A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE WHOLE WORLD. Wherein is particularly described all the Monarchies, Empires, and Kingdoms of the same, with their ACADEMIES. As also their several Titles and Situations thereunto adjoining. Written by the Most Reverend Father in God, GEORGE, late Archbishop of Canterbury. LONDON, Printed by T. H. and are to sold by Wil Sheares, at the sign of the Harrow in Britain's Burse. 1636. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION of the whole WORLD Written by the Right Reverend Father in GOD. George Abbott. Late Archbishop of Canterbury. COSMOGRAPHIA 〈…〉 Will: Martial. Sculpsit. Printed for Will: Sheares at the Harrow in Britain's by 1636. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE whole World. THE Globe of the Earth doth either show the Sea or Land. Of the Seas. The Sea general, is called by the name of Ocean, which coasteth all the World, and taketh his name in special either of the place near which it cometh, as Oceanus Britannicus, The diver ●●s names given to the Seas, and the reason why. Mare Germanicum, Sinus Persicus, Mare Atlanticum, of the hill Atlas in the West part of afric: 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 afric, Mare Jcarium because Icarus was drowned there, or the like. There be some few Seas which have no intercourse with the Ocean, as Mare mortuum, near Palestina, Mare Caspium sive Hircanum, not fare from Armenia: and such a one is said to be in the North part of America. Of the Straits or Narrow Seas. The Straits or narrow Seas, are noted in the Latin by the name of Fretum, as Fretum Britannicum, the English narrow Seas; Fretum Herculeum, the Straits between Barbary and Spain; Fretum Magellanicum, etc. Of the Earth. The Earth is either Lands, which are those which are wholly compassed by the Sea, as Britan●ia, Sicilia, Corsica; or the Continent, which is called in the English, The firm Land, in the Latin, Continens. The old known firm 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, & Europe in old time, were but little known and discovered. Africa is divided from Europe by ●he Mediterrean Sea; from Asia by ●he River Nilus: and so Asia by ●anais and Nilus, is severed from Europe and afric. Of Spain. TO say nothing of England and Ireland, the most Western Country of Europe, is Spain, How Spain is bounded. which is bounded on the South with the Mediterranean, on the West with the Atlantic on the North with Oceanus Cantabricus, or the Spanish Seas, on the East with France, from which it is severed with certain Mountains, called Montes Pyrenei, or the Pyrenay hills. If we should inquire into the times that were before the coming of the Carthaginians and Romans into Spain, we shall find nothing but that which is either fabulous, or near to fables: The Original names of the Country of Spain. here it was first called Iberia, ab Ibero slumine, afterwards Hispania, ab Hispano, we may take as a tradition; but their Gargoris, their Habis, their Geryon exceed belief 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 commonwealth, descended of the Syrians, as well as themselves, who sent first to defend the Gaditanes against their neighbours, afterwards heartened on by their success in their first Expedition; these Cathaginians, Carthaginians sent to defend the Gaditanes. successively sent thither three Captains, Hamilcar, Hasdrubal and Hannibal, who for the most part subdued the Province, and held it, till by Scipio's and the Roman 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 the second Punic War, until the time of Augustus, they had business made them in that Country continually, neither could they till then bring it peaceably into the form of a Province. Spain once a Province of the Roman Empire It continued a Province of the Roman Empire until the time of Honorius the Emperor in whose days the Vandals came in●o it, conquering and making it theirs; then the Goths (the Vandals either driven out, or called over into Africa) entering, erected there a Kingdom, which flourished for many years, Saracens & M●●●es erected it a Kingdom. till by the coming of the Saracens and Moors, their Kingdom was broken, who settling themselves in Spain, erected a Kingdom, changed the names of many places and Rivers, and gave them new names, such as they retain to this day, and continued for the space of some hundred of years mighty in that Country, till they were first subdued by Ferdinand: They were utter●y expelled by Philip the Third. afterwards, and that now lately utterly expelled by Philip the Third. After the coming in of these Africans, in this Country there were many Kingdoms, as the Kingdom of Portugal toward the West; the Kingdom of Granado toward the South; the Kingdom of Navarre and Arragon, toward the East; and the Kingdom of Castille in the middle of the Land: but the whole Dominion is now under the King of Spain. Spain in former 〈◊〉 12 sev●●all Kingdoms. As Damianus a Goes doth write in that Treatise entitled, Hispanic, there were in times past twelve several Kingdoms in Spain, which he nameth thus: Castellae antiquae & novae, Leonis Aragoniae, Portugalliae, Navar●ae, Granatae, Valentiae, Toleti, Galitiae, Algarbiorum, Murtiae, Cordubae: which is not to be wondered at, since in England, a fare less Country, there were in the time of the Saxons seven several Kingdoms and Monarchies. In the best Maps of Spain, the Arms of these several Kingdoms do yet distinctly appear: where for the Arms of Leon's is given a Lion; which manifestly argueth, that whereas by some it is called Regnum Legionis, that name is false, for it is Leonis, suitable thereunto: for the Arms of Castille is given a Castle, which was the cause that john of Gaunt, son to Edward the Third King of England, did quarter with the Arms of England the Castle and the Lion, as having married Constance daughter to Peter King of Castille; 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 Kingdoms of Castille and Leon's. In Corduba (as in times past it was called) standeth Andoluzia, near unto which is the Island called properly Gades, but since, by deprivation of the word, Cadiz, and commonly Cales, which was lately surprised by the English. The Kingdom of Granada, Granada ●oo years possessed by the Moors & Saracens which lieth nearest to the Mediterranean, was by the space of seven hundred years possessed by the Moors and Saracens, who do confess the Religion of Mahumet: the reason whereof Rodericus Toletanus in the third Book of his Story doth show to be this; Rodericus Toletanus that whereas the Saracens after Mahumets time, had spread themselves all along afric, even unto the Western part of Barbary, a King of Spain called Rodericus, employed (in an Embassage to them) one julian, a Nobleman of his, who by his wise demeanour, procured much reputation amongst the Moors; but in the time of his service, the King Rodericus destoured the Daughter of the said julian; which the Father took in such indignation, that he procured those Saracens to come over into Spain, that so he might be revenged on his King; but when those barbarous people had once set foot in there, they could never be remooved, until the time of Ferdinando and Elizabeth, King and Queen of Spain, about a hundred years since. The Author before named writeth, that before the coming of those Moors into Spain 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 entered 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 Moors, and a Prophecy joined therewithal, A strange and unexpected prophecy. that at that time, when the Palace should be entered, such a people as was there resembled, should invade and spoil Spain; which fell out accordingly. The Spaniards that now are, be a very mixed people, descended of the Goths, which in former times possessed that Land, and of those Saracens and jews, which are the basest people of the World. Portugal added to the Kingdom of Spain. The Kingdom of Portugal did contain under it Regnum Algarbiorum, but both of them are now annexed unto Castille by the cunning of the King of Spain, Philip the Second, who took the advantage after the death of Sebastian, who was slain in Barbary, in the Year 1578. Then after him reigned Henry, who sometimes was Cardinal, and Uncle to Sebastian; in whose time, although show was made that it should be lawfully debated, unto whom the Crown of Portugal did belong, yet Philip meaning to make sure work, did not so much respect the right, as by main force invaded, and since (to the great grief of the Portugals) hath kept it. The chief City of Portugal is Lisbon, Lisbon the chief City of Portugal. called in Latin Olysippo, from whence those Navigations were advanced, by which the Portugals discovered so much of their South part of afric, & 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, Sevill. called in Latin Hispalis. Another great City in Spain is Toledo, Toledo. where the bishopric is the richest spiritual dignity of Christendom, the Papacy only excepted. The magnificent greatness of Spain and Portugal. In the time of Damianus à Goes, there were reckoned to be in Spain, four Archbishoprickes of great worth, three other inferior, and forty Bishoprics; as also in Portugal, three Archbishoprickes, and eight Bishoprics. He reckoneth up also in Spain (besides the great Officers of the Crown) 17 Dukes, 41 Marquesses, 87 Earls or Counts, & 9 Viscounts: as also in Portugal (besides the Officers of the Crown) six Dukes, 4 Marquesses, nineteen Earls, and one Viscount. In Spain he saith are seven Universities. The Country is but dry, and so consequently barren, in comparison of some other places. What commodities it doth yield, it may be seen in the Treatise of Damianus a Goes, which he calleth his Hispania. Not only this great and large Country heretofore divided into so many Kingdoms, is now under one absolute King, but that King also is Lord of many other Territories: as namely, of the Kingdom of Naples in Italy, and the Duchy of Milan, of the Isles of Sicily, Sardinia, Majorque, Minorque, Evisa, In the midland Sea; of the Lands of the Canaries in the Atlantic, besides diverse strong Towns and goodly Havens in Barbary, within & without the Straits. On the back side of afric he commands much on the Frontiery, besides the Islands adjoining to the main Land. In the Western Indies he hath Mexico, Peru, Brasil, large Territories, with the Islands of the South, & the North Sea. And Philip the Second getting Portugal as a Dowry to that forced Marriage, got also all the dependences of that Crown in Africa, the East Indies, and the Atlantic 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 this King's Dominion, The Empery of the Kingdom of Spain the greatest in the Christian World. we will say that the Empery of the King of Spain is in that respect the largest that now is, or ever was in the World. Of France. France how bounded. THE next Country is France, which is bounded on the West with the Pyrenie hills, on the North with the English Seas, on the East with Germany, on the Southeast with the Alpe-hils, on the South-west with the Mediterranean Sea. The Kingdom of France is for one entire thing, France, o●● of the most absolute kingdoms of the World. 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 itself being ordinarily very fruitful. The consideration whereof caused Francis the first King of France, to compare this Kingdom alone, to all the Dominions and Signories of Charles the fifth Emperor: for when the Herald of the said Charles, bidding Defiance to King Francis, did give his Majesty the title of Emperor of Germany, King of Castille, Arragon, Naples, Sicily, etc. Francis commanded his Herald to call him so often King of France, as the other 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 politic Discourses of Monsieur de la Nove. He who writeth the Commentaries of Religion, and state of France, doth show, that when there had been of late in France, in the days of Francis the second, and Charles the ninth, three Civil wars, which had much ruinated the glory and beauty of that Kingdom, Civil wars in France. when a little before the great Massacre in the year one thousand five hundred seventy two, there had been peace in that Country scant full two years, yet so great is the riches and happiness of that Kingdom, that in that short time, all things were renewed and repaired again, as if there had never been any such desolation. Revenue of the Crown of France exceeding great. The Revenue of the Crown of France is exceeding great, by reason of the Taxes and Impositions, which through the whole Kingdom are laid upon the subjects: for their Sizes and Toules do exceed all Imposts and tributes of all the Princes of Christendom; in as much as there are few things there used, but the King hath a commodity issuing out of them; and not only from matters of Luxury, as in other States, but from such things as be of necessity, as Flesh, Wood, Salt, etc. It is supposed at this day, that there be in the Kingdom thirty thousand men, who are Under-officers, and make a good part of their living by gathering of the King's 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 Emperor, as johannes Aventinus witnesseth de Bello Turcico, who said, that the Emperor of Germany was Rex Regum, meaning that his Princes were so great men; The King of Spain 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 diverse times deprived their Kings of their Crowns and dignity: But the King of France was Rex asinorum, in as much as his people did bear very heavy burdens of taxes and impositions. In France the offices of justice bought and sold. In this Kingdom of France is one great misery to the subjects, that the places and offices of justice are ordinarily bought and sold, the beginning whereof was this: Lewis the 12. who was called a Father of the Country, began to pay the debts of his predecessor Charles the 7. (which were very great) and intending to recover unto France the Dukedom of Milan, 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 Machiavelli. lib. 1. cap. 1. By the customs of that Country, The Custom of France for mustering and pressing Soldiers. the King of France hath not that absolute power to muster and press out Soldiers, as in England, and some other places of Christendom 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 enroled. Notwithstanding he wanteth few Soldiers, 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 bear their own charges yearly for many months. The person of the King of France hath in former time 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 de mi-gods. And Machiavelli in his Questions upon Livy, saith, that they doted so upon their Kings, that they thought every thing did become them which they did, and that nothing could be more disgraceful, than to give any intimation, that such or such a thing was not well done by their King. But this opinion is now much decayed; the Princes of the blood are in the next rank under the King himself. Paris the chief City of France. 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 Noble men, and part are houses of Religion; thirdly, by the University which is incomparably the greatest, most ancient, and best filled of all France: fourthly, in that it is the chief Parliament City of that Kingdom, without the ratification of which Parliament at Paris, Edicts and Proclamations coming from the King, are not held authentical; fifthly, by the great traffic of all kind of Merchandise, which is used in that place. The Parliament Cities in France, are places where their Terms are kept, and in several provinces are 7. unto which the causes of inferior Courts within their distinct Provinces, may be brought by appeal; but the Parliament of Paris hath that prerogative, that appeals from all Courts of the Kingdom, do lie there. That which we call our Parliament in England, is amongst them termed Conventus Ordinum, or the States. The kingdom of France divided into three parts. 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 sometimes Germania inferior, 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. Gauls, the ancient inhabitants of France. The ancient inhabitants of this Country, were the Gauls, 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 certain, that they were a Nation of valour; for they not only sacked Rome, but also carried their conquering arms into Greece, where they sat down, and were called by the name of Gallogrecians, or Galathians. Some report also that they entered into Spain, and subdued and inhabited that part which was called Lusitania, now Portugallia; but howsoever their former victories and greatness, they were by Julius Caesar subdued, and made a province of the people of Rome, and so continued under the Roman Empire till about four hundred years after Christ, when in the ruin and dismembering of the Roman Empire, the French invaded Gaul, and erected a Monarchy, which hath continued to this day in the succession of sixty four Kings, of three several razes; that is to say, the Merovingians, Carolovingians, and Capevingians, about twelve hundred years, and now flourisheth under Lewis the 13. the now reigning King of France. Although the French have done many things worthily out of their own Country, in the East against the Saracens, although they have for a while held Sicily, the Kingdom of Naples, and the Duchy of Milan, yet it hath been observed of them, that they could never make good their footing beyond the Alps, France one of the strongest kingdoms in all Europe. or in other foreign Regions, howbeit in itself France is one of the strongest kingdoms in all Europe at this day. That which we commonly call the Low-Countries, Of the Low Countries, containing 17 several Provinces. containeth seventeen several Provinces, whereof the most part have several Titles and Governors, as the Dukedom of Brabant, the Earldom of Flanders, etc. Of which the inheritance at several times did fall on Daughters, who being married unto the Heir 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 Dukedom of Burgundy; and yet so, that in the uniting of them together, it was by composition agreed, that the several Provinces should retain their several ancient laws and liberties, which is the reason yielded, why some of those Provinces in our age think themselves freed from obedience unto the King of Spain, Note. unto whom by inheritance they did descend, because he hath violated their liberties, to the keeping whereof, at the first composition, he was bound. When this whole Country did belong unto the Crown of France, the Dukedom of Burgundy was bestowed by Philip de Valois, King of France, unto john de Valois a younger son of his, from whom by descent it came at last to Charles the Bold, otherwise Proud, Duke of Burgundy, who left one only daughter, and she was married to Maximilian the Emperor, of the house of Austria, from whom the inheritance descended unto Charles the fifth, Emperor, who yielding it over to his son Philip the second, did charge him to entreat that people well; which he forgetting to do, under pretence of rooting out the profession of Religion, did entangle himself, and all that Country with a very long, bloody, and wearisome war. The riches of the States in General. There is no part of Europe, which for the quantity of the ground, doth yield so much riches and commodity, as the Low-Countries do, besides their infinite store of shipping, wherein they exceed any Prince of Christendom. They were in time passed accounted a very heavy dull people, and unfit for the wars, but their continual combating with the Spaniards, hath made them now very ingenuous, full of action, and managers of great causes appertaining to fights, The names of the 17. Provinces. either by Sea or Land. The 17. Provinces are these; Brabant, Gelderland, Artois, Valencois, Luxenburg, Flaunders, Henault, Lile, Namurce, Holland, Zealand, Tornabum, Tornacetium, Mechlin, Vtrecht, and the East and West Freezeland. France hath many petty governments that do border upon it; as the Dukedom of Savoy, the State of the Swissers, the Dukedom of Lorraine, the Burgundians, or Walloons, against all which, the King is forced to keep his frontier Towns. The Salic Law. There is nothing more famous in this kingdom, than the Salic Law, whereby it is provided, that no woman, nor the heir of her (as in her right) shall enjoy the Crown of France, but it goeth always to the heir male. The author of the Commentaries against Machiavelli, reputeth it a great blessing of God, that they have the Salic law in France; and that not so much (saith he) because women by the infirmity of their sex are unfit to govern, for therein many men who have enjoyed kingdoms, have been, and are very defective: but because by that means the Crown of France is never endangered by marriage of a foreigner, to come under the subjection of a stranger. And this is the opinion of Philip de Comines, in the 8. Book of his Commentaries. This Law is very ancient among them, so that it cannot certainly be defined when it was enacted: but by virtue thereof, By this law E●w the 3. King of England, was put by the Crown of France. Edward the third King of England, and his Heirs were cut off from inheriting the Crown of France, whereunto by marriage of a daughter he was heir in general. And by reason of this Law, Henry the fourth, late King of France, rather enjoyed that Dominion, than the Son of the Duke of Lorraine, who was nearer of blood by descending from the Elder daughter of King Henry the second. The Swissers government. The Swissers are a people called in old time Helvetij, who have no Noblemen, or Gentlemen among them, but only the Citizens of their Towns, the yearly Officers whereof, and their Council, do govern their State. 23 Cities or Cantons in Switzerland. There are in Switzerland, 23 Cities or Towns, which they call their Canton; although some rather think that name properly doth signify 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 far from any Seas, they have no vent for their people, but by sending them forth as hired Soldiers, which for their pay do fight oftentimes in Italy and France and sometimes in Germany. Geneva. Near 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, A rare and excellent Law. 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 Runagates, in as much as they stand on the Confines of diverse Princes and States. Of Germany. THe next Country unto France on the East side, is Germany, Germany how bounded. 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 Jllyricum; on the South with the Alpe-hils, and with Italy. The Governor general of this Country, The Emperor governor of Germany. Who be the 7. Electors. is called the Emperor of Germany, who is chosen by three spiritual Princes; the Archbishop of Colen, called Coloniensis, the Archbishop of Mentzes, called Moguntinus, and the Archbishop of Trevers, called Treverensis; and three temporal Princes, the Duke of Saxony, the marquis of Brandenburge, and the Count Palatine of Rhine: which if they cannot agree, as to make a Major part in their Election, than thè King of Bohemia hath also a voice, whereof it cometh to be said, that there be seven Prince's Electors of the Empire. His manner of Election. 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 Imperij, Archipincerna, which is the Cupbearer; The 3. Bishops of Colen, Mentzes, and Trevers, to be the Archchancellours of the three several parts of the Empire; the Count Palatine of the Rhine, to be Sacri Imperij Archidapifer, which should have the setting on of the first dish, the Duke of Saxony, to be Sacri imperij Archimariscallus, whose office is to bear the sword; and the marquis of Brandenburg, to be Sacri Imperij Archi-Camerarius, or great Chamberlain; all which offices they supply on the day of the Emperor's Coronation. The Empire went sometimes by succession, and sometimes by election. It appears by all the Roman 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 Soldiers, 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 Christendom, who hath otherwise a Dominion of his own, which may help 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. years, 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 seven or eight Emperors lately of that family; but the Empire is not tied unto them, as may appear by the possibility, which the Duke of Saxony, and Francis the great King of France, had to ascend to that dignity. When Charles the fift was chosen Emperor, one of the means whereby the possession hath been continued to that house, hath been the electing of some one to be Rex Romanorum, whilst another of his Family was Emperor, which Charles the fift effected in his life time for his brother Ferdinandus, who after succeeded him; Ferdinand Emperor. and that hath been the attempt of Albertus' late Cardinal, and now Archduke of Austria, that he might be established in the hope of the Empire, during the life of his brother Rodolphus the Second, now Emperor and King of Bohemia: Rex Romanorum is he, who is fare already invested in title to the Empire, so that upon the death, resignation, or deposition of the then being Emperor, he is immediately to succeed. He who is now Emperor of Germany, is called Caesar, or Romani Imperij Imperator, Caesar, or Romans Imperij Imperator. but very improperly, in as much as the case is fare different from that which was when the Roman 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. The Empire divided by Theodosius. But Theodosius did divide the Empire into two Sovereignty's, which were called the East and West Empires, and made Constantinople to be the chief Seat of Arcadia's, one of his Sons, and Rome to be the principal City of Honorius the other; which Western Empire continued in his glory but a while; for the Goths and Lombard's, and other barbarous people, did both overrun it, and as good as extinguish it; in the which case it continued to the days of Charles the Great, who revived it again: but although there was some show of Dominion belonging unto him in Italy, yet his principal residence was in France, and his Successors after him removed it into Germany: A great policy in the Bishops of Rome. so that properly he is now to be called Imperator Germanorum. It was a great policy of the Bishops of Rome, that the Emperor was wrought to leave Italy, and keep himself 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 cunning of those Popes was such also, that they weakened the State of the Emperor exceeding much in Germany, by giving great exemptions to the Princes thereof, Munster's complaint. in so much 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 Emperor of Germany belongeth three Crowns: the one of Silver, which intendeth the Kingdom of Germany; the second of Iron, which is for the Kingdom of Lombardy, and the third of Gold, Most of the Princes of Germany take on them as absolute Governors which is for the Sacred Roman Empire. In Germany all are at a kind of commandment of the Emperor: but most of the Princes otherwise take on them as absolute Governors in their Dominions: so that they have liberty of Religion; they do make Laws, they do raise soldiers, they do stamp money with their own Pictures as absolute Princes: so doth the Duke of Saxony, the Archbishop of Colen, & the rest. The Princes of Germany came to that great strength of theirs, by means of a base and inferior man, How they came by that great strength. 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 than Titulary, yielding only very small maintenance to the Empire, either in Tribute, Soldiers, or otherwise: and albeit sometimes they refuse not to come by themselves, or their Agents, to the Diets and Parliaments holden by the Emperor, yet that is as much for the safeguard of themselves from the invasion of the Turk, who is not fare 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: and yet there is extant a Book where the particulars are mentioned, how the Princes and free Cities are bound to maintain upon their own charge three thousand eight hundred forty two Horses, and sixteen thousand two hundred Foot, for the service of the Emperor, when he shall see cause; but how small 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 Charles the Fift, was doubtless the greatest Emperor that had been from the days of Charles the Great; yet the Duke of Saxony, The strength of the Princes of Germany. and the Lantsgrave of Hassia, with some few Cities which were confederate with them, did dare to oppose themselves against the said Charles; and entering 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 ruffling 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, The titles of their Nobility. commonly is imparted to all the sons: so that every Son of a Duke of Saxony, is called Duke of Saxony; and every Child of the Count of Mansfield, is honoured by the name of Count or Countess of Mansfield: but in the eldest House the chief livelihood doth remain, for keeping upright the dignity of the Family. Free States and Cities. There are also free States and Cities, which have the same authority, as Argentine, Frankfurt, and other. This is to be noted of the Germans, that they may boast this above other more Westernly Nations of Europe, A note worthy of observation. that they are an unmixed Nation: for whereas the Lombard's and Goths at several times have set down in Italy, and mixed themselves with the people thereof; the Goths, Vandals, and Saracens in Spain, the Francs in Gaul, or France, and the Normans also; the Saxons, Angleses, Danes, and Normans in Great Britain; they have been free from such inundation and mixture; yea, many of the people that have inflicted 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 Alps and Germany lieth Italy, Situation of Italy. stretching itself out at length toward the South & East. It hath on the Southside, the Island of Sicilia; on the East, that part of the Mediterranean, which is called Mare Adriaticum, or Mare superum, which severeth Italy from Graecia: on the Westside that part of the Mediterranean, which is called Mare Tyrrhenum, or Mare Inferum; and the upper or more Northern part of it near Liguria, Mare Ligusticum. This Country for the figure thereof, is by some likened unto a long leaf of a tree. It hath in the middle of it, which goeth all in length a mighty Mountain, named Mons Apenuinus, which is likened unto the Spina, or Ridge-bone of the back. Out of this Hill springeth diverse Rivers, which run on both sides of it, into the Adriatic, and Tyrrhene or Tuscan Seas. As in other Countries, so in Italy in times past, there were diverse several people, and several Provinces, Italy divided into four parts. like our Shires in England, and so there be at this day: but the main division of Italy is properly into ●oure parts, as in our age we do account it. The first Lombardy, which byeth to the North. The second Tuscan, which boundeth toward ●he Mediterranean Sea, which way Corsica the Island lieth. The third is ●he Land of the Church, which is the Territory of the Bishop of Rome, ●nd containeth in it that which is ●alled Romania; The fourth is Na●les; and in this division now is all ●taly comprehended. The North part of this Italy is that, which in ancient time was called Gallia Togata, or Gallia Cisalpina, ●nhabited then by Frenchmen. It is ●ow called Longobardia, or Lom●ardy, wherein stand many rich Governments, vernments, as the Dukedom of Milan, of Mantua, of Florence, and other. It is for the pleasantness thereof, in respect of the soil, air, waters, and great variety of wines, and fruits, Lombardy the Garden of God. likened now by some to Paradise, 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 Princedoms, by the great policy o● the Bishop of Rome, The policy of the Bishops of Rome. who thought it the best way to make himself great, to weaken the Empire. So h● hath not only driven the Emperou● out of all Joaly into Germany, bu● hath diminished his Majesty i● both, by making so many petty governments, which hold themselves sovereign Rulers, without relation to any other. The States of Venice. As there are many States in Italy so one of the chiefest are the Venetians, called Resp. Venetorum, or th● State of Venice, because they are no●● governed by any one, but by the● Senate & Gentlemen, although they have a Duke with whose stamp their money is coined, and in whose name all their executions of justice are done. But this Duke is every way limited by the State. City of Venice. This City of Venice, which joineth to a corner of Lombardy, standeth in Aestuarium, 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 firm Land; into the other, the Sea doth flow at every tide. They have been a great & rich State, not only possessing much in Italy, as Milan their University, and other things which still they do, but a great part of Illiricum, & many rich Lands in the Mediterraneum, as Candy called commonly Creta, Cyprus, Zazin●hus, and other. But Cyprus was taken from them a ●ittle before that fight at Sea, wherein Don john of Austria, together with ●he Venetians, had so renowned a vi●tory against the Turk, at the fight ●eer Lepanto. The Venetians impoverished. The impoverishing of their State hath partly been by the encroaching of the Turk, but especially by the decaying of that traffic 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 time past were great warriors, do now altogether decline enmity or hostility with all other Princes adjoining and therefore by all means do take u● quarrels, and cease controversies b● wisdom and patience, temporising with the Turk, the King of Spain and the Emperor, who are mos● like to offend them. The manner of their government and the excellent course which the● have in choosing their Duke, is written by Contarenus, The excelleney of their government. and some other of their Countrymen. When the● do make any wars, they seldom send forth any General of their own but entertain some Prince of Italy, who is renowned for the wars. In Lombardy standeth Milan. In Lombardy standeth also the Dukedom of Milan, a most rich & pleasant thing, which sometime had been governed 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. Tuscany. Florence. In Tuscany, the chief 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 Christendom, which hath much been increased since the time of Machiavelli, who was Secretary or Recorder to that State. This was in times past a free City, but of late by the policy of the Family of the Medici's, it is brought under the subjection of a Duke, which reigneth as an absosute Prince; and by little and little, hath so encroached 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. The great Duke of Tuscany. A great part of the rising of the Family of the Medici's, 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 laboured to establish the government of their Country upon their kindred; and it made not the least access thereunto, that affinity was contracted by them with the Kings of France, when Katherine de Medici's, Niece to Pope Clement the Seventh, was married to the younger son of Francis the first, whose elder brother dying, that younger came to be King of France, by the name of Henry the Second: 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 bore the name of the Queen Mother. This Queen Mother swayed all at her pleasure in France during the successive reign of her three sons, Francis the Second, Charles the ninth, and Henry the third: in all which time, no doubt, she promoted Florence and the Florentines to her uttermost. A great part of Italy under the Bishop of Rome. 