam , ior , perca , and malaca , now in the possession of the portugals . from the south towards the north it reacheth from sinca-pura situate in degree , to the people called gueo●● in 29. degrees . the lake chiamai is distant from the sea six hundred miles : the vpland circuit stretcheth from the borders of canchinchina beyond the riuer auan , where lieth the kingdome of chencra . besides the lake of chiamai , the riuers menon , menam , caipumo , & ana ( which cause greater fertilitie of graine through the whole region , then a man would beleeue ) are all his . the better part of his kingdomes are muironed with the mountaines ana , brema , and iangoma : the residue is plaine like egypt , abounding with elephants , horses , pepper , gold and tin . in the west part are huge woods , tygres , lions , tinces and serpents . it containeth these prouinces , cambaia , siam , muantai , bremea , caipumo , and chencra . the inhabitants of lai which border vpon the north of the prouinces of muantai and caipumo , and are diuided into three principalities , are vnder his obeisance . the first is that of iangoma , the second of cucrai , the third lanca neere chachinchina . they inhabite a plaine and welthie countrey , into which the gueoni ( marke paul calleth their country cangigu ) discending from the mountaines to hunt for men , make oftentimes cruell butcheries amongst them . the people of lai for feare of these anthropophagi acknowledge the soueraingtie of siam , but they often rebell , and obey as they list . the wealth of the countrey may be coniectured by the firtilitie : for being situated in a plaine , and watered with most noble and famous riuers ( like an other egypt ) it cannot but abound with plentie of all things . it bringeth foorth rice , graine of all sorts , horses , elephants , infinite store of cattle , gold and tinne : siluer is brought thither by the people of lai . by reason of this plentie , the people are drowned in pleasure and wantonnesse . they follow husbandry , but take no great delight in manuell occupations , which causeth the kingdome to be poore in merchandise . amongst many other cities three are famous , cambaia , seated vpon the riuer menon : which rising in china , is so hugely augmented by the falling in of many riuers , that his owne chanell not sufficing for receit thereof , it renteth the earth to disgorge it selfe , into a thousand ilands , making a second meotis more then 60. miles long . meicon signifieth the captaine , menon the mother of waters . the second citie is siam , whose statelines giueth the name to the whole countrey . it is a most goodly citie , and of admirable trasfike , which may the better be imagined by the writing of a certaine iesuite , who reporteth that besides the naturall inhabitants , there are more then thirtie thousand arabian housholds . the third citie is called vdia , greater then siam , consisting of fower hundred thousand families . it is said that two hundred thousand boats belong to this citie , and the riuer caipumo , whereupon it is seated . this king to shew his maiestie and magnificence keepeth a guard of sixe thousand soldiers and two hundred elephants : of these beasts he hath thirtie thousand , whereof he traineth three thousand for the warre . this is a great matter , if you weigh their woorth and their charges in keeping . his gouernment is rather tyrannicall then kinglike : for he is absolute lord of all the demeanes of the kingdome , and either setteth them out to husbandmen , or giueth them to his nobles for their maintenance , during life and pleasure , but neuer passeth the right of inheritance . he bestoweth vpon them likewise townes and villages with their territories , but vpon condition to maintaine a certaine number of horsemen , footemen and elephants . by this policie without any pennie pay or burden to the countrie , he is able to leuie twentie thousand horsemen , & 250. thousand footemen . vpon occasion he can wage a greater number , by reason of the largenes of his kingdomes , and the populousnes of his townes . for vdia onely ( the chiefe seat of his kingdome ) mustered 50. thousand men . and although he be lord of nine kingdomes , yet vseth he no other nation in the warre but the siamits , and the inhabitants of the two kingdomes of vdia and muantai . all honors and preferments are bestowed vpon men of seruice in this kingdome . in times of peace they haue their warlike exercises , and in certaine pastimes which the king once a yeere exhibiteth at vdia , are shewed all militarie feats of armes vpon the riuer menon , where more then 3000. vessels ( which they terme paraos ) diuided into two squadrons , skirmish one against the other . vpon the land runne the horses and elephants , and the footemen trie it out at sword and buckler with point and edge rebated : the remainder of their daies they spend in riot and wantonnes . their borders towards the east reach to canchinchina , betweene whom are such huge woods , lions , tigers , leopards , serpents and elephants , that they cannot infest one another by armes . towards the lake chiamai they border vpon the chinois . towards the sea they affront the arabians and portugals . the one tooke from them patan , paam , ior , and peam , the other malaca , and the territorie adioyning ; so that betweene them they bereaued him of two hundred miles of land : and contenting themselues with the sea coasts , and the customes arising vpon the carriyng out and bringing in of merchandise , they abstaine from further inuasion of the inland prouinces , and hold it good policie to keepe firme peace with the king and his countries . toward the west lieth the kingdome of pegu like an halfe moone , betweene the mountaines of brama and iangoma . towards the north lye the gudoni , inhabiting the barrein and sharp mountaines , betweene whom and siam dwell the people of lay. this people is subiect to the crowne of siam for feare of these canibals , of whom ( if it had not beene for his protection ) they had long agon beene vtterly deuoured . not fortie yeeres since the king made a iourney against them with twentie thousand horse ( their horse are small , but excellent good in trauell ) 250. thousand footemen , and ten thousand elephants ; part imploied for seruice , part for carriage . no kingdome hath greater store of these beasts , or doth more vse them . an innumerable number of oxen , buffals , and beasts of carriage followed this armie , whom they slew when they wanted other prouision . hitherto haue we deuised of siam and pegu ( as they stood ) before the comming of the portugals into india , but how in proces of time the state was altered , you shall now heare . in times past diuers kingdomes of barma situated along the riuer towards the lake chiamai obeyed the king of pegu vnder the gouernment of certaine lieutenants . sixtie yeeres sithence one of these captaines ruler of the kingdome of tengu , by the aide of his faction and reputation of his vertues , entred into rebellion , and slaying the nobles of the land , vsurped the kingdome . afterward he forced the cities , and conquered the kingdome of prom , melintai , calam , mirandu , and ana , all inhabited by the bramians , for the space of one hundred and fiftie leagues towards the north . he assaied likewise the conquest of siam ; but comming before vdia the chiefe citie of the kingdome , he was forced to raise his siege and depart . he vndertooke this iourney with 300. thousand footemen , consuming more then three moneths in making way for his armie through stonie mountaines , huge woods & maccessible places ; and in lieu for the losse of 120. thousand of his soldiers , he tooke two hundred thousand siamits prisoners . at his returne home he inuaded the kingdome of pegu , and woone it . afterward in the yeere 1507. he renued his iourney against siam , and ouercame the king thereof , who slew himselfe with poison , but he tooke his sonnes and with them the better part of the kingdome . he belegerd vdia with a million of men and vpward . our late writers call this man and his successors ( because their fame arose by the conquest of the kingdomes of brama ) kings of brama or barmia , but the portugals of a more sound iudgement grounded vpon neerer neighbourhood , call them kings of pegu. and for that it may not seeme that what we write as concerning their infinite numbers , is either fabulous or reported altogither vpon heresay , because that now , heerebefore and hereafter we shall haue occasion to discourse of this point , we thinke it not amisse , to spend some time in shewing how & by what likelihoods , both in this and the other barbarous dominions such huge and numberlesse companies are leuied and nourished . first therefore it is a ground infallible that populous armies , at home or abroad , cannot long endure without great reuenues , and a continuall sea of readie money : for as the members of our bodie cannot mooue without sinewes , nor motion auaile vs , if ioints were wanting ; so without money an armie can neuer be gathered , nor being gathered kept togither , nor resolutely lead foorth to any piece of seruice , if coine be wanting , which preuenteth infinite mischances , and draweth after it armour , prouision , victuals , and whatsoeuer is necessarie for life or armes . and sithence the wealth of princes , euen as of priuate persons ( from whose purses they supply their occasion ) hath limits and measure : let them not thinke to begin any long warre , much lesse to continue it , vnlesse they throughly prouide aforehand , or are lords of mines rich and inexhaustible : for great treasures are soone spent ; and that which hath thriftily been gathered in peace , must prodigally be disbursed in warre : euen one yeere of warre wasteth the reprisals of many yeeres peace . which mooued a certaine portugall captaine to tell king sebastian , prouiding for his iournie into barbarie , that warres should be performed with three streames ; the first of men , the second of vittaile , the third of siluer . for all warres are exceeding chargeable , but those most excessiue and beyond opinion which are managed far from home . the great turke in his persian iourneies felt the smart hereof , who though he were so potent a prince , was notwithstanding constrained to raise the value of his coine , and abase the allay , so farre foorth , that the ianizars finding themselues aggrieued thereat , raised commotions , set fire on the citie of constantinople , and rifled a great part thereof . neither could the king of spaine sustaine the burden of so many warres , and in so remote prouinces , if he trusted to no other supplies then those of spaine , but fortune hath giuen him a countrie prodigall in mines of gold and siluer , assuredly paying the expence of one yeere with the income of another . this clotheth and feedeth the soldier , bringeth them to a head , and maketh them to march cheerefully vpon all seruices . iohn laques triuulce being demanded how many things were necessarie in warre , answered three , monie , monie , monie . but these grounds onely holde when the burden of the warre lieth vpon the purse of the prince and his people : for sometime it happeneth , that the soldier liueth vpon the enemies countrie , as did the huns , vandals , gothes , arabians , and in our daies tamerlane . they entred the prouinces without controle or resistance , being vnprouided of forces , and made pray and spoile of whatsoeuer came into their reaches ; they ransacked the cities , and fed vpon the villages . the like good lucke had the portugals in the east indies , and the castilians in the west , but the one far better then the other : for neuer any nation conquered with lesse cost so much as the spaniards haue done in new spaine and peru. but let not any people thinke to doe so in these daies , no not in asia or afrike , much lesse in europe , where the vse of great ordinance is in perfection , and the arte of fortification so ingenious , that one castell shall be able to sustaine , yea well prouided , to wearie the forces of the greatest potentate . the turks at zigeth ( a sinall castell in hungarie ) approoued this , which in the yeere 1566. soliman belegered with three hundred thousand men of warre , and at last forced , but with so great a slaughter of his people , that scant the third part of this huge armie returned to their houses . in like manner the portugals in the beginnings of their indian acquisitions , with a few soldiers and in little time woon admirable victories ; but when the barbarians began to grow acquainted with artillerie , to allure carpenters and masons to build them castels , and to arme vessels to sea , their courages became calme , and there set an end to their plus vltra . the like did the spanish in the new world , to their non sufficit orbis . for after their first good fortunes they found in noua hispania , the chichimechi , and in peru the pilcosonij , the ciriguani and the luchij , people so well prouided to stop the furious course of their former victories , that sithence , in twenty seuen yeeres space they haue not beene able to adde one footes bredth to their new emperie . in the vale of aranco , tecapel , and the kingdome of chile , when the inhabitants saw them to be wounded and slaine with the strokes of their arrowes and swords , they neuer afterward vouchsafed them their former reuerence , nor carried the woonted conceit of their immortalitie : and now being beaten by experience , they feare not the cariere of the horse , nor the terror of the harquebuse . if the warre be at or within our owne doores , then is it easie to leuie strong and populous forces , as we reade of the crotons , sibarites and gauntois , who made head against the power of france with fourescore thousand fighting men . for when the warre was made in these populous countries and neere at hand ; euerie man made one in the medle , gallantly armed , and well prouided with furniture and victuall to hold out certaine daies : but when the warre continued longer then expectation , for want of money and foode euerie man retired , one to the plough , another to his shop , the rest to those trades , whereby they sustained themselues and their families . the scots for want of wealth neuer made famous iourney out of the iland , but at home they haue lead mightie armies for a short time , either to reuenge wrongs or defend their frontires : euen as did the romanes for certaine ages , warring with their neighbours at their priuate charges . they tooke the field euerie man prouided with victuall for two or three daies , and in one battell and few howers finished that warre . but in the iourney against the veij , the warre continuing beyond opinion , the state was inforced to procure pay for the armie . that armies may far casier be gathered in the east and in africke , then in europe : the reasons are many . those regions for the most part are more plentifull and copious of all necessaries for humane life : the people of the south are better contented with little then we : their diet is spare and simple , onely to maintaine life and not excesse : but the europeans must eate and drinke , not to sustaine nature , but to comfort the stomacke and expell colds . wine which with vs is deerer then bread , is not to be found amongst them ; their waters are better then our drinkes . cookerie is in no such request with them , as with vs , nor their tables accustomed to such cates : their banquets are onely furnished with rice and mutton . neither doe the people of the east spend a quarter of that clothing which we doe : they goe to the warre halfe naked , hiding nothing but their priuities : they stand not in need of that number of workemen which we doe , amongst whom the greatest part of our life is spent in weauing and deuising stuffes and fashions to cloath the carkasse and adorne the bodie , with cloath , silke , colours and imbroderies . all their expences are onely vpon cloathing of cotton wooll , and that but from the nauell to the knee . these are the reasons which i meant to lay , why they may gather fortie thousand men with more ease , then we ten ; and to these may be added this as the last , that vpon ordinance and their furnitures ; vpon prouisions and their carriages ; vpon horses , pioners , and a thousand like necessaries , infinite summes are expended ; of which the people of the east are vtterly ignorant , especially those which haue not to deale with the portugals or arabians . they goe to the warre without armour , without curases , helmets , lances , or targets , which with vs cannot be conueyed from place to place without great expence . virgil calleth this , luggage , iniustum fascem , because it seemeth a needles trouble : and therein we degenerate much from the ancient romanes , who for ten daies iourney and more , carried euerie man 's his proper weapons both offensiue and defensiue , yea and sometimes his victuals . what should we speake of the armies of the assirians , and ethiopians , of belus , ninus , simiramis , cambises , cirus , darius , sesostris & sesacus , were they not as huge and populous by the report of all histories , as these whereof we intreat ? or in times lesse ancient haue not we and our ancestors seene the arabians , tartarians and turkes inuading prouinces with armies of three hundred thousand people and vpward . by moderne examples and memorie of later accidents to giue credit to the ancient , i will set downe what happened in angola ( a noble & rich prouince of the west ethiop adioyning to congo ) reported by the letters of certaine iesuits and portugall captaines . in the yeere 1584. paulus diazius by the fauour of god and valour of his people , vpon the second day of februarie put to flight the king of angola , and defeated his armie , consisting of one million and two hundred thousand moores : which may well prooue that these populous armies are of little seruice and small continuance , rather like violent stormes , then dripping showers ; and though with ease they are gathered , yet without greater prouision then any prouince is able to affoord them , they are not easily held together . when their prouision is spent , they begin to break , and bid adue to the action ; and that most commonly not in the middest of their course , but euen in their first remooues : for merchants , victualers , tailors , shomakers , smiths , and such like follow not their warres : and if they should , then this inconuenience would follow ; that for one million of soldiers , it were necessarie to prouide another million of wagons , packehorses , carters , carpenters , victualers , merchants and their seruants , and then , neither riuers would serue them for drinke , nor the fields with bread , nor the earth for lodgings : so must they needs sinke vnder their owne waight , which the eastern princes ( leading these vnaccustomed numbers vpon long iourneis ) in some sort forecasting , did alwaies prouide incredible masses of money , victuall , and such like warlike prouisions , long before they entred into action : as was well seene in xerxes , who to maintaine that great armie , as well at sea as at land , which he led for the conquest of greece , spent seuen yeeres in preparation for the iourney . to returne to the king of barma : of late yeeres he tooke the hauens of martela and pernasor ; and turning his armies sometime towards the north , sometime toward the west , he vexed the princes of caor and tipura , tooke the kingdomes of aracan and macin , leading vpon this iourney 300. thousand men , and fortie thousand elephants . aracan is a kingdome round inuironed with mountaines and woods as with a wall or trench : the chiefe citie which giueth the name to the countrey is situated vpon a riuer fifteene leagues from the sea , and 35. from catagan . macin is a kingdome abounding in aloës : this wood which the arabians call calambuco , and others lignum vitae , for the sweete sauour is valued by the people of the east at the waight in siluer . in india and cambeia they vse it at the buriall of great lords , in bathes and in other wantonnes . it groweth most frequent in the rough mountaines of campa , cambaia and macin . that which is brought to vs is in no esteeme with them : the right is found ( say they ) in congo and angola and the bordering countrey , and vsed by them in all their grieuous and dangerous maladies ; which if it be true , i maruell that the portugals will let slip so precious a commoditie . narsinga . in the rowe of these potent princes inhabiting betweene indus and ganges dwelleth the king of narsinga . whatsoeuer lieth betweene the mountaines gate & the gulfe of bengala , betweene the promontories guadauerne and comorin for the space of 200. leagues , abounding as prodigally ( as any other prouince in the indies ) with all good things , is vnder his dominion . the waters sometime falling from the mountaines , sometime from the riuers , and receiued into trenches , meres and lakes doe woonderfully coole , moisten , and inrich this land , causing the graine and cattell to prosper aboue imagination . it is no lesse plentifull of rice , birds , beasts wilde and tame , buffals , elephants , and mines of precious stones and mettals . it breedeth no races of horse for the war , but they buie them of the arabian and persian merchants in great numbers : the like doe all the princes of decan . within the bounds of narsinga dwell fiue nations different in language ; he hath many strong places vpon the indian ocean . canora is at his command , wherein are the hauen townes of mangolar , melind , batticala , and onor : but the portugals receiue the custome of batticala , and in times past of onor . in narsinga are two imperiall cities ; narsinga and bisnagar : by reason whereof he is termed sometime king of narsinga , sometime king of bisnagar . it is vndoubtedly beleeued , that this king receiueth yeerely twelue millions of ducats , of which he laieth vp but two or three , the residue he expendeth vpon the troupes of his soldierie , that is to say , fortie thousand nairs , and twenty thousand horsemen kept in continuall pay . vpon necessitie he is able to leuie a far greater number : for besides these allowances he setteth out certaine lands to 200. captaines , vpon condition to keepe in readines a proportion of horsemen , footemen , and elephants . the wages of these captaines ( to some of whom he giueth a million of ducats yeerely ) may be an argument of his great reuenues ; for to these proiects , this prince and all the potentates of the east , keepe in their possession all the profits of the lands , woods , mines , yea and the waters of pooles and riuers through their whole dominions . no man may wash himselfe in ganges ( which runneth by bengala ) nor in ganga ( which watereth the land of orissa ) before he hath paid tole to the king . the king himselfe is now inforced to buie this water , causing it to be brought vnto him by long iourneies , vpon a superstitious custome , either to bathe or purge himselfe therein . he is absolute lord of the bodies and goods of his subiects , which he shareth to himselfe and his captaines , leauing the people nothing but their hands and labour : of lands the king hath three parts , and his captaines the residue . whereupon sithence all these barbarous princes maintaine not peace and iustice , as arches whereupon to lay the groundworke of their estates , but armes , conquest and the nurserie of a continuall soldierie , it must needes followe that they are able to leuie greater troupes of horse and foote then otherwise we were bound to beleeue . but to induce some measure of credit , let vs compare the abilities of some christian princes , with theirs . if the king of france were absolute lord of all the lands and profits of his whole dominion ( as these men are ) it is thought that his yeerely reuenues would amount to 15. millions , and yet therein are neither mines of gold nor siluer ; the elergie receiueth sixe millions , the kings demesnes amount to one and an halfe , the residue is theirs who haue the inheritance , and yet the peazants liue wel here , in comparison of the villagois of india , polonia and lithuania . besides this the king hath eight millions of ordinarie reuenue , arising of customes and escheats . how mightie a prince would he be , if he were landlord of the demesnes and rents of the whole kingdome , and should imploy them vpon the maintenance of soldiers , as doth the king of narsinga ? surely whereas now the kings reuenues doe hardly suffice for the maintenance of fower thousand men at armes , and six thousand crosbowes ; if this allowance were added to the former , he might as easily maintaine 150. thousand . to returne to narsinga : the king to see that his captaines performe their duties , once a yeere proclaimeth a muster , whereat they dare not but be present . at the muster day those who haue presented their companies defectiue either in number or furnitu●e , are sure to be cassed : but those who bring their companies complete and well armed , he honoureth and aduanceth . what forces may be gathered out of so ample a dominion ( armed after their manner , as aforesaid ) you shall gather by that which iohn barros writeth of the armie which king chrismarao led against idalcan in the iournie of raciel . these are his words verbatim . vnder sundry captaines the armie was diuided into many battailions : in the vantgard marched camaraique with one thousand horse , 17. elephants and 30. thousand footmen . tiarabicar , with two thousand horse , twentie elephants , and fiftie thousand footemen . timaipanaique , with three thousand horsemen , and 56. thousand footemen . after them followed hadainaique with fiue thousand horsemen , fiftie elephants , and one hundred thousand footemen . condomara , with six thousand horse , sixtie elephants , 120. thousand footemen . comora , with 250. horse , fortie elephants , and 80. thousand footemen . gendua , with one thousand horse , ten elephants , and thirtie thousand footemen . in the rereward were two eunuches with 1000. horse , 15. elephants , and forty thousand footemen . betel one of the kings pages led 200. horse , twentie elephants , and eight thousand foote . after all these followed the king with his garde of sixe thousand horsemen , three hundred elephants , and fortie thousand footemen . vpon the flanks of this battell went the gouernor of the citie of bengapor with diuers captaines , vnder whose colours were 4200. horse , 25. elephants , and sixtie thousand footemen seruing for wages . vpon the head of the battell ranged 200. thousande horsemen in small troupes , like our vantcurrers , in such sort and order scowring the countrie , before , behinde , and on all sides , that no noueltie could so suddenly happen , but notice thereof was giuen at the imperiall tent in a moment . twelue thousand carriers of water , and twenty thousand light huswifes followed this armie . the number of lackies , merchants , artificers , scullions ( they call them maniati ) oxen , buffals , and carriage beasts , was infinite . when the armie was to passe any riuer knee-deepe before the foremost were passed , there was scant remaining sufficient for the latter whereof to drinke . before this iournie the king sacrificed in nine daies 20736. head of liuing creatures , as well of birds as beasts , the flesh whereof in honor of his idols , was giuen to the poore . the soldiers were clothed in garments of cotten wooll so close and hard quilted , that they would beare out the thrust of a lance or sword . euery elephant was trimmed in a couering of cotten wooll , with a frame on his backe bearing fower men . to their tusks were fastened long and broad swords , to cut in sunder whatsoeuer stood in their way . the footemen were armed with bowes , iauelins , swords and bucklers . these last the better to couer their whole bodies , and to manage their heauie bucklers carried no offensiue weapons . in the fight when the king perceiued idalcan by the furie of his great ordinance to make hauocke of his men , and dismay the residue , leaping into the head of the battell , is reported to vse this prince-beseeming incouragement : beleeue me , my companions , idalcan shall rather boast that he hath slaine , then ouercome a king of narsinga . with which words and ensample his soldiers all inflamed , and ashamed of their cowardize , with a furious charge broke the enemies aray , and put idalcan to flight . amongst other spoiles they tooke fower thousand arabian horses , one hundred elephants , fower hundred great peeces , besides smal . the number of oxen , buffals , tents and prisoners was inestimable . with idalcan were fortie portugals , with the king of narsinga twentie . in his raigne two of his captaines rebelled ; virapanai vsurped negapatan , and veneapatir the territorie adioining to matipura . calecute . the most noble part of india is that which lieth betweene the mountaine gate and the indian ocean . it stretcheth from cape comerin to the riuer cangierecor , three hundred miles long . in this prouince raigneth the king of calecut , who though he may not be compared to the princes aboue spoken of , for number and power , yet for pleasant and plentifull situation , he may be saide farre to surpasse them . for the region is so cut ( as it were ) into many parcels , sometime by creekes of the sea , sometime by riuers , and sometime by lakes , that nature ( as it should seeme ) would haue it diuided into seuerall prouinces , as trauancor , colan , cochin , crangonor , calecute , tano & canonor . seuen yeeres agone pereimal king of all malabar ruled these prouinces , who after he became a mahumetan , and resolued to trauell to meca , there to spend the remnant of his daies , diuided the land into many principalities , but with this prouiso , that all soueraigne authoritie should rest in the king of calecute , with the title of samori , which signifieth emperor , or as some write , god on earth . although the reputation of this king be much ecclipsed by the portugals , partly by diuersion of traffike from his countries , and partly by astisting his rebels and vassals ( the kings of tauor and cochin ) and though his title of samori be little regarded , yet maintaineth hee his woonted maiestie in very good sort amongst the barbarians . calecute is 25. leagues long : malabar in the broadest place exceedeth not ten . the citie of calecute ( from whence the prouince taketh his name ) is three miles long , situated vpon the sea side . it containeth but few houses , and those of little woorth , not aboue ten , fifteene , or twentie nobles rent by yeere , which is the common rent of all the housing of the east indies , if the arabians or portugals be not dealers therein . the inhabitants liue vpon rice , palmito , cattell and fish . their riches consist in ginger and pepper , which draweth yeerely a great masse of treasure into the hauens of this kingdome . the arabians were lords of this traffike for many ages , till the portugals setting light by the incredible dangers of a long nauigation , arriued there not aboue 100. yeeres since , and bartred their wares for pepper and other commodities of the land . and as the portugals enriched the townes of cochin , so did the arabians calecute and that kingdome . for this commoditie is of such consequence , that it not onely enricheth the prince with presents and customes , but in such sort so augmenteth the state of the merchants , that some of them are comparable to many dukes in europe and kings in afrike . in their wars in malabar they vse not the seruice of horse , not onely for that the climate breedeth none , ( for those that they haue are brought out of persia and arabia ) but for that the nature of the countrey is not fit for horsemanship . for as in sweuia the footemen vse no pikes , and the horsemen no launces for the thicknes of the woods , which maketh them vnseruiceable , so in malabar because of the streights , riuers of the sea , and marishes , they seldome vse horses , so that all their forces consist in shipping and footemen . it is strange to see how readie the soldier of this countrie is at his weapon ; they are all gentlemen , and termed naires . at seuen yeeres of age they are put to schoole to learne the vse of their weapons , where to make them nimble and actiue , their sinewes and ioints are stretched by skilfull fellowes , and annointed with the oile of sesamus : by this annointing they become so light and nimble , that they will winde and turne their bodies , as if they had no bones , casting them forward , backward , heigh and low , euen to the astonishment of the beholders . their continual delight is in their weapon , perswading themselues that no nation goeth beyond them in skill and dexteritie . euery one inureth himselfe to that weapon , whereto he findeth his bodie most agreeable . their ancient weapons were the iauelin , the bowe , and the sword ; but after the comming of the portugals , they learned so exactly the mixing of mettals , the casting of great ordinance , and the practise thereof , that ( some say ) their artillerie and powder surpasseth ours . they go to the warre all naked saue their priuities , neither vse they head peeces , which is the reason that in fights and skirmishes they shew exceeding agilitie , charging & retiring more like falcons then soldiers . when a man would take them to be farre off , he shall see them houering round about him in a trice , so that it is as dangerous to follow them flying , as to deale with them fighting . they are swift as leopards , and their flight as much to be feared , as their charge . if they come to handstrokes ( which they will not do but vpon necessitie or aduantage ) they vse altogither to strike with the point . they binde copper or siluer shingles to the hilts of their swords , the sound whereof in steede of drums and trumpets encourageth them to the encountre . they wil lie so close vnder their bucklers , that you shall not see any part of their bodies lie open to danger . there are one kind of nairs ( called amochi ) which accurse themselues , their kinred and posteritie with most bitter execrations ; if they leaue iniuries done to their societie vnreuenged . if their king happen to be slaine , so much the more furious runne they through fire , water , and assured destruction to reuenge his death . and therefore the kings of india suppose their estates weake or strong , as they perceiue the numbers of those amochi to be few or many . by the lawe of the countrie they may not marrie , but they are all allowed women in common . they maintaine those women very well according to their birth and degrees . they must be all gentlewomen , for the nairs may not take any countriewomen , yea so great is their disdaine and pride , that without ill vsage they will not indure any of the common people to come neere them . in their iournies they send their seruants before to the innes and villages to declare their masters approch : then must all trauellers depart and giue roome . if it be thought in turkie , that by licentious libertie in time of peace , the ianizars become more hardie and couragious in warre : what may we deeme of these nairs , who will not indune a man of meane calling to looke them in the face ? they inhabite no townes , but dwell in houses made of earth inuironed with hedges and woods , and their waies as intricate as into a laborinth . of what force this kingdome is , may be gathered by the armie of sixtie thousand soldiers , and two hundred vessels of warre , which he leuied 1503. against edward pacheco the king of portugals captaine , taking part at that time with the king of cochin : this warre lasted almost fiue monethes . in the yeere 1529. with an armie of one hundred thousand he belegered the fortresse which the portugals built in calecute , vnder the keeping of iohn lima. in this siege he spent a whole winter , wherein although the portugals behaued themselues very valiantly ; yet weighing the kings forces and their owne possibilities , they thought it best to destroy it with their owne hands . in the yeere 1561. he besieged ciale with 90. thousand men , and tooke it by composition . he hath more then once giuen an instance of his power at sea . he is lord of many hauens , whereunto great numbers of shipping doe resort , and in that regarde , cannot choose but be well furnished with a great nauie . but in goodnes of shipping and martiall discipline we must needes confesse the sea-forces of all the indian princes to be far inferior to those of the portugals ; whose dominion ( both at sea and land ) nothing hath so much augmented , as their defensiue warfare . to speake truth , it seldome falleth out , but the naked man feareth the sword , and the armed more incouraged thereby , bearing himselfe bolder vpon his skill then his strength , and preuailing more by temporizing , then in ioyning foote to foote by rash fighting , whereas the barbarians putting more confidence in their numbers then goodnes , haue alwaies wanted that vertue , which should make armies dreadfull and fortunate , and that is good order and warlike discipline . the kingdome of persia. persia , and the persian glorie , hath beene often obscured , first by the arabians ( who to bury in obliuion the memorie of their former reputation , enacted by law that they should no more be called persians , but saracens : ) then by the tartarians lead by chingis , and lastly by tamerlan and his followers . but not long before our times by the vertue of ismaell sophy ( of whose originall and fortunes for the better vnderstanding of the state and historie of persia , it shall not be amisse to deuile ) the kingdome regained his ancient splendor . when mahumet , after the decease of his first wife ( who adopted him her heire ) by her riches and his new superstition had gotten him a name amongst the vulgar , he married for his second wife aissa the daughter of one abubacer , a great rich man , and of high authoritie in those quarters . by this mans countenance , and the friendship of omar and ottomar his kinsemen , he gathered together a great rable of arabians , and partly by faire meanes , & partly by colour of religion , he became master of many of the bordering townes : and about the same time gaue fatime his daughter by his first wife to haly his cosin ; and to him after his death , all his earthly substance , making him the head of his superstition , with the title of caliph . abubacer , by whose countenance mahumet became gracious , taking in ill part the preferment of the yoong man , by the aide of omar and ottomar ( whose desires were in hope of succession by reason of the old mans yeeres , and for kinreds sake , rather to see abubacer then haly caliph ) began openly to resist haly , and to spoile him and his wife fatime of all the substance which was left him by his vncle . abubacer died : omar and ottomar succeeded . omar was slaine by a slaue ; ottomar in a priuate quarrell : after whose decease haly succeeded . against him rose mauie , who accusing him as accessarie to the death of ottomar his lord , caused him to be slaine neere cafe , a citie within two daies iourney of babylon , where likewise he lieth buried . the place is called to this day massadall , that is , the house of haly. after his decease the inhabitants of cafe proclaimed ossan the sonne of fatima caliph , but him likewise mauie resisted , and slew by poyson . then was he absolute caliph , and after him his sonne iazit . ossan left behinde him twelue sonnes , one whereof was called mahumet mahadin . the moores say he neuer died , but that he shall returne againe to conuert the world , and therefore they keepe alwaies readie in the mosque of massadella , a horse gallantly furnished , where in their fopperie they affirme that this worlds conuersion shall there first begin . vpon these differences of haly , abubacer , omar , ottoma● , & mauie , haue mightie factions of armes and opinions arisen amongst the sectaries of this new superstition . the persians labour to prooue haly true caliph by the last will of mahumet ; the arabians stand as stifly to the three first . when from the yeere of our lord god 1258. to the yeere 1363. the moores had no caliph ( mustapha mumbala the last caliph being slaine by allacu king of the tartarians ) a certaine noble man in persia named sophi , lord of ardeuell , deriuing his pedegree from haly by musa ceresin his nephew , and one of the twelue sonnes of ossan , in memorie of whom he altered the forme of the turbant , by his vertue and valour woon great credit and estimation to his new faction . to him succeded adar the sonne of guine , to whom assembeg a powerfull prince in siria and persia gaue his daughter in marriage . but his sonne iacobbeg fearing the power and estimation of adar , caused him to be slaine , and deliuered his two sonnes ismael and soliman to his captaine amanzar , willing him to cast them in prison in zaliga a castle in the mountaines : but amanzar detesting the tyrannie of his lord , conueyed the children to his owne house , and brought them vp like gentlemen amongst his owne sonnes ; and falling sicke of a deadly disease , forecasting what might happen after his disease , gaue them horses and money , willing them to flie , and to betake themselues to their mothers house and tuition . ismael the eldest was no sooner returned to his mothers place , but he vowed reuenge for his fathers death , and after some fortunate expeditions , tooke vpon him the cause and protection of the followers of haly , from whom he deriued his pedegree . he made the turbant higher , and sent ambassadors to all the orientall mahumetans , to exhort them to vnitie in religion and cognisances . by these meanes and fortune of his armes , he became a terror to the east , and slew ossan then vsurper of the persian estate with his ten brethren , except marabeg , who saued himselfe and fled to soliman the first , emperor of turkes , imploring his aide . this ismael at the lake vay ouerthrew with a great slaughter the prince of the tartars zagatai , and in heat of this victorie had passed the riuer abbian , if his astrologian in whom he greatly trusted , had not foretold him , that his passage should be prosperous , but his returne infortunate . he left to his sonnes a most spatious empire , bounded with the caspian sea , the persian gulfe , the lake sioc , the riuers tygris and oxus , and the kingdome of cambaia ; which prouinces containe more then twentie degrees from east to west , & 18. from north to south . and although these kingdomes lying within these bounds held not immediatly of the crowne of persia , yet all acknowledged the persian for their soueraigne prince , that is , the kings of macran , patam , guadel and ormus . the georgians did follow their fortunes ; so did media , now called siruan , dierbechia , once mesopotamia , cusistan the habitation of the susiani , farsistan the countrey of the persians , straua once hircania , ●athia at this day called arac , caramania now chermain , sigestan , carassa , sablestan , and istigiu , whose ancient names were drangia , bactria , parapamisus , margiana . of these regions , those which lie neerest to the persian sea are most plentifull , by reason of the riuers euerie where dispersed through the whole land . amongst these riuers the most famous is bindimir , to whose waters the inhabitants are much beholding , conuaying it by trenches and other inuentions into their grounds , to their great ease and commoditie . the prouinces lying vpon the caspian sea , for their riuers and temperature doe likewise participate of the said fertilitie , especially all those quarters which are watered with the riuer puly-malon , falling into the lake burgian : the residue of the prouince is drie , by reason whereof townes & villages are seldome seene in those places , vnlesse it be by some spring or waters side . the most ample and magnificent cities of persia are istigias the chiefe se at of bactria , thought to be one of the pleasantest cities of the east . indion , the chiefe seat of margiana , situated in so fat and fertill a territorie , that therefore antiochus soter caused it to be walled about . candahar , the chiefe seate of paramisus , famous for the traffike of india and cathaio , whither the merchants of those countries do resort . eri the chiefe citie of aria , so abounding with roses , that thereof it should seeme to take the name . barbarus saith , it is of thirteene miles compasse . ispaa the chiefe seat of parthia , so spatious that for the circuite thereof , the persians hiperbolically terme it , the halfe world . chirmain is the chiefe seat of caramania , renowmed for the excellent cloth of gold and siluer wrought therein . eor is a noble citie , and so is custra of susiana . but all these for beautie and magnificence may bow and bend the knee to siras seated vpon the riuer bindimire . it was once the chiefe seat of persia , and as some thinke called persepolis . alexander the great burnt it to the ground at the intreatie of his concubine ; but afterward being ashamed of so vile an action , caused it to be reedefied againe . it is not at this time so great as in times past ; yet it is thought to be one of the greatest cities of all the orient , with his suburbs contayning twentie miles in compasse . it is a prouerbe amongst the persians , quando suars erat siras , tunc cairus erat eius pagus : yet they account it not verie ancient , neither are they of their opinions who will haue it the head of persia. tauris and casbin are most famous cities ; and besides their magnificence may glorie that in them the kings of persia keepe their courts . the forme of gouernment amongst this nation is not like the gouernment of any other mahumetan people ; neither is there to be seene the like policie in any place through the whole east , as amgōst the persians . al the rest hate nobility , & depending vpon the faith and seruice of slaues do either murder their brethren , or put out their eies . but amongst these people , nobilitie is honored : the king entreateth his brethren kindly and magnificently , and they allow in their dominions many noble , rich , and mightie barons , of which sort there is not one to be found through the whole ottoman dominions . they likewise grace gentilitie , and highly esteeme their seruice on horsebacke : they delight in musicke and learning , they studie poesie , and therein become excellent . they giue their minds to astrologie : all which good parts the turks do vtterly reiect and despise . merchandize and mechanicall trades are fauoured in persia , and in all kinde of ciuilitie and curtesie excell the turkish . the security of this state consisteth rather in prowesse then numbers ; they maintaine three sorts of soldiers : one sort the king keepeth in continuall pay , and alwaies about his owne person . the second is the timarotes , ( for this kingdome likewise as doth the turke , in lieu of wages allotteth certaine quantities of land to great numbers of horsemen . ) the third are auxiliaries , which serue for pay , and those are onely georgians and tartarians . to speake of the two first ( the essentiall sinewes of this king and kingdome ) they are all horsemen . for where princes relie onely vpon the valour of the gentrie , there is little regard had of the footemans seruice ; the like reason may be giuen for their want of shipping . for although on the one side lieth the caspian , and on another the persian gulfs , yet to this day were they neuer owners of any warlike shipping . if they chance to saile vpon the caspian ( a sea eight hundred miles long , and sixe hundred broad ) they dare not venter into the maine , but houering by the shore , timerously saile from one place to another . of the persian sea the portugals are lords . it aboundeth in mettall of excellent fine temper , especially in the prouince of cazan . they haue not the vse of artillerie , neither the arte of defending , besieging , assaulting , mining , or intrenching of fortresses , and all because they want the vse of footemen , to whom these peeces of seruice do properly belong , as it doth to horsemen to fight in plaine and open field . besides these wants , they are infested with two other more greeuous mischiefes : and those are ciuill dissentions arising of the greatnes and disloialtie of their sultans , with the length of iourneies , and the scarcitie of nauigable riuers . those riuers which they haue are not frequented at all , or at leastwise so little , that small ease ariseth thereby . they fal all into the caspian or persian seas . the inland regions are sandie , and vtterly destitute of water . how can then the forces of that land make any commodious or speedie rendeuous when halfe the land is drie and barren ? in so waste a tract not one riuer seruing for nauigable transportation , as doth the loir in france , poo in italy , vistula in poland , sheild in flanders , and such like in other kingdomes . there are also many deserts and many mountaines disioyning the prouinces farre in sunder : heere in it resembleth spaine , where for want of nauigable riuers ( except towards the sea coast ) traffike is little vsed , and mountaines and prouinces lie vnmanured for scarcitie of moisture . but nature vnwilling that humane life should want any easement , hath so prouided for mutuall commerce in these sandie and barren places , that through the labour of camels the want of nauigation is richly recompenced throughout persia , and the bordering countries . these beasts carrie woonderous burdens , and will longer continue then either horse or mule . they will trauell laden with one thousand pound weight , and will so continue fortie daies and vpward . in sterill and deepe sandie countries ( such as are lybia , arabia , and persia ) they drinke but once euery fift day , and if extremitie inforce , they will indure the want of water ten or twelue . when their burdens are off , a little grasse , thornes , or leaues of trees will suffice them . there is no liuing thing lesse changeable and more laborious , certainly ordained of nature a fit creature for those sandie and deepe places of asia and africke , wherein euen man himselfe feeleth the want of foode and water . of these , there are three sorts : vpon the lesser men trauell ; the middle sort haue bunches on their backs fit for carrying of merchandise : the greater and stronger are those which carry burdens of one thousand pound weight . what numbers of horsemen this king is able to leuie , was manifested in the warres betweene selim the first and ismael : betweene ismael and soleman , and betweene codabanda and amurath . not one of them brought aboue thirtie thousand horse into the field , but so thoroughly furnished , that they had little cause to feare greater numbers . the richer and abler sort arme themselues after the manner of our men at armes , the residue , being better then the thirde part of their caualrie content themselues with a skull , a iacke and cemiter . they vse the launce and the bow indifferently . touching their riches , the common opinion is , that in the daies of king tamas , the yeerely reuenues amounted to fower or fiue millions of gold , who by a sudden doubling of the value of his coine raised it to eight , and accordingly made paiment to his souldans and soldiers . but in these daies by the conquest of the great turke they are much diminished , and it is thought that they amount to little more then two millions : but the feodarie landes , townes and villages ( which are very many ) supply a great part of the pay due to the companies of the horsemen aboue mentioned . towards the east bordereth the mogor , vpon the north the zagatai . towards the west the turke possesseth a large frontire : vpon the south lieth ormus , and therein the portugals . with the mogors he is little troubled : for as spaine & france by reason of the narrow streights & difficult passages ouer the mountaines , cannot easily conuey necessaries ( the life of an armie ) to infest one another : so towards the frontiers of india and cambaia , prouinces belonging to the mogors , high mountaines & vast deserts keepe good peace betweene these two princes , yet infest they one another on the borders of cabul & sablestan , of which certaine lords of the mogors haue gotten the dominion . he commeth not neere the borders of the great cham , betweene whom certaine petie princes and impassible deserts doe oppose themselues . it seemeth that towards the zagatai he standeth content with those bounds which the riuer oxus hath laid out : for he neuer durst passe it ; & when zaba king of the zagatai had passed it , he was ouerthrowne with a great slaughter by ismael : so againe was cyrus by tomiris , who slew him and all his host . the turke is a borderer all alongst the westerne coast of this whole empire , euen from the caspian sea to the gulfe of saura , a tract almost of 15. degrees . he hath no enemie like dangerous to this prince , more to be feared , or of greater power , at whose hands in all conflicts ( for the most part ) he hath reaped nothing but losse and dishonor . mahumet the second ouerthrew vssanchan , and tooke from dauid ( his vassall and confederate ) the empire of trapezond . selim the first ouerthrew ismael in campania , and tooke from him caramit , orfa , merdis and all the territorie which they call alech . soliman put tamas to flight , and tooke from him babylon and all mesopotamia . in our daies amarath woon whatsoeuer lieth betweene derbent and tauris , wherein is comprehended georgia and siruan , and by building of fortresses in testis , sumachia , and ere 's , assured the passages of chars , tomanis and lori . he is lord of all that lieth betweene erzirum and orontes , a riuer three daies iournie beyond tauris . in this citie he caused a citadell to be built , not minding to leaue it , as did selim and soleman , but thereby as with a curbe to bridle and keepe it for euer . in this warre which lasted from the yeere 1591. to 1597. the turks altered their forme of warfare . for whereas they were woont to lay their whole hopes vpon their numbers , the valor of their horsmen and footemen , their store of artillerie , and warlike furniture , scorning to be cooped vp in castles and fortresses , for the most part burning whatsoeuer they became lords of , and little caring to keepe what they had conquered ( supposing it no good policie to strengthen townes by weakning their companies ) in these wars , to auoide the inconueniences whereinto selim and soliman were plunged , were glad to build strong places vpon commodious passages , and citadels in the chiefest townes , furnishing them with good garrisons and great store of artillerie . this warre cost them very deere : for by surprises , by famine , and extremities of weather , infinite thousands perished , yet alwaies to the losse of the persian or his confederates . in the field the persian is farre inferior to the turke in numbers and goodnes of footemen , in ordinance , in all sorts of warlike furniture , and ( the chiefest stay of a state ) in obedience of subiects . notwithstanding if selim , soliman or amarath had not been allured either by rebellion or intestine discords , they durst not haue medled with this warre . selim was called in to the aide of marabeg the sonne of ossan , a most mightie prince in persia. soliman came in aide of elcaso the brother of tamas , hateful to his soueraigne for his ambition and aspiring humor , and in the end abused the credit and good will of the people towards elcaso , to the furtherance of his owne desseignes . amurath neuer tooke weapon in hand against this people , before he vnderstood by the letters of mustafa bassa of van , that all persia was in vprore about the election of a newe prince , thereby certifying him that some had chosen ismael , some ayner ( both sonnes of tamas ) and that periacocona slaying her owne brother ismael , and betraying ayner , had procured the kingdome to mahumet codobanda . after this mischiefe fell those fatalliars betweene codabanda and his sonne , and betweene the turcoman nation ( a mighty familie in persia ) and the king : a faction no lesse disastrous to the state of persia then the warre of turkie . against the portugals of ormus , for want of sea forces he stirreth not , and againe for want of land forces the portugals are not able to molest his vpland countries . tamas being counselled to make a voiage against ormus , asked what commodities the iland brought forth , whether corne , cattell , fruit , or what other good thing ? when it was answered that the soile was vtterly barren and destitute of all prouision , but excellent well seated for traffike and nauigation : scoffing at the motion , replied , that of this kinde of reuenue he had released vnto his people aboue ninetie thousand tomana . the kingdome of iapan . iapan may well be called a politike bodie compacted of many & sundry ilands of diuers different formes & circuits , which as they are diuided from the rest of the cōtinent , so are they inhabited by a people much differing in manners & customes from the residue of the orient . they stand round and close togither like the maldinae in the indian sea , and the hebrides and orchades in the north ocean . they are in number 66. diuided into three partialities . the first conteineth nine , the second fower , the third fiftie three . amongst these , fiue are renowmed , but especially one for the famous citie of macao . and it is most commonly seene that they who haue the soueraigntie of those fiue , are lords of all the rest . it is distant from new spaine 150. leagues ; from china 60. the soile is to be accounted rather barren then fertile . the inhabitants are of a very readie wit , and marueilous patient in aduersitie . their new borne children they immediately wash in the riuers , and assoone as they are weaned they take them from their mothers , and bring them vp in labours of hunting and such like exercises . they go bare headed men and women , as well in foule weather as faire . they are very ambitious and desirous of honor . pouertie is no disgrace to the gentrie of their bloud . they will not suffer the least wrong to passe vnreuenged : they salute one another with many curtesies : they are verie staied and of a setled resolution . they are very iealous to shew themselues fearefull or base minded in word or deed : they will make no man priuie of their losses or misfortunes : they haue the like beasts both tame and wilde as we haue , but they will scarcely eate any thing saue herbes , fish , barly or rice , and if they do , it is the flesh of wilde beasts taken by hunting . of these graines they make their wines , and water mixt with a certaine precious powder which they vse , they account a daintie beuerage : they call it chia . their buildings for the most part are of timber , partly because the vpland places are destitute of quarries , but abounding with cedars of admirable height and thicknes fit for building , and partly because the countrey is very subiect to earthquakes . in times past all iapan obeied one prince , shewing him great obedience and subiection , and this gouernment indured with no lesse state and maiestie , at the least 1600. yeeres , vntill about 50. yeeres sithence by the rebellion of two of his chiefest lieutenants , the whole kingdome was distracted , each of them holding by armes whatsoeuer he atchiued by vsurpation . by their example others becomming as ambitious , seised vpon the rest of the kingdome , some on one part , some on an other ; leauing nothing but the bare name of dairi , which signifieth the lord of all iapan , with the title of iucata , viz. king , to their rightfull soueraigne . yea those princes which were lords of the territories about meaco , would hardly allow him whereof to find him victuall & apparel , so that now he resembleth the shadow rather then the king of the ancient & magnificent monarchie of iapan . sithence those times whosoeuer laieth holdfast on the dominion of the coquinai ( those are the fiue kingdomes bordering vpon meaco ) in steed of dairi , calleth himselfe emperour and king of iapan , and lord of tenza . nabunanga was one of them in our daies , and after him fassia in power and maiestie excelling all his predecessors . nabunanga was lord of 36. prouinces , fassih at the least of fiftie . their forme of gouernment is nothing like the policie of europe . the strength of the prince consisteth not in ordinarie reuenues and loue of the people , but in rigor and the princes pleasure . assoone as the prince hath conquered one or more kingdomes , he shareth them wholy amongst his friends and followers , who binde themselues by oath faithfully to serue him with a limited company of men as well in peace as warre . they againe to make their followers trustie and readie for all seruices , reseruing some small matter for the sustentation of themselues and their families , diuide to euerie man a portion of the former diuision ; so that all the wealth of iapan priuate and publike is in the hand of a few men , and those few depending vpon the pleasure of one , that is , the lord of tenza . he as him listeth , giueth , taketh , disgraceth , honoreth , inricheth , and impouerisheth . when he casleth any gouernor of his prouince , all the leaders and soldiers of the said prouince are changed , and none left there but artificers and husbandmen . this gouernment draweth with it continuall dislike and innouations . for dairy ( though he hath neither power nor gouernment ) yet being in fauour & estimation of the people , ceaseth not to insinuate into their heads , that this lord of tenza and the other tyrants , are vsurpers of other mens right , destroyers of the monarchie , and enimies to the state and libertie of iapan . which perswasions take so deepe roote in the harts of the people , and so extenuate the reputation of these vsurpers , that vnder colour of suppression of others , they often take armes vpon hope to raise their owne greatnes : so that by this daily chaunge of gouernors , the people not knowing who are their right and natural lords , know not whom to loue and obey : and againe , their lords being as vncertaine of their continuance , care not for the people , nor for the welfare of their own vassals , no more then if they were meer strāgers : but alwaies aspiring by the same facility wherby they gained one , to conquer a better , after the manner of ga●●esters , continually hazard one , vpon hope of winning another : in this sort sometime one alone , sometime many together vexing the ilands with perpetuall warfar . fassiha to assure his estate , and disable the great ones from enterprising against him , doth often transport them from one prouince to another , causing them to forgoe their ancient inheritances , and to lead their liues amongst vnknowen neighbours : neither in those places will he suffer them to inioy liuings vnited , but far diuided in pieces and parcels . for all this , they are neuer at peace amongst themselues , by reason that the frontires of their pettie iurisdictions neighbour so neere one vpon another . in these alterations fassiha constrayned as well the loosers as the winners to doe him homage and obeysance , and once a yeere to pay him a rich tribute , drawing to his owne coffers the greatest part of the wealth of iapan by these tyrannies . he keepeth his owne people busied in building of admirable palaces , sumptuous temples , townes & fortresses , the like whereof are no where to be seene . in these workes he hath more then an hundred thousand workmen labouring in their seuerall occupations at their owne charges . amongst the rest he is now in building a temple , for whose iron workes all the stuffe in iapan will hardly suffice , and therefore he hath giuen commandement to all his people and merchants to bring all their iron and armor into one place . besides the oath of fealtie whereby the residue of the kings and princes are bound to aide and assist him in peace and warre , he receiueth yeerely two millions arising of the profits of rice reserued vpon his owne possessions . he was determined after the finishing of these fabriks , to attempt a iourney into china , and for that enterprise caused timber sufficient for the building of two thousand vessels for transportation to be felled . by these magnificent fabriks , this haughtie resolution , this large dominion and conquest of forreine kingdomes , he hopeth to attaine the reputation of immortalitie amongst his subiects , as diuers of his predecessors haue done before him . for amida , xaca , canis , and fotoque , were no other then lords of iapan , which either for their glorie in warre , or inuention of some good arts in peace , were accounted as gods amongst the iaponians , as in the old world hercules and b●cchus were amongst the graecians , and saturne and ianu● amongst the italians . of these demi-gods they report as many strange and fabulous inuentions , as the graecians and italians did of theirs . but fassiha vnderstanding by the preaching of the iesuits , that there can be no god but one , who created the heauen and earth of nothing , and all other deities to be foolish and detestable , determined to banish them all , and to weed vp that good vine which began to take deepe roote in those prouinces . surely this may stand for a memorable example of the pride and blindenesse of mans hart . the romane emperors opposed their forces against christian