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 only spiritual as elsewhere he claimeth, but also temporal, making Laws, requiring Tribute, raising Soldiers, & 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 diverse other Cities and Towns, near adjoining, and the Demeans of them all to be as the Patrimony of Saint Peter, as many times they do term it. But Laurentius Valla, in his set Treatise of this argument, hath displayed the falsehood of that pretence; and in truth, the greatness of the Pope's hath risen first by Phocas, who killing his Master the Emperor of Rome, The manner of the rising of the Pope's greatness. and being favoured by the Bishop of that Sea, and so aspiring himself to the Empire, did in recompense thereof, suffer the Bishop of Rome to be proclaimed Universal Bishop; and of likelihood gave unto him somewhat to maintain his estate. And afterward King Pipin of France, and Charles the Great his son, getting (by means of the said Bishop) the Kingdom 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 Monarches of Europe, and by their wars and other devices, to keep and increase that Land of the Church, which in our time is well enlarged by the policy of Clement the Eighth, late Pope, who hath procured that the Dukedom of Ferrara, is or shallbe shortly added to his Dominion. Rome the chief residency of the Pope. The chief residence of the Bishop of Rome, is Rome itself, which was first founded by Romulus, and afterwards so increased by others, who succeeded him, that it was built upon seven hills, & hath had only reigning in it seven Kings; and hath been ruled by seven several sorts of chief government: that is, Kings, Consuls, Decem-viri, Tribunes of the people, Dictator's, Emperors, and Popes. They first encroached on the neighbours about them in Italy, afterwards on all Italy, Sicily, & some of the Lands, till at length it proved to be the Lady and chief Mistress of the world: whose incredible wealth and greatness in men, treasure, shipping, and armour, was so huge, that it did even sink under the wealth of itself. Whereupon after diverse civil wars, as between Marius and Sylla, Pompey and Caesar, with others, it was at length revoked unto one absolute and Imperial government. The Majesty whereof notwithstanding was afterward somewhat impaired by the building of Constantinople, which was erected, or rather enlarged by Constantine. the Great, and called Nova Roma. But when the division was made of the East and West Empire, it received a greater blow, yet the main overthrow of it was, when the Goths and Vandals entered 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 Rome did make means to gather together some to people it again: and since those times, a good part of the old building upon the Hills, hath been quite decayed & ruinated, and that Rome which now may be called (in comparison of the old) new Rome's is built on a lower ground, where the place was, which in times past was termed Campus Martius, very near unto Tiber the River, which too well appeareth by the sudden inundation of that Tiber; destroying and spoiling, men, cattles, and houses, as very lately to their great loss was experimented. The Bishops of Rome, as sometimes for their pleasure or profit, they do withdraw themselves unto Bologna, or some other Towns of Italy: so the time was when they removed their court unto Avignon a City in France, standing near the Mediterranean soa, and not far from Marsiles in Province, where continuing for the space of seventy years, they so afflicted the City of Rome, for lack 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 lieth the Kingdom of Naples, which is a Country very rich, Nap'es' lieth in the South part of Italy. and full of all kind of pleasure, abundant in Nobility; whereof cometh to be said that Proverb, Naples for Nobility, Rome for Religion, Milan for Beauty, Florence for Policy, and Venice for Riches. This was heretofore ruled by a King of their own, till the time of joane Queen of Naples, who by deed of gift, did first grant that Kingdom to the Kings of Arragon in Spain; and afterward by will, with a revocation of the former Grant, did bequeath it to the house of Anjoy in France. Since which time the Kingdom of Naples hath sometimes been in the hands of the Spaniard, sometimes possessed by the French, and is now under the King of Spain: The Dukedom of Calabria. unto this is annexed also the Dukedom of Calabria. This Kingdom of Naples lieth so near to some part of Graecia, which is now in possession of the Turk, that it may justly be feared, lest at some time or other, the said Turk should make an invasion thereunto, as indeed he hath offered diverse times, and sometimes hath landed men to the great terror of all Italy: but for the preventing of that mischief, the King of Spain is enforced to keep a good Fleet of Galleys continually at Otranto, where is the nearest passage from Italy, into Greece. I his part of Italy was it which in times past was named Magna Graecia, but in later ages it hath been unproperly called one of the Sicily's, which was reproved long since by Aeneas Silvius, in his twelfth Epistle; and yet till of late time, the Kings of Spain have been termed Kings of both the Sicily's. Divers Princedoms and States of Italy. There be moreover in Italy many other Princedoms and States, as the Dukedom of Ferrara, the Dukedom of Mantua, the Dukedom of Urbine, the Dukedom of Parma and Placentia, the State of Luca, the State of Genua, commonly called the Genoese, which are governed by their Senate, but have a Duke as they have at Venice. There be also some other, by which means the glory and strength of Italy is decayed. Of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. AS Italy lieth on the South side of Germany, Denmars' situation. so Denmark lieth on the North; into the middle of which Land, the Sea breaketh in by a place called the Sound. The Impost of which passage bringeth great riches, as an ordinary tribute unto the King of Denmark. This is a Kingdom, and ruled by an absolute Governor. On the North and East side of Denmark, Sweden. lieth Suezia, commonly called Sweden, or Swethen; which is also a Kingdom of itself: Where the King professeth himself to be Rex Suecorum, Gothorum & Vandalorum: Whereby we may know that the Goths and Vandals, which in times past did waste Italy, and other Nations of Christendom, did come out of this Country. This whole Country which containeth in it Norvegia, Suezia, and some part of Denmark, is Peninsula, being very much compassed about with the Sea: and this is it, which in Olaus Magnus & Joannes Magnus, is termed Archiepiscopus Vpsalensis, as also in some of the more ancient Writers, is called Scandinavia: on the North and West side of Sweden, lieth Norvegia, Norvegia, or Norway. or Norway, which is at this day under the government of the King of Denmark, although heretofore it hath been a free Kingdom of itself. Beyond Norway toward Russia, on the Northern Sea lieth Scrichivia, beyond that Biarmia, than Hapia, or Hapland, Hapland. a poor and cold Country, near Sinus Boddicus: whereof there is little to be spoken, but that it is said to be subject to the great Knez or Duke of Muscovie. But of these afterwards. Within the Sound, on the East part of the Sea, Danzig. lieth Danzig, about which are the Towns of the Haustmen, Confederates and Allies unto the King of Denmark. These are very rich towns, by reason of Merchandise which down the rivers they receive out of Polonia, and transport into other parts of Christendom, through the Sound of the King of Denmark. They live as free people, keeping amity & intercourse with the Kings of Sweden and Denmark, and with the Emperor of Germany: but within these late years, Steven Bacour, the King of Polon, doth challenge them to be members of his Crown and Dignity, and by war forced them to capitulate with him. There is no great thing to be noted in these Countries; but that from Denmark cometh much corn, to the supply of other parts of Christendom; and that from all these Countries, is brought great furniture for war, or for shipping; Riches of Denmark. as Masts, Cables, Steele, Saddles, Armour, Gunpowder, and the like: And that in the seas adjoining to these parts, there are fishes of much more monstrous shape than elsewhere are to be found. The people of those Countries are by their profession Lutherans for Religion. Their Religion. Of Russia, or Moscovia. Russia situate. ON the East side of Sweden, beginneth the Dominion of the Emperor of Russia, although Russia, or Moscovia itself, do lie somewhat more into the East, which is a great and mighty Monarchy, extending itself even from Lapland and Finmarke, many thousand miles in length, unto the Caspian sea: so that it containeth in it a great part of Europe, and much of Asia also. Emperor of Russia. The governor there, calleth himself Emperor of Russia, Great Duke of Moscovia, with many other titles of princedoms and Cities, whose Dominion was very much enlarged by the Emperor not long since dead, whom in Russia they call juan Vasiliwich, in the Latin, johannes Basilides, who reigning long, and being fortunate in war, did very much enlarge this mighty Dominion. This man as in his younger days he was very fortunate, and added very much unto the glory of his ancestors, winning something from the Tartars, and something from the Christians in Livonia, Lituania, and other confines of his country: so in his latter age growing more unwieldy and less beloved of his subjects, he proved as unfortunate, whereby it came to pass, that Stephen Bacour King of Polone, had a very great hand of him, winning from him large Provinces, which he before had conquered. Gregory the thirteenth, Bishop of Rome, thinking by his entreaty for peace between those two Princes, to have won the whole Russian Monarchy to the subjection and acknowledgement of the Papacy, Possevinus a jesuite sent by the Pope to the Emperor. sent Robertus Possevinus, a jesuite, (but yet a great Statesman) as his agent to take up controversies, between the Muscovite, and the King of Polone, who prevailed so fare, as that he drew them to tolerable conditions, for both parties; but when he began to exhort him to the accepting of the Romish faith, the Emperor being therefore informed by the English Ambassadors (who he very much favoured, for his Lady, and Mistress, Queen Elizabeth's sake) that the Bishop of Rome was a proud Prelate, and would exercise his pretended authority so far, as to make Kings and Princes hold his stirrup, yea to kiss his very feet, he utterly and with much scorn rejected all obedience to him. Whereunto, when Possevinus did reply, A fine excuse for the Pope's pride that the Princes of Europe indeed in acknowledgement of their subjection to him, as the Vicar of Christ, and successor of S. Peter, did offer him that service, as to kiss his feet, but that the Pope remembering himself to be a mortal man, did not take that honour as due unto himself, but did use to have on his Pantofle the Crucifix, or Picture of Christ, hanging upon the Cross, and that in truth he would have the reverence done thereunto: the Emperor did grow into an exceeding rage, reputing his pride to be so much the greater, when he would put the Crucifix upon his shoe; The Emperor's rage against the Pope. in as much as the Russians do hold, that so holy a thing as that is highly profaned, if any resemblance of it be worn but above the girdle. Possevinus, in a treatise written of his Embassage into that Country, where he discourseth this whole matter, Possevinus fear of the Emperor. confesseth, that he was much afraid, lest the Emperor would have strucken him, and beaten out his brains with a shrewd staff which then he had in his hands, & did ordinarily carry with him: and he had the more reason so to fear, because that Prince was such a tyrant, that he had not only slain, and with cruel torture put to death very many of his subjects, and Nobility before, showing himself more brutishly cruel to them, than ever Nero and Caligula were among the Romans; but he had with his own hands, and with the same staff, upon a small occasion of anger, killed his eldest son, who should have succeeded him in his whole Empire. The people of this country, are rude and unlearned, Chief people rude and unlearned. so that there is very little or no knowledge amongst them of any liberal or ingenuous Art; yea their very Priests & Monks (whereof they have many) are almost unlettered, so that they can hardly do any thing more than 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 year, when they think themselves much sanctified by the receiving of those hallowed waters; yea, and they bathe their Horses and Cattles in them; and also the burying of most of their people with a pair of Shoes on their feet, as supposing that they have a long journey to go, and a letter in their hand to S. Nicholas, whom they reverence as a special Saint, and think that he may give them entertainment, for their readier admission into heaven. The Muscovites generally have received the Christian Faith; but yet so, that rather they do hold of the Greek, Difference between the Greek and Latin Church. and the Eastern, then of the Western Roman Church. The doctrines wherein the Greek Church differs from the Latin, are these: First they hold that the holy Ghost proceeds from the Father alone, and not from the Son. Secondly, that the Bishop of Rome is not the universal Bishop. Thirdly, that there is no Purgation. Fourthly their Priests do marry; and fifthly they do differ in diverse of their ceremonies, as in having four Lents in the year, whereof they do call our Lent, their great Lent. At the time of the Council of Florence, There was some show made by the Agents of the Greek Church, that they would have joined in opinion with the Latins: but when they returned home, their Countrymen would in no sort assent thereunto. In the Northern parts of the dominion of the Emperor of Russia, which have lately been joined unto his territories, as specially Lapland, Biarmia, and thereabouts, The people of Lapland very heathenish. there are people so rude and heathenish, that (as Olaus Magnus writeth of them) look whatsoever living thing they do 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 Worship, & Reverence thereunto for all that day, as if it were some inferior God. Damianus a Goes hath written a pretty Treatise describing the manners of those Lappians: The greatest part of the Country of Russia is in the winter so exceeding cold, The extraordnary sharpness of the weather in winter. that both the Rivers are frozen over, the Land covered with snow, and such is the sharpness of the Air, that if any go abroad bore faced, it causeth their flesh in a short time to rot, which befalleth to the fingers and toes of diverse of them: therefore for a great part of winter, they live in Stoves and Hothouses: 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 soil, & the air is very strangely altered, insomuch that the Country seemeth hot, the Birds sing very merrily, & the trees; grass, & corn, in a short space do appear so cheerfully, green, and pleasant, that it is scant to be believed, but of them which have seen it. Their building is most of wood, even in their chief city of Moscow, Their buildings of wood. insomuch, that the Tartars (who lie in the North-east of them) breaking oft into their countries, even unto the very Moscow, do set fire on their Cities, which by reason of their wooden buildings, are quickly destroyed. Their government. The manner of government which of late years hath been used in Russia, is very barbarous, & little less than tyrannous: for the Emperor that last was, did suffer his people to be kept in great servility, & permitted the Rulers & chief Officers at their pleasures, to pill & 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 misdemeanour, and so fill his own coffers with fleecing of them: which was the same course the old Roman Emperor did use, calling the deputies of the Provinces by the name of Sponges, whose property is to suck up water, but when it is full, than itself is crushed, and yields forth liquor for the behalf of another. The passage by Sea into this country. 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 sail so far North, as to compass Lapland, Finmark, Scricfinia & Biarmia, and so passing to the East by Nova Zembla, half the way almost to Cathaio, have entered the River called Ob, by which they disperse themselves for merchandise both by water and land, into the most parts of the Dominion of the Emperor of Russia. The first attempt. The first attempt which was made by the English, for the entrance of Moscovia, by the North Seas, was in the days of King Edw. the 6. 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 weather proved so extreme, the snowing so great, & 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 coming from England, found both the Ship and their bodies in it, & a perfect remembrance in writing of all things which they had done & discovered; where amongst the rest, mention was made of a Land which they had touched, which to this day ●s known by the name of Sir Hugh Villobies Land. Sir Hugh Willobies Land. The Merchants of London did not desist to pursue this discovery, but have so far prevailed, that they have reached one half of the way, toward the East part of China, and Cathaio; but the whole passage is not yet opened. This Empire one of the greatest to the world. This Empire is at this day, one of the greatest dominions in the world, both for compass of ground, & for multitude of men; saving that it lieth far North, and so yields not pleasure or good traffic, with many other of the best situated nations. Among other things which do argue the magnificence of the Emperor of Russia, this one is recorded by many, who have traveled into those parts, that when the great Duke is disposed to sit in his magnificence, besides great store of jewels, and abundance of massy plate both of gold and silver, which is openly showed in his hall, there do sit as his Princes, and great Nobles, clothed in very rich and sumptuous attire, diverse men, ancient for their years, very seemly of countenance, and grave, with white long beards, which is a goodly show, besides the rich state of the thing. But Olaus Magnus, man well experienced in those Northern parts, doth say, (how truly 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 Moscow, and other places adjoining, and have robes put on them, which are not their own, but taken out of the Emperor's Wardrobe. Of Spruce and Poland. Prussia bow situated. IN Europe, on the East and North corner of Germany, lieth a Country called Prussia, in Latin most time's Borussia in English, Pruthen, or Spruce, of whom little is famous, saving that they were governed by one, in a kind of order of Religion, whom they call the Grand-Master: and that they are a means to keep the Moscovite, & the Turk from some other parts of Christendom. This country is now grown to be a Dukedom, & the Duke thereof doth admit traffic with our English, who going beyond the Hants towns, do touch upon his country; & amongst other things, do bring from thence a kind of leather, which was wont to be used in jerkins, and called by the name of Spruce-Leather-Jerkins. Spruce Leather. On the East side of Germany, between Russia and Germany, lieth Polonia, Poland's Situation. or Poland, which is a kingdom differing from others in Europe; because the King there is chosen by Election out of some of the Princes near adjoining, as lately Henry the third, King of France. These Elections oftentimes do make great factions there; so that in taking parts, they grow often there into civil war. The King of Polonia is almost continually in war, either with the Moscovite, who lieth in the East and North-east of him; or with the Turk, who lieth on the South and Southeast, and sometimes also with the Princes of Germany; whereupon the Poles do commonly desire to choose warriors to their King. In this Country are none but Christians: but so, Their diverse Religions. that liberty of all Religion is permitted, insomuch, that there be Papists, Colleges of Jesuits, both of Lutherans and Calvinists in opinions, Anabaptists, Arrians, and diverse others. They hate the jesuits' But of late years, there hath been made earnest motions in their Parliaments, that their Colleges of jesuites should be dissolved, and they banished out of that Kingdom, as of late they were from France. The reason of it is, because that under colour of Religion, they do secretly deal in State causes, and many times sow seditions, and some of them have given counsel to murder Princes: and wheresoever they be, they are the only intelligencers for the Pope: besides that, many of the Papists (but especially all their Friars and orders of Religion) do hate and envy them: first, for that they take upon them with such pride to be called jesuites, as if none had to do with jesus but they, and are more inward with Princes than the rest are. Secondly, because many of them are more learned than common Monks and Friars. And thirdly, because they profess more strictly and severely, than others do, the Capuchins only excepted. Their chief City Cracovia. This is that Country, which in times past was called Sarmatia, the chief City whereof is named Cracovia. Of Hungaria and Austria. Hungaria situated. ON the Southeast side of Germany, lieth Hungaria, called in the Latin, Pannonia, which hath been heretofore divided into Pannonia superior, & Pannonia inferior: it is an absolute Kingdom, and hath been heretofore rich and populous. The Christians that do live there, have among them diverse sorts of Religion, as in Poland. This Kingdom hath been a great obstacle against the Turks coming into Christendom; but especially in the time of johan. Huniades, who did mightily, with many great victories repulse the Turk. Here standeth Bunda, which was heretofore a great Fortress of Christendom: Bunda: but the glory of this kingdom is almost utterly decayed, by reason that the Turk, who partly by policy, & partly by force, doth now possess the greatest part of it; So that the people are fled from thence, and the Christians which remain there, are in miserable servitude: Notwithstanding some part of Pannonia inferior, doth yet belong to Christendom. The Turks for the space of these forty or fifty year's last passed, have kept continual garrisons, and many times great Armies in that part of Hungary, which yet remaineth Christened; yea, and sometimes the great Turks themselves have come thither in person with huge hosts, accounting it a matter of their Religion, not only to destroy as many Christians as they can, but also to win their land; by the revenues whereof they may maintain some Religious house, which they think themselves in custom bound to erect: but so, that the maintaining thereof is by the Sword to be won out of the hands of some of those whom they hold enemies to them. Hungary is become the only Cockpit of the world, where the Turks do strive to gain, and the Christians at the charge of the Emperor of Germany (who entitleth himself King of Hungary) do labour to repulse them: and few Summers do pass, but that something is either won or lost, by either party. The corner of Germany which lieth nearest to Hungary, or Pannonia inferior, Austria. is called Austria, or Pannonia superior, which is an Archdukedome. From which house (being of late much sprung) come many of the Princes of Germany, and of other parts of Europe: so that the Crown imperial of Germany, hath lately oft befallen to some one of this house. In this Country standeth Vienna, Vienna. that noble city, which is now the principal Bulwark of Christendom against the Turk; from whence Solyman was repelled by Ferdinandus King of Hungary, in the time of the Emperor 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 Archduke of Austria, and so put to a grievous ransom. There were lately diverse brothers of the Emperor Rodolphus the second, which were all called by the name of Archdukes of Austria, Archdukes of Austria. according to the manner of the Germans, who give the titles of the Father's nobility to all the children. The names of them were Mathias, Ernestus, & the youngest Albertus, who for a good space held by dispensation from the Pope, the bishopric of Toledo in Spain although he were no Priest, and had then also the title of Cardinal of Austria, & was employed for Viceroy of Portugal, by Philip the 2, King of Spain: but after the death of the Duke of Parma, he was sent as Lieutenant general, & governor of the Low-Countries for the K. of Spain, where since he hath attained to the marriage of the Infanta Isabel Eugenia Clara, eldest daughter to K. Philip the second, and last King of Spain, and by her hath he the style of Duke of Burgundy, although peaceably he cannot enjoy a great part of that Country. Thorough both Austria and Hungary doth run the mighty river Danubius, as thorough Germany doth run the Rhine, The River of Rhine. whereon groweth Vinum Rhenanum, commonly called Rhenish wine. Of Greece, Thracia, and the Countries near adjoining. Situation of Dacia. ON the South side of Hungary, and Southeast, lieth a Country of Europe, called in old time Dacia, which is large and wide, comprehending in it Transylvania, Walachia, Transylvania, Walachia. Moldavia, Servia. Moldavia, & Servia. Of which little is famous, save that the men are warlike, and can hardly be brought to obedience. They have lately been under the K. of Hungary. These Countries of Transylvania, Walachia, and Moldavia, have certain Monarches of their own, whom they call by the name of Vognode, which do rule their countries with indifferent mediocrity, while they have the sway in their own hands, but confining upon the Turk, they are many times oppressed, & overcome by him, so that often they are his tributaries: yet by the wildness of the country, & uncertain disposition of the Rulers and their people, he never hath any hand long over them, but sometimes they maintain war against him, & have slain down some of his Bassas, coming 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 doubtful a kind of regiment is that, which now adays is in those Countries. The river Danubius doth divide this Dacia from Mysia, commonly called Bulgaria, and Russia, which lieth on the South from Danubius, and is severed from Graecia by the mountain Haemus. The mountain Haemus. This mountain is that, whereof they reported in times past though but falsely, that who so stood on the top thereof, might see the sea four several ways, to wit, East, West, North and South: under pretence of trying which conclusion, (not Philip Alexander's 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 join himself against the Romans, which was shortly the overthrow of that kingdom. It should seem, that about this mountain, it is very cold, by reason of that jest which Athenaeus reporteth Stratonicus to have uttered concerning that hill, when he said, that for eight months in the year it was very cold, and for other four, it was Winter. Graecia bounded. From Haemus toward the South, lieth Graecia, bounded on the West by the Adriatic sea, on the East by the Thracian sea, and Mare Aegeum; on the South by the main Mediterranean sea. This contained in old time four special parts, Peloponnesus, Achaia, Macedonia, and Epirus. Adjoining whereunto was Illiricum Peloponnesus, Moreah which is now called Moreah, in the South part of Graecia, being Peninsula, or almost an Island, for that it is joined by a little straight called Istmos, unto the rest of Graecia. Herein stood Sparta, S●●●ssus and Helicon and the ancient state of Lacedaemon; the laws thereof were made by Lycurgus; by the due observation of which, Tully could say in his time, that the title of Sparta in Lacedaemon, had continued in the same means and behaviour for the space of 700. years. This Sparta was it which so often made war against the Athenians, and this and Athens were called the two edges of Graecia. near the Jsthmos, or Straits, stood the famous City of Corinth, Corinth. which was in old time called the Key of Greece, and whither S. Paul wrote two of his Epistles. Aeneas Silvius in his Cosmographical Treatise, De Europa, cap. 22. saith, that the Straits which divide Moreah from the rest of Graecia, are in breadth but five miles; and that diverse Kings & Princes did go about to dig away the earth, that they might make it to be an Island: He nameth King Demetrius, Julius Caesar, Caius Caligula, & Domitius Nero; of all whom he doth note, that they not only failed of their purpose, but that they came to violent and unnatural deaths. From the Isthmos, which is the end of Peloponnesus, or Moreah, beginneth Achaia, Achaia. and spreadeth itself North-wards 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 Euboea, Euboea. 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 toward the East part stood Boetia, & upon the Sea-coast, Boetia. looking toward Moreah, was Athens, Athens. which was famous for the Laws of Solon, for the wars against Sparta, and many other Cities of Graecia; and for an University of learned men, which long continued there. Parnassus and Helicon In this part of Greece, stood Parnassus and Helicon, so much talked of by Poets, and Phocis, and Thebes, and briefly all the Cities whereof Livy speaking, doth term by the name of Achai, or Vrbes Achaeorum. The third Province of Graecia, called Epirus, Epyrus. lieth Westward from Achaia, and extends itself for a good space that way; but toward the North and South it is but narrow lying along the Sea-coast, and looking on the Islands of Conegra, and Cephalonia. This was the Country wherein Olympias wife unto Philip of Macedonia, and Mother unto Alexander the Great, was born. This was also the Kingdom of that noble Pyrrhus, which made such great wars against the Romans; and in our later age it was made renowned by the valiant Scanderbag, who was so great a scourge unto the Turk, whose life is so excellently written by Martinus Partesius. From the East part of Epirus Northward, lieth a Country, which was never noted by any famous name; but as it should seem was sometime under Epirus, from which it lieth Northward; sometimes under Macedonia, from which it lieth Westward; and sometimes under Illyris, or Dalmatia, from which it lieth Southward; and it may be that there was in old time diverse free Cities there. Illyricum, Illyricum which confineth upon Graecia toward the North and West, near unto the top of the Adriatic Sea, and not fare from Venice, is for a good part of it at this day under the Venetians. The fourth and greatest part of old Graecia was Macedonia, Macedonia. which is falsely by the Maps of the Roman Empire, placed on the Westside of Graecia; for in truth it lieth on the Eastside, looking toward Asia the lesser, being bounded on the Eastside by the Sea called Mare Aegeum, on the Southside by Achaia, and the Hill Othris, and part of Epirus: and on the Westside, by certain great Mountains; but on the North by the Hill Haemus. This was the Kingdom so famous in times passed 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 Olympus, the City of Philippi where the Philippians dwelled, to whom Saint Paul wrote. Here was Ampollonia, Amphipolis, Edessa, Pella, Thessalonica and Berea: yea, and the whole Country of Thessalia, lay on the Southside of this part of Greece. In this Country of Graecia, were in ancient time many Kingdoms and States, as at this day there are in Italy; as the Macedonians, the Kingdom of Epirus, the State of Athens, the government of Sparta, the 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. Many famous things from Grecia From Graecia (in old time) did almost all famous things come. These were they that made the war against Troy; that resisted Xerxes the mighty King of Persia, that had the Famous Lawmakers, as Solon in Athens, Famous Laws. and Lycurgus in Lacedaemon; that took away the Monarchy from the Persians; that brought forth the Famous Captains, Famous Captains. as Themistocles, Miltiades, Alexander, and many other that were the Authors of civility unto the Western Nations, and to some in the East, as Asia the less: that gave to Italy and to the Romans the first light of learning: because from them arose the first Poets, as Homer, The first Poets. Hesiodus, Sophocles, and diverse other. The great Philosophers, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and all the Sects of the Academics, Stoics, Peripatetics, Epicureans, and almost all their Scholars. The great Orators. The great Orators Demosthenes, and Eschines; and in one word (the Mathematics excepted, which came rather from the Chaldeans and the Egyptians) the whole flower of Arts and good Learning. On the North-east part of Graecia standeth Thracia, Thracia. which though heretofore it hath been distinguished, yet now it is accounted as the chief part of Greece. Hear on the edge of the Sea-coast very near unto Asia, Constantinople. standeth the City called Byzantium, but since Constantinople; because Constantine the Great did new build it, and made it an Imperial City. This was the chief residence of the Emperor of Graecia, sometimes called New Rome, and the glory of the East; where the General Council was once assembled; and one of the Seas of the Patriarches, who was called the Patriarch 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 Imperial abode. It was won in the time of Constantine the last Emperor; so that by Constantine it obtained his honour, and by Constantine it lost it. In this City lieth resident with the Turk, an Ambassador, or Agent for the King of England. The Christians that do live now in Graecia, are in miserable servitude unto the Turk. They disagree in many things from the doctrine of the Church of Rome. Of the Sea running between Europe and Asia. Northern parts were not discovered in times past. IF there were no other argument, that the Northern parts of the World were not discovered in times past, by any that traveled that way, yet this would sufficiently avouch it, that there was never thought upon any Land between Asia and Europe, higher than the river Tanais; which doth not extend itself very fare into the North, but is short of the uttermost bounds that was by the space of four 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 toward the South, it disburdeneth itself into a dead Lake or Fen (for so it seemeth) which is called Maeotis-Palus, Maeotis. Palus, justin. Ovid. 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 so frozen, that the Scythians and Tartarians near adjoining, do both themselves & their cattles, yea, sometimes with Sleads after them pass over, as if it were dry Land. On the Southern part of this Maeotis is a narrow strait of the Sea, which is commonly called by the name of Bosphorus Cimmerius, Bosphorus Cimmerius. because (as it is thought) sometime Oxen have ventured to swim cross there from Asia to Europe, or backward. When the water hath run for a pretty space in so narrow a passage, there beginneth a great and wide Sea, named Pontus Euxinus, Pontus' Euxinua. Wither (as josephus reporteth) the Whale did carry the Prophet jonas, and there did disburden himself of his carriage, by casting him upon the Land. At the mouth of this Sea, is a very great strait, known by the name of Thracius Bosphorus, Thracius Bosphorus. where the breadth of this Sea is not above one mile, severing Asia and Europe. On the side of Europe standeth Constantinople. On the side of Asia, the City called Pera, or Galata, which for the nearness is by some reckoned a part of Constantinople. When any of the Turks janissaries have committed aught worthy of death, A strange custom among the Turks. the custom is, to send the same party in the night time over by boat from Constantinople to Peru, where by the way he is thrown into the water, with a great stone about his neck, and then there is a piece of Ordnance shot off, which is a token of some such execution. The Turk is forced to take this course, lest the rest of his janissaries should mutiny when any of their fellows is put to death. By reason of the standing of Asia and Europe so near together, and the Sea running between them, which serveth each place with al● manner of commodities, it appeareth that Constantinople is marvels lously, richly, and conveniently seated, and therefore a fit place, from whence the Turk may offer to archieve great attempts. After this straight, the Sea openeth i● self more large toward the South and it is called by the name of Propontis: But than it groweth against into another strait, which they writ● to be in breadth about two mile● This is called Hellespontus, Hell●spontus Xerxes Bridge. having on the one side Abydos in Asia on the other side Sestus, o● the side of Europe. This is th● place where Xerxes the great Kin● of Persia did make his Bridge ove● the Sea, so much renowned i● ancient History, which was not impossible, by reason of the narrow nesse, the foundation of his Bridge being rested on ships. Here al● may appear the reason of the sto●● of Leander and Hero: which Lea●der is reported for the love of Hereto have oftentimes swom over th●● Sea till at last he was drowned. From this straight Southward, the Sea groweth more wide, and is called afterwards by the name of Mare Aegeum, Mare Aegeum. and so descendeth to the full Mediterranean. Of Asia, and first of Tartary. ON the Northside of Asia, joining unto the dominion of the Emperor of Russia, is Tartary, Tartary bounded. in ancient time called Scythia; the bounds whereof did then extend themselves into a good part of Europe; & therefore was called Scythia Europea: but the greatest part of it lieth in Asia, a mighty large Country, extending itself on the North to the uttermost Sea, on the East to the Dominion of the Great Cham, or Prince of cathay; on the South down to Mare Caspium. The Tartarians which now inhabit it, are men of great stature, rude of behaviour. no Christians, Their Religion. but Gentiles; neither do they acknowledge Mabumet. They have few or no Citie● among them, but after the manner of the old Scythians, do live i● Wildernesses, lying under their Carts, and following their drove of cattles, by the milk whereo● they do nourish themselves. The● sow no Corn at all, because the● abide not long in any one place; bu● taking their direction from the● North-pole-starre, they remoov● from one coast of their Countre● unto another. The Country is populous, and the men are great warriors fight always on horse back with their bow, Their manner of war. arrows, an● a short Sword. They have among● them infinite store of horses, whereof they sell many into the Countries near adjoining. Their ordinary food in their wars is horse flesh, which they use to eat raw● being chafed a little by hanging 〈◊〉 their Saddle. They have great wars with th● Countries adjoining, but especial with the Muscovite, and sometimes with the Turk: from hence came Tamburlaine, Tamburlaine the Great, a Tartarian. who brought 7000000 of the Tartarians at once into the field, wherein he distressed and took prisoner Bajazet the great Turk, whom he afterward forced to feed as a Dog under his table. They have now amongst them many Princes and Governors, as those have one, whom they call the Crim Tartars: and those have another, which are the Tartars of Magaiae, and so diverse others. The English have laboured (to their great expenses) to find out the way by the North Seas of Tartary, 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 Flemings have discovered that passage: which would be (very likely) to the great benefit of the Northern parts of Christendom; yet that report doth not continue, and therefore it is to be thought, that the Flemings have not proceeded so fare. Of cathay, and China. NExt beyond Tartary, on the North-east part of Asia, lieth a great Country called Cathaie; Situation of cathay. the bounds whereof extend themselves on the North and East, to the utter most Seas; and on the South to China, The people are not much learned, but more civil than the Tartars; and have good and ordinary traffic 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, The Great Can of cathay. or Can of cathay, who is the chief Governor of all the Land, and esteemed for multitude of people and largeness of Dominion, to be one of the greatest Princes of the World: but his name is the less famous, for that he lieth so fare distant from the best Nations, and the passage into his Country is so dangerous, either for the perils of the Sea, or for the long space by Land. His chief Imperial City is called Cambalu. On the South side of cathay, Cambalu the chiefe City of China. and East part of Asia, next to the Sea, lieth China: and the people thereof, Osorius describeth by the name of Sina, and calleth their Country Sinarum Regio. A very rich Country. This is a fruitful Country, and yields as great store of rich Commodities, as almost any Country in the World. It containeth in it very many several Kingdoms, which are absolute Princes in their Seats. The chief City in this Country is called Quinsay, Quinsay the chief City. and is described to be of incredible greatness, as were wont to be the ancient Cities in the East, as Babylon, Niniveh, and others. This Country was first discovered by the late Navigation of the portugals into the East Indies. The people skilful in Arts. The people of China are learned almost in all Arts, very skilful Workmen in curious fine works of all sorts, so that no Country yields more precious Merchandise, than the workmanship of them. They are great Soldiers, very politic and crafty, and in respect thereof contemning the wits of others, using a Proverb, That all other Nations do see but with one eye, Their Proverb. but they themselves with two. Petrus Maffaeus, Historiographer to the King of Spain 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 Christendom, and but lately invented: The one is the use of Guns for the Wars, Two rare wonders invented in China, Guns, and Printing. and the other is Printing; which they use not as we do, writing from the left hand unto the right; or as the Hebrews 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 Southside of China, toward the Molucco Lands, and the Indian Sea, lieth the great Country of India, extending itself from the South part of the Continent, Th● situation of the Indies. 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 lieth 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 of Alexander the Great, throughout all the length of Asia; for his adventuring to go into the South Ocean with so mighty a Navy, which few or none had ever attempted before him. And certainly thither it was that Solomon did send once in three years 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 thorough the Mediterranean Sea, and the Straits of Gibraltar. This Country had in ancient time, In Jndia are many Kingdoms. many absolute Kingdoms and Provinces: as in the time of Alexander, Porus, Taxiles, and diverse others. In it were many Philosophers, and men of great Learning whom they called Gymnosophistae, of whom was Calanus, who burned himself before Alexander. The men of the South part of India are black, Their Cattle very big and therefore are called men of Jnde. The Cattles of all sorts that are bred there, are of incredible bigness, in respect of other Countries, as their Elephants, Apes, Monkeys, Emêts, and other. Their riches. The riches hereof have been very great, with abundance of Gold, insomuch that the Promontory, which is now called Malacha, was in times past named Aurea Chersonesus. The commodity of Spice is exceeding great that comes from thence. The Partugals first discovered the Indieses The Portugals were the first, which by their long Navigations beyond the Equinoctial, and the farthermost part of afric, have of late years discovered these Countries to Christendom: as heretofore to the use of the King of Portugal, so now of the King of Spain, who is reputed owner of them. Four Kingdoms by the Portugals discovered. The Portugals did find diverse Kingdoms at their first arrival in those parts, as the Kingdom of Calcutta, the Kingdom of Cambaia, the Kingdom of Cananor, the Kingdom of Cochin, and very many other, with the Kings whereof they first entering League and Traffic, and having leave given to build Castles for their defence, they have since by policy encroached into their hands a great part of the Country which lieth near unto the Sea-coast, and are mighty now, for the space of many thousand miles together. The K. of Spain hath there a Viceroy, whose residence is commonly in the Imperial City called God. Chief City God. They do every year send home great store of rich commodities into Spain. The Indians Religion. The people of the Country when the Portugals came first thither, were for the most part Gentiles, believing in no one God: yea, at this day there are diverse of them who do adore the Sun as their God, and every morning at the rising thereof, do use very superstitious Ceremonies, which our Merchants, who do trade to Aleppo, do oftentimes see; for diverse of these Jndians do come thither with Merchandise. But the Saracens, who reverence the Prophet Mahomet, from the Bays or Gulfs of Persia and Arabia, do traffic 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 Ecclesiastical History) part of India was converted. In this Country of Jndia are many great and potent Kings and Kingdoms, which had been altother 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 backside of afric, to some relations that we had from the Venetians, who traded and traveled thither by Land out of Turkey. The names of these Kings and Kingdoms are these; The King of Biarme, the great , S●● Kingdoms. the King of Narsing, Pegu, Siam. the forenamed King of Calcutta, and others. Of Persia. Situation of Persia. THere be diverse Countries between India and Persia; but they are not Famous. Persia is a large Country, which lieth fare 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 entereth in notwithstanding by a Bay called Sinus Persicus. This is that Country, which in ancient time was so renowned for the great riches, and Empire thereof. These were they who took from the Assyrians the Monarchy, and did set up in their Country the second great Empire, which began under Cyrus, & continued unto that Darius, who was overthrown by Alexander the Great. In this country reigned the great Kings, Cyrus, The g eat and famous Kings of Persia. Cambyses, Darius the Son of Histaspes, the great Xerxes, Artaxerxes, and many others; which in profane writings are famous for their wars against the Scythians, Egyptians, and Grecians, & in the Scripture, for the delivery of the jews from Babylon by Cyrus, for the building of the second Temple at Jerusalem, and for many things which are mentioned of them in the Prophecy of Daniel. The people 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, Persians great Soldiers. they have grown great Soldiers: and therefore as they did ever strongly defend themselves against the old Romans; so in the time of Constantine, and the other Emperors, they were fearful neighbours to the Roman government: and of late time, they have strongly opposed themselves against the Turks, ever making their party good with them. And yet notwithstanding, in the days of Amurath the third, father to Mahomet the Turk now reigning, the Turk had a great hand upon the Persian; going so fare with his Army, as that he took the strong City Tauris standing within the Persian dominions, near unto the Caspian Sea, but this loss was to be attributed, partly to the great dissensions which were among the Persians themselves, and partly to the multitude of the Turk his Soldiers, who by fresh supply did overbeare the Persian, although he slew down many thousands of them. They fight commonly on horseback, & are governed as in time passed by a King, so now by an absolute ruler, Sophy of Persia. and a mighty Prince, whom they tear me the Shaw, or Sophy of Persia. He hath many Countries, & small Kings in Assyria, & Media, and the countries adjoining, which are tributaries. Among other the Sophies of Persia, about a hundred years since, there was one of great power, called Ishmael the Persian, who procured unto himself great fame by his many & valorous attempts against the Turk. Surius in his Commentaries, writing upon him, saith, that upon some fond conceit, the jews were strongly of opinion, that he was that Messiah 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 Ishmael did. Their Religion. The Persians are all at this day Sarazens in Religion, believing in Mahomet: but as Papists and Protestants do differ in opinion, concerning the same Christ, so do the Turks & Persians about their Mahomet: the one pursuing the other, as Heretics, with most deadly hatred, in so much that there is, in this respect, almost continual war between the Turk and the Persians. Of Parthia, and Media. Situation of Parthia. ON the North-East side of Persia, lieth that Country 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 boundeth on Media by the West, and it was in ancient time veryful of people: whose fight as it was very much on horseback, Their manner of fight. so the manner of them continually was for to give an onset, and then to return their ways, even to return again like to the Wild Irish; so that no man was sure when he had obtained any victory over them. Great wars of the Parthians against the Romans. These were the people that gave the great overthrow to that rich Marcus Crassus of Rome, who by reason of his covetousness (intending more to his getting of gold, than to the guiding of his army) was slain himself, and many thousands of the Romans: 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 Romans were never able to bring them quite to subjection. Media how situated. On the Westside of Parthia, (having the Mare Caspium on the North, Armenia on the West, and Persia on the South) lieth that Country which in time past was called Media, but now Shirvan or Sarvan; which is at this day governed by many inferior Kings and Princes, which are tributaries, and do owe subjection to the Sophy of Persia. So that he is the Sovereign Lord of all Media, as our Englishmen have found, who passing through the dominion of the Emperor of Russia, have crossed the Mare Caspium, and merchandized with the inhabitants of this Media. A famous Nation. 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 joined 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 Medes. The chief City of Media. The chief City of this Kingdom 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 means they were both taken for Imperial Cities, and chief residences of the Kings of Media; which being known; takes away some confusion in old Stories. The like custom was afterward used also by the Kings of Persia. Of Armenia and Assyria. Situation of Armenia ON the Westside of the Mare Caspium; & of Media, lieth a Country called by a general name, Armenia; which by some is distinctly divided into three parts: the North part whereof being but little, Divided into three parts. 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 diverse writers: Some saying, that the country whence the Turks 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 o● them whom Alexander the Great did shut up within certain Mountains near to the Mare Caspium. A memorable Note. There is this one thing memorable in Armenia, that after the great Flood, the Ark of Noah did rest itself on the Mountain's o● Armenia, where, (as Josephus witnesseth) it is to be seen yet to this day; the hills whereon it resteth, are called by some Noae Montes. Armenians Christians. The people of this Nation, have retained amongst them the Christian Faith, as it is thought, from the time of the Apostles; but at this day it is spotted with many absurdities. Bathing of their children. Among other Errors which the Church of Armenia hath been noted to hold, this is one, that they did bathe their children, waving them up and down in flames of fire, and repute that to be a necessary circumstance of Baptism: Which error ariseth by mistaking that place of john the Baptist, where he saith, That he that came after him (meaning Christ) should baptise them with the holy Ghost, and with fire. In which place the word doth not signify material 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, Assyria bounded. which is bounded on the West with Mesopotamia. This Country was that Land wherein the first Monarchy was settled, which began under Ninus, whom the Scripture calleth Nimrod, living not long after Noah's Flood, and it ended in Sardanapalus continuing a thousand and three hundred years. The King of this Country was Senacherib, Kings of Assyria. of whom we read in the Book of the Kings; and here reigned Nabuchadnezzar, who took jerusalem, and led the jews away prisoners unto Babylon. In this Country, is the swift River Tigris, The swift river Tigris. The City Ninivee. near unto the which was Paradise: Upon this River stood the great City Ninivee, called by profane writers, Ninus; which was almost of incredible bigness, and exceeding populous, by the nearness of the River, and marvellous fruitfulness 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 Imperial Seat of the Monarchy; but being destroyed, (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. Situation of Chaldea. NExt unto Assyria, lieth Chaldea, having on the East side Assyria; on the West, Syria, or Palesti●a; on the North, Armenia; on the South, the desert of Arabia; This Country is often called by the name of Mesopotamia, which name it hath, because it lieth in the middle of two great Rivers, Tigris and Euphrates. It is called also by the name of Babylonia, which word of itself properly taken, doth signify only that part of the Country which standeth about Babylon. Babylon the chief City of Chaldea. The chief City whereof was Babylon, whose ruins do remain unto this day. It was a rich and most pleasant City for all kind of delight; and was in the later time of that Monarchy, the Imperial City of the Assyrians, where Nabuchadnezzar and other their great Kings did lie. 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 their residence here, it was buil● upon the River Euphrates, some part of it standing on the one side and some part on the other, having for its foundress, Semiramis, the wife of Ninus. Ammianus Marsellinus reporteth one thing of this Country wherein the admirable power o● God doth appear; The admirable power of God in preserving the people. for he writeth that in these parts are a huge number of Lions, which were like enough to devour up both men and beasts throughout the Country but withal he saith, that by reason of the store of water and mud thereof, there do bree● yearly an innumerable company o● Gnats, whose property is to fly unto the eye of the Lion, as being a bright and orient thing; wher● biting and stinging the Lion, he teareth so fiercely with his claws that he putteth out his own eyes, and by that means many are drowned in the Rivers, others starve for want of prey, and many the more easily killed by the Inhabitants. It is supposed by Divines, that in this Mesopotamia, between the River Tigris and Euphrates, Paradise did stand. Note. This was the Country wherein Abraham the Patriarch was borne: unto which the Romans 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 wisemen came which brought presents to Christ, by the guiding of the Star. 