religion , onely to maintaine and vphold the worship of their idols , condemned for vaine and diuelish by the law of christianitie : but this man raiseth persecution against true religion , to arrogate to himselfe the name of god , an imagination ( as i said before ) full of extreme ambition and madnes . but in the midst of these proud and vnreasonable cogitations , god raised vp against him a new enimie from the easterne parts of iapan , who as we vnderstand by aduisoes of the last yeere , is likely to giue him his hands and head full of busines . the xeriffe . amongst all the potentates of afrike , i do not thinke that there can any one be found to excell this prince , either in wealth or power . his dominion conteineth all that tract of mauritania , which the romans called tingitana , and stretcheth from the promontory bayador to tanger , and from the atlantike ocean to the riuer muluia . in which progresse is conteined the best portion of all afrike , the best inhabited , the pleasantest , the fruitefullest and most ciuill . herein amongst others are the famous kingdomes of fez and marocho , the one diuided into seuen prouinces , the other into eight . the countrey is diuided into plains and mountaines . the mountaines are inhabited with a strong and fierce people , rich in pastures & cattle , & possessing a great part of the lesse and bigger atlas . betweene the greater atlas and the ocean lieth the plaine countrey , and therein the roiall citie of marocho distant fowreteene miles from atlas , watered with many springs , brookes and riuers . in times past this citie conteined one hundred thousand housholds , and was the chiefest of afrike , but by little and little is decaied , and nowe lieth more waste then inhabited . in the kingdome of marocho besides others is tedsi , a towne of fiue thousand housholds , and tagaost of eight thousand . taradant giueth place to none for noblenes and traffike , though for largenes and circuit . it is situated betweene atlas and the ocean in a plaine sixteene miles long , and little lesse broad , abounding with sugar and all kinde of prouision . the good regard and continuall abode which mahumet xeriffe made in this place , did greatly augment and innoblish this towne . being past atlas you enter into most batle plaines , wherein how fruitefull the soile is of sugar , oliues , cattle and all good things , can hardly be spoken . the kingdome of fez likewise conteineth diuers prouinces , excellent well peopled . amongst them is alga , a territorie of fowrescore miles long , and sixtie broad : elabut is 100. miles long , and 60. broad . eriff is a prouince wholy mountanous : therein are said to be 23. branches of the mount atlas , inhabited for the most part with sauage and barbarous people : caret is drie and rockie , more like lybia then barbarie . now because the glory and maiestie of this kingdome consisteth especially in the citie of fez , i thinke it not amisse to describe the situation thereof . it is diuided into two parts , a little distant one from the other , the one called the old towne , the other the new . a little riuer likewise diuideth the old into two parts . the east part is called beleyda , containing fowre thousand housholds , the west part is commonly called old fez , and hath fowerscore thousand and vpward , standing not farre from the new fez , which likewise hath eight thousand . old fez standeth partly vpon hils , partly on plaines , and hath in it 50. mahumetan temples of admirable largenes . all of them haue their fountaines , and pillers of allablaster and iasper : besides these , there are sixe hundred of a lesse sort : amongst the which that which is commonly called carucen is most beautifull , builte in the hart of the citie , and containing halfe a mile in compasse : in bredth it containeth seuenteene arches , in length 120. borne vp by 2500. white marble pillars : vnder the chiefest arch where the tribunall is kept , hangeth a most huge lamp , incompassed with 110. lesse . vnder the other arches hang very great lampes , in each whereof burne 1500. lights . they say in fes that all these lampes were made of the bels which the arabians brought out of spaine , who not onely made praie of bels , but of columns , pillars , brasse , marble , and whatsoeuer was rich and curious , first erected by the romans , and afterwards by the gothes . there are in fez aboue 200. schooles of learning , 200. innes , and 400. water milles , euery one driuen with fower or fiue wheeles . there are also diuers colleges , amongst the which , that which is called madarac is accounted for one of the most finest peeces of workemanship throughout all barbarie . there are likewise 600. conduits , from whence almost euery house is serued with water . it were a long labour to describe their burse ( they call it alcacer , ) it is a place walled about , hauing twelue gates , and diuided into fifteene walkes , where the merchants meete and dispatch their busines vnder tents . their delightsome gardens , and pleasant parks with the rillets and waters running through them , i can hardly describe . for the most part the king keepeth his court at fes , wherein he hath a castle , palaces & houses adorned with rare workmanship , rich and beautifull euen to his harts desire . he hath a way vnder ground from the old towne to the new . for the greatnes and statelines thereof by the grant of former kings it enioieth this strange priuiledge : not indure any siege , vnlesse the citizens shall thinke their prince for strength and forces able and equall to cope with his enimie : if not , without reproch of treason or ignominie , they may yeeld their citie before their enimie approch within halfe a mile of the wals . this haue they done , that so goodly and so flourishing a citie should not suffer spoile vnder pretext of vnprofitable temporizing . it is of no lesse moment for situation , store of corne , oile , flaxe , and cattle , then for pleasantnes of territorie , and plentie of water . the wals are very strong , and defended with manie bulwarkes . the inhabitants are very thriftie , giuen to traffike , and especially to the making of clothes of wooll , silke and cotton . the kings eldest sonne is called the prince of mequiuez . though the kingdome haue no good hauens vpon the mediterranean sea , yet great store of englishmen and frenchmen resort to alarach , aguer , and other ports in the ocean , whereof some belong to the kingdome of fes , and other to the kingdome of marocho . they carrie thither armor and otherwares of europe , which they bartre for sugar and other commodities . now how the kingdomes of fes and marocho ( two seuerall principalities ) with their dependances became subiect to one crowne , i think it worthy relation , bicause a more strange and memorable accident hath not happened in our age . about the yeere of our lord 1508. a certaine alfaique borne in tigumedet in the prouince of dara , began to grow in reputation , a man of a reaching wit , and no lesse ambitious then learned in the mathematicks . his name was mahumet be●-amet , otherwise called xerif by his owne commandement . this man deriuing his peregree from mahumet , and imboldened by the ciuill wars of africke , and the differents of the states and common weales thereof ( wherein in those daies the portugals were of no small puissance ) began to dreame vpon the conquest of mauritania tingitan . which the better to effect , he first sent his three sonnes abdel , abuet & mahumet on pilgrimage to meca and medina , to visit and worship the fepulchre of their great prophet mahumet . the yoong men returned from this pilgrimage with such opinion and estimation of holines and religion ( if it be lawfull to vse these termes to so great impietie and fopperie ) that the inhabitants as they trauelled could not be kept from kissing their garments , and adoring them as saints . they againe as men rapt in deep contemplation , iournied through the prouinces sighing and sobbing , and crying with a high voice , ala , ala. they had no other sustenance but the almes of the people . their father receiued them with great ioy and contentment , and perceiuing the fauour and opinion of the people not to be like a woonder of nine daies , but to continue fresh and the same as at first , resolued to make vse thereof , and thereupon sent two of them abnet and mahumet to fes to the court . the king receiued them kindly , and made one of them president of the most famous college of amodorac , and the yoonger tutor of his children . in processe of time when they perceiued the king to grace them , and the people to fauour them , by the counsell of their father ( taking occasion of the greenances which the arabians and moores seruing vnder the portugall ensignes had done to the professors of their superstition ) they desired leaue of the king to display a banner against the christians , making him beleeue that they would easily draw the portugal-moors to their partie , and so secure the prouinces of sus , hea , ducala , and maroch . muley nazer the kings brother resisted this petition , alledging that if once vnder the shew of holines and colour of religion , they grewe to a head , it would not afterwards lie in his power to suppresse or range them vnder his obedience againe . for war makes men awlesse , victories insolent , popularitie ambitious and studious of innouation . but the king in whose hart their hypocriticall sanctimonie had taken a deepe impression , little regarding his brothers counsell , gaue them a banner , a drum , and twentie horsemen to accompanie them , with letters of credence to the princes of arabie and cities of barbarie . in these beginnings many things falling out to their honor and good liking , they began to make incursions into dencala and the countie of safi , ranging as farre as the promontorie aguer , then vnder the gouernment of the portugals : and perceiuing themselues to be fauoured , strong and well followed , vrged the people , ( who for the most part in those daies liued in libertie ) to aide those which fought for their law and religion against the christians , as likewise with willing mindes to giue god his tithes , which they obtained of the people of dara . then by little and little they incroched vpon the territorie of taradant ( of which they made their father gouernor ) and inuaded sus , hia , dencala , and the neighbouring places . they first seated themselues in tednest , and afterward in tesarot . in their next iournie but with the losse of their elder brother , they defeated lopes barriga , a famous warrior , and captaine generall of the portugall armie . by faire and flattering speeches they entred marocho , poisoned the king , and proclaimed amet xerif king of the countrie . after this happened the warre of the arabians of dencala and xarquia with the arabians of garbi , where while ech partie weakened other , and either promised to himselfe the fauour and assistance of the xerifs : they turning their armes vpon both factions , carried rich praies from both the nations . before this warre they sent vnto the king the fifth part of all their spoiles : but after this victory little regarding their soueraigne and aduancer , they sent him only sixe horses & sixe camels , & those very leane and ill shapen . which the king disdaining , sent to demand his fifths , as also the tribute which the kings of marocho were accustomed to pay him : which if they denied , he vowed reuenge with fire & sword . in the meane time the king died , and amet his sonne , once the pupil of the yoonger xerif , not onely allowed , but also confirmed amet in the kingdome of marocho , vpon condition that in some things he should acknowledge the king of fes to be his lord paramount . to this the xerifs ( whose power & estimation did daily increase ) when the day of paiment of the tribute came , willed the messenger to say vnto his master , that they were the lawfull successors of mahumet , and therefore that they were bound to pay tribute to no man , yea that they had more right to africk then he had : but if he would reckon them in the number of his friends , no doubt but it would turne to his good and honor ; but if he diuerted them from the warre of the christians , they would not leaue him so much as a hart to defend himselfe against them . the king taking this in ill part proclaimed warre against them , and besieged marocho , but for that time was constrained to dislodge . afterwards returning with 18. thousand horsmen and two thousand harquebushers to renew the siege ; as soone as he had passed the riuer , he was ouercome of the xeriffes , who led an armie of seuen thousand horse , and one thousand two hundred shot . in the pride of this victorie they exacted tribute of this prouince , & passing atlas they tooke the famous citie tafilet , and partly by loue , and partly by force compelled diuers people of numidia and the mountaines to beare the yoke of their subiection . in the yeere 1536. the yoonger xeriffe which called himselfe king of sus , gathering together a mightie armie with great store of artillerie , part whereof he tooke from the king of fes , and part wherof were cast by certain renegado frenchmen , made a iournie to cape aguer . this place is of great consequence , & possessed by the portugals , who built it and fortified it , first at the expences of lope● sequiera , and then at the charges of king emanuel , after he vnderstood of the commodious situation thereof . it was fiercely assaulted , and as valiantly defended , vntill the fire began to take hold vpon the bulwarke wherein their prouision of gunpowder was stowed , with which misfortune the companies appointed for the defence of that quarter , growing fearfull and faint-harted , gaue way for the xeriffe to enter the place , who made slaues of the greatest part of the defendants . after which victorie they subdued almost all atlas , the kingdome of marocho , and the arabians which were vassals to the crowne of portugall : the residue , as safi , azamor , arzil , and alcazar ( places situated vpon the sea coast of mauritania ) king iohn the third perceiuing the profit not to equalize the charge , voluntarily resigned . these prosperous beginnings brought foorth sower endings : for the brethren falling at discord and dissension , twice put their fortunes vpon the hazard of a battell , and twice the yoonger ouercame the elder , tooke him , and cast him in prison in the citie tafilet . then turned he his armes against the king of fes , tooke him prisoner , and restored him to his libertie : but taking him againe , for breach of couenants , he depriued him and his sonne of life and kingdome . by the valor of his sonnes he tooke the citie of tremissen . but sal-aries viceroy of algier being iealous of these good fortunes , gathered a puissant host , recouered tremissen , put the xeriffe to flight , tooke fes , and bestowed it with the territorie vpon the lord of velez , who afterward in a battell against the xeriffe lost both life and kingdome . at last in his iournie to taradant by the subornation of the viceroy of algier he was murdered in his tent by certaine turks , who with their captaine assen comming to taradant , rifled the kings treasures , but were all slaine ( except fiue ) by the inhabitants in their iournie homewards . this came to passe 1557. when muley abdala the xeriffes sonne was proclaimed king . let this suffice for the originall of the xeriffe : now let vs see how these risings were like the fortunes of ismael king of persia. both of them in small time conquered many prouinces : both grew great by the ruine of their neighbours : both suffered great crosses by the armes of the turkes , and to them lost part of their dominions . selim tooke from ismael caramit , and diuers other cities of mesopotamia , the viceroy of algier droue the xeriffe from tremissen and the adiacent territorie . selim woon tauris the chiefe seate of persia , and then gaue it ouer : sal-aries tooke fes the head citie of mauritania , and left it when he had done . this potentate is absolute lord of the bodies and goods of his subiects : whatsoeuer impositions he layeth vpon them , they dare not repine at . for tribute he taketh the tenth , and the first fruits of their fruits and cattell : yet is it most true that for first fruits he taketh not aboue one in twentie , and though it exceede that number , euen to one hundred , yet he neuer taketh aboue two . of euery acre of land he taketh a ducat and the fift part , and so much of euery houshold and of euery pole male and female aboue 15 yeeres of age , yeerely . if he want , he taketh a greater summe . to make the people more willing to pay what is imposed , he alwaies demandeth more by halfe then is to be paid , that so , by paying their due , they may think they are wel dealt withall , in seeming to be forgiuen somewhat of his full demand . the inhabitants of the mountaines , a people sauage and vnciuill , for the difficult accesse vnto them , he cannot inforce to pay tribute , but those that manure the plaines he constraineth to giue the tenth of their haruest . besides these reuenues , he taketh tole and custome of all kindes of merchandize in cities : inward , of a citizen two in the hundred ; of a stranger , ten . his rent of mils is a great matter : for vpon euery asse-load of graine grineded in fes , he taketh halfe a riall : in this towne there are aboue 400. mils . the church of carruven was indowed with fower score thousand ducats of yeerely reuenue , the colleges and monasteries of fes with much more ; all which now are escheated into the kings cofers . moreouer he is heire to all the iudges ( which they call alcaids ) and hath the bestowing of all their offices . when they die he seiseth vpon all their horses , armour , apparell , and all their other chattels . if the intestate leaue children behind him fit for the warre , he bestoweth their fathers annuitie vpon them ; if they be sons & yoong , he nurseth them till they come to ful yeeres ; if daughters , he maintaineth them , till they find husbands . to be fingring the wealth of the richer sort , he hath alwaies some office or lieutenantship with an annuitie to sell them : but commonly to preuent those sales , they will not be acknowne of their abilities , remoouing their abodes far from the court and the kings sight , which is the cause that the citie of fes is much fallen from the ancient splendour . he hath no castles or peeces well fortified , but only aguer , labace , and tetuan vpon the sea side . his chiefest confidence is in the valour of his soldiers , especially his horsemen , like the turke and persian . in this regarde he taketh no great care to furnish himselfe with ordinance , yet hath he great store therof in fes , marocho , taradant , & in the foresaid hauen townes taken from the portugals and others . as he seeth occasion he causeth new to be cast , for which seruice he can want no workmen out of europe . in marocho he hath an arsenall , wherein he la●eth vp monethly at least 46. quintals of gunpowder . here he causeth his harquebushes and bowes to be likewise made . in the yeere 1569. by fire which happened amongst the gunpowder-houses the greatest part of the citie was very much defaced . his soldierie is of diuers sorts : the first consisteth of 2700. horsemen , and 2000. harquebushers , part lying in garrison in fes , and part in morocho , where lieth the court . the second consisteth ( as a man may say ) of a royall troupe of sixe thousand horse , all gentlemen pensioners and of great reputation . these ride vpon braue horses with rich caparisons ; their armes and furniture shining with gold , siluer , stones and all things else , which for varietie of colours or rich deuises may delight the eie with gallant shew , or feede the humour of the curious beholder . to these seruitours besides their allowance of corne , prouender , butter and flesh for themselues , their wiues , children and seruants , they receiue yeerely from seuentie to one hundred ounces of siluer . the third ●ort are a kinde of timarots : for the xeriffe doth alot a certaine portion of land and tenants to his sonnes , brethren , and men of qualitie amongst the people of africke and arabia , for the maintenance of their degrees . those whom they terme alcaids , looke to the manuring of the fields , gather the rents of corne , rice , otes , oyle , butter , flesh , poultrie , and money , & distribute it monethly amongst the soldiers , to euery man according to his place . they likewise giue them wollen , linnen , & silke for their garments : armor , and horses for seruice . if their horses chance to be slaine , they giue them new : so did the romanes to those which serued vpon the horses of the state . the commanders of these troupes are verie carefull to see their soldiers in hart and full of life , excellent well armed , and competently attired . they receiue betweene fower and twentie and thirtie ounces of siluer yeerely . the fourth sort make the arabians , who commonly liue in tents , diuided by 120. vnder their seuerall leaders , to be alwaies readie vpon all occasions . they serue on horsebacke , but more like theeues and outlawes then soldiers . the fift sort is like the presse of the christian common-weales . these companies consist of citizens , villagois , and mountaine people . of these men the king maketh no great reckoning , neither doth he willingly arme them for feare of sedition and innouations , vnlesse it be to warre vpon the christians , wherein he cannot forbid them to serue . for vpon remembrance of the slaughter of the moores by the christians spoken of in their mahometicall legend , the more christians they slay , the easier they thinke shall be their passage to heauen . hereupon you shall see herds of men and women running to this warre , desiring there to die vpon hope of meriting saluation by the slaughter of our people . the same furie ( be it spoken to our shame ) inrageth the turkes : especially for the propagation of their heresies you shal see them more liker people running to the celebration of a marriage feast , then to a warre-iourney , hardly induring to stay the limited time of the rendeuou . they account them saints which die with their weapons in their hands ; and those most vnhappie which depart this world amongst the teares of their children , and the mournings of their wiues . by this it may sufficiently appeere what forces the xeriffe is able to bring to the field , but examples will make it more cleere . muley abdala belegred magazan with two hundred thousand men . he filled the ditch with a mount made of earth , and with his ordinance beat the wall leuell with the ground . but by the prowesse of the portugall , and furie of their mines , he was inforced to raise his siege and depart . it is certaine , he is not able to hold out any warre aboue three moneths , because the soldier liueth vpon his daily allowance of diet and apparell : and when such like prouisions cannot be conuayed to the place of necessitie , without great labour and hazard , it commeth oftentimes to passe , that for want of prouision the armie is constrayned to breake and retire . molucco king of fes , who defeated sebastian , had vnder his standard fortie thousand horsemen , and eight thousand hired footmen ; and with the arabians and other common soldiers it is thought that he is able to leuie seuentie thousand horse , and a far greater number of foote . prester iohn . although the soueraigntie of this prince be very magnificent , powerfull and spacious ; yet in truth doth it nothing answere the fame and report of the vulgar . horatius malaguccius in his discourse de amplitudine dominiorum huius temporis , maintaineth it to be larger then the empire of any other potentate , excepting that of the king of spaine . truly i must needs say , that in elder age , by the number of his titles , it may be coniectured , that his dominions did stretch farre and wide : for he did intitle himselfe king of goiam ( which is beyond nilus ) vangue and damur , places situated beyond the riuer zair , whereas at this daie he hardly commeth neere the bankes of either riuer : yea iohn baroz writeth , that the abessines by reason of the mountains betweene them & nilus , haue little or no knowledge of that riuer . in the center of his kingdome is barcena ; eastward it stretcheth from suaquen to the entrance of the red sea , a tract of 122 leagues , and yet betweene him and that sea lie infinite mountaines inhabited by moores , doing what outrages they list vpon that coast . westward vpon the banks of nilus lie a ridge of mountaines , inhabited by gentiles , who pay him tribute . towards the north his bounds are to be limited by an imaginarie line to be drawne from suaquen to the head of the iland meroe , conteining the space of 125. leagues ; then making a semicircle like a bowe , not too much bended towards the south , as farre as the kingdome of adea ( in whose mountaines the riuer which ptolomey calleth ratto , ariseth and falleth into the sea about melind ) for the space of 250. leagues , it stretcheth euen to the frontires of the gentiles : and from thence turning your imaginarie line , and abutting the end in the principalitie of adel ( whose chiefe citie is acar in the altitude of 9. degrees ) you shall finde this empire to containe in compasse 672. leagues . it is diuided into vast plaines , fertile hillocks , and mountaines though woondrous high , yet fit for tillage , and full of habitation . it is not very well stored with wheate , but it bringeth foorth barly , millet , a certaine other graine holesome & indurable , indian wheat , and all other kinde of pulse ( as well knowne as vnknowne to vs ) in very plentiful maner . they haue vines , but make no wines , vnles it be in the kings court , or the patriarchs palace , in steed whereof they brew a kind of sharp beuerage made of the fruit of tamerind . the orange , lemon and , cedar tree grow wilde . they make oile of a certain fruit which they cal zaua , it is of a good colour , but vnsauorie . the bees build their hiues euen in their houses , whereupon ariseth great quantitie of wax & hony . their garments are wouen of cotton wool . the richer sort are clothed in sheepe skins , the gentlemen in cases of lions , tygres , & linces . their riches consist in herds of oxen , goats , sheepe , mules , asses , and camels . of horses their breed is small , but they haue great store of goodly coursers brought them from arabia and egypt . they leaue the foles with the mares not aboue three daies , but put them vnto kine to sucke and reare vp . they haue hens , geese , wilde swine , harts , goats , and hares , but no conies , yea and such beasts , of which we haue not the like , as panthers , lions , elephants , and linces . to speak in a word : there is no countrey vnder heauen fitter for increase of plants and all liuing creatures , but none lesse helpt by arte or industrie ; for the inhabitants are idle and vnthrifty . they haue flaxe , but make no cloth , they haue sugar-canes and iron-mines , but know not the vse of either : and as for smiths , they feare them as f●ends . they haue riuers and streames , yet will they not take the paines in drouths to cut the banks to water their tillage or harten their grounds . few giue themselues to hunting or fishing , which causeth their fields to swarme with foule and venison , and their riuers with fish . but it seemeth that the true ground of their idlenes ariseth from their euill vsage : for the poore people perceiuing their land-lords to pole and pill them , neuer sowe more then they needs must . they keepe no method in their speeches , and to write a letter , many men ( & that many daies ) must lay their wits togither . at meales , they vse neither cloth , napkin , nor tables . they are vtterly ignorant in physicke . the gentlemen , burgers , and plebeians dwell apart , yet may any man rise to honour by vertue and prowesse . the first borne is heire to all , euen to the vtmost farthing . through the whole land there is not a towne conteining aboue 1600. housholds , and but few of that quantitie : for , for the most part they dwel dispersed in small villages . they haue no castle or fortification , in imitation of the spartans , maintaining that a countrey ought to be defended by the sword , and not by strength of earth or stone . they barter one thing for another , and to make reckonings euen , they supply the want with corne and salt . for pepper , frankinsence , myrrhe and salt they giue gold , and that by weight : as for siluer it is in little request . the greatest concourse of people is about the kings court , which neuer staieth long in one place , but is euer in progresse , sometime in one place , sometime in another , and euer in the open fields vnder tents and pauilions . it is said to containe ten miles in circuit . his gouernment is tyrannicall : for he intreateth his vassals , rich and poore more liker slaues then subiects ; which to do with the greater safety , he carrieth himselfe amongst them with a certaine holy and saintlike adoration : for at his bare name they bow their bodies , and touch the earth with their hands . they reuerence his pauilion , yea though he be absent . in old time they were accustomed to shew themselues vnto the people but once in three yeeres , but sithence they are growen lesse maiesticall , shewing themselues thrice in one yeere , to wit , on christmas day , on easter day , & holy rood day , yea and in these times panufius which now raigneth is become more gracious . when any matter of weight is committed in the princes name to any man be he neuer so great , he is to attend his commission starke naked to the middle , neither may be put on his garment without licence . being called to witnesse a matter in controuersie , they hardly speake truth , vniesse they sweare by the life of the king . he giueth and taketh to whom and from whom he pleaseth , neither dare he from whom he taketh , for his life shew a discontented countenance . he presenteth to holy orders , and disposeth at his good pleasure of the goods of the spiritualtie as well as of the laitie . in trauelling he rideth shadowed with red curtains , high and deep incopassing him round about . he weareth on his head a crowne , the one halfe wrought of gold , the other of siluer , & in his hand he beareth a siluer crucifix . he couereth his face with a piece of watchet taffata , which more or lesse he lifteth vp & putteth downe , according as he is minded to grace him with whom he talketh . sometime he sheweth his whole leg , lifting it without the hangings , then may no man approch but by degrees , and after many curtesies and diuers messages passing to and fro . no man hath vassals but the king , to whom once a yeere they do homage , and protest obedience as subiects to their liege soueraignes . he deriueth his pedegree from mileich the sonne of salomon and saba . in the raigne of candaces they receiued the christian faith : and about that time one gasparis became famous in aethiopia ; from whom after thirteene generations discended that iohn , who first tooke vpon him the ●●rname of sanctus , and left it an hereditarie title to his house and successors . this man hauing no issue of his body , about the time of constantine gaue the kingdome to the eldest sonne of his brother caius , and inuested the yoonger ( balihasar and melchior ) the one with the kingdome of fatigar , the other with the kingdome of goiam , and so diuided the blood-royall into three families , the gaspars , balthasars , and melchi●rs . to auoide sedition and innouation , he made a law that the sonnes , brethren , & neerest kinred of the emperor should be kept and shut vp in the castle of mount amara , and that they should neither succeed in the empire , nor enioy any honorable estate : for which cause the emperors euer since haue seldome married . he manureth his owne fields with his owne slaues and cattell : who , by reason they are suffered to marrie , and their issues remaine in the same estate of villenage , as doe their fathers ; they daily increase to infinite multitudes . euerie man that hath any inheritance , doth likewise pay tribute , some horses , some oxen , others gold , cotton wooll , or such like commodities . it is thought that he is lord of infinite treasures , and to haue storehouses full of cloth , iewels , and gold . in his letters to the king of portugall , vpon condition that he would wage warre against the infidels , he offered him a million of gold , and a million of men , with prouision according . he his reported to lay vp yeerely in the castle of amara three millions of gold . and true it is , that before the daies of king alexander he did hoord vp great store of gold in rude and vnwrought masses ; but no such quantitie , because they knew not how to refine it . his reuenues are of three sorts ; the first ariseth of his crowne land : the second of the taxes of his people , who pay euerie man by house somewhat , besides the tenth of all that is digged out of their mines : the third , he leuieth of the great lords , and they giue him the reuenue of any one of their townes ( which he will choose ) so he choose not that wherein themselues inhabite . and albeit the prince be verie rich , yet the people are idle and beggerly ; partly because they are intreated as slaues , which vsage taketh from any people that courage and alacririe of spirit , which should be in men professing armes and vndergoing dangers : and partly because in respect of that base bond of seruile fidelitie , wherewith they are ouerawed to his maiestie , they perceiue their hands are fast bound ; through feare whereof they haue no other weapon fit for seruice , then a rustie headpeece , a skull or curasse which the portugals haue brought thither : so that hauing neither fortresse to flie vnto , nor weapons to repulse wrongs , their villages and substance lie alwaies open to the pray and spoile of whosoeuer will inuade them . their offensiue weapons are certaine darts and arrowes without feathers . they obserue a lent of fiftie daies , which by reason of their true ( or rather superstitious ) abstinence doth bring their bodies so weake and low , that for many daies after they are not able to gather strength to mooue themselues from one place to another . at which time the moores watching the opportunitie , inuade their dominions , and carrie away men , women and wealth . francis aluarez writeth , that he is able to bring into the field an hundred thousand men : but experience hath manifested , that euen in his extremities his numbers were far inferior to that reckoning . he hath knights of the order dedicated to the protection of saint anthonie . euerie gentleman father of three sonnes ( excepting the eldest ) is bound to giue one to the seruice of the king : out of these are chosen twelue thousand horsemen for the guard of his person . their vow and oath is to defend the bounds of the empire , and to fight against the enemies of the christian faith . he is affronted with three puissant neighbours : the king of borno , the great turke , and the king of adel. the king of borno is lord of that countrey , which from guangula eastward stretcheth about fiue hundred miles betweene the deserts of seth and barca . in situation it is verie vneuen , sometime mountanous , and sometime plaine , the people indifferent ciuill , the countrey reasonably well inhabited , and in regard of plentie of victuall , somewhat resorted vnto by merchants . vpon the mountaines dwell neat-herds and shepherds , liuing for the most part vpon millet , leading a beastiall life , without religion , and accompaning with one an others wife in common . they know no other names , then such as are giuen them for some note or marke of their bodie , as blinde , lame , tall , bold , &c. this king is verie puissant in people , of whom he exacteth no other tribute then the tenths of the increase of their liuely hoods . for exercise and insteed of occupations they giue themselues to steale , to slay their neighbours , and to take them prisoners , and then to barter them for horses with the merchants of barbarie . he hath vnder him many kingdomes and nations , some white some blacke . he is an heauie enemie to the abessines , taking away their cattell , rifling their mines , and leading away the people in captiuitie . his horsemen ride after the spanish manner , armed with lances ( steeled at both ends ) darts and arrowes : but their inrodes resemble rather robberies and garboiles , then wars managed by valiant soldiers . the turke likewise on the east , and the king of adel on the southeast , do cruelly vexe him : for they haue curtald his large dominion and brought his prouinces into great miserie . in the yeere 1558. the turke harried the whole territorie of bernagasso ( but since expulsed ) and tooke from prester iohn whatsoeuer he was lord of vpon that sea coast , especially the hauen and citie of suaquen and erococo , in which place the mountaines betweene abex and the red sea , make a gate as it were for the traffique and carriages of the abessines and arabians . and sithence that , bernangasso was inforced to submit himselfe to the turkish commands , to buy his peace , and in name of a tribute to pay one thousand ounces of gold yeerely . the king of adel is his no lesse infestious enemie : he bordereth vpon the kingdome of fatigar : and his siegniorie stretcheth alongst the red sea as far as assum , salir , meth , barbora , pidar and zeila . many ships come from aden and cambaia to barbora with merchandise , which they trucke for flesh , honie , wax and vittail : these commodities are carried to aden ; gold , iuorie , and such wares are sent to cambaia : the greatest part of vittail , honie , wax , corne and fruits brought from zeila , are carried into aden and arabia , as likewise much cattell , especially sheepe hauing tailes of 25. pound weight , with heads and necks all blacke , the rest of their bodies all white . of these cattell there are some altogether white , with turning crooked tailes as long as a mans arme , and dewlaps like oxen . some of their kine haue hornes with many branches like our deere : othersome haue one horne in their forehead growing backward a span and halfe long . the chiefe citie of this kingdome is arar 38. leagues distant from zeila towardes the southeast . he professeth mahumetisme , and since his conuersion he hath intitled himselfe with the sirname of holy , a●owing continuall war against the abessine christians : and therefore he watcheth the time of the foresaid fast of fiftie daies , when he entreth their territories , burneth their villages , taketh prisoners , and then committeth a thousand other mischiefes . the abessine slaues doe often leaue their countrie , and take vpon them great iournies , putting themselues in the seruice of great lords , where many times by their industrie and good carriage they become high commaunders in arabia , cambaia , bengala and sumatra . for the mahumetan princes being all tyrants & lords of those countries , which they haue forced from the gentils , to secure their estates doe neuer trust their home-bred subiects , but wage strangers and slaues , vnto whose fidelitie they commit their persons and the managing of all the affaires of their kingdomes . and amongst all sorts of slaues , the abessine is in greatest esteeme for his faithfulnes and towardly disposition . the king of adel ouerlaieth egypt and arabia with these slaues , which hee changeth with the turks and princes of arabie , for armour , prouision of warre and soldiers . in the yeere of our lord 1500. claud king of abex perceiuing himselfe inferior to grad-ameda king of adel ( for he had vexed his land with 14. yeeres incursions ) forsaking the frontires , retired himselfe into the inward parts of his kingdome , intreating for aide of stephen gama viceroy of india vnder iohn the third king of portugall , who was then in the red sea with a warlike nauie . in compassion of his miseries and religion , he sent him fower hundred portugall-shot very well furnished vnder the conduct of christopher his brother . by their aide and vse of their artillerie he ouerthrew his enemies in two battels : but the king of adel obtaining of the gouernor of the citie of zebit one thousand harquebushers , and ten pieces of ordinance , in the third fight put the portugals to flight , and slew their captaine . afterwards when adel had sent away these turkes , king claudius set vpon him at vnawares by the riuer zeila and the mountaine sana with eight thousand footemen , fiue hundred abessine horsemen , and the remainder of the liuing portugals , one of whome gaue grada-amada his deaths wound . but in march 1509. claudius fighting with the moores of malaca , gaining the victorie , was slaine in the battel . adam his brother succeeded , against whom being a demi-mahumetan , the greatest part of the abessine nobilitie rebelled , and was ouerthrowne in the yeere 1562. by bernagasso . by this casualtie did the aethiopian affaires ebbe & flow , vntill in the raigne of alexander things began in some sort to returne to their ancient estate by the aide of the portugals , who furnished them with weapons both offensiue and defensiue , and by their examples incouraged them to be stout and couragious against their enemies . all that were liuing after the defeature of christopher gama , and all that euer went thither since that day to this , doe still remaine there , marrying wiues and begetting children . king alexander gaue them leaue to elect a iusticer , and to end all matters of controuersie amongst themselues , which maketh them so willing to stay and to teach them the vse of their weapons , the manner of our warfare , and how to fortifie passages and places of importance . sithence those times ( francis medices contracting friendship with the abessine ) diuers florentines , some for pleasure and some for profit , haue trauelled into those prouinces , wherein when they are once entred , the king intreateth them so faire , and giueth them so largely whereupon to liue , that they can hardly obtaine licence to returne againe into their owne countries . besides these , he hath other enemies , as the king of dancali , whose citie and hauen is vela vpon the red sea , and the moores of doba , a prouince diuided into foureteene lieutenantships . these people though they are accounted within the limits of the abessine empire , yet doe they often rebell , hauing a law amongst themselues , that no yoong man may contract matrimonie , vnlesse he can bring good proofe that he hath slaine twelue christians . monomotapa . in the residue of aethiop raigne diuers powerfull princes , as the kings of adel , monomugi , monomotapa , angola , and congo , of which as yet we vnderstand very little . but that the reader by the description of one , may coniecture of the rest , i wil speake somwhat of the state & policie of monomotapa , because it is mightier and more famous then the rest . this kingdome containeth all that iland which lieth between the riuers of cuama and spirito santo ( a territorie of 150. leagues in compasse ) and from spirito santo it stretcheth euen to the cape of good hope : for the vizeroys of that huge tract do acknowledge him for their soueraigne and supreme gouernour : of townes & villages they haue few , those cottages which they haue consist of timber and t●ach . one of their chiefe cities is called zimbas , and other benema taxa , the one fifteene miles , the other 21. distant from cefala towards the west . the soile aboundeth with corne & with cattle great and small , wandring by heards through the fields and woods . by the store of teeth from thence transported , we may coniecture that lesse then 5000. elephants cannot but die yeerely in this countrey . these beasts are here very great . there is no climate like it for plentie of gold : for by report there are 3000. mines , whereout gold is digged : gold is likewise found in the earth , in rocks and riuers . the mines of manica , boro , quiticui , and toroe ( which some men call butua ) are the richest . the people are meane of stature , black , & wel set . they conuerse with the king kneeling on their knees , and to sit in his presence , is the vse with them , as with vs to stand , and that is granted but to great lords . the assay of meate and drinke is not made before , but after the prince hath eate and drunke . heere are no prisons , because law passeth vpon the offendor in the very moment wherein the offence was committed . the offences most seuerely punished are witchcraft , theft , and adulterie . they pay no other tribute but certaine daies worke , and presents , without the which no man may appeere in the princes presence . the king beareth in his coat of armes a certaine little spade , with an iuorie handle , and two small darts . he keepeth for his faithfullest guard two hundred dogs . he keepeth the heires of his vassall princes to be secured of their parents loyaltie . one of the kings not long sithence was conuerted and baptized by gonsalua silua a iesuite , with the greater part of his courtiers , but afterwards ( by the perswasion of certaine moores in great credite about him ) he caused him to be slaine . sebastian king of portugall offended heereat , proclaimed warre against him vnder the leading of francisco barre●●o . this armie consisted of sixeteene hundred , the greatest part gentlemen , to whom the monomotapa fearing their armes and valour , offered honorable conditions , but the captaine ( whom no offer or indiffeferencie could satisfie ) was ouercome , and his armie vtterlie consumed , yet not by the enimie , but by sicknes and the infectious aire of the countrey . finis . faults escaped . page 17. lin . 30. for lanciers , read men at armes . page 20. lin . 38. for defensible , r. defeasible . page 24. lin . 22. for supremacie , r. soueraigntie . page 28. lin . penult . these words , without relation to the kingly authoritie , are superfluous . page 65. lin . 30. for it might , r. he might . page 65. lin . 34. for he is immediate , r. mediate , he is page . 127. lin . 24. for can be wanting , r. cannot be wanting . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a16482-e180 1597. a new description of the world, or, a compendious treatise of the empires, kingdoms, states, provinces, countries, islands, cities, and towns of europe, asia, africa, and america in their scituation, product, manufactures, and commodities, geographical and historical : with an account of the natures of the people in their habits, customes, warrs, religions, and policies &c. : as also of the rarities, wonders, and curiosities of fishes, beasts, birds, rivers, mountains, plants, &c., with several remarkable revolutions and delightful histories / faithfully collected from the best authors by s. clark. clarke, samuel, 1599-1682. 1689 approx. 455 kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from 121 1-bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : 2005-12 (eebo-tcp phase 1). a33342 wing c4554 estc r26606 09514846 ocm 09514846 43371 this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation 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(eebo-tcp ; phase 1, no. a33342) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set 43371) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, 1641-1700 ; 1327:25) a new description of the world, or, a compendious treatise of the empires, kingdoms, states, provinces, countries, islands, cities, and towns of europe, asia, africa, and america in their scituation, product, manufactures, and commodities, geographical and historical : with an account of the natures of the people in their habits, customes, warrs, religions, and policies &c. : as also of the rarities, wonders, and curiosities of fishes, beasts, birds, rivers, mountains, plants, &c., with several remarkable revolutions and delightful histories / faithfully collected from the best authors by s. clark. clarke, samuel, 1599-1682. [4], 232 p. printed for hen. rhodes, london : 1689. reproduction of original in the university of illinois (urbana-champaign campus). library. created by converting tcp files to tei p5 using tcp2tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the 25,363 texts created during phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 january 2015. anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p5, characters represented either as utf-8 unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng geography. 2005-02 tcp assigned for keying and markup 2005-02 aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images 2005-04 rachel losh sampled and proofread 2005-04 rachel losh text and markup reviewed and edited 2005-10 pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion behold how providence in all affairs , governs the world , earth , water , aire , fire , stars , men and the glorys of the mighty frame . depend upon the bright celestial dame. a new description of the world . or a compendious treatise of the empires , kingdoms , states , provinces , countries , islands , cities and towns of europe , asia , africa and america : in their scituation , product , manufactures , and commodities , geographical and historical . with an account of the natures of the people , in their habits , customes , warrs , religions and policies , &c. as also of the rarities , wonders and curiosities , of fishes , beasts , birds , rivers , mountains , plants , &c. with several remarkable revolutions , and delightful histories . faithfully collected from the best authors , by s. clark. london , printed for hen. rhodes next door to the swan tavern , near brides-lane , in fleet-street , ●689 . licensed , august the 11th . 1688. the introduction addressed to the reader . when the great and wise creator of the universe thought it in eternal wisdom convenient to build the mansion , all creatures now inhabited , he left nothing undone that might contribute to the glory and magnificence of so great a work ; and lest mankind , the top of the creation , should grow supine , and neglect the filling or peopling every part of so admirable a frame , he even compelled them to do it by confounding their language at babel , and thereby obliging them as they multiplied , to scatter over the face of the earth , that none of his wonderous works might remain obscure or unobserved to those for whose use and pleasure they were made ; by which means the people in sundry tribes , wandering from place to place , incroaching by degrees , as men began to multiply , planted themselves in the most advantagious countries , every one striving for the best : however , through wars , pestilence , inundations , and other strange revolutions and accidents , it is past all peradventure , that the bad as well as the good found possessors , as at this day . though , reader , i shall not trouble you in this place , with entring upon the original peopling of kingdoms and countries , ●s to particulars ; but let you know that my care has been to present you with geographical and historical description of the world , as it formerly stood , and at present stands : and though upon first thought it may seem strange , that in so small a volume so large a one can be contained , yet upon perusal you will find that nothing material is omitted , that can be required to render satisfaction upon this occasion : insomuch , that by well considering this work , a mean capacity may suddenly know how the worlds mighty fabrick is disposed , and soon become acquainted with every country under heaven , enough to render him capable not only of contemplating the goodness of the almighty , in his vvorks and creatures , but readily discoursing , even with the most knowing travellers , and without hazarding the danger of treacherous seas , winds , robbers , and a vvorld of inconveniencies that attend an expensive search into these affairs ; securely travel in imagination from pole to pole. for to be brief , there is no kingdom , province , or estate , that is wittingly left out of this history or treatise ; and as to what is most material , the account is considerably large ; wherefore recommending it to the benefit of my country men , i remain reader , your friend to serve , in what i may , s. clark. of europe , a brief description . evrope is the least of the four parts of the world , yet nothing inferiour in goodness to the rest , in the generosity of people , riches , worth and vertue , and exceeding them , if we consider the flourishing of the true religion ; and is said to take its name from europa the daughter of agenor king of phoenicia ; containing many flourishing kingdoms and provinces ; as will appear in the sequel . and is accounted in length 2800 miles ; in breadth 1200 ; bounded on the west , with the main ocean ; on the east , with the aegean sea , pontus euxinus , the fenns of maeotis , and the river tanais ; from which a right line conjecturally drawn from the bay of granvicus , it is dis-joined from asia ; in the north , it is bounded with the hyperborean sea ; and on the south , with the mediterranean , divided into continent , and islands , the continent intire , and the islands dispersed , in the greek , ionian , aegean , adriatick , mediterranean , cretan , and northern seas ; divided chiefly into france , spain , italy , the alps , germany , britain , belgium , denmark , swedeland , hungary , sclavonia , russia , poland , dacia , and greece ; with the dispersed islands . and in europe , beside the latin tongue , which is now rather scholastical , than national , there are other diversities of language , besides the italian and french , supposed to be corruptly derived from the latin ; and has been famous by twice giving laws to the world , during the flourishing of the greek and roman empires ; and at this day , though the least of the four parts , it excels , in what may be called solid good , the other three , &c. a queen she reigns , upheld by strictest fate , whilst th' other three , on her as hand-maids wait , with tribute glories , to enrich her state. a geographical and historical description of the kingdom of france , in its particular countries , provinces , cities , towns , &c. the flourishing kingdom of france , being the nearest part of the continent on which we border ; i have thought , for the observing the most regular method , to begin this history of the world , with the description of it , and its appendances . as for france , or so much as is generally understood of it ; it is bounded on the east with a branch of the alps , passing between dauphin and peimont . switzerland , savoy , some part of germany , and the neitherlands ; on the west with a branch of the pyreenian mountains , dividing spaine , and with the aquitane ocean ; on the north with the brittish seas , and part of belgium , and has on the south the rest of the pyreenian mountains , and the mediterranian sea , being in a manner square ; accounted in length , from calais to toulon 620 miles , reckoning 73 to a degree , and in breadth from the borders of lorain to brest , or from nice in peimont to bayon 492 miles , though of late the teretories have been much inlarged by the new conquests and acquisitions , but being to speak of them in the counrries where they properly have their scituation , i willingly here omit them . this country is called by the english france , by the italians francia , and so by the spaniards ; by the germans franckreich , by the turks alfrangua , and is the antient gallia of caesar and pliny ; lying excellently in compaction , between the most flourishing kingdoms and states of europe , scituate in the middle of the north temperate zone , between the middle parralells of the fifth clime , where the longest day is 13 hours ; and the middle parralell of the eighth clime , where they extend to 16 hours and a half : so that the air is very healthful , the country every where rich and fertile , and the people numerous ; as likewise the cities and towns , no less than 4000 being reckon'd of note , especially the greatest part of them , and was distinguished by four parts or divisions , when the romans ( not without great blood-shed ) brought it under their subjection , viz. 1. the narbonensis , or bracatta , containing dauphir , languedock , and a part of savoy . 2. aquitanica , taking its denomination from the city aquae augusta , and now known by that of d' aeque , containing gascoigne , limoisin , guinne , sanctogne , querci , peregort , bourbonnois and aurergne . 3. celtica , comprehending the provinces of normandy , britagne , anjou , tourain , maine , labeause , part of campagne , the isles of france , the dukedom of burgundy , and the county of lionoise . 4. belgica , containing picardy , a part of campaigne , burgundy , and the spanish netherlands : but in the time of honorius the emperor , the goths having over-run spain and italy , sent their forces to invade the norbonensian gauls , and having subdued them , called their country langue de goth , and from thence languedock ; nor did they stay here , but extended their conquests to the river ligeris , now the famous loire , founding themselves a kingdom , and making tholouse the regal residence ; nor was it long before the burgundiones , or burgundians , who had seated themselves in a part of the country of cassubii , and some of the teretories of brandenburg , joyning with the vandles and sweths , seized upon other parts of france , and grasped them with so hard a hand , that they in spight of opposition founded themselves a kingdom , called the kingdom of burgundy , but afterward reduced to a dukedom , and now in the hands or possession of the present french king. the kingdom of france is hereditary to the males , but not to the females , who are disabled by the salique law , and the heir or eldest son is stiled dauphin of france ; nor can the younger son of the king , by the law of apennages , have any part in the government with the elder : and this monarchy has been upheld ever since the year 420 , by the races of three kings , viz. the moravinian , carolinian and capitine , in a descent of 63 kings ; and here the christian religion is held to be first planted amongst the gaules by martialis , but amongst the french , or the latter setled people of the kingdom , by remigius , much latter : as for the arms royal , now boren by the kings , they are three flower de luces azure , in a field or , being a device taken by charles the sixth . this kingdom is composed of estates , and orders threefold , viz. the clergy , the nobility , and the commons ; and here are usually found 16 arch-bishops , and 106 bishops , not accounting those of arras , tournay , and perpignan ; 16 abbots heads of orders and congregations , and about 30000 curate-ships : and not accounting other governments , there are 12 peers chiefly appointed , or ancient peer-ships , besides others of new creation , and the order is that of the holy ghost . there are likewise 11 parliaments , 8 chambers of accounts , 22 publick places of receipt , or generalities of the kings revenues . the rivers of this kingdom are principally four , viz. the rhone , or rosne , the loire , the garonne , and the seine ; who receive into them many other rivers , and wash the walls of the chief cities and towns , &c. the first arising about 3 miles from the head of the river rhine , the second about the mountains of avergne , the third from the pyreenian hills , and the fourth has its spring in burgundy . the mountains of most note are those of avergne , part of the alps , and the pyreenes , on the latter of which nature strangely expresses her self , for that part of those mountains toward rich and wealthy france , are altogether barren , but that towards spain exceeding fruitful , as if it had divested it self to cloath the one , and robbed the other . in the year 1614 lovis the 13 convened the estates of the provinces under 12 heads , or great governments , four of which lying towards the north , border upon the seine , and the other rivers that augment its stream , viz. picardy , normandy , the isles of france and campaigne , adjoyning towards the middle to the loire , orlenoise , britagne , burgundy , and lionoise ; and the other four towards the south , near the garonne , viz. dauphin , guienne , lauguedock and provence ; and under the orlenoise are contained maine , perche and beauce : on the hither side of the loire , nievernois , anjou and touraine ; and above this river beyond poctou , berrey , and burgundy , hath bresti , and under lionoise , are comprehended lionois , auvergne , burbounois , and marche ; under guienne is bearne , gascogne , and guienne , saintogne , perigort , limosin , querci , and rovergne ; and under languedock is found cevenes . the chief cities are , 1. paris , situate in the isle of france , anciently called lutetia , by reason of the clayeness of the ground about it ; which for riches , stateliness of building , the many magnificent pallaces and churches , that every where adorne it , and the fruitfulness of the soil about it and number of its inhabitants , may compare with most in europe . 2. lions , or lugdunum . 3. orleance . 4. bullogne , taken by henry the ●ighth of england 1544. 5. amiens . 6. st. quintiens , where the english forces under the command of the earl of pembrook , in the quarrel of philip the second of spain , overthrew the french , anno 1557. 7. burdeaux . 8. roane or rovenysenlis . 10. rhemes . 11. claremont . 12. tholouse . 