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 Soothsayers, Enchanters, and Wise men, as they call them. Here were the first Astrologians, Here were the first Astrologians. which are so described, and derided in the Scripture: and against the Inhabitants of Babylon and Chaldea were the Laws of the Romans made, which are against divining Mathematicians, who in Tully 〈◊〉 Divinatione & Cornelius Tacitus, as also in the Laws of the Emperors, are ordinarily collected by the name of 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 o● Astronomy, was partly because th● Country is so plain, that being without hills, they might more fully and easily discover the whole fac● 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 stain the best things, so in process of time, the true Astronomy was defiled with superstitious Rules of Astrology (which caused the Prophets Isaiah, and jeremiah, so bitterly to inveigh against them,) And then, in their fabulositie they would report, that they had in their Records, Observations for five and twenty thousand years, which must needs be a very great untruth, unless we will qualify it as some have done, expounding their years not of the Revolution of the sun but of the Moon, whose course is ended in the space of a month. Of Asia the less. ON the North-West side of Mesopotamia, lieth that Country which is now called Anatolia, but in times past, Asia minor, having on the North side Pontus Euxinus, Situation of Asia the less. on the West, the Hellespont, and on the South, the main 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 known unto them, and they were not so much acquainted with the farther places of Asia the Great. Richness of the Country. This Country in general, for the fruitfulness of the Land, standing in so temperate a Climate, and for the conveniency of the Sea every way, and so many good Havens, hath been reputed always a very commodious and pleasurefull Country. It is wholly at this day under the Turk. The Mountain Taurus goeth along from the West unto the East part of it. The greatness of this Country is such, that it hath comprehended many Kingdoms and large Provinces, besides Cities of great fame. On the Southeast part thereof, near to Palestina, lieth Cilicia; Cilicia. The city Tarsus. the chief City whereof is Tarsus, the Country 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 this Cilicia, near to the Mountain Taurus, Alexander his overthrow of Darius. did Alexander give a great overthrow in person to Darius, in the joining of their first battle. This place seems to have been very fortunate for great fights; in as much as there also near unto the straits, was the battle fought out between Severus the Emperor and Niger; who being Governor of the Romans of Syria, would needs have aspired to the Empire, but in a battle 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 I sicus, near unto which Alexander built one of his Cities, which he called by his own name. The City of Alexandria But howsoever in times past it was named Alexandria, it is now by the Venetians and other Christians, called Alexandretta; as who should say, little Alexandria, in comparison of the other. In Egypt the Turks do call it Scandar●nd, 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 only a few houses there. Westward from Cilicia lieth the Province called Pamphilia; Pamphilia The City of Seleuchus. wherein stands the City Seleucia, built by Seleuchus, one of the four great successors of Alexander the Great. On the West of this Pamphilia, standeth Lycia; Lycia. & more West from thence confining upon the I'll of Rhodes, is Caria; Caria. one of the seatownes whereof is Halicarnassus, which was the Country of Heredotus, who is one of the most ancient Historians that is extant of the Gentiles, and who dedicated his nine Books to the honour of the Muses. Here also was that Dionysius borne, who is called commonly Dionysius Halicarnassus, one of the Writers of the Roman Story, for the first three hundred years after Rome was built. The whole country of Caria is sometimes signified by the name of this Halicarnassus, Halicarnassus. although it was but one City; and thereupon Artemisia, who in the days of Xerxes came to aid him against the Grecians, and behaved herself so manfully in a great fight at sea, when Xerxes stood by as a coward, is entitled by the name not of Queen of Caria, but of Halicarnassus. Also in the days of Alexander the Great, there was another Queen, named Ada; who also is honoured by the title of Queen of Halicarnassus. We have thus fare described those Cities of Asia the less, 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, jonia. standeth jonia, where those did dwell, who had like to have joined with Xerxes, in the great battle at Sea; but that Themistocles by a policy did win them from him, to take part with the Grecians. Diodorus Siculus writeth, that the Athenians, who professed to be of kin to those jonians, were on a time marvellous importunate with them, that they should leave their own country, & come and dwell with them: which when the jonians, 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 Jonium, Lydia. was Lydia, which sometimes was the Kingdom of Croesus, who was reputed so rich a King; when he was in his prosperity, making best of his happiness, 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, Croesus' overthrown 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 think 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, did give themselves to baths and stews, and other such effeminate things. Upon the sea-coast in jonia, standeth the City Ephesus, Ephesus. which was one of the seven cities, unto which john in his Revelation did write his seven Epistles: and Saint Paul also directed his Epistle to the Ephesians unto the Church which was in this place. This was one of the most renowned Cities of Asia the less; but the Fame thereof did most arise from the Temple of Diana, which was there built, The Temple of Diana. and was reputed for the magnificence thereof, one of the seven Wonders of the world. This Temple was said to be two hundred years in building, and was burnt seven several times, whereof the most part was by lightning, and the final 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, do worship this Diana. Tully reporteth, De natura Deorum, that Timaeus 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 Mistress of it was from home; because she being the Goddess of Midwives, did that night wait upon Olympias the Mother of Alexander the Great, who was brought to bed in Macedonia. City of Smirna. Another of the seven Cities unto which John did write, is Smirna, standing also in jonia, upon the Sea cost, but somewhat more North than Ephesus; which is the place where Polycarpus was Bishop, who sometimes had been Scholar unto john the Evangelist, Polycarpus, scholar to S. john the Evangelist. and living till he was of great age, was at last put to death for Christ's sake, when before he had been moved by the Governor of the Country to deny his Saviour, and to burn Incense to an Idol: But he answered, that fourscore and six years 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 begin to deny him. The third City unto which the Epistle is directed in the Apocalypse, City of 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 won it, Darius 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 be recovered again. Four Cities of vote. There stood also in the Inland, Philadelphia, Thyatira, Laodicea, and most of all to the North, Pergamus: which were the other four Cities unto which Saint john the Evangelist did direct his Epistle. Going upward from jonium to the North, there lieth on the Sea-coast a little country, Aeolis. called Aeolis: and beyond that, although not upon the Sea, the two Provinces called Mysia Major, and Mysia Minor; which in times past, Mysia major, and Mysia minor. were so base and contemptible, that the people thereof were used in speech as a Proverb, that if a man would describe one meaner than the meanest, it was said, he was Mysiorum postremus. On the West part of Mysia major, did lie the Country called Troas, The City of Troy. wherein stood Jlium, and the City of Troy, against which, as both Virgil and Homer have written, the Grecians did continue their Siege for the space of ten years, by reason that Paris had stolen 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 Country called Phrygia, Phrygia. where the Goddess which was called Bona Dea, or Pessinuntia, or Cybele, the Mother of the old Gods, had her first abiding, and from thence (as Herodian writeth,) was brought to Rome, as implying that good Fortune should follow her thither. In this Country lived that Gordius, who knit the knot called for the intricateness thereof, Nodus Gordianus; Gordius knot. and when it could not be untied, was cut in sunder by Alexander the Great, supposing that it should be his fortune, for the losing of it so, to be the Conqueror, and King of Asia, as by a prophecy of the same Gordius had been before spoken. Yet Northward from Phrygia, lieth the Country of Bythinia; Bythinia. which was sometimes a Kingdom, where Prusias reigned, that had so much to do with the Romans. In this Country standeth the City Nicaea, City of Nice. where the first General Council was held against Arius the Heretic, by Constantine the Great, thereof called the Nicene Council. Here standeth also Chalcedon, where the fourth. General Council was held by the Emperor Martianus, Chalcedon. against the Heretic Nestorius. From Bythinia Eastward, on the Northside of Asia the less, standeth the Country of Paphlagonia, Paphlagonia. where was the City built by Pompey the Great, called by his name, Pompeiopolis. On the South of Paphlagonia, toward the Island of Asia Minor, Pompeiopolis. did stand the Country of Galatia, whereunto Saint Paul wrote his Epistle to the Galathians. Galatia. And this also was one of those Countries where the jews were dispersed, unto which Saint Peter wrote his first Epistle; as also unto them which were in Pontus, Cappadocia, and Bythinia; from whence Southward lieth the Province termed Lycaonia: Lycaonia; And from thence yet more South, bordering upon Pamphilia, which touches the Mediterranean Sea, lieth Pisidia, Pisidia. concerning which countries we find oftentimes mention made in such Stories as do touch Asia the less. From these Southern parts, if we return back again unto the North and East of Asia Major, The kingdom of Pontus. lieth the Kingdom of Pontus, confining upon that which is named Pontus Euxinus. In this Pontus did reign Mithridates, Mithridates. who in his younger days had traveled over the greatest part of Asia, and is reported to have been so skilful, that he could well speak more than twenty Languages. His hatred was ever great towards the Romans, against whom; when he meant first to put his malice in practice, 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 brought Mithridates to distress. Pompey the Great, was the man who distressed this Mithridates, and brought him to that extremity, that he would gladly have poisoned himself, but could not; in as much as his stomach had been used so before unto that kind of treacle, (which by reason of his inventing of, unto this day is called Alithridate) which is made of a kind of poison allayed, that no venom would easily work upon him. Southward from this Pontus standeth the old Kingdom of Cappadocia, 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. Armenia Minor. 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 less. Of Syria, and Palestina, or the Holy Land. SOuthward from Silicia, and Asia the less, Syria bounded. lieth Syria; a part whereof was called Palaestina: having on the East Mesopotamia, on the South Arabia, on the West Tyre and Sydon, and the end of the Mediterranean Sea. The people of this Syria were in times past called the Aramites. Their ancient names. In their language is the translation of the new Testament called Syriac. City of Antioch. In this Country standeth Antioch, which was sometimes one of the ancient Patriarches Seas, and is a City of reckoning unto this day. Here also standeth now the City of Aleppo, Aleppo. which is a famous Mart Town for the Merchandizing of the Persians, and others of the East, and for the Turks, and such Countries as be adjoining. Here standeth also Tripoli. Tripoli. The South part of Syria lying down toward Egypt and Arabia, was the place where the Children of Israel died well, being a Country of small quantity, not 200 Italian miles in length: it was so fruitful flowing with Milk and Honey, (as the Scripture calleth it) that it did maintain above thirty Kings and their people, Thirty Kings. before the coming 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 Country, Note. that whereas by the goodness of the Climate wherein it stood, and the fertility of the Soil, (but especially by the blessing of God) it was the most fruitful Land that was in the World: Now our Travellers by experience do find the Country, in respect of the fruitfulness, to be changed, God cursing the Land together with the jews, the Inhabitants of it. It is observed also for all the Eastern 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 dissolution to come by the day of judgement. The River jordan. Through this Country doth run the River jordan, which hath heretofore been famous for the fruitfulness of the trees standing thereupon, and for the mildness of the Air, so that (as josephus writeth) when Snow hath been in other places of the Land, about the River it hath been so calm, that men did go in single thin linen garments. In this Country standeth the Lake, The Lake Asphaltites. called Lacus Asphaltites, because of a kind of slime called Bitumen, or Asphaltum, which daily it doth cast up, being of force to join stones exceeding fast in building: And into this Lake doth the River jordan run. Mare Mortuum. 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 thick, that few things will sink therein, in so much that josephus, saith that an Ox having all his legs bound, will not sink into that water. The nature of this Lake (as it was supposed) was turned into this quality, when God did destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, and the Cities adjoining, with fire and Brimstone from Heaven: for Sodom 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 witness, the Earth smelling of Brimstone, being desolate, and yielding no Fruit saving Apples, which grow with a fair show 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 witness in his 48 Chapter. Twelve Tribet of Israel. The Land of Palestina had for its Inhabitants, all the Twelve Tribes of Israel, which were under one Kingdom, till the time of Rehoboam the Son of Solomon; But than were they divided into two Kingdoms, ten Tribes being called Israel, and two judah, whose chief City was called jerusalem. Jerusalem. Twelve Tribes divided. The ten Tribes, after much Idolatry, were carried prisoners unto Assyria, and the Kingdom dissolved, other people being placed in their room in Samaria, and the Country adjoining. The other two Tribes were properly called the jews, and their Land judaea; The jews. which continued long after in jerusalem, and thereabout, till the Captivity of Babylon, where they lived for seventy years. They were afterward restored, but lived without glory, till the coming 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 Runagates, without certain Country, King, Priest, or Prophet. In their chief City Jerusalem. was the Temple of God, first most gloriously built by Solomon; and afterward destroyed by Nabuchadnezzar. Jerusalem destroyed. By the commandment of Cyrus' King of Persia, was a second Temple built, much more base than the former. For besides the poverty, and smallness of it, there wanted five things which were in the former, as the jews write: Note. First, the Ark 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 Kingdom, contrary to the Law of Moses, and knowing the people to be offended therewithal, to procure their favour, did build a third Temple, wherein our Saviour jesus Christ and his Apostles did teach. The City of Jerusalem was twice taken, and utterly laid desolate; jerusalem twice destroyed. 1 By Nabuchadnezzar. 2 By Vespasian. first, by Nabuchadnezzar, at the Captivity of Babylon: and secondly, after the death of Christ, by Vespasian the Roman (who first began the wars) and by his Son Titus, who was afterward Emperor 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 some one day) to be devoured of the Beasts, which was a cruel Custom 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 Book 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 Romans, and that was upon the tenth day of August. After this destruction, the Land of judaea, and the ruins of jerusalem, were possessed by some of the people adjoining, till that about six hundred years since, the Saracens did invade it: for expelling of whom from thence, diverse Frenchmen 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 successors after him, for the space of 87 years called themselves Kings of jerusalem: About which time, Saladine (who called himself King of Egypt and Asia the less) did win 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 jerusalem; but although they won many things from the Infidels, yet the end was, that the Saracens did retain 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 jerusalem and Antioch were taken out of the hand of the Pagans by the means of Godfrey of Bullen, and other of his Company, the Pope of Rome that then was, was called Vrbanus; the Patriarch of jerusalem, Heraclius; and the Roman Emperor, Frederick; and at the same time when the said jerusalem was recovered again by Saladine, the Pope● name was Vrbanus, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Heraclius, and the Roman Emperor Frederick. jerusalem in the Turks Dominions. The whole Country and City of jerusalem, are now in the Dominion of the Turk, 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 Friars do abide, and make a good commodity of showing 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 Spain was wont to call himself King of jerusalem. Of Arabia. Arabia bounded, NExt unto the Holy Land, lieth the great Country of Arabia, having on the North part Palaestina and Mesopotamia; on the East side, the Gulf of Persia; on the South, the main Ocean of India or Aethiopia: on the West Egypt, and the great Bay, called Sinus Arabicus, or the Red Sea. This Country is divided into three parts: the North part whereof is called Arabia Deserta, Arabia divided into three parts. the South part which is the greatest, is named Arabia Foelix: and the middle between both that (which for the abundance of Rocks and Stones) is called Arabia Petrea, or Petrosa. Of the Desert of Arabia. The Desert of Arabia, is that place in the which God after the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, by passing thorough the Red Sea, did keep his people under Moses for forty years, 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 Corn. There are no Towns nor inhabitants of this Desert: in Arabia Petrosa are some, but not many. Arabia Foelix for Fruitfulness of ground, and convenient standing every way toward the Sea, is one of the best Countries of the World: and the principal cause why it is called Foelix, is for that it yields many things in abundance, which in other parts of the World are not to be had; as Frankincense especially, the most precious Balms, Myrrh, and many other both Fruits and Spices, and yields withal 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; and pouring on great store of Frankincense, one of the Nobility of his Country told him, that he was too prodigal of that sweet perfume; and that he should make spare, until 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 bade him serve the Gods plentifully, and not offer Incense miserably. Mahumet born in Arabia. This is that Country wherein Mahumet was borne, who being of mean parentage, was brought up in his youth in the trade of Merchandise; but afterward joining himself with Thiefs and Robbers, his life was to rob such Merchants as passed thorough Arabia; and to this purpose having gotten together many of his own Countrymen, he had afterward a whole Legion or more of the Roman Soldiers, who being offended with Heraclius the Roman Emperor for want of their pay, joined themselves to him; so that at length he had a great Army, where with he spoiled the Country's adjoining: And this was about the year of Christ six hundred. To maintain his credit and authority with his own men, he feigned that he had conference with the Holy Ghost at such times as he was troubled with the Falling sickness: 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 jews and Christians, and yet by his own fancy distinguish his own Followers from both. The Book of his Religion is called the Alcoran. The Turks Koran. the people which were his Sectaries (whereas indeed they came of Hagar, the Handmaid of Sarah, Abraham's wife, and therefore should of her be called Ishmaelites, or Hagarens) because they would not seem to come of a Bondwoman, and from him whom they suppose a Bastard, they term themselves Saracens, as coming from Sarah; they are called by some Writers, Arabians, instead of Saracens, their name being drawn from their first Country. The Turks Religion. Mahumet did take something of his doctrine both from the jews and Christians: as that there is but on God; that there is a life eternal in another World; and the ten Commandments, which they do admit and believe: but from the Jews alone, the false Prophet did borrow diverse things, as that all his males should be circumcised, that they should eat no Swines-flesh; that they should oftentimes bathe, purge and wash themselves; which diverse of their people, which are more religious than the ordinary sort, do five times in the day, and therefore they have near to their Churches and Houses of Devotion, diverse Baths; whereinto when they have entered and washed themselves, they do persuade themselves that they are as clear from sin, as they were the first day they were born. The City Mecha. In this Country of Arabia, standeth a City called Mecha, where is the place where Mahumet was buried, and in remembrance of him there is builded a great Temple, unto which the Turks and Saracens yearly go on Pilgrimage, (as some Christians do to the Holy Land:) For they account mohammed to be the greatest Prophet that ever came into the World; saying, that there were three great Prophets, Moses, Christ, and Mahumet: and a the doctrine of Moses was bettered by Christ, so the Doctrine of Christ is amended by Mahumet. In this respect, as we reckon the computation of our years from the Incarnation of Christ, so the Saracens account their from the time of Mahumet. The Turks, The Turks biginning and their Religion. whose Fame began now about 300 years since, have embraced the opinions and religion of the Saracens, concerning Mahumet. Some of our Christians do report, that Medina a City standing three days journey from Mecha, is the place where Mahumet was buried, and that by order from himself, his body was put into an Iron Coffin, which being carried into a Temple, the roof or vault whereof was made of Adamant, or perhaps of the Loadstone, is attracted unto the top of the vault, & 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 days, did give out that himself should rise again, but he appointed a larger time, that was after 800 years, The blasphemous prophecy of Mahumet. and yet that time also is expired, but we hear no news of the resurrection of Mahumet. As the Devil hath ever some device to blind the eyes of unbelievers, so he hath suffered it to be reported, and credited among the Turks, that as Moses did allude to the coming of Christ, so Christ did foretell somewhat of the appearing of Mahumet. Whereupon it is ordinarily received among them, that when Christ, in S. John's Gospel, did say, That although he departed, he would send them a Comforter, it was added in the Text, and that shall be mohammed: But that the Christians in malice to them, have razed out those words. Their own Books do mention that mohammed (while he lived) was much given to lasciviousness, Mahumet a lasciviou●●s person. and all uncleanness of body, even with very beasts; and his followers are so senseless, that in imitation of him they think no such wickedness to be unlawful: For they are utterly unlearned, and most receive whatsoever is delivered unto them out of the Alcoran, Mahumet having made it a matter of death to dispute, sift, or call in question any thing which is written in his Law. On the Westside of Arabia, between that and Egypt, lieth the Gulf called of the Country Sinus Arabicus; by some, Mare Erythraeum, but commonly the Red Sea, The Red Sea. not of one Erythrus as some suppose, but because the Land and banks thereabout are (in colour) red. This is that 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 Christendom by the Venetians: which Spices, and Apothecaries drugs are found to be fare 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 part of Africa. This is that 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 appear 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 Herculeum, between Spain and 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 Eastward, or Southward, and not Westward. Mount Horeb. In the Desert of Arabia is the Mount Horeb, which by some is supposed to be the same that is called Mount Sina, where many think it was that Abraham should have offered up his Son Isaac. But this is certain, that it was the place where God in the Wilderness did give unto the people of Israel his Law of the ten Commandments, in Thundering, Lightning, and great Earthquake, in most fearful manner. Of afric and Egypt. FRom Arabia and Palestina, toward the West lieth Africa; Situation of afric. having on the North side, from the one end of it to the other, the Mediterranean Sea. The greatest part of which Country, 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 for 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 backside of Africa, to the East Indieses. So exact a description is therefore not to be looked for, as hath been of Asia and Europe. The Country of Egypt. joining to the Holy Land, by a little Isthmos, is the Country of Egypt, which is a Land as fruitful as any almost in the world, although in these days it doth not answer to the fertility of former times. This is that which in the time of joseph did relieve Canaan with corn, 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 Country did yield exceeding abundance of Corn unto the City of Rome, Jts' fertility. whereupon Egypt, as well as Sicilia, was commonly called Horreum populi Romani. It is observed from all antiquity, that almost never any rain did fall in the land of Egypt. Whereupon the raining with thunder & lightning, & fire running on the ground was so much more strange, when God plagued Pharaoh, in the days of Moses: But the flowing of the River Nilus over all the Country, (their Cities only, and some few Hills excepted) doth so water the Earth, that it bringeth forth fruit abundantly. The flowing of Nilus. 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 herbs, that is to say, by the hand: But they should come into a Land which had Hills, and Mountains, and which was watered with the rain of Heaven and yet some have written, that ever now and then there is mists in Egypt, which yield, though not Rain, yet a pretty Dew. It is noted of this River, that if in ordinary places it do flow under the height of fifteen cubits, that then for want of moisture, the earth is not fruitful, and if it do 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 Hills which be called Luna Montes, do make the increase of the River Nilus. And the custom of the people in the Southern parts of Arabia is, that they do receive into Ponds & Dams the water that doth hastily fall, and the same they let out with Sluices, some after some, which causeth it orderly to come down into the plains of Egypt. For the keeping up of these Dams, the Country of Egypt hath time out of mind, paid a great tribute to Prester John: Which when of late it was denied by the Turk, Prester John caused all the Sluices to be let go on the sudden, whereby he marvellously annoyed, & drowned up a great part of the Country of Egypt. Learning very ancient in Egypt. In Egypt, learning hath been very ancient, but especially the knowledge of Astronomy and Mathematics; whereof before the time of Tull●e, their Priests would report, that they had the descent of 1500. years exactly recorded, with observations Astrological; which as it is a fable, unless they do reckon their years by the Moon (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 kind of writing, and describing of things by picture, which they did call their Hicroglyphica. This in times ●past was a Kingdom, Their Pyramids, one of the Wonders of the world. and by the Kings thereof were built those great Pyramids which were held to be one of the seven wonders of the world, being mighty huge buildings, erected of exceeding height, for to show 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 book of Exodus, that their labour in burning of Brick, was partly employed to the erecting of some of those Pyramids; but the Scripture doth only mention walling of Cities. The Founders of these Pyramids, 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 near unto them, whence they had most precious Balms, and other costly Spices, they did with charge embalm their dead, and that with such curious art, that the flesh thereof and the skin, will remain unputrified for diverse hundred years: and all learned men think thousands of years: Whereof experiments are plentiful 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 Apothecary's 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. The City Memphis. In Egypt did stand the great City Memphis, which at this day is called Cairo, one of the famous Cities of the East. Here did Alexander build that City which unto this day is of his name, called Alexandria: being now the greatest City of Merchandise in all Egypt: of which Amianus Marcellinus doth observe, that there was never any, or almost hath 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 patriarchal Seas, which were appointed in the first Nicene Council. Good Laws made by the Kings of Egypt. This Country was governed by a King, as long ago as almost any Country in the World. Here reigned Amasis, who made those good Laws spoken of by Herodotus, and Diodorus Siculus: in whose writings, the ancient customs of the Egyptians are worthy to be read. After Alexander's time, Ptolomeus one of his Captains had this Kingdom, of whom all his successors were called Ptolemies, 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 afterward they were as subjects to the Romans, til● the Empire did decay. When they had withdrawn themselves from the Romans government, they set up a Prince of their own: whom they termed the Sultan, or Sultan of Egypt; of whom, about 400. years since Saladine was one. But when the race of these were out, the Mamalukes (who were the guard of the Sultan, as the janissaries be to the Turk) appointed a Prince at their pleasure; till that now, about an 100 years ago, or less, the Turk Selimus possessed himself with the sole government of the Country: so that at this day Egypt is wholly under the Turk. There be Christians that now live in Egypt, paying their tribute unto the Turk, as others do now also in Gracia. Aeneas Silvius doth report in his History, De mundo universo, cap. 60. that diverse did go about to dig through that little Istmos or Strait, which at the top of the Red Sea doth join 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 than 1500 furlongs. Sesostris the King of Egypt (as he saith) did first attempt this. Secondly, Darius, the great Monarch of the Persians. Thirdly, Ptolemy, one of the Kings of Egypt, who drew a ditch a hundred foot broad, thirty foot deep, and thirty seven Miles and a half long; but when he intended to go forward, he was forced to cease, for fear of inundation, and overflowing the whole land of Egypt; the Red Sea being found to be higher (by three Cubits) than the ordinary plain of Egypt was. But Pliny affirmeth, that the digging was given over, lest the Sea being let in, should mar the water of Nilus, which alone doth yield drink to the Egyptians. Pet. Maffaeus in his Indian story, doth tell, that there was a Portugal also, that of late years 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 Island compassed round with the Sea. Men commonly in the description of Egypt, do report that whole Country to stand in Africa, but if we will speak exactly, and repute Nilus to be the bound between Asia and Africa, we must then acknowledge that the Eastern part of Egypt, from Nilus, and so forward to the Red Sea, doth lie in Asia; which is observed by Peter Martyr, in that pretty Treatise of his De legatione Babylonica. Although this Country of Egypt doth stand in the self same Climate that Mauritania doth, yet the inhabitants there are not black, but rather done, or tawny. Of which colour Cleopatra was observed to be; who by enticement, so won the love of Julius Caesar, and Antony: And of that colour do those runagates (by devices make themselves to be) who go up and down the world under the name of Egyptians, being indeed but counterfeits, and the refuse or rascality of many Nations. Of Cyrene and Africa the less. ON the West side of Egypt, lying along the Mediterranean, The Country of Cyrene. 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 repair, as to take counsel of himself, and his success, the Priests being before taught what they should say, did flatteringly profess him to be the Son of God, and that he was to be adored: So that as the Oracle of Delphos, and some other were plain delusions of Satan, who did reign in that dark time of ignorance: so this of jupiter Hammon, may be well supposed to be nothing else, but a cozenage of the Priests. In this Country, and all near about where the Oracle stood, are very great Wildernesses: where did appear to Alexander for four day's journey, neither Grass, Tree, Water, Man, Bird, nor Beast, but only 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 Camel's backs. At this day, this Country hath lost his old name, and is reckoned as a part of Egypt, and lieth under the Turk. In dry Countries, as in Africa, and the Wilderness of Arabia, they have much use of Camels. First, because they can carry a huge burden of water and other provision: Secondly, because that themselves will go a long time without drink, travelling (as Solinus writeth) four days together without it; but then drinking excessively, and that especially of muddy and puddle water: And thirdly, because that in an extremity, those that travel with them do let them blood in a vein, and suck out the blood; whereby as the owner is much relieved, so the Camel is little the worse. Westward from this Country, along the Mediterranean, lieth that which in ancient time was called Africa minor: for as in Asia one part above another was by an excellency called Asia, or Asia the less: so this part of Africa, was termed by the Romans, sometimes Africa simply, sometime Africa the less. In this Country did stand that place so famous, mentioned by Sallust, under the name of Phillenorum arae: which was the bound in that time, between Africa and Cyrene. On the North and East part hereof, in the Sea near unto the shore, was that Quicksand, 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 Syrtis parva. Some part of this Country was heretofore under the Sultan of Egypt, whose dominion did extend itself so fare to the West and there was divided from the Kingdom of Tunis: but it is now wholly under the Turk, and is commonly reputed as a part of Barbary. For now, by a general name from the confines of Cyrene unto the West, as fare as Hercules' Pillar, is called Barbary; though it contain in it diverse Kingdoms, as Tunis, Fessa, and Morocco. Of Mauritania Caesariensi. A Part of that country, which by a general 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 Romans Mauritania Caesariensis, as the other was called Mauritania Tingitana. In Mauritania Caesariensi was the Country of Numidia, the people whereof were used in the Wars of the Carthaginians, as Light-horsemen, and for all nimble services were very active. In the East part of this Country standing in the Sea, was that famous City of Carthage, Carthage a famous City supposed to be built by Dido, who came from Tyrus. This City was it, which for the space of some hundred years contended with Rome, for the Empire of the World. In the Roman Histories are recorded the great Wars which the people of Rome had with the City of Carthage. In the first war of the three, the contention was for the Isles of Cicilia, Corsica, and Sardinia: when the victory fell to the Romans, and the Carthaginians were glad to redeem their peace with the leaving of those Lands. The second war was begun by Hannibal, who broke the League, and after he had taken some part of Spain from the Romans, and sacked Saguntum, a City of their Friends, came first over the Pyrenay hills to France, then over the Alps to Italy, where he overthrew the Romans in three great Battles, and much endangered their estate: he continued in Italy with his Army sixteen years, till Scipio attempting on Carthage, forced Hannibal to return to rescue his own Country. There was Hannibal overthrown, and his City put to a great pension by Scipio, who for his victory there was named Africanus. In the third War (because the people of Carthage still broke the League) their City was razed to the very ground by the earnest and continual counsel 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 Romans would grow either to idleness, or civil dissension; which after they did. It is reported of Cato, that he never spoke his judgement of any thing in the Senate, but his conclusion was thus: Thus I think for this matter, and withal that Carthage is to be razed down. And Scipio Nasica would reply in his conclusion: Thus I think for this matter, and withal 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 weeks, those Figs were growing in Carthage Town: whereby he made manifest unto them, that it was possible that an Army might be conveyed 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 surprised: whereby they all concluded, that it was no safety for their City to have a bad Neighbour so near unto them. In this Country toward the West, not fare from Carthage, stood Utica, whereof the younger Cato was termed Cato Vticensis, because he killed himself there in the civil wars betwixt Caesar and Pompey, because he would not come within the hands of his enemy Caesar. Not fare from thence westward, standeth Hippo, which was the City where S. Augustine was Bishop. This whole Country (at this day) is called the Kingdom of Tunis; the King whereof, is a kind of stipendiary unto the Turk: the people that inhabit there are generally Saracens, and do profess Mahumet. Some do write that Tunis standeth in the very place where old Carthage was; which is not so, but is situated very near unto the old ruins of the other. Against the king of Tunis, Charles the fift had some of his wars by Sea. Of Mauritania Tingitana. THe other part of Barbary that lieth along the Mediterranean, farthest into the West, was called in old time, Mauritania 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 Numidae. Into the Northwest part thereof, did Hercules come, and there did 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 Herculeun. On the South part thereof, lay the * The kingdom of Bocchus kingdom of Bocchus, which in the time of Marius, had so much to do with the Romans. In the west part of this Mauritania standeth the Hill called Atlas minor, Atlas' minor. Atlas' major. & on the South part, is the great Hill called Atlas major; whereof the main Ocean which lieth between Mauritania and America, is called Mare Atlanticum. This hill is so high, that unto those who stood on the bottom 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 Spain, did go over (now seven hundred years ago) and possessed there the Kingdom of Granado, on the South side of Spain, till they were thence expelled by Ferdinandus and Elizabeth, or Isabel, King and Queen of Castille. In this Country since that time, have the Spaniards taken some Cities and Holds; and so also have the Portugals: which by the diverse event of victory, have often been lost and won by them. Here it was that the Emperor Charles the Fift, had diverse of his great Wars against the Moors, as well as in the Kingdom of Tunis. For the assistance of one, who claimed to be King of a part of this Country, did Sebastian the King of Portugal 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 the Battle was fought, whereof it was said, that * Three Kings slain in one day at the battle of Aleazar. three Kings died in one day, which battle is called the battle of Aleazar, and was the ruin of the Kingdom of Portugal, and the cause of the uniting it to the Crown of Spain. Astrologers did suppose, that the blazing Star which appeared the Year before, did signify that ill event. This whole Country doth maintain in it, besides some Imperial Government, two absolute Kingdoms: * The kingdom of Fez●▪ the one of Fezza or Fez, which lieth on the North part toward the Mediterranean and Spain: the other is the Kingdom of * The kingdom of Morocco. Morroco, which lieth 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 Turk, and with some other Christian Princes; a League only for Traffic and Merchandise. It may be doubted whether it was in this Mauritania Tingitana, or rather but near unto it, in Mauritania Caesariensi, that which Saint Augustine in his Book De doctrina Christiana, doth of his own knowledge report, that in a City of that Country was this brutish custom, that once in the year (for certain days) the Inhabitants of the place did assemble themselves into wide and large fields, A brutish custom used in this Country. and there divided themselves each from other, so that perhaps the Fathers were on one fide, and the children or brothers on the other; and did throw stones with such violence that many were hurt, and diverse killed with the fury of that assault. But S. Austin telleth, that he detesting the brutishness thereof, did make a most eloquent and elaborate Oration or Sermon unto them: whereby he did prevail with those of the City where he was, that they gave over that foolish and rude exercise: Yet Leo Affricanus, who lived a hundred years since, and in his own person traveled over the greatest part of Africa, doth write in his description of Africa, that in one place of the kingdom of Fez, the like barbarous custom is yet retained. Of the other Countries of Africa, lying near the Sea. FRom beyond the hill Atlas major, unto the South of Africa, is nothing (almost in Antiquity) worthy the reading: and those things which are written (for the most part) are sables: For towards the South part of Africa, as well as towards the North parts of Europe and Asia, be supposed to be * Men of strange shapes. 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 Friar, (who writ that Book which is counted Saint Augustine's, ad fratres in Eremo; and who would gladly father upon Saint Augustine the erecting of the Augustine Friars) doth say, that he saw travelling down from Hippo, Southward in Africa: But as the Ass in Aesop, which was clothed in the Lion's skin, did by his long cares show himself to be an Ass, and not a Lion: So this foolish fellow, by his lying, doth show 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 general to the South, lying within the Zonatorrida, are not only blackish, like the Moors, but are exceeding black. And therefore as in old time, by an excellency, some of them are called Nigritae, so at this day they are named * Negro. Negroes, as than whom no men are blacker. Secondly, the inhabitants of all these parts which border on the Sea-coast, even unto Caput bonae spei, have been Gentiles, * adoring Images and foolish shapes for their Gods, Their Religion. neither hearing of Christ, nor believing on Mahumet, till such time as the Portugals coming among them, have professed Christ for themselves, but have won few of the people to embrace their religion. The Portugals have bear settled themselves. * Thirdly, that the portugals passing along Africa to the East-Indies, have settled themselves in many places of those Countries, building Castles and Towns for their own safety, and to keep the people in subjection, to their great commodity. One of the first Countries famous beyond Morocco, is * The country of Guinea. Guinea, which we call Ginnle, within the compass whereof, lieth the Cape, called the Cape Verde, and the other, the Cape of the three points: and the Town and Castle named Sierta Liona, at which place (as commonly all Travellers do touch that do pass that way for fresh water, and other ship provision) our Englishmen have found * Their Commodities for trade. traffic into the parts of this Country, where their greatest commodity is Gold, and Elephants teeth; of both which there is good store. Beyond that, toward the South, not fare from the Equinoctial, lieth the * The kingdom of Congo. Kingdom of Congo, commonly called Manicongo. Where the Portugals at their first arrival finding the people to be Heathens, without God, did induce them to a profession of Christ, and to be baptised in great abundance, allowing of the principles of Religion, until 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 * Their Religion. Gentilism. Beyond Manicongo so fare to the South as almost ten degrees beyond the Tropic of Capricorn, lieth the Land's end; which is a Promontory, now called Caput bonae spei, which Vascus Gama the Portugal 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 thereof he might be brought to Arabia and Persia, but especially to Calcutta in India. Which course, when himself, and other of his Countrymen after him did follow, they found on the Coast up towards Arabia, the Kingdom of * The three Kingdoms of Mosambique, Melinda, Magadazo, etc. Mosambique, Melinda, Magadazo, and other; whose people were all Gentiles, and now are in League with the Portugals, who have built diverse Holds for their safety. Of which Countries, and manners of the people, he that listeth to read, may find much in the History of Osorius, and Petrus Maffaeus; but there is no matter of any great importance. Beyond the Cape toward the North, before you come to Mosambique, between the Rivers of Cuama and Sancto Spirito, lies the * The kingdom of Monomotapa. Kingdom of Monomotapa, where the Portugals also have arrived, and so much was done there by the preaching of Gonsalvo de Sylva, a jesuite, that the King and Queen of that Country with many others were converted from * Their Religion. Gentilism to Christianity and baptised: But certain Mahumetans incensing the King thereof afterwards against the Portugals, made him to revolt from his Religion, and to put to death this jesuite and diverse others: which Fact of his, the Portugals assaying to revenge with an Army sent for out of Portugal they profited little against him, but were themselves consumed by the discommodities of the Country, and the distemperature of the air. There are also other Kingdoms in this part of Africa, of whom we know little besides their names and site in general, as * The kingdom of Adel, etc. Adel, Monomugi, Angola, and therefore it shall be sufficient to have named them in a word. Of Abyssines, and the Empire of Prestor john. IN the Inland of Africa, * The Situation of the Empire of Prester john. lieth a very large Country, extending itself on the East to some part of the Red Sea, on the South to the kingdom of Melinda, and a great way farther, on the North to Egypt; on the West to Manicongo. The people whereof are called Abissini; and itself the dominion of him, whom we commonly call in English Prester john; but in Latin some term him Pretiosus johannes, but the most part, Presbyter johannes, writing of him. As he is a Prince absolute, so he hath also a Priestlike or patriarchal function and jurisdiction among them. * One of the greatest in the world. This is a very mighty Prince, and reputed to be one of the greatest Emperors in the world. What was known of this country in former time, was known under the name of Aethiopia, but the voyages of the portugals in these late days have best described it. The people thereof are Christians, * Their Religion. as is also their 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 Chamberlain of Candace, the Queen of Aethiopia, who was instructed concerning Christ, by Philip the Evangelist, in the Acts of the Apostles. Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical story doth make mention of this. But they do to this day retain Circumcision: whereof the reason may be, that the Eunuch (their Converter) not having any further conference with the Apostle, nor any else with him, did receive the Ceremonies of the Church imperfectly, retaining Circumcision: which among the jews was not abolished, when he had conference with Philip. Within the dominion of Prester John, are the Mountains commonly called * Lunae montes. Lunae montes: where is the first wellspring and rising of the river Nilus. Yet there are that fetch the head of this River out of a certain great Lake toward the South, called Zembre: out of which toward the West runs the River of Zaire, into the Kingdom of Moni-congo; The River of Zuama or Cuama, towards the South, to the Kingdom of Monomotapa, or Benomotapa, as this River Nilus towards the North, through the Kingdom of the Abyssines to Egypt, which River running violently along this Country, and sometimes hastily increasing by the melting of much Snow from the Mountains, would overrun and drown a great part of Egypt, but that it is slaked by many Ponds, Dams, and Sluices, which are within the Dominion of Prester john. And in respect hereof, for the maintenance of these, the Princes of Egypt have paid unto the Governor of the * The Abyssines drowned Egypt. Abyssines a great Tribute time out of mind: which of late the great Turk supposing it to be a custom needless, did deny; till the people of the Abissins' by commandment of their Prince, did break down their Dams, and drowning Egypt did enforce the Turk to continue his pay, and to give much money for the new making of them, very earnestly to his great charge, desiring a peace. In this Country also of Prester john, is the rising of the Famous River * The River Nigar. 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 Lake out of that Mount, after it hath run a good space hideth it self for the space of sixty miles under ground, then appearing again after it hath run somewhat further makes a great Lake, and again after a great Tract, another; and at last after a long course, falls at Cape Verde, into the Atlantic Sea. Ortelius in his larger Maps describes it falling into the Sea, like Nilus in Egypt, with seven streams or Ostia: but those that travel these parts say, that there are only some Bays, but there is no River in those parts running into the Sea, but Senega. There be other Countries in Africa, * Country 3 more in afric. as Agisimba, Lybia, interior, Nubia, and others, of whom nothing is Famous: but this may be said of Africa in general, that it bringeth forth store of all sorts of wild Beasts, as Elephants, Lions, Panthers, Tigers, and the like: yea, according to the Proverb, Africa semper aliquid apportat novi; Oftentimes new and * Strange shapes of wild beasts. strange shapes of wild beasts are brought forth there; the reason whereof is, that the Country being very hot, and 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 kinds have conjunction the one with the other: so that there ariseth a new king of Species which taketh part of both. Such a one is the Leopard, begotten of the Lion, and the Beast called Pardus, and somewhat resembling either of them. And thus fare of afric. Of the Northern Lands. THe Lands that do lie in the North are in number almost infinite: the chief of them only shall be briefly touched. Very fare to the North in the same Climate almost with Sweden, that is, under the Circle Arctic, lieth an Island called in old time * Thule. Thule, which was then supposed to be the farthest part of the world Northward, & therefore is called by Virgil, Vltima Thule. The Country is cold, the people barbarous, and yields little * Their commodities. commodity, saving Hawks; in some part of the year, there is no night at all. Unto this land diverse of our English Nation do yearly travel, and do bring from thence good store of Fish, but especially our deepest and thickest Ling, which are therefore called Island-Lings. It hath pleased God, * Their Religion. that in these latter times, the Gospel is there preached, and the people are instructed in Christianity, having also the knowledge of good Learning, which is brought about by the means of the King of Sweden, unto whom that Island is now subject. There is lately written by one of of that Nation a pretty Treatise in Latin, which describeth the manner of that Country; and it is to be seen in the first Tome of master Hackluits Voyages. Southward from thence, lieth * Frizeland Frizeland, called in Latin Frizlandia; whereas the Frizeland joining to Germany, is in Latin called Frizia. On the coast of Germany, one of the seventeen Provinces is called * Zealand, in it standeth Flushen and Middleburge. Zealand, which containeth in it diverse Lands; in whom little is famous, saving that in one of them is Flishen, or Flushen, a town of war, and Middleburge is another, a place of good Mart. Levinus Lemnius, and some of the low Germans, be of opinion, that this City first was built by Metellus the Roman; and that which now is called Middleburge, was at the first termed Metelli Burgum. The States of the Low-countries, do hold this Province against the King of Spain. These Lands have been much troubled of late with inundation of water. The Island that lieth most West of any fame, is * Ireland. Ireland, which had in it heretofore many Kings of their own: but the whole Land is now annexed to the Crown of England. The people naturally are rude and superstitious, the Country good and fruitful, but that for want of tillage in diverse places, they suffer it to grow into Bogges and Deserts. * A rare and admirable Note. It is true of this Country (which Solinus) writeth of some other) that Serpents and Adders do not breed there; and in the Irish Timber, of certain experience, no Spider's web is ever found. * Of Britain. The most renowned Island in the world is Albion, or Britannia, which hath heretofore contained in it many several Kingdoms; but especially in the time of the Saxon. It hath now in it two Kingdoms, England and Scotland, wherein are * Four language's there spoken. four several Languages; that is, the English (which the civil Scots do barbarously speak) the Welsh tongue (which is the Language of the old Britain's;) the Cornish, (which is the proper speech of Cornwall,) and the Irish, (which is spoken by those Scots which live on the west part of Scotland, near unto Jreland.) 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 stored with Bridges, Hills, and Wool; With Churches, Wells, and Women beautiful. * Their original. The ancient inhabitants of this Land were the Britain's, which were afterward driven into a corner of the Country, now called Wales; and it is not to be doubted, but at the first this Country 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 Galfriaus Monumetensis, above five hundred years agone, and his Book containeth great show of Truth, but was noted by Nubringensis, or some Author of his time, to be merely fabulous: Besides that, many of our English Nation have taxed the saying of them, who would attribute the name of Britannia unto Brutus, and Cornubia to Corynaeus, Aenaeas Silvius, 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 certain English man, which had some learning in him, who willing to equal the blood of those Islanders unto the Roman stock and generosity, did affirm and say that concerning Brutus, which Livy and Sallust (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 Britons had here, it was overrun, and * The Britain's five times conquered. conquered five several times. * First, by the Romans. The Romans were the first that did attempt upon it, under the conduct of Julius Caesar, who did only discover it, and frighted the Inhabitants with the name of the Romans, but was not able so fare to prevail upon it, as any way to possess it: yet his Successors 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 Emperors 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 afterwards Mother to the renowned Constantine. But when the Romans had their Empire much weakened, partly by their own discords, and partly by that decay which the eruptions of the Goths and Vandals, and such like invaders did bring upon them, they were forced to retire their Legions from thence, and so leaving the Country naked; the Scots, and certain people called the Tictes, did break in, who most miserably ' wasted and spoilt the Country. Then were the Inhabitants (as some of our Authors writ) put to that choice, that either they must stand it out and be slain, or give ground, till they came to the Sea, and so be drowned. Of these * Secondly, the P●cts, who used to print or p●un●e their 〈◊〉 Pictes, who were the second over-runners of this Island, 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 certain it is, that they had their name for painting themselves, which was a common thing in Britain in Caesar's time, as he reporteth in his Commentaries, the men colouring their faces with Glastone, or Ode, that they might seem the more dreadful, when they were to join battle. To meet with the cruelty and oppression of these Barbers, the * Thirdly, the Saxon. Saxons were in the third place by some of the Land called in, who finding the sweetness of the soil, and commodiousness of the Country every way, did repair hither by great troops, and so seated themselves here, that there were at once of them seven several Kingdoms and Kings within the compass of England. These Saxons did bear themselves with much more temperance and placability towards those few of the Country that remained, than the Picts 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 battles each with other. In the time of these, * Their Religion and devotion. Religion and Devotion was much embraced, and diverse Monasteries, and rich Religious houses were founded by them, partly for penance which they would do, and partly otherwise; because they thought it to be meritorious: in so much that King Edgar alone, is recorded to have built above four several Monasteries. And some other of their Kings, were in their ignorance so devoted, that they gave over their Crowns, and in superstition did go to Rome, there to lead the lives of private men. These seven Kingdoms in the end, did grow all into one; and then the fourth and most grievous scourge and conquest of this kingdom came in, the * Fourthly, the Danes. Danes, who Lording here diverse years, were at last expelled; and than William Duke of Normandy, pretending that he had right thereunto, by the promise of adoption, or some other conveyance from Herald, did with his Normans pass over into this Land, and obtained a great victory in Sussex, at a place which he caused in remembrance thereof to be called Battle, and built an Abbey there, by the name of Battle Abby. He took on him to win the whole by Conquest, and did bear himself indeed like a Conqueror: For he seized all into his hands, gave out Barons, Lordships, and Manors from himself; reversed the former Laws and Customs, 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 * The religion ve y ancient which they n●w profess. Christ was first brought into this Land in the days of the Apostles, by joseph of Arimathaea, 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 less than two hundred years after Christ: And there are Records to show, that in the days of Eleutherius, one of the ancient Bishops of Rome, * K. Lucius he first, that here received Baptism and the Gospel. King Lucius received here both Baptism and the Gospel: in so much that it is fabulous vanity to say, that Augustine the Monk was the first that here planted the Christian Faith: For he lived six hundred years 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 Ecclesiastical Story concerning the coming in of Augustine the Monk, that the Christian Religion had been planted here before, but that the purity of it in many places was much decayed, and also that many people in the Island were yet Infidels: For the conversion of whom, as also for the reforming of the other, Austin was sent hither, where he behaved himself so proudly, that the best of the Christians which were here did mislike him. In him was erected the Archbishopricke of Canterbury, which amongst old Writers is still termed Dorebernia, the Archbishops do reckon their succession by number, from this Augustine. * Note. The reason wherefore Gregory the great is reported to have such care for the conversion of the Ethnics in Britain, was because certain young Boys were brought him out of this Country; which being very goodly of countenance (as our Country Children are therein inferior to no Nation in the World) he asked them what Countrymen they were; and it was replied, that they were Angli, he said they were not unfitly so called, for they were Angli, tanquam Ange●i, 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, and to say, that it was great pity, 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 than 300, years since, No country like England. in the time of King Henry the third, it was an ordinary speech, that for wealth, this Country was Puteus inexhaustus, a Well that could not be drawn dry. Which conceit the King himself, as Matthew Paris writeth, did often suggest unto the Pope; who thereupon took advantage, abusing the simplicity of the King, to suck out inestimable sums of money, to the intolerable grievance of both the Clergy and Temporality. And among other things, to bring about his purpose, the Pope did persuade the King, that he would invest his young Son in the Kingdom of Apulia; which did contain a great part of all Naples; and for that purpose had from thence many thousands, besides infinite sums which the King was forced to pay for interest to the Pope's Italian Usurers. Since that time it hath pleased God more and more to bless this Land, but never more plentifully than in the days of our late, and now reigning Sovereign, whose reign continuing long in peace, hath peopled the Land with abundance of inhabitants, * The Riches of the Country. hath stored it with Shipping, Armour, and Munition, hath fortified it many ways, hath increased the traffic with the Turk and Muscovite, and many parts of the earth fare 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 Kingdom, than there was Silver when her Majesty came to the Crown. Some Writers of former times, yea, and those of our own Country too, have reported, that in England have been Ours of Gold, or at the least some Gold taken out of other Ours: 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 Mettle. But truth it is that our Chronicles do witness, that some Silver hath been taken up in the Southern parts, as in the Tinne-Mynes 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 base metals, be here in good plenty. The same reason which hindereth gold over 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 with 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, 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 * The rich commodity of Wool. Wool, for the which it is renowned over a great part of the Earth. For our Clothes are sent into Turkey, Venice, Italy, Barbary, yea, as far as China of late, besides Muscovy, Denmark, and other Northern Nations; for the which we have exchange of much other Merchandise necessary for us here; besides that, the use of this wool doth in several labours set many thousands of our people in work at home, which might otherwise be idle. * Bridges. 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 diverse places here, there be also Rivers of good Name, but the greatest glory doth rest in three: * Rivers. the Thames, called in Latin of Tame and Isis, Tamesis: Severne, 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 called 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 Book of the Description of England. One of the honourable commendations which are reputed to be in this Realm, is the * Fair and large Churches. fairness of our greater and larger Churches, which as it doth yet appear in those which we call Cathedral Churches, many of them being of very goodly and sumptuous buildings; so in times past it was more to be seen when the Abbeys, and those which were called Religious Houses, did flourish; whereof there were a very great number in this Kingdom, which did eat up much of the wealth of the Land; but especially those which lived there, giving themselves to much filthiness, and diverse sorts of uncleanness, did so draw down the vengeance of God upon those places, that they were not only dissolved, but almost utterly defaced by King Henry the eight. 1. Archbishoprics, and 24. other Bishoprics. There are here two Archbishoprickes, and twenty four other Bishoprickes within England and Wales. It was a tradition among old Writers, that Britain 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 money for tribute, that they should bring in yearly certain hundreds of Wolves; by which means they were at the length quite rid from Wolves. * The Country of Wales had in times past a King of itself, yea, Of Wales. 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 eight, intending thereby to benefit this Realm 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 news was brought to Rome that julius Caesar had attempted upon Britain, Tully 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, unless it were by slaves, whom he thought that his friend to whom he wrote, would not look to be brought up in learning or Music. Note. 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 behaviour, abundance of Learning, Music, and all the liberal Arts, goodly Buildings, sumptuous Apparel, rich Fare, and whatsoever else may be truly boasted to be in any Country near adjoining. * Of Scotland. The Northern part of Britain is Scotland, which is a Kingdom of itself, and hath been so from very ancient time, without any such Conquest, or main transmutation of State, as hath been in other Countries. It is compassed about with the Sea on all sides saving where it joineth upon England; and it is generally divided into two parts, the one whereof is called the Hye-land, and the other the Low-land. The Low-land is the most ' civil part of the Realm, wherein religion is more orderly established, and yields reasonable subjection unto the King: but the other part called the Hye-land, which lieth further to the North, or else bendeth towards Ireland, is more rude and savage: and whether the King hath not so good access, by reason of Rocks and Mountains, as to bring the Noblemen which inhabit there, to such due Conformity of Religion, or otherwise, as he would. This Country generally is more * Scotland very poo●e in former times. poor than England, or the most part of the Kingdoms of Europe: but yet of late years, the wealth thereof is much increased by reason of their great traffic to all the parts of Christendom: yea, unto Spain itself, 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 Merchandise: neither hath the King in his whole Dominion, any vessel called A man of War. Some that have traveled into the Northern parts of Scotland, do report, that in the Solstitium aestivale, they have scant any night, and that which is, is not above two hours, being rather a dimness than a darkness. The language of the Country is in the Lowland, a kind of barbarous English. But towards Ireland side, they speak Irish: * Thereason why it is said that in Britain are sour languages. 