13 calais , which being taken by edward the 3 of england , remained in the hands of the english 220 years , and was lost in the reign of queen mary , soon after the battle of st. quintines , and the occasion , as many conjecture of hastning her end , she giving out , that if she were opened when dead , they might find calais written on her heart , &c. many other cities and towns there are of note , whose names for brevities sake i must omit and in general proceed to say ; there is no kingdom better stored with considerable places , nor more abounding in plenty of what ever may conduce , to the commodity and suport of humane life ; abounding with almost all the sundry sorts of fruits that europe produces , as also store of river and sea-fish ; a great number of cattle , plenty of wine , corn , salt , linnen cloth , flax , hemp , wool , saffron , paper , and many other products and manufactories , very considerable ; for which the natives , &c. as it were command the commodities , or ready money of most countries ; as for the coins those chiefly in use , are the pistole of gold , and the crown of silver . as for the people of this kingdom , they are great pretenders to antiquity , deriving their original , as to the inhabitants of the country from meseck the sixt son of japhet , though the first inhabitants mentioned with any credit in history , were the antient gauls , a people thrifty and valiant ; who under the leading of bellovessus , conquered the heither part of italy called gallia cisalpina , and soon after under the conduct of segovesus , subdued a great part of germany , nor resting there , under brennus another of their commanders ; they discomfited the roman army and sacked even rome it self , and so passed conquering on into asia , where they fixed a government , calling it gaul-asia , since corruptly gallatia , on which the learned dubartas discants , viz. the antient gaul in roving every way , as far as phoebus darts his golden ray ; seiz'd italy the worlds proud mistriss sack't , which rather mars than romulus compact : then spoils pisidia , missia doth inthraul and midst of asia plants another gaul . the present inhabitants though somewhat fantastick , are generaly of a free and curteous behahaviour , kind to strangers , and extremely given to complement ; the women are likewise wonderfully familiar even with strangers especially in speech , taking it for a great peice of breeding , not to be too austere or reserved . their apparel for the most part is rather gay than costly , made of light stuffs and slight silks , &c. though the country people are distinguished from others ; by the men's wearing a large pair of breeches and a coat to their knees ; and the womens attireing their heads , or rather wraping them in linnen , and these are in a manner drudges , or slaves , to the gentry , especially such as are their land-lords , they being all of them tenants at will , and have their rent raised as the land improves , or as the lord thinks fit ; which is the occasion of their great poverty ; for although many of them hold farms of wine and corn , they have scarce the happiness to tast the first , or eat any good bread made of the latter . in arts and manufactury , the french are very ingenious , and in war very furious , at the first onset , but with the change of fortune their courage soon abates ; though caesar confessed that he slew 110000. of them before he could bring them into subjection ; yet by a small power of the english , they were frequently worsted ; in the reign of edward the third , and almost the whole kingdom , after the fortunate battle of azin-court , conquored and brought under subjection by henry the fifth , who with 15000. men , only overthrew an army of above 100000. in which the flower of their nobility were either slain , or taken prisoners : nor is it less the fortune , or rather misfortune in all battles , to have the greatest storm of war fall upon their nobility . the things worthy of note in this illustruous kingdom , are the cathedral church of the blessed virgin in paris , vulgarly called notrodam ; supported by 120. pillars , whereof 12. are very great , but the remainder indifferently large , and in the midst of the church is a chancel , accounted 71 paces in length , and 60 in bredth ; and in the circuit or circumference , it hath 45 chappels , and is closed with iron gates , and two double doors in the front , adorn'd with the statues of 28 kings ; and on the sides are four towers of bell-fries of 44 cubits in height , and a bell so large called st. mary , that 24 men are required to ring it out . the seven wonders of dauphin , viz. the burnig fountain , the inaccessable mountain , the tower of sanevenin , the wine-fats of sassinage , the wine fountain , the manna of briancon , and the fountain of barberon ; which rarities see at large in allard sylva : the statue of joan the peucelle , who assisted the french against the english , and raised the seige of orleance , acting many wonders in feats of arms , till taken by the english and burnt for a witch : as for the building , in cities and considerable towns , it is mostly of rough stone , plastered and rough cast over flat roofed ; and commonly 4 , 5 , and 6 stories . and now to france i might add the new aquisitions , but more of them hereafter . the chief islands are rhee the out-work of rochle , in attempting the relief of which the english lost many brave men in the year 1627. the strong bell isle , venetica san. colosus , salt , nermoustier , oleron vliaras , where our king richard the third , as lord of the sea , gave those laws marine so much in request , and known as the laws of olerone , rochle , famous for the siege it sustained against the whole power of france ; ovissant over against the lizard , and in the mediterranian are the isles of de ere 's by ptolomie , called the staaechades . the discription of the kingdom of spain , in its provinces , &c. spain is acknowledged the most western part of europe , formerly called by the greeks iberia and hsperia enviornd on every side by the sea , except towards france ; from which it is parted only by the pyreenian mountains : the seas that bound it are the cantabrian on the north , the atlantick ocean on the west , and the straights of gibraltar , on the south ; on the east with the mediterranian ; the pyreenians bearing only to the north east , and is formed by strabo , in the shape of an oxes hide ; containing as well portugal as spain , scituated in the most southern part of the northern temperate zone ; so that the longest day exceeds not 15 hours , accounted 760 miles in length , and 600 in bredth . as for the original of this people in relation to their possessing the country , authors differ ; for some will have them to be of the progeny of tubal son of japhat , as being the decendants of the iberij who entred the kingdom under pannus : others that they are derived from the celtae , a powerful people decended from alchenaz , who first peopling it , called the whole country celtiberia ; but more certain it is , that the phoenicians failing from tyre , planted collonies here , and after them the rhodians ; nor did the carthagenians fail in a manner to subdue it , till being worsted in the second punick war , it became tributary to the romans , who devided it into 3 provinces , viz. boetica , lusitanica and terraconensis ; the ●irst of these containing the kingdoms of andeluzia and granata ; part of new castile and estremadure , inhabited by the turdulie eastward , and by the celti towards the west ; lusitania contained portugal , and part of old and new castile , and the remaining part was comprehended in terragon ; and again they laid it into two parts , comprehending the two first provinces in one ; and so it remained till the time of honorius the emperor , when gundericus king of the vandels , broke in and over-run it with a numerous army , anno 400 ; but had not well settled themselves before the goths invaded , it and drove the new possessors into affrica ; and in the year 720. under the conduct of musa and tarrif , who were invited in by julian , with a great army of moors and saracens entred warring upon the goths and after a battle of seven days became victorious dividing the countrey amongst them ; so that at last it fell into 12 divisions , viz. leon oviedo , navarre , corduba , gallicta , bisca , tolledo , murica , castile , portugal , valentia , catalonia and aragon ; and so they stand at this day : wherefore i proceed to speak of them in their order and due places . leon had heretofore the name of austria , and is a very pleasant country , yielding mines of precious mettal , some gold , red lead , and vermillion , though otherwise not very fruitful , as being some-what mountainous , yet gives title to the eldest son of castile , notwithstanding few towns of note are found in it . navarr is a kingdom of great antiquity , bounded on the east , with the pyreenian mountains , on the west with iberius , north biscay , and south aragon ; being a campaign country , not subject to woods , or inclosures , yet abounds with trees in the nature of hedg-rows , considerably fruitful , and has for its chief cities , victoria , sanguessij , viana , and pampelune , garisoned as the chief defence of the spaniards , against the incursions of the french in time of war , who 's king , though wanting the possession , has the title of that kingdom , the revenues whereof has been estimated at one hundred thousand duckets . corduba , is a very fruitful province , accounted and judged , ( as it is ) the richest in all spain , abounding in cordivant skins , mallago , sherry , oranges , cattle , fish , corn , great store of fowl ; and has in it divers fair cities ; as 1st , corduba the principal from which it takes its name . 2d . xeres . 3d. sevil. 4th . granada . 5th . mallaga . 6th . almeria . 7th . guadalcanal , where the rich mines are found . galicia , is a country very mountainous , many of which cannot be passed without great difficulty , and others by reason of their craggyness , held not passible ; yet in this province are found the cities of compostella , the seat of an arch-bishop , called st. jago , in honour of st. james the apostle , whom they impute to be buryed here ; bajonna a place very pleasant for its scituation , and corronna , or groynne . this country is held the principal in spain , for the breed of jennets ; and here is found the promontory nerius , formerly held to be the ne plus ultra . bisca , makes a famons bay into the ocean , yet many times proves dangerous to sailers ; and although the country is mountainous , yet it has many pleasant valleys , and is adorned with cities , and towns of note , as st. sebastian , tholosa , fonterabia , bilboa , &c. and from the mountains of this country , the rivers that water the greatest part of spain have their springs , being accounted no less than one hundred and fifty ; and great store of timber for shipping is found in those parts , with some iron mines , &c. toledo , a part of new castile , takes its name from the principal city , scituate on the banks of tagus or taio , exceeding pleasant , and is ordinarily the residence of the nobility , and of merchants that trade in these parts ; being the see of an arch-bishop , who is above the rest of the bishops of that kingdom , his revenue being accounted three hundred thousand crowns ; and here the kings of the goths and moors held their courts : there are likewise found the cities of calatrava and talboia , one scituate on the ava , and the other on the tagus . murica , contains the city murica , the town of alicant , and new carthage , being a country very plentiful , though thinly peopled ; and hence come the alicant wines and curious earthen vessels , with much fine silks : nor did the romans in their conquest for some time reap a less benefit than twenty five thousand drams of silver a week , from this country only . castile old and new contain the towns of soria , segovia , valodolid , salamanca , a university , &c. madrid the kings principal seat ; alcala and alcaltura , most of them very pleasantly scituate , as being posited in the heart of the kingdom of spain , abounding with corn , fruits , and cattle ; and the latter watered with the river tagus and ava , which much inrich the country . as for portugal it is now a separate kingdom , wherefore i intend to speak of it in its due place , as more proper in a work of this nature . the principal rivers appropiated to spain , are the tagus or taio , the duero or duerius , the guiadiana or anas , which for a good space ingulfs it self , and runs under ground , giving the spaniards occasion to boast , that they have one of the fairest bridges , in the world , on which ten thousand cattle feed , and over which an army with extended wings may march ; the other rivers of note are gualdahquiver , and the ebro , called by strabo , baetis , and iberus . as fot the mountains they are distinguished into six great ridges , continued knit together , whereof the lesser are but parts , the chief of which are the pyreenians that extend from the cantabrian ▪ ocean to the mediterranian sea. as for the people of spain , they are swarthy of complexion , black-hair , and of a good proportion , stately in their actions , and grave of deportment , very serious in their carriage , and offices , much addicted to religion , and very observant and faithful to their prince , not prone to alter their determination , but patient in adversity , in war they are very deliberate and cautious , not much regarding arts , but adict themselves much to women , and are generally very much conceited of themselves ; as for the women they carry themselves very sober and discreet , and are tolerably handsome : those that are marryed are in great subjection to their husbands , and extream loving ; though the men are naturally jealous . in matters of religion , they are roman catholicks , only there are some churches of toledo , where the mus-arabick office is used . as for the language , it is not all the same , for in some parts , it has a mixture of french , in others much of the moorish , and in some again the gothish arabick , but generally and vulgarly , the old spanish is used , which has much affinity with the latin ; and as for the civil and imperial laws used amongst them , they are intermixed with many customs of the goths , and the king governs his provinces by vice-roys , or ministers of state ; and though this couutry is not very fruitful in corn and cattle , yet it generally abounds in wines , oyls , sugars , rice , silk , liquoras , honey , wax , saffron , anniseeds , rosin , almonds , oranges , lemmons , cakes , soap , anchovies , soda , barrilla , shumack , wool , lamb-skins , tobacco , besides the great treasures of gold and silver that comes from america , from whence it is conjectured since the first discovery , that above fifteen hundred thirty six millions of gold has been brought into spain . as for the buildings , they are every where more solid and durable , than stately and magnificent , unless at sevil ; in relation to which , the spaniards usually say , he that has not been at sevil , has seen no stately building . as for apparrel , they affect rather gravity than gaudiness ; and their diet is as sparing , consisting for the most part of herbs , made into pottage , with minced meats and salads ; though there is scarcely a mechanick in any noted town , but when he goes abroad , has his cloak on , and his rapier by his side , and walks in as much state as the greatest don in the kingdom . a description of the kingdom of portugal . this kingdom was in the time of the roman conquests accounted a province of spain , but since , been a kingdom of about five hundred years standing , bounded on the north , with the river minio , and ava , which parts it from gallicia ; on the east with the two castles , and estremadure ; on the south , with algarve ; and on the west , with the atlantick ocean ; and was anciently called lusitania , deriving its present name from porto , a haven town , scituate in the mouth of the river dueras , the usual landing place of the gauls ; and thence corruptly called portugal , or the gauls port ; and is accounted to be in length , from north to south , about six score leagues , running along the sea-coast ; and consequently , not answerable in breadth , in which it disproportions , as in some places twenty five , some thirty , and in other fifty leagues . this kingdom , especially of late years , has made its self famously known throughout the world , by its discoveries , and trafficks , in navigation ; so that no trading part of the universe , has escaped its knowledge . as for the provinces attributed to portugal , they are principally six , which are as many general governments , inter-dueras , and minho , tralos-montes , beyra , estremadure , aleuteio , and the kingdom of algarue ; and of these , inter-dueras , and minho , are the most noted , as being exceeding fruitful , and well peopled , that for eighteen leagues in length , and twelve in bredth , it possesses one hundred and thirty monasteries , one thousand four hundred and sixty parishes , five thousand fountains , or springs of water , two hundred stone-bridges , and six sea ports : the chief city in these parts , is porto , called by the english port à port , from its delightful scituation , and the advantage of the commodities of the country , there in abundance found ; this place contains four thousand houses , and is much traded to by divers nations ; the next to this is braga , famed for the many councils held there . tralos montes , is a part of this kingdom , stored with rich mines , and in it is found the city of braganca , the capital of the dukedom of that title , besides which there are towns of lesser note , and the princes who are derived from this title usually reside at villa-viciosa , being now in possession of the crown ; and had before their coming to it , a prerogative , beyond the grandees of spain , to sit in publick under the royal canopie of the spanish kings ; beyra another part of this kingdom is exceeding fertile , producing store of millet , rye , apples , chestnuts , catle , corn , &c. and in it is scituate the famous city of coimbra , noted for its university , and the see of a bishop , &c. estremadure abounds in wines , oyls , salt , and honey , gathered from citron flowers ; and in it is seated lisbon the principal city of the kingdom , upon five little rising hills ; on the right bank of the river tagus , or taio , and arch-bishops see , the usual residence of the kings of portugal , and a city of great trade , having the advantage of the ebing and flowing of the sea , as being but five miles from it , held to contain thirty two parishes , three hundred fifty streets , eleven thousand houses , and one hundred sixty thousand inhabitants ; the compas computed to be near seven miles accounting the subburbs , and was once the greatest emporium of europe . santarim , a place much in request for the abundance of olives , that grow about it ; insomuch , that the natives boast , but how truly , i know not , that they could make a river , as big as the tagus of their oyl : setuba , an other town in this tract , is accommodated with one of the best havens in the kingdom , being no less than thirty miles long , and three broad , abounding with salt-pits , and wine , which bring a great revenue into the kings coffers . alenteio , extreamly abounds with corn , insomuch , that it is held to be the grainery of the kingdom , and has in it the city of elvara , the second to that of lisbon , near which , the portuguez won a considerable victory against the spaniards in 1663. and next this , elvas claims place , for the many sieges it has held out against the spaniard , and the plenty of oyls the neighbourhoods produce , &c. ourique is the place , near to which was fought the famous battle , which occasioned the proclaiming the king of portugal of the house of braganca , portelegar , is a bishops see. algarve , though little in extent , has the title of a kingdom , and was re-united to the crown by the marriage of alphonse the third , with beatrice of castile , abounding in eggs , almonds , olives , wines , corn. cattle , &c. and for the chief towns , they are tavila , faro , silves , and lagos . the natives of this kingdom , are very frugal , yet live in much plenty , the earth producing every where abundance : nor did their navigation in former days , less conduce to their support and grandeur ; being held the first europeans that publickly trafficked into the remote parts of the world , to bring it to any considerable perfection . the people are generally straight limbed , and well proportioned , very soft skinned , but somewhat inclined to swarthiness , by reason of the heat in those parts ; the air is very healthy , and the country for the most part hilly , though few of note . the roman catholick religion , is only publickly professed . there are three arch-bishopricks , viz. at lisbon , braga , and elvora ; and ten bishopricks . they have parliaments as occasion requires it , held at lisbon and porto , and twenty seven places have their generalities ; and the revenues of the kingdom is held to be about ten millions of livers , not accounting their collonies in the east-indies : and although portugal was seized on by the king of spain , after the fatal battle of alcazar in affrick , and the death of king henry , who succeeded sabastian , slain by the moors ; it revolted in the year , 1640. and is governed by a king of its own , as a separate kingdom from spain , and thus much for portugal , a description of italy , in its kingdoms and dominions , &c. italy is a very fruitful country , and held for its pleasantness to be the mistriss of all countries , as it once was empress of the world , and is incompassed with the adriatick , jonian , and tyrrian seas : except , towards france and germany , from which it is parted by the alps , which renders it in a manner a penjusula , but more peculiarly , it has on the east the lower part of the adriatick , and the jonian sea , deviding it from greece ; on the west , it has the river varus , and some part of the alps , parting it from france ; on the north , a part of the alps divides it from germany , and on the other parts , the adriatique sea devides it from dalmatia , being held by the antients to be in form like an oak-leaf . this country branched out into sundry principalities and provinces , is scituate in a most fruitful and temperate air , under the fifth climate of the north temperate zone , which is totally taken up ; so that the longest day is 15 hours , and three fifth parts of an hour , northward and southward , not much above 14 hours , and the parts mentioned ; and is reckoned in length , from augusta praetoria , now called aost , unto otranto the most easternly part of naples 1020 miles , and in bredth from the river varo , which parts it from that province to the mouth of the river arsa in friuli ; where it is the broadest 410 miles , and where the narrowest , which is about otranto , exceeds not 23. so that the whole compass by sea , reckoning windings and turnings , is held to be 3448 miles , but reckoned in a straight line upon the coast , it falls much short as not above 2550. as for the first inhabiters of this country , they remaine doubtful , for as soon as historians make any considerable mention of it , we find it inhabited by divers nations , held to be greek colonies , who transported themselves at sundry times ; the people of the sea coast being said to come thither under janus , anno mundi , 1925. after them saturn out of creet ; then evander or oenotrus out of arcadia , and then aeneas with his trojans , with many others ; but after the romans grew powerful , they brought the whole country into subjection , and , held it in spite of the frequent invasions of phyrus hanibal , the gauls , cimbri , and others , till the time of honorius the emperor , at what time the goths vandals , herulies , huns , and other barbarous nations , passing the alps , rent it from the empire , and devided it amongst themselves establishing many kingdoms and principalities ; and when these were in a manner subdued by the valour and conduct of narses , bellarius , and other imperial generals . albonius king of the lumbards , seized upon the greatest part of it calling it longobardia , vulgarly lumbardy ; but they a considerable time after were brought under by pepin king of france , called in by the bishop of rome , who reduced their kingdom to a straight compass ; after which the seat of the roman empire was fixed in germany , and italy , parcell'd out amongst sundry princes , and the usual division is into six parts viz. lumbardy , the land of the church , nap●ls , ●ascany , genoa , the signory of venice ; but more particularly into five greater and six lesser ; as for the first , the kingdom of naples , the papacy , the signory of venice , the dukedom of florence , and the dukedom of millain , the lesser are the dukedoms of mantoua , vrbine , modena , parma , with the states of genoa and luca ; and of these in their order . the kingdom of naples described , &c. as for the kingdom of naples it is governed at this day by a vice-roy , under the king of spain ; and is scituate in the most pleasant part of italy , devided from the territories of the church , by the river axofenus , being on the other parts inviornd with the seas ; making many commodious havens , and contains the provinces of lavaro , calabria inferior and superior , otranto , apulia , puglia , abruzzo . in lavaro is founded the city of naples , from whence the kingdom takes its name , and many others of lesser note ; but that which is most noted , is the mountain vesuvius lately called somma , being exceeding high , and casting flames out at the top of it , in a dreadful manner ; though all the borders or parts of it are otherways very pleasant and fruitful , abounding in vines , flower-gardens , olive-yards and rich pastures ; many of the houses of the gentry , and country villages ; the city it self being seated at the foot of the mountain , and other hills that branch from it , extending from the south-west to the north-east , in a manner triangular ; and so fruitful is the country in corn , that the importation of bread is forbidden upon great penalties . as for the buildings , they are of free stone ; many of them four stories in height , and the tops flat , the windows are generally covered with fine linnen or tiffany in stead of glass , which gives an equal light and keeps out the heat of the sun : nor consists the city of naples of any more than three considerable broad streets , called la vicaria , la lapuan , and la toletano ; the rest being inconsiderable lanes , and places of less note ; having 8 gates towards the sea , and as many towards the land , strongly walled and defended with three castles . the women here , are very beautiful , and through the abundance of silks found in these parts , the meanest citizens wives go clad in it ; the people are very thrifty and industruous , especially about their gardens , from whence they derive a great part of their food , in fruits , herbs , roots , &c. as living very spare and temperate , though the country abounds in plenty . the estates of the kingdom of naples , as we may properly call them , under the spanish vice-roy , are held to be 14 princes , 25 dukes , 30 marquesses , 54 earls , and 400 barons and gentlemen ; having 4 publick houses , called the segij , in which they meet to consult affairs of importance ; as also places are appointed for the meeting of merchants in the way of trade . calabria is another province of the kingdom of naples , bounded with the jonian and tyrrenean seas , and with the river jano , said to be 500 miles in compass , divided into the higher and lower calabria : the chief cities of the former being consentia and salernum , the chief resort of italian physitians , pleasantly scituated and well inhabited ; the buildings agreeing with those of naples , though not in the general so sumptuous , and all the neighbouring countries are full of villages , and very fruitful ; and in the latter calabria , cuterzary , is seated as principal , being a strong city well walled , and fortified ; and formerly this country was called magna graecia , from the many greek collonies that seated themselves in it . otranto is on three parts bound with the sea , and on the other with puglia , having tarentum and brundusum for its chief places ; formerly boasting it self one of the best havens in europe ; but for some years past choaked up , or much obstructed by shoales of sand carry'd in by the sea ; so that a ship cannot without some difficulty enter , by which means the places are much reduced : here are found likewise the towns of otranto and gallipolis , very plentious in oyls , wines , and manufacturies of silks , and other matters of value ; there are found great store of corn , mellions , citron , saffron , &c. and what is one thing observable , no partridges pass the limits of this country . apulia another province of naples , extends it self from the confines of brundusium , to the river fortore , and is properly devided into two provinces , and has for its principal city that of manfredo ; scituate beneath the hill of st. angello , accommodated with many stately buildings , and is the seat of the arch-bishop of siponto ; and that which adds more to its advantage , is that it has a capacious harbour , capable of receiving ships and galleys of great burthen , and is defended with a very stong castle , the country all about it being very fruitful . puglia is bounded with the rivers tronto and fortore , and has for its chief cities barlet , which has a good haven belonging to it , and held to be one of the 4 strong holds of italy ; and cannae the country though somewhat hilly , or mountainous ; abounds with cattle , saffron , and many other commodities incident to italy . abruzzo is in like manner a part of the kingdom of naples , having for its chiefest cities or towns aquino , giving birth of thomas aquinas , and sulmo famous for the birth of ovid the poet , both pleasantly seated and well inhabited . the papacy described , &c. as for the papacy , commonly called the estate of the pope , inherent to the see of rome ; it consists of two natures or jurisdictions , as spiritual and temporal principalities , as touching the latter of which it has under its jurisdiction many large terretories lying between the river fiore and cajetta , between prenestae and the truentian straights , the dukedom of vrbin excepted , containing the provinces of romandiola , murchia , spolletto , and that usually called st. peters patrimony is accounted spiritual . the first of these extends to the venetian terretories on the west , and to rubicon on the east , a little river so called from the redness of the waters , over which in the flourishing time of the romans ; the consuls were forbiden to come armed homewards , least the fear of any designed might bring a terror upon the city of rome . as for the chief cities in this part , they are bononia , the prime university of italy , and where the civil law is very much studyed : this city is round of form built with brick and free-stone , commodiously scituate , and has towards the streets , arched cloysters to secure such as pass them from rain , &c. here is likewise found the city ferrara , scituate on the banks of the river po , and fortified on all other parts , with a strong wall● in which the former dukes held the stately pallace of beluedevere , so named from its pleasant scituation ; as also ravenna of great antiquity , renowned in antient history ; accommodated about two miles distant with a famous port or haven . this province or country , produces corn , wine , oyl , some drugs , plenty of cattle , and especially good horses . marchia extendeth from puglia to otranto between the appenine and the sea , commodiously divided into little rising hills , and fertile plaines , by which means it is very fruitful , greatly abounding with corn , wine , and oyl : it s principal empori is ancona , by reason of the commodiousness of its haven , and is a fair city incompassed with three mountains , and hath the form of a half moon , the streets are narrow and paved with flint ; the haven is triangular , where are curious walks , and a place called la loggia , where the merchants that resort thither for trade , do meet and is very healthy : the other considerable cities are firmo , and ascoli , aud in this province stands loretto , so famous for our ladies miracles . spolletto , anciently vmbria , has for its chief cities spolletto , from whence it takes its name onietto , scituate on a high rock and asis , where st. francis was born : and though this province is not large , yet it abounds with wine , corn , oyl , saffron , cattle , figs , &c. st. peters patrimony , so called , and accouned the spiritual jurisdiction , contains all the ancient latium , or campaigna di roma , and the chief city is rome , formerly the capital of the most cousiderable empire in the world , mistriss of the fairest part of the universe , and said thro' the excess of her many conquests to extend by degrees , from 2 miles in compass to 50 , and had on her walls 740 towers , spreading over , or taking in her circumference 7 mountains or hills , viz. pallatinus , capitolinus , vnivalis , aventinus , esquiliuus , caelius , and querinalis ; and is scituate on the banks of the famous river tiber ; though at this day it is not accounted above 11 miles in circuit , however containing many stately structures and monuments of its ancient greatness : but what renders it most eminent is the popes pallace on the vatican hill , the famous church dedicated to st. peter , one of the goodliest structures in the world , accounted 520 feet in length , aad 385 in bredth , adorned with paintings , tombs , and other choice pieces of antiquity , almost innumerable ; the vatican library , and many monuments of the roman emperors ; and not far from this city is pont mill , where constantine the great was shewed the cross in the clouds , with this motto , viz. in hoc vincis , in this you shall overcome ; which made him take the insign of the cross for his banner ; and accordingly prevailing over his enemies he not only imbraced the christian religion himself , but commanded it should be observed throughout his empire : and indeed in rome centers the plenty and glory of italy , the inhabitants being accounted two hundred thousand , most clergy-men . the seignorie or common-wealth of venice described , &c : north of the alps from roman-di-ola , are the italian provinces , appertaining to the state of venice , bounded on the south with the territories of ferarra , and the rest of roman di-ola ; on the west with the dukedom of millain ; on the north with the main body of the alps ; and on the east with the adriatick sea , and the river arsia which , parts them from liburnia : besides it commands a great part of greece , especially by the late successful acquisitions and victories , as well as divers islands in the sea , and has all along been the bulwark of christendom against the turks . as for the chief city upon which the rest depend , it gives a name to the people , and is wonderfully situate , or seated at the bottom of the adriatick sea , or gulf of venice , upon 72 islands , five miles distant from the main land , defended from the rage of sea and storms by a prodigeous work ; being a bank of ( some say 60 other ) 35 miles in length ; open in 7 places for passage , with boats and gallys , &c. of small burthen , of which they have commonly 1300 , but for great vessels the only passage is at malamacco , and castle lido , strongly fortified and yet this city is computed no more than 8 miles in circuit ; having for its better conveniency 4000 bridges , one of which is very famous , passing over the great chanel ; and the rest , pass waters of lesser note , which in divers places refresh this maritime city . the arsmal is the most beautiful , bigest , and best furnished in europe ; being about 2 miles in circuit ▪ and has a magazine of all sorts of arms , engines and amunition for sea or land service , amongst which are 1000 coats of plate garnished with gold , and covered with velvet ; but what is most admirable is the church of st mark , their titular saint ; wrought with mosaick work , supported with pillars of marble and prophery ; adorn'd with images , tombs , &c. that for the abundance of jewels , pearls , gold , and silver , that cover and adorn them , and their altars it may be thought that the whole treasury of the state might be imployed to that purpose ; and besides there are found 200 pallaces built of marble , and adorned with collumnes , statues , pictures , and other things of great value ; that for their grandure , they are capable of entertaining any prince ; they have likewise 73 rich hospitals ; 56 tribunals , or courts of justice ; 67 parish churches , 26 monasteries of nuns 54 convents of friars , 18 chappels and 6 free-schools ; and so powerful once they were that they held war with all the prince of europe , &c. england excepted , for the space of seven years , and wanted neither men nor money ; and if we consider ▪ what wars they have had for near 200 years ( at times ) with the turks ; we must needs proceed to wonder how they should support themselves under that expence of treasure , and loss of men ; but their income is mostly by navigation , and the fruitfulness of their islands ; so that according to a modern account , it has amounted in the treasury , ( not reckoning the effects of particular men , ) to five millions and 320000 duckets yearly : as for the city it is governed by a duke , and the sennate ; and so consequently all the countries and cities under its jurisdiction , many of which we shall have occasion to mention hereafter , and therefore purposely omit them in this description : only by the way take notice , that the terretories of this signorie , are divided into land and sea ; and in lombardy , marca , trevigiana , friuli and istri , part of dalmatia , sclavoniae , albania , and the morea ; and in their jurisdiction are the famous cities of padua , brescia , bergamo , vicenza and others ; as for their islands the principal are corfu , cephalonia , zant , ithaca , and others lately regained . the discription of the dukedom of florence , or tuscany . this dukedom now under the grand duke of tuscany , is divided from st. peter's patrimony , on the east , by the river pisco , on the west by the river macra , from the common-wealth of genoa ; on the north from romandiola , and marca anconitana , by the apennine hills ; and on the south , has for its boundar● the tyrrean and tuscan seas . this country formerly had its name from the city of florence , scituate nigh the confluence of the river arno , round in form and strongly fortified with a wall , &c. and 8 forts , whereof the greatest lyes towards the south ; the buildings are very stately , errected with free-stone and marble , flat on the roofs , except the pallaces which are adorned with towers and pinacles ; the pavements of the streets being likewise for the most part broad free-stone , a river running through the chief of them , which greatly cools and refreshes the city in the heat of summer ; and over it is a stately bridge allmost in the middle of the city , and towards the north east it is encompassed with pleasant hills , gently rising and planted with choice fruits , and sheltered from storms by the apennine mountains that lye behind them ; nor does the south side want the like advantage , whilest the west exposes it to the flowry valleys of arno ; and without the wall are the garden houses and pallaces of the nobility and gentry , which likewise scatter over all the pleasant fields ; insomuch that it is accounted the glory of italy , frequently stiled its garden , and takes its name from the flowry plains , and gardens that inclose , or expend themselves about it . the next city of note is pisa , through which the river arno runs , from east to west , its scituation being in a plain ; and towards the north-west by north is a gate , and a fair cathederal church , most curiously wrought and paved with marble ; and here the duke of florence or tuscany has a pallace , seated on the bank of the river sienna ; another city is scituate on a rising hill , indifferently ascending above the valleys ; the streets of which , a thing unusual , are paved with brick , wherefore no carts nor coaches are allowed to pass through them , but the burthens are carry'd by men mules and asses ; and has in it several stately towers and fountains , the women of this place being likewise reckoned the fairest of all italy . massa is a town most noted for the quarries of marble in its neighbourhood . in this dukedom is the famous legorne , so much traded to by merchants of most nations in europe ; opening to the sea a spacious port or haven , and is a mart or emporis for all the principal commodities of italy , and many that are brought over-land out of remote countries ; and here our merchants have frequently settled a factory , the people being generally fair dealers , and wonderfully obliging to strangers ; so that the custom of this place is the greatest part of the dukes revenues , being very considerable ▪ as for this city it is seated in a fruitful plain , with commodious avenews , being somewhat long in form from north to south , and is defended with two towers that stand inward to the sea , for the guard of the haven , that for great ships lying farther into the sea , than that for gallies and lesser vessels , which is sheltered by a wall drawn almost round it ; and here it is the english merchants trading to italy have their lading . the dukedom of milain described , &c. the dutchy of milaine , is very pleasantly seated , in the country of lumbardy , amongst fruitful plains , and little rising hills ; and held the most desirable place of these countrys . it s chief city is milain , anciently mediolanum , which though so often ruined , as having been taken no less than twenty times , and besiged forty , has still rise out of its ashes , more fair and splendid than at first , being now accounted the greatest city of lombardy ; seated in a large plain , and incompassed with rivers , strongly guarded with a spacious and well fortified castle , and other extraordinary fortifications . as for the building , it is very stately and magnificent ; but the most remarkable are castles or cittadels , the hospital or lazarette ; the cathedral or dome : besides there are 36 monastries , 30 convents of fryers of sundry orders , 96 parochial , and 11 collegate churches , mos● of which are beautified and adorned with images ▪ paintings , sculptures ; there is moreover , a cabinet of exceeding rarieties , not to be paralelled , as report goes , in any place . the city in circuit is accounted ten miles , very populous , imagined to contain 300000 souls ; the inhabitants mostly rich , as very much trading in merchandice , especially silks , gloves , ribbons , &c. from whence our millinary ware-men derive the denomination of their trade ; the city being much traded to from france , spain , and all parts of italy . as for other places of note in this jurisdiction , they are principally pavia , papia , made a university by charles the iv. guarded by a strong castle , and has in it a fair cathedral church , supposed the richest of revenue in italy , viz. 300000 crowns per. ann. and near this place , king francis the first of france , was overthrown in a great battle , and taken prisoner by lanoy the duke of burbone and others , commanding for charles the v. alexandria or alessandris , the strongest work in the whole dutchey ; cremona seated on the banks of the river poe , accommodated with a good trade , stately muildings , large streets , and pleasant gardens , noted for its tower and cathedral church . and here it was that vitellus his souldiers were defeated by those of vespatian , and the town fired by them . the lakes found here are lago , magiore , in length 56 miles , and 6 in breadth , having in it 2 islands , called the boremeans , fruitful and pleasant , even to a wonder , lago delcoma and lugani lacus , and the rivers are olgio adde lambro , tesine , &c. as for the hills they are of no remark . the ancient inhabitants of this country were the insubres , conquered by the romans , then by the gauls , and next by the lombards , but now the country is under the protection of the king of spain , who appoints a governour to reside in millain , where st. ambrose once was bishop . the dutchy of modena described . this part , or province of italy , contains the city of modena , and reggio , with the adjoyning territories : as for the capital city of modena , it was known , and is so still in roman history , by the name of mutina , famous for the first bloody battle between marcus antonius , and augustus caesar ; and is at this day the residence of the duke , whose pallace , though not appearing very large outwardly , is nevertheless very famous and magnificent , by the rich adornments within ; his cabin or museum being furnished with the choice of natural rarities , as jewels , &c. to an extraordinary value : and here otho the emperor slew himself , upon his army being defeated by vitellus . as for the country , though it is not large , it nevertheless is very fruitful , and abounds with great store of curious fruits , corn , cattle , and other things fit mans for subsistance , watered with many small streams , and mostly plain , but that which renders it more famous , is its being the native country of our present queen mary , consort to his most sacred majesty , king james the second . the people of this dukedom are said to be better natur'd than most of italy ; quick in their resolution , easie to be pacified when wronged , and friendly in their entertainment of strangers . a description of the dukedom or principality of parma . this country hath on the north mantua on the south the appennine hills , on the west milan , and on the east the country of modena . the chief city is parma , seated on the river pirma , in a fruitful plain , being about 4 miles in compass ; adorned with many rich and stately structures , well peopled , and much frequented by gentry , greatly addicted to learning , arts and arms ; the adjoyning plains produce excellent pasturage , which feed abundance of sheep , of whose milk is made the parmasan cheese , so much in esteem in all countries ; and here the duke's pallace is seated , where he holds a court in great state : as for the churches they are beautified , and rarely imbellished with pictures and images . piacenza or placentia is the second city , famous for the resistance it made against hannibal , and h●s brother asdrubal , upon their cutting their way through the alps , and invading italy ; and now as much esteemed for the fairs and marts kept here , to which the merchants and others resort from the neighbouring country to make their exchanges : the principal river is trebia , where the romans in a fatal battle were overthrown by the carthagenians , and 40000 of them computed to be slain ; and near to placentia are many salt-pits and mines of iron . a description of the dukedom of mantoua . the dukedom of mantoua is a very fair country , very plentiful in corn , wine , cattle , and rich pastures , and fruits of sundry kinds : as for the chief city that gives it the name , it is seated in a lake of 20 miles compass , by nature very strong and fencible , there being no land access to it but by cause-ways , and in it stands the dukes pallace , very fair and stately , though he has another pallace for pleasure and delight exceeding this , at marmirolla , five miles from this city ; as for mantoua it is in a manner round , save that the lake on the north-east sides , enters it like a half moon : the buildings are partly of brick , and partly of free stone , and the streets large and clean : in the midst is a large market-place , where all manner of strangers are admitted to vend their ware , though the greatest traffick is in the hands of the jews , who grow rich by the impoverishment of the citizens , and is in compass 4 miles , having 8 gates , and strengthened by a good wall. this city is of antient standing , and contains about 50000 people , and has often been brought into distress by the germans , especially in the year 1619 ▪ and 1630. as for the dukes revenue , it is counted 400000 crowns per annum , though many will not credit it , seeing some few years since , he made over part of his dutchy to the french king ▪ for a considerable sum of money ; and here it is held unlawful to wear a sword , or any other weapon without lisence ; and in this city the famous virgil had his birth , as by his ecclogus appears , &c. and to this dukedom partly appertains the dukedom of montferrat , in the south-east of piemont , and other territories . the dukedom of urbin described : the dukedom of vrbin may be said to lie within the territories of the church , bounded on the north with the adriatick , on the south with the apennine hills , on the west with romagna , or roma-di-ola , and on the east with marca aconitania , being in length sixty , and in breadth thirty five miles , and is accounted to contain two hundred castles , and seven principal towns , the chief is vrbin seated at the bottom of the apennine hills , and built in the fashion of a miter . the next to it pisauro , containing an excellent haven , for the reception of considerable vesels ; and a third is belforto , more inward , and supposed to be in the middle of the country : the chief of the castles are , the rocks of st. leo , and marivolo ; and at vrbin , polidorus virgil was born , who being a collector of peter pence in england for the pope , wrote a history of the many remarkable transactions of our country , and is quoted by most of our modern historians the estate or common wealth of genoa described . the estate of genoa , formerly contained a large part of italy , and were accounted the most expert in navigation of all europe , but of late , through the many wars they have maintained against the venetians , and other neighbouring princes , their own intestine broils , and their neglect of navigation and traffick , they are greatly reduced , holding little more than liguria and corsica : the first of these has on the east the river varus , on the west parted from tuscany by the magura , on the north the apennine hills , and on the south the ligurian or tyrrenian seas . as for the city of genoa , it is seated on the sides of small rising hills , tho' behind it are those of greater height , lying open on the south side to the sea , where it has a goodly haven , in the form of a cresant or half moon , upon the horn whereof , towards the east , is the sea bank lamola , about 600 paces in length , keeping off the waves that beat upon the city on the east side ; and in the middle of this bank is a fort built to defend the navy that may anchor there , so that the circuit of this city is accounted eight miles , and though the streets are narrow , yet the palaces of the dey , and houses of the senators , are very stately ; nor are their walls less strengthned with bull-warks , and other fortifications . the houses in the high-streets are four stories , and many five , the windows being glazed , which is not usual in italy , many of them built of marble , but all of freestone : the streets paved with flint , and the suburbs full of gardens and houses of the nobility and gentry . as for the people , they are masters of other cities , as noli , sarazena , and savon , being noble minded and generous in all their actions , formerly much inclined to war and search of adventures ; insomuch that they assisted , with a great fleet in the holy war , and taking of jerusalem by the christian army , and aided phillip the french king with 10000 men , against edward the third of england , where in one battle they were most of them slain . they aided likewise the spaniards in 1588 to invade england , with several great carracts and galleys ; which were either lost upon the coast , or cast away in their flight homeward , which loss they have never since fully recovered ; yet they lately made a stout defence against the naval power of france , which could effect no more , than beating down some part of their city , by bombing it at a distance , as being well assured they had no fleet capable of engaging . the country abounds in all the plenties of italy , and here only the women have the greatest freedom , without the jelosie or suspition of their husbands of any italians ; and as a further honour to this place , it gave birth to christopher columbus , the first discoverer of the new world or country of america . the state of lucca described . the state of lucca is held to be scituate within the dukedom of tuscany or florence , comprehending the town and terretory of lucca . as for lucca , it is seated in a fruitful plain , strongly fortified with a good wall , and incompassed with pleasant trees , so that at a distance it seems to stand in a wood , and the plain wherein it is seated , is invironed with mountains or large hills , except towards pistola , where it opens to the sea , and is three miles in compass ; as for the streets , they are narrow and paved with broad freestone , and in it are many palaces , and merchants houses , curious built of free-stone , according to other building in italy , and was formerly a place of great trade for silks , stuffs , carpets , cloth of gold , and the like ; there being a great concourse of merchants , call'd luccois merchants , that were wont to meet there at several fairs or marts , held for that purpose , but of late the trade is declined : however the inhabitants inrich themselves by their manufacture , which they send to other places of greater trade . and here there is a strict law , that no person shall wear any weapon , no not a knife , unless it be blunted ; the people being generally very courteous to strangers . and thus much for what may be properly call'd italy , which taken in general , is one of the most fruitful and pleasant countrys of the world , of which europe being call'd the head , this is accounted the face . but for brevity sake i must desist any further comment , and proceed to other parts adjoyning . the dukedom of lorrain described . this country is invironed with a part of belgium , alsatia , the country of burgundy and campaign , and is about 180 miles in compass , exceeding fruitful in corn , wine , store of cattle , but especially horses of an excellent breed ; the rivers and lakes abounding with fish , and the soil with rich mines : the chief town is nancy , seated upon the river meuse , and in it the ducal pallace , much resorted to for wines , brandies , and other commodities ; the buildings are very stately and commodious , most of them of stone , and well fortified with a wall of great strength : the next to this are st. nicholas , and vancoleus very strong and well garisoned by the french into whose hands the country fell , in the reign of king lewis the 13. though the present duke of lorain now warring in hungary , is on all hands concluded to be the rightful prince . as for the manners and customs of the people they are a mixture of germany and france , as being seated between those countries , &c. the dukedom of savoy , and country of peimont described , &c. as for savoy , it is a very mountainous country bounded by the dauphenet , bress , switzerland , peimont and the alps ; the antient inhabitants were the allobroges , who submitted to hanibal , when he entered italy with his carthagenians to war against the romans ; at what time bruncius and his brother being at variance about the succession to the kingdom , he reconciled them ; afterward it was made a roman province , and was called from one of the kings that then reigned being a favorite to augustus caesar , alpes coctiae ; but in the declining of the roman empire , it became a part of the kingdom of burgundy , and passed with other rights of the empire to germany ; but now is independent under a duke , who is soveraign lord of the country . the chief towns of savoy are chambiers , scituate in a pleasant valley amongst mountains , and is graced with a ducal pallace and many stately buildings of the nobles , who are for the most part very gentile , active and airy , though the country people on the contrary are very imbicil and slugish . tarantaise , an arch-episcopal see , scituate amongst mountains as the former , full of pleasant buildings : aquabelle , mauridune another arch-episcopal see. under the power and jursdiction of the savonian d●ke , it is peimont unless a small part of it claimed by the duke of mantoua , seated at the foot of the mountains , and bounded on the east with milain , on the west with savoy , on the north with switzer-land , and on the south with the mediterranean , being more fertile than the other ; containing 52 earldoms , and 15 marquesats , besides barronies and lordships ; and here dwell the progeny of the albigenses , who about the year 1100 stood , for the liberty and doctrine of the church of their predecessors and about the year 1250 , were near all destroyed and ruined by the popes and french kings ; when the remainder prefering their concience before their country , retired up into the mountains , and by their industry and indefatigable husbandry , made the very rocks bring forth grass and herbage for themselves and their cattle , &c. and here they worshiped god , according to the worship of rhe reformed churches ; greatly increasing in number , as being followed with blessings , untill the latter end of the reign of francis the first , at what time happened the massacre of merinianum , or mariguan gallis and chabriers , and in the year 1662 and 1663 , they were again persecuted by the savoiard , and since that in the year 1684 we had a mellancholy account of their treatment : and although there are many good towns under the government of savoy ; yet the duke chiefly resides at the city turin scituate on the river po and is the seat of an arch-bishop and a university , where erasmus took his degree , and for scituation is accounted one of the plesantest in europe . the seignory of geneva , and the alps described . geneva is within the limits of the dukedom of savoy , the whole seignory not exceeding eight leagues in compass , scituate on the lake lemanus , and devided into two parts by the river rosne . the city strongly walled and fortified , as being the head of a free state ; containing a flourishing university , governed by a common council , or 200 of the chief burghers , four of which are called sindiques : as for the church government it is composed of lay-men , elders , and ministers founded by john calvin 1541. and although this city has been beseiged by the duke of savoy , and others who have undertaken to reduce it , yet it has manfully defended it self against all invasions ; and as for the revenue it is reckoned 60000 crowns per annum . the building is generally of free-stone , and the north side of the city lies close to the south side of the lake , where is a little haven for gallies , built to keep free passage on the lake , defended by a strong fort ; a river issuing from the lake runs through the lower part of the city , and is passed by two commodious bridges . and although it is a receptacle for all manner of religions , and people that fly from persecution , yet such is the law , that even a malefactor is condemned there for a crime committed in his own country , if proved against him , and adultry punishable with death ; fornication the first time with 9 days fasting or living with bread and water in prison ; the second time with whipping , and the third with banishment ; notwithstanding which and although the women be more reserved here than in any other place , those affairs go forward in private . this signory abounds with all manner of fruits , great store of fish ; and is much traded to especially by the italian merchants for velvets , taffatas , musquet barrels , and calevers , &c. the alps are the greatest ridge of mountains in europe , parting germany , france , and italy , and in some places require five days to ascend them . there being five passages through them into italy , viz. 3 out of france and 2 out of germany . the 1 from france is through provence , close upon the tyrrenian seas , through liguria , being the easiest ; the 2 through the hill geneara , into the marquesat of zaluzzes , and so into lumbardy : the third is over the mount cenis , and through the country of turin . as sor those out of germany , the first is through the country of the grissons , by the province of valtoline ; the last through the county of tirol , near to the towns of juspurk and trent ; and as for these mountains , they are in many parts very fruitful ; divers villages and towns , being scituate on them , though mostly barren , and in many places the snow and frost continues all the year , without the suns having power to dissolve it , by reason the assent is so near the cold region ; and through part of them hanibal cut , dissolving , or loosening the rocks with fire and vinegar , when he broke unexpectedly into italy and defeated the roman army ; and indeed in some places they are dreadfull even to look on . the description of the county of roussillon and catalonia . roussillon by the french included between the branches of the pyreenean mountains if we begin at mount cavo , the one extending to colibre and c. de creux a promontary , that is the furthest point east of cattalonia ; as for the other it passes unto salsas , and as for the places of note , they are perpignan , pupirianum ; and perpinianum built out of the ruins of ruscinum , by guinard earl of roussillon , scituate upon the banks of the river thelis or thetis , in a pleasant fruitful plain , &c. a rich and flourishing emporie , and a strong hold against the french , till the year 1644 ; and of such esteem was this little country in former times , that it was pawned by john king of aragon in 1462 , to lewis the 11th . of france for 300000 crowns , and restored to ferdenand the catholick , by charles the eight , that he might not be diverted from the conquest of naples . and abounds with plenty , &c. catalonia or as the french call it . cattalogne , joyns to the country of roussillon , is accounted 170 italian miles in length , and in breadth 130 , and held to contain the dukedom of cardona , 3 marquesates , 11 earldoms , divers barronies and lordships , and 45 cities or walled towns , and 600000 inhabitants ; amongst which ( in the time of boterius ) were 10000 french shepherds and husbandmen . as for the country , some authors inform us , that it is generally hilly , and full of woods , yielding but small store of corn , wine , and fruits ; though others speak more favourably of it , and affirm it affords plenty of corn , wine , and oyl , though indeed it is mostly inriched by its maritime scituation . the chief town is bracelonia seated upon the mediterranian sea , between the rivers besons and rubricat or lobrecat , and is a rich noted port much traded to : the buildings are very stately , and contain a bishops see ; an academy , and sundry other advantages of gardens and pleasant places that render it delightful and well inhabited . a description of belgium , or the neitherland provinces , &c. the tract now called belgium or the neitherlands , is bounded on the east with westphalia , gulick , cleve , triers , and the provinces of the higher germany , on the west with the main ocean , which divides it from brittain , &c. on the north with the river ems , which parts it from east friezland , and on the south with picardy and campaign , two french provinces , and upon the south-east with the dukedom of lorain ; and as for the country in its present estate , it is divided into 17 provinces , viz. the dukedoms of limburg , luxenburg , gelderland , brabant , the marquisate of the holy empire , the earldoms of flanders , artois , hatndult , namurre , zutphan , holland , zealand , the barronies of west friezland , vtrecht , overysel , machlyn , and groyning , or groningen , and of these in their order . limburg . the dukedom of limburg is pleasantly scituate , and a very fruitful province , having the famous city of mastreich , so lately renowned for its sieges , as its capitol , though the bishoprick of leige is its appendent , in which is the city of leige , the bishop regents usual residence , the see at present vacant by the death of the late bishop , and hath under it 52 barronies , and in it a university , where at one time ( if the story may be credited ) studied 9 sons of kings , the sons of 24 dukes , and 29 earls ; it being commodiously and healthfully scituate on the river meuse ; the buildings very fair and spacious , and is accommodated with divers monasteries and abbies , the whole bishoprick containing 24 walled towns , and 1800 villages ; as also the eastern part , properly termed a part of the dutchy of limburg , contains 5 walled towns , and 23 villages , where limburg ( that gives the province name ) is pleasantly scituate on the river wesa or wesel , or wesar ; and from this fertile country , abounding with whatever is necessary for the support of humane life , is found that stone so much used in publick , called lapis calaminaris . luxemburg . lvxemburg is another province of the low countries , having limburg for its boundard on the north , lorain on the south , the bishoprick of triers on the east , and the river meuse on the west , and is accounted in circumference 24● miles , containing 23 walled towns , and 1169 vi●lages of the former , of which luxemburg scitua●● on the river asnaius , danvillees and bostonake are chief : the upper part of this dukedom is generally inhabited by germans , but the french possess most of the lower part , and indeed they speak either languages in most of the villages , and in manners participate of both nations ; and bordering upon this dukedom is the famous forrest of ardena , formerly accounted the greatest in europe , as being 500 miles in compass , consisting mostly of chest-nut trees , but now burnt , and otherways destroyed to the circumference of 90 miles , and near it are found the spaw baths , so much frequented by divers nations for the restoring them to health , by removing sundry malladies and diseases ; and in this region are held to be 7 earldoms , and many other petty governments . the soil is naturally fruitful and pleasant by scituation . brabant . brabant has for its boundard on the south-east and north , the river meuse , on the west the schald , or the sclade ; in length it is accounted 70 miles , and in breadth 60 , containing 26 walled towns , and 700 villages ; the principal of the former being lovaine , a city 6 miles in compass , inclosing beside the stately building , pleasant hills , valleys , meadows , fragrant gardens , and is a noted university , consisting of 20 stately colledges . the next of note is bruxelles , or brussels , the usual seat of the governor , for the king of spain , pleasantly seated and inviorned with gardens and little riseing hills ; and near it is the city of bergeaupzone , a garrisoned place , strongly fortified ; and here is found likewise , the town of breda , surprised by the prince of orange , and taken from the spaniards by a small number of gentlemen , who came upon it in the night time , in a boat covered with turfs , and desperately setting upon the garrison possessed themselves of it ; and yet more famous for the treaty between his late majesty of england , and his subjects , whereupon ensued his happy restauration ; and in this province is contained the marquesa●e of the empire , whose chief town or city is antwerp , 7 miles in compass , once a famous empori , or the scale of europe , by reason of its scituation on the river — having two marts yearly , and for the more safe resort of strangers , qualified with extraordinary priviledges , and here the portugals exposed their east india goods to sale , and dispersed them through europe , but of late the hollanders growing powerful at sea , and great traffickers , have removed the scale for the most part to amsterdam . flanders . this province which amongst the vulgar passes current for the 10 , is divided into galicam , imperialem , and tutonicam , the latter being separated from the two first by the river ley , where is found the city of gaunt , the birth place of john duke of lancaster , son to edward the third of england , from thence called john of gaunt ; and is so large within the walls , that there is large pastures , and corn fields , besides many gardens , and other pleasant places , and is commodiously seated upon the river schald , which devides it in many parts ; so that for the conveniency of the inhabitants there are 98 bridges : the next to this are brugis and ypres , walled and well fortified , and within the jurisdiction of the province , are the famous sea ports , or frontier towns of dunkirk , taken from the spainards by the