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, Welsh in Wales, and Cornish in Cornwall. In the Confines between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, which are commonly called the * Borderers great Robs and Stealers. Borders, there lie diverse Outlaws and unruly people, which as being subject to neither Prince by their good wills, but so fare as they list, do exercise great robberies, and stealing of Cattles from them that dwell thereabout: and yet the Princes of both Realms, for the better preservation of Peace and justice, do appoint certain Warders on each side, who have power, even by Martial Law to repress all enormities. The Queen of England had on her side three: whereof one is called the * Lord Warden of the Marches. 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 civil, do not like to live in so dangerous a place. It hath been wondered at by many that are wise, how it could be that whereas so many Countries, having in them diverse Kingdoms and Regiments, did all in the end come to the Dominion of one (as appeareth at this day in Spain, where were wont to be diverse Kings, and so in times passed in England, where the seven Kingdoms of the Saxons did grow all into one) yet that England and Scotland, Note. being continuate within one Island, 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 Arms of England alone, in so much that sometime all that whole Country almost hath been overrun 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 and joined into one. The Custom therefore of the Kings of France in former times was, that by their Gold they did bind 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 invade England: Whereupon the * A Proverb. Proverb amongst our people grew, That he who will France win, must with Scotland first begin. * The policy of the French. And these Frenchmen continuing their policy, did with infinite rewards break 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 gave them a great overthrow in that battle which was called * Musselborough field. Musselborough-field. The people of this Country were in times passed so * The barbarousness of these Scots in former times. barbarous, that they did not refuse to eat man's flesh: which as Saint Hierome doth witness of them, he himself saw some of them to do in France, and the fame thereof went so fare, that chrysostom in one place doth allude to such a matter. There be many little Lands adjoining unto the great Island Britain; as at the very North point of Scotland the * The Orcadeses, the people barbarous. Orcadeses, which are in number above thirty. The chief whereof is named Orkney: whereof the people are barbarous. On the Westside of Scotland towards Ireland, lie the Lands called Hebrides, in number forty four, where inhabit the people ordinarily called the * The Redshanks. Redshanks. Not fare from thence, is the I'll Mona, commonly called the * The I'll of Man. I'll of Man, the peculiar jurisdiction of the Earls of Derby, with homage notwithstanding reserved to the Crown of England. On the North part of Wales, is the Island of * The I'll of Anglesey. Anglesey, which is reputed a distinct Shire. Towards France side on the South part of England is the I'll of * The I'll of Wight. Wight, in Latin called Vectis: which is a good hold in the narrow Seas against the French More near France are the Isles of * The Isles of Gernesey and jernesey. Gernesey and jernesey, where they speak French, and are under the Crown of England. There are also many other, but of small account. As the Isles of Teanet, and Sheppy on the side of Kent, the Sorlings or Sully at the end of Cornwall, in number as it is said 145. Caldey, Lunday, and the Flatholnes', with * Divers other Lands. others in the mouth of Severne, Holy-farne, Cocket Lands on the side of Northumberland. And thus much of Great Britain, and the Lands thereunto adjoining. Of the Lands in the Mediterranean Sea. THere be many Lands in the Mediterranean, renowned in all the old Writers● but the chief of them only shall be touched. From the Pillars of Hercules going Eastward, are two Lands not far from Spain, which in times past were called * jusulae Baleares. Insulae Baleares, for that the people of them did use (both for their delight and Armour) Slings, which they continually (almost) carried about with them: and whereunto, as Pliny writeth, they did train 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 Sling. 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 lieth most West, was called in old time Minorica: The bigger, which lieth more East, was called Majorica, and now Minorica and Majorica, they are both under the Dominion of the King of Spain. More Eastward in the Sea, called Mare Inferum, or Tyrrhenum, lieth the Island of * The Island of Corsica. Corsica, over against Genua: and direct Southward from thence lieth the great * The Island of Sardinia. Island Sardinia. For the quiet possession of which two, the wars were often 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 Main, and are ruled by their Governors, as the Venetians do Candie. This Island is but barren, either in respect of some other that lie near unto it, or of the Country of Italy; but yet yields profit, ease, and honour unto the States of Genua, which have little land beside it. The Island of Sardinia also is no 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, Note. Father to Henry the Fourth King of France, in recompense of Pamplona, and the rest of the Kingdom of Navarre then, and now detained from him and his heirs, by the Spaniard. But this was the device only of the Cardinal of Lorraine, who intending to draw him to Papistry, and to order his politic purposes, did make show of this, which was no way meant by the Spaniard. Further to the East, at the very point of the South part of Italy, lieth the great * The Island of Sicilia. Island Sicilia, which some have supposed to have been heretofore a part of the Continent: but by an Earthquake and inundation of water to have been rend off, and so made an Island. The figure of this Country is Triquetra, triangled or three square. justin in his fourth Book, doth seem to suspect that Sicily was in times past fastened unto Italy. But Seneca, in Consolation ad Martian. Cap. 97. doth say plainly, that it was sometimes a piece of the Continent. There was also a great contention for this Country, 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 Pop. Rom. Here stood the goodly * The City Syracuse. Note. City called Syracuse, which was destroyed and sacked 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 break forth into tears, to see how vain and transitory the glory of worldly things is here. At that time lived * Archimedes the famous Engine-maker. 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 diverse 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 slain by some of the Soldiers, 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 air, it would hover or flutter there, and in a good space not fall down. This was in times past * Sicily once a kingdom. 2 Famous Tyrants in it. a Kingdom, where the two Tyrants, the elder and the younger Dionysius did reign, where Gelo also, that great friend to the Romans did remain. It was afterward made a Province, and governed by the Praetor or Deputy of the Romans: whereof Verres was one, who was so inveighed against by Tully. It grew afterward to be a Kingdom again, in so much that Tancredus was King of Sicily, which entertained our Richard the first, when with Philip, the King of France, he went to the Conquest of the Holy Land. Here was likewise * The tyrant Phalaris. The tyrannies of Sicily were very famous. Phalaris the Tyrant so famous, King of Agrigentum. The tyrannies which were used in Sicily, were in times passed so famous, that they grew into a Proverb; as, Invidia Siculs non invenere 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 than the father, and stood so fare 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 no body might come at him: he durst not trust his Barbour to shave or clip him, * Note, that cruelty is always attended with fear. for fear of cutting of his throat: but that which was done, he caused his Daughter to do, who with the thin inner skin of Walnuts being set on fire, is said to have taken off the hair of his face. This was he, whose felicity when Damocles a Flatterer did seem marveilously to admire, Damocles the flatterer. he caused him to be set one day at Dinner in his Royal Seat, with dainty Fare before him, Plate, rich Hang, Music, and all other matters of delight; but withal a naked Sword, which was only tied with a single hair of a Horses Mane, to be hanged directly over him; the fear whereof did so fear the Flatterer, lest it should fall upon him, that he continually looked upwards and about him, and took no joy of that which was before him: whereby Dionysius did evidently teach him, that the State of some Princes, howsoever it seem glorious, 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 his 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: wherewithal when Dionysius was acquainted, marveling 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? Note ●ow the poor woman prayed soy this Tyrant. But the woman answered, that it was not for love, but for fear 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 out, 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 die, hoping that the next would be better: Then came yourself 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, & 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 walk in the steps of his Predecessors, he must needs be as bad as the Devil himself; for none else in tyranny can go beyond you. * A good note for all inventors of tortures and cruelty, and likewise for time flatterers. Phalaris of Agrigentum, was he who proposed rewards unto him who invented new torments, which caused Perillus to make a Bull of Brass, into the which if offender's should be put, and fire should be set under, than it would make them roar like a Bull: But when upon the terror thereof none would so offend (as to deserve that torment) Phalaris took Perillus, the Author thereof, and to try the experience, put him into it, whereby Perillus lost his life. This Country is now also under the King of Spain, who among other titles, was wont to call himself King of both Sicily's, reckoning this Island for one, and that part of Italy for another, which is now called Calabria, and was in the Roman Histories named Magna Graecia. There is nothing more renowned in all Cicilia, either with new or old Writers, than the * The Mountain Aetna. Mountain Aetna, which being on the out side 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 consumed, the sire 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 miles about. Agatheas in his History doth tell, that in his own time there was an incredible deal of ashes which did fall about Constantinople, and the places near adjoining, in so much that the ground was covered with the same; which he reputeth to have been brought from the Hill in Sicily. But Bodin, in his Method. Hist. doth reprove this as a fable, which can have no show of truth, by reason of the great distance of the place: notwithstanding it is certain, that sometimes when it doth strongly break out, the Fields and Vineyards, and all the fruits within the compass of some miles are much hurt therewithal. * The reason of the fire in the mountain of Aetna. The reason of this Fire was laid down by justine in his fourth Book; and is since approved both by Historians and Philosophers: which is, that within the ground, there is great store of Sulphur and 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 entereth there, doth minister substance to the continuance of that flame: as we see that water cast on coals in the Smith's Forge doth make them burn more fervently: and then into the Chinkes and Chaps, the Wind doth also enter, which by blowing and whifling, doth both cause the fire never to extinguish, and sometimes (according unto the strength of the blast) doth make flames break out, either more or less. There are in the Hill Aetna, two principal places which are like unto two Furnaces, with Tunnels on the top of them, where diverse 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 burned and scorching stones, and pieces of hard substances, which seems to be rend out of some Rock, to the great terror and danger of any that do come near. This is that place whither Empedocles threw himself, Note. that he might be reported a God. This is 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 Thunderbolts for jupiter. And to conclude, that is it, which some of our gross 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 Veda in Jseland, where souls have another Purgatory to be punished in; but there by cold, which Surius in his Commentaries is so absurdly gross as to report and allow. * The Papists Purgatory is the fiery Aetna. The Papists have show 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 Book there are diverse 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 diverse 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 break forth there, and so strongly, as that the elder Pliny, who spent all his time in discovering? the secrets of Nature, pressing near to behold it, was stifled with the flame, smoke, or ashes, so that he * The d●ath of Pliny the elder. died in the place, as is most excellently described in the Book of his Epistles by his Nephew the younger Pliny. Not fare from Sicily, on the South lieth the little Isle called in old time Melita: whence those Dogs come which are so much desired under the names of Canes Melitenses. * Note. This is the place where Saint Paul was cast up after his shipwreck in his journey to Rome, where the Viper hanged on his hand, and did not hurt him. This Country is now called * Malta the only place for repelling the Turks. Malta, & is one of the places most renowned in the world for repelling of the Turks: When Soliman the Emperor of them did send against it a most mighty Army, it was then defended by them, who are called the Knights of Malta, which by Sea do great spoil to the Galleys of the Turk that pass that way. There were in times past diverse Orders of Knights, and men that had vowed themselves to adventure their lives and whole state, for the maintenance of Christ's Religion, and some places of the Earth, against the Infidels and Saracens. The most ancient of all those, were called the * The society of the Knight's Templars. Templars, who were a great corporation or society, consisting of diverse Gentlemen, younger brothers for the most part, out of all the Realms of Christendom: Their chief charge was to defend the City of jerusalem, and the Relics 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 money, very rich and ample possessions in England, France, Spain, Italy, and other places of Europe, in so much that in the days of Matthew Paris, he reporteth that they had under them many thousands of Manors. They had also in every kingdom (where their Order was permitted) a great and ample house, where some chief of their company did lie, who received the Rents within that Kingdom, 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 chief one; which had in f rmer times belonged to the jews, 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 Templars ceased: * The Pope and the King of France, conspiring their ruin. the Pope and the King of France conspiring their ruin, and their Lands were dispersed into diverse men's hands. In the same time when the Templars were in their strength, there was another sort called the * Hospitallers. Hospitallers, whose condition and employment was very like unto the other, both of them fight for the preservation of Palest na. We read that sometimes these two companies had great jars between themselves, whereby grew much hindrance 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 * The Knights of Rhodes. Knights of Rhodes, who since they could not live in the Holy Land, yet would abide as near unto it as possible they might; and therefore partly to preserve Pilgrims which should go to visit the Sepulchre of Christ, and partly to infest the Turks and Saracens: but especially to keep the Enemies of Christ's Faith from encroaching further upon Christendom: which most earnestly they did, and do desire: they placed themselves in the Lands of Rhodes, where daily doing great scathe unto the Turk, Solyman the great Warrior could not endure them, but with a mighty Army so over-laid them, that he won the Island from them. The Knights of Malta. After the loss of Rhodes, the Island of Malta was given unto these Knights by Charles the Fift Emperor; 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 lastly into Savoy, from whence he departed with the Religion into this Island, and there they continue and behave themselves as in the former Island; and offering no violence unto Christians, they much hinder the courses of the Turks from Graecia and Asia, and of the other Saracens from Fez and Morocco. They are very valiant men, fit to do great service, either by Land or Sea, as appeared when Solyman did think to have surprised them and their Island: the description of which war is diligently laid down by Caelius secundus Curio, in a Treatise dedicated to Elizabeth Queen of England. There hath been diverse other Orders of Knights, yea, and some of them reputed to be a kind of Religion in Portugal, France, England, Burgundy, and some other places of Christendom; but because their service hath not been employed purposely, as these which are before mentioned, we do not touch them in this place. near unto Graecia and Peloponnesus, on the West side towards Italy, is the J'll of Corcyra, now termed * The Isles Corfu. Corfu; and not fare South from that, is * Cephalenia. Cephalenia; and from thence South is * Zon. Zon, called by Virgil, Nemorosa Zacynthus; al● which Lands are at this day under the Venetians. The greatest * The commodities of the country. commodity which that Country doth yield, are Currans, 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 weeks, have a continual drought, day and night, in which time, the Currants are laid abroad in the open air, and may not be taken in; insomuch, that if the season do continue hot and dry, their Merchandise is very good; but if there fall any rain until the time be expired of their full drying, the Currants are not good, but do mould and change their colour to be somewhat white, like meal. The state of Venice, under whom this Island is, doth make a great commodity of the impost, or taxation, which is laid upon this Merchandise, calling the Tribute which is paid for them, the * The Impost laid on this Island, called the Revenue of S. Mark. Revenue of S. Mark: for unto that Saint is the City of Venice dedicated, and they hold him fo● their Patron. In this Island (besides the Merchants who repair thither) are diverse Italians, who be there in Garrison for the Venetians, in one special Castle, which commandeth the whole Island. There are also diverse Friar's 〈◊〉 that Nation, who perform unto their Countrymen such exercises of Religion as are convenient. They will not suffer any of our Merchants to have Christian burial among them, unless at his death he be confessed after the Romish fashion: whereupon some have been forced to convey over some 〈◊〉 their dead bodies into Morea (which is not fare distant) to be buried there among the Greeks' and after their fashion. The natural Inhabitants 〈◊〉 * Zant, the Inhabitants Greeks. Zant, and Greeks', both by Language and Religion, and observ● all fashions of the Greekish Church in whose words (being now muc● corrupted and depraved) there may yet be found some tokens and remainders of the old, pure, and uncorrupted Greek. There are in this Country 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 Swine's flesh. In Zacynthus our English Merchants have an House of abode for their traffic. Southeast from Morea lieth the great Island * Creta. Creta, where Minos sometimes did reign, so famous for his severity. This Country was then called Hecatompolis, as having in it an hundred Towns and Cities. Here stood the * The Labyrinth of Dedalus. Labyrinth, which was the work of Dedalus, who conveyed 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 bottom of thread, and tying the one end at the first door, did enter and slay the Minotaur, which was kept there, and afterwards returned safe out again. * The most noted liars. The ancient Inhabitants of this Country, were such noted liars, that beside the Proverbes which were made of them, as Cretense mendacium, & 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 liars, evil beasts, and slow bellies. * The Island Candie. This Island is in our days, called Candy, being the place from whence our Sugar of Candy is brought. It is under the Venetians, and reputed a part of their Seignory: Although the Turk, when they had taken Cyprus, did think also to have surprised it: but that it pleased GOD by the means of Don john of Austria, in the behalf of his brother the King of Spain, and the Venetians, to give the Turk that great overthrow at Sea, in the fight near unto Lepanto. Yet since that time (no doubt) the Turks have a greedy eye upon the Island of Candy. Between Creta and Peloponnesus, lieth * Cythera where was the fine Temple of Venus. Cythera. There was the fine Temple of Venus, who thereof by the Poets, is called Citheraea. The Islands are many, which lie in the Sea called Mare Aegeum, from the bottom of Greece, unto the top of the Hellespont, as all the Cyclads, Euboia, and the great Island Samos, and Chios; ●o Scyros where Achilles was borne, and was King of that Country: There is also Lesbos and * Divers small Lands. Cemnos, Mytelene, and Ithaca where Ulysses was King, and Androse, whither Themistocles was sent by the Athenians for Tribute, as Plutarch layeth down the History: * Note. Themistocles did tell them that he came to demand Tribute, or some great Imposition upon them, being accompanied with two Goddesses, the one was (Eloquence) to persuade them; and the other (Violence) to enforce them. Whereunto the Andraeans 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 (Impossibility) whereby they could not part with that which they never possessed. Of these places, something may be read in the old History of the Greeks'. 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 Lands. Eastward from thence, not fare from some part of Anatolia, or Asia the lesser, is the * The Island of Rhodes. Island 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 Turk, and it was a great Bulwark to defend Christendom, till that in the year one thousand five hundred twenty and one, Solyman the Great Turk, did win it from the Christians by force. From thence is the I'll * The Isle Carphathus. Carphathus: but in the farthest end of the East part of the Mediterranean, is * The I'll of Cyprus. Cyprus, which about three hundred years since, was a Kingdom, and did afford great aid unto the Christians that went to conquer the Holy-Land; but it is now under the Turk. The chief City thereof is * The City of Famogusta. Famogusta, which is an Archbishop's Sea: for Christians, for their Tribute, do yet live there. In this Country 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 * The City Paphos. Paphos. * The Island Tyrus. near unto Syria stood the Island Tyrus: against the pride whereof, the Prophets do 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 Lands we do say nothing. Of the Lands in the Jndian Sea. THe Lands are very many that do lie in the Seas adjoining to the East- Indies; but the most famous among them shall only be touched. Among old Writers, as especially appeareth by Solinus, was well known that which was then called Taprobana, which lieth near the Equinoctial 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 die, by withdrawing from him all things necessary. This is now called * The Island of Sumatra. Sumatra, and hath in it diverse Kings. Not fare from thence lie Eastward the two Lands called * Two Jlands, java major and java minor Java-major, * Java-minor; which were all known to the old Writers, as in general may be noted, that all the East-part either in the Continent, or in the Lands, have very many small Kings and Kingdoms. From whence yet more East, lieth a great number of Isles, which are now called the * The Lands of Moluccoes, the great Riches which the King of Spain receives from hence yearly Moluccoes, 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- Indieses, that doth more richly furnish home their Carrects, then do these Moluccoes. The Lands which are called by that name are by some of our Writers accounted to be at least four and twenty or five and twenty; and some of them which are the bigger, have in them two or three Kings a piece: and some of them which are less, are either the several Dominion of several Kings, or else two or three of them do belong to some one Prince. * Note. When Sir Francis Drake did compass the whole World, he came near unto these, but did not touch at any of them; but Master Candish taking at large a journey, was in one or more of them, where he found the people to be intelligent and subtle, 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, lieth a Country consisting of a great many Islands called japona, of * The Island of japan. japan, the people whereof are much of the same nature with the men of China: this Country was first discovered by the Jesuits, who in a blind zeal have traveled 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 diverse 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 fare from the Land, they have Ducks, and other Fowls swimming about them, which sometimes they take into their Boats and Ships, and in such sort do breed them, to the maintenance of them and their Children. Into this japan of late days have our English also sailed, as into other parts, of the East- Indieses, and there erected a Factory. The rest that be either near unto Asia or Africa, because there is little written of them, we pass over, Div●rs small jionds only named. only naming them, as the Philippina, Borreo, Bandara: as also on the side of Africa, the Island of Saint Laurence, called by the Inhabitants Madagascar, Sumatra, and other of less 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 Lands near unto the East- Indieses, 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 Jndia to descry and coast thorough 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, or of such persons as they met with in their travel. Of the Lands in the Atlantic Sea. THere be many Lands which be westward from Africa, and from Europe: as those which are called the * Island of Gorgades. Gorgades, that lie 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 Admiral Colonus, in the year of Christ 1498 sailing to Hispaniola with eight Ships, came to the I'll * The Isle Madera. Madera, from whence sending directly the rest of his Ships to the East- Indieses, he in one Ship with decks and two Carayels sailed to the Equinoctial, between which and the I'll Madera, in the midst way, lie thirteen Lands of the Portugals, in old time called * Hesperideses. Hesperides, now Cabonerde, two days sailing distant from the inner parts of Ethi●pe: one whereof is called. * Bonavista. Bonavista, Northward from thence, in the same climate with the South part of Morocco, lie those which are called * Canariae Lands. Canariae, or the fortunate Lands, which are seven in number: being most fruitful and very pleasant, and therefore called by that name, Fortunatae 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 Lands it is, that those strong and pleasant Sacks, which are called * From hence the best Canary Sack●s. Canary Wines are brought; and from thence are fetched those that they call Canary Birds. These Lands are under the Crown of Spain: The heat of the Country is very great, and therefore fit for concoction; but besides that, the soil of itself is accommodated thereunto, and by reason of them, both these Lands 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 fume into the head, like other Sack, but doth help the stomach, and exercise the force of it there. The slips of their Vines have been brought into Spain and some other places of Europe, but they have not sorted to the same purpose, as they do in their native Country. There do grow also in these Isles, From hence great store of Sugarcanes▪ good store of Sugarcanes, which yield plentifully that kind of commodity unto Spain, either for Marmalets (wherein they much delight) or for other uses. Peter Martyr in the beginning of his Decades, which he hath written De Orb novo, doth particularly touch the names, and some other things of these Lands. On the backside of Africa also just under the Equinoctial, is the * The I'll of S. Thomas. I'll of Saint Thomas, inhabited by the Portugals; which Island was taken in the latter time of Queen Elizabeth by the Dutch: it is reported that in the midst of this Island is an Hill, (and over that a continual Cloud, wherewith the whole Island is watered, (such a like thing as this is reported of the * The I'll of Cloves. Isle of Cloves:) The air of this Island is unwholesome, 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 Africa lie those Islands which are called * The Lands of Azores. Azores Insulae, being six or seven in number: of which Tercera is one of the chief, of whom, the rest by some are called Terceras, which are fare inferior in fruitfulness 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 Spain, by the Prior Don Antonio, who afterward called himself King of Portugal; but the Spaniard at last took this Tercera from him, and doth possess all these Islands, together with the rest of the Dominion, which did belong to the Portugals. He who list to see the unadvised proceed of Don Antonio, both in parting with Lisbon, Note the unadvisedness of Don Antonio. and the rest of Portugal, as also in losing these Islands which last of all held out for him, let him read Conestagio of the uniting of Portugal to the Crown of Castille. But these Azores have in times past yielded 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 coming to and from America, finding that to pass directly without turning on either hand towards America is very hard, by reason of the strong current of the water from the Gulf 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 Lands. Of America, or the new World. ALthough some do dispute out of Plato, and the old Writers, that there was not only a guess, 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 sufficiency to enforce any such knowledge, but that all Antiquity was utterly ignorant of the new found Countries towards the West. Whereunto this one argument most forcible may give credit, * The people of America utterly void of all manner of God, or goodness. that at the first arriving of the Spaniards there, they found in those places, nothing showing traffic, or knowledge of any other Nation; but the people naked, uncivil, some of them devourers of men's 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 Cross, Church, Temple, or 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, The reasons conjectural of a new found World. that it was likely that there should be some such place, than any way demonstrative, or concluding by experience, that there was any such Country: and the greatest inducement which they had to persuade themselves that there was any more Land towards the West then that which was formerly known, was grounded upon this, that all Asia, Europe, and afric, concerning the Longitude of the World, did contain 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 possess 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 shows, 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 Lands and great Countries towards the North and West: which one of some special note hath interpreted to signify America, and the Northern parts thereof, and thereupon have gone about to entitle the * Some have entitled the Queen of England Sovereign of these Provinces. Queen of England to be Sovereign of those Provinces, by right of Descent from King Arthur. But the wisdom 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 show with it, that now some hundred 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 show 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 Welsh Language; as that a bird with a white head should be called Pengwinn, and 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 intercourse betwixt Wales and those parts, in the space of diverse hundred years, was not continued, but quite silenced: we may go forward with that opinion, that these Western Indieses were no way known to former ages. God therefore remembering the Prophecy of his Son, that the Gospel of the Kingdom 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 detain them in blockish ignorance) and from their Idolatrous service unto certain vile spirits (whom they call their Zemes, Their Religion. and most obsequiously did adore them) raised up the spirit of a man worthy of perpetual memory (one * Columbus the first discoverer of America. Christophorus Columbus, borne at Genua in Italy) to set his mind to the Discovery of a new World, who finding by that compass 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 compass about) then that which was already known and discovered; and conceiving that this huge quantity might as well be land as Sea, he could never satisfy himself till that he might attempt to make proof of the verity thereof. Being therefore himself a private man, and of more virtue 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 Christendom, 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 cozened; but especially, for that they were unwilling to sustain the charges of shipping, at last he betook himself unto the Court of Ferdinandus, and Elizabeth, King and Queen of Castille, where also at the first he found but small entertainment, yet persisting in his purpose without weariness, and with great importunity, it pleased God to move the mind of Elizabeth the Queen, to deal with her husband to furnish forth two Ships, for the discovery only, and not for conquest: whereupon * In the year 149. America discovered by Columbus. Columbus in the year one thousand four hundred ninety and two, accompanied with his brother Bartholomeus Columbus, and many Spaniards sailed fare to the West, for the space of threescore days and more, with the great indignation and 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 persuasions of them to go forward, was at length enforced to crave but three days, wherein if they saw not the Land, he promised to return; and God did so bless him, to the end that his voyage might not prove in vain, that in that space, one of his Company did espy 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 * The Island Haity Haity, but in remembrance of Spain from whence he● came, he termed it Hispaniola and finding it to be a Country full of pleasure, * The riobes of the Country. and having in it abundance of Gold and Pearl, he proceeded further, and discovered another big Isle, which is called * The Island Cuba. Cuba, of the which being very glad, with great treasure he returned unto Spain, bringing joyful news of his happy success. When Columbus did adventure to restrain the time of their expectation within the compass of three days, 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 be did by his eye discern 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 clearness 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 pride of the Spaniard labouring to obscure the same of Columbus. 