valour of the english , and since delivered to the french : scluse , which has a spacious haven , capable of containing 500 sail of ships ; and to these we must add newport and ostend . imperial flanders , so called for distinctions sake , is devided from brabant , by the river dender , and in it are found the towns of alost and dendermond , scituate very pleasantly upon the banks of that river with hulst , a considerable town , indifferently fortified , the country is generaly fruitful , and the people very thrifty and sparing , &c. gallicam , or gallica flanders , taking its denomination from its dependency on the french , or the nearness to that country , has for its chief town , lisle or lile , a town of great trade , and much resort , where sundry merchants have ware-houses , and some petty factories ; the next to it in dignity is doway , much noted for its university , and the great resort of most christian nations thither to see the curious library , and other rarities ; and here likewise stands tornay , taken from the french by king henry the eighth of england , and ransomed by the inhabitants at 100000 ducats ; there are moreover 32 walled towns of lesser note , and 1178 villages , within the jurisdiction of this province , adorned with stately buildings , and pleasant gardens , replenished with fountains , and pleasant streams ; and is in all parts very fruitful , as lying low , and not any where incumbred with mountains , from which indeed the provinces are generally free , &c. artois is a very pleasant province , and was once intirely french ; but now ( as the rest i have mentioned ) under the government of the king of spain , quitted by henry the second of france , to philip the second of spain , in the league of chambray ; and is said to contain 854 villages , and 12 towns of note ; the chief being arras , from whence our cloath of arras comes , and lilliers . the principal frontier towns that opposes piccardie are hedinfort , ayre , pernes , and st. omers , most of them very strong and sencible . hainault is considerably spacious , as being sixty miles in length , and fourty eight in breadth , in which are computed 950 villages , and 24 considerable towns , as monts famous for the overthrow of the french army , under the command of the duke of luxemburg , by the dutch and germans , under the command of the prince of orange , &c. routed near this town 1676. valenciens very commodiously seated , so that it cannot be besieged but by a considerable army , divided into three parts : conde and bavais , towns of considerable strength , the latter supposed to be built upon the ruins of the antient belgium , the province in general is very pleasant and fruitful . namurre is very commodiously scituate , and yields the inhabitants great advantages from the iron mines , and marble quars ; as also those of free stone , and what is indeed a wonder in nature , viz. the stone cole which is extinguished by oyl , but burns the brighter for having water cast upon it ; and here are found the city namurre , giving name to the province as also charlemont , valen-court , or bornies , with about 182 villages , accommodated with rich pastures , pleasant gardens , with store of fruits and cattle . machlyn , though it is reckoned to be scituate within the circuit of the province of brabant ; yet has in it 9 villages , with several castles and places of strength , as its dependences being a strong town , seated in the midst of the waters of the river dole , so that upon drawing up the sluces , the country about it may be drowned ; and was of such esteem before the wars with spain , that it was the seat of a parliament ; but now is somewhat impaired by a fire that happened some years since , by the blowing up of a magazine of 800 barrils of gun-powder . these are those properly called the spanish provinces and neitherlands , which were formerly free estates , and most of them independent , governed by their proper princes and magistrates ; but under a claim of right by title , and the more prevailing power of the sword , wearied by war , they were reduced by the spanish kings part , of whose dominions they are at this day accounted : however , the 7 confederated estates , commonly called the united provinces , viz. zealand , holland , vtretch , guelderland , zutphen , groningen , over-yssel , and some part of brabant , and flanders , have yet those priviledges the former enjoyed , making for their better defence against the incroachments of their powerful neighbours , a strict league and union in the year 1581. which has ever since inviolably continued , called now the estates of the low-countries . a description , particularly of the low-countries . zealand or sealand , is a country standing upon 7 islands northward in the sea ▪ commodiously scituate for shipping , and harbours , so that it may in a manner be questioned , whether the inhabitants live on the water or on the land , and though it consists of 7 islands only at present , it formerly was 15 whereof 8 have been swallowed up by the waves , with their towns and cities , so that we may well alude . invenies sub aquis , & ad-huc austendere nautae , inclinata solent , cum maenibus opida versis , &c. the waters hide them , and the sailers show , the ruined walls , and steeples as they row. the chief towns of this province , are middleburg , famous for traffick , and the staple for french and spanish wines ; flushing , a strong and fortified sea town . all the islands are fertile , much abounding with pastures , corn , and plenty of cattle , yielding a great deal of madder , for dying , wooll , &c. holland , ( the chief of the provinces , under the denomination of which the rest are vulgarly called , and is the most powerful in shipping , and navigation , ) comprehends the famous city of amsterdam , by which the river tay flows like a large sea , and is one of the chief empories of europe , rotterdam , leyden an university , doort , delph , harlem , and other places of note , as the hague , &c. the which , though but an inland village , is much honoured by the concourse , resorting thither , and the frequent assembling of the estates ; and this , more than any other part , abounds with woods , esteemed though but small , to contian 400 villages , and 20 walled towns in its jurisdiction . vtrecht , another of these provinces has five considerable towns in it , of which vtrecht , mont-fort , and rhenen , are the principal ; as also 70 villages , many of them very fair and pleasant , all well watered , and accommodated with gardens , pasturages , and other things necessary for the use of man ; the province was anciently called antonia , but since took its name from a ferry that was kept there , for the transportation of passengers , &c. over-yssel , another of the provinces , is memorable for the city of daventree , won by robert earl of leicester , an english peer , in the time of queen elizabeth , from the spaniard , and delivered to the states , and has besides 11 good towns of which campene , swall , and daventree are the chief , 101 villages , and abounds with good pasture● , meddows , corn and cattle , producing yearly a● extraordinary quantity of butter and cheese , and the rather fruitful , as being well watered by the river yssel , from which it appears to take its name . zvtphen , though it claims the jurisdiction of a province , yet it is no more than a town in guelderland , free , and independent , before which ( to the great grief of all good men ) the famous and learned sir philip sidney , received the mortal wound of which he dyed , though the town was notwithstanding won by his conduct and valour , being a very antient earldom . gvelderland is a dukedom of considerable note , abounding with plenty of all sorts of provisions , and many curious manufactures , and is held to contain 24 towns , and 300 villages . the chief of the towns being nimegen , seated on a branch of the river rhine , and much noted for the treaty held there , ruremond and arnheim , and is recounted in historians to take its name from geluba ; once a famous town scituate in the province , but now altogether ruined or reduced to a strait compass . groining or groningen , is a barrony of west friezland , so large that under its jurisdiction it has 154 towns and villages , the principal being old haven and keikerk , and boasts of great plenty and much riches . friezland contains 11 chief towns , the most considerable being harlingem , lewarden , and zwichen , with about 345 villages , incompassed with excellent pasture grounds , abounding in herds of cattle , of a more then ordinary bigness , and is in a manner , every where refresh'd with pleasant streams ; and not far from it is the island of scelinck , on the coast whereof the fishing trade is continually maintained ; and there are found dog-fish in abundance . the air in these , and the other provinces , is at this day very temperate ; so that , although the winters last long , yet are they not excessive ; and as for the summer it is gentle and mild , resembling the spring , in the more southern countries ; as for the people they are generally corpulent , well proportioned , and great artists , being quick of invention , and very curious artificers . the women are for the most part tolerably handsome , and constant house-wifes much in subjection to their husbands , and very careful in the management of such affairs as they understand : they are ( both men and women ) frequently great drinkers ; nor do they come behind hand , especially those of the 7 provinces last mentioned , in eating ; and as for their warfare they are better soldiers , and more fortunate by sea then land , for indeed navigation is in a manner their greatest business ; many of those , we properly call the dutch , being born on ship-board , and there brought up ; their parents having no land , houses or tenements , but live on board for the most part , and are seldom in lodgings which is all they take care for , rejecting any settlement ; and thus much in brief for the 17 provinces , or lower germany , from whence i proceed to the higher , &c. germany , properly so call'd , described in its province and principalitie . germany , in which at this day the roman empire has its establishment , is bounded on the east with prussia , poland and hungary , on the west with belgium and france , on the north with denmark , and the main sea called the german ocean , and on the south with the alps , and is scituate in the northern temperate zone , under the 7 and 11 climates having 17 hours and a half in the longest day northward , and 14 and a half southward ; the compass of this spacious country , being accounted 2600 english miles , held to be effectually the largest in europe , and in most parts is exceeding fruitful , the air wholsom ; and consequently the natives ( were they more temperate ) would be exceeding healthful ; however the inhabitants for honesty of conversation and firmness to their governors , are much to be applauded ; valiant they are , and very deliberate in their actions ; the women are corpulent and tolerably handsome great breeders , and very fruitful ; though for the vulgar sort they are generally poor , notwithstanding they are curious in invention , and performance of arts ; and the world is beholding ( if we may rightly so term it ) to this nation for the invention of printing and gun-powder . germany is exceeding fertile , many parts of it abounding with corn , wine , cattle , minerals , as tin , copper , silver , and some gold , quicksilver , linnen cloath , allom , and many other valuable commodities , and is properly divided into the upper and lower germany . the first of these more bordering upon the alps , may be reckoned to contain austria , bavaria , suevia , helvetia , switzer land and alsatia ; and of these in their order , &c. the upper germany described . avstria , a hereditary province of the empire , or arch-dukedom of the house of austria , antiently pannonia superiour , is accounted the most fertile of the provinces , in corn , wine , fish , cattle , &c. and has for its metropolis , the famous city of vienna , called by the dutch wien ; more noted for the great overthrow , the turks received before it , in the year 1683. after it had sustained a siege of near 3 months ; and is commodiously scituate upon the dividing of the river danube , antiently called ister , adorned with a great number of stately buildings , and has not only frequently bafled the ottoman power , by putting a stop to their further incroachment into christendom , but is usually the imperial residence , being strongly defended with a wall , and several towers : and under the jurisdiction of this arch-dukedom are the provinces of styria , or steir-mark , carinthia , tyrolis and carniola . the first scituate on the spurs of the alps , yet considerably fruitful , and has for its chief towns gretis , hall and marpurg , with many pleasant villages . the second is considerably large , as containing many good towns and villages : those of note being spital , veit , and vellach , with good pastures , and fruitful plantations of gardens , orchards , &c. the third borders , or is rather scituate on a part of the alps , very montainous , and but indifferently fruitful , yeilding more in mines then in other commodities ; yet contains the noted towns of inspurch , tyrol and trent , so much known by the council that was held there , in the year 1546. seated on the banks of the river odesis : the country is in a manner square ; as being 72 miles , without any considerable difference , every way . the fourth is larger than any of the former as being 150 miles in length , and 45 in breadth , invironed with sclavonia on the east , italy on the west , istria on the south , and carinthia on the north ; a country , it is very fruitful , and has in it many good towns the principal being esling and new marcht , scituate on the banks of the river save . bavaria is a large country , and has for it's boundards styria and austria on the east , leike on the west , the danube and part of franconia on the north , and carinthia together with tyrol on the south ; and has for its principal city munich , upon the river asser , being the dukes principal seat ; ingolstadt on the danube , comprehending an university ratisbon , paslaw , donow , saltzburg , and others ; and is watered with the rivers danube and saltzech as principal streams , and with rivers of lesser note ; and so opulent is it , that travellers affirm 34 cities and 46 considerable walled towns , are found within its circumference , and is fruitful in every thing except wine , with which it is supplyed out of other parts . svevia called by the dutch schwaben , is bounded eastward on bavaria , westward on the danube , northward on franconia , and southward on tyrol and retia , or the country of grissens ; and has for its principal towns vlm or elmus , lindair , a free city seated in a peninsula , made by the lake acronius , auspurg , ravenspurg , wherlingen and norlingen ; most built with free-stone , with houses of an extraordinary height , as four and five stories , and many stately pallaces , churches , &c. the country is generally well peopled and with those of a good complexion , tall and well set ; the women ruddy and fair , and the plains abound with rich pastures , cattle and corn ; for hills there are none of considerable note ; and the principal river that passes through it , is the danube , receiving other rivers into its stream ; and although auspurg is accounted a city of this province ; yet in it self and dependencies , it is a marquizat . helvetia , now more vulgarly known by the name of switzerland , is a very mountainous country , as being posited amongst the alps , for the most part , or spurs of that mountain , accounted the highest habitable region in europe , bounded on the east with tyrol , on the north with lorain , on the west with france , and on the south with italy ; and is at this day cantoned or divided into 13 divisions or jurisdictions , under a united confederacy and league , the better to oppose the invasion of any powerful neighbours ; and these have for their capitals considerable distinct cities and countries , from which they hold their regulation ; as zurich , berne , lucerne , glaris , prenij , zugh , friburg , basil , schaffhansen , apensel , soloturn , vandenew and suits ; besides in the confederacy is comprehended , the city and marquesat of baden , and although they are divided in matters of religion , 5 being of the reformed church , and the rest roman-catholicks , yet that makes no separation in the common interest , but against any opposer , they mutually joyn their forces . as for the length of these countries thus united , it is accounted 240 miles and the breadth 180 miles , and from these mountains issue the famous rivers po , and rhone or rosne , with others of lesser note , which pass through many famous kingdoms and provinces ; and indeed the plains that are found amongst the mountainous places , are exceeding fruitful , and produce many cattle , and the men are accounted the best soldiers in europe ▪ and for as much as their country is poor , they much addict themselves to the sword ; serving for pay any prince that will entertain them ; whereby it appears , that no less than one million of the● have fallen in sundry battles within one hundred years past . alsatia is bounded on the east with the rhine , on the west with lorain , on the north with the palatinate , and on the south helvetia ; having for its metropolis the famous city of stra●burg , on the rhine ; lately taken , or surprized by the french , who undertook the quarrel of the bishop that layed claim to that dignity ; though indeed it has been held a free city : as for the building , it is very stately , mostly of free-stone , and contains several fair churches , senate-houses an● stores ; the streets , though not very wide , are in most parts refreshed by the streams of water that pass through them , and all the country about it abounds with fruitful fields , vineyards , cattle , gardens , and every thing that may be termed pleasant and delightful , and has in the circuit a considerable number of towns and villages , and was reckoned , as is said , amongst the free imperial cities . to these in this division of the empire , we may add rhetia , or the country of the grisons , bounded on the west with switzerland , on the east with tyrol on the south with milain , and on the north with suevia , lying half in italy and half in germany ; so that the people for the most part are familiar with either language , and is a region well peopleed and plesantly scituate , only somewhat mountainous . the chief towns are coyra , not far from the rhine , musocco and bormia ; and in these parts the reformed and romish religion are indifferently practiced ; and thus much of the upper or higher germany . the lower germany described , in its provinces , free-towns , &c ▪ that which we properly term the lower germany , may be conveniently divided into franconia , and the appendant territories , the three electorates of the palatinate , brandenburgh and saxony ; with its dependencies . pomerania , medenburgh , brunswick , lameburg , hassia , east friezland , westphalia , cleveland , wetteraw or vetravia , &c. and of these in their order . franconia , supposed by some to be the first seat of the franks or french , has for its boundards , on the east saxony and bohemia , on the west elsas , on the north hassia , and on the south bavaria ; and contains many fair cities within its circle or circumference , as bamber , weirtzburg , and metz or mentz , the seat of a bishop , and moreover has in it the pallace of the chief electoral bishop ; and as for the city , it is commodiously seated upon pleasant riseing hills , incompassed with a valley and spacious plains , yielding great abundance of corn , fruits and pastures ; being antiently the seat of a king , called the king of mentz : and in the province are the free cities of noremburg , rotenburgh , and francfort , at the latter of which the electors of the empire meet , as occasion serves , for the election of the emperor ; all three pleasantly seated , either by the nature of the soil , or the industry of the inhabitants , well fortified and of great concourse ; there being two of the most noted fairs in europe , held twice a year , and in one of it's streets on the east side , the jews are permitted to trade and inhabit . the kingdom of bohemia , is an antient and famous kingdom ; containing the dukedom of silesia , the marquesates of lusatia and moravia ; accounted in circuit 550 english miles , being cast in a manner round or circular , walled with mountains or large hills , and was once held to contain 78 cities , castles and walled towns , and 32000 villages and stately buildings of the nobility . as for the soil of this kingdom , it is generally fruitful producing great increase of corn and wine , and in many parts there are mines of iron , lead , tin , copper , gold , silver , and some quicksilver : as for the natives , they are of a chearful countenance , modest behaviour , and strong of body ; the women very fair and comly , tall of personage and broad shouldered . as for the king of bohemia , which now rests in the house of austria , he is one of the electors of the emperor , and has precedency in the casting voice ; and is great cup-bearer on the coronation day the chief cities of this kingdom are prague , seated on the river mulda , consisting of three parts , by reason of the division the river makes , though joined by bridges , and has in it many stately buildings of free-stone , though in the generality , the houses are timber built , and the walls of clay or loam ; egra , a place very commodious , and much traded to , watered with a pleasant stream , and accommodated with curious gardens and orchards , ●●dweis and others . silesia is a part or province of the kingdom , of bohemia , extending in length 240 miles , and in breadth 80 miles , divided almost in equal parts by the river oder , into which many lesser rivers discharge themselves , and so well water the country , that it is exceeding fruitful almost every where , though the air is much colder than with us at all times , and what the soil wants , the inhabitants by their industry make out ; and in it is scituate the famous city of breslaw , or preslaw , accounted for stately building , and commodiousness , one of the chief cities belonging to the emperor . there are moreover the cities of jadendorf , and glogaw , with a great number of pleasant villages . lvsatia , or lusutia , is divided into the higher and lower countries , and though but small , yet exceeding populous , so that historians affirm , that this little province has sent 20000 armed men into the field , and is in most parts fruitful , as being watered by the river nise or nisso , and other streams , and has as chief cities trabel and groliz , with many walled towns , and a great number of villages , though several have been destroyed , by the incursions of the turks and tartars , and the intestine wars . moravia is a very pleasant country , affording store of wine , corn , and curious fruits , with some myrrh , and frankincense , the shrubs and trees growing naturally wild , as well as in gardens by improvement ; the country being very wooddy and mountainous , and is a marquisate of the empire , the chief towns being almutz , an university , and brinne , the seat of the marquess ; the country receiving its name ( as most conjecture ) from the river moravia that runs through it ; and although the territories are not large , the people are nevertheless divided in language , between the teutonick , bohemian , and sclavonian . the electorate of the palatinate , or the country under that denomination , contains the upper and lower palatinates , and extends for the most part along the rhine 96 , and is in breadth 72 miles , said to be the fruitfullest of all others , affording abundance of rhenish wines , pressed from the grapes that grow in great plenty on the banks of that famous river , from whence the wine takes its name ; and in any vacancy of the empire , the prince elector of these palatinates has a far larger jurisdiction , which terminates not till the coronation of the emperor , where he takes his place as arch-sewer , and in the upper of these palatinates is scituate , the city of newburg , amburg , and castel ; and in the lower heidelburg , the seat of the palsgrave of the rhine , incompassed with high hills , on the north-east , and south frankendale , openheim and crutznach ; and on the east-side of this country are lauden , and winheim , and on the west xeifers and newstadt . the electorate of saxony has for its eastern boundard lusatia , for its western hassia , for its northe● brunswick , and on the south bohemia and franconia ; and contains the countries commonly called turingia , misnia , voitland , and the proper saxony ; as for the first of these , it comprehends the principalities of manfieldt and anhalt , the prince of it being a lantgrave ; and although the country exceeds not 12 german miles , either way , yet the soil is exceeding fruitful , and so abounds that its fruitfulness supplies other places of greater extent ; and being divided into 12 countries , is held to contain 44 cities , walled towns , and strong castles ; and about 2000 villages , and great houses of noble men ; as for the duke of saxonies chief seat it is ersdorf , though there are other famous places within his jurisdiction , as dresden , seated on the river albis , in a pleasant plain , passing between two mountains : leipzich , a famous university , especially for the study of physick , and philosophy ; built mostly with free-stone , and pleasantly invironed with corn-fields : wintenburg , the place where faustus studied necromancy , with many others ; and this by some is held to be the country that gave birth to those saxons that invaded england , and brought it under subjection . the electorate of brandenburg ( though no more properly held than a marquisate , notwithstanding the elector is stiled a duke ) is a very spacious country , bounded on the east with saxony ; on the west with poland , on the south with lusatia , and on the north with pomerania ; accounted 500 miles in circumference , containing fifty considerable cities , and 64 walled towns , besides a great number of villages : this elector being held the most potent of the empire , as it has been evident by his contending with the sweeds , danes , and others . the chief cities are brandenburg , curiously scituate , and adorned with many stately buildings , and rare pieces of antiquity : berlin , the place of usual residence , and where the duke has a magnificent pallace , seated on the river spree : oderam and havelburg , the see or seat of a bishop , though the reformed religion is that which is maintained and supported by the prince : and this marquisate is divided into the new and old , water'd by the od●r and albis , and the elector is great chamberlain of the empire , all the country being exceeding fruitful , and naturally bringing forth abundance of corn , pasturages , and some wines . pomerania is on the east bounded by the river vistula , on the north with the baltique ocean , on the west with medenburg , and on the south with brandenburg ; and here is sound the famous stetin , which with a very small garrison , held a siege of 3 months , against the whole power of the elector of brandenburg : wolgast , gripswald , wallin , and newtrepon , with many other places of strength , commodiously seated on the banks of rivers , or the sea-coast ; and although this province is not large , it nevertheless yields great store of corn , cattle , &c. and lies very advantageous for sea traffick , and to it appertain the islands of volinia , wisedonian , and rugia . medenbvrg is scituate on the west part of pomerania , and is the more fruitful of the two , as having many populous cities and towns within its jurisdiction , the chief being steremberg , from whence the late governour of vienna derives his title , malchaw , wesmar and rostock , the latter of these a university , and is watered with pleasant streams , &c. lvnbvrg , and brunswick , have for their northern boundard denmark , for their southern saxony , and hassia , and east and west brandenburg , and west-phalen , being properly two dukedoms , pleasantly scituate ; as for the chief cities , they are brunswick , a free city of the empire ; from this place the true mum is brought over , and is a strong fortified garrison , no ways in subjection to the emperor ; halbertstadt , or herbertstadt , a bishops see ; wolfbitten , the residence of the duke , where he has a stately pallace : and lunburg the seat of the lunburg duke , a very pleasant city , commodiously seated for trade and pleasure : the country about it producing store of fruits , and corn , and the pastures breeding up a great number of cattle . hassia , is governed by a lant-grave , and lies east-ward of saxony , south-ward of franconia , west-ward , and north-ward of west-phalen , being a mountainous country , though in many parts , there are fertile plains , which yield great store of corn , and fruits : nor do the mountains that rise by degrees fail , especially about the skirts of them , to bring forth considerable encrease , and as for this country , at present it is divided into two families , the one of cassel , and the other of darmstat , being of the younger house : as for the chief places that appertain to the lantgraves , they are cassel , or castel , on the river fuld , marpurg on the river lohn ; an university founded anno 1426 , by lewis bishop of munster , and near it is a stately and well fortified castle , seated on a hill , high and steep , so that it is accounted impregnable , if well defended ; and is the chief place of residence in time of war , or danger , giving a prospect of the whole country . darmstadt , is another chief town , guarded by a strong castle , and is the inheritance or seat of the younger house of the lantgraves ; and part of this country belongs to the abbey of fulda , accounted one of the greatest revenues in europe ; and was founded by st. boniface an english-man , insomuch , that the ab●ot is accounted a prince of the empire ; and takes place , as chancellor to the empress , stiling himself primate of gallia . east friesland , has on the west , the river ems ; on the north , the ocean ; on the west , the weser ; and on the south , west-phalia ; and though it is a country of no large extent , yet it is in many parts very fruitful ; and is divided by the river ems only , from the provinces of the vnited netherlands ; and has embden , the utmost borders of the empire for its chief city , pleasantly scituate , and contains many stately buildings , though in general they are built of brick ; and the next to this is oldenburg , considerable for its trade , and is of it self an earldom . west-phalia , has for its boundards on the east , brunswick ; on the north , the ocean ; on the south , hassia ; on the west , belgium ; being a country full of woods and forrests , which yields them notwithstanding great commodities , by reason of the abundance of wild hogs found therein ; said to take their beginning from one farrow , which a sow , straying from a farm-house , cast in these woods ; and of the legs of these hogs , taken in great numbers , are our west-phalia hams so much in esteem &c. and although this country is properly west-phalia ; yet the northern part , changes its name to that of bremen ; and is governed by a bishop , who is lord of this tract ; notwithstanding , the duke of saxony claims a part , and other parts are held to belong to the bishopricks of cullen , munster , and triers : the chief cities are asdrop , clappenburg , and exenburg . as for the chief towns under the bishop of munster , they are munster , scituate on the bank of the river ems , warendrop , and others , and have a pleasant country , all about their neighbourhood , very fertile , and abounding with store of corn and cattle , plain for the most part , there being few or no considerable hills in this tract . cvllen , or the bishoprick of collen , though not large , is nevertheless a very fruitful country , and greatly to be desired , whose arch-bishop is chancellor of italy , and held to be the second chief elector of the empire ; and has in his jurisdiction , besides the city of cullen as chief , those of lintz , ernance , and bonna , much noted for the arch-bishops pallace , held to be one of the most stately in the empire . triers is a bishoprick of note , and contains many fair cities and towns , as triers , from whence it takes its name , coblents , boport , and engers , in chief ; and is pleasantly watered with the moselle , which renders the country in its passage very fruitful , the bishop whereof is accounted the third spiritual elector of the empire . cleveland , is accounted a dutchy , and borders upon gelderland , a small country , yet as the rest in this tract of land , by reason of its commodious scituation , very fruitful , containing the regiments or territories of gulick , cleve , and berge : as for the dutchy of gulick , it contains the city of akan in chief , and some other towns of note , with sundry pleasant villages , and claims the honour of the emperors presence , soon after his election , as taking here a silver crown , and performing some other customary ceremonies . as for the chief cities of the dutchy of cleveland , they are cleve , wesel , emmerick , calkar , and others , with their villages and dependancies ; and those of the dutchy of berge , or mont , are mursburg , dusledorp , hattingen , very commodiously scituate , and the whole country watered with pleasant streams , so that the soyl yields naturally an extraordinary increase to the husbandmen . veteravia is another country of this tract , accounted a province of the empire , lying to the south-west of hassia , somewhat larger than those lately mentioned , as comprehending the countrys of nassaw , hannaw , and friburg a free city ; as for nassaw it contains many considerable towns , and is famous for the princes of that house , who in defence of the netherlands , so long opposed the power of spain ; and from which house , the illustrious prince of orange is descended ; this country yields abundance of corn , and many vines , yet producing no great store of wine ; and in them , besides the towns i have mentioned , are found the towns of dellinbourg , windeck , hebron , and catzenelbogen , which latter has been accounted an earldom . as for the nobility of germany , the title descends to all the sons , which makes them numerous , though the younger houses want for the most part estates to support them ; and thus much briefly of the empire , and its dependencies . sweedland described , in its countryes and provinces , &c. sweeden , or sweedland , is a famous northern country , renowned for its many great enterprizes , and undertakings ; and is bounded on the west with the dosrin hills , dividing it from norway ; and on the north with the frozen ocean ; on the south with denmark , leifland , and the baltick sea , taking , as many hold , its name from sueci , suetheans , or suethedie ; and is in length from stockholm to the borders of lapland 1000 itali●n miles , and about 600 in breadth , reaching in a manner , from the first parallel of the twelfth clime where the pole is elevated 38 degrees , and 26 mi●nutes , as far as to the 71 degrees of latitude , 〈◊〉 which account , the longest day in the souther● point , exceeds not 18 hours , though in the ex●treamest northern parts , they have scarcely 〈◊〉 night for two months ; and this kingdom , tho●g● posited in an extream cold region , is notwithstand●ing kept so warm by the mists that arise from the i●slands , that much of the rigor other countries 〈◊〉 the same latitude suffer is abated , and is a monarchy , one of the antientest in the northern parts 〈◊〉 the world ( if their report be true who boa● th● immediate succession , from above 100 kings ; an● that the first amongst them was the son of japhet , one of the sons of noah . ) as for the kings of sweedland , they stile themselves kings of sweeds , vandals , goths ; great princes of finland , dukes of estonia and carolia ; lords of ingria , and bear three royal crowns for their arms ; and the present king of this country is charles the 11. of the family of the palatine of deuxponts ; as for the soil ( by the industry of the people ) it is render'd exceeding fertile , and the air very healthful ; unless in places where the moorish damps arise from fenns , by the neglect of not opening the water course ; so that the inhabitants generally live to an extream old age : and as for the country it abounds with corn , cattle , fruits and minerals as silver , copper , lead : there are found considerable quantities of furs , and other commodities , and is divided into , or distinguished by the provinces of lapland , gothland , finland , and sweeden . lapland or lappia is the most northern part of scandia , and is divided into the eastern and western parts : the first containing biarmia and ●orolia , which properly appertains to russia , or the jurisdiction of the czars of muscovy , and the latter comprehending lappia and scrisinia , under the government of the king of sweeden ; and the people in many parts , especially the most extream are heathen idolaters , or such as pay adoration to creatures ; especially such as they first see in the morning , and are held to deal in magick and witchcraft , and to sell winds to saylors that navigate those seas ; however they are miserably poor , as living in the most barren part of the country , and pay their acknowledgement or tribute only in furs of foxes , martins &c. which tolerably abound in those parts ; and they dwell for the most part in cotts , where they are by reason of their temperance very healthful ; some of them living to 140 years . next to the before mentioned division is finland , between the finland bay and the baltick ocean of considerable extent , and is full of pleasant pastures , yielding very much corn and fruits , and is properly a dutchy which some of the sweedish kings were wont to assign , for the security of their brothers portions ; and has for its chief cities albo , a bishops see , viburg or viborch , a fortress of considerable strength ; narve , rangia and castle-helm , and near a place called razeburg ; in this country is a province in which the needle-touch by a load-stone keeps continually turning . gothland held to be the birth-place of the antient goths , is accounted one of the most fertil provinces appertaining to this monarchy , participating both of island and continent ; as being divided into both the islands , lying in the baltick sea , being the biggest in these parts , containing five or six commodious ports ; and on some of the rocks appear yet divers inscriptions ( by way of monuments ) in the antient gothish characters , one isle being 18 miles in length , and 5 in breadth ; and as for what is of this province , on the main land , it is posited in the hithermost part of scandia bordering on denmark , where is seated the noted city of norkoping , commodiously on the sea , the place from when abundance of copper is brought : loduvisa a place much traded to , colmar , fortified with a very strong castle , waldburg and others , and is in all parts very fruitful ; so that it is called by many of the sweeds goodland , instead of gothland . swedland properly so called , though contributing its name in general to the rest of the provinces is fertil in many parts ; but it holds not throughout by reason of the many rocks and barren hills , and the chief city is stockholm , or holmia , defended with a castle royal on a sea port , at the mouth of the lake meler , which some of the sweedish kings designed to cut into the wenner , or lake , thereby to have joyned the baltick and the ocean , frustrating thereby the passage of the sound , but it proved a work of so much difficulty , that it was laid aside ; and this lake is held to receive twenty four rivers , and disburthens it self with such noise and fury , that it is by some called devils mouth : but as for the kings ships , and vessels of great burthen , they generally lye at elsenore , defended by a strong castle , and so shelter'd from the wind , that they may lye without anchors . vpsal contains the metropolitan church , where the kings are usually crowned , and formerly held their court ; and is a university of this kingdom , and the most remarkable mart ; carlstat upon the wenner , abounds with brass and copper : strongues is a bishops see. there are yet two other provinces , or divisions of this kingdom ; viz. livonia , by the germans called liefland and ingria , vulgarly ingermanland ; the first deliver'd by the poles upon treaty , and the last taken from the muscovites , and are both of them indifferently fruitful , and have in them many considerable villages and some towns of note . the commodities of these countries , in general are copper , brass , lead , ox-hides , tallow , furs , goat-skins , elks-skins , the skins of deer ; honey , allom , corn ; and in many places there are silver mines , but of no consider able advantage . the men are active , naturally strong , indifferent good seamen , and resolute soldiers ; industrious , ingenious , and very courteous to strangers ; and had the christian faith first planted amongst them , by ausgarius arch-bishop of bremen ; and in matters of judicature , or deciding controversies , each respective territory has its viscount , every province its lans-men , or consul , and every town it's lay-man or consul ; and there lyeth an appeal from the consul to the laymen , and from the lay men to the viscount , and from him to the king , in whose only power it is absolutely to determine the matter . as for the women they are generally well featured , proper in person , very modest and courteous , loving to their husbands , and affable to strangers . a description of denmark , in its countries , provinces , &c. denmark , quasi , danes-mark , comprehending its intire circuit or territories , is bounded on the east with the baltick sea , and a part of sweedland , on the west with the main ocean on the north east , with another part of sweedland , full north with the frozen ocean , and on the south with germany ; lying partly on the north temperate zone , and partly within the artick circle ; extending from the middle parallel of the tenth clime , or 55 degrees of latitude , where it joyneth to germany , and 71 where the frozen ocean bounds it ; the longest day in the most southern parts , being 17 hours and a quarter ; but for 2 months and 3 weeks they have no night at all in the extream north , and is commonly distinguished in these parts , comprehending the appendances . the dukedom of holstein , containing wagerland dithmarsh , stormaria and holstein . the kingdom of denmark containing the two juitlands , and the hemodes or baltick islands , and the kingdom o● norway ( now in subjection to the danes ) with the islands in the north sea , &c. that properly belong to it ; and of these in their order . the cimbrick chersonese , in which the two juitlands , and the dukedom of holstein are contained , is in length 120 miles , and in breadth 80 , and accounted to have within that tract of land ; being in a manner a peninsula , 20 royal castles and pallaces ; 28 cities of note ; 4 bishop sees , and a considerable number of villages ; in many places very fruitful , and affording sundry curious havens ; and on the south east is wagerland , and has for its chief towns hamburg on the elbe . lubeck seated on the confluence of the trave and billew , near the fall of that river into the baltick sea ; much traded to by sundry merchants , where they find great store of the commodities of those countries which are accounted the most fertile . dithmarsh spreads the west side of the chersonesus , scituate between the river albis and endera , giving title to the eldest son of the king of denmark , and has meldrop and marnes for its principal towns ; and although by reason of the many marishes and moorish grounds , the soil in many places is not commodious for tillage , yet nevertheless it feeds great store of cattle . stormaria or stormarsh lying betwen the river elbe , and the rivers billew and store , and has for its chief towns crampe on the bank of a little river of the same name , falling into the store , and is well fortified and reckoned one of the keys of the kingdom ; nor less noted for the great resistance it made against walestein the imperial general ; who 's powerful army it resisted 13 months , and at last brought him to good terms of composition . tychenburgh on the banks of the river elbe ; bredenburg , jetzebo , gulick●tadt and others . south juitland , or the dukedom of sleswick , is that part of the chersonesus that lyes next to holstein ; having for its chief towns , fleusburg on the baltick shoar scituate amongst high mountains : sleswick on the river slea ; from which the dukedom of sleswick has its name , goterp and londen a haven town upon the banks of the river ender . north juitland is the most northern part of the ch●rsonesus and has for it's chief towns halne , rircopen , arhausen and nicopen ; the soil very fruitful , and much abounding with wheat , barly , rice ; store of cattle , producing butter and cheese in great abundance ; and able horses for war , or any other service , here are also found rich furs . as for those that are called the baltick islands ; properly belonging to the king of denmark though they are 35 in number dispersed in the baltick sea , many of them are inconsiderable , and some not inhabited ; the chief are zeland , fionia , or funen ; arsen or aria , langland , laland , falster , mone , heuen or wern , island and bornholme ; of which only the first is very considerable , as having in it 13 cities , the chief of which is copenhagen the residence of the danish kings ; where the regal pallace , though not very stately , is seated ; and is a city of considerable trade , though the buildings are generally mean , as erected of loam and timber ; there is a market constantly kept , and is the only university within the government ; it is defended with a strong wall and a castle , and thither are brought all sorts of commodities the kingdom affords . scandia that part which appertains to denmark , is in the south of a peninsula , divided into three provinces ; as scandia , hallandia , and blescida ; the first of these is 72 miles in length and 48 in breadth , reckoned the most fruitful and pleasant of all the countries lying about it , as being on three parts bounded by sea , and has for its principal towns , lonpen a spacious haven . falskerbode , elbogue and elsinburg one of the keys of the sound . hallandia is but a small tract of land , yet yields much fruits and corn ▪ many cattle , and lying south of scania , has halaenego for its principal town , from which it seems to take its name ; and is well watered with pleasant streams . blescida lies north of sweedland , and though it has many fertile plains , yet it is generally mountainous or craggy hilled , having for its chief tradeing town , malmogia and colmar , a strong fortress bordering on sweedland . a discription of norway . norway , though under the king of denmark , is however a kingdom of it self , being bounded on the east with denmark , on the west with the ocean , on the north with lappia or lapland , and on the south with sweeden ; but lying so much in the extremities of cold , though it is a vast tract of land , it is for the most part rocky , mountainous and barren , not being furnished with stores of its one production , fit for the support of these few people it contains , the greatest commodity it affords being stock-fish , ship masts , deal boards , tackle for shipping , pitch , tann'd leather , train oyl , furrs , and tallow . as for the towns or villages , they are very thinn , and the houses for a great part are made of dirt and hurdles , covered with thatch , and windowed with lattice ; and the whole country is divided into 5 praefectures or governments , according to the number of the royal castles , built for the defence of the country , known by the names of bohus , ager-huis , agger-huse , trundheim , and ward-huis . the chief towns in these several jurisdictions , are anslo or astoia , on a bay opposite to juitland , an episcopal see , bergen , an episcopal sea , and the ordinary residence of the governour for the king of denmark ; marstrand seated in a half island amongst rocks &c. trandiheim , antiently nidrosia an arch-bishops see who is metropolitan of norway ; and ward-huis seated in the island of ward ; and although the country ( abounding with horrid woods , and desolate mountains ) is naturally poor , yet at certain seasons little beasts , about the bigness of field mice , over-spread like locusts the fertile parts of the field , &c. and consume every thing that 's green or pleasant in their way , and then gathering together they die in heaps , thereby occasioning a pestilential noisomness , that much afflicts the inhabitants with diseases ; and these they call lemmers , affirming them to be dropt out of the clouds in tempestuous weather : nor do the whales , that appear on that coast in great number , less disturb their fishing trade , by the indangering the sinking of their boats and small vessels ; which monstrous creatures they have lately found the art of chasing away , by throwing oyl of castor into the sea , at the scent whereof they fly : and though the people are miserable poor , they nevertheless hate dishonesty , and greatly delight in plain dealing . a description of russia , comprehending the dukedom of muscovy . this large tract of land is bounded on the west with livonia and finland ; on the east with tartary ; on the north by the frozen ocean , and part of lapland ; on the south with lithuania , ●rim taytary , and the euxine sea ; and is accounted in its greatest length from east to west 3300 miles , and in breadth 3065 , being subject to the czar of muscovy , or great duke , who notwithstanding stiles himself emperor of russia , or russland , which is part in europe , and part in asia , divided by the river tanais , the boundard of two parts of the world. the chief city is mosco , the seat of the great duke , and the patriarch , and of most of the nobility , being very large , though not stately ; there are besides this of note , roscovia , and novograd , archepiscopal sees , vologda , smolensko , and plescovia , held to be the only walled town in muscovy , vstium , mosayce , st. nicholas , sugana , gragapolis , and the chief maritime port is arch-angel , seated in the proper russia , whither our merchants trade , and the russia company have a factory , the country yielding store of furrs , as sables , white fox , martins , black fox , honey , wax , cattle , tallow , red deer-skins , hides , hemp , flax , tar , brimstone , salt petre , train oyl , tongues , and the like ; and the soil towards the southern parts is exceeding fruitful , producing abundance of corn , and rich pastures , with fruits of various kinds , watered by the river volga , that passes from thence through a part of tartary ; but to the extream north , which lies in upward of 76 degrees , the weather is so cold , that little but rocks , woods , mountains , and ice are found there , containing a vicissitude of light and darkness ; for the day , if we have a respect to the twy-light , lasts six months , and a great part of the other six they see not the sun , but have the country covered with snows and during frosts , the sea being never free from rocks and mountains of ice , over great arms of which the inhabitants pass with wagons , sleads , and other carriages : nor are there found any inhabitants in those desolate parts during the winter season , but in that little summer they have , the shepherds and fishermen , set up hutts or tents , though in the woods on this coast , are the tallest trees in europe . the inhabitants of this country are thick , not tall , but rather square , habiting themselves in furrs , course cloth , and feeding to excess , given greatly to drinking , though it be strictly forbid , and are generally false and perfidious , nor regarding their words , but studying to over-reach , or cozen all they can , insomuch that being in other countries , they strive to dissemble their own , the better to be credited : the women are tolerably handsome , well limbed and proportioned , and have a strange custom amongst them , not to think their husbands either love or regard them , unless they once or twice a day cudgel their sides . their religion in most things agrees with that of the greek church , not making any acknowledgment to the pope , or see of rome , but have a patriarch of their own , to whom all their ecclesiasticks submit : and as for the government it is absolute , the czar , who is by the people in extraordinary esteem and veneration , having in his hands the power of life and death , disposing at his pleasure both of the body and goods of his subjects , and is seldom out of war with the tartars , a roving people that border upon the most fruitful part of his country ; and though the armies of the muscovites are generally numerous , yet are they composed for the most part of stragling people , and seldom answer in valour the least that may be expected from them , as has not only in times past , but lately been manifest , and the reason is , because they go poor , and unfurnished into the field . a description of poland , &c. poland is a very considerable kingdom , bounded on the east with the river boristhenes , on the west with the vistula ; on the south with hungary ; and on the north with the baltick sea ; and is for the most part plain and level , tho' in some places there are little rising hills , abounding with woods , and is properly divided into the provinces of livonia , lithuania , volhinia , samogitia , prussia , massovia , podalia , russia nigri , podlassia , and poland ; and the chief cities are , guesna , an archiepiscopal see , posnavia , cadissia , siradia , vladistavia , crac●via , and caminiec ; the latter in the possession of the turks , who hold it as their frontier in those parts ; and in cracovia is a famous university . the buildings in this kingdom , and the provinces that compose it , are for the most part of timber and loam ; the land full of forrests , with many rivers , yielding notwithstanding abundance of corn , but is defective in wine ; honey and wax , are likewise found in great store , with fruits of divers kinds , and a great number of cattle and wild beasts ; there are also salt-pits , and in some places mines of brimstone , copper and iron . the polanders are generally tall , well proportioned , courteous , and pleasant of behaviour ; their garments are rich , and of divers colours , being much conceited of their own worth , and loving to be praised , or rather flattered : as for lithuania , one of the provinces of this kingdom , though it is a very large one , yet it is so full of fenns , and pestered by the over-flowing of rivers , that it is not currantly passable , but when the frosts are great , at what time they have no hindrance , neither by rivers nor fenns , and their greatest wealth consists in cattle , honey , wax and furrs : as for the language generally spoken , it is the sclavonian ; and in the north extremities , where villages and towns are very scarce , the people dwell in hutts of straw and loam , with holes at the top of them to let in the light , and give vent to the smoak , living in miserable poverty , as do ( for the major part ) the peasants or inferiour people , being in a manner slaves to the great ones , whose tenants they are , though the richer sort are very profuse and expensive , rather prodigal than liberal , impatient of injuries , delicious in diet , and costly in attire , often shaving their heads , except one lock , which they preserve with great care , being generally good soldiers , and much glory if they can kill a turk in battle , and bring off his head , in token of which , they wear feathers in their caps . theft in these parts is very rare , especially to be committed by a native polander , and all crimes are severely punished : as for the religion they profess , in relation to the government , it is that of the romish church , though the reformed way of worship is allowed and tolerated ; and the king is of late elective ; the women are tolerably fair and well proportioned , very witty and ingenious , great admirers , and observers , of their husbands , and very neat in their houses . a peasant in this country ( unless in time of great danger or invasion ) is not suffered to bear arms ; and when the gospel is read in the churches , the gentry and nobility draw their swords , in token that they are ready to defend it with their lives . as for the circumference of this kingdom , and the provinces appertaining to it , some account it 2600 miles , and is scituate under the 8 and 12 climates : so that the longest day southward , is 16 hours , and northward 18 ; bordering upon it are the huge carpathian mountains , where sundry rivers have their springs , that water the provinces , and pass through many countries . a description of the kingdom of hungary , &c. hvngary , one of the fruitfullest countries of europe , before wasted and destroyed by a tedious war , is bounded on the east with transilvania and wallachia , on the west stiria , austria , and moravia , on the north with the carpathian mountains , on the south with sclavonia , and some part of dacia ; accounted in length 300 english miles , and 109 in breadth , lying in the north temperate zone , between the middle parallels of the 7 and 9 climates , so that the longest day in the south is 15 hours and a half , and 16 in the north , and was anciently called pannonia . the people of this country are strong of body , boisterous of behaviour , and have no great regard to liberal arts , or mechanick occupations , as giving themselves mostly to war , and taking it for the greatest affront imaginable to be esteemed a coward , which they find no other way to obliterate , but by killing a turk , after which they have the liberty of wearing a feather , as a trophee of their exploit ; and though they are extreamly covetous , they are no ways willing to labour , but rather desire to live upon the spoil : as for the females they have no claim to any inheritance , so that the male line failing , the estate goes to the common treasury ; nor have the daughters any other portion given them , than a wedding garment , and are for the most part obliged to lie on hard quilts , till such time as they are married . as for their cities and towns , they are fortified for war , as having for upward of two hundred years been imbroiled with the turks , transilvanians ; and other neighbouring nations ; the chief of which are , presburg , buda , belgrade , gran , new-hausel , great warradine , alba regalis , raab , commora , temeswar , gyula , agria , esseck , pest , &c. which have strugled with various fortunes and success , though at present most of the strong holds of this kingdom , through the late good success are in the imperialists hands ; the kingdom being hereditary to the house of austria , of which joseph the emperor's son , and arch-duke of austria , is now crowned king. the soil , though for the most part untilled , is notwithstanding wonderful fruitful , yielding corn where they till it , thrice in a year , and in some places the pastures are so rank for want of feeding , that it rises the height of a man ; it abounds likewise with fruits of all kinds , especially abundance of rich vines , of whose grapes rich wine is made , and deer , goats , hares , conies , and wild foul are here in great plenty , though none be forbidden to take them ; there are likewise mines of silver , and in some places gold is found ; and in time of peace the cattle so multiply , that they are obliged to send great store of them into divers parts of europe , to prevent their over-running the country . the religion established in the kingdom of hungary , is that of the romish communion , though at present the reformed worship is tollerated : the chief rivers are the danube , the gran , the waag , and the nitrea ; though many other water this fruitful country ; but for mountains there are none considerable , the country being generally plain , unless a few pleasant rising hills , many of them crowned with vines ; and here is the famous bridg of esseck , 7 miles in length : passing over 3 rivers , and divers marshes , though lately it has been much ruined and destroyed . the description of sclavonia . sclavonia is a considerable country , bordering on hungary , which bounds it on the north ; as the adriatick sea does on the south ; carniola , histria , and the seignory of venice on the west ; and servia , epirus , and macedonia on the east ; accounted in length 480 miles , and in breadth 325 , of italian measure , scituate in the north temperate zone , between the middle parallels of the 6 and 7 climates ; so that the longest day exceeds not 15 hours and a half . this country contains many small provinces or divisions , as windishland , croatia , bosnia , dalmatia , contado-dizara , and the sclavonian islands ; and the chief cities or towns are , zatha , zacaocz , windisgretz , sagona , ragusa , scituate on the adriatick , being a place of great traffick , sebenicum or sicum , zara or jadera , scodra or scutary , before which the turks lost 100000 men , lissa , gradiska , buman , novigrad , and sisseg , or sisseck , with others of lesser note , scatter'd throughout the provinces , which are partly in the hands of the turks , and partly in the possession of the imperialists and venetians . these countries for the most part afford abundance of good pasture , abound in fruits , and are rich in corn , yielding some mines , and great store of cattle , watered in many places by the danube , save , drave , and other rivers of note ; and as for the people they are hardy , and inured either to war or labour ; and though they give themselves not much to till the ground , because the turks and venetians for the most part , reap the benefit of their labours , yet they want nothing that is necessary for the support of humane life ; forasmuch as the cattle and sheep bring forth their young twice in the year ; and although corn be but barely cast on the ground , without tillage , it will bring forth increase . as for the people , though they are stubborn , and much addicted to pride , yet are they put to many servile labours , by their more proud conquerors , who lord it over them as if they were no other than their drudges ; for which reason the word slave , is derived from these sclaves , through the unmerciful usage they found at the hands of the venetians , when they were first brought into subjection by the seigniory of venice : as for their religious worship , it is in most parts according to that of the greek church , whose patriarch they acknowledg supream in ecclesiastical matters ; and here they permit their women very rarely to marry , till they are 24 years of age , nor the men till 30. and at this time , the venetians have 3000 sclavonian horse-men inrolled amongst their militia , and have at all times drained this people to assist in their wars against the turks and neighbouring christians : and as for the native sclaves , their garb is half sleeved gowns , of violet cloth , and a bonnet of the same , much like to that of the scots ▪ shaving their heads all but a lock of hair on their crown , after the fashion of the turks ; the women likewise cut their hair indifferent short , and if so it be not naturally black , they use art to render it of that colour . a description of dacia , in its sundry principalities and provinces , &c. dacia , properly so held in the time of the flourishing roman empire , is bounded on the north with podolia , and some other part of the realm of poland ; on the south with part of thrace and macedonia ; on the east with the rest of thrace ; and on the west with hungary and sclavonia ; held at present to comprehend the principalities of transilvania , moldavia , wallachia , rascia , servia and bulgaria ; extending from the 7 to the 10 clime , so that in the most southern parts , the days are 15 hours 3 quarters at the longest , and 17 in the most northern . transilvania the first division of dacia , takes its name from its lying behind the great hungarian woods , and is in time of peace an exceeding fruitful country ; abounding in fruits , corn , cattle , fish , salt-pits , stone-quarries , mines of gold and silver , quicksilver , and other metals ; and in the woods are found many wild bulls , and wild cattle ; and the pastures breed many fair horses , the best for war in all those parts ; and in the frontiers they have seven towers to guard the approach from hungary , which gives the dutch occasion to call it seven-burg ; though the chief towns are clusenburg , carolstaat , harmanstadt , and many others , and are governed by a prince of their own , who has a long time been tributary to the turks ; but since their late bad success , put himself and his country under the protection of the emperor . moldavia quasi maetavia , said so to be called from its nearness to the fenns of maeotis , is a country abounding with woods , yet very plenteous in wine , corn and pastures , producing great store of cattle though thinly peopled , by which means it is but slenderly tilled ; however they have out of this small province , supplyed the great and populous city of constantinople , with store of provisions ; so that together with what they send to poland , the tenth peny , by way of custom , amounts to 150000 crowns yearly , though the gentry and clergy are excused from paying any thing of this nature , constantinople receiving from hence every year 500 ship loads of provision only . the chief towns are occaz●ma the seat of the vaivod or prince cotiim a strong fortress biolograde and bender , and has in it two arch-bishops sees ; the people in religious matters following the traditions of the greek church . walachia is another province of dacia , held to derive its name from flacous , a noble roman , who was governor of it in the time of trajan the emperor ; so that the people at this day speak a kind of a corrupt latin or italian ; and this country is in length 500 miles , in breadth 120 , being for the most part plain and full of pastures , flourishing medows which feed a great many cattle , and bring up excellent horses for war and service of any kind ; here are found likewise salt-pits and iron mines ; mines of gold and silver ▪ the which for fear it should entice the turks to 〈◊〉 their country , they keep for the most part concealed ; they also in sundry places have store of vines , yielding plenty of wine ; and have for their chief towns galatza on the influx of the river pruth , into the danube ; frescortum , prai●aba , and zorza ; and is watered with the rivers danube , teln , alluta , fulmina , stertius and herasius ; and is as the former , gove● 〈…〉 a vai●od ▪ and dependant in religious ●gean and 〈◊〉 church ; the ecclesiastical affairs being governed by an arch-bishop and two bishops , and pays at this day tribute to the turks . rascia , another province of dacia , has in it the towns of bodon , zarnovia , covin , novebard , severine , colambes and columbella ; but continually lying in the way of war ; the turks and tartars , by their often marching through it , have by the waste and plunder they made , so impoverished the inhabitants , that the towns and villages are extreamly thin ; and although the soil is in many parts capable of producing corn and fruits , yet wanting men to till it , it produces nothing material ; nor are those that inhabit it any ways incouraged to manure the fields , as knowing others will reap the fruits of their labour . servia is a country by nature more fruitful , and was antiently very rich and flourishing , till the turks made themselves masters of it , by the fatal overthrow of lazarus the despot , on the plains of cossovia , and was well stored with mines of gold and silver , especially near the town ▪ of zorbenick● ; but now they are either exhausted , or thrown in , so that little advantage accrues by them ; and the people indeed are degenerated from their former manners and behaviour , as being rude , gluttonous , and much given to wine . their principal towns are nissa , vidina , cra●●● , zorbenic and semunder , and the province is commodiously watered by the rivers colubra , lem , ibra and moravia , with some others , very pleasant and plentiful in many places . bvlgaria was antiently a kingdom , and called by the romans missa inferior , as servia was missa superior ; and is a country very mountainous and full of rugged hills , steep rocks , and fearful water-falls , taking its name from 〈◊〉 bulgars a scythian people , who in the●●g with woo●d , upon it , driving out the antient inhabitants ; and is divided from thrace by the great mountain haemus , whose spurs and branches in a manner over-run it ; yet the kings hereof have been accounted very powerful ; insomuch that they have worsted in sundry battles , the latin and greek emperors of constantinople : and received the christian faith , towards the end of the reign of justinian the second . the places of most note are mesembria , divogatia , axium , nicopolis , marcionopolis , and are watered by the danube ; which in part of this country takes the name of ister , and is now tributary to the turks ; who for the most part imploy the natives in their wars , as being very valiant and daring , a description of greece , in its kingdoms and provinces , as antiently it stood , &c. greece as we now must take it , is bounded on the east with the propontick , hellespont , and aegean seas ; on the west with the adriatick ; and on the north with the mount haemus , parting it from servia and bulgaria , and some part of illiricum ; and on the south with the ionian sea ; being in a manner a peninsula , or rather a half island , commodiously scituate for navigation , and has had divers notable revolutions , being now inti●●● 〈◊〉 the possession of the turks , unless what the ●enetians have preserved , or wrested from them ; and as this large country properly stands at present , i think it highly necessary , for the better conveniency of describing it , to divide it into respective provinces and countries , &c. 1. peloponesus . 