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 enterprise, and assume the glory to himself. But this fable of theirs doth savour of the same spirit wherewithal 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 at a solemn Dinner, he called for an Egg, and willed all the Guest●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 shown how easy it was to do that which a man had seen done before. To go forward therefore: Columbus being returned to Castille, after his welcome to the Princes, was made Great Admiral of Spain, and with a new Fleet of more Ships was sent to search further, which he accordingly did, and quickly found the main Land, not fare from the Tropic of Cancer. Which part of the Country, in honour of Spain, he called * Hispania nova. Hispania nova; in respect whereof at this day, the King of Spain doth entitle himself Hispaniarum Rex. Some there be which writ, that Columbus did not discover further than the Islands; and that he spent the greatest part of his former labours in coasting Cuba and Hispaniola, to see whether they were Lands, or a Continent; & that some other in the mean time did thrust themselves forward and descried the firm Land: Among whom * Of whom this Country had its name. Americus Vespucius was the chief, of whose name a great part of the Country is called at this day America. They found the people both of the main Land and Islands very many in number, naked, without Clothes or Armour; sowing no Corn, but making their Bread of a kind of Root, which they call Maiz. Men most ignorant of all kind of Learning, admiring at the Christians, as if they had been sent down from Heaven, * Manner of the prople. and thinking them to be immortal, wondering at their Ships, and the Tackle thereof; for they had no Ships of their own, but big Troughes, which they call their Canoes: being made hollow (of the body of a Tree) with the sharp bones of Fishes: for Iron or such like Instruments they have none. Although it do appear, that by the Wars 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 spoilt: 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 * The cruelts of the Spaniards. cruelty of the Spaniards were so murdered, and otherways 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 populousness of other Coasts and quarters there. The * Their Armour. Armour which those people did wear, when they entered into the Wars was nothing but some sleight covering, either made of Wood or shells of Fishes, or of cotton-wool, or some such foolish matter. For they had no use at all of Iron or Steel; but the most part of them came without any kind of clothing, or covering, yet armed with Bows and Arrows, which were made sharp in 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 poison: Some other of them had for their Weapons great Clubs, wherewith they did use to beat out the brains of those with whom they did combat. * Note their Bread. They had amongst them no good nor wholesome food, for even that Maiz, whereof they made their bread, had in the root thereof a most venomous kind of liquor, which is no better than deadly poison, but they crush out that juice, and afterward do prepare the root, so that it maketh them a kind of Bread. * No good Literature amongst them. There was no sort of good Literature to be found amongst 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 Months which were lately passed, but for the set calculating of aught which was done diverse years before, they could do nothing therein, but only grossly aim at it. But that in all ages it hath appeared, that Satan hath used ignorance as one of the chiefest means whereby to increase Idolatry, and consequently to enlarge his Kingdom; it were otherwise 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 foul Spirits, which they call by the name of their Zemes. In remembrance of whom, diverse of them did keep in their houses certain things made of cotton wool, in the manner of Puppets, or like children's Babies, and to these they did yield a Reverence, supposing some divine nature to be in them, because sometimes in the evening, Note how the Devil did strangely delude th●se people. & in the night time they had such illusions offered unto them, as that they saw these their Puppets to move and stir up and down in their houses, and sometimes to utter voices, and give diverse significations of such things as they would have to be done, or not to be done: Yea, and that with such effect from the Devil also, that if their wills, and commandments were not fulfilled, there was some vengeance or punishment executed upon them or their Children, the more to keep them in awe and servility to the great enemy of Mankind. Not long after the Spaniards entered those parts, there were in diverse of the Lands, and some part of the Main, such incredible Tempests and Disturbances of the Air, by Wind and Rain, Thunder and Lightning, as that the like had never been seen nor heard of in the memory of man: which are ordinarily interpreted to be the special work of the Devil: who not unfitly is termed by Saint Paul the Prince of the Air, as having a liberty given him of God, there sometimes to do strange Executions: and of likelihood, he did make these stirs, Note the malice of Satan. 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. * he addition of 〈◊〉 ople be ap●●● of the 〈◊〉, and ●●ping The people were so ignorant of all humane and civil conversation, and trafficking into those parts, at the first coming of the Christians thither, 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 diverse Planks: But they were never satisfied with staring upon their Masts, Sails, Cables, and other Ropes and Tackle, 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 shells and bones of Fishes, whereby they made it smooth. But some of these Troughes or Canoes were so great, that sometimes above twenty men have been found rowing in one. * The mighty bigness of the Trees of ●rasile. The Trees of America, but especially in Brasilia, being so huge, that it is reported of them, that several Families have lived in several Arms of one Tree, to such a number as are in some petty Village, or Parish in Christendom. * They conceived them to be some Gods. Among other strange opinions, which they conceived of the Spaniards, this was one, that they were the Sons of some God, and not borne of mortal 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 Steel upon the Arrows which the Americans did shoot: but they were not very long of that opinion, that they were immortal, but reform their error, both by seeing the dead corpses 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 choked; by which they knew them to be of the same nature as other men. * They admired and feared a Letter. Among other points which did show the great ignorance, and unlettered stupidity of these Indians, this was one, that they could not conceive the force of writing of Letters; in so much 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 marvel 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 diverse 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 yields great abundance of strange Herbs, the like whereof are not to be found in other parts of the World: * Some very rare Beasts. 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 diverse other parts like diverse other Beasts; Nature having studied to express a great many several Creatures in one. There are also found at the Sea, or within some Rivers, * The Sea Crocodiles. Crocodiles, but not of that hugeness as those that breed in Egypt, in the River Nilus, whereof some are described by Pliny, to be at the least four and twenty Cubits in length, which argues the Crocodile to be the greatest Creature in the World, that comes of an Egg. * Some rare stones. There are also thereabouts, 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 Pearls, which are taken in Shell fishes, and are of as great quantity, as any that be in the Seas near to the East Judies: so that the true cause of the plenty of Pearl in Europe, in this our age, beyond that incomparably which hath been in the days of our Forefathers, is to be ascribed to the Discovery of these Newfound Lands. * Divers trees not elsewhere found. There are also here diverse trees which are not to be found elsewhere: and many Roots, which serve for diverse purposes. * The abundance of Kine and Bulls. Among other things (whereof there is great plenty in those Western parts) is the abundance of Kine and Bulls: whereof they report, that there is such store in Cuba and Hispaniola, that there are killed down diverse 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 diverse other purposes, but the flesh, of the most part of them, they suffer for to putrify, as making little account of it: partly because of the heat of the Country, wherein they eat little flesh, and partly because they have great 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 respect the extraordinary and unlimited power of God: that whereas a great part of America doth lie in the Zona torrida, in the selfsame Climate with Aethiopia, and the hottest parts of the East Indieses, where the Inhabitants are not only tawny, as all be in Egypt, and in Mauritania, but also coal-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 of a reasonable fair complexion: which is to be ascribed only unto God's peculiar Will, and not to that which some foolishly have imagined, that the generative seed of those people should be white, 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, * The condition of the people of America. without fraud, giving them kind entertainment, according to their best manner; exchanging for Knives, and Glasses, and such like toys, great abundance of Gold and Pearl. 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 affability in their kind, Hospitality towards strangers, which had not offended them, according to their ability, and open and plain behaviour, * Their Religion. yea, and in some parts of the West Indies there was an opinion in gross, that the soul was immortal, and that there was life after this life: where beyond certain Hills (they know not where) those which died in defence of their Country, should after their departure from this life, remain in much blessedness: 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 better reward elsewhere: * Tet many grievous sins by them committed. But withal, as it could not choose but be so, there were many other grievous sins amongst them, as Adoration of Devils, Sodomy, Incest, and all kind of Adultery: Ambition in very high measure; a deadly hatred each to 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 Witchcraft, had to evil purpose, acquaintance and intercourse with foul spirits. * Their Attire. The manner of their Attire, or beautifying themselves, which diverse of these people had severally in several parts, did seem very strange unto them who came first into that Country. For some of them did adorn themselves with the shells of Fishes, some did wear Feathers about their heads, some had whole Garments made of Feathers, and those very curiously wrought, and placed together of diverse colours: to which purpose they did most use the Feathers of Peacocks, or Parrots, or such other Birds, whose covering was of diverse colours. Yea, in very many places they had their lower lips bored thorough 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 in themselves to be a point of beauty, so it made them appear to other men to be wonderful ugly. * Infinite store of Gold and Silver in America, The quantity of Gold and silver which was found in those parts was incredible, which is the true reason wherefore all things in Christendom (as Bodin. de Repub. observeth) do serve to be sold at a higher rate than they were in the days of our Forefathers, when indeed they had not so: for as he noteth, it is the plenty of Gold and Silver which is brought from this America, that maketh money to be in greater store, and so may more easily be given than it could be in the days of our Predecessors. * Precious Mines. But for the thing itself, 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 diverse times fretted out very good and big pieces of Gold, which without melting or 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 commonness 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 Pearl, diverse 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 fire did try it out to the best perfection, as may appear by * Attabaliba his ransom. Attabaliba, who had a great House piled upon the sides with great wedges of Gold ready tried, which he gave to the Spaniards for a ransom of his life, and yet they most perfidiously did take his life from him. * The Country people exchanged it for any, babbles. But the mean account ordinarily which the people had of Gold, did cause them very readily to bring unto the Spaniards at their first arrival great store of that Mettle which they very readily exchanged for the meanest Trifles, and Gewgaws, which the other could bring, even such things as wherewith Children do use to play. But there was nothing more acceptable unto them, than Axes and Hammers, Knives, and all tools 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, than to fight or to do hurt each to the other, and therein may appear the great variety of God's disposition of his Creatures here and there; when in all that main Continent of America, but especially in that which lieth between or near the Tropickes, 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 Guns, and other instruments of War, were to fight against them which were little better than naked; and it was rightly upbraided by one of his Countrymen to Ferdinandus Cortesius, upon one of his returns from America, having made exceeding boast of his great victories in those parts, and coming afterwards in service into Africa, where he being hardly laid unto by the Moors, and showing no valour at all, it was remembered unto him, that it was an easy thing for him to do all those exploits which he cracked so much of in the West- Indieses, in as much as the people there had nothing to resist. They dreaded men on Horseback. There was 〈◊〉 ●●ing more dreadful to those ●●●rmed men, than the sight of Horses and men riding upon them, whereof a very few did quickly overbeare many thousands of them, even almost in the beginning of the discovery of those parts. Ferdinandus and Elizabeth, than King and Queen of Castille, and after them Charles the fift, 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 less expense and trouble of their own, did give leave unto diverse of their Subjects, that by special commission they might pass into those parts, and there have several Quarters and Countries allotted unto them, where they might dig and try out Gold and Silver, on condition, that they did allow clear unto the King the * The King had the fift part for his tribute. fift part of such commodities as did arise unto them; and therefore near unto every Mine and Furnace, the King had his special 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 Spain (concerning the affairs of those Countries) the King caused a * A Coun. sell at Seville for the government of America. Counsel, and Counsel-house, to be newly crected at Seville, where all things should be handled that did grow to any controversy: and where the intelligences and advertisements might be laid up as in a place of Record, which should from time to time be brought out of America: Of this Counsel, 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. * Note the Spaniards cruelty. The desire of gain caused the Spaniards to seek further into the Countries: but the tyranny and covetousness of the Spaniards was such, in taking from them their goods, in deflowering 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 borne to serve so hateful a Nation: and some of them did in war conspire against them; so that by slaughter and otherwise, the people of the Country are almost all wasted now within a hundred years, being before many millions: and those which remain are as slaves, and the Spaniards almost only do inhabit those parts. * His insolency and tyrannising pride. It is not unknown to all the parts of Europe, that the insolency of the Spaniards is very great, even over Christians, tyrannising, and playing all outrages wheresoever they get men in subjection, and this maketh them so hateful to the portugals at home, to the Italians in Milan and Naples, but especially to the Low-country men, who have therefore much desired to shake off the yoke of their Governor. * Their beastly baseness. Besides that, they are men immoderately given to the lust of the Flesh, making no conscience (even at home) even to get Bastards in their young days, and reputing it no infamy unto them to frequent Harlots and Brothel-houses: but when they are abroad, especially in Warlike Services, they are very outrageous, impudently and openly deflowering men's 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 insolences, 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 oversight of theirs, was at the first so apparent, that all of good minds did complain 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 * Note their 1 ●●ma●ity. blaspheme the Name of GOD, and of Christ, and to renounce their Baptism whereunto they were either forced or entreated, when they measured the God of the Christians by the actions of his Servants, whom they found to be Blasphemers and Swearers, riotous and great Drunkards, ravenous, tyrannous and Oppressors, unsatiable, covetous, Fornicators, beyond measure given to incredible Wantonness, and exercising even among themselves all kind of envy, contention, murders, poison, and all sort of inhuman behaviour. Not long after the arrival of the Spaniards there, The Friar's complaint of their cruelty. there were certain Friars and religious men, who moved with some zeal to draw the people there to the Christian Faith, did travel into those parts, that so they might spread abroad the Gospel of Christ: and when they came there, beholding the intemperance of their Countrymen, 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 back again into Spain, did inform the King and his Court, how dishonourable 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 embrace the Faith. The earnest Petition of these, caused Charles the Fift, the Emperor and the King of Spain, 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 the state of Freemen, and not of bond: * Note. but his Subjects were so enured proudly to domineer over them, that this did little amend the condition of the people. Since these days (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 great charge to erect diverse Monasteries and Religious Houses there, and many have taken the pains to go out of Europe, (as they think for Christ's sake) to reside as Monks and Friars in America. There be established some Bishoprickes there, and other Governments Ecclesiastical; and the Mass is there published, and Latin Service, according to the custom 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 in comparison of Wariours, but the greatest of their labour was, to conquer the Kingdom of Mexico, * Mexico described. which Mexico, is a City very great, and as populous almost as any in the World; standing in the midst of a great Marsh or Fen. The Conqueror of this, was Ferdinandus Cortesius, so much renowned in Spain 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 Kingdom of Mexico: where it appeared unto the Spaniards, that there is a certain settled state, which was kept within compass by some decrees and customs 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 near unto 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. * A great Lake. In this Country there standeth a very great Lake, which at the one end is very large, and almost round; but towards the other end doth contract itself again into a narrow room, and then spreadeth wide again and round, only about the third part of the compass of the greater end. In the lesser of the two, there are set some Houses in four or five several places, which represent our Villages: but in the greater part of the Lake standeth Mexico itself, being a City built of Brick, to a good and elegant proportion, where the water issueth into diverse streets of it, as it is in Venice, and from some part whereof there are diverse Bridges unto the main Land, made also of Brick: but from the other sides men do come by Boats, whereof there is abundant store continually going in that Lake. The Writers do record, that there is to be found in this City abundance of all kind of Provision, but especially Fruits, and other delightful things, which are brought in from other parts of the Country. * Mexico the chief City of all those quarters. This was the chief City of all those quarters, before the arrival 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 chief and Royal City, where the King keepeth his Viceroy of Mexico for the West Indieses, as he hath his Viceroy at Goa for the East Indies: but 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, unless it be such great causes as are thought fit to be referred to the Council of Spain. The Gulf of Mexico. The Sea which confineth nearest unto this City is called the Gulf of Mexico: where as in diverse other Bays or Gulfs, the Stream or Current is such, that Ships cannot pass directly to and fro, but especially out of the Gulf, but they are forced to take their course, either high to the North, or low to the South. * Divers Lands in the Gulf of Mexico. In and near unto this Gulf are diverse Lands, 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 Island of Saint Phu, where the Earl of Cumberland took the Town of Porto Ricco, and many other Lands of less note. In the Sea coasts of all this Nova Hispania, the Kings of Spain have built many Towns and Castles, and therein have erected diverse Furnaces and Forges, for the Trying and Fining of their Gold. They that do write of the discovery of the West- Indieses, do report, that when Columbus at the first went thitherward, in their greatest distraction and doubtfulness of mind, whether to go forward or backward, and Columbus had begged only two or three days respite, there was one of his Company, who after the Sea manner, going up to discover the Land, did espy some fire: for the which being so happy and lucky a token, he did hope to receive at the hands of the King of Spain, some bountiful Reward: but when he returned home, there was * Note, nothing at all given unto him, which he took with that male contentedness and disdain, that he fled over into Africa, and there among the Moors, did apostatate and renounce the Christian Faith, so that he became a Sarazen. Of the parts of America towards the North. THe rumour of the discovery of these parts being blown over Christendom, and the great quantity of the Land together with the fruitfulness thereof, being reported abroad, some other nations did enterprise 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 Tropic of Cancer; into which when they had arrived, because of the continual greenness of the ground and Trees: (as if it had been a perpetual spring) they call it * And named it Florida. Florida: where after some few of them had for a time settled 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 ransom. And the French in revenge of this deed of the Spaniards, came in again afterwards into this Country, and slew those that were the slayers of their Country men. Yet the Spaniards, for want of men, are not able to inhabit that Country, but leave it to the old people. The French had built in Florida upon the * The River Mayo. 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 returned again into Florida to the murder and overthrow of their own Countrymen. He who list to see both the attempt of the Frenchmen 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 his Story concerning the New found World; and there he shall find both the covetous and insatiable nature of the Spaniards; who would not endure the French near unto them, although there was Land sufficient, and much to spare for both of them; also their perfidiousness in breaking of Oaths and Promises, and their * Note the Spaniards unchristian cruelty. 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 Soto, entered Florida, about the year of the Lord 1550, and there conquered a thousand miles wide and large, and after four or five year's 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 diverse discommodities and wants which they sustained in the Country, they lost but two hundred men. After this departure of the Spaniards out of Florida, brought thither by Ferdinando de Soto, who died in the Country; after the defeat of the French, and their revenge again taken on the Spaniards, the King of Spain sent thither some small Forces to take possession of the Country, and set down there: for no other end as it is thought, but to keep out other Nations from entering 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 Drakes Voyage. 