2. achaia . 3. epirus . 4. albania . 5. macedonia : 6. thrace , and as for the islands of the ionian , aegean and propontick seas ; together with the famous creet , i shall leave them to a particular description of all the islands of note , &c. peloponesus is in a manner inclosed by the sea , only where by a small isthmus it is joyned to the european continent , of no more than six miles in breadth ; which the grecians and venetians formerly fortified with a great wall and five castles , antiently called hexamillium ; but in the wars with amurath the second turkish emperor they were overthrown ; and this country is accounted 600 miles in circuit , and though it has passed under divers names , it is now called the morea , and held to be the most pleasant country of greece , abounding in fruitfulness , and all things necessary for the support of human life ; adorned with many goodly plains and pleasant rising hills , furnished on every side with sundry commodious ports and havens ; and though for the bigness of it no country has suffered more in the ruin of so many stately cities , yet it remains at this day , the most populous and best inhabited of all the grecian continent ; and near the middle of it , in laconia is the mount taygetus , the top whereof gives a prospect over the whole country , which is properly divided into 7 provinces , viz. achaia-propria , elis , messene , arcadia , laconia , argolis and corinthia . achaia-propria has on the east for its boundard argolis and corinth ; on the west the ionian sea ; on the north the gulf of lepanto ; on the south elis ; so named from the achaei once inhabiting it ; the adjuncta propria being added to difference it from achaia in the main land or continent of greece . in this part the considerable places are chiarenza antiently dymae , scituate in the most western point of it , on or near the promontory , araxum , aegria , once the chief city of this tract , now called xilocastro , chaminisa , antiently olneus , patreae , a pleasant town scituate opposit to the mouth of the gulf lepanto ; being a place of considerable trade , and most note on the bay of corinth , from whence it is called golfo-di-patras and here the english had once a consul for the establishment of trade , called the consul of the morea , and is memorable for the death of st andrew , the apostle , who there suffer'd martyrdom ; and next to these are pellene , hellice , buris , the latter two much ruined or rather sunk in the sea by a tempest , about the time of the battle of leuctres ; tritaea and phera ; but the chief town which separated from the rest , we may term a province is sicyon , scituate in the most eastern part , and gives name to the country of sicyonia abounding in olives , wine , and iron mines ; the inhabitants whereof count themselves the antientest of greece , and have been governed by a succession of 26 kings , before they fell into other methods of government . the country of elis , is bounded on the east with arcadia , on the west with the ionian sea , on the north with achaia-propria , and on the south messenia ; and has for its chief city elis , giving name to the province , and was founded as some historians have it , by elisha son of javan , and grandchild of japhet ; and near unto it runs the river alpheus : in this tract is found olympia , near to which once stood the statue of jupiter 〈◊〉 60 cubits in heighth , and every way proportionable , composed of gold and ivory , by phidias ; and here were held the olympic games , instituted by hercules . messenia is seated in the most southern part of the peninsula , and takes its name from the city of messene scituate on sinus messenaicus now called golfo-di-corone , lately taken and posse●led by the vene●ians ; in this tract stood pylos the chief city of king nestor , but now called navarino , a small village of little note metron or methone , is commodionsly seated in a half island , and has on the south side a capacious bay about 3 miles over , fit for the reception of great vessels . corone the city that gives name to the golfo-di-corone , &c. cyparissi now called arcudia , from which the bay adjoyning takes its name ; and although this province abounding with corn , cattle and fruits , was taken by the turks in the year 1500 , yet in this last war it is mostly recovered by the venetians . arcadia is bounded on the east with laconia , on the west with elis and messene , on the north with achaia-propria ; and on the south with the sea ; and is said to take its name from arcas the son of jupiter and calisto , called before that pel●●gia , and has for its chief city mantinia ; near unto which the thebans in a mortal battle , overthrew the spartans and athenians ; and then epaminondas that famous leader received his mortal wound . this province is exceeding fertil , abounding in cattle and rich pastures , fruits of sundry kinds , and divers minerals ; insomuch that for its pleasantness , many curious fancies have been ●abled upon it ; and in this country sir philip sidney layed the seene of his famous work . laconia has on the east and south the sea , on the west arcadia , and on the north argolis , antiently called lelegia ; and was once reckoned to ●ontain 100 cities , though now it comes very short of that number : the chief are leuctres , amyclae , thulana , near to which hercules is said to kill the hydra ; salass●a , epidaurus seated on the bay of malvasia , a town well built and fortified ; and sparta so called from spartus a prince of argos ; as for this part it is wonderful fruitful , and lies very commodious for traffick and navigation , greatly abounding in all the commodities common to greece ; being pleasantly watered with the river eurotas , and other streams of lesser note ; having many fair promontories , bays , and havens . argolis is bounded on the south with laconia , on the west with corinthia and achaia-propria , and on the east and north with the sea ; taking its name from the city argos , its metropolis , once the head of a famous kingdom ; and in this city king pyrrhus the great grecian conqueror , after he had victoriously forced his entrance , was slain with a tile thrown at him by an old woman , from the top of a house ; and besides this , it has traezan , tyrinthia , nemea , and some others ; and grew in times past from a small province , to a powerful kingdom ; being once the chiefest of greece in strength giving birth to many renowned persons , and the most famed for the breed of horses . corinthia , though but a little region , is yet nevertheless exceeding pleasant and fruitful , lying towards the istmus or neck of land that joyns the rest of greece to peloponesus , between argolis ▪ and achaia propria ; containing only the territories of corinth , and the chief towns are cincrea , corinth , memorable for the epistles saint paul wrote to the inhabitants ; commodiously scituate for the command of all greece , but that the inhabitants give themselves more to merchandise than war ; and although it has been a long time in the hands of the turks , it was the last year taken by the venetians ; and is seated on the bottom of the neck or istmus , the ionian sea being on the west , and the aegean on the east , washing its walls ; and makeing on each side a capacious haven , and was formerly exceedingly fortified but of latter times the security the turks supposed themselves in , on that part of their empire , made them little mind keeping it from running to decay . and thus much may briefly suffice , as for that part of greece called peloponesus . as for the other achaia , it is properly divided into attica , megaris , baetia , phocis , aetolia , doris , locris ; and the chief city accounted amongst these is athens , once the head of a famous common-wealth , and sometime a kingdom ; and is seated very advantagiously , making a port into the sea , and was once the mistriss of arts and arms ; and in st. pauls time , who wrote his first and second epistle from hence to the thessalonians a very flourishing city , but by the wars and misfortunes it has sustained , is now only noted , for what it has been , more than for what it is . megaris is but a small region , yet very pleasant and much abounding in corn and fruits , and has for its chief city magaria . baetia is much larger than the former , and was once all the dominion or kingdom of thebes , that famous city , so much noted to be built by cadmus the phaenician , being the metropolis : and in this tract are found likewise aulis and platea , and is watered with divers pleasant streams . phocis is memorable for the mountain parnassus , and was much noted for the temple of apollo at the foot of it , but now that stately structure where the delphic oracle gave answers is ruined , and scarcely any part of it remaining . aetolia is another considerable part of this tract , divided by the river pindus from epirus ; once a country of great note , and full of towns and places of strength , but now retains at present few of note except chalcis and thermum ; however the whole country is pleasant , abounding in pastures , watered with many rivers , yielding some mines , and great store of cattle . locris though it is but a small region , yet lies commodiously on the sea coast , and has for its chief town lepanto ; in sight of which was fought the famous battle or sea fight , between the turks , venetians , and consederate christians ; in which 29000 of the turks were killed , 4000 taken prisoners , 140 gallies burnt , taken , and sunk , and 1200 christian slaves rescued , in the year 1571. and as for the trade here , it consists in leather , oyl , tobacco , furrs , wheat , barly , rice , &c. and is again in the possession or under the power of the venetians . doris is a small province bounding upon , or rather appertaining to locris , and has for its chief town or city , amphissa , bordering upon the mountain parnassus ; here is also found guidas , where the stately temple of venus stood , and where st. paul continued a long time : and as for this tract it is very pleasant and fruitful , watered with small rivers , but none of note . epirus , was once a famous kingdom , of which pyrrhus ( who invaded the romans in italy ) was king , but more memorable for being under the regency of the great scanderbeg , who with a handful of men stood out against the whole power of the turkish empire , in the reigns of amurath the second , and mahomet the great , defeating and destroying prodigious armies of the infidels ; and has for its chief cities cro●ja , petrela , petra , alba , and stelusia ; the country is very fruitful , tho' somewhat mountainous , and was once accounted next to macedon , the most powerful in greece , and at this day greatly abounds in cattle , rich pastures and corn. albania is bounded with macedon , sclavonia , epirus , and the adriatick sea , and has for its chief cities durazzo , and albinopolis , memorable for its breed of horses , which the turks use mostly in their wars , and the courage of its inhabitants , whose country being but indifferently fruitful , and too strait for the inhabitants , they like the swiss , rather choose the exercise of arms , than husbandry . macedon , once famous for being head of the greek empire , is bounded with missa superior , migdonia , epirus , and achaia , and is a very rich and flourishing country , though the turks greatly oppress the native greeks , and make them labour that they may reap the greatest profit , and abounds not only with cattle , corn , and some wine , but in it are found mines of gold , and other mettals ; and of this country alexander the great was king , who not only conquered the greatest part of asia , but brought all greece into subjection , founding here the third empire of the world : and as for the chief cities , they are aedassa , andrastus , eriba , scidra , and philippus , or philipopolis , built by philip the father of alexander ; and to the people of this city it was , that st. paul wrote his epistle . thessaly was once likewise a kingdom , lying on the south of macedon , abounding with pleasant valleys and hills , and amongst the latter are found that of olympus , so famed for transcending the clouds , othris , pelion , and ossa , so often struck with thunder , and fabled to be laid one upon the other , when the giants went about to storm the skies . the country indeed is very fruitful in many parts , and produces an excellent breed of horses , the natives being held first to invent the art of breaking and backing them : and here achilles reigned , who was slain at the siege of troy : the chief towns of this country are la●ia , tricca , pharsalia , on whose large plains caesar and pompey fought for the empire of the world ; as also philippi , in whose fields augustus caesar and marcus antonius , overthrew brutus and cassius . migdonia is a small country , and accounted by most a part of thrace , and famous for nothing more than the hill athos , held to be the highest in the world , as being 3 days journey in ascent , and 75 miles in circuit ; so that its shadow reaches ( upon the declining of the sun ) 40 miles : nor are there wanting in this country cities and towns of considerable note , as thessalonica , commonly called salonica ( to whose inhabitants two of st. pauls epistles are directed ) appollonia , nicladia , and others . thrace , properly so called , though now romaniae , as it lies at present circum scribed is within these boundards , viz. on the east the euxine , or black sea , the propontis and hellespont ; on the west with macedon ; on the south with the aegean sea , and part of macedon , and on the north with the large hill haemus ; and is a large and goodly province , accounted 20 days journey in length , and 6 in breadth , and in relation to the heavens reacheth unto 44 degrees north latitude , so that the longest day in summer is about 15 hours , and 3 quarters ; and in this country is scituate the great city of constantinople , so named by constantine the great , and made by him the capital of the roman empire , and is now the like to the turkish empire , and the chief residence of the grand seigniour ; built in a triangular manner , the one angle thrusting into the main land , and the other two bordering upon the sea ; adrianople , built by adrian the emperor , and trajanopolis , founded by the emperor trajan ; with others of lesser note . this country as to the soil , is very fruitful , but by reason of the sharp cold air coming off the seas , they ripen not kindly , nor do the inhabitants trouble themselves much with husbandry , as knowing they labour but for others ; however in their gardens towards the sea , they are very curious , so that much wine is produced from the grapes that grow there , which is properly called greek wine , and mostly sent into other countries , the turks by their law being forbidden to drink it : they have large plains likewise where corn grows indifferently plentiful , but more pulse which is amongst them in great use . the natives of this country , as indeed of all greece , are much declined from what they formerly were , in learning , arts , and arms , as being no better than slaves to the imperious turks , who lord it over them , whereby they are discouraged and dulled , even to a kind of stupidity ; nor does the eloquence of their original language continue pure amongst them , but is mostly corrupted , insomuch that they in few parts perfectly understand the antient greek . the commodities found in the principal trading towns of this , and other sea provinces , are grograms , carpets , silks , drugs , leather , chamlets ; and indeed the chief commodities of europe and asia , which pay great customs to the grand seigniour . and thus much for the main land of europe , whose islands we shall hereafter consider , with those of the other three parts of the world , when we come to treat of the respective seas in which they are posited , and therefore , for orders sake , omit them here , and proceed to asia . a geographical and historical description of asia . in its kingdoms and provinces , &c. of asia in general . asia held to be larger than europe and africa , is bounded on the west with the mediterranean and aegean seas , the hellespont , propontis , and the thracian bosphorus , the euxine sea , palus maeotis , the rivers tanais and duina , a line in that case being drawn from the first to the second river , as its bounda●d to europe ; on the north it is bounded with the main scythian ocean , on the east by the streights of annian , the indian ocean , and mare del zur , on the south , with the mediterranian , or so much of it , as is called the carpathian sea , bathing the shoars of anatolia ; and the main southern ocean , passing along the coasts of india , arabia , and persia ; and on the south-east , with the arabian bay , or red sea , parting it from africa , and is indeed washed on all sides with the sea , but where a narrow istmus joyns it to africa , and the space of ground between the tanais and diuna , where it is joyned to europe . this large tract of land , is held by some , to take its name from asia , the daughter of oceanus , and thetis the wife of japetus , and mother of prometheus , and others , from asius , son of atis , a king of lydia ; but originals of this kind , being generally uncertain , it will be convenient to wave them , and proceed to what is more material , viz. in antient times asia was divided into the greater and lesser ; but by modern writers , it is divided into five parts , according to the divisions it is settled in ; as first , that which borders upon europe , is alotted the great duke of muscovy ; the second , the great cham of tartary ; the third , the turk ; the fourth , the king of persia ; and the fifth , held by the great mogul , and others , known by the name of the east india ; not accounting the petty princes , who have independent provinces , nor what remains in the hands or possession of the europeans in sundry parts , &c. to which five we may properly add china , a large country , very populous , and powerful , accounted one of the fruitfullest in asia . this part of the world may rightly be held or termed , the noblest of all other , as conjectured , on all hands , once to contain the earthly paradise : here the law was given , and here our blessed saviour , wrought the stupendious , and amazing work of our redemption : hence sprung the noble sciences , that the greeks learned of the hebrews , and flourished under the monarchie of the medes , persians and assyrians : and is divided into two parts , or divisions , as asia major , and asia minor , the latter called anatolia ; the whole country scituate east and west , from 52 to 169 degrees of longitude ; and north and south , from 82 degrees of latitude , to the very aequator or aequinoctial line ; some few islands only lying beyond that circle , which occasions the longest summers day in the most southern part , to exceed little above 12 hours , though in the most northern parts , for near the space of four months , they have no night at all . as for the commodities , this great part of the world abounds with in general , they are gold , silver , all sorts of minerals , jewels , pearls , spices , odours , ivory , drugs of sundry kinds , silks , dyes , sweet-woods , perfumes , &c. but to come nearer to the description of the countries , for orders sake , it is convenient to begin with asia minor , or anatolia . asia minor , or anatolia , described , in its kingdoms , and provinces , &c. asia minor , or anatolia , is bounded on the east , with the river euphrates ; on the west , with the thracian bosphorus , propontis , hellespont , and the aegean sea , parted by them from europe ; on the north with pontus euxinus , or the black sea ; on the south by the rhodian , lydian , and pamphilian seas , and several parts of the mediterranean ; extending from 51 to 72 degrees , of longitude ; and from 36 to 45 degrees of latitude , and is accounted in length , from the hellespont to the euphrates 630 miles , and in breadth from trabezond , a city so called to sinus issicus in cilicia , 210 , and is under the middle parallel of the fourth , to the sixth clime , by reason of which , the longest day in the summer southward , is but 14 hours and a half , and differs not above an hour in the extreamest north , which is longer , insomuch that the air is very temperate , and the soil very fit for any sort of grain or fruit ; but that husbandry is neglected by reason of its being under the turkish yoak , though the rich pasture of its own accord breeds great store of cattle , and an excellent race of horses ; and here stood the famous city of troy , so much renowned for its sustaining ten years siege , against the whole power of greece : nor did this country formerly boast of less than 4000 cities and towns , but at this day most of them are found to be ruined by war and earth quakes . as for the division of this part of asia , it is properly divided into bythinia , pontus , paphlagonia , galatia , cappadocia , armenia minor , phrygia minor , phrygia major , the greater and the lesser missias , aeolis , and ionia , lydia , caria , lycia , lycaonia , pisidia , pamphilia ; and what in the time it appertained to the roman and greek empires , were under the province of the rhodes ; and of these in their order . bithynia , is a very pleasant province of asia minor , formerly called bebrycia , and afterwards migdonia , taking the present name from one bithynius , who was king thereof when a kingdom , though 〈◊〉 will have this name derived from thyni a people of thrace , who subdued and possessed it . the country is naturally rich on that part bordering upon the bosphorus , opposite to constantinople , which is scituate on the european shoar , full of little rising hills , and grassy plains , and was once the delight of such as sailed those seas , or streights ; but the turks ( who affect neither art nor sumptuousness in their retirements or recreation ) have neither improved , nor kept up the pleasant gardens and pallaces they found in it . the principal towns of bithynia , are scutari , facing constantinople , chalcedon , memorable for the fourth general council there assembled , for the suppression of the nestorian hereticks , nicomede , so named from nicomedes once king of bithynia , libussa , memorable for the death and sepulchre of the famous hannibal , the carthaginian general , who fell by poison , prusa , once a considerable city , and the residence of the turkish kings , till mahomet the first removed to adrianople : nice , or nicaea , scituate on the fenns of the river ascanius , famous for nothing more , than the first general council held there under constantine the great , anno 314. to settle the peace of the church , greatly disturbed and put out of order by the arian heresie , where there assembled no more than 318 bishops , yet in such esteem for learning and piety , that to this day , it is highly approved by all good men ; and here after the taking of constantinople by the latin princes , the greek emperor held his residence ; and the rivers of this province are phillis , ascamius , sangaris , or sangri , but for hills or mountains none of note appear . pontvs , or metapontus is a bordering province on bithynia , has for its chief cities flaviopolis , claudiopolis , juliopolis , diospolis , heraclea , amastris , phillium , and others formerly very famous , but o● later times not of much note ; and in that part called the eastern pontus , is sinope , pleasantly seated on a long promontory , shooting into the main , and memoralble for the sepulchre of king mithridates , who held a forty years war against the romans ; themisciyra , now called fanogoria ; amasia , the birth place of strabo the geographer ; cabira , afterward called diopolis , noted for the overthrow lucullus gave king mithridates near it , when to retard the pursuit of his enemies , he was obliged to scatter his treasure in the way , and thereby escaped their hands , with the greatest part of his forces : as for the rivers in these parts , or any other division of pontus , they are not ( except thermodon , on whose banks the amazonians formerly inhabited ) of any considerable note . paphlagonia , though a country of little compass , yet once was the chief seat of a powerful people , but ruined by cyrus for their assisting the lydians against him , and the principal cities were gangra , now memorable for nothing more than the council held there in the year 339. conica , or coniata , pompeiopolis , germanopolis , xoana , and andrapa ; and from this country the venetians had their original , as sprung from a people called heneti , antiently inhabiting a part of it ; and , as the rest , the soil is very fruitful in places where it is manured : the inhabitants are a mixture of greeks and turks , with some christians and jews amongst them , but not very many ; nor have they any considerable traffick at sea , which renders the province poor . galatia , deriving its name from the gauls , when they over-ran these parts , who called it gaul-asia , and corruptly galatia ; it was likewise called gallo-graecia , from the mixture of galls and grecians ; and here to this day the antient language of 〈◊〉 galls is much spoken , or at least mixed with that of the greek . this country ( above what we have mentioned ) is very plentiful in fruits , and other things necessary for the support of man-kind ; and in this part only is the amethist ( that great preservative against drunkenness ) found ; and here the people of old had the vanity to throw written papers into the funeral fires of their friends , as conceiting they would read them in the other world , and thereby know the sorrow they made for their departure ; and were so much given to sacrifices , that it is noted by athenaeus , how a rich galatian for the space of a year , feasted the whole province with the flesh of such beasts , as were ordained for sacrifices . to perswade them from which , and confirm them in a more glorious religion , st paul wrote his epistle to this people : as for rivers of note , there are none that rise in this country , however it is supplyed with refreshing streams , from halys and sangarius . the chief cities are an●yrana , now called angauri , olenus , agriama , tavium , or tanium , androssi● , fabarena , thermae , and talachbacora ; there are likewise sundry lesser towns and villages , but of no note . cappadocia , is on the east of galatia , and is a country abounding with wine , and sundry kinds of curious fruits , many mines of brass , iron , silver , and other minerals in the mountains , and other parts , as also store of allom , and alabaster ; moreover the chrystal , jasper , and onyx stone ; it affords a great number of cattle , but more especially a great many horses , insomuch that they are sent into most parts of asia ; and as a boundard of this country is the famous ante-taurus , a ridg or chain of mountains , bending towards the north , and in it were born most of the noted ring-leaders of those sects of hereticks , that so much opposed the church in its infancy , insomuch that it grew into a custom , to call a wicked man a cappadocian ; and has for its principal cities and towns erzirium , upon the borders of the great armenia , where the turkish army usually wintered in their return from the persian expeditions , and is the seat of a bassa . mazaca once the residence of st. basil : sebastia , so named in honour of augustus , whom the greeks called sebastas ; trepesus or trepesond , once the seat of an empire , but now under the power of the turks , where the amazons were said to inhabit , at the time troy was razed by the greeks , and till displaced by alexander the great . armenia minor , though somewhat mountainous , is however a very fertile country ; and is held by some to be that ararat , upon whose hills noah's ark rested after the deluge ; and so consequently first to have been peopled after that universal calamity , and is only parted from armenia major by the famous river euphrates , and is so inclosed in most parts , with that and the mountains taurus and ante-taurus , that it is difficult to be entred , though in other places it is delightful , and well watered by pleasant streams issuing out of the mountains ; the chief being melas , which falls into euphrates , and is so called from the blackness of the waters . this country was once a part of cappadocia , till the armenians wrested it by force , and planted their colonies here , from whom it took the present name ; and has for its chief cities nicopolis , suur , antiently melitene , oromandus , built by pompey the great , in token of his victory over tigranes the syrian king , under whom was both the armenia's , garnace , caucusum , and arbyss●s , whither st. chrysistom was banished by the means of the empress eudoxia , who took part with the hereticks : and these countries had the blessing to be converted to the christian faith , by st. paul and st. peter , as appears by the epistle of the first to the galatians , and of the last to the strangers scattered or dispersed in pontus , galatia , cappadocia , asia , and bithynia , &c. and what remains is more properly called asia , though circumscribed in anatolia , or asia minor , viz. asia propria , was formerly held to be the most rich and flourishing part of this peninsula , as tully affirms , when he certifies that the roman tributes from other parts were but sufficient to defray the charges of keeping them ; but asia says he , is so fertile and rich , that for the fruitfulness of the fields , variety of fruits , largeness of pastures , and quantity of commodities , which were brought from thence , it abundantly excelled all other countries ; and it properly includes phrygia minor , phrygia major , mysia , aeolis , ionia , lydia and cario . phrygia minor , so called , as many hold it , from the river phryx , descending from the greater phrygia , is a very fruitful country , mostly champaign , and watered with sundry noted rivers , as scamander , xanthus , simois , and others so much renowned by homer . in this country , upon the banks of scamander , stood the famous city of troy , whose goodly ruins , appear in some sort , to this day ; and from the inhabitants of which city most nations labour to fetch their original . near to it stands troas or new troy , begun by alexander the great , and finished by lysimachus , one of his captains , who yet named it troas alexandri , in honour of his master . here are found likewise the ports of lyrnessus and sigaeum , with many other things , upon which the poets especially have been large , who keep them alive even in their ruins ; for indeed little else remains at this day ; for as ovid has it , jam seges est ubi troja fuit , resecandaque falce , luxuriat phrygio sanguine pinguis humus . corn ripe for sciths , grows where troy once stood , and the soils fatted with the phrygian blood. phrygia major , joyns to the former , and is a very fruitful country , abounding with some corn , wine , and some olive-yards well watered , by the river sangarius and marsyas ; the former taking its spring in this country , discharges it self into the euxine sea. and the towns are gordian , once the residence of gordius , who of a husbandman being made king , hung up the furniture of his waggons and ploughs in the temple of apollo , tied in such a knot , that an old prophecy run , that he who could unty it should be monarch of the world ; which alexander the great , upon his coming thither , trying to do and failing therein , cut it in sunder with his sword , shewing thereby , what policy could not do force should effect . colosse , where the colossians , to whom st. paul wrote one of his epistles dwelt : miedaeum , once the seat of midas ; pesinus where the statue of cibele was held in great veneration , and being from thence shipped for rome , the ship by no means could be brought to pass up the tiber , till a vestal virgin , who had been accused of incontinency , to clear her innocence , by fastning her girdle to it ( if you will believe the story ) drew it up the river ; and the reason why the romans so coveted it was , that the empire of the world had been promised to those that could get it into their possession . mysia is a country lying , as it were , between the phrygia's , supposed antiently to be a phrygian nation , being much the same for fertility : and here is found the asian olympus , a vast mountain , but inferior to that of the same name in greece , and has , for rivers of note cacus and aesopus ; on the banks of the former stands the once famous city of pergamus , but now of little note . there is likewise the river granicus , having its fountain in mysia major , and falling into the propontis , on the banks of which alexander gained the first victory against darius the persian king ; who upon his first coming into asia , had made so little account of him , that he sent order to his lieutenant in anatolia to take him alive , and after having whipped him with rods , to send him bound to his presence . and this mysia is divided into the lesser and greater ; and here stands the tower of abydos , over against sestos in thrace , memorable for the story of hero and leander ; with many other things more remarkable ; as the inhabitants slaying themselves , to prevent falling into the hands of philip the father of persaeus king of macedon , its being betrayed to the turks by the daughter of the governour , upon her falling in love with abderachmen , a turkish officer ; upon her dreaming she fell into a miry place , and he coming by took her up and wiped her clean , &c. cyzicus , famous for its port , marble towns and stately buildings , &c. and in mysia major are found apollonia , dainta , trajanopolis , alydda , and others . aeolis and ionia are generally conjunct , as countreys much depending on each other , indifferently fruitful , and contain sundry good harbours . the principal places in the first are pitana , acarnea , elaea , myrina , now sebastopolis , cene the the chief in this part ; cumaea the birth-place of one of the sybils , and phaecia ; and the people are held by josephus to descend from elisha the son of javan , but by the many conquests that have been made of this and other countreys , whereby the people have been either destroyed or carried away , and others planted in their steads , such originals must needs be uncertain . ionia , has for its principal cities mias on an arm of the sea , which artaxerxes assigned to themistocles the noble athenian , when the ingrateful city of athens had banished him after the glorious conquests he had atchieved in their behalf . erythra , memorable for the habitation of one of the sybils , lebedus , clazomene and others , especially smyrna , a fair haven city , on a bay named from it the bay of smyrna , and is not only famous for comprehending one of the seven churches of asia , written to by st. john , but is at present a place of great traffick , where the english have a factory , and most europeans trade for chamlets , grogran , and other stuffs , drugs , with many such like commodities : the grand signior having there a custom-house which brings in a vast revenue ; and in old times there stood a goodly temple , dedicated to homer the greek poet , as supposed to be the place of his birth . in this tract is likewise found the city of ephesus , so renowned for the temple of diana , accounted one of the seven wonders of the world , and was in its splendour 425 feet in length , and in breadth 220 , supported with 127 pillars of polish'd marble , curiously wrought , and was indeed a very goodly structure , and so it had need , for after it was modelled by ctesiphon , a most expert architect , it was 200 years in building , though burnt in one day by erastrotus , on purpose , as he alledged to get him a name , though of infamy . lydia once a famous kingdom till ruined by the persians , under the leading of cyrus ; took its name , as many historians will have it , from lud the son of sem ; the people of which country are said to be the first coiners of monies , and inventers of sundry games ; and here is the mountain tomalus covered naturally with vines and sipylus ; and which are very fruitful valleys ; and yield the best saffron of asia : the rivers of note are hermus , which taking its source in phrygia major , passes by the skirts of lydia , pleasantly watering the pastures , &c. and falls into a fair bay of the aegean sea , opening towards the island of clazomene ; likewise pactolus castros , and the meander ; the which though upon a direct line not exceeding 60 miles is nevertheless in measuring the winding , accounted 600 which greatly ●etters the country ; in which are found mines of gold and silver , and some stone of considerable value ; and has for it's chief city sardis , seated on the river pactalus . philadelphia near to the bank of the river caistras : thyatyra , laodicea and others ; nothing more renowned than to be of the number of the 7 churches , to which st. john wrote his apocalypse ; and of this country croesus the rich was king , who was deceived by the oracle , in these words , viz. croesus halyn penetrans magnam subvertit opum vim . thus englished : when croesus over halys goes a mighty nation he o'erthrows . which he interpreting according to his own hopes , crossed the river , and was vanquished and taken prisoner by cyrus ; overthrowing indeed his own people , and was the last king of lydia . caria is on the north of lydia , in which is the hill latmus , where endimion retired for the better privacy in the study of astrology , and there finding out the course of the moon and her changes , gave occasion to the fable of his being beloved by her and her kissing him , &c. and the river salmacis which enfeebles any person that enters into it or drinks of the water ; and has for its chief cities , &c. miletus , mindus , heraclea and latmum , borgilia or borgilos , milusa , primassus , and others ; and in the southwest of this province , thrusting it self into the sea like a promontory , stands the little country of doris ; so called from dores a greek people that first inhabited it ; and has for its chief cities cnidus , cressa , formerly a noted haven town ; halicarnassus , where queen arthemisia in memory of king mausolus her husband , raised at vast expence a monument , accounted one of the 7 wonders of the world , from which all great structures of that kind are called mausoles . as for the people of caria , their name or denomination , is conjectured to be derived from cares the son of pharoneus king of argos ; though bochartus rather alludes it to the phaenician word car , signifying a sheep or ram , because they were formerly dealers in flocks , with which their country abounded , and is indeed full of rich pastures . lycia lyes on the west of caria ; said to take its name from lycius , son to pandion king of athens ; and is a country inclosed in a manner with sea and mountains ; the principal mountain being taurus , the biggest in asia ; which begins in this province , and extends to the eastern sea ; one of its branches in this country is the chimaera , casting out flames like mount aetna ; which gave occasion to the fablers of former times , to render it dreadful , by likening it to a monstrous beast , with a head like a lyon , a belly like a goat , and a tail like a serpent ; though some to justifie this fiction , will have it to be infested at the bottom by serpents , grazed in the middle by goats , and containing nearer to the top , dens of lions , altogether framing the monster , said to be destroyed by bellerophon ; which indeed tended to nothing more than that he first caused the mountain to be inhabited , and this country in former days was so opulent , that 60 cities of note were found in it , but now most of them ruined ; the chief in it being are , phaselis , myra , solima , rhodia , pataras , mylios , and podelia ; and so powerful were the lycians in the time of cyrus the persian , that they were not without great difficulty brought under , but from thence forward followed the fortune of the conquerors as the greeks , romans and turks , &c. lycaonia is a country so named from the lycaones , a people of lycia ; or from the lycaonians a people , the inhabitants of lyconia a town in phrygia major ; and has for its chief cities iconium , once the chief residence of the caramanian kings , who so stoutly opposed in its beginning the growth of the ottoman empire ; lystra , the birth place of timothy the evangelist ; and here it was that the superstitious people would have done divine sacrifice to paul and barnabas ; darbe , laranda , paralais , adopissus , canna and caratha ; but as for the inhabitants , they are not found in history to be of any considerable note ; nor does their country much abound in fruits or corn , for want of convenient streams to water it . pisidia is on the south of lycaonia , and is a small country , yet furnished with great plenty of all things necessary for human subsistance ; where the plains extend themselves , though in some parts it is much incumbered with barren mountains ; and has in it the towns or cities of antioch , seleucia , lysinnia , selge , sagalassa , cremna , termessus , olbanassa and plutanessus ; the antient inhabitants being said to descend from the solimi , a people on the borders of lycia ; and were formerly daring and valiant , as appeared in their opposing cyrus , and did more wonders than any of their more powerful neighbours , but now being in subjection to the turks , who hold them as vassals or slaves , they have lost much of their courage and industry . pamphylia has pisidia on the north , and is separated from it by the mountain taurus ; and it s held to take its name from its being inhabited by a mixture of nations ; which word in the greek expresses no less , and is much over-run with the spurs or branches of taurus ; rendering it barren in many places ; yet on those mountainous parts abundance of goats are fed , whose flesh serves for food , hair for making chamlets , and skins for leather ; yet that part which is the sea coast , and runs 150 miles on the mediterranean , is well inhabited , and enjoys sundry towns of note , as attalia , perge , side , magidis , aspendas , oliba , caracensium , colobrassus , cretopolis , and menedemium , and is watered with the rivers cestrus , cataractus , and eurymedon ; and since they first planted this country , they have been frequently brought under subjection by the pontois , persians , romans and lastly by the turks , who at present remain lords of all the lesser asia , and good part of the greater . cilicia has pamphylia on the west , and is a very fruitful country , especially on the eastern part ; and is said to take its name from cilice the brother of cadmus ; and though it is but meanly inhabited , yet it is much traded to ; and has in it many towns of note , as tarsus the birth place of st. paul , anchiala , epiphania , adena , mopsuestia , nicopolis , amavara , scandelora , and others watered with the river pyramus , now called malmistra , orismagdus , calicadnus , and the famous cydnus , whose waters are so cool , and withal so rapid that they had like to have proved fatal to alexander the great , and did so to fredrick the first german emperor ; for whilst he was bathing in the stream , he was carried away by the violence of the current , and smothered in the waves . as for the chief mountains they are amanus and taurus accounted the largest in the world . isavrica is a distinct province from the former seated on both sides of taurus , which renders it altogether mountainous , being east to pamphylia ; parted in the midst by the river calecadnus on whose banks are many vines and pleasant pastures and has for its principal city and towns seleucia , i●auria , and claudiopolis ; and as for this and the province of cilicia , they were anciently famous for piracies ; but pompey breaking their power at sea placed them in a more inland country , and especially on these mountains in a strait compass , but they have since inlarged their borders . and thus for anatolia or asia minor , except such islands as are reputed to appertain to it , which shall be treated of in another place ; it being our design that nothing shall be omitted , though we are obliged to be brief , constrained to it by the narrowness of our compass ; only note that it is wholly subject to the turks . the kingdoms and provinces of the greater asia described . as to the boundards and scituation of this part of the world , it has been already laid down in general , wherefore now nothing remains , but to describe it in particular , &c. and to do this in order , we will begin with ▪ the kingdom of syria . the kingdom of syria , as it antiently was , is bounded on the north with cilicia ; on the south with other parts of asia minor ; on the east with the river euphrates ; and on the west with the mediterranean sea : and is inhabited by divers sorts of people , professing sundry religions , as christianity , judaism , mahometism , and in some places not altogether freed from paganism ; for upon the borders next to armenia minor , there dwell the cardi , or coerdes , a people who pay veneration to the devil , and the slender excuse they alledg for it is , to prevent his doing them mischief , they being on the contrary assured , that god being in his nature good , he will not injure them . and the whole country is divided into 3 provinces , viz. phoenicia , caelo-syria , and syro-phaenicia . phaenicia , is bounded on the east and south with palestine ; on the north with syria , so properly called ; on the west with the mediterranean sea ; and has this name given it by the greeks , from the abundance of palm trees that are found growing therein , the word signifying in that language a palm : as for the country it self it is not great , for though in length it reaches to the further side of mount carmel , and again to the river volanus , on the north , the breadth however is so inconsiderable , that it rather seemeth a sea-coast , than a country ; nor did the phaenicians less improve the opportunity in former times , but were accounted the chief navigators of the world. as for the cities of note they are , acon , seated in a pleasant plain of great length , besieged by the western christians in their expedition for the regaining the holy land. sarepta , the place where the woman sustained elias , or rather he her , by miracle in the time of famine : tyre once a famous sea town , but now little of it remains : sidon a pleasant place , but wants of its former largeness and grandeur , being reduced to a narrow compass . as for the chief mountains they are libanus and carmel ; and as for rivers there are few of note , the principal being adonis , however the country is fruitful in olives and vines . coelo-syria is more compacted than the former , and is watered with the rivers abana and pharaphar , called in scripture the rivers of damascus , and has in it the mountains of asmadamus , a ridg of hills beginning at the east point of ante-libanus , and bending directly southward , shuts up that part from the land of israel , and has for its chief towns heliopolis , so called from an image of the sun formerly worshipped there ; chalcis , abila , adida , hippus , or hypone , capitolias , gadara , gerasa , scythopolis , philadelphia and damascus , the head of this province , once a famous city , but now reduced to a small compass , however it is scituate in a large plain , invironed with hills , and watered by the river chrysorhe●● , having about it many pleasant gardens , orchards and fountains ; and indeed the whole country , where the mountains interpose not , is a terrestrial paradice , which made the impostor mahomet refuse it for his regal seat , lest swallowed up in the delights and pleasures of that country , he should forget his business . syro-phaenicia is a third provinc● of this kingdom , and has for its chief cities and towns aleppo , a considerable mart town , though not bordering on the sea , but standing within the land , for hither the merchants of egypt , arabi● and persia , come over land with their camels laden with silks , cloth of gold and silver , drugs , spices , &c. biblis , tripolis a place taken and possessed by the western christians , in their expedition to the holy land , and is a very considerable sea-port town , fortified with a strong wall , and many towns , and has many store-houses for the accommodation of merchants ; and that part of the mountain libanus , that stretches upon it like a curtain , abounds with fruit trees , vines , and trees harbouring abundance of silk worms ; but of this country antiochia is accounted the metropolis , and not far from it is the river orontes , which beginning in coelo-syria , ingulfs it self and riseth near apamea , watering antiochia , and passing thence 16 miles ; falls into the mediterranean sea , and from hence come the greatest part of our tapistry hangings . the building in this country , and indeed in all syria , is one high roof , with a plain top , plaistered or terrassed to walk on the plat-form , and arched cloisters before the doors , so that people may walk dry in the streets , in all weathers . as for religion they are as the first , a mixture , &c. a description of the land of palestine . palestine is bounded with the hills of hermon ; on the east parted by them from coelo-syria , and arabia deserta ; on the west with the mediterranean sea , and some part of phaenicia ; on the north with ante-libanus , and the remaining part of phaenicia ; on the south with arabia the stony , called palestine , from the philistines , a people that inhabit it ; but it is not conjectured they held any more than a part of it , but being very powerful gave a general name to this country ; as the asiaticks usually call the europeans franks , from france , which is only a small part of it ; however we will take it as formerly it stood , viz. its division into galilea , judea , idumea , and samaria , accounted 200 miles in length , though not above 50 in breadth , possessed by the tribes of israel , as the land promised to abraham , &c. galilea is accounted the most northern part of palestine , being divided into the higher and lower , the first allotted to the tribes of napthali , asher , and part of the tribe of dan , is a pleasant country abounding with all manner of fruits , and exuberant , that for its plenty this conjunct with the rest , was called a land flowing with milk and honey ; the chief cities being apheck , whose wall falling slew 27000 of benhadad's soldiers . giscala , the birth-place of jehu , who slew joram his master , and took upon him the kingdom ; here is likewise found capernaum , where our blessed saviour healed the centurions servant , and fed 3000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes ; not far from it ribla , where unfortunate king zedekiah , after he had seen the slaughter of his children , had his eyes put out , and to these we may add genesareth , hamath , and ramath . as for the lower galilea , it contained the tribes of zebulon and issachar , and the first of these had for their chief cities cana , where our blessed saviour wrought his first miracle ; bethsaida , the birth place of st. peter , st. andrew , and st. philip. hippopolis , tiberias on the sea coast , and some other towns of lesser note , as nazareth , and bethulia ; here is likewise found the mount tabor , on which our lord was transfigured , as a manifestation of his glory ; as also the brook kishon , out of which flows the famous river bearing that name . the principal places appertaining to the tribe of issachar , were tarichea , on the side of the lake , about eight miles from tiberias , and was so stoutly defended against vespatian , that it cost him the lives of 1200 men , before he made himself master of it ; chishon a city of the levites , rameth , called also jarmouth , another city of the levites , where the hills of gilboa take their beginning , and pass westward to the mediterranean , and east to jezreel ; en-haddad , near which saul being discomfited by the philistins , slew himself in dispair . nai● on the banks of the river kison , where our blessed saviour raised the widows son to life ; and on the banks of the same river standeth haphraim or aphraim , endor , the place where saul consulted the witch , about the raising samuel ; deborath , one of the cities of refuge , arbela , &c. and although these tribes are held to be carried away by salmanasser , and the galileans placed in their stead , yet they were strict complyers with the jewish ceremonies and customs , and so zealously affected that neither threats nor force could oblige them to offer sacrifice to the health of the roman emperors . samaria , the country taking its name from the chief city , is bounded on the east with the river jordan ; on the west with the miditerranean sea ; on the north with galilee ; and on the south with judea : and gives in all parts a curious prospect of pleasant fields and valleys , with little rising hills , from whence issue refreshing streams ; and is every scattered over with fountains , affording abundance of grass , and consequently a great number of cattle ; and the people were for the most part assyrians , sent thither by that conquering king to supply the places of the captive israelites , and were gentiles at first , till better instructed by the lyons god sent amongst them , and afterward by the priest , who returned with the five books of moses , and taught them the manner of the god of the land , 2 kings 17. however they frequently relapsed and forsook their living strength , as may be seen in holy writ : and this province upon its being first possessed by the children of israel , was allotted to the tribe of ephraim , and the two half tribes of manasses ; the one seated on the mediterranean , and the other beyond jordan . in the half tribe of manasses , on the mediterranean , the chief cities were found to be bethsan , terza , acrabata , thebes , ephra or hophra , asophon , bezek , jezreel , megiddo , dora or dor , caesarea ; and others , many of them memorable in scripture upon sundry occasions . the tribe of ephraim had for their chief cities , or most considerable places , saron , on the mediterranean , lydda , ajalon or helon , a city of the levites ; thenath-chares , given to josuah , adasa or adarsa , where judas macchabeus overthrew with 3000 men , the vast army of nicanor : jefleti or pelethi , giving name to the pelethites , that were of david's guard : silo scituate on the top of a lofty mountain , and the receptacle of the ark , till taken by the philistines ; michmas , najoth , bethoron , the city of the levites , pirhathon , simor , and samaria , the metropolis of the kingdom of israel , founded by omri , one of their kings , on the top of the mountain samron , taking thence its name , overlooking the sea-coast , and was very stately and magnificent , vying with jerusalem , but much impaired by the wars that have frequently happened , and at this day scarce to be found , or at least extreamly wanting of its former glory ; and in this compass mixed together in a manner the other tribes mentioned were contained . jvdea , the country of the more peculiar remnant of the jews , containing the tribe of juda , but may be said to be divided between the philistines , the tribes of dan , simeon , and benjamin : at first the philistines commanded the sea coast from the south of phaenicia , to the north of idumea , or from the city of gaza , to the castle of pilgrims , taking both , except joppa , into the accompt , and but that and all the northern towns were the israelites ; and though the philistines held no more then six of note , yet they were of such importance and so strongly fortified , that having the edomites to back them , and some other neighbours , who relished not the jewish nation , they perplexed and wearied them continually with wars and inroads , and became more troublesom , than the whole body of the canaanites ; which towns were gath or geth , where the giant goliah slain by david was born ; accaron on the south of gath , a town of great wealth and power ; ashdod , by the grecians called azotos , memorable for the temple of dagon , whither the ark of the lord was carryed when taken by the philistines ; ascalon , scituate on the coast of the mediterranean , aad first founded by a noble lydian ; gaza more inland , signifying in the persian language the place of treasure , where indeed cambyses layed up the tribute of those countries ; and majoma the port town of gaza : and in these they had their strong holds , from which they so often vexed the israelites . the chief places possessed by the tribe of dan were joppa , since called jaffa , once a famous mart town , and the principal haven of those parts , taken by the christians in the holy war ; rama or as the moors call'd it romula , built with free-stone , and scituate upon rising hills , in a sandy plain , where yet remain the ruines of a monastery and several christian churches . imnia , the place where judas macchabeus burnt the syrian fleet. ceder , or cedron ; modini , where the macchabees were buried ; gibbethon , cariathjarim , beth-shemesh , to which the ark was brought by the oxen , when dismiss'd by the philistines ; tisrah , caspin , lachis , ajalon , a city of the levites , mentioned before in the tribe of ephraim , in the borders whereof it is scituate ; which occasions authors to disagree in which tribe to place it , and therefore leave it indifferently to either . to the tribe of simeon is ascribed the cities and towns of gerar ; siceleg , or ziglag ; haijn , a city of levites ; cariath-sepher , interpreted the city of books , within the borders of simeon , but appertaining to judah ; and chorma , with others of smaller note , rather villages than towns. the tribe of judah , so called from judah the fourth son of leah , had for its lot arda , scituate in the entrance of judea ; hebron , one of the antientest cities of the canaanites , formerly inhabited by the giant-like sons of anakim , or anak , the word signifying a chain , and here it was that abraham bought a buryal place for his dead , and buried his wife sarah ; tecoa , the city of amos ; jether , or jutter ; maresa , where the prophet micah was born ; emmaus , since called nicopolis ; hasor , or chatsor , one of the frontier towns of idumea ; odalla , or hadullun ; ceila , or keila , where david hid himself when he fled from saul ; eleutheropolis , or the free city , not far from hebron ; azeca ; beth-sur , or bethsora , signifying the house of rocks , alluded from its standing on a rocky hill ; adoram bordering on the dead sea ; zore , in former times called bela , but took its name from the words of lot , the word tsohor , importing refuge , safety , or deliverance ; massada a strong hold ; libna a strong fortified city , seated in the corner of juda between the tribes of dan and benjamin ; ziph in the wilderness , where saul came to pursue david . bethlehem call'd bethlehem-judah , to distinguish it from one of the same name in zebulon , the birth place of our blessed saviour , and the grave of those innocents that suffer'd on his account by the cruelty of herod . as for the territories of these cities and towns , they are exceeding fruitful , and in many of the valleys are gardens of balsam or opobalsamum trees . the tribe of benjamin had for its portion the cities of mizpeh , gebah , gibeah , ai , gibeon , jericho , anathoth , nob , gilgal , bethel , ramath , differrent from what has been mentioned ; chadi , or haidi , lod and ono ; but the chief magnificence of this tribe , was the famous city of jerusalem , scituate upon a rocky mountain , yet in most parts easie of ascent ; invironed with neighbouring hills ▪ and consisted in its most flourishing time of four parts , separated by several walls , resembling distinct cities , divided into the upper , lower and new cities ; together with the city of herod , which made the fourth division ; all the walls fortified with towers and castles , and the cities stor'd with stately buildings , fountains , and pleasant gardens ; but all these exceeded by the magnificence of the temple , held to be the chief wonder of the world ; the description of which is lively set down in the old testament ; wherefore it will be superfluous here to delineate it , though at this day its glory is laid in the dust . the tribe of levi , though properly a tribe of the israelites , had no possessions assigned it , but had the priesthood for its inheritance ; and therefore scattered or planted in divers cities , assigned for the levitical residence ; being as jacob their father had before prophesied : divided in jacob , and scattered in israel , their portions being to live on the altar , and the tenths of the offerings , &c. and as it is in joshua 18. 17. the priesthood of the lord was their inheritance . and of these there were four kinds or distinctions . 1. punies or tirones , which from their childhood , till the 25 year of their age , were obliged to learn the duty of their office , 2. graduats which were obliged for 4 years to study the law , or till they were well grounded in it . 3. licentiates who actually exercised the priestly office : and 4 the doctors or rabbins , who where of the highest order , and expounded the law to the people . idvmea is a part of palestine , separate from the tribes commonly called the land of edom ; bounded on the east and south with arabia the stony ; on the north with judea ; on the west with the mediterranean sea ; inhabited by the children of esau brother to jacob ; and is a very fruitful country towards the sea coast ; but that bordering on arabia is somewhat barren and mountainous though they heretofore afforded balm , and now a great many palm-trees grow there ; as for the people , they are , and antiently were , rude , boisterous and untractable , given much to violence , and were no small contributers , by raising a sedition in jerusalem , to the destruction of that famous city by the romans , under titus ; and had for their chief cities and towns , dinhahath , the city of bela , the first king of edom , aniath the city of hadad , and pan the city of hadar ; two other kings of this country , mentioned in genesis , berzamna , caparosa , gamararis , elasa , rossa , rhinocurura , raphia , and others , with many scattered castles and villages ; and of this country the horites are thought to be the first inhabitants ; amongst whom esau , upon the discontent he received by his brothers circumventing him of the blessing , went to dwell , and took to him wives of the daughters of the people of the land ; and as though the two brothers difference had been inherent to posterity , the edomites alwaies proved mortal enemies to the israelites , not only siding with their enemies , but making continual war and inroads upon them their selves . the other parts of palestine , which may properly be so called , are the divisions of peraea and ituraea , and the first of these lies between the mountains of arnon , and the river jordan , abounding with olives , vines , and palm-trees , the soil every where being exceeding rich , and was formerly the habitation of the midianites , moabites , and ammonites , as also of the two tribes of gad and reuben . the quarter of the midianites was at the south side of the dead sea , at the very entrance of the country , and were held to descend from one or more of the 5 sons of madian the son of abraham , by keturah , mentioned in gen. 25. 4. and had for their chief cities recome , built by one of the 5 midianitish kings , slain by joshua ; and midian on the bank of the dead sea ; and these were they , that by the advice of balaam , sent out their beautiful women to insnare the israelites , upon their entrance into the land of canaan . the moabites possessed all that part of the country , from the boundards of the midianites on the south , as far as esebon on the north , on both sides the river arnon , having the river jordan on the west , and the hills of abarim on the east , first possessed by the emmims , a race of giants , whose principal city was sheneth kirjathaim , but they being vanquished by chedorlaomer ; and driven thence , their forsaken seats were possessed by the moabites , descended from moab one of the sons of lot , and had for their cities in chief rabbat , the regal seat of balak king of moab ; diblathum , gallim , muthana , nathaliel , bamath , mispha , hor , kirhajareth , and some few others of little note ; and this country god commanded moses to spare , because he had given it for an inheritance to the sons of lot. the ammonites had their habitations on the north-east of the river arnon , and possessed all that tract from arnon on the ●ead of the river , to the city rabbah , and on both sides the river ja●oc , as well within as without the mountains of galaad , antiently the seat of the raphaim and zamzummins , a race of giant-like people ; and had for their chief cities rabbah , before which vriah was slain on the account of his wife ; dothema , mitspa , and others of lesser note , and had continual war with israel , god appointing them as a thorn in their side , because they had not at first rooted them out of the land. the reubenites or tribe of reuben , had their dwellings appointed on the east side of jordan , having the gadites on the north , and the arabian desarts on the east , and on the south the land of moab , parted by the river arnon ; whose chief cities were abel , sittim , bethabara , or beth-bara , machaerus , lasa or lesha , medeba , bosor or bozra , a city of refuge to the levites ; livias , a town built by herod , in honour of livia the mother of tiberius caesar ; kedmoth , adom , heshbon , bamothbal ; and within their territories is the mount nebo , from whose top moses took a view of the land of canaan ; and joyning to it is the hill pisga , or to say more truly , one of the tops or spires of the same mountain . the gadites , so called from gad the seventh son of jacob , begot on zilpha the hand-maid of leah , had their lot of the promised land , between the reubenites on the south , and half the tribe of menasses on the north , the river jordan on the west , and the mountains of arnon on the east ; and inhabited the cities of aroer , upon the banks of the river arnon , dihon , towards jordan ; beth●mrah , natoroth , beth-haram , beth-ezob , mahanaim , so called from the apparition of angels ; succot● , jahzor , ramoth , penuel , &c. all the plains of this country being exceeding fruitful , as on purpose prepared for the favourites of heaven ; yet the people who had been brought out of slavery with a mighty hand , growing fat in these fruitful fields , soon forgot their maker , and went a whoring after the gods of the strangers , for which the canaanites had been cast out of the land. there were moreover in this tract , called the land of palestine , the trachonites inhabiting the hilly country , bordering on the ammonites , called the mountains of gilead , extending northward as far as libanus , living , as josephus tells us , for the most part , in woods and caves , upon prey and spoil , &c. the batanea ▪ a people living in a part of the kingdom of basan , but their kingdom , upon the arrival of the children of israel , was given to the other half tribe of manasses , and contained many fenced large cities : the chief was pella , formerly called but is , but the name changed by seleucius , the great assyrian king , of the greek race ; destroyed by alexander janaeus , a king of the jews , for refusing to admit the law of moses , but afterward by pompey the great restored to its former luster : and more memorable in church history , for the voice heard from heaven , admonishing the christians then in jerusalem to retire thither , that they might escape the destruction that the roman army , under the leading of titus , was about to bring upon that great and sinful city . gessur , since called aurantis , the last division of ituraea , is north of basan , and was once accounted a kingdom ; and had for its chief cities hauran , gessur , mahacath , chatsar , hevanus , and others of lesser note . as for the country of palestine in general , or the promised land , it is taken by some to be the place where the terrestrial paradise stood , and is indeed fruitful , even to a miracle ; for in most places there is an eternal spring , and in summer the flowers alwaies smiling , and the vernant trees seldom casting their ripe and mellowed fruit before blossoms and green fruit take place , and are naturally of extraordinary growth ; insomuch , that we read , when caleb , josuah , and others , went up to spie the land , they brought a cluster of grapes , as an earnest of the rest , so large , that they were obliged to carry it upon a staff , between two of them . and thus much for the land of palestine , as it flourished in its most glorious daies , but now its antient inhabitants are scattered over the face of the earth , and turks possess their pleasant places . the three arabia's described , in their countreys and provinces . 1. arabia deserta , called by the turks beriara , is bounded on the east with the babylonian territories ; on the west with some part of palestine and arabia the stony ; on the north with mesopotami● and palmyrene ; the first of these parting it from euphrates ; and on the south with arabia petraea part , and arabia felix ; and takes the name of deserta from the great desarts that are found in it , all of loose sands , taking eight daies in passing over them , which at certain times are carried so violently by the wind , that travellers are overwhelmed under heaps and mountains of dust , and buryed alive : as also are the shepherds , who build little cots on the borders of these desarts , though very poor and despicable : as lucan has it in his pharsalia ; and thus englished . the greatest part of land , the winds do bear unto the skies , which hangs not fixed there . his house and land , the nasamonian seas , fly in the wind their little cottages . blown o'r their heads into the air as high , as from a fire the smoak and sparkles fly , till mounted , dust like smoak obscure the sky . mountains of dust , the south winds furious hand , rolls o'r them till their drown'd in heaps of sand. and indeed this whole division of arabia yields nothing pleasant , being mostly inhabited by thieves and rovers , who having committed robberies and outrages , in more populous and wealthy countries make this their retreat , as knowing few will give themselves the trouble of looking for them in so waste and desolate a country ; yet there are some few cities and towns found in it , but those mostly on the borders , viz. sabe or saba , the habitation of the sabaeans , that was so called from the grandson of abraham by keturah , mentioned gen. 25. 3. and these were they that plundered job of his cattle ; thema , supposed to be the city of eliphaz the them anite , one of job's visitants ; shua , tharsacas , zagmais , phunton , oboth , and reganna ; though they had no formal government , as being a disjoynted people , the poverty of the country obliging every one to shift as he could ; although now counted part of the turkish empire , it is so only in name rather than in effect , as paying little or no tribute to the grand signior . 2. arabia petraea , or the stony , is bounded on the east with deserta , and a part of sinus persicus , on the west with the isthmus , that joyns africa to asia , and part of the red sea , or arabian gulph , on the north with palestine , and on the south with a long ridge of mountains , dividing it from arabia felix , and is called petraea , from its rockyness , and the abundance of large stones that are found every where in it ; and is indeed barren in a manner , as the former , but more firm and solid , which gives it the preheminence in fruitfulness ; and is full of woody mountains , wherein the wild arabs lurk and fortifie themselves , being reduced under captains of tribes , as also untravell'd desarts , unless by such as carry their provision with them for fear of starving , and for that they are many times set upon and murthered by the thieves and rovers ; so that the general passage to egypt and babylon is by caravans , to defend which there seldom go less than 4 or 500 armed men , where they carry their merchandize upon camels , one of these beasts carrying ordinarily 6 or 800 weight , and sometimes a 1000 , and are the fittest of all creatures for this journey , because they will endure three or four daies together without drink , in a country where water is not to be found , but rather by chance than any certainty ; and of these desarts the most memorable are those of sinan , pharan ; the inhabitants said to descend from chus and ishmael , intermixed with the medianites , who are held to be of the posterity of madian , the son of abraham by keturah , and have for their chief places , petra , memorable for the many sieges it has held out against the syrians , jews , and romans , &c. and was much aimed at in the time of the holy war , even coveted by the turks and christians , as a gate or inlet to palestine ; bosra , said to be built , or rather repaired by augustus caesar , to curb that wild and untractable nation ; ph●ra , bernice , sur , havilah , madian , rephaim , kadesh-barnea , and thara ; and in this country stands the famous mount sinai , on which the law was given ; and here for the most part it was that the children of israel suffered so much in the wildernesses and desarts , during their progress to the land of canaan . and the character marcellinus gives more particularly of these arabians , is viz. that they are a martial people , half naked , clad only as far as the groin , with painted cloaths , ranging up and down upon camels , swift horses , and dromedaries , as well in peace as times of trouble , not used to plough , plan●● trees , or get their living by tillage , but wander for the most part , from one place to another , without any setled habitation ; nor have they the use of laws , neither can they long endure the air or soil in one place : their food is chiefly upon venison , and store of milk , herbs , fruits , and wild foul ; but as for corn and wine they have none : their wives are hired only for a time , though for a shew of marriage they present their husbands with a spear and a tent , as their dowry , though they part when they please ; and both sexes are extreamly given to lust , the women as rambling as the men , leaving their children to the help of providence , where they fall without any further care of them . as for the rivers in this thirsty land , there are but few , and the chief are trajanus amnis , trajans river passing through the country , and ending its course in the red sea , rinocorura , called in scripture the torrent of egypt , rising in this countrey , and passing by the borders of idumea , falls into the lake of sirbon . 3. arabia felix , or the happy arabia , so call'd from its fruitfulness , supplying in a manner the defect of the foregoing , is bounded on the east with the persian ; and on the west with the arabian gulphs ; on the north with a continued ridg of mountains ; and on the south with the main ocean , whose bounds is not known . in this arabia , the fields , valleys and hills are exceeding fruitful , abounding with myrrh , frankincense , balsamum , spices , fruits of sundry kinds , very delicious ; as also gold , precious stones , &c. and lying so commodiously on the seas , is acquainted with what ever blessing , either element can afford , well furnished with quiet harbours , and roads for shipping , the towns of trade and merchandise standing near together , and the retiring houses of the kings neat and very sumptuous , the countrey being generally accommodated with wholsom fountains , and medicinal waters , with sundry brooks and rivers cool and clear , and the temperature of the air exceeding healthful . and this countrey by the arabians themselves is called jeman and al-jeman ; and although the people are more civil here than in the other parts , yet they had and have many barbarous customs amongst them , as carnally knowing their nearest relations , holding community of wives ; and of dead bodies no care is taken , but they cast them into some ditch or a dung hill , and are frequently a bragging of their descent from jupiter , foolishly neglecting all arts and sciences , as disparagements to so great a nobility ; however there are some amongst them that apply themselves to grazing , the countrey abounding with cattle and rich pastures , and others to merchandize , tho the chief product of the countrey is managed by strangers . the chief cities or towns that are at this day found in this tract are elgra , on the shoar of the red sea , called sinus elgranaticus ; jathrib , or jatrib , in the way between algiar and medina , the birth-place of mahomet the impostor ; and in the city of medina ( to which is added the name of talmabi , signifying the city of the prophet ) is the sepulchre of mahomet , not drawn up with a load-stone as the vulgar rumour goes , but inclosed in the manner of our sepulchres with an iron grate , and covered with a green velvet carpet , which the grand seigniour sends every year as his offering ; so that when the new arrives , the old is cut into innumerable shreds , and sold to pilgrims by the priests at large rates as holy reliques ; and in this temple , which is large and magnificent , are 3000 lamps continually burning : meccha a town scituate in a barren soil , not far from medina , but of greater resort and traffick , the commodities not only of arabia , but of persia and india flowing thither , from whence it is dispersed into all parts of the turkish empire ; and here it is made death for any christian to come , so made to pr● clouds . discovery of the fopperies in their religion , and is utterly destitute of waters , except such as is taken in cisterns when it rains , or brought on camels backs from distant places , though three carravans with troops of merchants and pilgrims visit it every year : zidon accounted the haven town of meccha , though distant 40 miles , scituate on the red sea ; zebit , held now the metropolis of the country , much traded to for spices , sugar , and fruits ; eltor a port town , where the christians are suffered to inhabit . aden on the entrance of the red sea , and is the most famous empory of this country , well fortified , and has a very capacious haven for the reception of shipping , once the head of a distinct kingdom , but now in subjection to the turks , being treacherously surprized by them in the year 1538 , and soon after all the rest of the country , hor , zarnal , and muskahat , over-against surat in the east-india's : as for the woods that are found here , they naturally abound with spices , and odours , which in their bloom send forth a grateful smell , which accosts the mariners before they can see the land , and the rivers are many , the chief harman , lar , prion , messinatis , betius , &c. and in the arabian fields , or no where , the phoenix is said to inhabit . a description of chaldaea , assyria , and mesopotamia , in their countries and provinces , &c. as also the mountains kingdoms , &c. these three countries or provinces , are held to have been the principal body of the ●●mpire , wherefore it is thought fit to place them together , though in our proceeding to describe them , we shall do it severally ; and first 1. chald aea , is bounded on the east with a persian province , called susina ; on the west with the desert of arabia ; on the south with the rest of deserta , and the persian gulf ; and on the north with mesopotamia . as for the original from which this country has its name , is uncertain ; however it is exceeding fruitful , yielding corn in many places 2 and 300 fold ; and pliny affirms the babylonians mow their corn twice a year , and seed it a third time , or else it would produce nothing but blades ; and here many hold the terrestrial paradice , a select garden , more inriched by the bounty of heaven , than any other part of the world ; and the reason they give for it is , because the rivers mentioned in scripture to flow from it are found in this tract , according to all circumstances the same , though length of time has caused corruption or alteration , but rather in name than place , &c. and in this country , on the large plains of shinar was founded babel , signifying in the hebrew confusion , where happened the first confusion of languages , a work so stupendious , being the business of almost all the inhabitants of the earth , that before it was left off , it began to rea● a head of majesty , 5146 cubits from the ground , having proportionable basis and circumference , the passages going up winding , and so easie of ascent . that horses and carts might not only pass up it , but meet and turn , having lodgings and stations in them for men and beast , and earth spread upon the mighty work for corn fields ; and all this foolishly undertaken to secure themselves in case of a second deluge ; and would however ( had it not been prevented by the divine power ) according to the model devised , have transcended the clouds . in this tract was the city of babylon in its antient glory , the walls of which was 46 miles in circuit , 50 cubits in heighth , and of such a thickness , that carts and carriages might meet on the top of it , finished in one year by the daily labour of 200000 work-men , built on both sides the river euphrates , having its communication by stately bridges , and is said when taken by cyrus the persian , that he had possessed one part of it three days , before the more remote inhabitants knew the enemy was entered ; but it has been since that time destroyed and removed ; so that at this day bagdat is taken for babylon , scituate on the river tigris , and now in the possession of the turk ; the other places of note are , ctesiphon , sipparum , apamia , vologesia , borsipha , and balsora , the port of bagdat or new babylon , scituate at the fall of euphrates , into sinus persicus , a place of great trade and wealth , now in the hands of the persians . as for mountains this country affords not any ; and for rivers , the chief are euphrates and tigris : the people anciently were much addicted to south-saying and divination , and held to be first idolaters , but now they are divided into several sects , and become a mixture of christians , jews , and mahometans , though once the christian faith flourished here altogether , as planted by st. peter , who assures us that he was at babylon in the latter end of his first epistle . 2. assyria is bounded on the east with media ; on the west with mesopotamia ; on the south with susiana ; and on the north with some part of turcomania , and part of chaldaea , taking its name from assur the son of sem , who first inhabited it , though of late it has been called by other names , but this being warrantable by scripture , we shall the rather continue it . as for the countrey , it is free from hills , unless such as render it very commodious , so that being watered with pleasant springs and rivers , it is every where very fruitful , and the people were anciently very warlike , making themselves by their arms lords of the greatest part of the east , extending their dominion from the mediterranean sea to the river indus ; the men especially very formal in their habit , wearing robes trailing on the ground , their hair exceeding long , and their caps so steeple crowned , that they seem like pyramids , perfuming themselves , and adorning with jewels , rings , &c. and a staff of ivory , rich wood , or some precious mettal in the form of a scepter in their hands ; and as for the ancient custom , it was to expose the fairest women to sale in open market , not as slaves , but to be purchased as wives , and with the money they put off those of the courser sort that were more deformed ; happy for our english doudies , were the custom in use amongst us : and as for the celebration of marriage , it is a little strange ; viz. the bride-groom sees not his bride before the wedding-day , but takes her upon the good report of his friends and others , when having made the bargain with her parents , they meet in the chancel of the church , and there the cassisse or priest obliges the bridegroom to put his hand through the hole of a partition , and take the bride by the hand , which done , her mother with a sharp bodkin pricks his hand all over with much eagerness ; and if so , for all that he holds her fast , and wrings her hand till she squeak , they term it a presage of lasting love , but if he let go , the contrary ; and if the first year a male child is born , the father loses his name , and is called abba or father , the sons name being added to it . assyria is principally watered with the tygris ; so named from its swiftness and rapidity : into which , as ptolomy affirms , discharge themselves , the rivers cuprus , lycus and gorges , with some other streams , or rivulets , and the whole assyria was divided into six parts , viz. araphachits , adiabene , calacine , sitacene , arbelites , and apoloniates , and has for its chief cities calach , one of the four cities built in the land of assur by nimrod ; sittaca , about two miles from the banks of tygris ; athela , apollonia , geguamela ; memorable for the first great overthrow given by alexander to darius the persian , wherein 90000 persians are accounted to be slain , with the loss of 300 macedonians only ; reboboth another city , said to be built by nimrod , but now supposed to be that called birrha . on the tygris ; rhesen another , said to be built by the same party ; ninive , first built by nimrod , and so named from ninus his son or nephew ; the city to which jonah was sent , and in those days accounted sixty miles in circuit , which may properly enough in those hot countreys be accounted three days journey : mosul , seated on the tygris , arzeri and scheheruzal , the chief residence of the turkish bassa , governour of this countrey . as for the profession of the natives , and some strangers mingled amongst them , 't is that of the nestorians , but the standing religion is mahometism imposed by the turks . 3. mesofotamia has on the east for its boundard the river tygris , parted by it from assyria ; on the west the euphrates ; on the north mount tauryus ; on the south chaldaed and arabia deserta , and is frequently in scripture called padan-aram which in the latine signifies syria culta , and was , anciently inhabited by the aramites , and is full of rich pastures , the soil very fruitful in corn , abounds with vine-yards and store of cattel , and is indeed so well furnished with all things necessary for humane support and pleasure , that strabo calls it mesopotamia felix , tho in the extream south , there are a few barren desarts and some rough mountains or hills ; and though it is a kind of a compounded countrey , yet the people are very active and industrious , improving natures bounty more than any in this tract , though being but a small countrey , it has always been in subjection , and is watered with the rivers tygris , euphrates , and caboras or abaras . the chief cities found in this countrey , are edessa , cologenbar , nisibius , and vr ; as for their religion , as far as relates to christianity , it is in a manner orthodox , agreeing in most points with the reformed churches of europe . i might now proceed to say something of the two kingdoms in the great mountain taurus , named from their two last kings , the kingdoms of aledeules and bahaman ; the first subdued by selimus the first emperour of the turks , and the last by abas the persian sophy ; but having nothing but rocks and barren mountains to deal with , and indeed the difficulties the inhabitants struggle with , being more to be wondered at than any thing else , i shall thus briefly pass them over , and proceed to turcomania . turcomania described in its provinces , &c. tvrcomania , or the land of turky , so called from the turks inhabiting it before they got by stratagem the persian empire , is on the east bounded with media and the caspian sea ; on the west with cappadocia , armenia minor , and the euxine sea ; on the north with tartary , and on the south with assyria and mesopotamia ; and is properly divided into four parts , viz. armenia major , held to be the true turcomania ; colchis , now called mengrelia ; iberia now called georgia ; and albania called by some zuirca , and of these in their order . armenia major , now called turcomania , is a very hilly countrey , as much overspread with the spurs of mount taurus and anti-taurus , though between them are many fruitful valleys , that produce store of cattle : the greatest business of these people when exempted from war , being to feed sheep upon the mountains , and other cattle on the lower ground , driving them from place to place where the pastures are best , and where they find the most commodious springs , carrying with them their families , tents , and provision , and usually go armed , not so much for fear of rovers , as wild beasts that possess the caves of those mountains : the people being large of body , comely of personage , much used to the bow and spear ; patient of all kind of labour : the women are very homely , but of a manly aspect , and when occasion requires , addict themselves in disguises to the wars , and mingled with the men , perform equal exploits ; and in towns , where they are setled , their families are very great , by reason they co-habit under one roof to the third or fourth generation , the eldest commonly bearing rule , and being in all things absolute as king of the family , yet those live not idle , but employ themselves in making tapestries , gograms , watered chamlets , and other manufactures , dispersed into all parts , and some , tho not many of them are considerable merchants , dispersing themselves over the eastern countrey , and from a mountain of this armenia called abas has the great river araxis its fountain , and the people generally are christians . the chief cities and towns of this country are , artaxata the royal seat of the antient kings of armenia ; sebastia , now called suassia ; seated on the euphrates , tigranes , certa , arsamosata , clamassum , cholna , baraza , chars , colonia , thespia , and others of lesser note : as for forrests or woods , this country has very few , and none considerable . colchis the second division of turcomania on the north of armenia is inhabited by a rude uncivillized people ; however the soil is fertile producing naturally , much plenty , and the vines of their own accord , twist themselves about trees ; creeping up into the spreading branches , and affording much wine ; but that which in antient times rendred it most memorable , was the abundance of gold found in the sands of the rivers issuing from the mount caucasus ; for which jason made his expedition ; and thereby gave the occasion of the fable of the golden fleece : there were likewise found divers veins of silver in the mountains , though at present for want of working , or being exhausted , the people deficient in coin , are obliged to barter goods for such things as their necessities require ; however they are much given to riot and excess , nor do they refuse to prostitute their wives and sisters , to the pleasure of their guests upon any slight entertainment , as not thinking they can be otherways sufficiently welcom ; nor do the women refuse a complyance . and here the chief cities are , or were dioscurias , sibaris once the royal seat of the colchine kings ; siganeam , aeopolis , neapolis , phasis ; from whence the phesants were first brought into europe by the greeks ; alvati , mechlessus , zadris and sirace ; though at present none of them considerable ; however the christian religion continues here , though the turks have possessed themselves of the country . iberia takes its name from the river iberius , running through it , though lately the name is changed to georgia ; as some will have it from st. george the capadocian martyr ; who first planted , or at least greatly improved the christian religion amongst them . the country is mountainous , woody , and a great part of it covered with snow three quarters of the year ; so that the soil not being very fruitful , the people addict themselves much to war ; so that for a long time they lived in freedom under their own princes , till the persian ▪ war ; at what time they partly by force , and partly by submission , became tributary to the ottoman emperors ; so that it contains not any cities of note ; however amongst them are reckoned artaxissa , vasada , lubium , and armastica , so named by p●olomy ; though at present cremen and cachet are in most esteem ; and to keep the people in aw , the turks have fortified many places ; and amongst others the strong castle of teflis , the key of media , now called servan , garrisoned with 6000 men ; and has in it besides other ammunition 100 pieces of ordnance . albania in asia , distinct from that in europe , east of iberia is accounted to be first peopled by gether son of aram , and nephew of japhet , and rested out of the way of war till the romans time ; when siding with tigranes king of armenia major , and mithridates king of pontus , they were brought under subjection by pompey . the soil of this country is very rich in many parts , as being watered with the rivers saonia , cyrus , gerrus and albania ; and on the latter is seated a city of that name , the chief of the province ; here are likewise found chabala , thelbis , getara , namechiae and telebae : the chief commodities are corn , cattle , wine , and some manufactures , and has over it a turkish bassa ; and from these countries the turks are held on all hands to descend , as in the history of that people , appears more at large . media and persia described , in their respective provinces , &c. media ( the first that occurs in order ) is bounded on the west with armenia major , and some part of assyria ; on the east with parthia , and some part of hyrcania , and the provinces of persia ; on the north with the caspian sea , and georgia ; and on the south with other parts of persia ; held to take its name from madai , the son of japhet , who first planted it ; though at this day it is called by the turks ( in whose possession the greatest part of it is ) sheirvan , or servan ; the word in their language signifying a milky plain ; alluding thereby to the great plenty of the country , and is of large extent ; once famous for a warlike people , that over-run the greatest part of the east ; yet this country like all others , differs in degree of fertility , for although the south part is exceeding fruitful ; yet the north part lying between mount taurus and the hyrcanian sea , is very barren ; insomuch that the people make their bread of dryed almonds , and their drink of the juice of certain herbs ; no fruit trees flourishing there , nor any considerable quantity of corn. as for the kingdom of media , we may properly divide it into two provinces ; viz. atropatia and media major ; the first of these contains the northern parts of the country ; and is held to be that , where salmanasser , the assyrian king placed the israelites , whom he carryed into captivity , and is watered by the river gonza ; and had for its chief cities or towns hamadum , gonzavia , mandagarsis , gelin , bochu , ere 's , sumachia , or shamaki ; the last built by cyrus the persian , and much illustrated by others ; and in it as a monument , stands a pillar interwoven with the heads of noble men all of flint , curiously wrought , &c. this province is very mountainous , as having the spurs of the taurus branching out , and the body of the mountain it self , &c. media-major , on the south of mount taurus , is a very pleasant country ; yielding corn and wine in abundance , with many pleasant fruits , and good pastures , watered every where with fresh streams ; so that cattle , especially horses encrease in great numbers ; the men being generally expert riders , and much redoubted in war. the chief cities that were here found are the great e●batana , to which semir amis took such a liking , that she caused for its better accommodation , water courses to be cut through the mountain orontes , reckoned to be in compass 24 italian miles and fortified with a wall of 70 cubits high , 50 broad , with 100 gates , and towers built over them of smooth stone , and had formerly six lesser walls , though now little of it remains . taurus a city pleasantly scituate , under the shadow of orontes ; opening to a curious fertile plain on the south ; once a place of great trading , but having been often ruined by the turks , in their wars with the persians ; it has lost much of its former splendor . arsacia built by some of the parthian kings , in their conquest of this country : casbin scituate in an open plain , on the banks of a small river , but of no considerable trade , though the persian sophies have a pallace in it : rages , nassivan , ardovile , sultania , turcoman , and marant . the christian religion is held to be first planted here by st. thomas ; and though it was not universally embraced , yet it flourished till mahometism was introduced , more by the power of the sword than the peoples inclination . persia described . persia has for its eastern boundard india ; for the western media , assyria , and chaldaea ; the northern tartary ; and the southern the main ocean ; so named , ( if you will credit the story ) from perseus , son to jupiter and danae ; though rather from persis a small province ; or part of the country which took its name from one of their kings : and the whole region of persia , is found to extend from 82 degrees of longitude , to 120. 36 degrees in all , and in bredth from 32 degrees north latitude to 42 , scituate under the fourth , fifth , and sixth climates ; so that the longest day in the southern parts , is 13 hours and almost three quarters but in the most northern 15 and a quarter ; the air for the most part pure and wholsom , though the earth by reason of the great heat of the sun , is dry , and sandy in many parts , and destitute of water ; having few rivers , and not many lakes ; however taking the country in general , it abounds with all things necessary , and may properly be divided into 12 provinces , viz. susiana , persis , carmania , ormus , gedrosia , drangiana , aria , parthia , arachosia , paropamisus , hyrcania , and margiana ; and held to be one of the antientest kingdoms of the east ; the people as the chaldaeans , giving themselves up to the study of astrology ; and as to their religion , it s the sect of haly , differing in many things , from the tenets of the impostor mahomet ; tho amongst them are many christians and more jews ; and the chief rivers that visit persia , are araxis , some windings of euphrates and tigris ; and here are found mount taurus , the seriphian hills , and some others of less note : and has for the most material cities , persopolis , aracca , tarsiana , and others ; the country affording dates , myrrh , drugs , spices , mines of silver , brass , quarries of of marble , cedar-wood , and rich manufactures of silks , and embroideries of silver and gold , and has been much traded to , by the european merchants , especially the island of ormus ; accounted the most fruitful in the world ; so that those who have compared the world to a ring , have allowed this to be the jewel , that ought to be set in it ; for the portugals upon their first coming hither , so much inriched themselves , that they easily commanded the whole trade of europe . as for the persians , they are generally good natured , courteous to strangers , exceeding obedient to their prince , whom they in a manner idolize ; they are tall of stature , well limbed , and for the most part handsome ( especially the women ) patient of labour , yet through the plenty of the country much given to luxury , valiant in fighting , as well the women as the men , who accompany their husbands to the war in disguise , and frequently die fighting by their sides , as appeared by the great number of them found upon the stripping of the slain in many battles fought between them and the turks . and within this jurisdiction we may include bactria , lying west of margiana , watered by the river oxus , so that it is partly fruitful , and partly barren and desert , possessed by a rough and untractable people , and has many woods and forrests full of wild beasts , which renders the passage dangerous to travellers , and has its name from bactria the metropolitan city , seated at the foot of the mountain sogdij , and is now in subjection to the persians . tartaria described , in its kingdoms and provinces , &c. tartaria , or tartary , is a large tract on the northern part of asia , and shooting out considerably to europe , bounded on the east with china , and the eastern ocean ; on the west with russia and podolia , a province of the kingdom of poland ; on the north with the frozen scythian ocean ; and on the south with another part of china , from which it is separated by a mighty wall , the river oxus parting it from bactria and margiana , the caspian sea from media and hyrcania ; the caucasian mountains from turcomania , and the euxine sea from anatolia and thrace , and is possessed under the general name of tartars , by many powerful nations , accounted to be 5400 miles from east to west , and 3600 from north to south . the people are generally rude , giving themselves more to war and rapine , than to arts or husbandry , big bodied , broad faced , little and hollow eyed , thick lipped , and flat nosed , swarthy of complexion , tho distant enough from the sun , hardy and capable of induring extream hardships , loving to ride●● tho on cows , oxen , and other beasts , not used in other parts in such services ; their speech carries a kind of a whining tone with it , and when a company are got together a singing , one would imagine them a consort of wolves a howling , and have indeed in their many excursions and wars proved the terror of the world , yet are seldom covetous , of more than is sufficient to support them , as being altogether regardless of silver , gold , or costly apparel , going for the most part clad with the skins and furrs of beasts they take by hunting , and are by some held to be the off-spring of the ten tribes removed out of palestine by salmanasser ; for many of the great lords of the tartars st●●e themselves naphthalites , danites , &c. and canton themselves into families and tribes . this countrey is usually divided into these following provinces , viz , precopensis , asciatica , antigua , zagatha and cathaia : the first contains taurica chersonesus , and the asciatican banks of tanais , taking its name from precops the chief city , and has in it , beside the towns of ozaclow , capha , crim , and others of lesser note . the second contains asciatica deserta , or deserta muscovita , held to be the ancient sarmatia asciatica , remaining unciviliz'd at this day ; as feeding upon raw horse-flesh , sucking blood from living creatures , and oftentimes preying upon each other , and neglecting all manner of tillage . the third contains the cities of noyhan , cashan , charackzieke , astracan , and some others of lesser note , as coras , caracora , and the whole kingdom of tendock , and affords the drug called rhubarb , not any other where to be found . the fourth division contains scythia , inter imaum , inhabited by a more civiliz'd people of the tartars , and have for their chief cities istigias , scituate in a very fruitful plain , to which flow the principal commodities of the whole kingdom , and samarchand , usually the residence of the tartarian chams , where tamerlain the great was born and died ; but the most pleasant of all , and indeed the glory of the whole countrey , is the kingdom of cathia . the soil of this part of tartary yields a superabundance of fruits , corn , hemp , flax , &c. and the other merchandise are woolls , rhubarb , musk , silks , and manufactures of its own , and also those of china , that are brought hither , and has for its chief cities cambalu , tebeth , carraran , and xeamdu , all of them very stately ; containing in their large circumferences , pallaces , fixed and moving , parks , pastures , with many other rarities ; but in all these countreys , the government is arbitrary , the lives and estates of the people depending upon the pleasure of the prince . there are yet another sort of this people called crimesian tartars , inhabiting the crim , on the fenns of maeotis and borders of moscovy and poland , but much of the nature of those already mentioned . as for religion , they are in many places divided in opinion , as being a mixture of armenians , christians , jews , mahometa●s , and some idolaters . the chief rivers that water this countrey , are the tanais and volga , and the principal mount imaus , which runs in a long chain or ridge , branching however into divers spurs , &c. a description of the kingdom of china in its provinces , &c. china is a large kingdom , though not well known , till the latter times to the europeans , bounded on the north with the eastern tartars , and altay ; separated from them by a continued chain of hills , and a wall of 400 leagues in length , furnished with towers , and so broad , that a cart may be driven on the top of it , built ( as they give it out ) by tzaintzon the 117th king of china . the southern boundards are partly cochin-china , a province of the east india , and partly the ocean ; on the east with the oriental ocean , and on the west with part of india and cathaia ; and is indeed on all parts so hemmed in with mountains , seas , and artificial fortifications , that it is no wonder travellers missed it in their way to other countreys . this kingdom , according to the account of the natives , contains 15 provinces , viz. canton , foqueit , olam , sisuam , tolenchia , cansay , miuchian , ochian , hionam ▪ paguia , tuitan , quinchen , chagnian , susnam , and quinsay , in which are computed 591 cities , 1593 walled towns , 4200 unwalled towns , and 1154 castles ; the whole countrey being accounted 3000 leagues in circumference , reaching from 130 to 160 degrees of longitude , and from the tropick of cancer to the 53 degree of latitude , lying under all the climes from the third to the ninth , so that the air is very temperate and healthful , by which the natives are for the most part exempted from sickness , and live to an extream age : as for the riches and fertility , it is very much , even to admiration , the people being very industrious , and the soil as suitable ; so that in many places they have two , and in most parts three harvests in a year , nor do they spare to plant and sow , the best of all kinds they can compass . the chief commodities coming from hence are pearls , bezora stones , wooll , cotton , olives , wine , flax , metals , fruit , china ware of sundry kinds , stuffs , carpets , embroideries , musk , amber , &c. the people are of a swarthy complexion , especially those living towards the southern parts , short nosed , black eyed , with thin beards , wearing long garments , with loose sleeves , and hair at its full growth ; they are much given to often eating , but then they do it very sparingly , not touching their victuals with their hands , but take it with a fork made of ebbony or ivory , from whom the europeans learned the fashion . the men are very jealous of their wives , insomuch that they will not suffer them to go abroad , nor sit at the table with them if any stranger be there , unless some very near kinsman ; however they permit them to go as gay as they please about the house , and one trick has been brought into a custom , to prevent their desiring to ramble , the which is by the hard binding up their feet when children , to render them small , that being accounted the greatest ornament or beauty , so that being cripled by that means , they cannot go without pain . as for their dead , they bury them in fields fifteen days after their decease : they that are buried within the walls of cities , &c. being by them accounted most miserable . knowledge they have of the deity , and some marks and foot-steps of christianity is remaining amongst them , but so obscured , that they live for the most part after the manner of the ancient gentiles , offering sacrifices to the devil , thereby to appease him , that he should do 'em no mischief ; and will needs have the date of their actions , or the beginning of their kingdom , long before the wor●d was made , telling many strange and incredible stories about the creation , &c. in their building , and indeed in all their actions , they are very neat , and the countrey so populous , though the wars with the tartars have somwhat lessened the number ; that some of their kings have brought a million of people into the field , and has seldom less , than 1000 ships of war , though of no great service , in a readiness , and 10000 lesser vessels on several rivers , for carrying of goods and merchandise from place to place ; yet so jealous are they of strangers prying into their affairs , that in some cities 't is death for any but a native to lodge a night within the walls , nor is he permitted in the day time to enter , without giving his name to a publique notary , which when he returns , he must see crossed out , or where ever he is found , he suffers for it . the towns and cities are too numerous to be particularly recited , but the principal are quinsay , 100 miles in circuit , with a lake of 30 miles compass within the walls , in the middle of which is an island , where the emperor ( as he stiles himself ) has a magnificent pallace , and is thought to contain two millions of people . pequin or pekin , not much inferiour to the former in bigness , but nothing in trade , and all the countrey is so free from hills or mountains , that the chinese ride in charriots made of reeds , or canes , which by the help of sails is driven by the wind , as if drawn by horses , or floating upon the water . as for the rivers , they are but few , and those proceed from great lakes , as wanting hills to give them springs ; the principal are aspthara , senus , ambactu , and cotiaris , all navigable ; and have over them a great number of bridges , the arches of some of them rising so high , that a ship under sail may pass with as much ease as a boat : and as for the customs arising by trade , they are so great , that no prince whatsoever receives so much upon the like occasion . east india described , in its kingdoms and provinces , &c. india the largest tract in the world , going under one entire name or denomination , except tartary and china , is bounded on the east with the oriental sea , and a part of china ; on the west with the dominions of the persian sophy ; and on the north with branches of mount taurus , that divide it from tartary ; and on the south with the indian ocean : the whole countrey ( as most considerate persons affirm ) taking its name from the river indus , the most famous and noted in that part of asia ; tho some will have it to be so called from the end or furthest extent of asia , and is extended from 106 to 159 degrees of longitude , and from the equinoctial or equator , to 44 degrees of north latitude , as to the main continent , tho some islands reckoned within the compass of india , extend to 9 degrees south latitude . this countrey , to give it its due , is in most parts exceeding pleasant and flourishing , enjoying healthful and temperate air , unless at some seasons , when the heat is excessive in the southern parts , the summer continuing there much longer than with us , so that they have in a manner two summers giving a double increase ; so that they want nothing fit for the sustaining the life of man , or whatever may tend to recreation or delight : the kingdoms and provinces generally abounding with precious stones , spices , perfumes , medicinals , mines of gold and silver , and minerals of all other kinds , copper and lead excepted ; and that they may not so abound as to reject the traffick of other countries , they are deficient in wheat and vines , and have but few horses ; the creatures they use for service , being camels , elephants , and dromedaries , with other creatures of lesser note : though the woods , plains , and rivers abound with tygers ; some lyons , rhinocerots , apes , serpents , and crocodiles ; and in the seas are found whales of a monstrous size , as 66 cubits in length and 20 in thickness , with lesser fish of sundry forms , not found in the european seas , nor perhaps in any other . the natives of india are different , according to the climates they inhabit ; but in general of a-swarthy complexion , tall of stature , strong of body , and in most places very much civiliz'd , and exact dealers ; and altho the common sort are but meanly clad , and many only with garments capable of hiding their privities , and others meerly for decency , yet those of the better rank observe a majesty in both sex , as to their raiment and attendants , perfuming themselves , and wearing besides rich attire , jewels , and other ornaments of great value ; and tho the women are barred of that perfection of beauty the europeans posses , yet have they many lovely and attractive features , wearing their hair long and loose , yet covered with a veil of calicut lawn ; their ears hung with rings and jewels , so heavy , that the weight distorts and disproportions them ; they have also jewels in their noses , according to their degree , and are very submissive and loving to their husbands , insomuch that they frequently leap into the funeral fires , and perish with the dead body , in hopes to enjoy him in another world ; those that refuse it , being looked upon worse than common prostitutes , and not only hated , but severely persecuted , to the hazard of a worse death by their own relations . the religion of the india's is mostly that of gentilism , tho mahometism has made a considerable progress ; and since the europeans have traded here , christianity has considerably prevailed or rather revived ; it being held on all hands that st. thomas the apostle planted the christian religion in these parts , of which upon the first arrival of the portugals , many marks remained ; and in this countrey it is held he suffered matyrdom , being run through the body with a spear as he was at his devotion , by the command of an indian king ; and if we take india in general , it consists of a mixture of five sorts of people more especially , viz. indians , moors or arabians , jews , tartars , and european christians , who have planted divers colonies on the sea coast , and in the islands , strongly fortifying themselves against the power of the natives and other strangers . this large countrey , especially on the continent , is principally divided into india intra gangem , and india extra gangem , and then subdivided into kingdoms and provinces , and the chief contained in the former , are narsinga , mallabar , balassia , cambaia , mandoa , bengala , ostrian , conora , and dellie ; and of these in their order . narsinga lies on the east of the golf of bengal , properly accounted a kingdom , and is 3000 miles in compass , the king whereof is not subject to the great mogul , but for his support , and the defence of his countrey , keeps 40000 men in pay , and can raise upon occasion a far greater number ; the countrey is very fruitful , as being watered with many pleasant streams , besides what the ganges contributes towards it , and has for its chief city melleaper , otherwise called st. thomas , in memory of the apostle said to be martyred in it ; bisnagar a town of considerable beauty and trade ; as also narsinga , from whence the kingdom seems to take its name ; and here the women burn themselves with their husbands . mallabar , formerly called aurea chersonesus , is a countrey extreamly well peopled , yielding corn , spices , cocoes , jaceroes , and although it has not above 25 leagues of sea coast , yet it has in its tract the provinces of kanonor , calecut , cranganor , cochin and cariolam , and is of large inland extent ; the people upon many parts of the coast addicting themselves to piracy , and prove very inhospitable to strangers , eating humane flesh , and giving their virgins to the priests or strangers to be deflowred , before they suffer them to be bedded by themselves when married ; with many other barbarous customs , as their changing their wives , and their having sometimes but one between seven or eight of them . balassia , called the kingdom of bocan , tho but very small , is nevertheless famed for the mines of gold and silver found therein , by which the neighbouring countreys are enriched , having for its chief towns senergian , balassia , and bocan , very fruitful in many parts , and much traded to . cambaia , called by some guzant , is accommodated with 500 miles of sea coast , very fertile , and is full of cities and towns , many of them considerably traded to , and altho cattle of sundry kinds abound here , the people are so superstitious , that they will eat no flesh , but live upon what else the countrey affords , fancying , like the pythagoreans , that the souls of men pass into beasts , &c. though they spare not to kill the elephants for their vory , and have for their chief sea towns , daman , curate , bandora , ravellum , and for those more inland campanel , tanaa , mollar , and cambaia ; the last giving name to the whole kingdom . mandoa , a province very fruitful , and stored with considerable towns , and above the rest mandoa , from which it takes its name , being 30 miles in compass , and said to be so well furnished for defence , that it held out a twelve years siege against the armies of very powerful kings ; molta , where the women imitating the men , ride a stride with boots and spurs on , &c. bengala , is a very large , and no less fruitful kingdom , lying upon the great golf of the sea , to which it gives name , making 120 leagues of sea coast , watered by the river chaberis , on which are seated many considerable inland towns , full of people , but such as are exceeding crafty and deceitful , thinking it no crime to cozen or over-reach strangers , nor the women to prostitute their bodies to any that will give them money ; the fathers letting the daughters to hire for so long as is desired to do the work at bed and board , it being the custom of the countrey , being a place much resorted , by reason of the rich commodities found there , as ginger , long pepper , silks , cottons , and others , &c. as for the chief cities , they are bengala , scituate on the bay or golf chatigan , or satigar , and gouro , and in this tract the beast called the rhinoceros , is chiefly found . oristan or orixa is a province not very large , yet furnished with rice , cloath of cotton , a fine stuff like silk made of grass , and there called yeva ; long pepper , ginger , mirabolans , and other commodities ; so that from the haven of orissa 25 or 30 ships have been laden with the commodities of this province in a season ; and here the people differ from the foregoing , as being very honest and just in their dealings , and has for its chief city raman , where the governour for the mogul resides . canora is a kingdom of considerable strength and largeness , but famed for nothing more than the quarries of adamant , where likewise diamonds of considerable value are found , and that none may purloyn them , a wall is drawn about the hill , and a guard set upon the gates : as for the chief cities or towns , they are lispeo , dangar , and vltabat , with some other of lesser note . dellie is accounted as the former , a kingdom , the prince , or rather governour of it living in great state , and is so highly reverenced by his subjects , that they not only kneel when he passes in a rich chair of state carried on mens shoulders , but upon notice given that he shaves his beard , or has his hair cut , a jubile is kept throughout his countrey : as for the soil , it is not very fruitful , as lying considerably northward , and more subject to frosts than the rest : it s chief city is dellie , from whence the kingdom takes its name ; besides which , there are of note , fremel , fultaber and besmer ; and these people above other indians addict themselves much to the study of magick . in this tract of intra gangem , are found the provinces of cochin , where the portugals hold a considerable trade , and have some collonies ; cranganor a small kingdom , mostly inhabited by such as stile themselves the christians of st. thomas , and is very plentiful as well in product as manufacture : conlam is a small dominion of about 80 miles extent , governed by a petty king ; but for want of good havens or sea-coast , not much traded to , though it comprehends three and twenty walled towns. india extra gangem . in this part of india are found divers rich countreys , viz. arachan , an inland region invironed with mountains and woods , yet exceeding fruitful , and in it are gathered from the rough rocks , &c. great quantities of precious stones ; as for the chief city it is arachan . machin a little kingdom , wherein grows the wood aloes , much esteemed and valued , and has machin for its chief city . camboia a large countrey full of people , abounding with elephants and rhinocerots ; also with gold silver and aloes , and other commodities of considerable value , put to sale in camboia its chief city . cochin , china a countrey ( once belonging to the chinese , but now under the mogul , governed by his deputed king ▪ ) abounding with porcelain , aloes , silks , gold , silver , &c. having its chief city of the same name . brama once a kingdom of no account , but now by the conquests the kings have made , it has under its power cal●● , p●o●a , melinta , m●a●da , decan , tangu , ava , machin , aracan , odia , pegu , siam , and others ; so that it is the most powerful in this tract ; and the city of pegu is the royal residence of that king. siam , once a powerful kingdom , the king thereof styling himself mighty , but now , as before intimated , it is tributary to the king of brama , and is however a very fertil countrey , having malucca for its chief city , possessed by the portugals , and much traded to by other nations for spices . pegv was formerly so powerful , that the kings thereof have brought armies of 11 and 900000 men into the field , extending their conquests very wide , but now the good fortune of the bramanian holds it in subjection . these are the places of chief note upon the continent ; however there are found in this large tract the provinces or kingdoms of dulsinda , pengab , agra , sanga , camboia , decan , botanter , patanaw , and jangoma ; many of them very spacious , abounding with fruits , cattle , minerals , precious stones , and the like : this countrey rarely failing any where to produce something worthy of note . the principal rivers are ganges , indus , and hydaspes ; the first in such esteem with the natives , that they come many miles on pilgrimage to it , superstitiously imagining , that if they drink the water of this river before they die , they shall undoubtedly possess their imagined felicity in another world ; and in the last are found a great number of precious stones , washed from the rocks and mountains , by the sudden showers ; and to these streams above 40 considerable rivers contribute , fatning and enriching the soil in every part where they flow . as for mountains of note , except some branches of ta●rus , there are but few . a geographical and historical description of africa , in its kingdoms and provinces , &c. africa larger than europe , but less than asia , is bounded on the east with the red sea and arabian bay , parted by them from asia ; on the west with the main atlantick ocean , separating it from america ; on the north with the mediterranean sea , dividing it from europe and anatolia ; and on the south with the aethiopick ocean , separating it from the southern continent ; and joyns only to asia by an isthmus of 60 miles , over which cleopatra the queen of aegypt when she fled with antony from the naval fight at actium , purposed to draw by main force her ships and galleys into the red sea , but was disswaded from it , by being put in hopes of a better fortune . africa is held to have taken its name from affro or apher , descended from abraham , and is properly held to contain six principal regions , besides other of lesser note , viz. barbary , egypt , numidia , sarra , the countrey of the negro's , and the dominions of prestor john , and is in form like a pyramid reversed , the basis of which , from tangier to the straights of gibralter , to the point where it joyneth to asia , is counted 1920 italian miles , the cone of it very narrow , but to reckon from the cone or pyris , to the northern parts of the basis , it extendeth it self 4155 miles , and is scituate for the most part under the torrid zone , being crossed by the equator almost in the midst , which made some of the ancient writers conceive it not habitable , by reason of the excessive heat in the middle and more southern parts , in which they deceived themselves ; for altho in some places it is full of sandy desarts , yet the greatest part of those regions that lie near or under the line , are furnished with so many fountains , rivers , and little brooks , cedars and other lofty trees , casting a large shade as well as bearing delicate fruits , and at all times stored with blossoms , that the place is not despicable , but much to be desired , and especially places more northward , but leaving it in general , we proceed ( for the better satisfaction of the reader ) to particulars . a description of egypt , &c. egypt , once a famous and flourishing kingdom , now in the hand of the turks ; is bounded on the east with idumaea , and the arabian bay ; on the west with numidia , barbary , and part of lybia ; on the north with the mediterranean sea ; and on the south with aethiopia superiour , containing in length from the mediterranean to the city of asua or syene bordering on aethiopia , 562 italian miles , and in breadth from roseta to damiatia , or from the most western branch of nile to the farthest east 160 of the like miles ; said to be first inhabited by misraim the son of chus , and grandchild to cham , scituate under the second and fifth climates , making the longest summers day but 13 hours and a half , and altho by reason of its southerly scituation , it must consequently be in a hot and sultry air ; it has nevertheless fresh gales of wind to temperate it , and once a year 〈◊〉 over-flowing of the river nilus , which renders it so fruitful , that it abounds with rich pastures , store of camels , horses , oxen , asses , sheep and goats of extraordinary growth ; also with infinite store of wild and tame fowl , with plenty of minerals , precious stones , wine , choice fruits , as oranges , lemons , citrons , pomegranats , cherries , &c. and has palm trees in great numbers growing male and female , and the female bears not unless she grows by the male ; a tree universally useful , as serving to above twenty ends . as for the people , they are of a swarthy or tawny complexion , very much inured to labour , tho the countrey yields great encrease of its own accord ; very servile and obedient to their conquerers , who lord it over them ; the richer sort generally addicting themselves to necromancy and sorcery , and are said first to teach the use of letters to the phaenicians , though the magi , and those that were stiled their priests , strugled all that in them lay to obscure learning , by representing the meaning of what they intended to express in hieroglyphicks , shadowing it under divers forms of birds and beast , &c. and here are to be found the ruins of mighty structures , as the pyramids and tower of pharo's built of marble , exceeding high , nightly hung with lights , as a sea-mark to sailors , and many other rare matters to demonstrate the magnificence of a plenteous kingdom . as for the cities of egypt , they are generally built upon hills or high rising ground , to stand dry during the over-flowing of nilus , from whose waters the countrey receives its fertility ; so that whilst it carries its stream over the land , they commerce with each other by little boats , which beginning on the 15th of june , lasts 40 days , standing 15 cubits in many places , and in 40 more gathers its waters within the banks , by which means the earth is so well tempered ( for in this kingdom there falls no rain ) that the encrease is sixty and eighty fold , their harvest being commonly in our march and april ; and if the river flows too scanty or too immoderate , then it betokens scarcity or some misfortune to the prince , governour , or state , and whilst its waters are abroad , which at the first issuing create a plague for the space of a day : the cattle feed on the hills ; and when the famine was here in the reign of pharaoh , this river refused to pass its bounds , or give any assistance to the thirsty land. this countrey was formerly divided into two parts , viz. delta and thebais ; the first lying between the two extream branches of the river nilus , in form of the greek letter , from whence it takes it's name , and the last taking name from the city of thebes , containing all the rest of the rivers course ; and these again with some odd angles , are divided by some into many parts , shires , or counties , and is said in the time of king amasis the second to contain 20000 cities , towns , and considerable castles , but now a far less number , as being ruined in their several wars , &c. they being cairo or grand cair , alexandria , pelusium , since called damiatia , taken and possessed by the christians in the holy war , yet held out so obstinately upon the siege , that 70000 persons died of the famine and pestilence : heros or heroum , scituate on the arabian isthmus , at the very bottom of the golf , where jacob and joseph had their first interview : heliopolis , the city of the sun , now called betsames in the land of goshen : arsinoe , on the shoar of the red sea , cleopatris built by queen cleopatra : gleba rubra , by the greeks called hierabolus , and sometimes erithia bolus , of which there goes a story , that king amenophis the fifth being blind , was informed by one of his magi , that if he could procure the water or urine of a woman that had been married a twelve-month and upward , who had known no man but her husband , it would restore him to sight , when having tried in vain a great number , at last one was found , whose urine effected it , upon which he took her as a mark of honour , to be his queen , and caused the rest to be brought into this town , and to be burnt together with it . as for the egyptians , they are a great many of them mahometans , and some maintain their first idolatrous custom , in worshipping an ox , onions , leeks , and other foolish matters , and when they have a great increase , they offer to the god nilus , as they term the river , in which feast the poorer sort spend almost all they have laboured for through the course of the year ; and indeed , this country in fruitfulness , occasioned by that river , affords them no small store , alluding to which , thus the poet lucan ; terra suis contenta bonis , non indiga mercis , aut jovis ; in solo tanta est fiducia nilo . the earth content with it 's own wealth doth crave no forreign wares , nor jove himself they have , their hope 's alone in nilus fruitful wave . and one thing extraordinary in this kingdom , we think not fit to pass by , which if true ( as indeed it is confirmed by people of known credit ) may justly create a wonder in all , coming to pass by a supernatural means , and not the work of art and nature , viz. about five miles from cair , there is said to be a place which every good friday shews the appearance of the heads , legs , arms , &c. of men and children , as if rising out of the ground , to a very great number ; however if any person approach them , they shrink in again : a strange forerunner , or earnest , if true , of the resurrection of the whole body , presented yearly by the rising of the members ; and to confirm the truth hereof , stephen dupleis ( held to be a sober discerning man ) affirms to be an eye witness of the wonder , and that he had touched diverse of the rising members , and as he was once about to do it to the head of a child , a carian forbad it , telling him he knew not what he did . another wonder is the crocodile , which coming from a small egg , not exceeding the bigness of a turkies , grows to be 30 feet in length and proportionable in thickness , living at pleasure in the water , or on the land , destroying not only fish , but men and beasts ; and with these the nilus abounds , as also with a fish called the river horse ; and thus much for egypt . a description of barbary . barbary , ( a considerable part of africk , so called ) is bounded on the east with cyrenaica ; on the west with the atlantick ocean ; on the north with the streights of gibraltar , and some part of the atlantick ocean ; on the south with mount atlas , separated by that mount from the desarts of lybia , scituate under the third and fourth climates , so that the longest summers day in the most southern parts , amounts to 13 hours 3 quarters , but in the north 4 and a quarter , accounted in length 1500 miles , and in breadth in some places 100 , and in others near 300 miles , taking its name from the word bar made double signifying in the saracens language a desart . the part of barbary lying towards the mediterranean , is full of craggy hills and mountains , shaded on the top with woods , where lyons and other beasts of prey shelter themselves , though the valleys are very fruitful , but deficient in wheat , insomuch that the inhabitants eat barley bread , yet between these and mount atlas , the country is champian , watered with many pleasant rivers , issuing from that mountain , rendering the soil rich and fertile , so that it affords great store of plums , pears , figs , cherries , apples of sundry kinds , oyl , honey , sugar , and some mines of gold , called barbary gold , being the finest of all other : and pliny reports that near leptis we may behold a date tree over-shadowing an olive , and under the olive a fig-tree , and under the fig , a pomegranate-tree , and under that a vine , and under the the vine , pease or corn , &c. all flourishing at the same time , and this they do the rather , that they may shelter each other from the heat of the sun. the people are of a dusky colour , inclining to blackness , held to descend from the arabians , so that the language they speak in most parts is the arabick , or so bordering upon it that it may be easily understood , and are impatient of labour , covetous of honour , crafty and deceitful , yet studious in matters of their law , and some sciences , more especially philosophy and the mathematicks , and are in religion generally mahometans ; they are also stately of gate , exceeding mistrustful , implacable in their hatred , and jealous beyond compare ; for the women indeed are comely of body , well featured , delicate , soft skinn'd , and want nothing but colour to make them accomplish'd beauties ; nor has this country failed to produce persons , not only famous for arts and arms , but for piety and learning , as , amilcar , hannibal , septimus severus , massinissa , tertullian , cyprian , arnobius , lactantius , augustine , and others of no less note ; and here once ruled queen dido in the famous city of carthage , which city so long and strongly contended with rome for the empire of the world , but at last was destroyed through the importunity of cato , at which time there was found in it ( notwithstanding the charge of a tedious war ) 470000 pound weight of silver . as for the whole country , called barbar , it was divided into 7 parts , viz. africa propria , called also zugitania , byzantena , tripolitana , numidia , mauritania , caesariensis , sitisensis , and t●●gitania , under diverse kings and governours , who then held it as tributaries to the roman emperors , but since reduced to four divisions , viz. tunis , tremesen or algiers , fesso , and morocco ; and of these in their order . tvnis is accounted a kingdom , containing whatever the antients called africa propria , or minor , and numidia antiqua , the air very temperate , considering the degree it lyes in ; the soil very fruitful , divided again into 5 parts , viz. bugia , constantia , tunis , tripoley and ezab , accommodated with many curious havens , the chief being tripoley , where the turkish bassa resides ; and tunis a considerable city giving name to the kingdom , supposed to be founded on the ruins of the antient carthage ; and hath in it a temple of singular beauty and greatness . tremesen , or the kingdom of algiers , commonly called argie , now in the hands of the piratical turks ; has for its chief city algiers , from which the country takes its name , scituate near the sea in the form of a triangle with a haven , but neither great nor secure from the fury of the north winds ; though the city is strong and beautiful , having not only in it spacious inns , but baths , and mosques , very commodious and sumptuous ; and here every trade takes a street to themselves ; the streets standing even one above another , upon the rising of the hill ; which renders it a very pleasant prospect , to such as sail by it , and the harbour or mole defended with strong castles , and other works , which render the approach inaccessible and was formerly a place to which merchants traded ; but now only a nest of pirates , studying and striving all they can , to endamage and molest , such as sail those straits or seas ; and though they have been often curbed by the english , french , and dutch , &c. and brought to terms of peace ; yet like thorow paced thieves , they never kept it longer than they found an opportunity , to break it to their advantage ; and were in the year 1688 ; so resolute when the french fleet lay before it , and had with their bombs fired the town about their ears , not only to reject the offer made , but in contempt to that puissant monarch , to shoot his consul out of a mortar , or piece of cannon towards the french ships in the road , &c. as for the upland country , it has many pleasant towns and villages in it , abounding with gardens , vineyards , pastures , cattle , corn-fields , and fruits of sundry kinds . fez and morocco , are now joyned under one king , who fondly stiles himself emperor ; and contain the whole country of mauritania , properly so called , which took its name from the mauri , a people that antiently inhabited it ; and the first of these has fez for its chief city , giving name to the kingdom ; and here was scituate the city of tangier , lately demolished by the english , as not worth the keeping ; nor is the country wanting in large forrests , green fields , vineyards , flourishing gardens , abounding with fruits , and producing an infinite number of cattle , a breed of excellent horses , and the mountains many wild beasts , watered with the rivers buringrug and inavis for the space of 100 miles . morocco is scituate in a warm breathing air , which renders the country very fertile ; so that it abounds with figs , dates , grapes , apples , olives , honey , sugar , and cattle ; the whole country being divided into 7 parts , viz. guzzula , morocco , hea , duccala , hascorasus and tedles , all holding under the king of morocco , and paying him tribute , his power being absolute and tyrannical ; insomuch that he causes whom he pleases to be put to death , that is , cast to the lyons , or other wild beasts , to make him sport ; nor can any of his subjects , account what he has his own ; as for the profession of religion these people make , it is mahometism , though there are a great many jews , and some christians , living amongst them ; as for rivers there are not many in this country , the land being watered mostly by brooks , and little springs ; nor do they know in most parts what winter means as never having seen ice or snow , but what hangs on the top of the atlas a huge mountain , held to transcend the clouds ; the top of it crowned with pines , and so steep and rugged , that it cannot but with great difficulty be ascended ; lying in the upper part , so near the cold region ; that not withstanding the people beneath fry with the scorching heat of the sun ; it is covered with snow and ice : of which virgil thus writes . atlantis cinctum , &c. atlas whose piny head , with clowds inclosed , is to the storms of wind , and rain exposed ; now hides the snow his arms , now tumbleth down , upon his chinn , his beard with ice o'regrown . lybia interior described , &c. lybia interior , has for its northern bound mount atlas , parted by it from barbary and cyrenaica on the east ; lybia marmarica on the south ; aethiopia inferior , and the land of negro's and bounded with the atlantick ocean on the west distinguished from the other lybia by interior , as lying more in the main land of africk . this countrey , however it anciently was distinguished into parts , stands now divided into biledugerid or numidia ; lybia deserta , or sarra , and a considerable portion of the countrey called terra negritarum , or the negro's countrey ; and as for numidia , it abounds in many places with cattle , palm trees , and forrests of wild beasts , not more salvage than the people , who live for the most part by rapine and murther , inhospitable to strangers , neglecting tillage , and giving themselves up chiefly to the feeding of cattle upon the mountains , carrying like the tartars their families and tents , with other provisions from place to place , by reason of the scarceness of water ; for where this day a spring is found , the next it may perhaps be sunk again ; yet near the river dara , and in some other parts , the countrey people have scattered villages , and those of better rank castles . as for the towns we find of note , they are or were timugedit , tafiletae ; talfet , a town of 400 houses , but no place considerable near it in 300 miles : techort , where inhabit the most courteous people of all the countrey , and chose rather to marry their daughters to strangers than to natives , with some other of lesser note , not worth mention , as being exceeded by most of our countrey villages . lybia deserta , is a place so destitute and poor , by reason it mostly consists of wide desarts , and barren sands , breeding numbers of poisonous serpents , that few people inhabit it , unless thieves and robbers , who live upon the spoil of those that attempt to pass them ; yet near the borders , where there is any green , they have some petty towns , such as go for cities in those parts , as tagaza , 20 days journey from any other peopled place , yet affords veins of salt , which they exchange for victuals with the tombutan merchants , or else must perish for want , and are many times over-whelm'd with the sands , driven like clouds upon them by the south wind ; guargata , scituate on the brink of a lake ; huaden , and tomburaum ; nor was this country ever fought after by the great conquerors , as not being worth their travel , &c. terr-anigritarum , or the land of negroes , is partly in libya interior , and partly without it , and is exceeding hot , by reason of its scituation under the torrid zone , yet full of black people ; and though a great part of it be desart , yet some places by the favour of springs are so well knit and fastened , that they appear green and flourishing , and especially those that lye within the compass of the over-flowing of the river niger , insomuch that they have pleasant gardens , pastures , corn fields , and store of cattle , woods full of elephants , and other wild beasts , whose flesh they eat , when taken by hunting , and clothe themselves with their skins , but have very few fruit-trees , unless such as bear a kind of a fruit like a chesnut , very bitter , nor have they , unless very rarely , any rain in this country , but are supply'd , like egypt , by dews , and the over-flowing of niger . the people of this tract were so simple , that at the first coming of the portugals hither to trade , they took their ships to be great birds , with white wings , and the roaring of their guns to be the voice of the devil ; nor could they conceit their bag-pipes to be any thing but living creatures , and when they were permitted to convince themselves of the contrary , they would not yet be beaten out of it , but that they were immediately the work of god's own hands ; yet are they very reverent or respectful to their king , who exceeds not in manners , or breeding one of our coblers , never daring when they come before him to look in his face , but cast their eyes downward , and when they sit , though the chiefest of his favourites , it is at his feet , flat on their buttocks . as for the religion ( if it may be so termed ) of these negroes , it is a mixture of idolatry and mahometism , though formerly , as appears by some footsteps yet left , christianity was predominant in divers parts of the land ; and through this countrey the river nilus passes , and 't is watered likewise with senaga , a river arising out of the lake guaga , little inferior to the former , and has divers mountains , as arualtes , arangus , and deorum currus , thrusting into the sea , and reaching in a manner the clouds . the chief cities of this countrey in the time of ptolomy , were nigra , thumondacana , malachath , seleuce , an●gath , panagra , with some few of lesser note , but most of them are ruined , and scarce any thing but their names remaining ; however there are some crept up in their steads , but those not many , as argina , porto dio porto del riscato , either built or so named by the portugals . in this tract ( for it is a very large one , taking up above a third part of africk ) are guinea , extended from sierra leona in the 10th degree of longitude , to benin in the 30th . where they have the juice of a tree as strong as wine , as also mines of gold : a place very fruitful , and much abounding in rice , barley , ivory , and guinea pepper . tombvtvm , a kingdom of it self , very rich in mines of gold , yet a greater store is gained by his warring on his neighbours ; as also mell , can● , gialosia , guber , gua●gara , gaoga , gambra or g●mbea , gialosi , bito , temiano , zegzeg , zaffara , gethan , medna , daum , gualta , agadez , cano , cas●n● , savaga , most of them petty princes , not of any considerable note . bornvm , a large and populous countrey , accounted 500 miles in length , yet mostly inhabited by keepers of cattle that abound here , by reason of the abundance of pastures ; and here they use no marriage , but mix together as they think convenient , giving their children names by some mark or token of their body ; however the kings revenues are great , his very dogs being coupled in chains of gold. benin , eastward of guinea ; the king whereof hath 600 wives , with whom he marches in state twice a year to show them to strangers , and the subjects following the example of their prince , get as many as they can , few having less than ten , and here the men and women go naked till they are married , and then have only a covering from the waste downward , superstitiously raising the skin with three slashes of a knife , from the navel to the privy parts , as a mark of their hopes of salvation . nvbia , a considerable countrey , stretching from gaoga to nilus , has dangula for its chief town and some other of lesser note , and affords , amongst other drugs the mortalest of poysons ; insomuch that the tenth part of a grain will dispatch a man in a quarter of an hour ; and affords moreover civit , sugar , sanders , ivory , &c. the kingdom taking its name from the nubiaea , a certain people that inhabit it , and is well refreshed with rivers and lakes , and the people were generally christians , a strong and potent nation , well skill'd in war , in so much that cyriacus one of their kings , hearing the christians were oppressed in egypt , raised an army of 100000 horse to succour them , but being about to enter that kingdom , to the great terrour of the turks and sarazens , he was met by the patriarch of alexandria , at whose supplication and entrcaty he returned , without enterprizing any thing memorable , nor has it been long since they , for want of spiritual guides to strengthen and confirm them , have faln off from the christian faith , and embraced the superstitions of mahomet . aethiopia superior described in its kingdoms and provinces . aethiopia svperior has on the east sinus barbaricus , and the red sea ; on the west , lybia interior and the kingdom of nubia ; and part of congo in the other aethiopia on the north ; egypt and lybia marmarica on the south ; the mountains of the moon parting it from aethiopia inferiour , and had its present name from the grecians , and is scituate on both sides the equinoctial , extending from the south parrallel of 7 degrees to the north end of the isle meroe , scituate under the fifth parallel on the north of that circle , being accounted in length about 1500 miles , and in breadth about half as much , in circumference 4300 miles ; containing the whole countrey of aethiopia , as before limited ; the greatest part of it being the abyssine empire or dominion of prestor john ; the rest comprehending the kingdoms of adel and adea , the provinces quiola and melindi , though the last are reckoned parts of aethiopia inferior ; the island of meroe in the north possessed by mahometans enemies to prestor john , all on the south of nubia and the west of nilus , is inhabited by the anzichi , a cannibal and idolatrous people , who have a king of their own ; and all the coast of the red sea , as well within the coast of babel-mandel , the port of erocco only excepted , is in the possession of moors and arabians , who pay homage to the kings of adel and adea . as for the people of aethiopia , properly so called , they were formerly held to be great astrologers , the first ordainers of sacred ceremonies , from whom the egyptians had their instructions , always counted good archers , yet treacherously shooting with poisoned arrows ; they go ill cloathed , and as bad housed , for the most part extreamly inclined to barbarisin , and unless they swear by the life of their emperor , not to be credited in matters of weight ; their colour is an olive tawny , inclining more to swarthiness , except their emperor , who as a mark of the true prince , and are held to be converted to the christian faith , by the eunuch of queen candace , converted by st. philip the evangelist , which flourishes amongst them to this day , and comes very near in all the material points , to the orthodox religion of the reformed european church , &c. and are under a patriarch . the country of the aethiops , is like all other countries in this tract , fruitful in some places , and barren in others , yet it generally abounds in rice , barley , beans , pease , sugars , minerals of all kinds , cattle , viz. goats , oxen , sheep , horses ; and have great store of flax and vines , yet make neither cloth nor wine , unless peculiarly for the emperor , patriarch , or great men , being much given to sloth ; nor do they indeed know how to bring their minerals to perfection , nor will they trouble themselves to fish or hunt , tho' the woods and rivers are infinitely stored with fish and venison . as for the provinces comprehended at this time within the bounds or limits of aethiopia , they are , guagere , tigremaon , angote , damut , amma , bagamedrum , goijami , adel , adea , barnagassum , danculi , d●bas , fatigar , xoa , and barus ; though not all , as i intimated within the circuit of the abassine empire ; and of note amongst these are , viz. barnagosvm scituate upon the red sea , extending from suachen , almost to the mou●● of the streights , and hath for its sea port frooco , the only port of the empire , held tributary from the turks , who sometimes since took it from the aethiopians , with the town of suachen , for which they pay yearly 1000 ounces of gold. tigramaon , lying between nilus , marabo and angote , is a pleasant kingdom , though of no great extent , and has for its chief city cazunia , supposed to be the regal seat of queen candace , whose enuch st. philip baptized . angote is a province considerably barren , lying between tigramaon and amare ; insomuch that being deficient of gold or silver , or any other valuable commodities , iron , plate , or rings , and hard loaves of salt , made to sundry degrees of bigness , pass as current . xoa is more fertile than the former , as having many green pastures , where a great number of cattle feed , as likewise abounding with fruits , and is almost in all parts grateful to the husbandman . fatigar is noted for having in it a lake of that name 12 miles in compass , being on the top of a high mountain , from whence divers rivers , well stored with fish , descend to water the country . goijami is famed for the mines of gold found , as also for the unicorn , who makes his abode in the hills of the moon , large mountains so called , because the moon upon her rising , appears first from behind them to that country ; and although the beasts are rarely taken by reason of their swiftness , yet their horns , so famous for expelling poison are found , which at a certain period of time they shed . gvgera , otherways meroe , is an island of which we intend to speak hereafter ; and in this country is found the hill amara , which is a days journey to ascend , and 30 miles in compass , in form round , and on the top of it are sundry pleasant plains and pallaces , the air being much cooler than that beneath , and here the princes of the blood dwell . as for the emperors stile , by reason of the strangeness of it , we think fit to insert it , viz. p. i. supream of his kingdoms , and the beloved of god , the pillar of faith , sprung from the stock of judah , the son of david , the son of solomon , the son of the column of sion , the son of the seed of jacob , and the son of the hand-maid of mary , the son of nahu , after the flesh , the son of st. peter , and st. paul , after the spirit , emperor of the higher and lesser aethiopia , and of the most mighty kingdoms , dominions , and countries of xoa , goa , caffares , fatigar , angote , balignazo , adea , vangue , goijami , ( where are the fountains of nile ) amara , banguamedron , ambea , vangucum , tigremean , sabaim , ( the birth-place of the queen of saba ) barnagosum ; and lord of all the region unto the confines of egypt . and is said to have for his arms , a lyon rampant , in a field or , with this motto , viz. the lyon of the tribe of judah shall overcome . which gives many occasion to think , he either descended of the jewish race , from the stock of david , or from the off-spring of the queen of sheba , or saba , called the queen of the south , supposed to be begotten by solomon ; but leaving these conjectures to those that are disposed to make a more strict inquiry into them , we proceed to the inferior aethiopia . aethiopia inferior described , in its kingdoms and provinces , &c. aethiopia inferior has on the east the red sea ; on the west the aethiopick ocean ; on the north the higher aethiopia , and terra nigritarum ; and on the south the main ocean , parting it from terra australis incognita ; being lower in scituation than the former ; a country but little known to the ancients , but since more fully discovered , and is divided properly into 4 parts , viz. zang●bar , monomotapa , cafraria , and manicongo ; and as for the people , they differ little from the other aethiopia , either in customs or manners , going clad with striped plads , or skins of beasts , part mahometans and part idolaters . zangebar is a country low and fenny , by reason of the over-flowing of the rivers , and so pestered with woods and forrests , that for wa● of the free motion of the air it is very unwholsome ; and so little are the people skilled in shipping , that the moors who dwell on the sea coasts use to adventure in little vessels sowed together with leather thongs , and caulk'd with gum , having no other sails than the leaves of palm trees ; and this province contains 15 lesser provinces , as melindi , mombaza , quiola , mosambique , a very fruitful , populous countrey ; sofala , supposed the ophir● of solomon for its store of gold , ivory , and other rich commodities ; moenhemago or monemug , an inland province , affording mines of gold , which the people barter with the portugals for silks , taffata's , and the like , moeneremage , corova , calen , anzuga , mombira , mombiza , bandi , monzala , ma●oas , benda and embreo , and has for its chief cities or places of resort , mombaza , ampaza , both taken by the portugals ; quiola , mosambique , safola , and others of lesser note ; and in this region are divers cannibals of a black and horrid aspect , who war upon their neighbours for no other end than that they may eat them when they take them captive ; and amongst others , having taken mombaza , they made a great feast of the king and such citizens as escaped not their hands , and would have no commerce held with them , were not their countrey exceeding rich. monomopata lies mostly upon the sea , and is in circuit 3250 italian miles ; the air very temperate , and wholsome and pleasant , and is watered with the rivers , panami , aurug , luanga , mangeano , in whose sands is found much gold , and as for the people of this tract , they are black of complexion , mean of stature , swift of foot , and very strong , covering themselves only with cotton cloath , and diet upon flesh , fish , milk , rice and oyl of susiman , being pagans in religion , worshipping a god called mozimo , yet invisible , for they hate idols ; and here above all countreys in africk , the women have the greatest priviledges . they punish theft , adultery , and witch-craft with death , yet have no prisons , but execute the offenders as soon as taken ; and the lesser provinces into which this greater is divided , are motuca , rich in mines of gold , torra or butna , boro , quiticut , inhambran , and some others of lesser note , they being all very fruitful , but most famed for their mines of gold ; but their towns are very inconsiderable , the people mostly living in stragling cotts , the meaner sort not suffered to have any doors . cafraria , a third division of this aethiopia , is a country greatly abounding with herds of cattle , deer , antelopes , baboons , foxes , hares , ●elicans , ostriches , herons , ducks , geese , pheasants , partridges ; exceeding well watered , but deficient in corn , by the neglect of the natives , who choose rather to live idly upon the bounty of nature , than to improve it by art ; making their aboads in woods and forrests , and building , for the most part , their houses of branches of trees , interwoven hurdle-waies , and are black of colour , thick lipped , flat nosed , long headed , but longer eared , which reach beneath their shoulders , occasioned by their hanging extraordinary weights in them for ornaments , as rings , chains , &c. and to render themselves more beautiful , slash their skins in divers parts , carving it out into sundry forms , in imitation of the antient britains ; and the better to show it in all parts , they go mostly naked , unless a piece of a beast's skin over their privities ; and those that go best attired , it is only in skins of beasts , rough as they take them off , their dyet being raw flesh , and with the guts of be●sts they adorn themselves , by hanging them about their necks , and indeed are altogether brutal and bestial . and in this tract live the imb●ans , not far from the cape of good-hope , tall , and o● considerable strength , living by war and rapine ▪ feeding on the flesh of their conquered en●mies and dying friends , whose deaths they hasten , that they may the sooner eat them , and make drinking cups of their sculls ; and in their war ▪ they fight with poisoned arrows , and a long pol● , hardened at the end with fire , carrying likewise fire before them , signifying thereby that they intend to roast and boil all they shall overcome ; and these were they that eat up the king of mambaza and his people ; their king if such a monster deserve that sacred epithete , accounting himself lord of all the earth ; and when at any time the heat or rain offends him , he darts his poisoned arrows at heaven , by way of defiance : as for towns , they have none of any note , living in hutts , stragling villages , aud woods ; and in these parts is the cape of good-hope , frequently touch'd by such as sail to the east-indies ; and the better to discover the customs of these people , in the beastly and inhumane condition they live in , take the following account , viz. it happened that some english ships , in their way home from the indies , ●ortuned to take two of the natives , near the bay of soldania , in order to learn from them , when they could be brought to speak english , a farther account of the country , and one of them , named coore , they brought to london , the other dying by the way , when the better to please him , they not only arayed him in fine cloaths , but gave him beads , bells , and other things , wherein the natives of his countrey most delighted . yet not these , nor the sumptuous fare he met with , could alter his inclination , for he altogether appeared dogged and melancholy ; and when he had a smattering of english , he would often throw himself upon the ground , in a melancholy posture , and passionately cry'd out , home go saldania , go coore home , go . so that all hopes being lost of bringing him to any better manners , than what he had naturally im●ibed , they sent him back again by the next ships , and set him , to his no small joy , on shore where they found him : so that at any time when he saw ships with english colours , he would come running to the bay with gut and garbidg about his neck , to them , doing them all the good offices he could , being more pleased with that beastly manner of living than any other . manicongo , is a very temperate region , free from extream colds , as being scituate under the equator , rendring by that means the soil exceeding fruitful , affording fruits , plants , herbs , store of pasturage ; abundance of bulls , cows , goats , hares , deer , elephants , and serpents so large that they will swallow a man ; fowl of sundry kinds , they have in great plenty , both wild and tame , as being watered with the rivers coanza , bengo , barbela , ambrizi , dande , loza , and zare , and has in it the mountains of siera , complida , the chrystalline mountain , where great store of chrystal is found , the mountains of the sun , the mountains of sal nitri affording great quantities of that kind of minerals , and the mountains of cabambe , rich in mines of silver . and this province of manicongo , contains sundry lesser ; the king stiles himself , king of bomba , congo , sango , sundi , bangu , batti , pemba , abundi , matana , quisoma , angolu , and cacanga , lord of congemes , amolaze , langelum , anzuichi , chucchi , and zoanghi , though several of them are undiscovered to the europeans , the whole coast being first discovered by the portugals , who o●ened a way on this side of afric , to the wealth of india in asia ; and although the king of congo , has no other current money but cockle shells , yet his revenues are great by presents , for none may come to him empty handed , as also by his share of gold and silver , digged out of the mines ; and in this tract are sundry nations of cannibals who greedily devour mans flesh , rather than that of beasts , and of these there are the igges , or giachi , inhabiting the mountains of the sun , the which though they have wives 10 or 20 a piece , yet have they no children to be their heirs , for they unnaturally strangle them as soon as born , and eat them as dainties , supplying the decrease in number by such as they take prisoners of either sex , stealing none under 16 or 20 years of age , which by force and custom they bring to be as bad as themselves , against whom the batti , a neighbouring province , keeps 70000 men in arms , to prevent the stealing or eating the rest . another sort there are of these monsters in zazichana , who eat not only their enemies but their friends and kinsfolks ; and if at any time they can make to the value of a penny more of a slave dead than alive , they kill him , and cut out his body in joynts , selling it publickly in their shambles , as beef and mutton with us ; and when they have any that are lean , they fat them for the slaughter . and great pitty it is , that so good and fruitful a country , as these regions of africk , should be possessed with such impious wretches ; wherefore lest a further relation of such a barbarous people , should prove ingrateful to the reader , we will put a period to the discourse of this country , and of africa , till we come to the islands , and so proceed to the description of america , the fourth and last part of the world , yet discovered continent , &c. a geographical and historical description of america , in its kingdoms and provinces , &c. america , the fourth division of the world , so named by americus vespucius , an adventurous florentine , who discovered a part of the continent , is bounded on the east with the atlantick ocean , and the virginian seas , called mare del noort ; on the west with the pacifick ocean , called mare del zur ; dividing it from asia on the south , with part of terra australis incognita , from which separated by a long narrow streight , called the streight of magellan ; but on the north reaches , as some suppose , to the artick pole ; the bounds are not known , and although this country has been but lately discovered by us , yet it is conjectured to be as anciently peopled as europe it self , and though some have guessed it was knownto the antient greeks romans and carthaginians , yet they are but conjectures , only the arguments or probabilities , they bring to confirm or strengthen them , being much too weak to hold with a considering or judicious reader , and therefore coming to more certainty , we must be impartial , and ascribe the honour of the discovery of this great country , called by many a new world , to the honour and memory of christopher colon or columbus , a genoese , born at neray in the signiory of genoa , who being a man of considerable abilities of mind , could not upon considering the motion of the sun , perswade himself but that there must in reason be large countries not found out , to which it communicated its influence , and being strongly possessed with these thoughts , he imparted them to the state of genoa , in the year 1486 , whereupon he sent his brother bartholomew to propose the discovery to henry the seventh of england , who unluckily , by the way , was taken prisoner , though some time after , being set at liberty , he performed his trust , and was received with much chearfulness , insomuch that columbus was sent for by the king : happy for the natives had they fell into such merciful hands ; but providence otherways ordered it , for columbus ignorant of his brothers being taken by the pyrats , not hearing any return or answer , concluded his proposals rejected , and thereupon he made his overtures to the court of castile , where after many delays and six years attendance , he was furnished with three ships , not for conquest , but discovery , when having sailed sixty days on the main ocean , he could descry no land , so that the disheartned spaniards growing out of love with so tedious , and as they concluded , fruitless a voyage , began to mutiny , refusing to pass any further , at what time , as fortune would have it , columbus espied a bright cloud arise , growing still more light , from which he gathered , that they must ascend from the fumes of the earth , and not the ocean , whereat taking courage , he prevailed with them to stand three days course , and if in that time no land was discovered , he would engage to return ; when towards the end of the third day they espied fire , which they afterward found to be on the coast of florida , where landing his men , he caused a tree to be cut down , and making a cross , he erected it on the ●irm land on the eleventh of october 1492 , taking thereby possession of this new world in the name of the spanish king , finding it exceeding pleasant and promising , and so by degrees proceeded further , and after him divers others , till they brought to light the kingdoms and countreys intended here to be described . the countrey of america on the continent , is properly divided into two great peninsula's , whereof that toward the north is called mexicana from mexico the chief city , computed to be 3000 miles in circumference ; the south is called p●ruana , the sailing about which is reckoned 17000 italian miles , and the isthmus that joyns them together , is very long , but narrow in some places , no● above 12 miles from sea to sea , and in many not above 17 ; called by the spaniards the streights of darien , from a river of that name near the isthmus , which isthmus has been often proposed to be cut , that by the joyning the two seas , the passage might be very much shortened to china , and the molucca's but never yet enterprized . the mexican province is properly divided into the continent and islands . the continent containeth the provinces of estotiland , nova francia , virginia , florida , califormia , nova gallicia , nova hispania , and guatimalia , and these sub-divided into lesser countries . the peruan province , or the southern peninsula , taking in some part of the isthmus , hath on the continent the province of castela aurea , nova granada , peru , chiele , parognay , brasil , guiana , and paria , with their several members , and particular regions , of which in their order , and then of the islands of the universe . estotiland , and its regions described . under the name of estotiland we comprehend the northern regions of the mexican province , as also those on the east ; and 't is bounded eastward with the main ocean ; on the south with canida , or nova francia ; on the west with undiscovered tracts of land ; and on the north with an inlet or bay of the sea , called hudsons bay , taking its name from henry hudson an englishman , who first discovered it . estotiland , properly so called , is the most northern region on the east side of america , the soil sufficiently inriched by nature ; the natives rude and void of civility , arts , or tractableness , going many of them named , notwithstanding the extream cold , living by the flesh of wild beasts they kill in the woods , and is but little inhabited but by the natives , by reason of the lasting winters ; the greatest advantage drawn from this extream region , being the fishing trade , where in the rivers at the season , are such a number of cod , called new-land-fish , that with a red rag and a hook , a man may catch forty or fifty in an hour , which dried and salted , are brought into england and other parts of europe ; besides they trade sometimes with the natives for feathers , furs and skins of beasts ; and the most noted places ( for cities you must expect none ) are such as have been named by the english , viz. prince henry's fore-land , charles cape , king's fore-land , and cape wolstenham at the end thereof , where the streights open in a large and spacious bay , called hudsons bay ; but to come more southward , the next region is terra corterialis . in terra corterialis , the people are found to be of a little better understanding , cloathing themselves more decently in skins of beasts , and such other garments as they can conveniently obtain , being generally good archers , getting their provision thereby , yet strangers to towns and cities , as living in caves and swamps , or fortified woods , to which they gave the names of towns or villages ; not marrying , but living common , most of them idolaters , and those that are their guides , pretenders to southsaying and witchcraft , much delighting in fish , which they eat more gladly than any thing ▪ though a french colony setling here , have built some inconsiderable towns , indifferently inhabited , as brest , cabo-marzo , sancta maria , and some others ; and this part was first discovered by sebastian cabot in the year 1499 , at the charge of king henry the seventh , though not improved , but took soon after its name from gaspar corterialis a portugal , who some years after , sailing upon discovery , fell in with it ; and here are found staggs , white bears , and scut-fish a yard long , and such shoals of cod-fish upon the coast , that they retard the sailing of the ships . new-fovnd-land , another part of this tract lies on the south of corterialis , parted from it by the frith or streight , called golfes des chasteaux , pretty well inhabited , though not free from the extremities of cold , and has on the coast such abundance of cod-fish , herrings , salmon , mussles , with pearls in their shells , &c. that it is to be wondered at ; as also thornbacks , smelts and oysters ; the up-land country well manured , producing naturally roses , and bears pease in extraordinary crops , flourishing with trees of sundry kinds , as well for fruits as shades ; and in these parts the natives , scaping the bloody cruelty of the spaniards , are pretty numerous , being of a reasonable stature , broad eye'd , full faced , and beardless , their complexion the colour of oaker , and their houses for the most part made of pol●s , their tops meeting together , and covered over with skins , their hearth , or fire-place in the middle , after the manner of the laplanders ; their boats , with which they sail in the rivers , and on the sea near the shoar , are made of the bark of a tree , that country affords , 20 feet in length and 4 in bredth , yet one of them weighs not 1 hundred weight ; and on this coast are many curious bays , safe for ships ; and before this part , which some term an island , as being divided by the frith from the continent , lyeth a long bank or ridg of ground of many hundred leagues extent , but not above 24 at the broadest , and all about islands , called by some cabo baccalaos , from the swarms of cod fish found about it , which by the natives are called baccalaos , so that the bears frequently pull them out of the water with their paws and eat them : as for the natives ( upon the coming of the christians ▪ ) they inhabited the sea-coast , but now for the most part have betaken themselves to the woods and fastnesses , and used to express their duty and reverence towards their king , by stroaking their foreheads , and rubbing their noses which if the king accepted , or was well pleased with the party , he turned his head to his left shoulder , as a mark of favour : and at this day the fishery for ling and cod , chiefly draws the english thither , though some furrs and civit are likewise to be found , which the colonies there setled have much improved . canada , or nova francia , described , &c. another part of this tract , is called canada , from the river of that name that waters it ; and new france , from a colony of french that settled there , who at their first arrival were gladly received by the natives , with singing and dancing ; and this part ( as well as nova scotia , and norembegue ) is considerably woody , in the up-land parts full of stags , bears , hares , martins , foxes , whose flesh ( till more civiliz'd ) the natives did eat raw , as they did their fish , only being dryed in the sun , or smoak'd in their hovels ; they have also coneys , land and water fowl in great plenty , taking great pride in bracelets and chains of certain shells , called esurgnie , which the● gather on the coast ; and here are many great rivers of fresh water , which together with mountains of snow , render it very cold , yet wheat and ●ulse grows pretty kindly , though but few fruit trees ; and here the women labour more than the men , and if so the man ( who is allowed two or three wives ) dye , the widows will not be induced to marry again , but continue in their sort of mourning , which is to daub the naked parts of their body over with coal-dust , for in some parts of this tract they go naked , both men and women . virginia is a country somewhat more pleasant than what we have described ; bounded on the north with canada ; on the south with florida ; on the east with mare del noort ; and on the west with the woods of the country , the end of them not discovered , and is a colony of the english , along the sea coast , and considerably upland , so called in honour of queen elizabeth , that virgin queen , and glory of her sex , by sir walter raleigh , in the year 1584. though by the natives called apalchen , from a town of that name , the sea-coast only being pleasant , for as much as what lies more in-land , is full of barren mountains and rough woods , where notwithstanding the natives inhabit in poor and miserable houses , under sundry chiefs , or petty kings , and yet frequently at war amongst themselves , for those wretched dwellings , and sometimes make inroads , and plunder the english territories , killing as many as fall within the compass of their power , and then fly to their woods and fastness , where they know they cannot without great hazard and danger be conveniently pursued . the country properly called virginia extends from 34 to 38 degrees of north latitude , and is very temperate , by reason of the frequent breizes , and refreshing gales of wind that allay the heat , so that it affords abundance of pleasant valleys , spacious fields , fruit trees , as in england , yielding a greater increase , and has sundry veins of allom , as also pitch , turpentine , cedar , and olive trees , with many pleasant hills , which are planted as vineyards ; store of fish , fowl , cattle , and above all sundry large plantations of tobacco , especially upon james and york rivers , and have considerable towns and villages , many of them well fortified , to prevent incursion of the savages , whose neighbouring petty princes , the governour obliges to pay tribute , and to send their slaves if any outrage be committed by them in the territories of the english , to james , charles , or any other town , appointed to be punished according to the degree of the fact ; and here the natives ( such as border on the plantation ) are much civiliz'd , in consideration of those that are more remote , trading with the english , for furrs , skins , and indian corn , which they fet with a stick , as we do our beans , which is the work and business of their wives , as soon as they have bought them of their parents , and built them a house , which for the most part is of poles , pleated on the sides and tops hurdle-wise ; and if female children be born , they as soon as they are able , go into the field to work with their mother , but the male goes along with his father to shoot in the woods ; and so lazy are the men , that if they kill any considerable game , they leave it at a certain remarkable tree , and when they come home send their wife to fetch it , who dares not on pain of death disoblige her husband . but this is only meant of the natives , for the english are there , as here , governed by wholsom laws , and live for the most part in great plenty . maryland lies on the south of virginia in the same tract , divided from it only by some considerable rivers , and is as the former a tobacco plantation , abounding likewise with corn , cattle , and considerable gardens and orchards of fruit trees , planted by the english. as for the natives bordering it , they differ not in manner and quality from the former , going mostly loosly arrayed in beasts skins , feathers compacted , and armed with bows and darts . new england , an english colony in this tract is bounded on the north-east with norumbegua , on the southwest with novum belgium ; and on the other parts by the woods and sea coast ; scituate in the middle of the temperate zone , between the degrees of 41 and 44 , equally distant from the artick circle , and the tropick of cancer ; which renders it very temperate and very agreeable to the constitution of english bodies , the soil being alike fruitful , if not in some places exceeding ours ; all sorts of grain and fruit trees common with us growing kindly there : the woods there are very great , wherein for the most part the native indians dwell fortefying themselves as in towns or places of defence , living upon deer and such other creatures , as those vast wildernesses whose extents are unknown to the english abound with : there are in this country store of ducks , geese , turkies , pigeons , cranes , swans , partridges , and almost all sort of fowl , and cattle , common to us in old england ; together with furs , amber , flax , pitch , cables , mast , and in brief whatever may conduce to profit and pleasure ; the native indians , in these parts are more tractable , if well used , than in any other ; many of them though unconverted , often saying , that our god is a good god , but their tanto evil ; which tanto is no other than the devil , or a wicked spirit that haunts them every moon , which obliges them to worship him for fear , though to those that are converted to christianity he never appears . this english colony after many attempts and bad successes was firmly established 1620 , at what time new plymouth was built and fortified ; so that the indians thereby being over-aw'd , suffered the planters without controul to build other towns , the chief of which are bristol , boston , barstaple , and others , alluding to the names of sea towns in old england ; and are accommodated with many curious havens commodious for shipping , and the country watered with pleasant rivers of extraordinary largeness ; so abounding with fish , that they are not taken for dainties : the religion professed is presbyterial ; and for a long time they were all governed at their own dispose , and laws , made by a convocation of planters , &c. but of late they have submitted to receive a governer from england novvm belgivm , or the new neither-land , lies in this tract on the south of new england , extending from 38 to 41 degrees north latitude ; a place into which the hollanders intruded themselves , considerable woody ; which woods naturally abound with nuts and wild grapes , replenished with deer , and such creatures as yield them store of furrs , as the rivers and plains do fish and fowl ; rich pastures , and trees of extraordinary bigness , with flax , hemp , and herbage ; the ground very kindly bearing the product of europe ; and here the natives , such as live in hutts and woods , go clad in beasts skins , their houshold goods consisting of a wooden dish , a tobacco pipe , and a hatchet made of a sharp f●●nt stone , their weapons bows and arrows ; though the dutch unfairly to their cost , out of a covetous humor , traded with them for guns , swords , &c. shewing the use of them which the indians turning upon their quondam owners , found an opportunity to send 400 of their new guests into the other world ; and here the chief town is new amsterdam , commodiously scituate fo● trade , and the reception of shipping . florida is a large part of the mexican province , bounded on the north-east with virginia ; on the east with mare del noort ; on the south and some part of the west , with the golf of mexico , and the remaining part of the west with new france , extending from 25 to 34 degrees north latitude ; and first discovered to any purpose under the conduct of sebastian cabot an english man , 1497 , and now mostly possessed by the spaniards so named from the many flourishing trees and flowers that enammel the country ; the soil being naturally so rich , that a long manuring cannot impair it 's rendering 60 fold increase ; so that they have two crops yearly of maize ard corn ; and here flourish most sorts of fruits , as grapes , cherries , mulberries , chesnuts , plumbs , &c. the country yielding cattle , fowl , fish , and many medicinal drugs ; likewise pearls , precious stones , and some mines of gold and silver , though not much improved . the indians inhabiting this tract , are of an olive colour , great stature and well proportioned going mostly naked , unless a cover made for their privity with a stages skin , painting their arms and legs with divers colours not to be washed out ; their hair is black , hanging down to an extraordinary length , cunning and much desirous of revenging injuries ; insomuch that they are continually at war amongst themselves ; the women upon the death of their husbands , cut their hair close to their ears , and marry not again till it 's grown sufficiently long to cover their shoulders ( a very commendable way if used amongst us , to prevent our over hasty widdows , who are frequently provided before hand ; ) they have amongst them many hermaphrodites which they hold in such detestation that they are marked out for slaves as soon as born ; and though they have a kind of a glimmering of immortality , yet they worship idols , representing the devil ; and when ferdinando sotto a spaniard , went about to perswade them he was sent from god , to bring them to places of joy and delight ; they at that time reflecting upon the cruelties of that bloody nation , told him they could never believe it , forasmuch as they were assured that god was good , and never would send any amongst them to kill , slay , and do all manner of mischief ; which indeed is not one of the least causes , why so many of these poor wretches , conceiving an aversation to the religion for the wickedness of the professors , remain yet in darkness , and obstinately shut their eyes against the marvelous light that should guide them to salvation : as for the chief towns , mostly inhabited by the christians ( for the natives here , as in other parts , live in woods and small cottages ) they are st. helens , scituate on a promontory of that name ; charles fort , upon the bank of the river maio ; port royal , a haven on the mouth of a river of that name ; apalc●e , formerly a town of forty cottages , taken by the spaniards , and plundered of great store of wealth ; ante , ocalis , st. matthews , st. augustines , taken by drake 1585 , from the spaniard , where he found 18 brass pieces of cannon , and 20000 florens in ready money : the mountains here are not very considerable , and the rivers of note only 11 , abound with fish , where the crocodiles haunt not . califormia is another countrey of the mexicanian province or division of the west india's , comprehending a vast tract of land , by some branched under divers denominations ; it hath on the east some parts of nova gallicia , with the vast undiscovered countreys lying on the west of canada , and virginia on the opposite shoar , bounded on the north with the unknown parts of the mexicanian province , on the north west with the streights of anian ; on the west with the sea interposing between it and the island called mer vermiglio ; on the south and south west with the rest of nova gallicia , divided at first into the province of quivira and cibola ; the former of these taking up the most northern parts of this side america , being very barren in the extreamest north , yielding few houses , trees , or herbage ; the natives rude and savage , eating raw flesh without chewing , cloathing themselves in bull and cow hides , living in hoords and clanns , like the tartars , and are thought to be upon the tartarian continent ; but the mountains of snow and ice interrupts all communication between the nations ; but more southward the countrey appears green and pleasant , flourishing with herbs and trees , breeding store of cattle , not much differing from those of europe , for bigness , tho in make otherwise , for they have bunches like camels between their shoulders , and bristles , like logs upon their backs , their mains like that of a horse , and beards like goats , having short horns and legs , insomuch that they look frightful to those that first behold them ; but in these the natives place their greatest riches , making them serve their turns sundry ways , as their hides for cloaths and the covering houses ; their bones for bodkins and needles ; their hair for thread , their sinews for ropes ; their horns , maws , and bladders for vessels to drink in ; their blood for drink ; and the calve-skins for budgets to carry water in ; the people generally roving from place to place , and seldom being at a stay . cibola , the second division of califormia , lying more southward , is pretty temperate , so that the natives go naked , unless a short mantle of beasts-skins cast over their shoulders , and a flap to hide their pri●ities : as for fruit-trees , they are rarely found , except cedars , of which they make their boats and fuel ; yet they have maize and small white pease growing naturally , of which they make their bread ; some quantity of sheep they have , and as for venison , though they have store , yet they rarely eat it , but rather kill it for the skins , and so much the woods abound with lyons , bears , and tygers , that those who border on them are continually obliged to stand upon their guard ; they are very civil to strangers ; however , the spaniards , tho they entered this countrey , withdrew again their forces , as not thinking the countrey worth their maintaining ; as for cities or towns there are none of note . nova albion , so named by sir francis drake anno 1577. is another part found in this tract , lying about 38 degrees north latitude , which renders it considerably fruitful , abounding in cattle by reason of the pleasant pastures it affords , and such store of deer and conies , that it is greatly to be admired ; and of the skins of these , those of most dignity make them robes , but the meaner sort go naked , except the women , who have only an apron of bulrushes to hide their privities ; and here it was the king of the countrey offered up his crown of net-work , and feathers , to sir francis drake , who received it on the behalf of the queen of england , erecting a pillar and fixing her arms thereon , as a mark of the countreys subjection to her , naming it thereupon new albion . nova gallicia , so called