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 Enterprise, to go with Nombre de Dios, and so over Land to Pannaenia, there to have stricken the stroke for the Treasure: he was on the Coast of Florida, in the height of thirty, our men described on the shore a place built l●ke a Beacon, which was made for men to discover to Seaward: so coming to the Shore, they marched along the River's 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 half his Forces that he then had in the Country, which were a hundred and fifty Soldiers: the like number being at Saint Helena, all of them under the government of Petro Melendez, Nephew to the Admiral Melendez, that a fifteen or sixteen years before had been to bring with our English in the Bay of Mexico; this Fort our English took, and not fare from thence the Town also of Saint Augustine upon the same River, where resolving to undertake also the Enterprise of Saint Helena, when they came to the Havens mouth, where they should enter, they durst not for the dangerous shols: wherefore they forsook the place, coasting along to Virgina, where they took in Master Ralph Lane and his Company, and so came into England, as you shall hear when we speak of Virginia. In these Northern 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 intercourse at all with the Ocean: so that if there be any third place beside the Mare Caspium, and the Mare Mortuum in Palestina, which retaineth in itself great saltness, and yet mingleth not with other Seas, 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 Mistress or imperial City of those parts: and on the banks or sides of that Lake; many other Cities also beside, which though they are but little in comparison of the greatness of Tenustitan, yet of themselves are great. This Tenustitan is supposed to consist of sixty thousand houses, as you may read in the third Chapter of the fifth of the Decades: and this City standing in the midst and centre of this salt Lake, go which way you will from the Continent to the City, 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 * Four Cities more in America. Mesiqualcingo, Coluacana, Wichilabasco, Iztapalapa, and others: the Lake though it be in the midst of the Land, hath his fluxus & 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 * The burning Hill in America. is a burning Hill, which oftentimes breaketh out into flames, as Vesuvius in Campania, did in the time of the elder Pliny, and as Aetna hath done many Ages since and before. Peter Martyr in the fift of his Decades saith, that eight leagues from Tenustitan or Mexico, as Ferdinando Cortes went thither from the Chiurute Calezthere, is a Hill called of the Inhabitants Popecatepeque, as much as to say, a smoky Mountain, at the top whereof there is a hole of a League and a half wide, out of which are cast * A strange fire. fire and stones, with Whirlwinds; 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 ashes thereof oft times destroy the fields and Gardens thereabouts. When Cortes went by it, he senten Spaniards, with Guides of the Country, to see and make report thereof unto him: two of which ten venturing further than the rest, saw the mouth of this fiery Gulf at the Hills 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 means they could have escaped. * Of Virginia, the first plantation. The Englishmen also, desirous by Navigation to add some thing unto their own Country, as before time they had traveled 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 fruitful and fit to plant in: they sent thither two several times, two several Companies, as Colonies to inhabit that part, which in remembrance of the Virginity of their Queen, they called Virginia. But this Voyage being enterprised 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 Inhabitans. * The second plantation. I here was some English people, who after they had understood the calmness of the Climate, and goodness of the foil, did upon the instigation of some Gentlemen of England, voluntarily offer themselves, even with their Wives and Children, to go into those parts to inhabit; 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 Master Lane: but not finding any sustenance in the Country (which could well brook with their nature) and being too meanly provided of Corn and Victuals from England they had like to have perished with Famine; and therefore thought themselves happy, when Sir Francis Drake, coming that way from the Western 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 hover 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 borne, and baptised 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. * The third plantation. Again, in the days of our now reigning Sovereign, 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-towne and Henrico; Fort Henrick, and Fort Charles, with others, which they hold and inhabit; sure retreats for them against the force of the natives, and reasonably 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 Island called by the Spaniards, La Bermuda, but by our English, the * Of the Summer Lands. Summer Lands, which of late is inhabited also by our Countrymen. Northward from them on the coast, lieth Norumbega, which is the Southpart of that which the Frenchmen did, without disturbance of any Christian, for a time possess. For the Frenchmen did discover a large part of America, towards the Circle Arctic, and did build there some Towns, and named it of their own Country, Nova Francia. As our Englishmen have adventured very fare 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 pass thither, and entered upon the Land, from whence they brought some of the people, whose countenance was very tawny, and dusky; which cometh not by any heat, but the great cold of the Climate, chilling and pricking them: but the digestion and stomach of these people is very good, in so much that like unto the Tartars & some other Northern Nation, their feeding was (for the most part) upon raw meat, their manners otherwise being barbarous, and suitable to their Diet. They had little leathern Boats, wherein they would fish near the brinckes 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 error 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 mettle within the ground; and therefore howsoever they brought home some store of earth, which they supposed to be Oar, and of shining stones, yet when it came to the trial, 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 diverse 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 Christendom, and utter it commonly by the name of New-found-land-fish. The fish of Newfound land. The English about the year 1570 did adventure fare for to open the North parts of America, and sailed as fare as the very Circle Arctic, hoping to have found a passage by the North to the Molluccoes, and to China, which hitherto, neither by the North of Asia, nor by the North of America, could be effected by them, by reason of the very great Cold and Ice in the Climate. The rest of the Island (being a hugh space of Earth) hath not hitherto, 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 inhabit, are men rude and uncivil, without the knowledge of God. Yet on the Northwest part of America, some of our Englishmen going through the straits of Magellan, and passing towards the North, by Hispania Nova, have touched on a Country, where they have found good entertainment, and the King thereof yielded himself to the subjection of the Queen of England: whereupon they termed it * Nova Albion. Nova Albion. Sir Francis Drake, who touched upon that Country, and for some pretty time had his abode there, doth report in his Voyage, that the Country is very good, yielding much store of diverse Fruits, delightful both to the eye and taste: and that the people are apt enough by hospitality to yield favour and entertainment to strangers: but it is added withal, that they are marveilously addicted to Witchcraft, and adoration of Devils; from which they could not be persuaded to abstain, even in the very presence of our Countrymen. Of Peru and Brasile. The Portugals discovery of Brasile. WHen the Portugals had first begun the Navigation by Africa into the East Indies, some of them intending to have held their course Eastward unto Caput bonae spei, were driven so fare 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 Traffic, 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 Spain, 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 sixth, 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 except Brasilia. A large Country and much inba●ited. 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 Portugals 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 certain it is, that now almost 40. years since some of the Frenchmen, 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 Countryman did go thither, and continued there by the space of one year, having Ministers and Preachers amongst them, and the exercise of the word & Sacraments: but after by the evil counsel of some of the chief Rulers of France, which were addicted unto the Pope, the heart of Villagagno was drawn away, insomuch that he contumeliously using the Pastors, and chief of that Company, did force them to retire into France: so that the habitation there was then utterly relinquished, and hath not since 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 strait of proportion, going always naked; reasonable good Warriors after their Country fashion, using to fat such enemies as they take in the Wars, that afterwards they may devour them, which they may devour them, which they do with great pleasure. For diverse of the people of those Quarters, as the Caribees, and the Cannibals, and almost all, are eaters of man's flesh. * The abundance oh Brasile wood. 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 cometh 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 Tauvoupinambaltii, by description of whose qualities, many things may be learned concerning the rest of the Inhabitants near thereabout. 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 greediness and covetousness of gain, when they would take so much pains, as to come from another end of the World to get Commodities there. * Their Religion. Their computation is only by the Sun and Moon, who they hold to be of a Divine nature: and although they know nothing truly concerning God, yet they have a dark opinion that the soul doth live after the separation from the body. * Their apparel. The men and women throughout the whole Country do go stark naked, even very few of them having any thing on to cover their Privities, only some of them do pull some kind of ornaments thorough their ears, and the most of them have their lower-lip bored thorough with a great hole, therein putting some device or other. * The proportion of the Inhabitants. They look very disguisedly, but they are all wonderful strait of limb and proportion, insomuch that the Author writeth, that in all the time wherein he lived among them, he saw not one crooked backed or misshapen in any part: whereof seeking to, give a reason, he ascribeth it to this, that their Children are never swathed, nor bound about with any thing when they are first borne, but are put naked into the bed with their Parents to lie; which beds are devised of Cotton wool, and hung up between two trees not fare from the ground, in the which slagging down in the middle, men and their wives and their children do lie together. But whether this be the true reason of the straightness of their bodies, it may be doubted, from the authority of Saint Hierome, 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 bred 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 joints and members not being tied and restrained within compass, did fly 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. * Note. The men of these parts are very strong, and able of body, and therefore either give sound strokes with their Clubs wherewith they fight, or else shoot strong shoots with their Bows, whereof they have plenty, and if any of them be taken in the Wars (after they have been crammed of purpose to be eaten of their enemies) they are brought forth to execution, wherein marvellous willingly they do yield themselves to death, as supposing that nothing can be more honourable unto them, than to be taken, and to dye for their Country. He therefore who is to kill the other, doth with very much insolency & pride insult over him, which is to be slain; saying, thou art he which wouldst have spoilt and destroyed us and ours, but now I am to recompense thee for thy pains, and the other without all fear replies; Yea I am he that would have done it, & would have made no spare, if I had prospered in mine intent, and other such suitable words, showing their resolution to conquer, or willingly to dye in the common cause of themselves and their people, * The Cannibals, or man-eaters, which is the Country custom. It is strange to see the inhuman and unnatural custom which many of the people of the West- Indieses have, for there are whole Lands full of such Cannibals as do eat man's flesh; and among the rest, these Tovonpinambaltij are famous that way, who when they are disposed to have any great meeting, or to have any solemn feast, they kill some of their adversaries whom they keep in store for that purpose, and cutting him out into collops, which they call Boucan, they will lay them upon the coals, and for diverse days 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 diverse days, 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 whole days, and in the mean time never eat. In many parts both of Hispania nova, and Peru, as also in the Lands near adjoining, they have an herb, whereof they make great use; of which some is brought into diverse parts of Europe, under the name of * Their great use of Tobacco. Tobacco, Paetum, or Nicosiana, although we have also much counterfeit of the same: the people of those parts do use it as Physic to purge themselves of humours, and they apply it also to the filling of themselves, the smoke of it being received through a leaf, or some such hollow thing, into the nostrils, head and stomach, 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 Physic, it may be 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 obstupefactive, and no other, whereby it produceth his own effects, and wisemen should be wary and sparing in receiving of such a thing. But when we do consider the vain and wanton use which many of our Countrymen have of late taken up in receiving of this Tabbaco, not only many times in a day, but even at meat, Note. and by the wa● to the great waste both of their purse and of their bodies, we may well deplore the vanity of the Nation, who thereby propose 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 hold 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 whosoever 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, * Note this ye Tobacoonists. but also their detestable and execrable sin of Sodomy. After that the Spaniards had for a time possessed Hispania Nova, for the desire of Gold and Pearl, some of them travailed toward the South: and as by water they found the Sea Westward from Peru, which is always very calm, 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 & mighty Country, which is called * A description of the people of Peru. Peru, wherein the people are (for the most part) very barbarous, and without God; men of great stature, yea, some of them fare 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 travailed 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 travailed 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 Giants who dwelled and were buried there. * The Riches of the Country of Peru. Amongst these the Spaniards (partly by force, but especially by perfidious treason) did get infinite sums of Gold and Pearls, wherewith being alured, they hoped for more, by reason that a great part thereof lieth under the Zona Torrida, and that caused them to spread themselves here, and there, as fare as they durst in the Country, where in some places they digged Gold out of the Earth; 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 coming thither. Among other creatures which are very famous in this Peru, there is a little * A strange story of the Beast Cincia. beast called Cincia, which is no bigger than a Fox, the tail whereof is long, the feet short, and the head very like a Fox, which hath a bag hanging under her belly, whereinto she doth use to put her young, when she seethe 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 than seven young ones lying about her: but as soon as she perceived that a man was coming near 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, Guascar and Atabaliba, they so demeaned themselves in their difference that they ruined both, and got there incredible store of Gold. The first attempters against the Peruvians The first that attempted against the Peruvians and destroyed their Kings, were james of Almagra, and the two brothers of Pizarroes: but dealing treacherously & cruelly with the Peruvians, the 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 other parts of the Continent where the Spaniards first landed, and therefore they have some orders and solemn customs 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 custom of carrying of news and messages very speedily, 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 Horseback, or by the Dromedary, or Elk, as they use in other places, but only men who pass over Rocks and thorough Bushes the next way, and in certain set places there be always fresh Posts to carry that farther which is brought to them by the other. The Spaniards have here and there scatteringly upon the Seacoasts 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, though daily they spread themselves more and more; in so much that it is supposed, that within these seven years last passed, they have gotten into Guiana, where in former time no strength of that Nation hath been. * Guiana Guiana is a Country which lieth to the North-sea, in the same height as Peru to the South (as it is described) about five degrees from the Equinoctial, and that (as I take it) towards the South. * The richness and pleasantness of the Country. The Country is supposed to be exceeding rich, and to have in it many Ours of Gold (which have not yet been touched, or at least but very lately) and to be exceeding fertile, and delightful otherwise, although it lie in the heat of Zona Torrida: but there is such store of Rivers and fresh waters in every part thereof, and the soil itself 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, and earnestly desired that some forces of the English might be sent thither, and a Colony erected there: by reason of the distance of the place and 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, yet many ways about it, that intendment was discontinued. In diverse parts of this Peru, and near unto Guiana, there are very many great rivers, which as they are fit for any navigation that should be attempted to go up within the Land, so otherwise they must needs yield health and fruitfulness to those that inhabit there. The greatest of these Rivers is that which some call Oregliana, or the * The River of the Amazons. river of the Amazons. And next is the river Maragnone, & down towards Magellane straits Rio de la Plata: and our Englishmen do speak of the river Orinoque; In the greatest of which, this is famous, that for a good space after they have run into the main sea, yea, some writ 20. or 30. miles, they keep themselves unmixed with the salt water, so that a very great way within the Sea, men may take up as fresh water, as if they were near the Land. The first of our Nation that sailed to Guiana, and made report thereof unto us, Sir Walter Raleigh did first discover it to the English. was Sir Walter Raleigh, who traveled far up into the Country upon the River Orinoque: after him, one or two voyages thither did Captain Kemmish make, and now lately Captain Harcourt, with others, have visited that Country, where our men continued the space of three or four years, being kindly entreated of the natives, who much desire them to come and make some plantation amongst them, hoping by them to be defended against the Spaniards, whom they * They hate the Spaniard, and love the English. greatly hate and fear. When Sir Walter Raleigh came 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 them home to their own: which deed of his did win him the hearts of that people, and make them much to favour our English at this day. Divers also of that Country, which amongst them are men of note have been brought over into England, and 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 well entreated of these Guianians, and much desired to plant themselves among them. * A strange Story. Our men that traveled 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 places, 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 eyes were in their breasts, and the rest of their face there also situated: and this our English travellers have reported to be so ordinarily & confidently 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 & monsters as were said to be in old time, that is, men with heads like Dogs, some with ears 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 Mandevill of late age, fond hath seemed to give credit and authority thereunto, yea, and long since, he who took upon him the name of Saint Augustine, in writing that counterfeit Book Ad fratres in Eremo: It is fit that the certainty of the matter concerning these in Peru, should be known: and that is, that in Quinbaia, and some other parts of Peru, the men are borne as in other places, and yet by devises which they have, after the birth of Children when their bones and grisbles, 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 and other such devises, keep them there, that in time they grow continuate to the upper part of the trunk 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 Sugarloaf, do frame some other to that form by such wooden Instruments, as they have for that purpose, and by binding and swathing them do keep them so afterwards. And that this is the custom of those people, and that there is no other matter in it, Petrus de Cieca, who traveled almost all over Peru, and is a grave and sober Writer, in his description of those Countries doth report. * Their strange devises to take fowls. There be in some parts of Peru, people which have a strange device for the catching of diverse sorts of Fowls, wherein they especially desire to take such as have their feathers of pied, orient, and various colours; and that not so much for the flesh of them, which they may eat, 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 amiss to specify, that in the Sea, which is the Ocean lying betwixt Europe and America, there be * Divers flying fishes. diverse flying Fishes, yet whose wings are not feathers, but a thin kind of skin, like the wings of a Bat or Reare-mouse: and these living sometimes in the water, and flying sometimes in the air, are well accepted in neither place: for below, either ravenous Fishes are ready to devour them: or above, the Sea-Fowles are continually beating at them. Some of the Spaniards desirous to see how fare this Land of Peru did go towards the South, traveled down, till at length they found the Lands end, and a little strait or narrow Sea, which did run from the main Ocean toward Africa, into the South Sea. One * Magellanus Straits. 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 Magellane straits. And this is the way whereby the Spaniards do pass to the backside 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) pass through this narrow Strait. Ferdinandus Magellanus, having a great mind to travel and being very desirous to go unto the Malucco Islands by some other way, then by the backside of Africa, if it might be, did in the year 1520, set forth from Seville in Spain with five ships, and traveled toward the West Indies, and went so fare toward 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 diverse days, did at the length, peaceably pass through the straits, and came into a great Sea which some after his name, do call Mare Magellanicum, some others Mare pacificum, because of the great calmness & quietness of the waters there; but most commonly it is termed the * The So th' Sea. South Sea; the length whereof he passed in the space of three Months and twenty days, and came unto the Moluocos, * The Molucco●s. where being set upon by the East Indian people, himself and many of his company were slain: and 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 Africa, came safe unto Spain. * Magellanus the first that ever compassed the World. So that it may be truly said, that if not Magellanus, 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 thorough Magellane straits, and so to the Molucco Lands, & then homeward from the East by Africa, did in a devise give the Globe of the Earth with this word or motto, Primus me circumdedisti: which is not simply 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 Victoria, did return with safety into Spain. The Maps which were made at first concerning America, & Peru, did so describe the Western part of Peru, as if when a man had passed Magellane Straits, and did intent to come upwards towards Nova Hispania, on the further side, he must have borne much West, by reason that the Land did shoot out with a very great Promontory, and bending that way. But our Englishmen which went with Sir 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 wherefore all the new Maps and Globes, especially made by the English, or by the Dutch, who have taken their directions from our men, are reform 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 travail that way, and discovered more and more: and by that means they have found out diverse Lands not known in former Ages; as two for example sake, a good distance from the Moluccoes, which because * Insulae Latronum. 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 thereabouts, they are called Insulae Latronum. They have also descried some other near unto the East Indies; which they now term, * Jnsulae Solomonis. Insulae Solomonis. But the most renowned of all, are those of whom the name is given * Philippinae. Philippina, in remembrance of Philip the Second King of Spain, at whose cost they were discovered. * Their Rich●s. These Philippinae, are very rich, and from thence is brought abundance of costly Spices, and some other rich Merchandise; yea, and Gold too. There were also some other Lands descried by Magellanus himself, which he called * Insulas infortunatas. Insulas infortunatas, as being of quality contrary to the Canaries, which are termed the fortunate Islands: for when he passing thorough the South Sea, and meaning to come to the Moluccoes (where he was slain) did land in these Lands, thinking there to have furnished himself with victuals, and fresh water, he found the whole places 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 adjoining unto them: and also of America, which by some hath the title of New-found-world: it shall not be amiss briefly to say something of a fift and sixth part of the Earth: the one lying near the South Pole, and the other near the North: which are places that in former times were not known, nor thought of. When Magellanus was come down to the Southern end of Peru, he found on the further side of the Straits a main and huge land lying towards the South-Pole, which some of his name called since * Regio Magellanica. 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 travelling towards Calcutta, and the East- Indieses, there have some of them been driven by tempest so far; as to that which many now call the South Continent; and so diverse of sundry 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 Tropic of Capricorn, so it is conjectured, that towards the South it goeth as fare as to the Pole. The ground whereof is, that never any man did perceive the Sea did pass thorough any part thereof: nay, there is not any great River which hath yet been described to come out of it 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 intercourse with the Ocean (which to imagine is uncertain) therefore it is supposed that it cometh whole out into the Land to the Antarctic 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 joined unto them. Things memorable in this Country are yet 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 and wildernesses; but we find not so much as mention whether any do inhabit there or no. And over against the promontory of Africa, which is called Caput bonae spei, there is a Country which the Portugals called * Psittacorum Regio. Psittacorum regio, because of the abundant store of Parrots which they found there. near to the Magellane straits, in this South part of the world, is that land the Spaniards call Terra del fuego: * Terra del fuego. those also which have touched at it in other places, have given to some parts of it these names, Boach, Eucach, & Maletur, but we have no perfect description of it, nor any knowledge how or by whom it is inhabited. * A description of the people. About this place the said Portugals did at one time sail along for the space of 2000 Miles, and yet found no end of 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 Moluccoes, there is one part of this country, as some suppose, although some doubt whether that be an Island or no, which cometh up so high towards the north, as the very Aequinoctial line, and this is commonly called * Nova Guinea. Nova Guinea, because it lieth in the same climate, and is of no other temperature than Guinea in Africa is. I have heard a great Mathematician in England, find fault both with Ortelius and Mercat●r, and all our late Makers of Maps, because in describing this Continent, they make no mention of any Cities, Kingdoms, or Commonwealths 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 Country as almost any in the world: Note. 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 mass of Earth, but that he would in his wisdom appoint some reasonable creatures to have their habitation there. Concerning those places which may be supposed to lie near unto the Northern Pole, there hath in times past something been written, which for the particularity thereof might carry some show of truth, if it be not throughly looked into. It is therefore by an old tradition delivered, and by some written also, that there was a Friar of Oxenford, who took on him to travail, 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 means whereof he might travel upon the Ice even so as himself pleased: It is said therefore of him, that he was directly under the Pole, and that there he found a very huge and black Rock, which is commonly called. * Nigra Rupes. Nigra Rupes, and that the said Rock being diverse 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 several currents, which is as much to say, as that a good pretty way distant from the Nigra Rupes, there are four several Lands of reasonable quantity: and being situated round about the Rock, although with some good distance, are severed each from other by the Sea-running between them, and making them all four to be Lands almost of equal bigness. 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 fare, to their great danger, in those cold and frozen Countries, that they have descried * Groinland. Groin Land; which lieth as far or beyond the circle Arctic, but whether it go so fare out as unto the Pole, they cannot say: which is also to be affirmed of the Northern parts of America, called by some Estote-land; for the opening whereof our Englishmen have taken great pains, as may easily appear by the new Globes 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, & 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 forced to return, not knowing whether there be any current of the Sea, that might lead to the East- Indieses, or how fare the Land doth reach Northward. In like sort, some of our English Merchants to their great charges, set forth Fleets to descry the Seas towards the East, yet going by the North, and there have found many unknown Countries, as * Nova Zembla. Nova Zembla, * Sir Hugh Willoughbies Land. Sir Hugh Willoughbies' Land, and other more: 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 towards Cathaio by the North, going East-wards: insomuch that by the river Ob, and by the Bay of Saint Nicholas, they bring the Merchandise downward into Russia: But whether the Sea do go thorough out even to the farthest 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 future ages. UNIVERSITIES. In England. 1 Oxford. 2 Cambridge. Universities in Spain. 1 Toledo, lat. 40.10. long. 16.40. 2 Seville, lat. 37.30. long. 14.20. 3 Valencia, lat. 39.55. long. 21.10. 4 Granada, lat. 37.30. long. 17.15. 5 Saint jago, lat. 40.5. long. 15.40. 6 Valladolib, lat. 42.5. long. 15.45. 7 Alcalade Henaros, lat. 40.55. long. 17.30. 8 Salamanca, lat. 14.20. long. 14.4 9 Carageca, lat. 42.22. long. 22.20. 10 Siguenca, lat. 14.35.20. lo. 18.20 11 Lerida, lat. 42.20. long. 18.20. 12 Huesca, lat. 42.50. long. 21.20. 13 Lisbon, lat. 38.50. long. 10.50. 14 Coimbra, lat. 40. long. 11.25. 15 Ebora, lat. 37.38. long. 20. In the I'll Majorica. 1 Majorica. In Polonia. 1 Cracovia. 2 Posue. In Prussia. 1 Koningsberg. In Lituana. 1 Wild. In France. 1 Paris, lat. 48.10 long. 23. 2 Poicters, lat. 46.10. long. 19 10. 3 Lions, lat. 44.30. long. 25.40. 4 Angers lat. 47.25. long. 18.10. 5 Avignon, lat. 42.30. long. 25.50. 6 Orleans, lat. 47.10. long. 22. 7 Burges, lat. 46.20. long. 22.10. 8 Cane, lat. 49.45. long. 19.20. 9 Rheims, lat. 48.30 lon. 25.25. 10 Bordeaux, lat. 44.30. lon. 17 50. 11 Tolouse, lat. 43.5. long. 20.30. 12 Nismo, lat. 42.30. long. 25. 13 Montpellier, lat. 42. long. 24.30. 14 Bisanton, lat. 46.30. long. 27.48. 15 Lole, lat 46.10. long. 27. In Jtalie. 1 Rome, lat. 41.20. long. 38. 2 Venice, lat. 44.50. long. 37. 3 Milan, lat. 44.45. long. 31.10. 4 Bononia, lat. 43.33. long. 35.50. 5 Ferrare, lat. 44. long. 36. 6 Milan, 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. lon. 35.40. In Bohemia. 1 prague. Of Germany. 1 Collen, lat. 51. long. 30. 2 Basil, lat. 47.40. long. 31. 3 Mentz, lat. 50. long. 31. 4 Wisburge, lat. 50. 5 Triers lat. 49.50. 6 Heidelberg, lat. 49.25. long. 33. 7 Tubinge, lat. 49.50. 8 Ingolstad, lat. 49.40. 9 Erfurt, lat. 50. 10 Leistgige, lat. 51.10. 11 Wittenberg, lat. 51.20. 12 Frankford in Order, 52.10. 13 Rostoch, lat. 53.40. 14 Grisswald, lat. 53.50. 15 Friburg, lat. 48. 16 Marburg, lat. 50.40. 17 Vienna, lat. 48.40. 18 Diling, in Switzerland, near Dovaw. In Germania inferiori. 1 Louvain, lat. 51. long. 23. 2 Douai, lat. 50.30. long. 29. 3 Liege, lat. 50.30. long. 29. 4 Leiden, lat. 52.10. long. 27 20. In Denmark. 1 Cobenbagen, lat. 56.50. long. 34.30. In Moravia. 1 Olmnes. In Scotland. 1 S. Andrew's. 2 Aberdon. Of England. In England are contained Shires, 52 Bishoprickes, 26 Castles, 186 Rivers, 555 Chases. 13 Forests, 18 Parks, 781 Cities, 25 Parish-Churches, 9725 Bridges. 956 FINIS.