from a province of spain of that name , to which it is likened for temperature of air and production , is bounded on the east and south with new spain ; on the west with the river buena guia ; and on the west with the gulf of califormia ; scituate between 18 and 28 degrees of north latitude , 300 leagues in length and 100 in breadth ; the air is generally very temperate , but rather inclined to heat than cold , and tho often the inhabitants are disturbed with great storms of thunder and rain , yet is the air very healthy , so that no contagious disease happens amongst them , and when they are deficient of rains , the dews refresh the earth , and the countrey withal being mountainous , affords quarries of stone and mines of brass and silver , but none of iron or gold , and amongst the metal a great mixture of lead happens ; however the plains wonderfully abound with corn , yield wheat 60 fold , and maize 200 fold ; they have bees likewise without stings , who make their honey in trees of the woods to great quantities ; and here grow citrons , figgs , malacotoons , cherries , and olives ; the people wavering and inconstant , upon the least discontent betaking themselves to the woods , and deserting their houses ; their garments being for the most part cotton shirts , with a manle over it , given much to singing and dancing , and sometimes to drinking , and have their tribes , whose heads command in chief , and succeed hereditarily , yet those chiefs commanded by the spanish officers , inhabiting those parts ; and in this tract are the lesser provinces of cinaloa , conliacan , xalisco , guadalaiara , zacatecas , new biscay , and new mexicana : all of them , as to the natives and quality of the countreys , little differing , the greater part of them commanded in chief by the spaniards , to whom the petty princes and governours of the natives are subservient and tributary , and have for their chief towns , st. philip and jacob , st. john de cinaloa , pistala , xalisco , nombre de dios , plundered of great treasure by sir francis drake , st. lewis , st. barbara and chia , every one the chief of province , and hold some trade , tho not considerable , the spaniards not desiring to have commerce with any other nation , nor suffer the natives to do it , lest they should be incroached upon ; for they hold the poor ignorant people in hand , that they are the most powerful lords of all europe , and the invincible people of the world. nova hispania , or new spain , is another large countrey , in the mexicanian province , bounded on the east with an arm of the sea , called the bay of new spain and gulf of mexico ; on the south with part of nova gallicia and mare del zur ; on the north with the rest of gallicia , some part of florida and the gulf on the south of mare del zur ; or rather the south sea , and is so called , in reference to spain in europe , extending from the 15th degree of latitude to the 26th . measuring on the east side from the bay of mexico to the north of panuco , but less by 6 degrees , if the measure be taken to the west side , and tho it is scituate under the torrid zone , yet the air is very temperate , by reason the heats are allayed by the cooling briezes that come from off the seas on three sides of it , and the ground being cooled by the showers that seasonably fall in june , july , and august , when the weather is at the hottest ; and here are found rich mines of gold and silver , some of brass and iron , great plenty of coco nuts , store of cassia , and vast quantities of cocheneal growing upon shrubs or little trees , planted by the natives and spaniards ; they have likewise store of wheat , pulse , b●rley , plants , roots , oranges , lemons , pomegranats , malacotoons , figgs , apples , pears , grapes , birds and beasts , both wild and tame , almost of all sorts ; and in the hottest part of this countrey , their seed time is in april , and their harvest in october ; but in colder places , lying low and moist , they sow in october and reap in may , by which crossing , they are supplied with two harvests in a year . the natives of this tract are more ingenious than any other of the salvages , giving themselves up to curious arts , especially to the making of feather pictures , which they perform so lively without dying the feathers , but taking them in their natural colours , that they will imitate men , beasts , or any other thing , so lively , that at a very small distance , any one not knowing the contrary , would verily believe them to be drawn by the most curious master with a pencil , &c. working in gold more neat and dextrous than any europeans , yet so little esteeming it , that at the first coming of the spaniards , they barter'd it for knives , beads bells , and such inconsiderable matters , and not having been used to ride on horse-back , they took their new come guests for centaurs ; they were exceeding populous , which appears by the spaniards , having destroyed six millions of them in 17 years , roasting some , plucking out the eyes of others , consuming them in their mines , and inhumanly casting them amongst wild beasts to be devoured , insomuch that the women , many of them not only refused the means for generation , but such as found themselves pregnant , destroyed their children in the womb , that they might not be brought up to serve so bloody a nation . in the great province of new spain , are found the lesser provinces of panuco , mechuacan , mexicana , thascala , guaxaca , and jucatan , all plentifully abounding with the pride of art and nature ; the whole province taking its name from mexico , a great city upon a lake , as likewise all that i have hitherto written relating to this new world , and because the taking of this city proved of such importance to the spaniard , we think it not amiss to give a brief relation of it , viz. hervando cortz , born in medeline a town of estremadure , a province of old spain , rising from an obscure birth to become a private adventurer in these parts , raised by industry his fortune to so high a pitch , that with the help of his friends , he manned eleven ships , with 550 men , and after some contending with the seas , arrived at the island now called sancta crux , and passing up the river tabasco , sacked potonchon a small town on the banks of it , upon the inhabitants refusing to sell him victuals , and by the help of his horse and cannon , put to the rout an army of 40000 of the salvages , and so receiving the king a vassal to the crown of spain , he passed onwards towards the golden mines , landing at st. john de vllo , where he was met by order of the governour of the king of mexico , with rich presents of gold and other rich things , which so inflamed him , that forgetting the civility , he found means to pick a quarrel with the king , by building forts in the countrey , and claiming it for charles the fifth , king of spain and emperour of germany , and getting the flasc●lians on his part , a party of the natives who were at variance with the king of mexico , and increasing , his spaniards by such as he found in the countrey , to 900 foot and 80 horse , he with the whole force of the flascalians , being 100000 men , and the help of 17 pieces of cannon , 13 galliots , and 6000 cnoa's or boats , besieged that great city by land and water , and in 13 months took , sacked , and burnt it , by which means this rich kin , 〈◊〉 fell to the spaniards . gvatimalia is another large tract in the mexicanian province , bounded on the north with jucatan and the gulf of honduras ; on the south with mare del zur ; on the east or south east with castela aurea ; and on the west with new spain ; extended 300 leagues upon the coast of mare del zur , but upon straight measure not above 240 , and in breadth about 180 leagues , comprehending the lesser provinces of chiapa , verapaz , guatimala , properly so called , and from which the whole tract takes its name ; hondura , nicaragua , veragua ; and has for its chief towns civida real , st. augustines , st. salvador , st. jago de guatimala , st. maria de comyagena , leon de nicaragua , and la trinidada , with divers others of lesser note . this part of mexicana , by reason of its nearness of scituation to the line , is fruitful in all parts , unless where the rocky hills thrust up their heads abounding with fruit , trees , corn , cattle , foul , fish , and mines of gold , silver , and brass ; and in the rivers , which are considerable , much gold is found , as washed from the mountains , and here the natives bear the spanish yoke more uneasily than in other parts . a description of the peruanian province , or the second devision of america . this great province , divided into many lesser , resembles a pyramid reverse more properly so than africk , joyned to that we have mentioned by the isthmus or streights of darien , deriving its name from peru the chief province of the whole , which stands thus divided , as far as is hitherto inhabited by the spaniards or other europeans , viz. castela aurea , the new realm of granada , peru , chiel , paragnay , brasil , guyana , and paria , not accounting the islands , which are reserved for another place ; and as for the boundards in general , having already described them ; we now proceed to describe the particular provinces , and of them in their order , viz. castela delore , or castela aurea , is bounded on the west with mare del zur and some part of virginia ; on the south with the new realm of granada ; on the east and north with mare del noort , called castile , in reference to that in spain , as being discovered by the influence of those kings , and aurea added , by reason of the abundance of gold found there , and contains panama , darien , nova , andaluzia , st. martha , and the provinces de la hacha , the air in most parts is very healthful , especially to those that have been there for any considerable time , or born there ; however the in-land countrey is thinly peopled , by reason the spaniards upon their first settling there , destroyed in a manner the whole race of the natives , whose assistance now they want to manure the soil ; there were likewise found at their first coming , an extraordinary number of swine , which they also destroyed and suffered to rot upon the ground in such multitudes , that now , tho they would fain retrieve that loss , it is not in their power ; however the earth brings forth a considerable encrease , where the fields and valleys are found , tho the countrey abounds with barren mountains and woods , so that in this province , besides the mines of gold and silver that are found , enriching the people with great treasure ; they have corn , wine , oyl , mellons , balsom , sundry sorts of drugs and trees of sundry kinds , producing fruits different from what are found in europe ; and in the province of a daluzia , the spaniards upon their arrival , greedy of gold , found in the graves of the dead , which were brought from all parts to be buried there , as held to be the most sacred ground , so much treasure , that for a time they took no care to dig it out of the mountains : as for the people inhabiting this tract , they are mostly spaniards , those few natives that are left , being in a manner their slaves : the countrey is full of great rivers , as rio de lagartus , the river of crocodiles ; sardinila , sardino , riode comagres , rio de colubros , and others , being in many places overspread by the spurs of the great mountain andes , held to be as big as any in the world. the chief towns in this province are panama , darien , on the bank of the gulf of vmbra ; carthage●a , scituate in a sandy peninsula , and consisting of 500 houses ; st. martha scituate on the shoars of the ocean ; lahach , scituate upon a river of that name ; all of them under the power of the spaniards , governed according to the laws of spain , to which the natives are obliged to submit . nova granada , or the new realm of granada , lies on the north of castela aurea , being about 130 leagues in length , and not much less in breadth , and is divided into granada and popayana ; the air for the most part well , with a mixture of heat and cold , but more of the former ; neither differ the days any thing considerably in length ; the countrey extreamly woody , and somewhat mountainous ; yet stored with fertile plains , and breeds a number of cattle , affording veins of gold and other mettals , and in a part of it called tunia , are found emeralds of great value : the natives that are yet remaining , go very decent , and are by their conversation with the spaniards ( amongst whom they live in small towns ) much civiliz'd ; the women being more white and comly than in any other part , very industrious , tall , and well proportioned , most of them embracing the roman catholick religion , much delighting in singing and dancing ▪ and as for the chief towns in this province , are they st. foy an arch-bishops see ; st. michael a market town , well traded to ; trinidado seated on the river of that name ; whose fields are ful● of vines of chrystal , emeralds , adaments , and chalcedons ; tunia , pampelonia , papayan , the u●●al residence of a governour , and a bishops see : antiochia , carthage , sebastian de la plata , so called from the silver mines in its neighbourhood , with some others of less note : as for the rivers and mountains , most of them want names , wherefore for brevities sake , we pass over any tedious enquiry into them . as for this province , it had its name given by gons●lvo ximenes de quesada , in reference to granada in spain , who having murthered ( contrary to faith given ) sangipa the last king of bagota , whom he had made use of in subduing the panches , he seized his treasure , which amounted to 191294 pezoes of fine gold , 35000 of courser allay , and 1800 large emeralds ; by which the riches of the province may be guessed . perv lying south of the former province , is accounted in length 700 leagues , but disproportional in breadth , as not exceeding in some places 60 and 40 leagues , tho in others 100 , and is divided into three parts , but so differing in nature and quality , as if they were at a larger dis●ance from each other , being called the plains , th● hill countreys and the andes ; the first extending on the sea shore , in all places level , without hills ; the second composed of hills and plains , stre●ching out from north to south ; the whole length of the province ; and the third a continual ridg o● huge mountains without any valleys ; however , ●ho the mountains and hills are woody , or otherways barren , by reason of their minerals , yet the plains and valleys produce store of corn , fruit , and herbage , flourishing with an eternal spring , the southerly wind continually blowing on them , bringing no rain , though on the mountains all manner of winds have power , and bring rain , thunder , and fair weather by turns , as in other countries , and to supply the want of cattle , they have in the woods and mountains , a beast like a goat called vicagues , and a kind of sheep as big as young bullocks ; bearing large fleeces , which they use as horses , to carry their burthens ; but if at any time they find themselves over-laden , neither force nor fair means can oblige them to move forward , before they are alleviated , living upon slender diet , and will sometimes journy three days without water ; and amongst plants , the fig-tree in this country has a strange effect , viz. the north part looking towards the mountains , bringeth forth fruit in the summer only , and the south part looking towards the sea in the winter ; and in this province grow coco's in great plenty , whose leaves dryed in little pellets , satisfie hunger and thirst , and are a great part of the diet the spaniards afford their poor slaves in the mines , so that it is said 100000 baskets full of them have been devoured in a year at the mines of petosia ; and a plant they have , by which they try sick persons , whether they will live or dye , for if the patient look chearful when it is fast grasped in his hand , then is it a sign of recovery , but if sad , the contrary ; and have beasts called a huanacu's , the males of which stand centinals upon the mountains , whilest the females descend and feed in the valleys ; and if they perceive any man approaching them , they give warning , by making a terrible noise ; and hastily running to their assistance , interpose their bodies till they make their retreat ; and many other things are found worthy of note ; and the whole province is divided properly into three juridical resorts , viz. quito , lima and charcas , these having under them other divisions of lesser note , as las-quixos , cusco , collao , &c. as for the people they were not so ignorant , upon the first arrival of the spaniards , of letters , whereby they might acquaint themselves with other parts of the world , but that they labour to keep them so still , that they through ignorance may the better brook their yoak ; however they are couragious and industrious , fearless of death , animated to contemn life in hopes in the other world to live in luxury and riot , and injoy delicate women ; so that when any of their chiefs or petty princes die , some of his servants willingly submit to be buried with him , that they may wait upon him afterward ; some of them dwelling in the most mountainous parts , go half naked ; but the rest have long mantles reaching to their heels , though in dressing their heads they differ , each having a peculiar fashion : and to guess at the riches of this country by some part of it , 't is affirmed , that the mines of petozi , discovered in the year 1545. afforded for the kings fifth's payable to his exchequer 111 millions of pezoes of silver , every one valued at 6 s. 6 d. of our money , and yet a third part of the whole was discharged of that payment ; and in some parts as much gold is digged as earth , &c. as for the rivers of most note , they are st. jago , tombez , guagaquil , and others of lesser note . the towns are principally carangues , peru , cusco , andreo , truxilo , archidona , baeza , lima , collao , potozi , plata , chiquita , with others ; but to draw to a conclusion of this rich province , we need only say for a further demonstration , that when atabalaba was overcome by pizarro and his spaniards , he gave ( besides what infinite sums the spaniards had plundered before ) for his ransom , a large room full of gold piled up to the ceiling ; yet this prevailed not with those unchristian like christians , for falling out about the sharing , and willing to conceal it from the king of spain ; they notwithstanding contrary to their oaths and promises , strangled that poor peruanian prince , the last of the race of the inga's , or emperors of peru ; for which violation and perfidy , god was not slow in punishing them all that were concerned in it , dying a miserable and untimely death : and in this kings pallace at cusco , all his utensils were of gold and silver , even to his kitchen furniture , and in his ward-robe were found statues of giants , the figures of beasts , fish , birds , plants , &c. in their proper shape and largeness of the same mettal ; and thus much for peru , &c. whose gold proved the ruin of the natives , and the impoverishment of old spain . chile , is on the north bounded with the desart of alacama interposing between it and peru ; on the west with mare del zur ; on the south with the magellan streights ; and on the east as far as rio dela plata , with the main atlantick ocean , scituate in the temperate zone , beyond the tropick of capricorn ; if we reckoned to it some other countries bordering on the atlantick , not yet fully discovered called chile or i hil from the extream cold it indures , when the sun is in our summer solstice , that it is reported horses and riders in the extream parts are often frozen to death , or lost in the snows , which extreams on this side , and beyond the equinoctial demonstrates the continent of america to be larger than asia ; the soil of this tract in the mid-land parts is mountainous and unfruitful , but towards the sea-side , level and full of trees abounding with gold silver , honey , cattle , wine , maize , corn , &c. the natives are of a gigantick stature , but very civil , if not too much provoked ; cloathing themselves with skins of beasts , and arming with bows and arrows ; shaggy haired , and whiter of complexion than any we have yet spoken of in the peruanan provin●●s ; and the countrey is watered with the rivers of rio de copayapo , rio de coquimbo , la ligna , canten , cacapool , topocalma , and some others of lesser note , especially one , though we find not the name , which falls into the sea with a violent torrent all day , but in the night its channel is dry , and the reason is , it has its waters from the melted snow falling from the mountains , which cease when the sun is gone down : the towns of note in chile and magellanica , for into these two parts is the province divided , are st. jago the chief , tho not above 80 houses in it , because it is the residence of the governour and court of judicature . serena on the sea-shoar , having in it about 200 houses , and near it many mines of gold conception . delos confines , imperiale and some few more in the part called chile , but in magellanica , we find nothing but capes and rivers inhabited , a savage and barbarous people afflicted with sharp winds , and the mountains continually covered with snow , wherefore as a countrey not fit for commerce , we leave , it and proceed to brasil . brasil is a large tract , reaching from 29 to 30 degrees south latitude , 1500 miles in length , and 500 in breadth , bounded on the east with mare del noort or the main atlantick ; on the west with undiscovered countreys , on the north with guiana , and on the south with paragua , or the province of rio de la plata , and is a great part of it possessed by the portugals and dutch : the countrey intermixed with rivers , mountains , woods , and pleasant plains ; the air wholsome , by reason of the purging winds which rise from the southern coast , every day about ten in the morning ; the countrey yielding great store of sugar canes , which is brought to perfection by the working of many thousands of slaves , so that the portugals brought thence in few years 150000 arobes of that commodity , each arobe containing 25 bushels of our measure ; and here it is the brasil wood grows , whereof there are trees of such bigness , that when the rivers overflow , as frequently they do in the level countrey , the inhabitants dwell in the branches of them , like birds in their nests , till the waters abate . the people in this tract nearest the line , are of a reasonable understanding , wearing apparel , but further off they are barbarous , both men and women going stark naked , gladly eating humane flesh , insomuch that when they can privately catch any of the christians , they roast them , and invite all their friends , feasting on the flesh , with great merriment ; and here the women are wonderful quick , and easie at child-bearing , never lying by it , but in two or three days seem as well as ever : beasts are found in this tract of strange forms ; one with the head of an ape , the body of a man , and the feet and paws of a lyon ; a plant they have called copiba , the back of which being slit , affords a precious balm , which is so well known by the beasts of the forrests , that when they have taken in any poison , or are bit by serpents or other venemous creatures , they fly to it for succour , as to a sanctuary for life , and by sucking in the antidote , find a speedy cure : an herb they have , that being roughly touched , as in modesty , shrinketh in its branching leaves , and opens them not till the party who offends is gone out of sight . the people in this tract , both men and women , are good swimmers , and so used to diving , that they will remain under water an hour without respiration , and many of them are so over-grown with hair , that they seem rather beasts than men ; the divisions of brasil are sr. vincent , rio de janeiro , del spiritu santo , porto seguro , des ilheos , todas los santos , paraguay , rio de la plata , tucaman , st. crux de siera , a province full of palm trees ; fernambuck rich in tobacco and sugar ; tamaraca , paraiba , rio-grande , siara , maragnon , and para , being termed captainships or praefectures , possessed by the portugals , spaniards , french , dutch and other nations , who in some places live promiscuously with the natives , and in others , some coming in search of adventures , others driven by distress , as being not suffered to live quietly at home ; insomuch that tho the brasilians had but few houses and fewer towns , yet now the encrease of them has rendered it in many parts a pleasant countrey , the plains enriched like those of egypt , by the overflowing of the rivers , which are exceeding large . gviana is another tract of this peruanian continent , bounded on the east with the main atlantick ocean ; and on the west with the mountains of peru , or an undiscovered countrey interposing between them ; on the north with the river , orenoque ; and on the south , as some will have it with the amazons ; tho indeed we find no such countrey ; however it is undiscovered , and therefore travellers have liberty to name it as they please . tho guiana is scituate on both sides the line , extending from the fourth degree of southern to the eighth degree of northern latitude ; notwithstanding by reason of the fresh winds and cool air that comes off the sea and rivers , it is indifferently temperate ; towards the sea side it is level , but the inland swelled with rising hills , and the trees and fields wearing a lasting green , as knowing no winter , there being always ripe and green fruits and blossoms at the same time ; so that it may be compared for pleasantness , with any we have yet named in this tract . the people ( natives of guiana ) have no settled government , yet reduce themselves into tribes , under several heads or chiefs , though this is left to their own discretion , and every one may separate when he pleases , and all the punishment they have for offenders , is only in case of adultery and murther , for which when proved , the criminal makes an expiation with his life ; the poorer sort are allowed but one wise , and the rich two or three ; not owning any god , but either not regarding from whence they had their being , and are by power sustained , or atheistically ascribing all to fate and chance : as for their accompts they keep them in bundles of sticks , which they increase or diminish according as the debt or business grows more or less ; and at their funerals the women howl extreamly , whilst the men on the contrary are singing and feasting . this country is divided into the provinces of rio-de-las , amazons , wiapoco , or guiana , properly so called , orenoque , trinidado , and tobago ; and are full of great rivers stored abundantly with fish , and wild fowl , but most of all they refresh the gountries with the dews that arise from them and the principal of these are orenoque , arrawari , conawini , caspurough , or cassipure , falling into the atlantick ocean , wiapoco , the river of the amazons , and a great many of lesser note ; and in this tract are said to be mountains of intire chrystal ; mines there are of gold and silver , with many strange plants , fruits , and beasts ; as also tobacco and sugar canes , and at comolaha , on the south of arenoque , they hold a fair for the sale of women , only where an english-man left by sir walter ral●igh , reports to have bought 8 for a three half-penny red hafted knife , the eldest not exceeding 18 years , which he says without making any burglarys upon their virginities , he liberally bestowed in marriage on sundry of the natives : and near this place is the mighty water-fall , or cataract of the river arenoque , whose horrid noise makes the mountains tremble , which may well fit the words of the poet , viz. cuncta tremunt undis , & multo murmure montis , spumeus invictis albescit fluctibus amnis . the noise the mountains shakes , who roar for spite , to see th' unvanquish'd waves clad all in white . in an other part of this province they have a strange custom with their dead , for when the flesh is worn off the bones by putrefaction , they hang up the skeleton in the chamber or house where the party died , decking the skull with feathers of divers colours , and hanging jewels and plates of gold , about the arm and thigh bones . as for the towns of note in this tract , they are mano , called by the spaniards el'dorado , from the abundance of gold and silver coin , armour , and utensils found there , held to be the largest of all the country , though some question the truth of this place ; caripo , gomeribo , tanparanume , morequuto , st. thome , and st. joseph , with some others of lesser note , which they are obliged to build upon hills , rocks , or the like advantageous places , forasmuch as the rivers yearly overflow a great part of the country , obliging the natives to live in trees with their families , building them hutts in the branches like birds nests . paria , another considerable province , lies on the west of guiana , divided into the lesser countries of cumana , venezuela , st. margaita , cubagna , and some islands ; and here the nature of the soil and people are different , though in general the country is very pleasant , being watered with the rivers of rio-de-cacioas , rio-de-neveri , cumana de bardones , and others of lesser note , and has for its chief towns , maracapana ( once a spanish garrison ) venezuela , new cadiz , and some others ; and in this tract the pearl fishery is used , those valuable commodities being gotten by diving , and they bring up a fish much like an oyster , out of the shells of which they take the pearls , supposed to be ingendred there by the falling of dews , when the fish opens to receive the air upon the shoar : and though the people in the province of cumana have plenty of fruits and cattle , with other things whereby to subsist even to riot , yet they rather chuse to feed upon insects and vermin , as batts , spiders , horse-leaches , worms , &c. each man being allowed as many wives as he can maintain , though they never have the maidenheads of any , prostituting them the first night to their piacos , or priests , or their appointment , who for small matters turn over that drudgery to strangers ; nor do they at any time think their guests welcome , unless they will do the office of men to their wives , sisters , &c. blackning their teeth , and painting their bodies of diverse colours ; in this tract are found diverse mines of gold , some of silver , and other minerals ; and here the spaniards met with many disasters , as well the ecclesiasticks , as military , being frequently expulsed or cut off by the salvages , who are in general a stout and warlike people ; and here are found the capa , a beast , the soles of whose feet are like a shooe , and a hog of monstrous size , with horns like a goat , living altogether upon ants , pismires , parrots , and batts ; and could i have added to this bill of fair , booksellers and printers , the world might have taken this monster for a meer robin hog , &c. cattle this country affords in great quantities , insomuch that instructed by the europeans , they make butter and cheese of their milk , in sundry places , which the natives take as the prince of rarities . and thus much reader may suffice for the empires , kingdoms , provinces , and states of the universe , relating to the continent of europe , asia , africa , and america , from which we proceed ( for the greater satisfaction of the curious ) to the description of the islands scattered in the several seas , attributed to the four parts of the world ; and of these in their order . a description of the islands of europe , and their various scituations in their sundry seas , &c. great britain described . great britain , being in a manner known to most that inhabit it , may occasion some to reflect upon this brief description as superfluous ; however , having undertaken to omit nothing material in this great undertaking , which indeed wanted nothing but the permission of a larger scope , to render it more illustrious , we will not be wanting to give a modest account of the princess of islands , or epitome of the universe , being properly , and not without just reason stiled , the world minature ; and in this case we must divide it into two parts , viz. england , wales , &c. and scotland , comprehending the ocean islands . england , described , &c. england has for its eastern boundard the german ocean ; on the west the irish sea ; on the south the british ocean ; and on the north , parting it from scotland , the river tweed and solway ; invironed as to the whole island , with the main sea , guarded in most parts by such rocks , as render it inaccessible from forreign invaders , if the shoars be but indifferently defended , though its walls consists in its many more powerful and impregnable defendants , than those of stone ; which notwithstanding it had not always to defend it , as appears by its becoming a prey to the romans , its being harassed by the picts , scots , and wild irish , and the subjection it was brought under by the saxons , danes , and normans ; but at this day the often languishing island lifts up her head as high as the tallest of the daughters of the nations upon earth . as for the soil , improved by industrious hands , it is in most parts exceeding fruitful , as well in grain as herbage , fruit trees , rich pastures , &c. as all other things necessary , and conducing to the support of life ; with mines of iron , tin , ●ead , &c. but exceeds other nations in the woollen manufacture ; nor is making of stuffs , silks , and other curious arts wanting in a great measure , but more especially the traffick abroad , where for our native commodities , we command the most valuable things in the universe . england in particular , holds from 50 to 54 degrees of north latitude ; the air pleasant and temperate , by vicissitude of heat and cold , as also the varying of night and day ; but more for the wholesome laws , good constitution of the established government and nature of the people , whose generosity and valour has famed them in all parts of the known world , and the whole divided into 39 shires or divisions , viz. middlesex , essex , kent , sussex , hampshire , or the county of southampton , surry , buckinghamshire , bedfordshire , cambridgshire , cheshire , cornwal , cumberland , darbyshire , dorsetshire , durham , glocestershire , huntingtonshire , lancashire , leicestershire , lincolnshire , northamptonshire , notinghamshire , rutlandshire , shropshire , somersetshire , wiltshire , warwickshire , westmorland , yorkshire , norfolk , northumberland , oxfordshire , staffordshire , barkshire , devonshire , hartfordshire , suffolk , and worcestershiye , herefordshire ; all of them extreamly replenished with woods , parks , rivers , cities , and towns of note , insomuch , that of considerable rivers there are found 352 , and on them 847 bridges of note , cities 25 , market towns 588 , parishes 8760 , arch-bishopricks 2 , bishopricks 23. forrests 61 , parks 752 , chaces 12 , and had before the grand unnatural rebellion , 134 castles , but during that tedious vvar , many of them were demolished ; the whole countrey consisting of pleasant valleys , moderately rising hills , flourishing fields and medows , that it may suffice to live upon its own plenty , without the help or assistance of any other nation , and for stately buildings and many other curiosities too many to be contained in a much larger volume ; if no other countreys were spoken of : we must wave them , seeing we are at home , and suffer the experience of the knowing reader to supply the omission . wales is properly a part of england , but seeing it is generally divided , or accounted a principality , &c. we think it not amiss to speak of it by it self , viz. this countrey is from east to west about a 100 miles , and from north to south 120 ; and in it are found 965 parishes , 55 market towns , 4 bishopricks , 67 castles , 230 rivers , 99 bridges of note , 28 parks , 6 forrests , and 1 chase , and is divided into the shires of brecknock , anglesey , cardigan , carmaerthen , carnarvan , denbigh , flint , radnor , glamorgan , merioneth , montgomery , pembrook and monmouth , containing both north and south wales , stretching into the sea like a large promontory , fruitful in many places , where the mountains raise not their heads , especially the isle of anglesey , which of it self is held sufficient to feed the whole countrey , for its store of cattle and abundance of corn ; this countrey yielding sundry commodious harbours and landing places , commercing at once with england and ireland ; and has for its chief towns , radnor , carnarvan , brecon , st. davids , cardriff , carmaerthen and monmouth , most of them very pleasantly seated , and of considerable trade ; the natives very industrious and much given to labour , frugal , and for the most part thrifty ; nor may we spare to sum up these two countreys , so mostly distinguished in the epitome of the poet , viz. for mountains , bridges , rivers , churches fair ; women and wooll , they both are past compare . scotland is the next considerable part that compacts the british empire or kingdom of great britain , separated from it only by the tweed and solway , and the hills extending from one to the other , and is held to be 406 miles in length , tho in breadth not proportionable , being in some parts but 60 from sea to sea , divided properly into two parts by the river tay , viz. south and north , the former division being both fruitful and populous , and again sub-divided into the counties of merch , tevi [ ] tdale , lothian , liddesdale , eskedale , annandale , niddesdale , galloway , carrick , kyle , cunningham , arran , cliddesdale , lennox , sterling , fife , stratherne , menteith , argile , cantire , lorn , all comprehended in south scotland : loquabrea , braidalbin , perth , athole , angus , merns , mar , buquhan , murrey , rosse , southerland , cathaness , and strathavern , north scotland ; and in this kingdom are found two arch-bishopricks , viz. st. andrews and glascow , under whom are eleven suffragan bishops ; and here the chief city is edenburg , a city principally composed of one large street , about a mile in length , of very good building ; the rest less considerable , tho throughout the whole kingdom are many fair cities , towns , and villages . the principal islands lying upon the coast of great britain and subject to it , are the islands of wight , man , anglesey , jersey , guernsey , the orcades or isles of orkney 30 in number ; the chief of which are pomania , hethy , and sheathland , all very fruitful , abounding with cattle and corn : the hebrides 40 in number , but many of them rather rocks than islands , the chief being illa and jona , the ancient burying place of the scottish kings : mulla , where the redshanks inhabited , once so frightful to the english : the sorlings containing 145 islands , but none of note , except armath , sansod , and scilly , after the name of which the rest are called for the most part ; some others there are on this coast , but scarcely worth noting , as yielding little trade or commodity . ireland , a kingdom in subjection to britain by right of conquest , separate from england only by a tempestuous sea , of about a days sail ; and is as all other islands of note , scituate in the ocean , or invironed with sea , &c. containing in length 400 , and in breadth 200 miles ; and especially divided into four provinces , viz. 1. munster , divided again into the counties of limrick , kery , cork , waterford , desmond , and holy cross in tipperary , 2 lemster again divided into the counties of the east and west meaths , kilkenny , caterlough , kings county , queens county , kildare , weixford , dublin , and wicklock ; 3. connaught , divided into the counties of clare , thumond , galloway , majo , slego letrim and roscommon . 4. vlster , divided into the counties of tyrconnel , or dunhal , tyrone the upper and nether , fermanagh , cavan or cravan , monaghan , colrane , antrim , down , armagh and lough . and of this kingdom the chief city is dublin , mostly inhabited by the english , pleasantly seated and very commodious for trade , which renders it the chief seat of justice , and a bishops see ; besides which are waterford , tredagh , limrick , armagh , and others of lesser note . the country is in many parts very fruitful but being incumbred with hills and boggs , a great deal of it lies waste , and the more for the sluggishness of the natives , who agree not with labour , though otherwise sharp and crafty , hardy of temper , and living upon slender fare ; however the rivers abound with fish , especially salmon , and the hills and valleys with cattle ; insomuch that a cow or a horse may be purchased at about half a piece of our money ; and one thing remarkable here is , that no poisonous creature can sive upon this coast , and of such force is even the wood brought from ireland into england and other countries , that no spider will fasten a cob-web on it . the isle of oleron , is scituate against the french province of xaintoigne , south of the isle of rhee , famous for the maritime laws , established here by richard king of england ; tho for nothing more than the quantities of salt sent hence into france , and other parts . rhee or ree , is a pleasant island about 10 english miles in length , and 5 in bredth , and has in it the towns of la butte , de mont , st. john de mont , st. hillary and st. martins , famous for the defence , the protestants made here against the power of france , but fatal to the english in their attempt to rescue them . alderny is an island distant about 6 miles from cape hagge in normandy , very rockey and hard of access , and not exceeding 8 miles in compass consists but of one considerable town , called from the name of the haven lacrab ; it not containing above 100 families , nor is the island of any considerable trade . the sark is an island about 6 miles in compass not much distant from the former ; and is subject to it , being of little trade or moment , and these being all of note in the neighbouring seas , we pr●ceed to those more northern and remote , which are groen-land under the frigid zone , where the cold is so extream that it is scarce habitable , though accounted in length 600 miles ; yet having st. thomas , and alba for its chief towns supported mostly by the fishing trade . iseland an extream cold country , extending 400 miles , yet thinly inhabited ; and from this region come the shock dogs , so much in esteem ; and here contrary to other countries , the oxen and kine have no horns ; the trade to it being mostly upon the account of the fishery , and that for ling ; few trees except juniper growing in the country . freez-land is an island resorted to by the english , flemings , danes , scots , and hansmen , upon the account of the fishery . nova-zembla lies extream north , under 78 degrees , so cold that no human creature is capable of inhabiting of it in winter , unless driven by distress , or fatal necessity ; as were once about 14 dutch-men , who during their abode there , strugled with so many miseries , as are almost unexpressible ; however bears and foxes are found here , and great store of sea fowl , &c. sir hvgh willovghby's island , rather infamous than famous , as having its name only from that adventurous gentleman's being found frozen to death in his ship , upon the coast. green-land , doubtful whether island or continent , noted only for the whale fishery , &c. otherways so extream cold , as not to be habitable after the season , unless by force ; which fate several english found , by overstaying the ship , &c. and were forced to subsist on the flesh of bears , foxes , and whale fretters , in a little hutt under ground , induring a lingring torment , worse than death , till the ships returned ; at what time some of them ( though unexpectedly ) were found alive . having thus far proceeded briefly to the northern islands , we now proceed to the more eastern islands . tenedos is an island seated in pontus euxinus , or the black sea , so called from the dark mists that arise , where it charges name into that of the h●llespont , not very big , but fruitful , and pretty well inhabited , famed for nothing more than its being taken upon the greeks expedition against the trojans . samothracia , called by some samos , from samia the name of its chief town , seated in the aegean sea , as also are lemnos , lesbos , or mittelene , chios , or scio , eubaea , scyror , salamis , the sporades , and the cyclades , or the isles of the arches , most of them in the hands of the turks , and of no considerable note , though heretofore divers of them were independant , and notable sea-faring islands , famed for many wonders , and other strange matters by the poets , tho at this day they are exceeding fruitful , many of them bearing lemons , oranges , dates , figgs , grapes , olives , apricocks , mulberries , &c. affording a great number of silk-worms , which yield much silk ; the towns which are generally havens or sea-ports , are pretty numerous , inhabited mostly by the greek christians , turks , and jews ; and from lemnos is that earth brought , so much in use for curing wounds , stopping fluxes , and expelling poisons ; and indeed all these islands standing like studs in the sea , are so well refreshed and tempered by a mild and healthy air , that for their fruitfulness , they may be termed little paradises of delight , most of them having towns or cities of the same name for their metropolises or chiefs . the sporades , tho under one seeming denomination , are in number 12 ; and the chief of these are milo , canaton , and assine ; and the chief of the cyclades , are delos and coos , as likewise patmos , where st. john was banished and wrote his revelation : giarras and some few others of little note , lying some in greece , and some in asia ; so accounted , as lying farther or nearer the shoar of either countrey ; especially in this case it cannot be distinguished to which of the● properly the island belongs , especially if it be free from the jurisdiction of any monarch reigning upon the continent . a description of the isle of creet , and other islands . the isle of creet was very famous in former times , for being mistress of those seas , nor less for its fruitfulness , and commodious scituation for traffick , as being posited between the ionian , libyque , aegean , and carpathian seas , and is now better known by the name of candia , taken at several times by the turks from the venetians ; and is in circuit about 650 miles , abounding with oyl , wine , corn , cattle , and many other things of value , which made the turks contend with the loss of much blood , to possess themselves of the whole , when they had found the sweetness of a part of it : as for hills , mountains , and rivers of note , this island affords not many , but has for its chief cities rhetimo , candia , and canea , or new candy , built by the turks to secure their first possession in the island ; and in this plenteous countrey titus was bishop : as for the other islands lying about it there are only claudia and egelia ; very fruitful by reason of their scituation , but not considerable by reason of their smallness . the islands in the ionian sea described , &c. the islands in this sea are chiefly these , viz. cythera commonly called serigo , held sacred by the poets to venus , who took her other name from hence , lying about 5 miles from cape mello in peloponnesus ; and altho it is not above 60 miles in compass , yet it yields such store of fruits , corn , and other commodities of value , that it is esteemed the jewel of this sea , and was formerly called porphyrus from the abundance of that sort of stone digged out of its mountains ; and has for its chief town capsalo , scituate on a small haven , tho not so much frequented , by reason of its shallowness . the strophades are a brace of islands , where vlisses and aeneas are said to find the harpy's , and indeed fit for such kind of creatures only , by reason of their rockiness , which renders them so barren , that only a few greeks , and some others ( out of a desire to exercise their religion without molestation ) possess them . zant , an island of the venetians , not exceeding 60 miles in circumference , is yet so abundantly fruitful , that it almost exceeds the credit of report , producing the grocery sort of currants , for which it is famed above all other places ; also pomegranates , citrons , oranges , lemons , olives , granadires , grapes , that make strong wine , both white and red , and has for the defence of its haven a strong city and castle , inhabited by greeks and venetians , yet has the misfortune to be subject to earth-quakes , though not extraordinary ; and indeed the country is not so fruitful , but the major part of the inhabitants are as wicked , not making it a scruple to murther any , against whom they have conceived a grudge . the echinades are five small islands , supposed to be made by the seas casting up sand banks , and the mud that comes out of the river achelous , according to poets speaking in the name of that river , viz. fluctus nostrique marisque &c. the fury of the sea waves , and my own , continual heaps of earth and mud drew down , which parted by the inter-running seas , made as thou seest the five echinades . and indeed they are rather rocks , or hardened earth , than any island of note and so we leave them . cephalonia is in circumference about 156 miles , and contrary to the echinades , very fruitful , as yielding figgs , olives , rasins , currants , hony , sweet water , mulberries , pine , date , malvasi , muscadel , vino leatico , wooll , cheese , turkeys , drugs , and dyes , besides cattle , corn , and rich pastures ; and has for its chief towns , held under the venetians , guiscardo , nolo , and argostoli , inhabited by greeks and venetians ; the people civil , and very honest dealers . corfv is another island in the ionian sea , 44 miles in length , and 24 in breadth ; taking its name from the city of corfu , seated at the foot of a large mountain , on which to strengthen it , tho strong in it self , are two fortresses , but chiefly out of the natural rock ; and tho the southern part of this island be mountainous and subject to hot blasts , yet the whole in general produces corn , oranges , lemons , pomegranets , fig trees , olives , wax , honey , some drugs , and many other pleasant fruits , tho it has not in it any rivers of note . ithaca is a small island giving a name to vlysses , who was born there , tho now it has lost its own name , and is called val de campare ; in compass not above 56 miles , and of little note , unless for the reception of pyrats that haunt this sea. st. mavro , formerly called leucadia , is a small island inhabited mostly by jews , formerly the venetians , but taken from them by the turks ; and altho at present it is not much set by , yet formerly was it of such esteem , that the inhabitants cut an isthmus of two miles breadth , that joyned it to the continent , and was famous for the temple of apollo seated in it ; from the top of which , those that leaped into the sea were held to be cured of extravagant love ; better believed than experienced . of the adriatick sea , and the islands therein . the adriatick sea is that at the bottom of which the city of venice is seated , it being accounted 700 miles in length , and 104 in breadth , and has in it these isles , viz. mesina , an island about 150 miles in circumference , yielding considerable plenty , and has only a strong fortress for its defence , the towns being mostly unwalled , and but indifferently stored with houses or inhabitants . lissa or clissa , is another of the adriatick islands 20 miles over , and 60 in circumference , very fruitful , and in subjection to the venetians , who only defend the sea ports , and by that means hold the rest in subjection . cvrzola a place not exceeding 60 miles in circumference , yet of great moment to the venetians in rendring them wood sufficient to build their ships and galleys ; having the chief town of the same name with the island , defended by two strong fortresses , commanded by a governour , revoked or changed yearly ; and altho the island it self affords no extraordinary merchandise , yet it lies commodious for ships trading in those parts . the mediterranean sea considered , together with the islands therein . the mediteranean sea is so called from its midland scituation , as being environed with the earth , &c. and in it are found these islands of note , viz. sicily , about 700 miles in circumference , famed throughout the world for its fertility , producing oyl , corn , wine , rice , sugar , alloms , salts , fruits , mettals , corral ; and of cattle such abundance , that it feeds not only it self but a great part of italy and other neighbouring countries , and was accounted the granary of ancient rome ; nor can the new well subsist without its supplies : and here is found the flaming mount aetna , which frequently has such horrible eruptions , that it not only sends stones and cinders with fire into the air an incredible height , which scatter over many parts of the countrey , but to the great misfortune of the inhabitants , and many times to the overthrow of towns and cities , emitteth streams of liquid fire or melted minerals , which have been known to run in a fiery torrent a mile into the sea , before the waves could extinguish them ; and here the chief cities are mesina and syracuse ; and the whole countrey at present is under the king of spain , tho formerly it was an entire kingdom governed by a king of its own ; the kings of sicily , lately stiling themselves kings of jerusalem ; and the people are much of the nature of those in italy , from which the island is divided by a small arm of the sea only . malta , anciently melita , the landing place of st. paul in his way to rome , when the viper clave to his hand , and he shook it into the fire , is a fair island , tho but little in compass , yielding store of oranges , lemons , figgs , citrons , cottoons , pomgranats , and many other delicious fruits ; but is so unhappy to be mostly deficient in wine and corn , by which it is supplied from sicily and other parts ; however it is one of the chief sea fortresses or bulwarks of christendom against the turks , commanded by an order of knights , called the knights of st. john of jerusalem , tho vulgarly termed or named the knights of malta ; the whole territory being 10 leagues in length and 4 in breadth , yet contains 60 villages , and 4 principal cities ; the chief valet , a strong and well fortified city , wherein the great master of the order has his palace , and the knights their chambers ; as also a tower from whence a prospect may be taken of the whole island . corsica , scituate over against genoa , being 325 miles in circumference , and of a very fruitful product , yielding corn , wine , figgs , raisins and hony , and has in it iron mines , mines of allom , and other minerals , and has for its chief cities , bastia , ( pleasantly seated on the north east part of the island , on a commodious haven ) mara , gallera , st. florence , st. boniface , and some others of lesser note , and is under the government of genoa , and affords a beast , rarely found but in this island , called mufoli , with a skin like a deer , but harder by many degrees , and horns like a ram ; and here are bred an excellent race of good horses , and is an island much noted for its good havens , upon the account of the reception for shipping , trading in the mediterranean . sardinia is another island of this tract , not above 7 miles distant from the former , though much larger , as not held to be less than 560 miles in compass , abounding with corn and fruit , as being but little troubled with hills ; and though the soil is rich , yet no poisonous nor offensive thing is found in the island , having for its principal cities coliaris , ( well inhabited and fortified , seated upon a good haven , being an arch-bishops see ) reparata , bossa , and aquilastra , and in the whole island are two other arch-bishops , and 15 suffraga● bishops ; the people throughout this island demeaning themselves courteous to strangers , and are very just in their dealings . the baleares are sundry islands found in this sea , and the greatest of these are majorca and minorca . majorca is an island about 300 miles in circumference , lying about 60 miles from the coast of spain , all the borders of it being mountainous , and for the most part barren , but the inland countrey fruitful , bearing corn , olives , grapes , fruits of sundry kinds , and has in it the city of majorca , a university ; and that of palma . minorca is about 9 miles distant from the former , and 150 miles in circumference , having for its principal cities or towns , minorca , and javan , and is a flourishing island , especially the inland parts , both of them under the king of spain : near to these are two other small islands , viz. ebrisa , and olihusa , considerably fertile , but not large , well inhabited , or of any considerable trade , there are moreover the lesser islands dispersed abroad as the vulcanian or aeolian islands , on the sioilian shoar ; the principal of which is lipra , not exceeding 10 miles in circumference , and are both properly called the liparean islands , and abound with sulphur , allom , bitumen , hot baths , and some fruits , though not much , as being very rockey and mountainous , yet inhabited by some spaniards . vvlcania , formerly held to be the forge of vulcan , where he made thunder-bolts for jupiter , by reason it cast out fire in three rising hills , like the funnels of chimneys , casting up stones , and horribly roaring like a smiths forge . strombolo is another aelian island , or rather a burning mountain in the sea , carrying its flames and fire so bright , that it appears like a beacon , and may be seen in the dark for many leagues ; held by some who know no better , to be the mouth of hell ; when indeed this and all other burning mountains are occasioned by the firing of minerals , or the unctuous quality of the earth ; thro the vehement agitation of heat and cold , strugling for mastery in the vacant caverns , &c. there are in this tract 18 islands , called the isles of naples , but only isica , and capra , and aenaia are of any moment , and these so small , that they render little trade : there are others called the ligurian islands , viz. elba and gallinara and some others , rather rocks than islands ; wherefore we pass them over as unworthy a place in this book ; and thus much to these islands . the oriental islands are those of the eastern seas , and to these by many ( tho somewhat improperly ) are reckoned rhodes and cyprus , two famous islands in the mediterranean , exceedingly abounding in all manner of plenty , and have for their chief cities famagusta and rhodes , both famous for their strength , and the sieges they sustained against the whole power of the turks . ormvs , lying upon the aethiopian coast , and a place much frequented , spoken of before . zelon , a famous island for plenty , lying not far from the indian coast called cape comerein . moloccoes , six islands in chief , but have many other subject to them , viz. tidar , tarnate , macir , rachian , machin , and bottone , the only islands , fruitfully abounding with cloves , nutmegs , ginger , cinamon , aloes , and pepper , for which they are much traded to by the europeans . amboyna is an island fruitful in lemons , oranges , cloves , cocoa's , bonanus sugar canes , and other valuable commodities ; and here it was the dutch executed their inhumane cruelties on the english , and is called one of the islands of sindae or selebes ; the other three being the selebes , magassar , and gilolo , considerably rich and plentiful , but inhabited partly by canibals , and partly by a rude sort of people , little inferiour to them ; and next to these is banta or banda , abounding with nutmegs . javamajor and minor , are two extraordinary islands abounding with spices , rice , and cotton , and all other things necessary for the subsistance of life , governed by many kings , which are in continual war with each other ; and in this tract are bala and madara , bocuro , burneo . svmatra , is a very pleasant island of east india , as indeed are most of the oriental islands named , 700 miles in length , and 200 in breadth ; and to these of this tract we may add the philippine islands , many in number , but most of them small spots or specks in the sea ; and the chief of these islands , being in the possession of the spaniards , are minbanao , lusson , tandain , and pollohan , abounding with fruit , cattle , pleasant rivers , fowls , &c. here are also the two islands of avirae , lying west ward of sumatra . the islands of africa described . madagascar , a large island of 1000 miles in length , and 230 miles over , inhabited by negroes , where either sex go naked , and consequently there is no imployment for taylors ; yet with the natives the europeans trade , tho mostly for slaves , copper , gold , silver , &c. and in this tract are found the islands of chameree , meottey , mohelia , mauritius , johanan , an a woody island , called englands forrest , but of no trade , though considerably fruitful . socotora , is an island lying at the mouth of the red sea , 60 miles in length , and 64 in breadth , abounding with gums , alloes , spices , &c. here are also the island of st. thomas , the princes island , and the gorgades , in number 9 , viz. st. vincent , st. anthony , st. lucius ; buenavisita , insula , salis , del ●ogo , st. nicholas , st. james , and st. majo . the canary islands are in number 7 , viz. the grand canary , la palma , teneriffa , lancerota , hieorro , forte ventura , and la gomera ; all of them very plentiful , abounding with fruits , cattle , &c. but above all , the canarys yield us the wine , taking its name from the country ; and in one of them is found the mount teneriff , much transcending the clouds , as being 15 miles in ascent . maedera is a famous island , first discovered by an english ship , cast away upon the coast , now abounding with corn , wine , honey , sugar canes , and madder , used in dying : and upon the coast is holy port , an island , though but 15 miles in compass , very fruitful and pleasant . the azores are 9 in number , viz. tercera , the principal , st. michael , st. george , st. mary , fyall , gratiosa , pico , corno , and flores , not being very fruitful , except the first . hesperides , or the hesperian islands , are 3 in number , viz. buanista , mayo , and sal , lying about an 100 miles from the continent of africk , being in themselves not only fruitful , but exceeding pleasant , by reason of the temperate air , which occasioned the poetical fictions , of their being the elizium fields , or aboad of happy souls after their departure . the american islands , &c. jamaica , now an english colony , lately taken from the spaniards , is 170 miles in length , and 70 in breadth , very pleasant and temperate , considerably fruitful , abounding with oranges , lemons , cocoa nuts , pomgranates , and other curious fruits , abounding with cattle as england , the trees alwaies green , &c. barbadoes , an other english colony , is very well inhabited , yielding store of sugar , cattle , corn , &c. though not exceeding 14 or 15 miles in length . bermvdes , called the summer islands , are very pleasant , abounding with oranges , sugar , and other commodities , breeding in their mulberry trees , great store of silk-worms , which return to considerable account . st . christophers is a small island , yet produces store of tobacco , cotton , ginger , full of woods and steep mountains , and is possessed by the english and french. nevis , about 18 miles in circumference , is a colony of the english , and produces cotton , sugar , ginger , &c. antego is about 7 leagues in length , and as much in breadth , with very rocky shoars , unsafe for shipping , yet abounding in fruit , fish , venison , tobacco , indico , sugar , &c. hispaniola , 350 leagues in circumference , very fruitful , as are all the islands in this tract , viz. cuba , laba , balima , lucayoneque , abacoo , biminy , labaquene , viemo , curateo , gotao , oquaato , samana , st. salvador , le triangulo , st. vincent , dominica , anguila , and some others , scarcely taken notice of by historians , as for the most part not inhabited , yet visited frequently by the neighbouring islanders , upon the account of the wild cattle and fruits found in them ; and for the conveniency of the fishing trade . and upon these coasts of america , are lately setled two colonies of english , in pensylvania and carolina , very prosperous and thriving : but not having more room for a further description , we must , after having thus far proceeded , put a period to this our history of the universe . hoping 't will find acceptance , since mankind to struggle for the world is much inclin'd . finis .